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Chief Maggie Riley #1
The Girl Who Lied
There’s a storm approaching the tiny Maine town of Coyote Cove when Chief Maggie Riley comes across the body of a man, blood seeping from stab wounds into the damp forest floor. As she desperately struggles to secure the evidence before the rain hits, Heather, a local teenage girl, emerges from the woods, shivering and unable to talk.
Maggie, once a high flying big-city detective, lost everything when her four-year-old brother went missing five years ago. Heart-broken, she’s never stopped searching for him: but now she is plunged back into the world she left behind.
The victim, Maggie discovers, knew secrets about everyone in isolated Coyote Cove. It seems there are more local suspects in this case than people she can rule out. And with Heather still traumatized, Maggie struggles to unravel her strange appearance at the crime scene. Until, following a faint, bloody trail deep into the forest, she’s horrified to unearth what the terrified girl’s been hiding…
But when Heather is kidnapped, the battle to identify the killer becomes a race to save a girl’s life. And with the whole town terrified, Maggie is shocked to uncover that this twisted killer is much closer to home than she’d ever imagined. Battling her own demons and memories of her missing brother, how far will Maggie have to go to save Heather? Or will another innocent young life be lost forever...?
A totally addictive crime thriller packed with suspense. If you love Lisa Regan, Louise Penny and Melinda Leigh, you’ll love The Girl Who Lied.
Maggie, once a high flying big-city detective, lost everything when her four-year-old brother went missing five years ago. Heart-broken, she’s never stopped searching for him: but now she is plunged back into the world she left behind.
The victim, Maggie discovers, knew secrets about everyone in isolated Coyote Cove. It seems there are more local suspects in this case than people she can rule out. And with Heather still traumatized, Maggie struggles to unravel her strange appearance at the crime scene. Until, following a faint, bloody trail deep into the forest, she’s horrified to unearth what the terrified girl’s been hiding…
But when Heather is kidnapped, the battle to identify the killer becomes a race to save a girl’s life. And with the whole town terrified, Maggie is shocked to uncover that this twisted killer is much closer to home than she’d ever imagined. Battling her own demons and memories of her missing brother, how far will Maggie have to go to save Heather? Or will another innocent young life be lost forever...?
A totally addictive crime thriller packed with suspense. If you love Lisa Regan, Louise Penny and Melinda Leigh, you’ll love The Girl Who Lied.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2023
5478 people are currently reading
8921 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Hollinger
30 books325 followersWith degrees in Crime Scene Technology and Physical Anthropology, Florida writer Shannon Hollinger hasn’t just seen the dark side of humanity—she’s been elbow deep inside of it! She’s an avid animal lover, reader, and hiker, and has been known to use her forensic skills to figure out who ate the last cookie in the house.
A multi-genre, Amazon charts top 20 best-selling author, Shannon writes psychological thrillers filled with jaw-dropping twists and shocking endings, the police procedural Chief Maggie Riley mysteries, where the darkness of the Maine wilderness is rivaled only by the deadly secrets it conceals, and the romantic suspense Cassidy Knox mystery thrillers, where the animals will steal your heart and the nights are as hot as the days.
Her novels have been translated into multiple languages, and her short fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and The Saturday Evening Post, among many other magazines and anthologies.
Shannon is a member of the International Thriller Writers and the Short Mystery Fiction Society.
To keep current on book news and to enter monthly giveaways, sign up for Shannon’s newsletter through her website, www.shannonhollinger.com.
Find Shannon on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/thiswritersays
https://www.instagram.com/thiswritersays
https://www.tiktok.com/@shannonhollinger
http://www.pinterest.com/thiswritersays
http://www.bookbub.com/profile/shanno...
https://www.amazon.com/author/shannon...
A multi-genre, Amazon charts top 20 best-selling author, Shannon writes psychological thrillers filled with jaw-dropping twists and shocking endings, the police procedural Chief Maggie Riley mysteries, where the darkness of the Maine wilderness is rivaled only by the deadly secrets it conceals, and the romantic suspense Cassidy Knox mystery thrillers, where the animals will steal your heart and the nights are as hot as the days.
Her novels have been translated into multiple languages, and her short fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and The Saturday Evening Post, among many other magazines and anthologies.
Shannon is a member of the International Thriller Writers and the Short Mystery Fiction Society.
To keep current on book news and to enter monthly giveaways, sign up for Shannon’s newsletter through her website, www.shannonhollinger.com.
