Hayley Hope Is Gone is a slow-burning thriller. Michelle Dominguez Greene writes a captivating page-turner detective novel. I found myself engrossed in this book and really enjoying the main character, Emily Rey.
A few things that didn’t work for me were that I found the storyline to be choppy. I didn’t like how her marriage troubles were laced throughout the case. It felt disjointed, and the two didn’t run well together.
From the very beginning of the book, I found myself at a disadvantage. This book is the second in a series. As the story progressed, I had more and more questions, and without reading the first book, the holes in the story were more evident. I wonder if I had read the first book, if things would have made more sense. Unfortunately, the description of the book did not have a recommendation to read them in order.
I also wished that there was a mention of the religious aspect in this book. Not once in the description was it mentioned; however, it was the main catalyst of the case and the identity of the story’s antagonists. Religion is a hot-button topic for many people. I would have still read it, but it seems like a huge oversight in my opinion, and definitely something worth noting.
Overall, I did find the book enjoyable and may seek out her first book to help make more sense of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Michelle Dominguez Greene for the opportunity to read this digital ARC for my honest review.

After a closed breathtaking kidnapping case, Special Agent Emily Ray is on vacation with her father in the small mountain town where she spends her childhood summers. Her vacation is peaceful until she learns about Hayley Hope, a fifteen-year-old girl found drowned in Papoose Lake from her best friend, Lilian Knox, who lived next door to Emily’s vacation house. Lilian convinced Emily that it was murder.

Hayley Hope is Gone is the second book in Special Agent Emily Ray’s series. This time, the story is very slow-paced, more chill than the first one. The progress is so slow until the middle of the story, and then it starts fast when Emily starts to see what danger she will face. Almost everyone in the story is the villain and feels like a syndicate organization with so many connections everywhere as well. It is pretty cool.

However, there is a lack of tension and suspense and I like the first book better than this one. Also, there is a plot twist, but it wasn’t mesmerizing enough to leave an open jaw for me, and I feel a little bit disappointed. Because during the progress of Emily’s investigation, everyone is already suspicious enough for me to suspect there’s something wrong with the town.

Hayley Hope Is Gone is book 2 in the Special Agent Emily Ray series and the author delivered another pulse pounding, action packed and emotionally charged thriller. It was truly unputdownable. The storyline absolutely grabbed my attention right away, the characters were so interesting and I loved revisiting Emily again! Michelle surprised me again with her twists and turns. The author has such a sharp writing style, she crafts suspense with such ease and delivers a mind blowing message regarding society.

The plot unravels at lighting speed, without ever letting up. It delivers a punch while constantly making you feel so many emotions. I love how the author blends these 2 things together. All the secrets, the web of lies and corruption that occur in this small town left me completely shocked ! Once again Greene surprised me with how stellar this book was and I cannot wait to read more from her.

Overall, this was another great book in this series. It is slowly becoming one of my favorite thriller series, it's action packed, fast paced and utterly bingeable. Highly recommend!

✨ ️ Thank you to @netgalley, @stormpublishing & @micheledominguezgreene for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Emily Ray series. This author knows how to write. I couldn't put this one down. I was hooked from the very first page. I cared about the characters and couldn't wait to have time to read.

Thank you to Storm Publishing via Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love Emily Ray and her story. This was a fantastic edition to the series and leaves me wanting more. Emily went on vacation with her father only to be wrapped up in a new case. This series has a lot of trigger warnings but it is such a good book. I would not have picked up this author without Storm Publishing offering it to me as she is not well known or would not have come up on my searches so I am grateful for the opportunity to share and read her work.

Okay, after reading this book, the Special Agent Emily Ray series has officially made it into my Top 10 favorite book series!!

I loved the first book in the series and this one was just as good, if not better. Emily is so passionate about fighting to get justice for children who need it, even when she's on mandatory leave from work and vacationing with her dad. I loved that she was so transparent with Lillian about what she was uncovering in her investigation into Hayley's supposed drowning. As she investigates that death, she uncovers so much more! This one is filled with lots of suspense and tension and I devoured it!

I can't wait for book three!!

Thank you @netgalley and @stormbooks_co for the #gifted e-arc!

After reading the first book in the series, I was hopeful about book number two, but you never know. It didn't disappoint! This book can be read as a standalone but it is worthwhile reading the first one, nevertheless.

Emily goes to Lake Arrowhead with her father for a break as she is on mandatory leave after her last case and she needs a bit of time off to wind down. She rents a house from an old teenage friend, Vanna, and soon she is embroiled in small-town politics and discovers a much darker side to the idyllic place where she is trying desperately to relax. The Universe somehow isn't getting the message!

In amongst uncovering some truly heinous facts, she also has to deal with cracks in her marriage, which is not anything she thought she needed to worry about.

My heart was in my mouth quite a bit during the reading of this novel, but the author tackles some pretty heavy topics in a way that makes you cheer for the good guys whilst simultaneously worrying that small towns in your own neighbourhood could be hiding some pretty big secrets......

5 stars from me.

Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

This is the second in the series with Special Agent Emily Ray. And, once again the author, Michelle Dominguez Greene, has given us twists and turns to make for a great read. The story is interesting from the beginning, and kept me engaged until the last page. When I finished, I was disappointed only because I was finished with the book. I hope there will be another release in the series soon, because I cannot wait to read where Special Agent Emily Ray will take us next.

Special Agent Emily Ray is taking a break and going on a vacation with her father, but mysteries have a way of finding her. Emily befriends a neighbor girl who insists that her best friend was murdered. Once Emily starts questioning people, things start to unravel in the small town! This was a good mystery and I really enjoyed watching the investigation unfold!

I loved this book way more than the first one—probably because of the homicide investigation element. Personally, I found it much more compelling than the kidnapping trope. The combination of mystery and high tension was handled so beautifully. And when that mystery finally unravels? Chef’s kiss.
It’s absolutely chilling and heartbreaking to think there are real people out there who harm children. I also really loved the glimpses of the relationship between Lillian, Haley, and the other kids. Those moments were so heartwarming and gave the story emotional depth.

Which brings me to the way the author explains the emotions which Em goes through, it feels raw and I felt really affected by it. Overall, I’d highly recommend this book if you're into mystery, suspense, and one hell of a badass female FBI agent. It’s a thrilling, emotional ride from start to finish.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with this e-ARC. And I hope to read more from this amazing author!

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’ll definitely be going back to read book 1! Special Agent Emily Ray’s job is to find missing children as the head of the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) Unit. So after a case ended with her on extended leave, her and her dad with his declining health revisit Lake Arrowhead, a place they visited often on vacations. She’s pulled into a string of disappearances and deaths in the town. Lillian, a 15 yr old, insistent on Emily helping her solve her best friend Haley’s death femmes suicide by local law enforcement. But upon digging, Emily uncovers more deaths and disappearances which could be linked. But as she digs further, the perfect little town she remembered has dark secrets of its own. Full of danger, suspense, mystery, plot twists, tension and so much more. Can’t wait to read the next book!

A getaway while placed on leave turns into a dangerous mission for FBI agent Emily Ray, and I was quickly hooked by the strong writing. The characters are complex, interesting, and realistic - all of them, no matter their age, social status, role in the community, etc. I especially found the backstories of older relatives with diminishing health and memory to be meaningful, realistic, and relevant. As Emily peels back the layers of this small tourist town, the pieces of the mystery multiply, and when they start to come together, the tension and danger hit perfectly. I haven’t read the first in the series, but this second novel essentially stands on its own. I look forward to reading the first book, as well as those that follow this one.

Thank you to Storm Publishing, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this well-crafted mystery.

Book Review: Hayley Hope Is Gone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hayley Hope Is Gone completely pulled me in from the very first chapter. If you’ve read the first book in the series, get ready...this one takes things up a notch. The pacing is tight, the stakes feel higher, and I honestly couldn't stop turning the pages. Every time I thought I'd read "just one more chapter," I was sucked right back in.

What really stood out to me were the multiple points of view. Each character brought something fresh and important to the story, and it added so much depth and tension. It’s one of those rare cases where shifting perspectives actually makes the story stronger, not more confusing.

Without giving anything away, I’ll just say the twists hit hard, the emotional moments were real, and the ending left me seriously excited for what’s next. This was better than the first, hands down, and that’s saying something.

If you're into gripping, emotional, character-driven reads with mystery and heart, you need to pick this one up. I’m definitely sticking with this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm publishing for this amazing ARC!

All Emily wanted was a calm and refreshing holiday with her dad but she'll find none of that. The community at Lake Arrowhead is not what they remembered from previous vacations and even though Hayley is on mandatory leave from the FBI she cannot avoid looking into the "suicide" of a teenager, Hayley Hope, whose best friend Lilian swears it was just not possible but that she was murdered and suicide was a cover up by the police. Emily's husband and children went to visit his side of the family and should join her at the lake at the end of the holidays, but the couple's relationship is also not what she believes it to be. As the investigation moves on she'll discover a ring of drug dealing, children pornography, and a community that is full of fanatics and prejudiced people.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Hayley Hope is Gone is the second instalment of the Emily Ray series by Michelle Dominguez Greene. Check the book’s trigger warnings before proceeding with reading the book, though.

After being put on a mandatory leave by the FBI, Emily Ray decided to rent out a vacation home at Lake Arrowhead - the place where she spent multiple summers when she was younger - with her father. But what she thought to be an idyllic vacation spot turns out to be hiding a sinister secret when she meets Lillian Knox, who insists that her best friend, Hayley Hope, did not simply ended her own life, she was murdered.

Unlike the first instalment, My Name is Emily Ray, Hayley Hope is Gone, is being narrated by multiple POVs, thus a lot is going on, but surprisingly easy to follow. There is not much police procedural going on as well, but the eerie and creepy atmosphere that surrounds the town will surely hook you in and will keep you turning the pages.

