3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

This was a solid if unspectacular missing persons novel. The interest for me was how the main character dealt with the trauma of having been kidnapped more than 20 years before. The writing was OK and kept me mostly entertained. No huge twists that I didn't see coming.

All in all, this was a pretty standard thriller which looks to be the beginning of a new FBI-based series. Will I read more of the series? Hmm, probably not.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

Emotional, suspenseful, jaw dropping at times and a brilliant start to a new series. Emily Ray is one of the best crime/ thriller FBi agents I’ve ever read about? Resilient, empathetic and a so complex and human there were many times I wanted to reach into the book and tell her to get some sleep. This story was fast-paced and incredibly detailed and always dealt with sensitive topics in such a brilliant way. I adored the relationship between Emily and Antonio and how much her recovery and methods of dealing with coping were used as well, as it felt more real and made each new plot point have higher stakes for Emily. This book was amazing and I sped through it in a day, will be waiting with bated breath for the next instalment.

Possible spoilers

3.5 ⭐

"Ah lovely" I thought "an actual sane non complicated non screwed up main character"

Spoke too soon.
By the time we got to know Emily's issues, I was too invested in her, and the fate of the kidnapped kid.
A really good introduction to what will I hope become a series.
Some good twists along the way,
Definitely an enjoyable read.

In "My Name is Emily Ray," the compelling narrative centers on Special Agent Emily Ray, an FBI operative committed to resolving cases of child abduction. The plot commences with the mysterious disappearance of seven-year-old Josie Vance from Cove Park, California, an event that eerily parallels Emily's own experience of abduction during her childhood. As Emily spearheads the investigation, she uncovers evidence suggesting that her past may be intruding upon her present. Emily's character is intricately crafted, highlighting her resilience and proficiency in the realm of child abduction investigations. The narrative unfolds through a dynamic interplay of contemporary investigation and flashbacks to Emily's harrowing captivity. As the reader, you experience her internal conflicts as she contends with the fear that her abductor may still be at large, endangering not only Josie's life but also jeopardizing the stability Emily has painstakingly established. The pacing is brisk, with unexpected twists that keep readers engaged while illuminating Emily's psychological struggle. The novel is meticulously constructed, featuring concise, engaging chapters that sustain suspense and propel the narrative forward. I only hope that this series continues and I cannot wait to read more! As this is the first novel in hopefully a series, it has led a robust groundwork for future volumes that hopefully explore the character of Emily Ray.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

This is an outstanding suspense FBI story where you have no idea just how the story
will be and turn from the first chapter until the last page. This story will follow you
around as you become immersed in the hard-to-believe story that, while the FBI
would possibly feel liberties are take , maybe this story has happened…and it would
be kept as quiet as possible!
Our main character, FBI CARD (Child Abduction Rapid Deployment) Agent Emily Ray
has had a storied life, beginning with being a survivor of childhood kidnapping.
For most of us, this would not lead to a career with the FBI. Nor would it lead
to, after decades, having another similar abduction to solve.. With the results
leading us on the most amazing circumstances I have read. This rings true
to a Michael Connolly type story~the horrifying events and the conclusion that
you’d never even think was possible. I cannot wait for the next book in this
series~ to see what Agent Ray will find on her plate will keep me thinking
about the possibilities!
My thanks to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for the download copy of
this book for review purposes!

Wow, what a story! Emily was kidnapped as a child, held for 5 years and eventually escaped. Now she's in charge of the FBI's Child Abduction Rapid Deployment unit in Southern California. A child gets kidnapped in eerily similar circumstances to Emily's case and Emily and her team are on the case. Emily is a fantastic character and I have to give credit to her husbsnd as well, a true gem of a man. There were several awesome twists in this story, one I kinda expected but another left me completely stunned! A fast paced, awesome read.
Thanks to Netgally, Sorm Publishing, and Michele Dominguez Greene for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

4 Stars! Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of this book!

Special Agent Emily Ray is a part of an FBI unit focused on crimes against children. She is brought in to investigate the abduction of Josie Vance who was taken from a park in broad daylight and seemingly vanished without a trace. This case hits close to home because Emily Ray was abducted in a similar location, and under similar circumstances many years early. The story unfolds as you learn about Emily’s history through flashbacks as she tries to find this missing little girl.

