Beside You

Hailey Rock #2

by Rylie Dark

Despite being a rising star in the BAU unit, FBI Special Agent Hailey Rock still lives in the shadow of her older sister, who remained in their small Midwestern town to become a police sheriff, and who remains the favorite in their parents’ eyes. Hailey has not thought of her estranged family in ages, but when a killer strikes in their home county, eerily mimicking the case of their missing sister, Hailey has no choice but to return home, face her past, catch a killer—and re-open the case of her missing sister.

BESIDE YOU is book #2 in a long-anticipated new series by #1 bestseller Rylie Dark, whose bestseller SEE HER RUN (a free download) has received over 700 five star ratings and reviews.

A killer is abducting young women in an eerily familiar way. Both Hailey and her older sister vow to catch this killer, neither admitting what they both know—this case closely resembles the case of their missing younger sister, who was abducted when they were teenagers. The sisters are hell bent on finding the killer and stopping him before he strikes again.

It’s personal this time.

But are they walking right into a trap?

A cat-and-mouse thriller with harrowing twists and turns and filled with heart-pounding suspense, the HAILEY ROCK mystery series offers a fresh twist on the genre as it introduces two brilliant protagonists who will make you fall in love and keep you turning pages late into the night.

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 24, 2023

About the author

Rylie Dark is author of the SADIE PRICE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the CARLY SEE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the MIA NORTH FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the MORGAN STARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books (and counting); of the HAILEY ROCK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books (and counting),of the TARA STRONG MYSTERY series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the ALEX QUINN SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books (and counting).

Rylie loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.ryliedark.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.

BOOKS BY RYLIE DARK

ALEX QUINN SUSPENSE THRILLER

FIRST, MURDER (Book #1)

SECOND, DEATH (Book #2)

THIRD, ENVY (Book #3)

FOURTH, LUST (Book #4)

FIFTH, WRATH (Book #5)

HAILEY ROCK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

BEHIND YOU (Book #1)

BESIDE YOU (Book #2)

AFTER YOU (Book #3)

WATCHING YOU (Book #4)

JUDGING YOU (Book #5)

TARA STRONG MYSTERY

GIRL WITHOUT A CHANCE (Book #1)

GIRL WITHOUT A HOME (Book #2)

GIRL WITHOUT A TRACE (Book #3)

GIRL WITHOUT A NAME (Book #4)

GIRL WITHOUT A PRAYER (Book #5)

SADIE PRICE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

ONLY MURDER (Book #1)

ONLY RAGE (Book #2)

ONLY HIS (Book #3)

ONLY ONCE (Book #4)

ONLY SPITE (Book #5)

ONLY MADNESS (Book #6)

MIA NORTH FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

SEE HER RUN (Book #1)

SEE HER HIDE (Book #2)

SEE HER SCREAM (Book #3)

SEE HER VANISH (Book #4)

SEE HER GONE (Book #5)

SEE HER DEAD (Book #6)

CARLY SEE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

NO WAY OUT (Book #1)

NO WAY BACK (Book #2)

NO WAY HOME (Book #3)

NO WAY LEFT (Book #4)

NO WAY UP (Book #5)

NO WAY TO DIE (Book #6)

MORGAN STARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

TOO LATE (Book #1)

TOO CLOSE (Book #2)

TOO FAR GONE (Book #3)

TOO LOST (Book #4)

TOO BROKEN (Book #5)

Reviews

[Lana Chase Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced and well-written! I love that the books in this series are shorter than most thrillers I've read. They're not drawn out for the sake of filling more pages without action! And there's family drama that's not over-the-top I look forward to reading more about the family and things that drove the sisters (who work together) apart.
Also I Love that there's not much romance in the series so far... That can slow down a thriller big-time so this is perfect.
I hope all her books are this good and I bet they are!
I want to read all her books/series. Onto the 3rd one now, and starting to listen to one from another of Dark's series with an intriguing premise too. Great work!

[Sendie Trahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

Really a good book!
Must read amazing series.
Try it believe you will enjoy it.
I can’t wait to finish the series!!!

[Erin Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5⭐️) The ending felt rushed so that was a little disappointing but, I really love the crime mixed with family drama, friendships and, romantic relationships aspect of this series:)

[Megan McDougal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This just didn't hook me as much as the first one did.

[Lisa Haddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hailey Rock FBI Book 2

This one was just as good as the 1st! Love how Rylie Dark is evolving the story line & I’m looking forward to #3!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special Agent Hailey Rock is investigating the disappearance of her younger sister years ago. Her family has always blamed Hailey because she didn’t go with her sister that day on their bikes. When girls are missing in the area now she and her partner join the search/hunt for a new killer. Once again the local sheriff isn’t pleased that Hailey is back in town but she’s out of her jurisdiction because of the similarities. The sisters are finally united in their goals and the confrontation with the killer is very exciting. Great page turner!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hailey Rock is called by to the Ozarks, this time to a town just near her home town, to catch another serial killer. This time someone is kidnapping girls that have recently graduated from high school, then a few days later they are found dead. Who is responsible and why are the victims tattooed on their cheeks?
Hailey's family problems are still there but maybe toned down just a little with the promise of better days ahead - maybe .

[Alicia Gettys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved once again the ability to have an entire story in less than 250 pages but at this point, you’re stretching out this whole my sister went missing plot. Are you going to stretch it out for the entire 5 part book? I don’t know if I’m up to reading the other 3 books just to get to the final conclusion of what happened to her.

