I’ve loved all of the author’s previous novels and If Something Happens to Me was no exception. Five years after the abduction of his girlfriend Alison, Ryan has a new name and a new life at law school. When Alison’s car is found submerged in a lake in their home town in Kansas, Ryan’s story becomes intertwined with Deputy Sheriff Poppy and Shane O’Leary, a mobster in Philadelphia.
This is a fast paced and intricately plotted thriller that I raced through over the course of 24 hours. I loved the way the author weaved the various strands of the plot together so brilliantly and often unexpectedly. The short chapters made this a compelling read and really ramped up the tension.
Another excellent, twisty read from the author that I would highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
4.5 stars

The story centres on Ryan Richardson, whose life is upended when his girlfriend, Ali, is abducted in a violent incident five years prior.

Ryan, plagued by partial amnesia, struggles to rebuild his life under a new identity, only to be pulled back into the mystery when Ali's car is discovered submerged in a lake - with two bodies inside and a cryptic note from Ali herself.

I’d recommend you avoid the official blurb if you plan to read this as it gives so much away!

As Ryan pieces together the truth, his quest intersects with Poppy, a young Kansas deputy, and Shane O’Leary, a ruthless mob boss. Finlay expertly ties together these seemingly disparate threads, creating a plot that is as complex as it is compelling. I definitely needed to pay attention in parts.

The pacing is relentless, with short, punchy chapters that maintain an unyielding sense of urgency. Finlay balances tension with well-timed revelations, and certainly kept me hooked. I really enjoyed the approach to the narrative, spanning multiple timelines and settings.

As well as fast pace and intricate plotting, we’ve some great characters. Ryan is a flawed yet sympathetic protagonist, grappling with guilt, suspicion, and a burning need for closure. I really liked Poppy - and her journey as a deputy uncovering corruption and betrayal. O’Leary provides a chilling counterbalance.

It’s a gripping, high-stakes thriller that I devoured in 24 hours. At times I had to concentrate on the multi-layered plot, but it was certainly worth it. This was my first Finlay - but won’t be my last. I have two more already to dive into soon ..

My favourite Finlay so far!

One fateful night five years ago. 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.

Ryan can't forget that night, especially now five years later and Ali's car has been found.

This was a topsy-turvy adventure told from various character viewpoints. It was fun trying to figure out how it would all fit together. I'd recommend not reading the full synopsis as I feel like it gives too much away.

"No matter how far you run or how much you hide - eventually your past will catch up with you"

...

Going right back to the time when author Alex Finlay released his stunning debut thriller, I have been an unwavering fan of his work. 'If Something Happens To Me', his fourth stand alone novel, has only served to strengthen his place on my author popularity chart, with me compulsively devouring the book in just a couple of marathon sittings, a rare event indeed!

This intense, fluent and well-structured, multi-layered storyline was narrated from multiple viewpoints, which ramped up the tension nicely, whilst giving me the opportunity to get to know the well-developed main protagonists in some depth. Short punchy chapters kept the action, which was full of palpable tension, suspense, dread and menace, moving along at a breakneck pace, although I must admit to being a bit slow on the uptake when it came to working out that we kept jumping back and forth between two timelines, that is until they dovetailed together about three quarters of the way through; with the fact that I never really noticed only confirming just how engrossed I was.

His own family is everything to O'Leary and anyone who messes with the ones he holds dear had better watch their backs, regardless of their age or position in life. Everyone has a weak spot and the likes of O'Leary knows just how to exploit and manipulate a situation to bring about the resolution he wants, without compassion or pause for thought about the impact or outcomes of his actions. Blood might be thicker than water in most sane peoples' view of the world, however O'Leary manages to surround himself with those who would willingly die for him (and often do), without regard for their own loved ones.

This was a multiple location storyline, which saw me visiting Kansas and Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA as the two main sites of action, with whistle-stop detours via Italy, France and my home country the United Kingdom, adding vibrancy to the palette. There was not a slew of detailed descriptions about any one place in particular, however, for me as a confirmed armchair traveller, there was just enough detail to whet my appetite, lifting the sights, sounds and smells from the page, for a truly transportive and immersive experience, where the very air was crackling with tension long after I had closed the final page.


They do say that revenge is a dish best served cold, although in the claustrophobic, twisted and gritty world inhabited by the likes of the malevolent O'Leary and his gangster peers, revenge always seems to be sweet and to be savoured, whatever the temperature, with loose ends never tolerated, no matter what unspoken agreements you might have thought you had! O'Leary will always make you pay in the end, no matter how long he has to wait!

I foud this book a difficult one as I've really enjoyed Finlay's other works but this one was a miss for me. I found it all over the place but maybe its something I need to come back to.

This book felt like a very young-adult thriller. We have two parallel narratives and it takes a while before a reader can see where they will converge.