Find Shannon on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/thiswritersays
https://www.instagram.com/thiswritersays
https://www.tiktok.com/@shannonhollinger
http://www.pinterest.com/thiswritersays
http://www.bookbub.com/profile/shanno...
https://www.amazon.com/author/shannon...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 462 reviews
July 10, 2023
What a gripping and hard to put down first book in a new series by Shannon Hollinger! This is how you do it! I was drawn into the story from the very beginning and didn't want to put this down until the very last page! I enjoyed the POV's, the mystery, the use of secrets, and deception in this book.
Chief Maggie Riley knows a thing or two about secrets. She has some, Steve, the man she loves has one, heck everyone in this book does (don't we all?). I thoroughly enjoyed how they all came into play in this book.
Driving home from work one night, Maggie comes across the body of a man who has been stabbed and a local teenager (Heather) standing beside him with a look of horror on her face. His won’t be the only body that is found in this book. Fingers point to Heather initially but soon she is released. Questions swirl, who is the killer, why was Heather there that night, what happened in the woods?
I had both the book and audiobook which made for a very enjoyable reading experience. I thought the narrator of the audiobook did a great job bringing the story to life!
There are a nice number of twists, turns and revelations in this book. This one kept me on my toes doing my own super sleuthing trying to solve the case. I loved how there was more to the characters than meets the eye. They are all flawed, have secrets, and captivating POV's in this book.
I enjoyed the mystery and look forward to reading more of this new series! It is off to a very promising start with a great female lead character in Maggie.
#TheGirlWhoLied #NetGalley #ShannonHollinger #bookouture #bookoutureaudio
Thank you to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Chief Maggie Riley knows a thing or two about secrets. She has some, Steve, the man she loves has one, heck everyone in this book does (don't we all?). I thoroughly enjoyed how they all came into play in this book.
Driving home from work one night, Maggie comes across the body of a man who has been stabbed and a local teenager (Heather) standing beside him with a look of horror on her face. His won’t be the only body that is found in this book. Fingers point to Heather initially but soon she is released. Questions swirl, who is the killer, why was Heather there that night, what happened in the woods?
I had both the book and audiobook which made for a very enjoyable reading experience. I thought the narrator of the audiobook did a great job bringing the story to life!
There are a nice number of twists, turns and revelations in this book. This one kept me on my toes doing my own super sleuthing trying to solve the case. I loved how there was more to the characters than meets the eye. They are all flawed, have secrets, and captivating POV's in this book.
I enjoyed the mystery and look forward to reading more of this new series! It is off to a very promising start with a great female lead character in Maggie.
#TheGirlWhoLied #NetGalley #ShannonHollinger #bookouture #bookoutureaudio
Thank you to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
August 3, 2023
** Happy publication day **
3.5 stars. A good new Police Procedural to keep your eyes out for! I'll be checking out book 2 on this one.
The Girl Who Lied is extremely twisty and has a heap of POVs. The chapters are short and I thought it was too many characters with brief chapters to start, but Hollinger has done it very well with each character distinguishable.
This has a lot of mystery and is intriguing. I think some of the twists were a bit left of field but it was fun and unpredictable.
This book has one of if not the worst lines I've read in a fiction book that is very offensive or inappropriate. I won't re quote it here again (it is in a status update and I think that is enough) but I'm hoping it's corrected before publication. It has reduced my rating. I found it extremely hard to get back into this for about 3 days because I was just completely shocked that anyone could allow it in a book, whether it's an ARC or not. My other gripe was a bit OTT feminist references it got to a point of "ok, we get it, move on".
Anyway, that aside, it was enjoyable and I'll check out book 2.
Anticipated publication date: 2 August 2023
⚠️ Check TWs online - there are some extreme ones re: babies/births etc. ⚠️.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and Bookouture for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars. A good new Police Procedural to keep your eyes out for! I'll be checking out book 2 on this one.
The Girl Who Lied is extremely twisty and has a heap of POVs. The chapters are short and I thought it was too many characters with brief chapters to start, but Hollinger has done it very well with each character distinguishable.
This has a lot of mystery and is intriguing. I think some of the twists were a bit left of field but it was fun and unpredictable.
This book has one of if not the worst lines I've read in a fiction book that is very offensive or inappropriate. I won't re quote it here again (it is in a status update and I think that is enough) but I'm hoping it's corrected before publication. It has reduced my rating. I found it extremely hard to get back into this for about 3 days because I was just completely shocked that anyone could allow it in a book, whether it's an ARC or not. My other gripe was a bit OTT feminist references it got to a point of "ok, we get it, move on".
Anyway, that aside, it was enjoyable and I'll check out book 2.
