4 stars! I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a solid police procedural; I loved the FMC and her flashbacks really helped tie everything together. I hope the series continues!

Twenty years ago, Emily Ray was a 7 year old who was kidnapped from her wealthy family and held prisoner for eight years. She managed to escape and her captor is dead. It is now a successful FBI agent heading their child abduction team. It's her life's mission to find missing children.

When her team is called to help with a recent abduction, it doesn't take long to discover that the details mirror those of her own case. Details that no one but her could know. Unless...

Emily is convinced that this is personal and someone knows her secret. A secret that could destroy everything.

From page one this book grabbed me and did not let go. Fast paced with brilliant characters, secrets, and twists its a fast paced roller-coaster that you don't want to end. I can't wait to read the second book! Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

What an amazing first installment in this series!

We meet Emily Ray, FBI agent who is investigating a missing child case and was once a kidnapped child herself.
While following the clues Emily gets the feeling that her supposedly dead abductor isn't gone like she believed. In fact, he might very well be responsible for the present kidnapping.

Good story, kept me intrigued. Can't wait for the next one.

My Name Is Emily Ray is the first installment of what will likely be a series of FBI crime stories from author Michele Dominguez Greene. Emily Ray is a once-kidnapped child turned FBI agent that specializes in kidnapping cases across the United States. What looks like a picture perfect life with twin girls and doting husband, is peppered with OCD and other nuances stemming from the trauma of her youth.

Now Emily Ray is working the case of Josie Vance, an almost identical crime to her very own abduction twenty years ago. Is this a copycat, a coincidence, or something more? And is the secret Emily carries with her going to be exposed? The race is on to not only face her own demons, but to rescue a little girl before it’s too late.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story as a part procedural, part PTSD retelling of her own history. I liked how the two storylines crossed and how the dialogue wasn’t forced.

While I wanted to complete the book and find out what happens in the end, this story lacked the suspense and thrill factor of this genre. The story read more like a general fiction than a mystery/thriller or suspense novel. I rated this 3.5 stars overall. Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC!

This is every parents nightmare, your child is taken away from you, 3 little girls got kidnapped, one got away. She is now an FBI agent with a secret, but when a little girl goes missing she knows her kidnapper is not dead and has taken her. I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller and loved the twist, didn’t see that coming. The characters all were well written and the plot was fascinating, yet leaves you will goosebumps. A thrilling 4.5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I ploughed through this book within 2 sittings, it gave good thriller, crime, edge of your seat, page turner. It actually got me out of a recent reading slump.
The story is based on a recent child abduction case, being solved by a previous victim of child abduction. The author gives many possibilities, leaving you questioning and second guessing. The story is also finished off nicely, it doesn't leave you guessing.
I'm a thriller girl through and through, and this book did not disappoint.

The book also offers some information and facts around child abduction which are interesting.

Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to read this book. I really enjoyed it!

I FINISHED THIS BOOK IN ONE SITTING! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED AGENT RAY AND HOW HER PAST DEMONS AND TRAUMA PLAYED INTO THE STORY. SUCH A WELL WRITTEN CRIME THRILLER. ONE TRIGGER TO LOOK OUT FOR IS CHILD ABDUCTION AND MENTION OF CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING. HOWEVER, THE ENDING MADE ME VERY HAPPY!

Emily Ray works for the FBI. She heads the CARD team, looking for and rescuing abducted children. As a former child abductee herself, Emily is well suited to the role and is totally committed to her job. When Josie Vance is kidnapped from a local park, Emily and her team begin the process of finding her. But as their work progresses, it is clear there are startling similarities to Emily's own abduction. However, James Tibbs committed suicide just before Emily was rescued. So who could possibly have such detailed knowledge?
I absolutely loved this book. A great plot, full of red herrings and twists - one huge one, I didn't see coming, which completely turned the whole thing on its head. Going from day one, when there appears to be no sign of any evidence, the team gradually begin to piece together what happened - a journey full of dead ends and unexpected surprises. The author has done some meticulous research which is reflected in the authentic feel of the work Emily and her team undertake. Her family life, as a married woman with twin daughters is also woven into the story, and has relevance in the main plot. All in all, a thrilling read. Highly recommended.
I would like to thank Storm Publishing, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of My Name is Emily Ray in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this book really suprised me. It was brilliant. I could not put it down . I loved the characters, the twists. I highly recommend and hope to read more from this author.