Ryan was knocked out as his girlfriend vanished. He thought of the man he saw often, but few believe that such a man existed. Under the cloud of suspicion, he moved on with life the best way he could. He changed his name and is trying to get into a profession he respects. It is then that his past comes back.

The car that went missing all those years ago is found and that has everyone involved scrambling to wrap up their secrets, but not all are successful.

Although I have had trouble enjoying thrillers the last couple of years, I am glad I gave this a shot. I would recommend this book to fans of the genre.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

After enjoying Alex Finlay's The Night Shift, I was keen to see what he would do next and this was another absorbing story.
I really liked the multiple perspectives that we get and it was one of those books where I kept needing to read just one more chapter before bed, even when I was struggling to keep my eyes open.
There were some clever twists and it kept me hooked the whole way through.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for what Alex Finlay does next.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If Something Happens to Me sounded like a decent premise for a mystery novel but something about it just didn't really click into place. It's five years after the disappearance of Ali, with her boyfriend Ryan Richardson the chief suspect for a long time. He's since changed his name and gone to law school and everything seems great on a class trip to Italy until a figure from the past appears, prompting Ryan to question everything about that fateful night.
On the other side of the world, a troubled accountant is trying to stay on the right side of a client - a local mob boss - while also raising his daughter as a single parent.
And a discharged army veteran is taking a job as the new deputy sheriff when Ali's missing car turns up in a lake, with a couple of dead guys inside.
The mystery seems solid from the outset but runs out of steam quite a distance from the end, particularly as the biggest twist is revealed relatively early on. I didn't particularly like that either, I felt like there wasn't enough there to give the reader any inkling that something was a bit off. Unlike others, I didn't see that early twist coming, so either I missed some clues or they weren't there.
I wasn't particularly invested in any of the characters either - they felt a little one-dimensional, even Ryan whose historical strife could have been an interesting exploration of the impact of false accusations on his life. But we're never really given anything beyond surface level in terms of how it affected him.
All in all, an inoffensive page-turner but not one that's likely to stick in the mind for very long after.

Thanks to Head of Zeus for the eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Gripping !!

If something happens to me by Alex Finlay

Ryan Richardson Is suspected of killing his girlfriend Alison. With no memory of the night she was taken from him, no way to prove his innocence to the world, he lives haunted by that day even though he is cleared legally.

Poppy, a young deputy finds issues in an old case. She doesn’t understand whom to trust even in her own family or work place.

Somewhere Ryan meets Ali’s kidnapper and Poppy finds an old cryptic note from Ali. Living in different countries at that time , they have to help each other to figure out what’s going on.

With the story jumping from past and present, told through several interesting POVs, this book was unputdownable! I just wanted to know what was happening and kept reading through the day.

With interesting plot twists and good writing, this book is really a recommended one for all mystery thriller fans. My first book by the author but surely won’t be the last 🤩

Fast paced books recommendations please!

I really enjoyed the The Night Shift by this author so was looking forward to this one. It didn’t disappoint and found I was hooked, the multiple storylines came together well without being confusing. Highly recommend!

This book is a relentless, suspense-filled journey with twists at every turn. The author skillfully alternates between the perspectives of diverse characters, each bringing their unique backgrounds and motives into the mix. As the story progresses, these seemingly separate narratives begin to intertwine, creating a cohesive and thrilling plot. Once you dive into this book, you'll find it impossible to put down. It's a wild ride from start to finish.

Five years after Ryan Richardson's girlfriend Ali was taken and her car vanished, it’s found submerged with two dead men and a cryptic note. During a trip to Italy, Ryan spots a man from his nightmares, triggering a search across Europe. His quest intersects with a young Kansas deputy and a Philadelphia mobster, leading to unexpected twists and turns.

If Something Happens to Me is wonderful, twisty, and impossible to put down. Finlay masterfully weaves a complex narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The characters are compelling and well-developed, each adding depth and intrigue to the plot. The pacing is perfect, with each chapter leaving you eager to find out what happens next.

I loved every minute and was genuinely sad when it finished. It's a solid 5 stars for me. This is the first book I’ve read by Alex Finlay, and I’m excited to explore more of his work. His ability to create suspense and deliver unexpected twists is impressive, making him a standout in the thriller genre.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. If you're a fan of thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, If Something Happens to Me is a must-read.

This is another excellent read from this ‘thriller author’.

Ryan is a young man trying to escape his past and in particular the rumours that he killed his girlfriend years ago.

It’s pacy, has thrills, suspense and intrigue and I loved the back and forth between chapters, which the author does so cleverly. I kept track easily and there have been other book examples where this has not been the case, so, the author has a real skill in not only ensuring the reader remains engaged, but, also in creating real tension and suspense throughout.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the opportunity to preview.