Anticipated publication date: 2 August 2023
⚠️ Check TWs online - there are some extreme ones re: babies/births etc. ⚠️.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and Bookouture for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 9, 2023
Maggie Reilly, the chief of police in a small town, has found a body that has been grisly murdered. Not only is there a bloody mess of a body but there is a young girl, Heather standing near him screaming. Of course Heather seems the likely suspect, the town is fast to condemn her but after she is taken into custody, another body is found in the same condition as the first.
Released from custody as she could not be the murderess, and then she too, goes missing. Has this vicious killer gotten her as well and is it possible there are more bodies to be found?
It's a nightmare for Maggie as she must dredge up her past as a hot shot homicide detective in a big city. What has pushed her to this small town and what is she running away from?
This is a start, a good one, for a new series and with its many twists we learn that liars lie and some of them seem to be masters of their craft.
Thank you to Shannon Hollinger, , Bookouture for the audio copy, and NetGalley. It was a fine story to listen to and is due out on August 2nd, of thi year.
Released from custody as she could not be the murderess, and then she too, goes missing. Has this vicious killer gotten her as well and is it possible there are more bodies to be found?
It's a nightmare for Maggie as she must dredge up her past as a hot shot homicide detective in a big city. What has pushed her to this small town and what is she running away from?
This is a start, a good one, for a new series and with its many twists we learn that liars lie and some of them seem to be masters of their craft.
Thank you to Shannon Hollinger, , Bookouture for the audio copy, and NetGalley. It was a fine story to listen to and is due out on August 2nd, of thi year.
August 18, 2023
This is the first in a series (the second one is also out now and the third is available for request on Netgalley) featuring Police Chief Maggie Riley.
Maggie in her late 30s, is the police chief of the small town of Coyote Cove. Many in her team have trouble accepting a woman as the chief. Maggie finds a body in the woods, and a shocked 18-year-old Heather is at the scene. Lieutenant Murphy & Detective Robins join the investigation. Murphy is resentful of Maggie, and also has a regressive outlook. Maggie is in a relationship with Steve, and there are events in her past leading her to move to this small town. Maggie finds Heather very vulnerable and grows close to her, while she investigates the case.
The story is told from multiple perspectives – Maggie, Heather & Steve. The chapters are small and I found the switches too frequent. The characters develop gradually revealing secrets they hold. I found the pace quite slow especially initially, and the plot was average. I did like Maggie’s character.
Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and the author for a free electronic review copy.
Maggie in her late 30s, is the police chief of the small town of Coyote Cove. Many in her team have trouble accepting a woman as the chief. Maggie finds a body in the woods, and a shocked 18-year-old Heather is at the scene. Lieutenant Murphy & Detective Robins join the investigation. Murphy is resentful of Maggie, and also has a regressive outlook. Maggie is in a relationship with Steve, and there are events in her past leading her to move to this small town. Maggie finds Heather very vulnerable and grows close to her, while she investigates the case.
The story is told from multiple perspectives – Maggie, Heather & Steve. The chapters are small and I found the switches too frequent. The characters develop gradually revealing secrets they hold. I found the pace quite slow especially initially, and the plot was average. I did like Maggie’s character.
Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and the author for a free electronic review copy.
July 15, 2023
This was good, and I liked it, but it was not amazing. Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Like I said, this was good. The story was entertaining and had all the necessary twists to keep you curious. It had the usual tropes for a small town crime read that you've seen before: a not-from-around-here police chief with secrets of her own, pushy detectives who also have secrets of their own, quirky/creepy locals, and of course a dead body. Throw in Heather (the title's "girl") to this mix and you have all the makings for a great better-lock-your-doors-tonight thriller. This is all good stuff, and the group of characters were well written, engaging, came with interesting back stories, and were just odd enough to make you question each one of their motives.
My only issue with this was that it just didn't stand out from other books in this genre. I feel like I've read this same thing multiple times, and the big twist at the end wasn't particularly shocking. It was more like "oh, okay, that makes sense" instead of "holy #*^&!!!" Nor were the mini twists scattered throughout the book, which gave off the same meh vibes. It wasn't particularly creepy. It certainly wasn't scary for a crime thriller. It was honestly more sad than anything else. So, I'd recommend this for people who are looking for a palette cleansing, very easy-to-read small town crime story. If you're looking for something that will knock your socks off and keep you up at night, maybe skip this in lieu of something just...more.
Redeeming qualities: Heather's character. The rural Maine setting. Creepy towns people. How much Maggie and Steve loved their dogs.
Like I said, this was good. The story was entertaining and had all the necessary twists to keep you curious. It had the usual tropes for a small town crime read that you've seen before: a not-from-around-here police chief with secrets of her own, pushy detectives who also have secrets of their own, quirky/creepy locals, and of course a dead body. Throw in Heather (the title's "girl") to this mix and you have all the makings for a great better-lock-your-doors-tonight thriller. This is all good stuff, and the group of characters were well written, engaging, came with interesting back stories, and were just odd enough to make you question each one of their motives.
