Fast paced, engaging, detective thriller that I couldn’t put down. The major twist happening midway through the book was unexpected and a welcome change from typical thrillers. If you’re a fan of Dexter/CSI then this is right up your alley! Very much read like a fast-paced movie and could easily see this becoming a series. I’d definitely read another book on Emily Ray to see what she gets up to next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and author Michelle Dominguez Greene for an advanced copy of My Name is Emily Ray in exchange for an honest review.

The new case was Special Agent Emily Ray's worst nightmare. Another child abducted and the clues all point to the man who had abducted Emily and held her for years. Except that he had been killed twenty years ago. Unputdownable thriller with a diabolical twist.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. Pub Date May 27, 2025
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#crimethriller #suspense @goodreads #*****bookreview @bookbub #thestorygraph @booksamillion @barnesandnoble @bookshop_org @bookshop_org_uk #NetGalley @kobo @librarythingofficial @waterstones #childabduction #fbi #suspense #ptsd #rituals #ocd #predators #strangerdanger

First up I don’t recommend starting this book late at night because it will have you hooked and it’s hard to put down.

Wow wow wow, this book was amazing from start to finish, it had me completely hooked. I didn’t expect any of the plot twists, in fact I was way off base with my initial thoughts * spoiler incoming*

as I thought it could have been John grice to get her off the team so he could take her job!

It was amazing to read about how much Emily had overcome and it was also a breath of fresh air for an author to still include how therapy and triggers can happen despite the main character being incredibly strong, it’s not weak to seek help

Overall an amazing book, I can’t wait for the next one!

What a great fine! When Emily was 8 she was kidnapped and held captive until she is in her teens. Decades later she is the lead in kidnapping cases for the FBI, drawing on her own experiences. Happily married with twin girls Emily gets called out to a kidnapping that eerily resembles her own. But how can that be when her kidnapper committed suicide soon after Emily was found? This well written story flowed easily and I eagerly looked forward to reading it every time I put it down. I sincerely hope this is the first of many Emily Ray novels.

I really enjoyed this book. I am sometimes in two minds when the main detective has 'baggage' that connects them with the case. However I thought this worked very well. The impact of Emily Ray's past has led her to a career finding abducted children and this case reflects back and involves her own abduction. A well crafted story with good strong characters.

FBI Agent Emily Rae specialises in investigating child abductions, particularly poignant she was, herself, abducted and held captive for years before she managed to escape. Her current case involves the abduction of Josie, a 7-year old. The case revives memories, flashbacks and becomes even more personal as time passes. Initially quite a slow burn, then a complete exposé of something followed by an increase in pace and tension as Emily digs deeper to find young Josie. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

First things first, I thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC!

Maybe I should have had a closer look at the blurb, then I would have seen this is part of a series. Not that I mind it. I just prefer standalone novels, seeing I have a habit of needing to finish a series once I did start it....

Anyway, it was still a great book, and I do love the character of Emily Ray! It was twisty, and suspenseful with the dark and cruel topic of young children being abducted, most likely to meet a horrible fate, and all of that kept me clued to the pages. So much that I surely would lie when I say I am not going to keep an eye out for the next book of this series!

Title: My Name is Emily Ray
Series: Agent Emily Ray Book #1
Author: Michelle Dominguez Greene
Publisher: Storm Publishers
Genre: Mystery Thriller, True Crime
Pub Date: May 27, 2025
My Rating: 4.6 Rounded up!
Pages: 279

When young Josie Vance vanishes from Cove Park, CA leaving behind her light-up sneakers, Special Agent Emily Ray leads the investigation to find her. Emily can relate to Josie as twenty-eight years ago she was kidnapped and held prisoner for eight years by James Tibbs and finally escaped. Now she is happily married to Antonio and they have twin daughters Juliana and Eliza who are six years old – same age as Josie.
However Emily has have issues connected to the kidnapping.
~I was into Emily’s story and her quest to find the kidnapper and figured that was her issue. I honest was clueless that it would be what it was!

