Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second book that I've read from this author/serie. What a ride into Chief Maggie Riley's life.

When everyone seems to be hating her and everyone seems to have secrets/things to hide, Maggie Riley needs to find who is behind the murder of 3 bodies found in the mountains, while juggling with her personal life.

While I mix the different names/POV sometimes, I really love the way the author writes, the suspense, the twists. At the end, it's always the last person I thought about !!! I am really impatient to read the 3rd book of the serie..

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the approval to read and review this book.

Chief Maggie Riley is called out to investigate the mystery behind 3 bodies that have been found on Rattlesnake Mountain. She gets help from a Brad, a local guide, and the state police. Whilst on her own, she hears a dog and she finds a baby there. As it is Winter, Maggie makes her way down the mountain to save them. No spoilers but the story is well-written, great descriptions, fast paced and entertaining. I was gripped by the twists and turns of the plot. It races to a thrilling climax that you won't believe.

In this second installment of the Chief Maggie Riley series, Maggie is called to the scene when three bodies are found on a mountain top. When Maggie hikes up to investigate, she finds a shocking scene: not just three dead bodies with no apparent cause of death, but also a tiny baby hidden in the brush, fiercely protected by an injured dog. None of it makes any sense to her – who hikes up a mountain with an infant? Maggie has a mystery on her hands and it’s up to her to solve it and protect the people of Coyote Cove.

The mystery is a solid one, with plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The race to solve the crime in the middle of a blizzard is thrilling, and the reveal is so satisfying because it’s genuinely surprising but you can also look back and see the breadcrumbs that led up to it.

The characters are what make this series really shine! I’m becoming so enamored with the people of Coyote Cove! Maggie is an appealing heroine, she’s tough, feisty, but also vulnerable. She’s got a solid cast supporting her: her fiancé Steve, her trusty admin Sue (I love Sue!), and Margot, the curmudgeonly motel owner. Maggie and Steve both have mysterious darkness in their past, and I can’t wait for the next book, The Shadow Girl, to explore them more in depth.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.

This is a very enjoyable mystery, the second in the series, set in a small town in Maine. The characterisation is good, but there is still much more about each character to be revealed! I do like Maggie, with her insecurities, and Steve is a dark horse! The book is written from multiple viewpoints, which worked very well, there is plenty of suspense and tension. A very good summer read which I would recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This is the second book in the Chief Maggie Riley series. I loved the first one and this one even more. Maggie, Steve, Sue and the rest of the cast are back. Three dead bodies on top of a mountain with no signs of what killed them. A baby a dog and this book has all the good feels along with murder and suspense. I highly recommend this book and series. Can’t wait to see what’s next.

This is the second book in the Chief Maggie Reilly series. Police Chief Maggie Reilly is the police chief of Coyote Cove, a tiny place in Northern Maine. I read the first book and it was excellent. In this book, Maggie gets a call that 3 bodies have been found on top of Rattlesnake mountain. They all hike up there to retrieve the bodies. While she is waiting for backup, she hears a faint whining which is when she finds an injured dog guarding an infant who was left alive but hidden.

A blizzard approaches and basically shuts the town down. However, Maggie needs to solve this case and knows the killer is close. Although there are quite a few suspects, the different POVs make this an easy story to follow. It is full of action and intrigue. Plenty of twists and suspense to keep me interested.

Thank you to Netalley and the publisher for this ARC. I greatly appreciate it and highly recommend this book. The third book is available on Netgalley now. I cannot wait to read it. One small thing however, just my opinion. I'm not a fan of the title of the book. Just saying. :)

If I thought book 1 in this series was good, then this was better. So many suspects to choose from that I kept changing my mind every few pages! I think it could be read as a standalone book, but I'm enjoying them in order ( desperately need book 3). I'm invested in the main characters lives now and learning more of their backstories. Both books so far have had me forcing myself to put them down around 1am as I lost track of time. The plots were completely different and I'm hoping Dr Ricky becomes a presence in future books. I'm looking forward to reading the next book to see what happens.

In "The Protector's Secret" by Shannon Hollinger, Chief Maggie Riley faces a chilling case involving three bodies found on Rattlesnake Mountain and the rescue of a baby girl protected by a loyal dog. Isolated by a storm, Maggie must uncover the truth before the killer strikes again. With well-developed characters, intense suspense, and emotional depth, this gripping thriller leaves readers on the edge of their seats.