"My Name is Emily Ray" by Michelle Dominguez Greene was a fast paced book that has you guessing until the very end.
Emily is a FBI detective in charge of the Card unit. This unit looks for missing kids. When a new case comes in it brings up the past for Emily. As Emily works this case the memories of her past keep coming up. She tries hard not to connect the new case but things keep coming up. As Emily comes to a shocking discovery she will do everything in her power to help the child she is looking for.
Highly recommend. Can't wait for the rest of the series.

When Emily Ray was just seven years old, she was kidnapped and held hostage for the next eight years of her life by a monster called James Tibbs, before she finally managed to escape at the age of fifteen. Despite her traumatic childhood, Emily managed to build a new life for herself and she has a wonderful husband and twin daughters. She also has a career that she loves, one that consists of finding missing children as she works as a special agent in the FBI.

She has devoted her life to saving lost children, and when a new case comes up about a missing seven year old girl, the similarities to Emily’s own kidnapping experience are uncanny, and all of the demons and memories of her past that she’s been trying to keep at bay resurface as she races to find the missing little girl before it’s too late.

This is a compelling thriller that was so wonderfully written, and it really does keep you guessing until the very end. The twists in this book totally took me off guard, which isn’t easy to do because I usually guess twists pretty early on, but there was a specific twist in here that made my jaw literally drop! I also absolutely loved the main character, Emily, and I loved getting to know her character on a deeper level. I really liked how we saw two sides to Emily— the professional side, and the personal side, and I fell in love with her character!

My only issue with this book is that I did find the ending pretty rushed, and that was kind of disappointing because the whole lead up to the kidnapper reveal was amazing and so tense, and I was expecting a big showdown, but I found the conclusion was too fast paced for me and I would have enjoyed more of a drawn out showdown between Emily Ray and the kidnapper.

Overall though, this was a really great thriller, and I’m so happy this is the first book in a series and I can’t wait to read more from Emily’s perspective in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced e-book copy.

Seven-year-old Josie Vance is abducted in broad daylight at a park in California. It’s up to special agent Emily Ray to lead the investigation and bring Josie back home. Emily is the best at finding abducted children. After all, she was also abducted herself 28 years ago.

This is a fast-paced thriller, and I breezed through this one. This one is sure to keep you on your toes! There were two major plot twists in this book; one I figured out, and the other I didn’t see coming! My Name is Emily Ray is the first in the series, and I can’t wait for the next book to be released.

WOW. I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!

Three girls, all the same age when they were abducted. One of them, now Special Agent Emily Ray, is tasked with finding missing girls. She is after all an expert based off of personal experience. While she worked so hard to put the past behind her, it seems her past has come back to haunt her. Is her abductor still committing these crimes? Is he out to finish the job he started with her an destroy the life she has worked so hard to build? Will she be able to stop him before it is to late?

Thoughts: This is a "stay up all night until you finish it" reader. Do not wait. Publishing date is May 27, 2025, but you will want to pre-order! Trust me!

Thank you NetGalley, author, and Storm Publishing for the eARC.

Loved everything about this book!! Twist and turns that I never saw coming along with all the other emotions a great book has! Emily Ray who was once abducted because a detective that is now investigating a crime very similar to her own! Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This was a VERY good start to a new series that had me hooked from page one. I knew the twist in the middle was coming but it was still cool when it happened, and now I can't wait to read the next Emily Ray adventure.
Netgalley graciously provided me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

this book is a chilling, fast-paced thriller that follows Special Agent Emily Ray as she hunts down a child abductor—and confronts the terrifying echoes of her own abduction twenty-eight years ago. As Emily uncovers disturbing clues from her past, she realizes that the kidnapper may still be alive and targeting the next victim. A gripping, page-turning mystery that delves deep into the trauma of the past and the high-stakes urgency of saving a child before it’s too late.