This was a nonstop - truly unputdownable read for me!
Love Antonio and hope that in "Hayley Hope is Gone" Book #2 we hear more about him.
This is my first Michelle Dominguez Greene and I will definitely read another additionally look forward to the next Emily Ray.
I live in SoCal so love all the familiar landmarks plus I do know how to pronounce La Canada.

In Ms. Greene’s ‘A Letter from the Author’ = She tells us she has been fascinated by the emotional journey of people who survive complex trauma.
Questions why some people are perceived as more worthy than others; why some children or people are valued and other discarded. And what happens when the narrative is switched. So this story is also suspense as well as the kidnapping of young Josie Vance.
I recommended this story and also encourage you to be sure to read the author’s thoughts in her letter to readers.

Want to thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 27, 2025.

Absolutely loved this book. “Emily Ray” is fantastic as the main character. She’s strong, tough, and will do whatever it takes to solve her cases…….even if it means going rogue from the FBI where she is head of the CARD unit.


Although some of the content is sad and can be hard to read Ms. Greene did a fantastic job with this story.
I am so excited to see what comes next in this series.

WOW, WOW, WOW. This is one of the best books I've read, ever, it's amazing.

Special Agent Emily Ray leads a team of FBI agents to rescue abducted children and hunt down the perpetrators. She is so focused and determined to find these kids because she was one of those kids but she was lucky enough to escape.

I can't put into words how good this story is and I'm sure it will be a hit when it's published. I read this is the first book in the Emily Ray series and can't wait for the next one.

It was a good twisty book that had enough twists and turns to keep you reading till the end.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

This was such a good read. Emily Ray is in charge of finding a kidnapped little girl with parallels that link back to her own kidnapping as a child. The narrative fits between the present day and Emily’s kidnapping when she was younger weaving the two stories together looking for links. The present day chapters are preface by the day and time starting from when little Jos was taken.. the action all happens in such a short amount of time that I could absolutely feel the energy as time moved on and so much police activity was happening. Behind the kidnapping and the police work those also Emily Ray the wife and mother who is trying to hold her family together and be true to them. There is love in this book as well as kindness, which makes it special.

I could not put this down! Such an easy read, I loved how fast paced this was, the plot was PLOTTING - I loved the twist. Emily was such a likeable character, and I can’t wait to read more in the series.

I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a thriller!

My Name Is Emily Ray is book one in the Special Agent Emily Ray series.

When a child goes missing Special Agent Emily Ray is called back to her hometown to help on the case. Emily can't shake the feeling that this case is eerily familiar to her own. Will Emily find the missing child before it's too late? I highly recommend reading to find out.

I really loved this thriller story with it's twists, and can't wait to read book 2! This is a new to me author but I can't wait to get my hands on more of her books! I would recommend adding this book to your TBR!
I think the author did a fantast job with the storyline, and the characters. I would recommend making sure you have time to read this book because if you are like me you will not want to put it down.

Prep yourself for the chills to be coming down your arm each chapter of this book. I was so shocked by the ending! Loved the suspense.

This one surprised me. It was a brilliant book and I didn't not see the biggest twist coming. I saw some of the other twists beforehand, but the big twist shocked me which is a really great thing for a thriller to do.

Release: May 27, 2025
Author: Michelle Dominguez Greene
Publisher: Storm publishing

