This book was good but not great. I had a hard time understanding why the father of the main character was even there. It’s was more of a distraction than anything. As a super fan of Dateline, I could see this being an episode. This review doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t give the author another try.

Special Agent Emily Ray is supposed to be enjoying a vacation with her father up at a lake when she hears about a girl who was recently found drowned. It was too quickly deemed to be an accidental drowning, according to her best friend, Lillian, who lives next to the lake house where Emily is staying. She believes her friend Hayley was murdered and that there was a cover-up involving a conservative church and the local sheriff’s department. She tells Emily that there’s a group of church members who pretty much run everything up on the mountain, and they don’t take kindly to being questioned or accused. But that never stops Emily, does it?

She slowly earns Lillian’s trust and looks into her accusations. What she finds is disturbing – there’s been a pattern of missing girls who are vulnerable and easily written off as runaways. We know where this is going – it’s up to Emily to investigate and find justice before she becomes the next female at the lake to disappear.

It’s quite an emotional story because it’s so realistic. Young people in isolated communities with nothing else to do except cause trouble and intimidate others who don’t fit in. The corruption is rampant, involving even social workers and foster families. This story may be fictional, but it’s heartbreaking knowing horrible things like this occur all over every day. That’s why I admire authors who write tough stories like this, painting a picture of the neglected and abused and the corrupt agencies that are supposed to help them.

I was really invested in this story and seeing the guilty parties face justice. The characterization of the evildoers was so good – I almost couldn’t stand reading about them; they were such terrible people! This series is now one of my favorites, and I can’t wait to see who or what Emily Ray comes up against next!

I’ve been counting down the days until I could get my hands on this second book featuring Special Agent Emily Ray. I adored the first book in the series ‘My Name is Emily Ray’ and this second book, ‘Hayley Hope is Gone’, has certainly lived up to my expectations!
We join Emily, currently on mandatory leave from work, as she takes her father on vacation to a small mountain town which she knows from her childhood. However, once there, she begins to encounter worrying situations and suspicious behaviour, leading her to investigate further.
Again, I loved the characters and found myself drawn into the storyline so strongly that I just couldn’t put it down. I would say it is possible to read this as a standalone mystery but there are several references to Emily Rays backstory in it that will make so much more sense if you read the first book beforehand.
So… I am back to counting down the days until Michelle Dominguez Greene releases the third book in the series and I can continue my journey with Emily Ray.

Another great book in the Emily ray series.

I enjoyed the book however the pacing was a little off, I found the beginning quite boring however it really picked up in the middle and end.

The plot was great, I predicted a lot of it but not to the extent of what happened, I loved how it showed how a typical small town can work where everyone knows each other

My biggest pet peeve, was sammy disappeared from the book and then popped back up in the epilogue so that confused me

Overall an enjoyable read

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

A gripping and twisty thriller. I had a hard time putting it down! The story is engaging and keeps you both guessing and on the edge of your seat. I would recommend to anyone who likes thrillers with a strong, capable and likable female lead.

Dealing with the ramifications and fallout from the Josie Vance case (Book 1), Special Agent Emily Ray packs up her dad (who has dementia) and heads to Lake Arrowhead, a mountain town where she vacationed as a child. But peace is not to be found here, when her neighbor Lillian (age 15) works to convine Emily that Hayley did not drown, she was murdered by some of the towns people. And these towns people are giving Emily some hinky vibes. Even though she's officially benched by the FBI, Emily cannot help poke around to see what she can find out... and it's such a compelling read as she struggles to find the balance between her work and personal lives. Michelle Dominguez Greene has written such an empathetic and driven character in Emily Ray - this Series has quicky become one of my absolute favorites! A huge thank you to Storm Publishing for an advanced reader of this book - the opinions expressed are my own.

Hayley Hope is Gone: A gripping and unputdownable thriller (Special Agent Emily Ray Book 2) by Michelle Dominguez Greene starts well. I was very sad to come to the end of this book. I really liked Emily Ray and thought Lillian and Eddie were great characters. I enjoyed Lillian’s grandmother and Michael, Emily’s father, and the story and the sensitivity of portraying dementia. The story is intense and quite dark with intense drama, a compelling page-turner.

Special Agent Emily Ray’s journey to uncover the truth behind the drowning of a teenage girl in the seemingly peaceful town of Lake Arrowhead is both gripping and emotional. There were some tear-jerking moments. The author did a masterful job of blending suspense with character depth, particularly through Emily’s personal struggles and her bond with Hayley’s best friend, Lillian.

The narrative uncovers dark secrets and complicity within the community, raising important themes about vulnerability and justice, and there were some "cringey" moments of how people behave in public and private. With its unpredictable twists and compelling prose, this book is a must-read for thriller fans. More, please!! I cannot wait to see what will happen next.

I would highly recommend this book and this author. Read book one so you get to know Emily Ray and her backstory. You won’t be disappointed.

#HayleyHopeisGone #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co

I enjoyed this book, second in the Emily Ray series. While Emily is waiting to be reinstated at her job in the missing person department of the FBI, she brings her father with her to a mountain resort town. She has spent many summers vacations in this town and is looking forward to reconnecting with Dad and a friend who lives in town. While vacationing, she stumbles upon some suspicious activity. With the help of the teenager in the house next door to her rental, she slowly uncovers the town terrible secrets. I enjoyed this suspenseful mystery.

This was such a dark and twisted thriller. It’s a horrible tale of greed, corruption and utterly horrific things done to children. The tale is told with sensitivity. The characters are well thought out. The book flowed smoothly. The writing is amazing. I look forward to the next book in he series. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Michele Domínguez Greene follows up her electrifying debut My Name Is Emily Ray with another emotionally charged, tension-packed thriller that doesn’t flinch from the dark.

