I was looking for a new mystery thriller to read, and someone in my book club recommended “If Something Happens To Me” by Alex Finlay. I had never read anything by this author before, so I was excited to give this book a try. I’m happy to say that it lived up to my expectations – and now I have another author to add to my “I need to read more of their books” list!
This story isn’t a nonstop, guns-blazing, edge-of-your-seat thriller – so if you’re looking for constant action, this probably isn’t that kind of book. What it does exceptionally well is create that nagging feeling that “something isn’t quite adding up.” Just when you think you understand a character or have a pretty good idea of where the story is going, another piece of the puzzle appears and makes you rethink everything. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, but they don’t feel thrown in just for shock value. They are woven into the story in a way that kept me questioning the characters, their motives, and what I thought I knew.
I also really liked how believable the story felt. Even as the mystery became more complicated, it never felt so far-fetched that I couldn’t buy into it. There was always enough there to make me think, “Wait…could that actually be what happened?” And that’s exactly the kind of mystery I enjoy – the kind that gets into your head and makes you keep mentally rearranging the pieces even when you’re not reading.
The writing style was another big plus for me. The story has a very natural flow, and I found myself moving through the chapters without even realizing how much I’d read. Nothing felt overly complicated or bogged down with unnecessary detail. It was simply easy to get into and easy to keep reading – which may explain why I finished the entire book in just over a day. Once I got going, I really didn’t want to put it down!
What I enjoyed most was the sense of discovery. I wasn’t just waiting for the ending; I was constantly trying to figure out the people, the secrets, and how everything might connect. And when a book can keep you curious enough that you find yourself thinking about it when you’re supposed to be doing something else, that’s a pretty good sign that it’s working.
“If Something Happens to Me” was a great first introduction to Alex Finlay for me. It has mystery, suspense, secrets, twists, and enough unanswered questions to keep you turning the pages without giving everything away too soon. It may not be the most action-packed thriller I’ve read, but it kept me guessing – and more importantly, it kept me reading. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what else this author has written.
5 stars for me. And yes, this is one of those book-club recommendations I’m very glad I took.
Have you read this book? Tell me what you thought of it in a comment below! I’d also love to hear your recommendations for similar books.
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