Rating: 4 ★ 

My Name Is Emily Ray by Michele Dominguez Greene is a gripping and emotionally charged crime thriller that introduces us to FBI agent Emily Ray, who specializes in investigating child abductions. What makes Emily particularly compelling is her personal connection to the case—she herself was abducted as a child and held captive for years. Now, a mother and dedicated agent, Emily is drawn back to the past when a new case emerges that eerily mirrors her own abduction.
The story centers around the disappearance of a young girl named Josie Vance, and as Emily investigates, she is forced to confront her own trauma. The case brings flashbacks of her own kidnapping, and she begins to question whether the same person who abducted her all those years ago is responsible for Josie’s disappearance. As Emily’s PTSD and OCD symptoms resurface, the story becomes a race against time to save Josie while uncovering dark secrets about her own past.
Greene does an excellent job of creating suspense, with well-placed twists and red herrings that keep the reader on edge. The pacing is fast, and the emotional weight of the story—especially with its exploration of trauma, mental health, and the psychological effects of abduction—adds layers of depth to the plot. Emily is a strong, complex character, and her personal connection to the case makes her determination to solve it even more compelling.
The book is packed with unexpected twists that keep you hooked, and the story’s structure, which weaves in Emily’s flashbacks and current investigation, adds to the tension. The exploration of PTSD and OCD is handled thoughtfully and provides a unique perspective on how trauma can impact an investigator's ability to do their job.
While the book is a solid read with lots of suspense, some might find that the pacing slows down at times, particularly in the first half, and the ending might feel a bit rushed. But overall, the shocking twists, the heartbreaking moments, and the emotional payoff make this a memorable read.
If you're a fan of psychological thrillers with complex characters and high stakes, My Name Is Emily Ray is definitely worth picking up. I look forward to seeing where Emily’s story goes next and how her journey as both an agent and a survivor unfolds.

Summary

My Name Is Emily Ray follows FBI Special Agent Emily Ray, an expert in child abductions, as she investigates the disappearance of seven-year-old Josie Vance in Cove Park, California. Josie’s abduction eerily mirrors Emily’s own traumatic experience—she was abducted as a child and held captive for years. As Emily leads the search to find Josie, a disturbing clue surfaces: a drawing of a young girl in pink leggings, standing in front of a brick house, holding silver balloons—an image that ties directly to Emily's own captivity.
The discovery of a hair clip and a faded children’s book further intensifies the chilling realization that her abductor may still be alive. As Emily dives deeper into the investigation, she’s forced to confront the traumatic past she’s long buried. The case becomes more personal, as Emily not only races to save Josie, but also faces the terrifying possibility that the man who once destroyed her life has returned to do it all over again. Emily must confront her darkest fears and the scars of her past to stop him before it’s too late.

Favorite Quote:
"if you hide from death, you hide from life."

Thankful to have had the opportunity to read this book early! It was a wonderful read and sometimes it’s hard for me to get into books. If I’m not hooked by 20% in, I put it down. I devoured this book within 24 hours,’loved it!

I received a copy of the book "My Name is Emily Ray" from NetGalley. Emily Ray is a special agent. She is brought on to a case of a little girl Named Josie who has been kidnapped. Emily Ray knows how horrible this is because she was kidnapped by a horrible man when she was a little girl and held captive for eight years. She knows what it is to be hidden away with no one finding her. Except she was not alone. She was hidden with another little girl who looked just like her and had been there awhile. She has spent over 20 years thinking her kidnapper was dead but now begins to wonder if he is still alive and may be the person who kidnapped Josie. There are signs that are similar and weird things show up that could point to what happened to her all those years ago. Emily has tried to go on with her life. She marries and has twin daughters who are six years old. She is trying to put the pieces together to find this little girl and hope she is wrong that Tibbs the terrible man who kidnapped her may be the abductor now. she also has secrets she has kept for years from when she was kidnapped and fears the truth could ruin her life. A very good True Crime book. I read the author is planning to write more Emily Ray books . Look forward to reading them. I would give this book a 4.5.

Five Freakin Out Star Read.
This book is set to be released on May 27, 2025 and YOU NEED TO PREORDER IT NOW.
Special Agent Emily Ray was abducted and returned years ago by a guy named James Tibb who she thought was dead all of these years. When a young girl is kidnapped at the exact same park as her all these years later, she goes into the case with her eyes wide open and her fear of the past catching up to her. She has her own secrets that she has hidden away and Tibbs is the only person who knows the truth about what happened in that house all those years ago. But does he have little Josie Vance.
This book is AMAZING. and I cannot wait to read more about Emily Ray!
Side Note: Antonio has got to be the most amazing husband I have ever heard about. I mean EVER. That man is a Saint. Or is he? You got to read the book to find out.