I was enjoying If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay until I got about halfway through... and then there's a twist that completely astounded me. Upping this book's ante. A lot. Suddenly everything made sense. Threads connected.


The only thing that didn't entirely make sense was the fact that this was partially set in several countries. It seemed unnecessarily complicated that Ryan happened to be holidaying in Italy (rather than at college back home) when he's approached by the man he claims took Ali. I realise the suspect wouldn't have wanted to return to the US but it felt like there were other ways to bring him into the story. Though, we do also visit the UK and France as this story unfolds, so... perhaps Finlay enjoyed some travel-based research. 

The timing of the approach is coincidental however, as the suspect is trying to get Ryan to change his account from five years earlier, and at the same time Ali's car is being discovered, offering up fresh clues as to her fate. 

This story is pieced together in several timelines. It's difficult to explain so I won't even try though it's not confusing or complicated. We have a few narrators - there's Ryan of course in the present and past, and there's newly-minted cop Poppy McGee, who's left the army returning to her hometown and her ailing father. Poppy's brother was a classmate of Alison and Ryan's and the Sheriff a friend of her father's. And then there's Shane O'Leary a 'businessman' living in Philadelphia, devoted to his wife and son but we soon learn he's far from a nice guy. 

I really liked (most) of the characters Finlay offers up but the genius of this book is the way in which Finlay pulls the threads together. And though we're dealing with some low-life thugs Finlay's able to imbue a sense of gradience. There are things good men and women are forced to do (or willingly do), and likewise there are lines in the sand that some baddies won't cross. And what Finlay offers here are many shades of grey, all wrapped up in a feasible but surprising narrative.

Of the current crop of thriller writers, Alex Finlay is probably the closest to Harlan Coben, but with his own style and a really good sense of pacing. I have enjoyed all his novels to date, especially The Night Shift from 2022, and think that If Something Happens To Me is another great read.

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 was 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.

Finlay has such a smooth flowing style that it is very easy to become caught up in this stories and fly through the pages. If Something Happens To Me opens in an intriguing manner and Finlay keeps his foot on the pedal, as the various characters and storylines interweave and the book builds to a memorable climax. There are twists aplenty and a very satisfying conclusion.

There is some clever sleight of hand by Finlay in the structure of the book and the story is well supported by an engaging cast. Finlay always excels in his portrayal of younger characters, and he does so again here with Ryan, who is a nice mixture of uncertainty and determination. Ryan’s law student friends are also well developed, as is the ageing gangster Chaz Donnelly.

In all, a very enjoyable read.

Pure, turn-off-your-brain, popcorn entertainment thriller.
That's about it.
I read Finlay's Every Last Fear and my experience was the same, so if you enjoyed his other books, there's a strong chance you will enjoy this one as well.

Bare plot: Ali and Ryan are attacked on a well-known lovers' spot in Leavenworth, Kansas. Ryan is knocked down unconscious and Ali is missing along with her father's car. Due to a constant cloud of suspicion hanging over his head, Ryan moves away and changes his name to study law. Five years later, Ali's car is pulled from the lake and inside is a letter with a tag: "If something happens to me."

Good things:
The premise reminded me very much of various Harlan Coben's books where the main character and reader try to piece together what actually happened at the night of the incident and it what makes reader glued to the page. Fast paced, with non-stop action and easy writing makes it a perfect weekend read. Nothing bad about pure, popcorn fun and I enjoy them quite often.

Things I didn't like as much:
For being a plot-oriented novel, I didn't really expect a lot from characters, but I did notice some discrepancy in how they were presented or, rather, where you can actually notice authorial nudge- when author guides you how you should feel about certain characters in order to makes his plot make sense. (view spoiler) Author really wanted to point to us who are the bad guys and who are the good guys so we shouldn't really think about it.
- As much as this novel is over the top, I think it got too convoluted by the end. All those twists and turns really didn't bring much to the table in great scheme of things.

All in all, this was fine. I flew it rather quickly, but it didn't leave memorable impression on me.

Skillfully written, multiple time lines and POV.

This is such an engrossing novel and I only wish I could have taken this away for a couple of days and read it in one.
It has holes, and a few unanswered questions but in it's entirety it was a real treat.

It would suit any thriller lover but it will especially suit those who love Finlay.