I love a good page-turning mystery with unexpected twists. I felt like I was reading an episode of Law and Order: SVU as I made my way through this book. I finished it in under a day, because I couldn’t put it down. This is a strong start for the first book in the Emily Ray series, and I can’t wait to see what books follow this one.

3.75 rounded up This is my first book by Michelle Domiguez Greene and I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did! A police procedural with a twist, the investigator was held captive for a large portion of her life. Then, a child is kidnapped in the same fashion as she was when she was a child. The twist in the middle of the book surprised me. Overall, I love how this book played out in the end!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC of this book in exhange for my honest review.

Wow what a absolutely fantastic book . I couldn't put this book down it's a real page turner . Can not wait for the next book . Fantastic

I think this has potential to be a great new series about Special Agent Emily Ray tracking down kidnapped children. This case involves a young girl taken from a park whose case eerily mirrors Emily’s own from when she was kidnapped almost thirty years ago. I think the blurb gives too much away, which left me expecting more by the end of the story because I didn’t figure it would have been as obvious as it was. Which makes it hard, because there was a killer twist in the middle of the story, and I wanted to rave about it when I read it, but then after that, the remainder was too predictable.

The story’s well written, but I’m not sure I’d read another in this series if too much is revealed up front. And then it also bugged me that Emily kept certain secrets that she should have shared. That’s what makes me think there’s at least a sequel planned, because the character teases that maybe she’ll reveal that info sometime in the future. I don’t know, it just gives her integrity a hit.

Overall, I did enjoy the book and it would be worth a read to anyone that likes a good procedural.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC!!

Emily Ray is an FBI agent leading a team focused on investigating child abductions. When a young girl goes missing, her team is called into action. Emily has a personal connection to the case—she was abducted as a child and held captive for five years before managing to escape. The little girl resembles Emily, and the kidnapper sends clues that only she can decipher.
I was captivated by this book from the very first chapter. It was impossible to put down, as the story drew me in completely. The characters were engaging, and the tension and problem-solving elements kept me on the edge of my seat. I truly hope to see more work from this author! Secrets unfolded gradually, and while I had my suspicions about one of them, the revelation still managed to shock me. The procedural elements were well-executed—informative without becoming overly complicated.
I highly recommend this book!

Everything about this book caught my attention! This includes the book cover, the author and the storyline. I had no idea that I would enjoy reading it so much! It gave me mystery vibes the entire time I was reading it! This thriller book is heartbreaking, full of emotions, twisty and sad. I felt like I was watching a movie while reading it. I would not be surprised if this does turn into a movie! It is a very addictive read, just a heads up! Furthermore, it is very well written and is an easy book to read. It is fast pacing and thought provoking. It is what you would call a Parent’s worst nightmare!

My Name is Emily Ray is a story about a FBI agent, who investigates a child abduction in Cove Park, California. When she hears about a new child abduction, she takes charge. However, Emily Ray is not just an FBI agent working on this case, she was also abducted as a child herself in her hometown at Cove Park, California. She was only seven years old when she was abducted. While attempting to find the missing seven year old girl named Josie Vance, Emily has flashbacks of her own when she was kidnapped. Will these triggers help or hurt her investigation in finding the girl? Is this the same person that abducted Emily when she was just a child? Emily thinks that Josie’s abductor is the same one who abducted her twenty eight years ago. Be sure to read the content warnings before reading this book

Thank you to NetGalley, author Michele Dominguez Greene and Storm Publishing for this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review! I rate this a high 4 out of 5 stars! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Emily Ray is an FBI agent, who is in charge of a team investigating child abduction. When a little girl is taken they are called in to help. Emily has a troubled part. She was kidnapped as a little girl and kept for 5 years before escaping. The little girl looks like Emily and the kidnapper keeps sending clues that only Emily would recognise.

I knew this was a fantastic book within the first chapter. I couldn’t put it down as it had me hooked. Loved all the characters, the suspense and the problem solving. I really hope there will be more coming from this author! Secrets were revealed slowly and while I suspected one of them, it was still a big shock when it came true. The procedural talk was the perfect fit of being informative without being too deep.

Highly recommend.

