This was a wild ride and I was totally here for it! I didn't expect those last couple of twists at the end and I love that. The fact that this had a happy ending made my heart smile. I can't wait to read what Alex Finlay puts out next! He is on my always-read list!

If Something Happens To Me by Alex Finlay is a fast-paced thriller about a girl missing in Kansas and presumed dead, a deputy sheriff assigned to the cold case after the missing girl's car is found in the lake, and a Philadelphia crime boss. There are three main points of view in this story: (1) Ryan, the boyfriend of the missing girl who was accused of murder and is now a law student on holiday in Italy; (2) Poppy, the new deputy sheriff who is also a war veteran, and (3) Shane, the head of a major crime syndicate in Philadelphia. While at first I didn't understand how Shane was related to the missing girl, once his relationship was revealed, the pieces started to fall into place. There are at least two major plot twits, which I didn't see coming.

I listened to the audiobook version of this thriller, which was admirably narrated by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh. I definitely recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys thrillers and mysteries with unexpected endings.

Job well done on this one!

At first I found it a little hard to keep up with different plots and timelines, but it all came together so well and I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked this book!

It kept me guessing once dots started connecting and I kept wanting more, more, more.

A really great thriller twist with this one!

Summary: Ryan Richardson has lived with the nightmare of his high school girlfriend Ali being taken for the past 5 years even though it's hazy. To his surprise, while abroad for a trip in college, his father calls to tell him that Ali's car has been found submerged in a lake with two men inside and still no trace of Ali. To top things off, Ryan sees the man who has haunted his nightmares for the past 5 years while on his trip. With the help of a young sheriff's deputy back home, Ryan takes off to piece together the clues Ali left him all those years ago.

Thoughts: This was my first Alex Finlay book and it did not disappoint. The many character points of view were a little daunting at first, but I quickly caught on to each person. This one was hard to put down because every time I got into that character's story, the chapter ended and we were on to a new character. I loved how all the pieces came together at certain parts of the book, and I kept kicking myself for not seeing the bigger picture sooner. Ryan was so brave throughout the story trying to piece together all that happened that fateful night, along with the help of Poppy McGee back home in the states. I also loved the 3 epilogues in the end to see what happened to some of the main characters within the story.

I highly suggest listening to this story. Narrators Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, Paul Dateh did a fantastic job bringing each POV to life and making it easy to understand which character was the focus of each chapter. Listening to this also made it more mysterious because I never knew what was coming next.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the #gifted ALC of this book.

Read if you love:
❤️Twists and Turns
❤️Thrillers
❤️Mutliple POVs

I really enjoyed this one, and it was a very quick listen. I devoured it in less than a day, I didn’t want to put it down. It was fast paced and the short chapters made you feel like you were flying through it. The twists and turns were done extremely well, I definitely didn’t see them coming. This was my first book by this author and it won’t be the last. I gave this book 4.75⭐️‘s.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
There was so much going on in this book! My brain was literally running on overdrive, trying to see how all of these characters and their storylines intersected. Once the stories finally did connect together, my mind was blown! The plot of this book is quite deep, and there definitely is a requirement on the readers end to pay close attention to the details. However, with the short length of each chapter and the writers easy to read style, it made it really easy to follow along to the plot, and keep up with the large cast of characters.

The ending of this book was probably my favourite part of the whole thing. Without me giving the ending away, I’ve got to say that the author did an amazing job at throwing in some unexpected twists which I did not see coming at all. I was left speechless at one point! The epilogue was just as good and unexpected, and also broke me slightly.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a quick and easy crime/thriller/mystery novel, which will leave you wanting to know what happens next throughout its entirety.

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆:
- 👮‍♂️ Mobster thrillers
- ⏲️ Short and easy to read chapters
- ⏳ Dual timelines

𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈: 2020 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - Antonini🍷

This was a fast paced, popcorn thriller and my first book by Alex Finlay.

If Something Happens to Me has two teenage lovers, the girl goes missing and the boyfriend is thought to be the culprit with not enough evidence to prove it. There are also murders, mobsters and international chasing. This book was action packed and I couldn't wait to pick it up. I listened to it on audiobook and definitely enjoyed it this way. The chapters were short and there were 3 POV's that were easy to follow and flowed very well.

The only thing that I didn't like and why I did not give this book 5 stars was the ending did not really have that WOW factor or shocking moment that I was like -jaw on floor-. I needed a little more to give me a good twist and for the ending to not be as wrapped up as it was.