My only issue with this was that it just didn't stand out from other books in this genre. I feel like I've read this same thing multiple times, and the big twist at the end wasn't particularly shocking. It was more like "oh, okay, that makes sense" instead of "holy #*^&!!!" Nor were the mini twists scattered throughout the book, which gave off the same meh vibes. It wasn't particularly creepy. It certainly wasn't scary for a crime thriller. It was honestly more sad than anything else. So, I'd recommend this for people who are looking for a palette cleansing, very easy-to-read small town crime story. If you're looking for something that will knock your socks off and keep you up at night, maybe skip this in lieu of something just...more.
Redeeming qualities: Heather's character. The rural Maine setting. Creepy towns people. How much Maggie and Steve loved their dogs.
July 15, 2023
I have come to learn that the GR members that I follow are a great resource for some exceptional book recommendations😊 This was another great recommendation. Besides the 4star rating, it had a couple of things going for it that I love in a story. It had an MC who is a smart, tough, female, police chief in some small town, and it had a murder mystery that involved some long-buried secret in the town/townspeople.
The book summary pretty much lays out the two primary storylines of Maggie and her one deputy, Dale Murphy, investigating the discovery of a dead body of a stranger out in the woods that surrounds the town. Then there is the investigation of Heather, a 16yr old, developmentally challenged girl, who was found coming up on the dead body shortly after its discovery. It’s revealed in the first half what Heather was doing out there, which leads to another discovery at her home, but I’m not going to mention that here because it would be a spoiler.
There are also two secondary storylines: one surrounding the disappearance of Murphy’s mother 30yrs earlier and the other is the burgeoning relationship between Maggie and her neighbor, Steve, and the secrets that they’re keeping from each other. Maggie came to Coyote Cove a few years ago, after a very distinguished career down in Florida, when the case of her brother’s murder drove her out of the force. She came to hideout in Maine. Steve’s secret isn’t revealed until later in the story so I’m not going to mention it because I think that would be a spoiler.
The story flips back and forth between Maggie, Steve, Murphy, and Heather. It sounds like it can get confusing with the all the different POV’s, which is why a lot of readers don’t like stories with a lot of POV’s. More times than not, I truly believe that has more to do with poor execution of the POV’s by the writer than anything to do with the reader. However, Hollinger did a good job of organizing and presenting the different POV’s so that the multiple POV’s didn’t hang up the reader and/or the story. JMHO
By the halfway point, the investigations of the dead body and Heather have taken on some strange directions because of some of the things that have been discovered. Even the investigation regarding Murphy’s mother has Maggie questioning some of the leads and discoveries. I’m feeling shades of Linda Castillo’s Painters Mill creeping into the story (minus the whole Amish thing). It’s this one comment that has the creep factor triggering my feelings:
“We travel slowly down back neighborhood streets to our next stop, passing front yards stilled with kid’s bikes, toddler’s power wheels and mother’s flowerpots. It seems a perfect example of family life, untouched by evil and sin. I wonder how many of the doors we’re passing have ugly secrets lurking behind them. I wonder at the nature of human perseverance, about what breaks us and what makes us stronger.”
Yeah, I don’t think Coyote Cove, ME is the quaint little old logging town it’s trying to portray itself as. There’s something sinister going on in Coyote Cove.
It’s deep into the second half when the different storylines take such a wild and crazy twist and turn, that I am absolutely dumbfounded. I can’t believe what I just read. At this point, I have no idea where this series is going, but it’s too late, I am hooked. I need to know what is #%!! is going on. Hollinger is a good writer and storyteller.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Amelia Sciandra, did a good job with not only Maggie’s character, but several other characters as well. I liked her rendition of the Campton character; he sounded like the obnoxious jerk he was😊 I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #BookoutureAudio #TheGirlWhoLied
The book summary pretty much lays out the two primary storylines of Maggie and her one deputy, Dale Murphy, investigating the discovery of a dead body of a stranger out in the woods that surrounds the town. Then there is the investigation of Heather, a 16yr old, developmentally challenged girl, who was found coming up on the dead body shortly after its discovery. It’s revealed in the first half what Heather was doing out there, which leads to another discovery at her home, but I’m not going to mention that here because it would be a spoiler.
There are also two secondary storylines: one surrounding the disappearance of Murphy’s mother 30yrs earlier and the other is the burgeoning relationship between Maggie and her neighbor, Steve, and the secrets that they’re keeping from each other. Maggie came to Coyote Cove a few years ago, after a very distinguished career down in Florida, when the case of her brother’s murder drove her out of the force. She came to hideout in Maine. Steve’s secret isn’t revealed until later in the story so I’m not going to mention it because I think that would be a spoiler.
