If Something Happens to Me: A Novel

A USA Today Bestseller!

From “one of the genre’s most exciting voices” (E! News) 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, 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.

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Published May 28, 2024

322 pages

Average rating: 7.38

115 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Andrea-The Shelf Life Books
Jul 03, 2025
8/10 stars
Five years ago, Ryan Richardson and his high school girlfriend Ali were parked at the local “lover’s lane”. He’s attacked and when he comes to, Ali and the car are gone. The only things he remembers about the attack was Ali’s screams and that the attacker was missing both his pinky fingers. Ryan was accused of the murder of Ali, since she never found her.
Years later Ryan changed his last name hoping to reinvent himself. He is now in law school and has decided to take a trip with his school mates to Italy. Ryan just happens to catches sight of something that shocks him to the core. It’s the man from the night Ali went missing. Ryan must risk his own life to track this man down and finally find out what happened to Ali.

Poppy, a young war vet who returns home to Leavenworth, Kansas, to work as the deputy sheriff. Her first call is to an abandoned car found in a lake. There are two men that have an evidence of an execution style murder. Poppy must find out who these men are, and why they were murdered. The car is Ali’s, the exact one that went missing that terrible night. Ali’s body is not in the car, but her purse is. They find a note in Ali’s handwriting that says, if something happens to me with a cryptic message.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a completely fast paced, easy read with lots of twists and turns, that kept me guessing. It is told in multi character POV. The narrator fits all of the puzzle pieces together for us, with ease. This was a 4 star read for me.
carrmel21
Feb 26, 2025
10/10 stars
Listening to the audiobook of “If Something Happens to Me” by Alex Finlay was an unforgettable experience. The story’s gripping narrative and complex characters had me completely immersed. Ryan Richardson’s harrowing journey to uncover the truth behind his girlfriend’s disappearance is both heart-wrenching and exhilarating. Finlay’s skillful storytelling, combined with the excellent narration, made for a thrilling listen that I couldn’t pause. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and the emotional depth of the story resonated with me deeply. I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone who loves a good mystery with a strong emotional core!

Alex Finlay delivers a heart-pounding thriller in “If Something Happens to Me,” a tale woven with suspense and global intrigue. Ryan Richardson’s search for his abducted girlfriend takes readers from Tuscany to Paris, with Finlay’s signature twists captivating you until the last page.

This novel is a must for fans of emotional depth like Emily Henry, dark twists akin to Emily McIntire, and the intense storytelling of Tracy Wolff. It’s a cross-genre gem that will appeal to true crime aficionados and those who savor character-driven stories.

In essence, Alex Finlay’s book is a masterclass in thriller writing, perfect for anyone seeking a story that thrills and touches the soul.
Laura Kershaw
Jan 07, 2025
8/10 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!

First a few things I liked about the book: (1) the switching of time, place, and perspective was really interesting - I liked how it was all third person but switched whose emotions you were experiencing as it helped give more depth to the characters, (2) the mystery and intrigue was there the whole way while still maintaining some aspects of realism to the story, and (3) I think the pacing of the writing was very good as it kept me interested in what was happening next but didn’t feel rushed with a climax in the last few pages (love a book with an epilogue).

The only thing I think could use some improvement is that the mistakes that the good guys made didn’t have any particularly real consequences, but the bad guys had very real consequences. I also think that there could have been more showing than telling on the motivations of the bad guys - particularly I wanted to know more about Gina apart from her being an extension/motivation for Shane. But these are definitely small bones to pick in light of a very successful novel.

I’d give it a 4.5/5 overall. Very enjoyable read.
RaissaR
Aug 07, 2024
7/10 stars
Plot twist, something does happen and it takes YEARS for the connection to occur. Lives change because a note was discovered years after a girl goes missing and they think the boyfriend did it. He still fights to find her and travels all across the world to be reconnected. Some of the story plots were just too far fetched for the time frame and ages of the characters. Overall, it was an okay “cat-and-mouse” and secrets revealed game for a very unfortunate reason.
JL Reads
Jul 27, 2024
8/10 stars
Oh heck yes, this book takes place in Leavenworth, KS and that where I was when I started it! I was pulled in immediately and enjoyed the wild ride. Plenty of interesting characters and good action. Told from multiple POV’s and just a darn good mystery thriller. Book #73 in 2024

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