I definitely would recommend this book and I cannot wait to read more from Finlay.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

If Something Happens to Me is full of twists and turns. It was a roller coaster ride of emotions from all over.
Ryan hasn't ever stopped believing Ali may still be alive. He is still searching for what really happened that awful night she went missing. Back in his hometown they have found new evidence of the case but what does it a mean?
We join Poppy, a recently discharged vet now sheriff's deputy, on her quest to find the answers to the town's biggest mystery..What will she find? Does her family have something to do with Ali's disappearance?
I really enjoyed the audiobook. It had me hanging on. I didn't feel like it was too easy to figure out. It does give you a lot information that eventually leads you to figuring things out. It was all in all a great thrilling read.

There was a lot going on in this book: murder, mob, kids, missing persons, and witness protection program. I listened to the book, so sometimes it was a little difficult to keep the characters straight (there are a lot of them). I had to go back and relisten, or look up who a character was a few times. I probably would have given this five stars if I had read it, rather than listened to it.
Without giving away any spoilers, I liked who she ended up with, some might not, but I thought it was great!

This book definitely starts out as a series of seemingly unconnected events and people that finally weave together for about half of the book. It wasn’t a bad story it was just like um what? Once you even get how all the pieces fit it’s still like what? I suppose the moral of the story is be nice to people because things you do even at 14 years old can come back to bite you and some people will invest way too much time and effort into revenge that it will ultimately end in their demise. And sometimes innocent people get dragged down into a sea of nonsense for absolutely no reason. Basically that’s what happened... oh right and never underestimate an accountant. The narration was good.

I really liked this one! I listened on a little 5 hour road trip and it kept me captivated and curious. It didn’t go where I expected, I found it pretty unique and interesting. I thought it was paced well too, I never felt bored or anything. This is my first book by this author, but I’d pick up another for sure.

This was a tough nut to crack. Finlay certainly knows how to map a twisted web of thrills and deceit. The full cast narration was excellent and held my attention even when I truly had no idea what was going on. Did I love it? Not especially. But I also appreciate the story telling and the narrators who brought the characters to life!

Fast paced and easy to listen to! Appreciated the narration and the mafia storyline! Really enjoyed this author highly recommend.

Man did this book keep you on your toes and guessing. The book was well throughout and kept you hanging all at the right moments. This book was narrated from 3 different points of view. Which can get confusing because you don’t understand how they go together until the end. Ryan Richardson was living a nightmare he couldn’t get away from. In high school, Ryan had witnessed a kidnapping of his girlfriend at the time, Alison Lane, and it also left him injured and not able to help police capture the man who did it. Her car goes missing without a trace and people think Ryan is guilty. Eventually, he ends up having to change his name so he can get away from the spotlight of being the one who is said to have harmed his girlfriend, even though it was confirmed he did not.

Years later Ali’s car is found with two men inside. This ends up being a lot of questions. Poppy who is the deputy sheriff starts to look into this mystery. As she starts to do this many things unfold and leave her with so many questions needing to be answered!

I enjoyed listening to this book. The different characters voices that were played also helped line up the story better. The narrators did an excellent job using different tones of voice for the characters and delivering the book with so much emphasis that you got the picture they painted!

Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this book and give my honest opinion! Thank you, Alex Finlay, for creating a book that kept me wanting to come back and finish. Thank you, Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh for engaging listeners and for your presentation of the book!

Kept me guessing!

Publisher's summary
For the past five years, Ryan Richardson has relived that terrible night. The car door ripping open. The crushing blow to the head. The hands yanking him from the vehicle. His girlfriend Ali’s piercing scream as she is taken.
With no trace of Ali or the car, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Ryan. But with no proof and a good lawyer, he’s never charged, though that doesn’t matter to the podcasters and internet trolls. Now, Ryan has changed his last name, and entered law school. He's put his past behind him.
Until, on a summer trip abroad to Italy with his law-school classmates, Ryan gets a call from his father: Ali's car has finally been found, submerged in a lake in his hometown. Inside are two dead men and a cryptic note with five words written on the envelope in Ali’s handwriting: If something happens to me…
Then, halfway around the world, the unthinkable happens: Ryan sees the man who has haunted his dreams since that night.
As Ryan races from the rolling hills of Tuscany, to a rural village in the UK, to the glittering streets of Paris in search of the truth, he has no idea that his salvation may lie with a young sheriff’s deputy in Kansas working her first case, and a mobster in Philadelphia who’s experienced tragedy of his own.
In classic Alex Finlay form, If Something Happens to Me is told by several distinct, compelling characters whose paths intersect, detonating into a story of twist after pulse-pounding twist. The novel cements Finlay as one of the leading thriller writers today.