The story flips back and forth between Maggie, Steve, Murphy, and Heather. It sounds like it can get confusing with the all the different POV’s, which is why a lot of readers don’t like stories with a lot of POV’s. More times than not, I truly believe that has more to do with poor execution of the POV’s by the writer than anything to do with the reader. However, Hollinger did a good job of organizing and presenting the different POV’s so that the multiple POV’s didn’t hang up the reader and/or the story. JMHO
By the halfway point, the investigations of the dead body and Heather have taken on some strange directions because of some of the things that have been discovered. Even the investigation regarding Murphy’s mother has Maggie questioning some of the leads and discoveries. I’m feeling shades of Linda Castillo’s Painters Mill creeping into the story (minus the whole Amish thing). It’s this one comment that has the creep factor triggering my feelings:
“We travel slowly down back neighborhood streets to our next stop, passing front yards stilled with kid’s bikes, toddler’s power wheels and mother’s flowerpots. It seems a perfect example of family life, untouched by evil and sin. I wonder how many of the doors we’re passing have ugly secrets lurking behind them. I wonder at the nature of human perseverance, about what breaks us and what makes us stronger.”
Yeah, I don’t think Coyote Cove, ME is the quaint little old logging town it’s trying to portray itself as. There’s something sinister going on in Coyote Cove.
It’s deep into the second half when the different storylines take such a wild and crazy twist and turn, that I am absolutely dumbfounded. I can’t believe what I just read. At this point, I have no idea where this series is going, but it’s too late, I am hooked. I need to know what is #%!! is going on. Hollinger is a good writer and storyteller.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Amelia Sciandra, did a good job with not only Maggie’s character, but several other characters as well. I liked her rendition of the Campton character; he sounded like the obnoxious jerk he was😊 I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #BookoutureAudio #TheGirlWhoLied
September 10, 2023
Oh my gosh!! I had to sit for a bit to swallow the shock of the ending! I did not see that coming! This book is not just a who-done-it puzzle. It is a serious, wonderfully crafted, crime mystery that made me feel intense emotions. Fear. Sadness. Hope.
The Girl Who Lied, immediately pulled me in with a great opening scene: A dead man on the side of the road and a disoriented teenage girl coming out of the forest nearby. I could NOT STOP listening. I enjoyed meeting Chief Maggie Riley and getting to know her strong, take-no-crap but compassionate personality.
I also appreciated learning about the investigation and forensics procedures.
I am looking forward to reading about Chief Maggie’s next criminal investigation!
Many thanks NetGalley, and bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.
The Girl Who Lied, immediately pulled me in with a great opening scene: A dead man on the side of the road and a disoriented teenage girl coming out of the forest nearby. I could NOT STOP listening. I enjoyed meeting Chief Maggie Riley and getting to know her strong, take-no-crap but compassionate personality.
I also appreciated learning about the investigation and forensics procedures.
I am looking forward to reading about Chief Maggie’s next criminal investigation!
Many thanks NetGalley, and bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.
July 30, 2023
3.5 Stars
Good but not mind-blowing, compared to her other novels.
I have been loving this author's other novels (Best Friends Forever and The Slumber Party). Her novels are captivating and usually filled with unexpected/shocking twists. However, this time the story was too fast-paced. There wasn't enough detail/explanations to the storyline or depth to the characters. Not to mention, the ending was a tad predictable. Don't get me wrong. The story was still good. It just wasn't on the same level as her other novels.
If you're looking for a quick and easy mystery/thriller, this novel is for you.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Shannon Hollinger, and Bookouture Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Good but not mind-blowing, compared to her other novels.
I have been loving this author's other novels (Best Friends Forever and The Slumber Party). Her novels are captivating and usually filled with unexpected/shocking twists. However, this time the story was too fast-paced. There wasn't enough detail/explanations to the storyline or depth to the characters. Not to mention, the ending was a tad predictable. Don't get me wrong. The story was still good. It just wasn't on the same level as her other novels.
If you're looking for a quick and easy mystery/thriller, this novel is for you.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Shannon Hollinger, and Bookouture Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
June 25, 2023
This was a great read. It’s the first in a series about a small town Maine police chief with a secret past and the guy she’s fallen in love with who has secrets of his own. A grisly murder brings in the state police and leads to more horrific discoveries. It’s told through multiple POVs but they all add to the story and never get confusing. I’m happy the author has already written the first three books in the series because I’ll be looking up the next.
I read a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.
I read a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.