If Something Happens to Me is the latest standalone mystery thriller by best selling author Alex Finlay. I've read this author before and this one doesn't disappoint. The author sets up an intriguing mystery with plenty of suspense, characters to question, and twists and turns. I read alot of mysteries and even I didn't predict how this one would pan out. There were multiple storylines and POV and some thrilling scenes. A fast paced, easy to read story by an excellent storyteller.

Amazon review to follow after release day.

The book starts with two stories. In one, parents are struggling to understand why their boy is so unhappy at his new school. He is being severely bullied at school, resulting in tragedy. In the other story, a teenage girl, Alison, is snatched from a car while on a date. She is presumed dead, though her body is never found. Her boyfriend, Ryan, is knocked unconscious in the attack. His account is largely disbelieved, and he is considered guilty by many in the town – though never charged.
That was in the past. Now, Ryan has changed his name, left the small town and its prejudices behind, and is attending law school. He is currently on a law school trip to Italy, when he hears that the car from which Alison had been abducted, has been found.
Of course, any one who reads crime novels knows that these two – seemingly unrelated stories – will in fact be connected. And so it turns out – though not in a predictable (at least to me) manner.
I did enjoy this book – but couldn’t quite give it five stars. There were several things I just could not fully believe in. Firstly, the bullying happened at a school for rich kids. Every child in that school would have known (at least by rumour), where the wealth of the other children’s parents came from. Bullying is never a good idea – but picking on the son of a ruthless mobster is a particularly dumb idea. Secondly, the lack of curiosity in the residents of the small town where Alison was abducted. The lack-lustre investigation by the police was eventually explained – and was believable. But small towns are renown for gossip – Alison wasn’t the only person to go missing that night, why not more speculation? Thirdly, Ryan manages to discover what better financed and more driven people failed to. He is clearly intelligent, but were the others that incompetent?
The story is faced paced with the action crossing two continents, and holds your attention throughout, with some excellent twists. So, I would definitely recommend the book, but it certainly pays to not be as picky as me, and just enjoy a great thriller.

In the last few years, Alex Finlay has become an absolute must-read suspense author for me. His latest offering, If Something Happens to Me, has firmly cemented him as a favourite author of mine, with the masterful delivery of yet another propulsive, short-chapter, multi-narrative style mystery story, that will hold you riveted and leave you breathless.

Five years ago, in small-town Leavenworth, Kansas, high school sweethearts Ali and Ryan were attacked at Lover’s Lane on the last summer night before they departed for college. Ryan, knocked out and disoriented, woke to find Ali gone, instantly shrouding him in suspicion and judgement that he hasn’t shaken in the years since. To survive the trauma of that night, he’s changed his name and tried to move on, but when a college summer trip to Italy sees him come face-to-face with a man he swore he saw that night in Kansas, Ryan gets pulled back into a complicated web of lies and retribution, as he races across Europe desperate for answers he’s been needing for years, about the truth of Ali’s shocking disappearance.

Simultaneously, back in Kansas, a young ex-vet named Poppy, starts her new job as a deputy sheriff on the day that Ali’s missing car is found submerged in a local lake. Ali is not inside, but two dead men are, along with a note inside Ali’s old waterlogged bag, with a titled (mysteriously coded) message that reads, “if something happens to me.” The case has been long closed, but Poppy doesn’t concede easily, diving deeper into her own investigation of what happened that night five years ago, leading her to some shocking and personally confronting truths she never saw coming.

Ryan and Poppy were solid main characters, each engaging and intelligent, neither suffering fool’s in the midst of some seriously dangerous and shady circumstances they found themselves caught up in. They both held my interest effortlessly, as the narrative jumped back and forth between their perspectives (along with the POV’s of a few other notable characters), as the story raced to its exhilarating conclusion.

Much like each experience I’ve had reading an Alex Finlay thriller to date, this book utterly consumed me, holding me gripped and invested from the first chapter, forcing me—who am I kidding, I was eager and willing—to race through the pages, desperate to see what would happen next, as the mystery unfolded with each expertly timed reveal, and Ryan and Poppy scrambled to find out the truth of what happened to Ali.

The Night Shift still reigns supreme as my personal favourite of the Finlay stories I’ve read (so far), but I had such a blast flying through this unputdownable thrill-read, that If Something Happens to Me is now an easy-ranked number two in my books.

Tautly Written..
A search for the truth following an appalling crime turns devastating in this action packed, tension fuelled suspense. Tautly written, a narrative with a continuous underlying vein of menace and a well defined and credible cast of characters populating a propulsive plot littered with twists. Fair warning - some distressing scenes. Compelling and immersive.

