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!

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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.

Following the upheaval of her prior investigation, Special Agent Emily Ray finds herself on enforced leave, retreating to Lake Arrowhead, a site rich with childhood reminiscences. However, her respite soon takes a sinister turn when she becomes aware of the dubious drowning of fifteen-year-old Hayley Hope, a case quickly categorized as an accident by local law enforcement. As Emily probes further, she uncovers a disturbing trend of missing girls within the small community. Emily must navigate a perilous terrain of secrets, all while contending with escalating threats against her and her father, who is afflicted by dementia.

This novel is a wonderful sequel that builds upon the themes established in the first Emily Ray book. Similar to the first in the series, this one does not disappoint. It is a compelling narrative that kept my interest. While I would have preferred a more character development and interaction with Emily’s father, he wasn’t really a prominent character in this installment. The essential elements of a mystery and thriller are intact, and keep you guessing. The revelations revealed, I would never have guessed. The finale of the story hints at further challenges awaiting Emily and I couldn’t be happier to read another book in this series. This book will be a wonderful read for enthusiasts of thrillers.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

Emily Ray is on administrative leave from the FBI and vacationing in Lake Arrowhead with her father, who has dementia. While there, she hears about a 15 year old girl who recently drowned. But Emily's teenaged neighbor is convinced that the girl was murdered, as were other foster teens who mysteriously disappeared. Despite being on leave and being on vacation, Emily is compelled to look deeper into the girl's drowning. Each detail she discovers strengthens her belief that all is not as placid as it seems at Lake Arrowhead.

There is tension on every page of this book as Emily uncovers surprising links between the people of the town. Readers will anxiously root for the teenagers who are caught up in a system outside of their control and who have no one, except Emily, to seek justice on their behalf. Though this is the second book in the series, nothing is lost by not having read the first.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a dark thriller. It shows that even on vacation an FBI agent is still working. It really draws you in from the start and it is really hard to put teh book down.

Set in the rustic mountain town of Lake Arrowhead, the novel follows Special Agent Emily Ray, who’s on forced leave and hoping for solace. Instead, she’s pulled into unraveling the mysterious death of 15‑year‑old Hayley Hope, believed to have drowned. Despite the sheriff calling it an accident, Hayley’s best friend insists something far more sinister occurred.

Emily and Lillian were such an awesome team!

I loved the atmosphere & pacing: Greene masterfully crafts a claustrophobic, small‑town ambiance—fog, forests, and hushed secrets—that grips you from the get‑go. The tension builds incrementally, with short chapters that make it nearly impossible to set the book down. Emily is both empathetic and tenacious. Her personal struggles—career stalled and her father’s health deteriorating—add a meaningful emotional underpinning to her investigative drive.
The dynamic between Emily and Hayley’s friend Lillian brings depth. Their alliance feels genuine, and it’s this emotional core that raised the stakes beyond a typical whodunit

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The twists were superb and I was on the edge of my seat until the end. I will definitely be recommending this book to friends and I’ll be reading more by this author!

All Agent Emily Ray wants is to have a peaceful holiday with her ailing father in a place which had happy memories for her family. She did not think she would get embroiled in a case of a drowned teenager. The neighbour of Emily is convinced that it is murder, and an abduction run by a gang of corrupt law keepers who control the town.

Knowing she is out of her area limits and acting outside the boundaries of her mandatory leave, Emily slowly uncovers a trail of missing teenage girls, a cult fixated by their wishes to protect their own and very dangerous to outsiders.

The plot unravels slowly but Emily is not giving up. She is a voice for those girls without anyone to speak up for them. The predators seem to go for those in foster care, knowing that they are helpless.

Poignant and tense this was a good story about human trafficking, still prevalent today.

This series is so good! I stayed engaged and on the edge from start to finish. I could not put this book down. On each page and at the end of each chapter I had to go on, I had to know what was happening next.