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A review by _onemorechapter_
If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
๐ป.๐พ: Toxic family relationships, Bullying, Suicide.
๐ญAddictive & Too Fast-Paced Read!!
This was my first Alex's book and it was not bad. I will definitely check out his other books.
Five years earlier, Ryan and his girlfriend had a terrible night. Someone pulled Ryan from his girlfriend's parked car, while his girlfriend Alison disappeared. With no trace of Ali or the car, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Ryan. But with no proof and a good lawyer, heโs never charged, though that doesnโt 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 Aliโs handwriting: If something happens to meโฆ
Poppy McGee has reluctantly returned to her hometown in Leavenworth, KS to take care of her ailing father after the sudden death of her mother. She accepts a position as a new deputy sheriff and looks into solving this five-year-old crime.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania lives OโLeary a dangerous man whom everyone is afraid of except his wife Gina. Heโs involved in organized crime hiring people to do his dirty work.
As the story unfolds, layers are added from past to present that make this story interesting.
The synopsis of this novel sounded so intriguing! And no doubt, once I started reading, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Told in three parts, and three different places. From Leavenworth, KS, Philadelphia, PA and Lackford England, three different scenes in these places. The pace moved at lightning speed with its short chapters with cliffhangers and alternating POVs(including the new sheriff deputy, a mobster, his employees and Ryan). I read the book in a few hours and loved the way Alex wove multiple storylines together to make a heart-pounding narrative.
It wasn't necessarily a mystery because the story was straightforward and easy to see where it was going. The book felt too basic for a crime thriller!
I wish the ciphers had been more a part of the book. The cryptic note was such a compelling part of the premise but they were pretty minimal in the plot overall. To be fair, I think at this point I see cipher and expect something Da Vinci Code-esque, so that's on me.
Furthermore, I honestly didnโt really care much about the characters, they lack depth. Ryan was ok, but I never felt any kind of deep emotional connection to him. I also never really cared about Allison or finding out what happened to her. If I am being honest, most of the characters felt shallow or one-dimensional. This is one of the reasons I rated it 3.5 stars!
Overall, "If Something Happens to Me" is a basic thriller that lacks the depth and engagement needed to make it memorable. While the framework had potential, the execution left much to be desired.
A fast thriller to get in and out!
Read if you like:
- Multiple POV
- Sketchy Towns with Just as Sketchy People
- Puzzles
- Unsolved Mysteries
- Fast Paced
๐.๐ I loved Ziggy de la Cruz. He was only for one chapter but still shines out!
๐ธ๐ด๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐: โญโญโญ.5
๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐: 4.01 (3483)
๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐: Suspense & Psychological Thriller
๐ธ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: Yes!
It was absolutely a thriller, and paced to keep the reader's interest the entire time!
๐ธ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐:
โUnlike some people, I understand that dumb-asses say dumb things without menace in their hearts.โ
๐ญAddictive & Too Fast-Paced Read!!
This was my first Alex's book and it was not bad. I will definitely check out his other books.
Five years earlier, Ryan and his girlfriend had a terrible night. Someone pulled Ryan from his girlfriend's parked car, while his girlfriend Alison disappeared. With no trace of Ali or the car, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Ryan. But with no proof and a good lawyer, heโs never charged, though that doesnโt 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 Aliโs handwriting: If something happens to meโฆ
Poppy McGee has reluctantly returned to her hometown in Leavenworth, KS to take care of her ailing father after the sudden death of her mother. She accepts a position as a new deputy sheriff and looks into solving this five-year-old crime.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania lives OโLeary a dangerous man whom everyone is afraid of except his wife Gina. Heโs involved in organized crime hiring people to do his dirty work.
As the story unfolds, layers are added from past to present that make this story interesting.
The synopsis of this novel sounded so intriguing! And no doubt, once I started reading, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Told in three parts, and three different places. From Leavenworth, KS, Philadelphia, PA and Lackford England, three different scenes in these places. The pace moved at lightning speed with its short chapters with cliffhangers and alternating POVs(including the new sheriff deputy, a mobster, his employees and Ryan). I read the book in a few hours and loved the way Alex wove multiple storylines together to make a heart-pounding narrative.
It wasn't necessarily a mystery because the story was straightforward and easy to see where it was going. The book felt too basic for a crime thriller!
I wish the ciphers had been more a part of the book. The cryptic note was such a compelling part of the premise but they were pretty minimal in the plot overall. To be fair, I think at this point I see cipher and expect something Da Vinci Code-esque, so that's on me.
Furthermore, I honestly didnโt really care much about the characters, they lack depth. Ryan was ok, but I never felt any kind of deep emotional connection to him. I also never really cared about Allison or finding out what happened to her. If I am being honest, most of the characters felt shallow or one-dimensional. This is one of the reasons I rated it 3.5 stars!
Overall, "If Something Happens to Me" is a basic thriller that lacks the depth and engagement needed to make it memorable. While the framework had potential, the execution left much to be desired.
A fast thriller to get in and out!
Read if you like:
- Multiple POV
- Sketchy Towns with Just as Sketchy People
- Puzzles
- Unsolved Mysteries
- Fast Paced
๐.๐ I loved Ziggy de la Cruz. He was only for one chapter but still shines out!
๐ธ๐ด๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐: โญโญโญ.5
๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐: 4.01 (3483)
๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐: Suspense & Psychological Thriller
๐ธ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: Yes!
It was absolutely a thriller, and paced to keep the reader's interest the entire time!
๐ธ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐:
โUnlike some people, I understand that dumb-asses say dumb things without menace in their hearts.โ