Emily Ray. Josie Vance. Danica Hansen. Three girls with one thing in common: they were all seven years old when they were abducted! Wow!! Definitely a chilling thriller! With jaw dropping moments! It also had great suspense, mystery, murder, intriguing, past dark secrets, and a few wild twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this one! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Wow. As a mother of four, this book really hit home for me. I was terrified the entire time. It was such a quick read because I couldn't put it down. Greene does a great job of building the suspense and keeping you guessing. I can't wait for the next one.

One word. Wow. This really is a fast-paced gripping book. I could not put this down..there are twists and turns you will not see coming. I had never heard of the author before this but now I would really recommend her. I hope this becomes a long series because I will devour all of these!
📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Michele Domínguez Greene and Storm Publishing 📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

My Name is Emily Ray is an intense, suspense-filled thriller that grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. The novel, written by Emily Ray, follows Special Agent Emily Ray, a woman who has dedicated her life to finding abducted children after surviving her own abduction as a child. When young Josie Vance goes missing, Emily is thrust into a case that brings her face to face with the darkest parts of her past.

The story’s concept is great—a seasoned agent who must confront her deepest fears and buried memories to save a little girl. The pacing is spot on, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Emily uncovers clues that suggest the abductor who held her captive might still be alive. The sense of urgency in Emily’s mission is heightened by her personal connection to the case, making it feel like her quest is as much about saving herself as it is about saving Josie.

The author does an excellent job of making Emily’s internal struggle just as compelling as the external investigation. The trauma Emily carries from her childhood abduction is tangible, and it adds layers to her character. It’s clear that every decision she makes is haunted by her past, which makes her determination to stop the kidnapper even more poignant.

The only reason I docked half a star is because I figured out one of the twists very early on. Nonetheless, My Name is Emily Ray is a brilliantly executed thriller that is difficult to put down. Highly recommend for fans of psychological suspense and crime thrillers.

I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

**Rounded up from 4.5 stars**

Emilie Ray is called in to lead the search for young Josie Vance after she mysteriously disappears from her home in Cove Park. Agent Ray is all too familiar with these cases, after having been abducted from her home twenty-eight years ago.
Emilie’s only leads are the light-up sneakers Josie left behind and a drawing sent by the kidnapper of a young girl in pink leggings standing in front of a brick house holding silver balloons. Emilie becomes panicked when she sees that the address on the front of the house is the same as where Emilie was once held captive.
When Emilie comes upon a hair clip and a faded children’s book that she had during her captivity, she fears that her abductor may still be alive and is now holding Josie.
Desperate to find the child, Emily fears that she may have to face the man who once abducted her, and all that she worked for to rebuild her life after her own tragic experience will be destroyed.

Seven year old Josie Vance is taken in broad daylight whilst on a trip to the park with her Nanny.

FBI agent Emily Ray is brought in to lead the investigation, she is the best in her field because, at the age of 7, she too was kidnapped and kept until the age of 15.

As the team begin to find clues and receive correspondence from the kidnapper it soon becomes apparent that this is a lot more than a random act. This is personal to Emily and her past.

A hand drawn picture shows Josie standing outside of a house. The house that Emily was kept in all of those years ago. A house that had burned down.

Her kidnapper had taken his own life after her escape, she had identified his remains.

Who was behind this and why? What is the perpetrator trying to achieve?

As Emily fights to save Josie she is faced with deep, dark secrets from her past that could destroy her and everything she loves.

I absolutely loved this, it pulls you right in and grips you the whole way through! The chapters are short and snappy and, whilst the main narrative is in the present, we do get snippets from the past as well which really give insight into Emily's character.

At a certain discovery I hit an "Oh wow" moment, I actually said it out loud and woke my husband up 🙈 This is obviously a huge positive to feel that way about part of a story!!

I'm so excited that this is just the first book of a series and I am already bursting to read more!

Emily Ray has a tragic past. She was abducted when she was a little girl and kept in captivity for years before she was let go.

She now works for the FBI and is looking for the abductor of young Josie Vance. The circumstances of Josie's disappearance are eerily similar to what happened to Emily.

Heck. What a damn good novel this is! I was transfixed from beginning to end, and am looking forward to reading more of this authors work.
The characters are real, and the subject is emotional.
Not to mention the massive - did I mention massive? - twist!!!
Great story line, and very fast paced. Dark and phew!! That twist!

4/5 stars from me, and I highly recommend this book.