This was my first book from Alex Finlay and I was pleasantly surprised. I liked that the story started immediately without a lot of explanation done. You feel like you are thrown into it but in a good way. The story is also told from different POVs which made for interesting insights about the characters along the way. There were a lot of plot twists, maybe even a bit too many. It messed a bit with the pacing for me. Maybe a few more quiet moments between them would have been good. Also some plot twists were a bit on the nose for me and too easy to be predicted. The writing style was great most of the time, although sometimes things were over-explained. But overall it was a very thrilling story and it kept me hooked till the very end. I will definitely pick up more books from him.

Dnf @ 33%

sorry i tried to get into it but just couldn’t. the writing style is not working for me and there are way too many characters 😵‍💫

From Italy to London and back to the US, Ryan is desperate to find out what happened to his high school sweetheart. They were in love, super popular in school but then, all of a sudden, she is gone and he is a suspect in her disappearance. His life is ruined. He cannot escape the fact that people think he is a killer. He tries to get on with his life and goes to law school and is just getting things back on track when the mystery of her disappearance comes back up and he is drawn back into the search for answers. He could ruin his life again, be drawn back under suspicion of the police and risk his law career but he must know the truth. No matter the cost. A clever, twisty read. Very much enjoyed it,

If you're after an action-packed popcorn thriller, If Something Happens To Me by Alex Finlay might be for you. Initially, I was hooked by the gripping pace and intriguing premise, but the story eventually became too farfetched, breaking the spell.

The novel begins five years after Ryan’s girlfriend, Ali, is abducted right in front of him, causing suspicion to fall on Ryan. Trying to move on, he heads to law school and participates in an exchange trip to Italy. Suddenly, he learns his car has been found in a lake with two dead men inside but no trace of Ali. A note from Ali is discovered in the car, propelling Ryan on a quest to uncover the truth about that fateful night.

The book's strength lies in its short, action-packed chapters that immediately draw you in. The initial mystery and fast-paced storytelling kept me eagerly turning the pages. However, as the plot unfolded, the coincidences piled up and the story's believability waned. The characters didn't resonate with me enough to suspend disbelief and fully enjoy the narrative.

Despite my reservations, this book will likely appeal to fans of quick, escapist thrillers. My advice: don’t overthink the plot twists. If you can overlook the improbabilities, you'll find it an entertaining read. However, if you're like me and prefer a more plausible storyline, the later developments might diminish your overall enjoyment.

A big thank you to @Netgalley and @headofzeus for providing me an ARC for honest review.

Publication Date is 6th June 2024

Finlay always has really great writing. You are pulled straight in with the characters and the messes they get themselves into.

This one didn’t quite hit for me, storywise, though. I found that I was not invested in MOST of the characters. There were a lot of people doing bad things that could have been totally avoidable. I felt like the book focused a lot on people I didn’t care about, and not so much on those I did care for.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Omg, I can't believe that Netgalley accepted my request for "if something happens to me". I'm so happy about it because I've been waiting for the book for a really long time and now I can read it in advance!! :)

It takes a while to get into the story and get familiar with the different Characters, but at about 30% it gets really thrilling. I didn't want to put it down. You're always wondering how the three perspectives fit together.

I found the first half better than the second. However, I couldn't put it down. Towards the end it was like an action film.

The plot was okay. But it wasn't a "crazy" page turner. When it all came together, I found it gripping and well thought out, but it was a bit too much... a bit over the top.

Overall it was a very good thriller that I finished reading in a very short time. Gripping, good twists and turns and highly recommended!!

Oh hello twisty goodness… 👋🏽 what a ride this book was! 😮‍💨

This popcorn-style 🍿 binge thriller is about a missing girl, presumed dead, a notorious mobster, and a new deputy sheriff feeling that something is off and trying to put all the pieces together.

There are three main POVs: Ryan, the missing girls boyfriend who was present at her disappearance and ends up being a main suspect, who in turn changes his name and moves away for college. Shane, the head of a major crime syndicate in Philadelphia, and Poppy, a young war vet who returns home to Kansas to work as a deputy sheriff. More POVs pop up throughout the book, just to keep you on your toes, and that it did! 😉

The story flowed soooooo well and the chapters were super short which makes it so easy to read, and hard to put down. 👏🏽 I love books you don’t want to put down!