This book left me speechless and screaming from the very first sentence. It was so interesting that I found myself desperate to get to the bottom of everything. In so mad that I took so long to get to this book however I am very glad I that I get to have the pleasure of saying that I have read it now. The book starts off with our main character Emily falling right into her work of finding a missing child. Emily is one of the greats as she does everything in her power to bring these kids back, and she should because when she was younger she was one of those kids. It isn't until her later case however l that things take a turn for the worse. Determined to bring her latest child home she finds herself standing in front of a house, however this isn't just any house as it becomes crystal clear that this is the house where Emily was one held all those years ago. With the similarities between her case and the latest missing child Emily isn't so sure that her captor is dead like she previously believed. With that new though and a brand new sense of panic and urgency Emily must race the clock and dig up her past if she is to face the man who once tried to destroy her. I loved this story because you really saw our characters strength and determination shine through in this story. While I have read a few kidnapping type books I haven't read many where it is about a victim confronting a past and I thought that was a very refreshing turn of events for a story but is also made for a very fascinating page turner. I loved rooting for our main character but I was also very scared for her at the same time. Like the blurb said get read to grab a flashlight for this one because it is almost impossible to put down. You were constantly left wondering what was going to happen next and there was so much going on that I had to get to the bottom of things. I loved every minute of this book because it was a nice change of pace to see the person behind the rescue struggling with their own fear all linking back to the same person who caused both problems. Great read and even if you aren't a big fan of detective or police type book I highly suggest that you check this one out because the plot and mystery alone really shine and come to the forefront rather than the detective plot although it is still there in its undercurrents. I liked how we views our main character struggling with her past trauma while trying her best to keep everything in check.

My Name is Emily Ray is a super enjoyable thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat numerous times. The pace is quick with no unnecessary waffle. The characters are easily believable especially if you watch American TV or films although I do wonder how much Emily would have been allowed to get away with in real life! Her character is amazing. So much angst and so many more secrets to be explored in other books! Hopefully this means we'll see a lot more of Emily Ray in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Great plot twist!! Great character development and kept me hooked. Ending felt a smidge rushed but besides that highly enjoyed!! Would recommend!!

Thank you netgalley for this arc, highly enjoyed!!

Fantastically entertaining first book of a hopefully long Emily Ray series.

Emily Ray is the lead FBI agent with CARD (child abduction rapid deployment). Happily married with two young daughters, she has a happy home life and is dedicated to her job.

However Emily lived the nightmare she often has to solve, having being kidnapped as a child and held for 8 years before she escaped.
Still traumatised from the events decades later and still seeing the same psychologist from her childhood , the cases can take a lot out of her and none more so than the one she’s about to face.

When a child is abducted in broad daylight and vanishes without a trace with no clues or evidence left behind, the similarities to her own abduction soon become apparent and when she starts receiving mail from the abductor containing items that relate to her past, things only her abductor would know, the trauma starts to creep up on her again. Her kidnapper is long dead, killing himself a couple of decades ago, yet who else could know of these items from her captivity and can she save the young girl that has vanished without trace?

This was a blast to read. At a little under 300 pages I applaud the author for keeping it so lean and not padding it out to 350-400 pages like many have done before. The story is told here fully and still leaves enough room for the characters to breath and be developed.

Clever story telling and pacing with a twist halfway through that I’m still unsure whether I liked or not but by that time I was already all in so I went with it.

It’s a long time since I’ve read such an entertaining and accomplished first book in a series. I can’t wait for the next one.

Many thanks to Storm Publishing for the ARC through Netgalley.