June 8, 2025
4.75 shiny stars rating from me! ✨✨✨✨💫
I just finished reading this book and all I really can say is " WOW! " 🤯. This book drew me in from the beginning and I really had a hard time putting it down!!
There's a few mysteries in Coyote Cove, Maine. It's a small town with lot's of secrets for Chief Riley to solve. A man found stabbed to death by the side of the road, a teenage girl, Heather, comes running out of the woods scared and unable to say what happened to her. Are they connected or just coincidence? Is anyone in this town really who they say they are?
Filled with lot's of twists and turns, action packed up to the end, this is one story that will keep you tuning the pages to see how it ends!
Highly recommended! I absolutely loved it!!
Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫✨
I just finished reading this book and all I really can say is " WOW! " 🤯. This book drew me in from the beginning and I really had a hard time putting it down!!
There's a few mysteries in Coyote Cove, Maine. It's a small town with lot's of secrets for Chief Riley to solve. A man found stabbed to death by the side of the road, a teenage girl, Heather, comes running out of the woods scared and unable to say what happened to her. Are they connected or just coincidence? Is anyone in this town really who they say they are?
Filled with lot's of twists and turns, action packed up to the end, this is one story that will keep you tuning the pages to see how it ends!
Highly recommended! I absolutely loved it!!
Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫✨
May 11, 2025
The plot is fantastic! This is the first in the Chief Maggie Riley series and does it start with a Bang! The scene is set well, the characters are multidimensional, and the mystery is on. The twists are not what I expected and the ending leaves you ready for more.
# The Girl Who Lied (Chief Maggie Riley #1)
# 5/6/2025 ~ 5/6/2025
# 5.0 / 5.0
# The Girl Who Lied (Chief Maggie Riley #1)
# 5/6/2025 ~ 5/6/2025
# 5.0 / 5.0
October 29, 2024
I’m happy to find a new series. This one focuses on Chief Maggie Riley. A body is found and she and state authorities start the investigation. Along the way it becomes clear that Chief Riley has secrets in her past. Pieces emerge, but I can tell they will continue to come to light as the series evolves.
Along with the Chief, we meet her boyfriend Steve, who also has secrets. Also, a young woman Heather is involved in some manner, but the investigation continues to find out who is involved… and more dead bodies are discovered.
The mystery and intrigue were well done and the characters are interesting, ones that are easy to see evolving in future books.
Along with the Chief, we meet her boyfriend Steve, who also has secrets. Also, a young woman Heather is involved in some manner, but the investigation continues to find out who is involved… and more dead bodies are discovered.
The mystery and intrigue were well done and the characters are interesting, ones that are easy to see evolving in future books.
August 4, 2023
The Chief Maggie Riley series starts out strong! This is a complex clever, thriller with many twists, turns, and surprises you won't see coming. Maggie, the main protagonist, is complicated and flawed, as are we all. The story is told from multiple points of view, but it never gets confusing. The setting in the small Maine town and Maggie's backstory of the continuing search for her brother promises lots of intrigue and suspense to come. The multi-layered characters will keep everyone guessing.
I am looking forward to Book 2! Like Thrillers? Try this one.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a good job of portraying the characters, especially Maggie and Heather.
I received a free copy of the audiobook via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
I am looking forward to Book 2! Like Thrillers? Try this one.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a good job of portraying the characters, especially Maggie and Heather.
I received a free copy of the audiobook via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
July 7, 2023
Honestly I got into this having no expectations and thinking ah, is gonna be mostly ok, and man I was so wrong! And having the audiobook made it even better.
'The Girl Who Lied' is the type of thriller that started slow and seemed nothing special, but then the more I read, the more stuff started to get deeper, darker and much more twisted, characters that seemed small becoming more complex and their actions catching your gaze and others that seemed more important just got even more layered.
I don't want to spoil anything for anyone and especially now that I loved it and I want others to read it and hopefully like it as much or even more! But I can say that nothing and no one is what it seems and each twist is better than the other and I don't think you'll guess what happens or at least not everything. At least I haven't and that made just even more excited and happy, cause it was so good and I love when books take me by surprise in a nice way!
Shannon Hollinger doesn't not shy from being truthful and raw and writing a gritty, interesting and very twisty story; and some might say that is really gory too in some places, but I didn't mind it. On the contrary. Because it showed what people are capable when they're against the wall or when life or other people fuck them over.
I was saying that I had the audiobook and this made the story even better. The narrator, Amelia Sciandra, did a fantastic job and it kept me listening from the very first moment. I won't lie and say that with minimal pauses I listened to the whole thing in one go and I don't regret it. Everything was very atmospheric, very well done and I enjoyed all the voices and characters that her voice brought to life.