I loved the twists, and even though I guessed a couple, I really enjoyed the ride! 🎢 This is my fave Finlay so far and I think you’ll love it too!

Thank you Head of Zeus, Aries, and NetGalley for this gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first book by Alex Finlay but it certainly won’t be my last. It is a fast paced and well plotted thriller which reminded me a bit of a Harlan Coben novel.
There are two stories going on and it is only when the reader gets about half way through the book that they realise they are linked.
Ryan is at high school and on an evening out with his girlfriend when they are attacked and Ali kidnapped. She is never seen again and for a time Ryan is a suspect although he didn’t do anything wrong. People still look at him as if he is a criminal and he’s forced to change his name as he embarks on a college degree in law.
In another strand of the story a young boy is bullied at his new school leading to tragic events which have repercussions for all involved.
It is also the story of Poppy a young cop returning to her home town to take up a new position in the Sherrif’s office.
The story is cleverly woven together and very fast paced- it was one of those books I just had to keep reading. I liked the settings of the US, Italy, France and England. It really gave the book a sense of movement and it was interesting to read about all the different places.
The characters were well drawn and engaging too. This is definitely a five star read which I recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my review copy.

This was my first book by Alex Finlay but definitely not the last! The story is told in 3 POV’s and is really easy to read/follow. The plot was fast paced and I liked that the story took place in different locations. I was hooked from the beginning and it was really hard to put down. I highly recommend this one
Thank you Netgalley and Head of Zeus for this arc

If Something Happens To Me
Alex Finlay

“You found something?” Poppy asks, trying to contain the eagerness in her voice.
Chantelle swipes at her phone, then displays a photo. It’s of an envelope. On the outside it says: “if something happens to me.”

This was propulsive and I raced to uncover all the secrets! Every chapter ended on a mini cliffhanger that made you NEED just one more chapter on repeat.

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

This is a story about money, lots of money, betrayal, deceit and deception and the paramount love for family, that means anything is doable to honour and protect your family. The collateral damage is vast and the plot line twisty, just the way we like it.

‘A survival mechanism: Never look back.’

For five years Ryan Richardson had relived the terrible night that his girlfriend Ali was yanked from the car and he received a crushing blow to the head. With no trace of Ali to find, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Ryan.

Ryan has tried to distance himself from that fateful night, moved away, changed his name and is on a summer abroad trip to Italy. That’s when Ryan gets a phone call saying Ali’s missing car has just been found, submerged in a lake in his hometown with two dead men inside and a cryptic note in Ali’s handwriting: If Something Happens To Me…

“I’d be surprised. They’ve never lost a witness for a reason: They trust no one.”

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME is released June 6th - just under two weeks away! Do yourself a favour and grab this book. Huge thanks @headofzeus #ariesfictionbooks #ariesfiction #alexfinlay @alexfinlayauthor 👏

‘Funny how we all hate tourists even though we’ll all be tourists at some point…’

(REVIEW PUBLISHED on 24th May 2024)

For the last five years, Ryan Richardson has replayed the fateful night his girlfriend Ali was abducted. Though he's never charged, a cloud of suspicion hangs over him, so he changes his name and enters law school. On a trip to Italy, he receives a call. The missing car has finally been found submerged in a lake with two men inside and a cryptic note from Ali stating 'if something happens to me'... When Ryan sees the man who has haunted his nightmares from that night, it sends him on a wild chase through Italy, the UK, and France. Will he finally get the answers he needs to move on?

This was a good, fast-paced thriller. This was full of twists and turns, and I never knew where it was going. The chapters were short, too, and each one was from a different POV, which I enjoyed. Highly recommend.

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

In a small town in Kansas, a car is found with two dead bodies in a lake alongwith a cryptic message 5 years after Ali went missing. At that time Ryan her boyfriend and another serial killer were named as suspects. Ryan connects with Poppy McGee, an ex- military police now a novice deputy sheriff working on the case to finally find the truth that has been haunting him for years. And how does a mobster, Shane O'Leary tie into this case ?

I was stoked to get approved for an ARC of my third Alex Finlay book. This one had all the elements of a thriller - suspenseful, tense, fast-paced short chapters, unexpected twists and multiple PoVs. It comes as no surprise that I absolutely loved and devoured it.

The way the story unfolded was brilliant and with his masterful writing Alex Finlay does a fantastic job of effortlessly tying everything together in the end. An absolute page-turner.

Thank you @netgalley and @headofzeus for a chance to read and review an early copy.