"Something Happens to Me" by Alex Finlay is a gripping and intricately plotted thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The novel centers around a seemingly random event that sets off a chain reaction of suspenseful and unexpected consequences. When a group of strangers find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, their lives become intertwined in ways they could never have imagined. Alex Finlay masterfully weaves together multiple perspectives and timelines, gradually revealing the connections between the characters and the events that bind them together. The storytelling is skillfully executed, with each twist and turn adding layers of intrigue and suspense. The characters in "Something Happens to Me" are well-developed and complex, each harboring secrets and motivations that drive the narrative forward. Finlay deftly explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the consequences of past actions, creating a rich tapestry of human emotions and moral dilemmas. The pacing of the novel is relentless, keeping readers eagerly turning the pages as they uncover the truth behind the initial event and its far-reaching implications. The author's prose is sharp and evocative, enhancing the atmosphere of tension and uncertainty that permeates the story.

I liked the writing and book is engaging and slow burn. Unthinkable things happens and mystery remains till the end. Five years ago, Ali was abducted and Ryan had no clue what’s happening with them. Five years later, he changes his name and join law school. He is trying to find the truth.. A lot has changed and truth is buried beneath the layers of mystery and suspense. While unexpected happenings consumes everyone and a lot of things happens in the book. This book was an interesting read. It is the kind of book in which questions remain unanswered and there are more questions than answers.

Thanks to the publisher and author.

Alex Finlay’s "If Something Happens to Me" is a gripping, high-octane thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Set against a backdrop of international intrigue and personal redemption, this novel is a masterclass in suspense, bolstered by well-drawn characters and relentless pacing.

The story follows Ryan Richardson, a man tormented by the events of a fateful night five years ago when his girlfriend Ali was abducted. Despite his innocence, Ryan's life has been marred by suspicion and scrutiny. Now, as a law student trying to rebuild his life, he is thrust back into the nightmare when Ali's car is discovered submerged in a lake with two dead men and a cryptic note inside.

The plot takes readers on a thrilling journey from the picturesque landscapes of Tuscany to a rural UK village and the dazzling streets of Paris. Finlay's knack for setting the scene immerses the reader in these diverse locales, adding a rich, atmospheric layer to the narrative. The twists are expertly crafted, each one upping the ante and adding new layers of complexity to the mystery.

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its multi-perspective storytelling. Finlay deftly weaves together the narratives of Ryan, a young sheriff’s deputy in Kansas, and a mobster in Philadelphia. These distinct voices converge in a crescendo of suspense and revelation, making the book hard to put down.

Ryan is a compelling protagonist whose quest for truth and justice is both heartfelt and harrowing. His encounters with the man from his nightmares and the uncovering of long-buried secrets drive the story forward with relentless momentum. The supporting characters, each grappling with their own struggles, add depth and nuance to the plot, enriching the overall reading experience.

The twists and turns are plentiful and well-executed, keeping readers guessing until the very end. Finlay's ability to balance intricate plotting with emotional depth makes "If Something Happens to Me" a standout in the thriller genre. The unexpected connections between the characters and the unfolding of the mystery are handled with precision and skill, ensuring a satisfying payoff.

In conclusion, "If Something Happens to Me" is a thoroughly engaging read that will appeal to fans of complex, character-driven thrillers. Finlay has crafted a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is suspenseful, cementing his reputation as a leading voice in contemporary thriller writing. This book is a solid 4 out of 5 stars and highly recommended for anyone looking for a page-turner with a powerful twist.

Unfortunately I could not finish this book and gave up at 40% mark.

There was a lot of characters being introduced which left me feeling very confused

Ah, at last. Everything I read seems to be so 'same, same' these days. Sometimes it feels like even seasoned authors are trying to squeeze every bit of inspiration out, at times exceeding their quota. This was different, exciting and fresh, albeit a teeny bit over the top.

Ryan and Alison - lovely people, both of them - are having a moment, or planning a moment, on a rainy evening. All is well until suddenly, Ryan is whacked over he head and Alison is snatched by someone. Someone sinister.

The story jumps between times and places expertly (I am soooo ready to go to Italy round about now) and the characters are well-rounded and relatable. Even the bad guys (most, but not all - O!) are given a once-over with a guy-next-door brush. Lots of twisty-turns, some you'll see coming, some not.

Brilliant read.

3.5 stars rounded up.

I loved the start of this book, I could feel the terror the characters must have felt. Unfortunately my interest was held through the middle but it did pick up towards the last 1/4

Poppy is such a interesting character, loved how she dealt with moving back to her home town, a new job and some family secrets being unearthed.

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay is thriler at its best.

Gripping and fast paced story with multiple POV's and past and present timelines.
This book has it all.
A must read!