If you're looking for a new thriller and want to have a good time, then I'd recommend you this one and if you can, pick the audiobook and have fun. It definetly goes by fast and and both the story and the narration are amazing.
Also, I was saying before that all characters are layered and that's true. Even the ones that barely appear seem realistic and you get to know them (or you think to) and maybe feel sorry for them. Until a twist slaps you in the face and then you're pushed to reconsider, cause maybe you were wrong. And the fact that the book is written from multiple perspectives it really gives you a chance to see everything from all angles and try to guess what's happening and how's gonna end. Or what the truth is... if that's even important in the end after all that.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for giving me a copy of one of my new favorite stories.
'The Girl Who Lied' is the type of thriller that started slow and seemed nothing special, but then the more I read, the more stuff started to get deeper, darker and much more twisted, characters that seemed small becoming more complex and their actions catching your gaze and others that seemed more important just got even more layered.
I don't want to spoil anything for anyone and especially now that I loved it and I want others to read it and hopefully like it as much or even more! But I can say that nothing and no one is what it seems and each twist is better than the other and I don't think you'll guess what happens or at least not everything. At least I haven't and that made just even more excited and happy, cause it was so good and I love when books take me by surprise in a nice way!
Shannon Hollinger doesn't not shy from being truthful and raw and writing a gritty, interesting and very twisty story; and some might say that is really gory too in some places, but I didn't mind it. On the contrary. Because it showed what people are capable when they're against the wall or when life or other people fuck them over.
I was saying that I had the audiobook and this made the story even better. The narrator, Amelia Sciandra, did a fantastic job and it kept me listening from the very first moment. I won't lie and say that with minimal pauses I listened to the whole thing in one go and I don't regret it. Everything was very atmospheric, very well done and I enjoyed all the voices and characters that her voice brought to life.
If you're looking for a new thriller and want to have a good time, then I'd recommend you this one and if you can, pick the audiobook and have fun. It definetly goes by fast and and both the story and the narration are amazing.
Also, I was saying before that all characters are layered and that's true. Even the ones that barely appear seem realistic and you get to know them (or you think to) and maybe feel sorry for them. Until a twist slaps you in the face and then you're pushed to reconsider, cause maybe you were wrong. And the fact that the book is written from multiple perspectives it really gives you a chance to see everything from all angles and try to guess what's happening and how's gonna end. Or what the truth is... if that's even important in the end after all that.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for giving me a copy of one of my new favorite stories.
August 2, 2023
This mystery crime thriller was good. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was excellent.
The story was fast paced and only grew more interesting for me. I’m definitely picking up the second book. The characters were well told and only held more and more mystery to find out about. I love the MFC and how she handles every situation.
I didn’t see the twist and this might be a new favorite author for me.
Thanks Bookouture via NetGalley.
The story was fast paced and only grew more interesting for me. I’m definitely picking up the second book. The characters were well told and only held more and more mystery to find out about. I love the MFC and how she handles every situation.
I didn’t see the twist and this might be a new favorite author for me.
Thanks Bookouture via NetGalley.
August 6, 2023
Ok…
I gotta tell you I’m all over the map about this one.
First…I could not put it down, there was so much going on.
Second…I’m still not sure I trust a dang person anywhere in this town.
This for me was a different type of crime thriller read. That being said, it was hard to put down. And I’m still scratching my head on a few aspects. But I will say this. I need the next book because man I need to figure out some things. This may be the first time I’m not sure I like or trust the main character. A total conundrum for me. The jury is still out.
I gotta tell you I’m all over the map about this one.
First…I could not put it down, there was so much going on.
Second…I’m still not sure I trust a dang person anywhere in this town.
This for me was a different type of crime thriller read. That being said, it was hard to put down. And I’m still scratching my head on a few aspects. But I will say this. I need the next book because man I need to figure out some things. This may be the first time I’m not sure I like or trust the main character. A total conundrum for me. The jury is still out.
August 3, 2023
Becoming the chief of police in a small town certainly presents its challenges for Maggie Riley. Her recent discovery of the body of a dead man is her newest case. Shockingly, when a young girl named Heather suddenly appears, Maggie cannot help but wonder if this girl has anything to do with the dead body.
What makes this book, and Maggie’s case, so interesting are the multiple points of view, including that of Maggie and the girl Heather. This increased the tension in this excellent start to a new series.
I loved how this book explored Maggie’s past. Never forgetting a past tragedy in her personal life, as well as to why she left a successful job as a detective in a big city. This rounded out a new character, with enough intrigue and drama to keep my attention. I was fully immersed in the story, and in fact, went right on to reading books two and three in the series, Their Angel’s Cry and The Shadow Girl.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
What makes this book, and Maggie’s case, so interesting are the multiple points of view, including that of Maggie and the girl Heather. This increased the tension in this excellent start to a new series.
