The Day She Died by Shannon Hollinger is an exhilarating and masterfully crafted addition to the Chief Maggie Riley series, delivering a riveting blend of suspense, character depth, and relentless pacing.
This book was filled with so many twists and turns, and when you think everything is wrapped up, it keeps going! This is a fast read and was so good.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The Day She Died by Shannon Hollinger is the fifth installment of the Chief Maggie Riley series. This is a gripping crime thriller that starts with a bang and does not slow down!

When Chief Maggie Riley is called out to a scene, all hell breaks loose when a trailer explodes right in front of her. What started as a suspected meth lab explosion soon dives deep into secrets that have been buried for decades. A woman who had died in the explosion should have already been dead. The victim had been declared dead twenty years ago after a tragic drowning accident. With her partner, Maggie will need to find out what really happened twenty years ago and how it is connected to the case today.

I definitely feel like this can be read as a standalone novel, but if you are the type of reader that needs the whole backstory to enjoy a series, then give the rest of the books a shot! Hollinger's writing is very concise and the characters are very well developed!! This was a quick read with lots of suspense, action, and secrets that had me hooked from the first explosive page!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Shannon Hollinger, and Bookouture for this ARC!! Publication date is April 14th 2025.

This is a great series but can definitely be read as a standalone! Great mystery! Love Chief Maggie Riley!

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys a mystery full of twists and turns, and features a strong female lead. Chief Maggie Riley is tasked with investigating the case of Ruby Anderson, who was supposed to be dead but isn’t. I found that right from the first page, I was completely enthralled and couldn’t wait to see the final reveal. I read this as a standalone, but it was incredibly easy to jump right into the story, and I’m excited to read more about Maggie’s story in the previous four books.
She is such a complex and dynamic character who draws readers in and almost makes it impossible to put the book down. I particularly loved the dual narrative that switches between Maggie and Steve’s point of view. The transitions are seamless due to both characters being so well written; it’s easy to understand who the main focus is at any point in the book. These wonderful characters are a huge part of what makes this story so captivating and I loved reading about them. I highly recommend!
Thank you to Bookouture for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#TheDaySheDied #NetGalley

The Day She Died, the fifth book in Shannon Hollinger’s Chief Maggie Riley series, follows Maggie as she investigates the shocking death of Ruby Anderson, presumed drowned 20 years ago. When Ruby’s body is found in a burned-out trailer, Maggie uncovers secrets about her hidden past and suspects a colleague is hiding crucial information. As deception and buried truths emerge, Maggie must navigate betrayal within her own department in this gripping crime thriller.

I am usually not a fan of police procedurals, but this one pleasantly surprised me! I adored the characters Maggie and Kal, and admired Maggie’s humility throughout the story. I also enjoyed that there were chapters from her fiancé Steve’s POV, and he had his own arc in the story.
The one thing I struggled with while reading this was that there were so many characters to keep track of, and they all related to one another in some way, so I often got certain characters confused with others. I think I would have gotten more out of the story if there were less characters.

This was my first book from this author, and now that I’ve finished this one, I would love to go back and read the previous four books in the Chief Maggie Riley series. This one was a great book for my mystery and thriller lovers!

This is the 5th book in the series. I love her writing. This one is all about drama. I love her characters, and care what happens to them. I honestly couldn't put this one down.

Okay, y’all. Picture this: you’re living your small-town life, eating pie at the diner, when BAM—turns out the girl who drowned twenty years ago just turned up very dead in a burned-out trailer. Welcome to Coyote Cove, where the past doesn’t stay buried and apparently, neither do people.

Chief Maggie Riley is the one left holding the badge and the mess. She’s tough, sharp, and just tired enough to make her my new favorite fictional detective. When Ruby Anderson’s crispy remains are found, Maggie’s first question is the same as mine: Wait a second, didn’t this girl already die once?

What follows is a tangled mystery filled with small-town secrets, suspicious coworkers, and enough plot twists to make me question everyone—including my own neighbors. The writing is vivid without being fussy—I could practically feel the humid air off the river and smell the smoke from the trailer. And every time I thought I had it figured out? Nope. Shannon Hollinger pulled the rug out from under me like I was standing on a trapdoor.

Let’s talk about the suspense: it builds slow like a summer storm, then boom—lightning. The kind of story where you clutch your drink and mutter, “Oh no she didn’t,” at the page. I laughed, I gasped, I side-eyed every character. I mean, when your murder witness works with you at the police department? Trust issues, table for one.

This book has all the good stuff: a smart lead, juicy secrets, and twists that hit like a slap with a wet dish towel. If you’re into crime fiction with a heartbeat and characters who feel real enough to spill your tea with, The Day She Died needs to be on your TBR. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5

Thanks to Bookouture for this advance copy via NetGalley for this advance copy for my honest, voluntary review.

