If Something Happens to Me

Overview

From “one of the genre’s most exciting voices”* comes one of the year’s most-anticipated thrillers.

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, entered law school, and put his past behind him.

Until, on a summer trip abroad to Italy with his law-school classmates, Ryan gets a call: Ali's car has finally been found, submerged in a lake in his small Midwestern 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.

Praise

A Goodreads Readers' “Biggest Books of the Spring”
A LibraryReads Hall of Fame Selection for May -- Best Books Voted by Librarians
A Goodreads Most-Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers of 2024
A Novel Suspects Most-Anticipated Crime Fiction Novel of 2024
A Nerd Daily Most-Anticipated 2024 Book Release
A Deadly Pleasures Magazine Most Anticipated Mystery and Thriller of 2024
A Real Book Spy 30 Must Read Mysteries for Spring 2024

“As in Finlay’s previous novels, “Relentless pacing, impressive characterizations, and the author’s knack for surprise combine to produce top-shelf entertainment. This is a smart, unpredictable winner.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Alex Finlay has outdone himself with If Something Happens to Me—a riveting thriller with A TWIST YOU WON’T SEE COMING. I loved this book.” —Laura Dave, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me

“If Something Happens to Me shows why Alex Finlay is one of the leading thriller writers today. PULSE-POUNDING, LAYERED, AND IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN. Finlay—the master of twists—has outdone himself.” —Sarah Pekkanen, # 1 New York Times bestselling author of Gone Tonight

“A brilliant and taut thriller that begs to be read in one sitting. I know I did. If Something Happens to Me is PERFECTLY PLOTTED, NAIL-BITINGLY INTENSE, AND INCREDIBLY COMPELLING. Finlay proves once again that he is a master of his craft.” —Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author of Home is Where the Bodies Are

“Told at a breakneck pace, peppered with whiplash twists that will make you question every premise, If Something Happens to Me is EASILY ONE OF THE BEST THRILLERS OF THE YEAR. Alex Finlay has already established himself as a titan in the thriller world; this novel may be his best yet.” —David Ellis, New York Times bestselling author of Look Closer

“The twists are nonstop, and the story falls into surprising territory. Finlay’s name on the cover guarantees a great read, and this one will end up on many best-of-the-year lists.” —Jeff Ayers, First Clue Reviews

“The thrill of a twist is unmatched, and there’s no one who can surprise me as consistently as this author. The story doesn’t merely become a race to discover the truth . . . yet I find the journey just as rewarding as the destination. Finlay crafts characters that are a pleasure to read about, mysteries that captivate, and novels that are as exhilarating as they are intricate. This blend makes for an invariably exceptional reading experience with his books, and If Something Happens to Me adds another distinguished accolade to his already remarkable repertoire.”—Mystery & Suspense magazine

“The story jumps back and forth between several characters, leaving readers guessing as to their connection, and there is a twist about halfway through the story that even the most fervent mystery fans will find surprising. Finlay serves up another compelling, tension-filled thriller.”—Booklist