I read the first two books of this series through netgalley and then for some reason was denied the next two. I requested this one because I enjoyed the first books and reviewed them highly, and figured I knew the characters well enough to jump back into the series. That wasn’t really the case, and it felt like turning on a soap opera after missing a year. I couldn’t really connect with all the angst going on with Steve when I had no idea what was going on and it was hard to care when I just wanted a fresh mystery. I’m sure it will be a great read for folks who have read the first 4 books and enjoy that ongoing saga.

This is such an addictive series, and I've been super lucky to have read all books so far in the series by ARC. So when book #5 landed in my inbox, it went straight to the top of my TBR pile, and I dove straight in.

Chief Maggie Riley is a force to be reckoned with. Extremely independent and still healing from past trauma, she's now into her 5th year of being the Police Chief of Coyote Cove. Maggie heads up the unit with her Deputy Kal and office manager Sue.

In book #4 we saw Maggie's fiance Steve heading off to try and put to bed some major issues he hadn't faced from his past, in this installment, Steve is still trying to come to terms with these issues but by delving deeper is he digging himself a hole that is too far away from Maggie to be able to reach him?

Maggie receives a call reporting a smell of rotting eggs, an odour associated with meth laboratories. She drives out to the address given to witness, within seconds, an explosion. The charred remains of a body landing on her car bonnet.

When the forensics and fire departments arrive to investigate, more bodies are found. Including the remains of a woman who supposedly died 20 years previously.

Without going into any details and ruining it for everyone, this is a book that needs your full attention. So much is going on, you wont take a breath. It is a full on rollercoaster ride that twists, turns, and throws you around at lightning speed.

I must admit, this is the first in the series that I slightly struggled with. Not with the plot, or writing style, purely the number of characters to try and keep up with along with the two storylines running alongside each other. It took me a long while to grasp the characters, but I still felt a little rattled at the end (maybe im getting old 😕)

I would HIGHLY recommend reading the series from the beginning if you haven't already. This is definitely one that needs reading from the very start, or you'll be scratching your head the whole way through.

Overall, a fantastic read. Superb plot, high octane pacing, and amazing characterisation. Roll on book #6.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to read.

I really enjoyed revisiting Maggie Riley, the town, and the other characters. I really enjoyed seeing how the case played out. Shannon Hollinger always delivers a palpable and fast paced plot that leaves you guessing until she is ready to deliver the blows of what happened.

If you love a crime suspense novel with a strong female lead, then this book is for you. I would recommend to any fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan and Wendy Dranfield.

Another excellent novel in this engaging series set in a small New England town. Chief Maggie Riley has personal and professional difficulties to deal with - and that's before the latest series of murders in Coyote Cove.

Maggie witnesses an explosion in a meth lab - but is there more to this that meets the eye? Her suspicions grow when one of the victims is identified as a woman though dead for twenty years. Maggie is forced to look long into the past - and in the process to doubt one of her few true friends.

Meanwhile Steve is off seeking to resolve issues from his past, revealed at the end of book 4. The relationship between the two is difficult - and their wedding is fast approaching. Just something more for Maggie to worry about.

The Day She Died operates on several levels and is filled with action and intrigue. It's very much an episode in a series and reading the preceding novels is essential to understand the nuances of the many recuring characters. But Maggie Riley is a complex and principled character who is worth getting to know.

Grips like a vice and twists like a rollercoaster. Impossibly clever. Impossible to put down!
It was really hard for me to put this book away. I pulled an all-nighter to finish reading it.

This is the Author's fifth book in featuring Police Chief Maggie Riley
Whilst I enjoyed the premise of the story whereby a body found in a burnt
out trailer is that of a person thought long deceased and the ensuing
investigations I found that Maggie was a character that really did not sit
well with me - she is so full of angst , wanting to do everything herself even
though she has a great deputy in Kal , suspecting one of her few friends is
hiding information from her wears her down . I think perhaps to understand Maggie and also
her fiancé Steve and their backstories better I would need to read the previous books first
I was left feeling quite frustrated with them both - just what did Steve tell the psychoanalyst
in his regression therapy session to cause such a reaction in her and what are the implications
for both of them that firstly Maggie found "that" photo in the fire debris and Steve found
a piece of Maggie's uniform in a grave that should have held the body of a young woman
I am not sure that this series is for me unless ,as I said before , reading the previous books
fills in a lot of the backstory and explains there actions/behaviours .

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Rubys body is found in a burnt trailer but what is shocking is she supposedly died 20 years ago. They say she died in a kayak accident but the autopsy shows she never drowned. Her body was never found. Was she running from something, hiding??
Chief Maggie digs for answers that someone doesn’t want found.
A great crime thriller!

The Day She Died is the fifth book in the Chief Maggie Riley series, and even though it’s the first one I’ve read, I was instantly hooked. The author creates an unsettling atmosphere that lingers throughout the story, with short, fast-paced chapters that kept me turning pages. Maggie is a complex, relatable protagonist, grappling with her past while determined to uncover the truth. Her sharp instincts and emotional depth made me root for her, and I enjoyed seeing how her personal challenges intertwined with the case. The writing is vivid and immersive, with just the right balance of tension, action, and character-driven moments. Themes of trust, betrayal, and long-buried secrets add emotional weight without slowing the suspense. The twists are surprising yet believable, making me rethink everything I thought I knew as the story unfolded.

