jumping into the middle of an already established series midway through is always a little challenging however when it is a detective mystery that continues where the first book left off it makes it much more difficult. Unfortunately that is where I found myself as a reader. I went into this book completely blind with no back story at all so I spent a lot of this book trying to get caught up. This book was a very fascinating mystery all about a young woman who is taking a leave from her job as a detective following a personal tragedy. So decides to go back to her roots when she can relax and grieve properly. However once Emily gets there she realises that there is more going on than it seems. Her once peaceful spot has now become a dark haven as it homes he possible murder of a local teenager. With her own issues still ringing in her head she decides that she is the only one that can bring justice to this family and the missing girl (Hayley Hope) so she jumps feet first into this case. While I do think reading the first would have been best I do like how this was a completely seperate mystery with just a few connection points so it made is simple to read however I feel it would have been better had I read the first. I'm not the biggest detective novel fan however, so parts of this book were just not up to my interest. I think had this been my genre of choice it would have been a lot better. I did really like the characters however and the fact that the chapter lengths weren't to long let you get into the story without a whole bunch of unnecessary information. Very different than what I'm used to however I did enjoy parts of this book. If you like detective books the check this out for sure however I do suggest reading number one first. This book just hit the ground running with not much build up however it was very well done that even though I'm new to the series I still found myself getting pulled into the plot of this book. Really good read however the second half of the book was much better
I can't wait to read the first book in this series.

Emily Ray is back, and this case seems more dangerous than the last!

Emily and her dad Michael are on vacation on Lake Arrowhead,while she is cleared from her previous case. Her cabin is next to a young girl named Lillian who tells Emily about her friend who recently died. Lillian believes that the sheriff, the pastor, and the whole community are hiding what really happened to her friend Hayley. They claim suicide. She believes it was murder. Emily is intrigued, and she begins to look into the disappearance of Hayley.
I thoroughly enjoy Emily as a main character. Her family, her dad, and her husband's family are always such joy to read. This case was huge, and the intricate details that weave the whole community's web of lies were so good. I look forward to reading more about Special Agent Emily Ray and to see what happens with Antonio, her husband. 😒

Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

What a tangled web we weave when apathy or denial becomes a way of life. There is an underlying sense of evil in this small community known as Lake Arrowhead. It pervades the senses and you can feel the darkness. The question is what is it? Everything appears perfect on the surface of what should be paradise, but there is something just on the edge, beneath the surface where dirty secrets and horror abound.

Special Agent Emily Ray has been temporarily put on leave from the FBI after her last case. So, she decides to take her father for a trip down memory lane at Lake Arrowhead, which was a place of good memories of him and Emily's mother. Emily is not in town long before she realizes something is not right in this town.

After reading the first book in this series, I knew that Emily was not going to sit back and enjoy her vacation after she found out about the mysterious drowning of a teenage girl. The whole case stinks to high heaven, and has been wrapped up by the police force with a nice, neat and tidy bow. However, nothing about this case is neat and tidy, which Emily soon realizes. She is like a dog with a bone. She will not let it go. Her sense of justice and her feelings about crimes against children will not allow her to sit back. What she discovers will give you nightmares and make you mad at the same time.

I did not think this author could top the first book in the series, but this one is extraordinary, albeit chilling and horrifying at the same time. It is a deeply emotional book from one end of the spectrum to the other. As I learned more about Emily's personal life, I felt I knew her more personally. She is truly a hero without a cape. Her scars and her past have somewhat defined her, but she has used her tragic past to make her into a warrior for those who cannot fight for themselves. I applaud her and her tenacity to do good.

This stunning thriller left me speechless and gagging a little as I learned the truth behind the evil in Lake Arrowhead. Sleep is overrated. So, I did without it because I was so deep into this story that I could not get it out of my head until I finished it.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This one really got to me. Hayley Hope Is Gone isn’t just about a missing girl. It’s about how one moment can shatter lives. I was pulled in right away and found myself needing to know what happened, even when it got heavy.

The different perspectives worked really well and added a lot of depth. I especially liked how the story didn’t just focus on the mystery, but also on the emotional fallout for Hayley’s family. It felt real and messy in a way that stuck with me.

It’s a slow burn at times, but the tension builds nicely and there were a few turns I didn’t see coming. Definitely one of those books that stays with you after you finish.

If you like thrillers with heart and don’t mind some emotional weight, then this one’s worth picking up!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this!

4 🌟

Hayley Hope is Gone is the second book in Michele Dominguez Greene's Special Agent Emily Ray series. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the first book, My Name is Emily Ray, to get an in-depth background on the FMC. It helps explain why she makes her decisions and how she has dealt with her past trauma.

Having read both books now, I’m really enjoying this series. They’re rapid reads and fast-paced. I love that this book went into more detail about Emily's relationship with her father and the addition of Sammy. I would definitely read future books with Emily Ray.

