bookmarkedbybecky 's review for:

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay

4.25

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Something Happens To Me kept me company on my solo road trip from Vermont to Ohio this past weekend. What a terrific companion! The prologue immediately grabbed my attention, and Finlay's methodical plotting and clever use of mini cliffhangers at the end of chapters produced an incredibly entertaining story!

The story features a large cast of characters, yet the full cast narration makes the story easy to follow. Overall, I’m pretty impressed with the character development. Typically, I expect fast-paced thrillers to be mainly plot-driven, which was true in this case. However, I could also empathize with the characters' pasts, emotions, and inner struggles, including those of the villains, satisfying my craving for my character-driven elements.

Other highlights: short chapters (bonus for binge-ability), vivid setting descriptions from various places around the world, Finlay’s conscious effort to explain harmful mental health language - bravo!

Bottom Line:  If Something Happens To Me is highly entertaining, with a fast-paced plot and well-developed characters.  The story includes numerous twists and turns (some I guessed, others I did not) and a satisfying conclusion, making this book an ideal choice for a thrilling summer read!