Thanks to netgalley & macmillan audio for the ALC of this book!

If Something Happens to Me
A Novel
By: Alex Finlay
Narrated by: Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, Paul Dateh
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Release date: 05-28-24

For the past five years, Ryan Richardson has relived that terrible night. The car door ripping open. The crushing blow to the head. The hands yanking him from the vehicle. His girlfriend Ali’s piercing scream as she is taken. With no trace of Ali or the car, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Ryan. But with no proof and a good lawyer, he’s never charged, though that doesn’t matter to the podcasters and internet trolls. Now, Ryan has changed his last name and entered law school. He’s put his past behind him.

Until, on a summer trip abroad to Italy with his law-school classmates, Ryan gets a call from his father: Ali’s car has finally been found, submerged in a lake in his hometown. Inside are two dead men and a cryptic note with five words written on the envelope in Ali’s handwriting: “If something happens to me…”

Then, halfway around the world, the unthinkable happens: Ryan sees the man who has haunted his dreams since that night. As Ryan races from the rolling hills of Tuscany to a rural village in the UK, and then to the glittering streets of Paris in search of the truth, he has no idea that his salvation may lie with a young sheriff’s deputy in Kansas working her first case and a mobster in Philadelphia who’s experienced tragedy of his own.

"If Something Happens to Me" is a compelling and well-crafted thriller that showcases Alex Finlay’s talent for creating intricate, character-driven mysteries. The novel’s blend of suspense, action, and emotional depth makes it a standout in the genre, appealing to fans of psychological thrillers and crime fiction alike. Prepare to cancel your plans and anticipate a book hangover—this exhilarating story will keep you guessing until the very end!

The narration of Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh truly added to the suspense and adrenaline push of "If Something Happens to Me". If you’re a fan of suspenseful audiobooks, this one is definitely worth adding to your reading list!

As an audiobook the narrators did an excellent job. I love an ensemble cast to help get you more into the story.

The first half of the story were a little slow for me, but I’m glad that what I assumed would happen was already mentioned halfway through and not as the big twist. I liked that the author subverted this and used it a way to push the story forward instead of making it the big reveal. (Vague, but want to avoid spoilers!)

The second half of the book moved a lot faster as things started to add up and the mystery surrounding Allison and her disappearance came together and I was able to fly through this half.

One of the harder things for me to truly get lost in this book is the amount of head jumping. For the most part the readers are granted a limited POV from the 4 main players. However, all of sudden it will go to another character and their internal thoughts making it confusing to jump from limited POV to a more all knowing one.

Overall it had a fun mystery, but somethings fell a little short for me personally. This book is for those looking for a multi POV contemporary thriller that explores lies, secrets, love, self-discovery, revenge, betrayal, and forgiveness.

This was a disappointment for me. I’ve seen many 4-5* reviews and it just wasn’t up there for me. This may be due to my listening on audio instead of reading—sometimes I feel like thrillers are better read physically. I really enjoyed the multiple narrators. However, I was still very confused as it jumped around a lot and there were a lot of characters I couldn’t keep straight.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of the audiobook.

Though he was never charged with the crime of his girlfriend, Ali’s, disappearance , Ryan’s name was still associated with it. Ryan thinks his past is finally behind him as he vacations with friends in Europe several years later. But then Ali’s car is found in a lake a rookie detective is hot on the case, determined to find the truth. In Ali’s car, a note is found in her handwriting “If Somethjng Happens to me…”

Unbeknownst to Ryan, a mobster is also connected to Ali’s disappearance and what he knows might just be the key to finding out the truth about Ali. Told from multiple perspectives, this thriller has a lot going on. But the twists kept coming until the end. This was a quick one to read (and listen to). Despite the multiple perspectives, the narration was great and I was able to keep track of the different characters.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for a complimentary audio version of this novel.

"Whoever said if you're seeking revenge dig two graves - one for your enemy and one for yourself.- had it almost right."

If you plan to start this. book, you better clear your schedule because you will not want to put this down. This is my first book by this author and I will 100% be reading more books by him. This was an intense, nail biting, story that had plenty of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved having the three perspectives of Poppy, Ryan, and Shane. While you wonder how their stories are intertwined they eventually merge together. This was a super fun audio and I enjoyed every second of it!