Loving this series and enjoying reading book 2! There’s a ferocious storm heading toward the isolated town of Coyote Cove when Chief Maggie Riley gets the call every cop dreads. Three bodies have been found on Rattlesnake Mountain, half a day’s hike from civilization. And when Maggie finally reaches the site, exhausted and freezing, she discovers something even more terrifying—a tiny baby girl, kept alive only by the warmth of a small dog who refuses to leave her side. Great story and wonderful characters.

I’m loving the small town mystery and characters in Coyote Cove. I appreciated the mystery being completely different than the first book as well! It has me hooked as it slowly unveils the main character’s backstory… I will absolutely be reading the next one in the series! I need answers on this town where moose outnumber people three to one. Thank you so much to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the second book in the series. And as I said with book 1 there’s something about this series that keeps me coming back for more.

I think the biggest thing is my curiosity about the main characters because they are not who they appear to be. We aren’t getting the big picture and I’m invested. I mentioned in book 1 review that I wasn’t sure I liked the characters, well I definitely have a fondness for Sue. And I’m fascinated with Maggie. Looking forward to the next.

Chief Maggie Riley is back, and this time she has a murder investigation discovered on a mountain trail. Still dealing with the shooting death of her lieutenant, Maggie is juggling her job without any backup as well as her growing relationship with her fiancé, Steve. With winter coming on fast, hikers discovered a eerie scene of 3 dead adults with no apparent cause of death. With the help of a local guide, Maggie rushes to the scene only to discover two survivors of the tragedy, an infant and a puppy. As she is struggling to find answers, a blizzard hits Coyote Cove with a murderer on the loose. It's not the best time to meet her future mother-in-law, who does not seem to approve of Maggie. It's a good read. My only disappointment is the pattern of the chapters rotating among different characters gets a bit distracting as a variety of side plots detract from the main one. I would rather the focus be on Maggie with more depth of the main storyline, but I will keep reading the series because I like the main character.

Chief Maggie is called out to the scene of a suspected murder on a mountain. No immediate cause of death can be detected, there are no wounds on the three bodies.
She hears a noise and finds a dog protecting a tiny baby. Why on earth would a family hike a mountain with a baby?
Maggie has a hunch that the killer is still in town, and has to find them before any more people die.
She feels so uneasy, she feels that she is being watched constantly.

A fantastic series so far. I really liked the first book in the series, introducing Maggie, but the second book is terrific! Maggie is not liked by the townspeople, because of what happened to her deputy. But Maggie is there to do a job, not make friends.
The book is well written, and suspenseful.
A new character, Doctor Rickie, was introduced and I have a feeling that she will make an appearance in future books in this series.
Again, I love a strong female in a police procedural, and I love that the characters have a personal life that is incorporated into the book.

I also like that Maggie seems to have an ally in the owner of the local hotel, Margot, who is a real character!

Not many of Steve's secrets have been revealed as yet, but I suspect some may be revealed as the series goes on.

I can't wait for the next book! Maggie is one of my favourite police heroines!

I have given this book a 4 star rating, I wish there were half stars as I would have given it 4.5.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Uber smart and insightful, Chief Maggie Riley is very unwelcome in her town. Female chief - seeking a new deputy... whilst she's sorting through this, she's called to investigate three dead bodies high on a mountain. She contacts a local mountain guide to help her hike to the bodies... and what she finds is so much more - a baby being protected by a dog. Both are injured and cold. She calls her trusty admin, Sue, and Steve, her fiance, to help her take care of these little ones whilst she works on getting the bodies down the mountain. And, Steve may have forgotten to tell Maggie that his mother is coming to visit. Sue is easily becoming one of my favorite characters in this series. It's a great mystery and really solid read. Definitely a great series to get hooked on. Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced reader copy of this book - the opinions expressed are my own.

I liked this book. I really liked this book. Maggie Riley is becoming one of my favorite protagonists. Murder and mayhem keep this story moving. Secrets and red herrings keep intriguing. This talented author has written a cannot put down novel. It reads like true crime with realistic characters. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the gifted author. I cannot wait for the next in this series.

Great book and series! This book had a bit of everything! It had great suspense, action, murder, mystery, kidnapping, a great who done it, great police work and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! I highly recommend reading this book and series they're well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me! Can't wait for more!!!