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yvo_about_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Finished reading: May 9th 2024
"Whoever said if you're seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for your enemy and one for yourself - had it almost right."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Head Of Zeus in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
I always seem to have a great time reading Alex Finlay's thrillers, so it's easy to understand why I was over the moon that my request for his newest story If Something Happens To Me was actually approved. I've been wanting to pick it up ever since it appeared on my kindle, as I loved the sound of the blurb with the promise of an international setting and multiple layers... And I have to say that I ended up having a blast with this story. Engaging, fast-paced and action-packed: If Something Happens To Me turned out to be yet another more than solid thriller.
This story uses a multiple POV structure and is also divided into different parts. These layers gave the story more dimension, and while you might wonder how the different POVs fit in together at first, it all becomes clear in the end. The POVs are spread out over different locations as well: you begin with Ryan in Italy, deputy Poppy in Kansas and the third set in Philadelphia that will provide the mobster angle. The last one doesn't seem to fit in with the story at first, but once the connection became clear I admit it was a clever one.
I love stories with a travel element, and we get plenty of that while we follow Ryan around. Italy, UK, France... His journey takes him across Europe as well as the US, and I liked what the locations added to the plot. This is probably why Ryan's POV is one of my favorites, although I really enjoyed spending time with Poppy as well. I could also appreciate that the different POVs introduced different thriller subgenres to the plot, blending for example detective, crime, psychological and mobster elements along the way. The story as a whole felt well balanced and I quite enjoyed the resulting thriller cocktail.
Things can be said about the credibility of it all, as certain twists are either farfetched or too convenient. I also spotted one of the big twists quite early on, but as a whole there were still plenty surprises along the way as well. If you don't mind the plot being over the top and are more interested in the entertainment level, If Something Happens To Me most likely won't let you down. Between the fast pace and engaging writing style it will be easy to keep turning those pages!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Kidnapping, Violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Suicide, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Medical content, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Domestic abuse, Dementia, and Injury/Injury detail
kelly_e's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Title: If Something Happens to Me
Author: Alex Finlay
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: May 28, 2024
I received complimentary eARC and ALC from Minotaur Books, a division of St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Twisty • Complex • Cinematic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I cannot recall exactly what prompted me to request Alex Finlay's upcoming release, If Something Happens to Me on NetGalley. Yet, here I am having read my first from this author and not exactly sure how I am feeling.
Told through several distinct voices and spanning continents, I was kept on my toes through short chapters with cliffhanger endings. The pacing was what I'd expect from a popcorn thriller. However, there is a lot going on, and I definitely needed to keep up with the digital copy in order to keep track of people, places and time periods. The cryptic note was a buzz word for me, however, it played a minimal part of the plot. This was disappointing because I felt misled.
The audiobook is very well done. With a multi-cast narration, each voice is distinct enough to differentiate between the various characters. I did have a bit of an issue keeping track of time and place, which I rectified by tandem reading with the ebook.
It is safe to say that thrillers have not been working for me recently and the same can be said for If Something Happens to Me. At times, I was confused and drawn out of the story. I think it was more of a me issue; it was quite possibly a mistake to pick up a thriller when trying to get out of a slump. While it didn't work for me, I could easily see this one being turned into a movie and think it will be a hit with thriller readers this summer.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• fast paced thrillers
• short chapters
• plots spanning multiple continents
⚠️ CW: death, child death, murder, suicide, torture, gun violence, violence, self-harm, bullying, terminal illness, kidnapping, drug use, overdose, cursing
Author: Alex Finlay
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: May 28, 2024
I received complimentary eARC and ALC from Minotaur Books, a division of St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Twisty • Complex • Cinematic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I cannot recall exactly what prompted me to request Alex Finlay's upcoming release, If Something Happens to Me on NetGalley. Yet, here I am having read my first from this author and not exactly sure how I am feeling.
Told through several distinct voices and spanning continents, I was kept on my toes through short chapters with cliffhanger endings. The pacing was what I'd expect from a popcorn thriller. However, there is a lot going on, and I definitely needed to keep up with the digital copy in order to keep track of people, places and time periods. The cryptic note was a buzz word for me, however, it played a minimal part of the plot. This was disappointing because I felt misled.
The audiobook is very well done. With a multi-cast narration, each voice is distinct enough to differentiate between the various characters. I did have a bit of an issue keeping track of time and place, which I rectified by tandem reading with the ebook.
It is safe to say that thrillers have not been working for me recently and the same can be said for If Something Happens to Me. At times, I was confused and drawn out of the story. I think it was more of a me issue; it was quite possibly a mistake to pick up a thriller when trying to get out of a slump. While it didn't work for me, I could easily see this one being turned into a movie and think it will be a hit with thriller readers this summer.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• fast paced thrillers
• short chapters
• plots spanning multiple continents
⚠️ CW: death, child death, murder, suicide, torture, gun violence, violence, self-harm, bullying, terminal illness, kidnapping, drug use, overdose, cursing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, Kidnapping, Torture, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm, Bullying, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Terminal illness and Cursing
overdose
More...