As for Emily, this is a turning point in her life after all that has happened, and what is next for her. She was definitely fleshed out more in this instalment, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for her.

Hayley Hope is Gone is the second book in the Detective Emily Ray series.. I read the first one and was excited to see the second one was coming out. This one was so good. So many things going on but not too many that you cannot keep up. There are a lot of characters but its pretty easy to keep track of who is who. A lot of suspense and mystery. I will 100% be looking for the next book

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a gifted copy in exchange for a honest review.

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Michele Domínguez Greene for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

The second instalment in the Special Agent Emily Ray series did not disappoint. This second book was every bit as suspenseful and impressive as its predecessor, My Name Is Emily Ray which was published earlier this year.

How best to describe my reading experience? I could easily see these books as a Netflix Original series. Get right on it, Netflix!!

As head of the FBI's CARD UNIT (Child Abduction Rapid Deployment), it's Emily's job to locate, find, and rescue children who are the victims of an abduction. It's not a job for the faint hearted. After the events in the first book, FBI Special Agent, Emily Ray is currently on a period of extended leave, and has decided to spend time with her father up at Lake Arrowhead, where they used to vacation when she was a youngster. This area only exists for the tourists and 'out of season' the place is eerily quiet, except for a few locals which keep the place going through the off season.

Fifteen year old, Lillian Knox lives with her grandmother in the neighbouring house. Lillian's parents both work abroad and have left Lillian in the care of her grandmother. But her grandmother's health is declining and Lillian is more the caregiver than the care recipient. Lillian had always been treated as an outsider, but felt she could cope with the adolescent bullying of her peers because of her best friend Hayley. But now Hayley is dead, and the local police are saying that she took her own life. As someone who knew Hayley best, Lillian knows that Hayley would never have done that.

When Lillian learns that Emily is an FBI Agent, she pleads with Emily to look into her friend's death. At first reluctant to get involved, Emily is soon turned around by Lillian's insistence of foul play and the mysterious disappearances of other young teenage girls from the area.

This is a stunning follow-on from book #1 and while you could read this book as a standalone, I would urge you to read this series in full and in order for maximum enjoyment.

This is another eerie small-town setting with a slow burning plot; but the author controls the pace by building the tension and character development a little with every chapter. Emily Ray is a victim's champion. She digs into cases no-one wants to look at. The stakes are high and sometimes the outcomes are not what was expected.

Once you start you'll want to finish this in one sitting – be warned!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to one of my favourite publishers, Storm Publishing 💗 for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for July 10, 2025.

I had the privilege of reading the first in this series, and was thrilled to receive the ARC of the second installment. I feel that this story was just as good as the first!

Emily is going on vacation with her father while the FBI investigates and determines what will happen after her last case. She is excited to spend time with her father, and takes him to Lake Arrowhead, where she spent time as a child. Lillian Knox is a fifteen year old girl who lives next door to the house that Emily has rented. Lillian is struggling because her best friend died a few weeks ago. The local police say that she committed suicide, but Lillian knows that Hayley would never do that. Emily is drawn to the girl, and sees some discrepancies and suspicious activities surrounding the case, so she begins to look deeper into it. She discovers so much more about the town, the local big church, the police department. Pretty soon, Emily, her father, Lillian and Eddie (her friend) are in danger, yet determined to discover what is really going on.

Whew! There is so much going on in this book. It sucks you in from page one. The claustrophobic atmosphere of a small tourist town that is empty at the end of the season, with just the locals added tension and a creep factor. The pacing is perfection. In the beginning, Emily is gathering information and facts. This changes to a fast paced mystery/thriller. There are a lot of different strands that Emily is threading together that lead to a fantastic conclusion, with a slight twist I did not see coming.

I love the growth I see in Emily. At the end of the last novel, she was beginning to figure out who she was now that her kidnapper from childhood had finally been caught. Her husband, Antonio, has supported her through everything, but wishes that she would step back from the CARD unit. As Emily is working on Hayley's case, and drawing closer to Lillian, she realizes that this is a part of who she is, and she will always want to help kids in need. There is a hard decision that she must make, but I loved how the author wrote her growth so well, that the decision she comes to is authentic to Emily's understanding of who she is, and what she stands for.

And Lillian and Eddie- Hayley too! were written so well, my heart ached for them while also cheering them on. I wanted them to get the justice they were looking for. I even teared up at a scene in the end- it was written so beautifully.

I cannot wait to see where Emily will end up next, but I am here for it!!

This is a fantastic, FBI/thriller series. It has darkness and depth, with genuine characters that the reader can relate to. I just want to warn that there are some triggers:
sexual abuse, grooming, cultish church vibe

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t think it was as fast paced as her previous book but it still kept my attention. I really like Emily Ray and how resilient she is and determined to help those who need it. This book follows a case of murder, corruption, and deception.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an eARC to read and review!

What an 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓼𝓮 thriller that kept my attention from the very first page! This one is actually the second book in the Special Agent Emily Ray series but I will definitely be adding book one to my TBR!! If you love small town secrets, this 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 a must read!!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!!!