[Rebecca Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Beside You by Rylie Dark — second in the Hailey Rock FBI series — and here’s the honest take. It’s a solid procedural. Fast-paced, charged, easy to tear through in a couple sittings. The plot revolves around missing girls, buried family trauma, and a protagonist (Hailey) who's still haunted by the disappearance of her sister years ago. Now she’s back in her hometown, working a case that echoes the past. That’s the hook, and to its credit, it leans hard into the emotional stakes in the strained dynamic between Hailey and her surviving sister (who also happens to be sheriff — of course). Readers seem to love it — 4.5 stars pretty much everywhere — and I get why. It’s effective at what it’s trying to be- a commercial thriller with just enough depth to feel like more than pulp. The pacing is relentless, the twists land, and the personal history gives it weight. If you're looking for something tight, driven, and direct, it delivers. That said, it’s not breaking new ground. The structure is familiar. The character arcs are clear but not complicated. And if you’re into thrillers that twist your brain inside out — stuff with ambiguity, symbolic layering, psychological ambiguity — this one won't scratch that itch. It’s very much a “you get what you expect” kind of book. No mind games, no Coherence-style narrative sleight of hand. Worth it if you’re in the mood for a sharp grounded mystery. Just don’t expect it to haunt you afterward.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Typos and too strong of similarities

Typos and too strong of similarities as book 1. The typos are annoying and shouldn’t be that difficult to spot most of them. In addition the author seems to have no clue as to how investigations work and it is so far removed from reality that it really stands out. The storyline has similarities to previous book including the same name of a minor character from first book but is a different person entirely. Storyline itself is meh. Won’t be continuing the series or reading any of her other books. I was hoping this one would be an improvement over the first one, but unfortunately, it was not. Leaves me feeling the author has no pride in her work.

[Lola Grynt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I am really starting to get into this world. So much less insufferable than the first book. Loved the easing of the sister rivalry! We finally got to see a soft side to the main character and her open up to the male FBI.
I will say I still don't like having the killers pov, it makes it feel a lot less scary and really takes away the mystery element of guessing who the killer is, aka the best part of the genre.

✨slight spoilers ✨
Also wth is with the endings for the perpetrators! We never get to know their motives fully or hear how the committed the murders, no recap either. Not fully off-putting but certainly annoying.

[Joan Matla · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 -Maximum of 3⭐️

Fast paced. Not complicated. Not super exciting. Abrupt ending.

I was going to lose my mind if Hailey referred to Alice as “her big sister” one more time! (Are we six? Does she need that descriptor at every mention?) By the second half of the book Alice was referred to as Hailey’s “older sister.” Slightly less annoying but unnecessary to mention it EVERY time. My memory is not that bad. I understand their birth order.

The audio book narrator has an odd pronunciation of certain words. (Same gripe from audiobook #1.)

There are several more books in the series, not sure I can keep reading/listening to hear how the secondary story plays out.

[Danielle Candler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy, fast paced read. The cliffhanger from the first book made me want to read this one. Still the same family drama, clues, deceive work, and some added romance. Overall, I enjoyed it more than the first book. However, I was slightly soured by the ending. It felt too rushed. Thankfully, there was no cliffhanger to this ending so now I can take a break from this series and move on to other books. I plan to return to it if I find myself in a reading slump.

[Jacy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely do not start this series. They have a slim chance of maybe being ok if they weren’t weaving the underlying story as a cliff hanger at the end of every book only to start the next one and nothing happens with that story line again. Just found out there are at least 14 books in this series and they are being dropped every month or so. A total money grab for mediocre books. Won’t pick up another book by this author again. I thought Frieda was bad for doing this but her books are at least a little more thought out and entertaining than these.

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. A lot like the first book in the series where they were quick to point fingers at the wrong person until the real culprit emerges. Family drama with the sister still in full force and the cliffhanger from the first book that brought me to the second was hardly addressed any further. Will take a break from this series.

[Laura Poppenwimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting series set is small town rural America. The plot goes in a path no unexpected but keep you interested with good characters both good and bad. Rylie Dark is very good at constructing a mystery and leading you to a satisfying conclusion. This series is best read in order as each book builds on the previous one.

[Darren Patton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This follow up from the opening book in this series continued to keep me absolutely hooked. Another fantastic read and the change of theme for the crime was refreshing in continuing the series. Looking forward to starting part 3

[Rebecca Balfanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dove right into this one after the first. I really enjoy how Rylie Dark writes. This story was bit harder to wrap my head around. The killing of former students due to unrequited love was a bit much for me. Still loving the dynamic between Hailey and Graham.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading

This story had too many underdeveloped possibilities but it was a quick read and held my interest. The family relationship is annoying.
The editor missed some key misspellings and sentence structure that was distracting.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Loved this book can't wait to read the rest of the series, and the other series as well thank you.

[Sam C · Rating 4 out of 5]

4star

Well written and quick read.
Seems a bit similar to the first book.
Characterisation is excellent. Will be reading more.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kind of predictable, but I enjoy Rylie’s storytelling.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

I enjoyed the second book more than the first! While there were still uses with dialogue feeling inorganic, the annoying sisterly tension wasn’t as evident.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

gripping

I like the way it picked up from the last book. The story is a great read can’t wait for the next one

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enjoying this series. I love how you get to see the POV from the victims, the killer, and the FBI agents

[Candy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't stand it. This book is so slow. More bout family drama then anything

[Hannah Dang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook - #2 in series

[Karrie Burkhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the first in the series better but this one wasn’t bad. Excited to read the third.

[Linda Prestridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow every lead!

Love the characters, love the suspense and hoping the sisters heal their relationship! Glad sex is not included just mystery to be solved.