#TheDaySheDied #NetGalley

I was unusually tense as I read the latest Maggie Riley mystery. Hollinger left me hanging in limbo with book #4 and I eagerly dove in.
But as Maggie has a horrible foreboding feeling throughout the book so did I. Anxiety gnawed at my gut, mostly over the status of Steve and Maggie’s relationship and whether they’d make it down the aisle or not,
I used to be Team Steve and I hate to be a turncoat, but Hot Fire Guy Larsen grew on me in the chapters.
I also wanted to give Kal a hug as finally we get a little snippet of his background and what brought him to Coyote Cove.
Hollinger also did it again at the end of the book because I’m asking myself will they or won’t they?? To be continued…

This latest installment in the series is a gripping, fast-paced read packed with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. Serious issues—both personal and professional—are woven skillfully throughout, adding depth and urgency to Chief Riley’s already demanding life. The pressure never lets up, and that’s exactly what makes it so hard to put down.

One of the real joys of returning to this series is the chance to dig deeper into the pasts of Maggie and Steve. Each new detail adds richness to their characters and strengthens the emotional core of the story. As always, it's a pleasure to revisit this world and see how the threads of mystery, tension, and human connection continue to evolve.

Highly recommended for fans of tightly plotted crime fiction with heart.

This is a great crime thriller.
Maggie attends a call out and is in for a huge shock as the trailer in front of her explodes just as she arrives.
Her car is severely damaged but luckily Maggie is unhurt. Though she is shaken by the experience and with Steve away, Maggie struggles on her own.
When she finds out that one of the bodies in the trailer is a woman who was recorded as dying 20 years ago, Maggie is confused.
There’s lots of layers to this case and I did get a bit confused with all the different characters at times.
We also have chapters from Steve, who is trying to work out what happened in the past with Wesley.
This is a great crime thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.

Book 5 in the Chief Maggie Riley series starts out with a huge explosion at a trailer. A trailer that Maggie is pulled up in front of. Maggie has a flash of a face and then, the explosion. What is going on????
Okay, I have to say this….I did enjoy the back and forth chapters between Maggie and her fiancé Steve. But…..oh my gosh, the pacing was so slow at times! And, repetitive. I sure hope everything gets resolved with both their personal issues. And, resolved soon please!
And, the situation with the fire Marshall? A bit confusing to say the least.
So, the story itself is compelling and intriguing. Maggie is one tough lady….can she handle all that is being thrown her way????
The question we are left pondering…will there be a wedding?????
All in all….a must read series for me!
I very much encourage reading the books in order. There is way too much back story you need to know about Maggie, Steve and her team of investigators.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Secrets, lies, and deception are the name of the game in [book:The Day She Died|222784528]! This is the 5th book in the Chief Maggie Riley series and would work nicely as a stand-alone if you have not read the previous books in the series. But the previous books are fast, gripping and thrilling so I do recommend reading them first! As with the previous books, [book:The Day She Died|222784528] instantly grabbed my attention and held a firm grasp on it throughout the book! I enjoyed the pacing, the investigative work, the twists, the tension, the danger, and the shocking moments in this book!

Ruby Anderson died over twenty years ago - at least that is what everyone thought! Imagine the surprise and complete and utter shock everyone felt when Ruby Anderson's body was found in a burned trailer. How can this be? She died on a kayaking trip all those years ago, didn't she? There were whispers about how she was pulled under by the river rapids. But Ruby did not drown. Her autopsy shows a different story...

I enjoy this thrilling series and those who work with Maggie. I enjoyed the tension, the suspense, the twists, the reveals, and the interactions between the characters. I have always enjoyed the balance between Maggie's personal life and her professional life. She and her fiancé, Steve, have been planning their wedding but Steve is out of town handling what he has been keeping secret for the entire series.

As I mentioned, secrets are the name of the game in this book and everyone has one. Solving this case will not be easy - are they ever easy?????? I enjoyed the tension, the dread, the dark secrets, the feeling of unease and mounting danger that occurred during this book. Maggie is one tough cookie who does not back down, and I admire her tenacity, courage, drive, and spunk.

Gripping, mysterious, well written, well thought out, and dripping with secrets!

I look forward to reading more books in this series!

An explosion at a local home, that was suspected to be a meth lab, sets forth an avalanche of buried secrets. Secrets that have been buried for decades are now coming to light. Chief Maggie Riley is already very shaken up because she arrived at the home literally seconds before the explosion. Now she is even more shocked to learn that the woman who died in the explosion died 20 years ago. Say what? The scene is set and you know this is going to be a gravity defying ride of suspense and intrigue.

