If Anything Happens to Me by Luanne Rice: An Honest YA Mystery Review
As a long-time crime junkie, I went into If Anything Happens to Me hoping for at least a few chills, twists, or unsettling reveals. While I wasn’t expecting a gritty, true-crime-style deep dive—especially since this is a young adult novel—I still expected a solid mystery and a believable payoff.
Unfortunately, the book left me disappointed.
Let’s get into the story, in the order it unfolds, followed by my final thoughts.
*Spoilers Below*
The Plot
Sixteen-year-old Oli Parrish is still reeling from the death of her younger sister Eloise, whose body was found buried in a five-foot hole in the woods. The case remains unsolved. But everything changes when Oli returns to the scene and discovers another girl—Iris—buried alive in the same spot. Iris is saved but has no memory of how she got there. She’s convinced her sister, Hayley, is still missing.
Oli, Iris, and Oli’s longtime friend Matt—formerly part of a tight-knit group with med student Fitch—begin an investigation of their own. Their suspicions eventually point toward Fitch, whose strange behavior and obsession with science turn out to be more than just academic.
Parasomnia, Blood, and Twisted Science
Fitch is obsessed with curing his sister Abigail’s rare form of parasomnia, a condition that causes her to stop breathing in her sleep. Convinced that the cure lies in the blood of rare AB-negative individuals, he turns to his family’s ancestral texts and folklore rather than modern medicine.
What begins as misguided love spirals into horror: Fitch abducts girls he believes are genetic matches—first Iris, then Oli—drugging them and drawing their blood in a decaying hotel turned underground lab. His delusions are rooted in a centuries-old family tome, a Sibylline version of the Malleus Maleficarum, filled with alchemical symbols and pseudo-medical theories passed down through generations.
The Miramar Hotel: A Haunted Past
Once a grand coastal retreat in Black Hall, Connecticut, the Miramar Hotel earned a dark reputation as a health spa during the era of the Sibylline sisters—Daphne, Minerva, and Abigail. All three suffered from a mysterious parasomnia-like illness. The hotel became a magnet for doctors, researchers, and spiritualists drawn by curiosity, science, or superstition. Some believed the illness was a medical marvel. Others whispered of a family curse tied to their ancestor, Alse Young—the first woman executed for witchcraft in America.
Inside, the hotel is a surreal maze: mirrored halls, star-painted ceilings, and hidden passageways create both a physical and symbolic labyrinth of trauma and secrecy. While the eerie setting is immersive, the book’s pivot toward mysticism—like the gold dust Fitch uses on Oli’s unconscious body—felt out of sync with the modern thriller setup.
Family Loyalties and Cracks in the Plan
Fitch’s descent into madness is enabled by some family members but opposed by others. Daphne, the elderly keeper of the Sibylline secrets, holds the ancient tome that influences his delusions. Minerva, initially complicit, ultimately helps Iris and Matt free the girls when she sees the damage Fitch has caused.
Even Abigail, long kept drugged and voiceless, awakens to the truth: her brother’s “cure” is nothing but harmful pseudoscience. In a pivotal moment, she defies him—choosing love and liberation over loyalty. This emotional turn adds surprising depth to her previously passive role.
As Iris escapes to find Matt, Fitch drugs and imprisons Oli at the Miramar, where Hayley and Abigail are already being held. Matt, now certain of Fitch’s guilt, teams up with Minerva and Iris to launch a rescue. With the help of Abigail and Minerva, the captives are freed.
The Final Confrontation
As police sirens wail in the distance, Fitch flees into the very woods where Eloise was found—only to be cornered at the infamous five-foot hole by Oli and Matt. In the same place where it all began, he’s delivered into police custody.
The finale blends friendship, betrayal, generational trauma, and the price of playing god—especially when love, grief, and obsession distort the lines between science and superstition.
My Thoughts
The premise hooked me immediately—grief, sisterhood, and a buried alive mystery had strong emotional potential. Oli is a determined protagonist, and Iris adds heart and urgency.
However, the story’s shift into magical realism weakened its impact. The blend of science and fantasy felt clumsy, and the supernatural elements diluted rather than heightened the tension. The villain and motives were predictable early on, and the plot twists lacked surprise. The turn to alchemy and centuries-old texts made the stakes feel less serious and more cartoonish.
Even for YA, the plot and characters were overly simplified. Despite this, themes like loyalty, obsession, and redemption—especially Abigail’s arc—offer emotional moments.
If you want a tight, believable mystery with strong twists, this may disappoint. I gave the book a 2/5 rating. Have you read this book? If so, what did you think? Let me know below!
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