Recommended for anyone who loves to read fast-paced thrillers featuring a badass female FBI agent.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

i really enjoyed this book. it was so different from the first book but the same, if that makes sense.

this a new story that takes place just months after the first book , my name is emily ray, where emily and her dad go on vacation and meet this girl Lillian. Lillian her best friend Hayley committed suïcide but Lillian doesn’t believe it’s suicide at all. so emily looks into the town people, Hayley her story and all what everyone says.

Lillian was right, it was never a suicide, Hayley hope was murdered.

this was such a gripping story just like the first book. i didn’t love the ending in emily her personal life as she’s been through so much already and than this happened… but other than that it was such a fast paced book i couldn’t put down !!

i cannot wait to read more of what Michele writes in the future

4.5 ⭐️
I didn’t realize this was a sequel, but it didn’t seem to matter. I had no trouble following the story or keeping the characters straight.

It’s a dark, haunting story full of family drama, corrupt cops, and a religious cult. There were plenty of twists and turns, even if the ending wasn’t super shocking.

I’ll definitely be going back to read book 1

This is the second book in the Emily Ray series and I enjoyed it equally as much as the first. The determination of Emily to get to the truth even when she discovers things about people she trusted she wished she hadn't is key to the book. For me it shows how some evil people hide behind religion in an attempt to hide their wrong doings. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

I just finished “Hayley Hope is Gone”, the second book in the Emily Ray series by Michele Dominguez Greene and it was even better than the first book, “My Name is Emily Ray.”

This series is about FBI agent, Emily Ray, her childhood abduction, and how it’s shaped her career as an FBI agent, hunting for missing and exploited children.

This book has a lot of characters, but it wasn’t confusing at all. It had a great pace and lots of action throughout the book, which I love when reading psychological thrillers! The story grips you very quickly and pulls you in!

It’s tough to read about our most vulnerable humans, children, being taken advantage of, which makes Emily’s character so important. She does not rest until she uncovers the truth and catches the predator(s).

I really have enjoyed this series and can’t wait for the next installment. This book earned a solid 4 stars from me! Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review! This book publishes next week on July 10!

Now go read it!

#bookstagram
#NetGalley
#HayleyHopeisGone

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Storm Publishing for my copy of #Hayley Hope is Gone by #Michelle Diminguez Greene.

This is even better than the first book.
Special Agent Emily Ray is still reeling from the last case and decides to take a vacation with her father while she still can.
Taking him back to the scene of happy memories in a small lakeside town.
But not everything is as it seems.
A great read that I devoured. The twists kept coming and I literally couldn't put it down.
Put matchsticks in my eyes to keep them open to the end.
Brilliant book.

I really need to read the first book now! This was really good, and I thoroughly enjoyed the read (finished in one day I was invested!)

It was a twisty ride, lots of ups and downs. Some parts left me a little frustrated at how slow things were moving, for them to suddenly move at whirlwind speed. I think the story itself was solid, and I liked the different perspectives thrown in, I think that was written well. There were a few spelling mistakes, but nothing that made the story unreadable.

I think my biggest issue came from the repeated James Tibbs references. Like I get it, she was kidnapped and isn't the real Emily Ray, but I assume that is all in the first book so it didn't need to be mentioned so much. The book is listed as the 2nd in the series, so it is generally assumed that readers will have read the first book, so the kidnap thing doesn't need to be in your face at all times. I also down right hated how she included that in her little break up rant at the end. I was wholly for ending that relationship! Have some self respect and don't date ANYONE who is not 100% invested in a relationship with you. I was nervous that she would want to get back together with him, but was relieved she didn't. Beyond that, there was zero need to include the kidnap in that conversation at all. He messed up, he cheated, he lied, and she can't trust him. That is super common! I have never been kidnapped and I would still break up with a guy who did that to me!! So it really had no place in the conversation other than to once more mention to the reader that this girl was kidnapped!

Overall I enjoyed the read and would recommend this to those who like thrillers (though I would probably suggest reading the first book first!)

I loved book 1, and yet somehow book 2 was even better. I couldn't it down and ended up finishing it at 3am. I haven't read a thriller that had me this gripped in a while.

Emily is so damn badass and doesn't back down from a fight. Even when it could cost her everything she does everything in her power to protect the vulnerable. You really get to feel all of her emotions.

Lillian is such an incredible character, along with Eddie. They're both so strong for 15 year olds.

I'm so intrigued by religious cults and their mindsets so this was right up my alley. The small mountain town was extremely creepy and added to the suspense. I was stressed for so many different people and had no idea who could be trusted. The end was heartbreaking but so damn good.

I look forward to seeing more of Emily and how she deals with her personal life.