Some elements I enjoyed include the small-town setting filled with hidden dangers, Maggie’s determination to protect her community, and the mystery's layered complexity. There’s a great mix of crime-solving, moral gray areas, and the lingering impact of past choices. Overall, I’d recommend The Day She Died to readers who enjoy crime thrillers with strong, flawed characters, atmospheric tension, and unexpected twists. I’m excited to go back and read the first four books to see how Maggie’s story began! 📖💜

I really enjoy these characters. This was dark and gritty and had a unique plot. This series is a great one to invest in. Twists and turns and a wild left swing at the end. A solid read

Thank you for this ARC! I was excited to receive it, I am a big fan of the Chief Maggie series! This book was good, however, was not a 5 star. For me personally, the ending felt rushed. With that said, this definitely had “edge of your seat” energy that kept me guessing. The plot twists were shocking and exciting!! I absolutely recommend this book :)

The Day She Died (Chief Maggie Riley Book 5)
by Shannon Hollinger

The synopsis says, "Chief Maggie Riley is called to solve the biggest case Coyote Cove has ever seen". But wait, what about what happened in the last four books? How can things keep getting bigger and worse? WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!

Good thing Maggie has her upcoming wedding to take her mind off things. She and Steve can just relax into the last days of being unmarried and look forward to a peaceful future together. Or not. Steve has his own problems and he's off looking for proof of bad things, elsewhere. So Maggie is busy with her biggest Coyote Cove case ever while fending off girlfriends who want to spiff her up and make her enjoy all things bridal which makes Maggie want to barf. This stuff is so not Maggie.

Good thing two of her girlfriends are involved in this biggest case so the three of them get to enjoy (and I mean enjoy, this is their thing) talking about bodies and autopsies, and neat, gross things like that. So a good time all around with the local hairdresser thrown in for good measure. The hairdresser knows the score in this town so she fits right in with Maggie's crime sleuthing friends. What more could you want in the women who are planning your walk down the aisle to the guy you love.

Luckily Maggie has Carl to hold down the fort back at the office. Despite a shaky start, Carl has turned out to be a great backup for all this crime going on and he's even become well liked by many of the townsfolk. I really like Carl, he's hardworking, conscientious, and doing the best job he can do while being worried about something in his past being discovered. Then there is Sue, the one who really runs the show, what with having worked for the police department since for the last century or so. But Sue is acting funny and Maggie wonders if she'll even show up for the wedding that Sue had been so excited about until bodies started showing up (again).

I promise you not every small rural town has something like four murders a week, everyone killing everyone else, many hiding what they know, and a woman police chief. I live in the country, right outside our small town and even though things happen, they don't happen on this scale. At least I don't think they do...eek! Maybe we are safer because we don't have a female police chief. These kinds of things happen in little towns with female police chiefs. Hopefully we are safe here...fingers crossed.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC.

This series is so intriguing to me because for the longest time I was not sure who I liked in this series. I’m warming to Maggie. And I’m so invested in the new guy. I’m still on the fence about Steve. I was a big fan of the storyline with Maggie this book. It was fast paced and non stop. I’m looking forward to the next book.

Great book!! It kept me guessing, I didn’t see all the twists and turns coming! I haven’t read the others in the series but it was great as a stand-alone and I knew what was going on. Really well written!

Some how I missed book 4 in this series, but it didn't stop me enjoying this book anyway. Maggie had so much going on that I found it hard to put the book down. With her fiance off chasing his own dragons she added wedding doubts into the mix too. I completely guessed the wrong murderer too because the twists led me in the wrong direction. A great read!

“The Day She Died” by Shannon Hollinger, had me hooked from the very first page. It’s a suspenseful, mysterious crime thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The twists were unpredictable and shocking. The pacing was spot on, building tension and keeping me turning pages. If you love a dark, twisty thriller with plenty of suspense, this book is definitely one you don’t want to miss.

The Day She Died by Shannon Hollinger. The alternating POVs of Maggie and Steve slowed down the narrative. The ending seemed abrupt and was disappointing. The unexpected twists and turns were exhilarating and intriguing. All in all a pleasant read and looking forward to the next case with Maggie and her team.
Thank you to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

this series is so addictive. Maggie is getting married, but Steve needs to do the right thing. Maggie has a case that is going to test her .and someone does not want her finding out the truth I so recommend this series

Chief Maggie Riley is on the case to solve the mystery of Ruby Anderson,

This is a fantastic read. It has twists and turns you just do not see coming and it's as thrilling as its intriguing.

This is an author who really knows how to spin a tale. It has drama and more drama and as a reader this is what I want from a book..

Great book. Couldn't put it down. I didn't see all the twist and turns coming. Thank you for letting me read.

I was hooked from the beginning! So many twists and turns that kept me reading all night! I need to know more about Steve’s POV