If you know anything about Chief Maggie Riley, you know there has never been a mystery or investigation that she did not want to solve. The more complex the puzzle, the harder she works. In this particular book, Maggie is going through some personal issues. I loved that the author includes her issues outside of her being chief of police. This makes the character more real to me. On top of all of these troubles, her soon to be husband, Steve, is dealing with his own personal issues from his past. He is struggling mightily about a tragic night all of those years ago.

Deceit, betrayal and past shoddy police work make this mystery even more intriguing with its twisty turns and danger around every corner. Coyote Cove will not be safe until this mystery is solved.

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

Another great case for Maggie Riley love this series and can’t wait to see what she gets up to next with Steve.Plenty of twists and turns and suspense to keep me hooked. Well rounded characters. Great writing style. Eagerly awaiting the next adventure. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

It is brilliant to catch up with Chief of Police Maggie Riley in Coyote Cove, along with her fiancé Steve, their dogs - Tempest and Sullivan, Lieutenant Kal Kilshore, Coyote Cover PD receptionist Sue Bailey. We start with Steve going home to follow up something from his past with his old friend Wesley Banks. Meanwhile back in Coyote Cover, Maggie goes out to investigate a trailer, when she arrives, there is an explosion! This takes Maggie on a journey involving discovering past happenings! I love how all the characters interact with other and how they work well together especially Maggie and Steve! We learn more about their individual pasts and they help to be the people they are now. All the subplots lead to a surprising ending.

Two gripping mysteries in one book!

To start, I hope you are reading this series in order to get the full impact and understanding of what is going on.

Book 5 and Steve has headed home, seeking answers to the death of a college girl, his memories of the time foggy as he suspects having been drugged. He is on a mission to unearth the hidden flashes, to really know what happened that night, to get closure for himself and her family.

Maggie is thrown into an unbelievable case after responding to a call about a rotten egg smell, only to arrive on scene right as a trailer explodes. When the identity of one of the victims is identified as a women declared dead in a drowning accident 20 years before, she and Kal need to find out what really happened all those years ago and is it tied to the deaths that start to pile up.

As in book 4, the book skates the line of right/wrong/gray areas, and I think everyone will react in their own way to these moments.

But let's not forget there is a wedding coming up and Maggie finally lets her hair down for a hen’s night, but with the time that she and Steve have apart, the communication diminishing, a sense of foreboding for them both, will they make it to the alter…

This book brings more of the background characters to the forefront, learning more about them, and we have the introduction of a new character, a fire inspector who I’m intrigued to know more about.

I’m looking forward to what comes next!

Although I haven’t read the previous novels in this series, I had no issues reading this as a standalone. This book is a pacy novel filled with plenty of drama after quite literally an explosive start. I enjoyed how the plot unfolded and Maggie is a great female lead character. I look forward to reading the other novels in the series. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

Relies heavily on what went before😕

3.5🌟 stars
I've loved the plots and execution of the stories in this series but The Day She Died was a bit of a miss for me. I did not feel I got to know any of the victims and the story relied so heavily on me having read the immediately preceding book in the series to understand almost anything about Wesley, the principal bane in Maggie's fiance Steven's existence, and how Wesley has affected their relationship. And, tell me again because I didn't see one mention here: exactly what kind of work does Steven do when he's not wallowing in his past?

I felt Steven's subplot really slowed the story down (forward three steps and back two) and Maggie is so caught up in introspection and doubting herself that it made for a slower paced read and not what I was hoping for. The main mood I got from the book was sadness, not thrills, despite the racking up of multiple murders to investigate and the mystery of a dead woman seemingly resurrected from the grave. Guess I've been spoiled by how much I liked the previous in the series.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared on 4/4/25 on Waterstones, Goodreads and Bookbub, and with Barnes & Noble and BAM.

4 1/2 STARS!

Non-stop action and suspense! I really enjoy revisiting Maggie and her team time and time again in Shannon Hollinger's Chief Maggie Riley series which takes place in the Maine countryside. We get answers to a few unanswered questions from the past in this book, but uncover a few more. I really would like a little better refresher of what has happened previously to keep newcomers to the series up to date and even to refresh a fan's memory. In particular Steve's sis wasn't detailed in catching up the drama that put her in the state she's currently in enough. I'm looking forward to whatever comes next in the Steve/Maggie saga and I will enjoy seeing Kal come into the forefront in a story soon. Great characters, intense drama and always intense another mystery to solve.

I loved this! I haven't read any of the other Maggie Riley books but I can't wait to start more! Will definitely be buying more from this author.