After narrowly surviving the fallout of her last case, Special Agent Emily Ray is benched and nursing wounds that go deeper than the Bureau can see. She retreats to Lake Arrowhead, a seemingly serene mountain town steeped in her childhood memories. But peace is short-lived. When a teenage girl is found drowned under suspicious circumstances and the police close the book with a shrug, Emily can’t ignore the gnawing questions—or the pleas of Hayley Hope’s grieving best friend.

What unfolds is a haunting investigation that peels back the town’s well-kept image to reveal a chilling pattern: girls have been vanishing for years, and no one seems willing to dig into why. With her father’s declining health adding emotional weight and the threat level rising fast, Emily goes rogue—again.

Greene writes with a sharp edge and a deep empathy for the voiceless. This book doesn’t just craft suspense; it confronts systemic failure, small-town rot, and the way society fails its most vulnerable. The pacing is tight, the stakes feel personal, and Emily remains a compelling lead: flawed, dogged, and heartbreakingly human.

The emotional core—Emily’s bond with her father and her evolving sense of justice—keeps the book grounded, even as the plot twists turn sinister. While some readers may miss the deeper personal introspection seen in book one, this sequel leans more heavily into the procedural grit and corruption narrative, offering satisfying, if unsettling, revelations.

The ending hits hard. It’s not neat, not clean—but it’s real. And it sets up even more dangerous ground for Emily to cover next.

Final Verdict:
A gripping, emotionally potent second installment that deepens the mythology of Emily Ray while carving out space for chilling small-town horror. If My Name Is Emily Ray introduced the scars, Hayley Hope is Gone shows what happens when you tear the bandage off.

Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Lisa Gardner, and Meg Gardiner.

An amazingly well written thriller based on a female FBI agent who is relentless! I love a crime thriller and I read this in one night. I was talking out loud to the characters, my heart was racing, I cheered! At the end I friggin’ shed a few tears and then clapped. Someone please put this on the big screen. Now I am going to buy the first in the series, My Name Is Emily Ray. ( You don’t need to read it first, but you will want to get more Emily Ray!)

Wow another absolute amazing book by Michelle Greene!!! Literally think my heart stopped I was so stressed! It was brilliant the twists like what i still need a minute to breathe again. I adore Emily pretty sure she’s my favourite FBI agent.
I’m loving this series and can’t wait for more it’s a masterpiece of a crime thriller.

FBI Special Agent, Emily Ray is taking a much needed break after facing down the man who abducted her years ago.

It doesn't take long into her relaxing get away with her father, before she stumbles into a mysterious death of a local teen and a town that is hiding something dark.

Beneath the surface of a town that looks ideal, lies a series of missing girls, potentially corrupt town leadership, and all of it brings danger closer to Emily and her father.

This sequel to My Name is Emily Ray was just as captivating! I absolutely love the main character and how her character and storyline develop. The book is full of suspense, twists, and surprising heroes.

This one grabbed me by the throat right out of the gate. Emily is very likable, intelligent and complex. The plot is intricate and fast-paced, winding through twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat; atrocities will affront while Emily’s pursuit of justice for the victims will deliver gratification. Although the resolution is bittersweet, the pursuit of it will keep you up long past your bedtime.

Such a gripping thriller! Because the investigation deals with young girls, it made me even more eager to read the book in one go to know how it all ends! I was hooked from page one, and I my attention kept on on to the end. Much tension builds up, scary moments and much action are there to make the novel a really good thriller! I did not care much though about Emily's relationship with her husband. Otherwise, I loved it!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

I love the Emily Ray series! It has quickly become one of my favourites, and I can't wait for more.
Hayley Hope is Gone is the 2nd in the series. It's full of suspense, and although I did have some inklings of a few things, I was still surprised by some. I couldn't put this book down. Well done!

*Rounded up from 4.5 stars**

I am utterly hooked on these well-paced slow-burn thrillers featuring FBI agent Emily Ray. Emily is such a fantastic character. Driven by her traumatic childhood from being kidnapped and locked in a basement for five years, she is driven to fight injustices to the most vulnerable.

I was surprised by Emily was a bit naïve not to see what was right in front of her, especially when she realised how intertwined the community was. The ending? What a punch. And yet while I was stunned that the signs weren’t a misunderstanding, it was realistic. Women always feel like they have to earn love by diminishing their passions. I cannot wait to see where this story lands next.

Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.

"My Name Is Emily Ray" is my read of the year so far so I had great hopes for this book. Unfortunately I was a little disappointed. It is a good crime story but it didn't have the twists and shocks that were the best part of the earlier book. Although I have to admit that the identity of Hayley's killer was very clever. I think the author shot herself in the foot a little by giving away the storyline, including the twists, of the earlier book. There were so many spoilers that there would be no point in a reader who enjoyed this book buying the previous one.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

This was amazing!
The second book in the series continues the plot with a punch and in a such smart way, I couldn’t put this down.

After Emily Ray is put on a mandatory leave, she decides to go on vacation to clear her mind and get some rest. Simple right? Well, actually no! Of course she might find something dangerous or maybe something will find her?!

She uncovers lies, corruption, girls disappearances and so much more on this vacation town, that it makes this so tense and suspenseful, with twists that will leave you with a jaw dropping!

I really love this series, highly recommend it to my book thriller friends out there. It’s never too late to start, trust me. You can thank me later🤭

Thank you so much to Storm Publishing, Michelle Dominguez Greene for my eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.