A great thriller novel that had me turning each page with greater excitement. The slow realization about what truly is happening in this small town was beautiful. The dark underbelly of the town and its citizen was interesting and horrifying to learn about the extent of everybody's involvement. Each of them twisted in their own way

This is book 2 in the Special Agent Emily Ray series. I loved the first book, so I was very happy to be able to read this ARC.

"Secrets Beneath the Surface" is a gripping thriller that pulls you into the depths of a small town's dark secrets. The story quickly transforms from a peaceful retreat into a haunting investigation.

We are introduced to the tragic death of fifteen-year-old Hayley Hope, dismissed by local authorities as a simple drowning. But Emily’s instincts compel her to dig deeper.

What I found particularly compelling was how the author skillfully weaves real emotion into the suspense. Emily is not just a hardened agent; she's someone wrestling with her own past, and as she races against time to solve this mystery, you feel her fear, frustration, and hope. Each twist pulls at your heart, and just when you think you have it figured out, another layer emerges, challenging your perceptions of the townsfolk.
I couldn’t help but be drawn into the mystery, eagerly turning pages late into the night, desperate to uncover what had really happened to Hayley.

If you’re looking for a read that combines heart-pounding suspense with a deeply personal journey, “Secrets Beneath the Surface” is definitely worth your time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley, and Publisher for this copy.

Hayley Hope is gone is the second book in the Special Agent Emily Ray series and after reading the first book in the series, I was looking forward to reading this.
Emily Ray has been forced to take leave from the FBI after closing the recent case. She decides to take vacation with her father Micheal who suffers with Dementia to Lake Arrowhead where she used to visit as a child. But what was supposed to be a relaxing time away turns into something completely different. When local teen Liliian asks Emily’s help to find out what Haley Hope. Who everyone in the town says she committed suicide, but Lillian knows her that is not the case. She is asking for Emily’s help to find out the truth.
What Emily discovers is more than this sleepy mountain appears to be.
Thank you, Storm, for a copy Of Haley Hope is gone. This is another totally engaging read involving Emily Ray and about a small mountain town, that at first seem law abiding but as investigates there is more to it, then meets the eye. This is a more case orientated novel than a more personal one and lots of surprising and shocking twists along the way. 4 stars from me.

I haven't read the first novel 🤭 I didnt actually look to see if it was the first one I just dived in! Nevermind, I didn't find it hard to follow and will go back to catch up on the first. A fantastic thriller read 100% recommend will read the rest of the series!

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Michelle Dominguez Greene and Storm Publishing 📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

im so glad to be back with Emily Ray. what a detective to follow. our complex detective is back and its as heart pounding as the last and just as good. it keeps you full of tensions and fear with lots of unease and suspense woven through.
Emily is on a break. and we all know why. and all know she needs it big time. she takes advantage of this to take her dad on a trip to a childhood spot of theirs. Lake Arrowhead is seemingly a serene and beautiful town and its full of those for Emily. but is this just a facade. has Emily been duped with what she can trust and believe in all over again. because the peace is shattered when a young girl is found drowned. and its definitely suspicious but for those looking into it they barely bat an eye,case closed. whats going on here doesn't sit well with Emily and especially not when the girls best friend comes to her with such grief and belief that her friend was murdered. this was no suicide or accident.
what comes next is an investigation that will expose so much pain and raw horror from the towns real self. below the mask this recent girls case is not new at all. for girls have been vanishing for years. and noone seems to be taking it seriously. noone is finding out why. and this never sits well with Emily and its time for her to step up. she cant let this go, she wont let this go.
once again Michelle shines a light on what many leave in the shadows. i love her writing and the important themes she covers with absolutely spot on skills.

I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first book in the series. So plot points felt a little forced and it was hard to suspend the disbelief. <spoiler>I'm also not the biggest fan of the plot about her home life, to say it without spoilers.
I enjoyed the interactions of Emily with her father and Lilian, that girl really needs anadult to be there for her. It's a major character trait of Emily how she cares for vulnerable children and that came across nicely.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a review copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a gripping read which kept me engrossed from the start. I really like the lead character of Emily Ray and the small town setting. The focus is on young people living in rural communities and the problems they face. We had corruption, secrets and murder in a seemingly idyllic location, with plenty suspense thrown in. I would recommend reading My Name is Emily Ray for background information but this can be read as a stand alone. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy of this book for my honest review.

I wasn't aware this was a sequel to *My Name Is Emily Ray* until I started reading, but I'm pleased to say that it didn't hinder my understanding of the storyline at all. I'm now excited to go back and read the first book, and I look forward to any future installments in this series.

This book follows Emily Ray, an FBI agent on leave, as she heads on vacation with her father. While there, she encounters a girl named Lillian, whose best friend mysteriously died in an alleged drowning accident. As the story unfolds, more mysterious disappearances and crimes come to the surface, putting Emily's vacation on hold.

I was fully immersed in this story from the very beginning. The author's writing style made the narrative even more intriguing. This is a perfect book for thriller and mystery lovers.