I loved how this book explored Maggie’s past. Never forgetting a past tragedy in her personal life, as well as to why she left a successful job as a detective in a big city. This rounded out a new character, with enough intrigue and drama to keep my attention. I was fully immersed in the story, and in fact, went right on to reading books two and three in the series, Their Angel’s Cry and The Shadow Girl.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
February 15, 2024
I don’t think I’ll continue with this series.
November 9, 2023
A wandering teenage girl and a dead body.
The Girl who Lied by Shannon Hollinger is Book #1 in the Chief Maggie Riley Series.
This is an excellent start to a new series. If you like a crime thriller, this should be a must read.
In the tiny Maine town of Coyote Cove Chief Maggie Riley who was once a high flying big-city detective with lots of secrets comes across the body of a man, blood seeping from stab wounds into the damp forest floor. Heather, a local teenage girl, emerges from the woods, shivering and unable to talk.
Told in a Multiple POV, the story alternates between the view points of Chief Maggie Riley, Her boyfriend Steve, Murphy and Heather (the wandering teenager).
This books is soo good. It moves seemingly as the police try to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of the man. I enjoyed the investigative process in pursuit of the truth.
We get to know more about the wandering teenager Heather and the backstory of Maggie and her boyfriend Daniel who also has his own secrets.
Filled with lots of other characters, i initially thought it was going to be confusing but you just have to pay a lot attention and it'll be ok.
Throughout the story, there were so many loose ends, but it pieces together and ties up nicely at the end leaving all my questions answered.
I must say this, Heather's character was one of the best in the book.
The big reveal at the end blew me away, who would have thought?
I've fallen in love with Chief Maggie Riley, shes not perfect, shes flawed. Shes smart, really good at her Job and isn't intimated by the "Men".
I’m looking forward to the other books in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Girl who Lied by Shannon Hollinger is Book #1 in the Chief Maggie Riley Series.
This is an excellent start to a new series. If you like a crime thriller, this should be a must read.
In the tiny Maine town of Coyote Cove Chief Maggie Riley who was once a high flying big-city detective with lots of secrets comes across the body of a man, blood seeping from stab wounds into the damp forest floor. Heather, a local teenage girl, emerges from the woods, shivering and unable to talk.
Told in a Multiple POV, the story alternates between the view points of Chief Maggie Riley, Her boyfriend Steve, Murphy and Heather (the wandering teenager).
This books is soo good. It moves seemingly as the police try to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of the man. I enjoyed the investigative process in pursuit of the truth.
We get to know more about the wandering teenager Heather and the backstory of Maggie and her boyfriend Daniel who also has his own secrets.
Filled with lots of other characters, i initially thought it was going to be confusing but you just have to pay a lot attention and it'll be ok.
Throughout the story, there were so many loose ends, but it pieces together and ties up nicely at the end leaving all my questions answered.
I must say this, Heather's character was one of the best in the book.
The big reveal at the end blew me away, who would have thought?
I've fallen in love with Chief Maggie Riley, shes not perfect, shes flawed. Shes smart, really good at her Job and isn't intimated by the "Men".
I’m looking forward to the other books in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2023
This is a brilliant start to a new series and I can’t wait to read the next book.
Chief Maggie Riley has moved to Coyote Cove to escape her past. She’s a highly renowned Detective but has taken the role as Chief in this sleepy town so she has a quiet life.
All is going well until Maggie finds the body of a man one night and a murder investigation has to take place. Outside forces are brought in and one of the Detectives knows Maggie was a brilliant Detective so gives her the respect she deserves, but the other one is just rude.
There’s a young girl at the scene when Maggie finds the man and we gradually learn what happened to her that night and why she was there.
This is a gripping crime thriller that I really enjoyed.
If you’re looking for a fast paced crime series, this is the book for you.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Chief Maggie Riley has moved to Coyote Cove to escape her past. She’s a highly renowned Detective but has taken the role as Chief in this sleepy town so she has a quiet life.
All is going well until Maggie finds the body of a man one night and a murder investigation has to take place. Outside forces are brought in and one of the Detectives knows Maggie was a brilliant Detective so gives her the respect she deserves, but the other one is just rude.
There’s a young girl at the scene when Maggie finds the man and we gradually learn what happened to her that night and why she was there.
This is a gripping crime thriller that I really enjoyed.
If you’re looking for a fast paced crime series, this is the book for you.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
July 4, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the approval to read and review this book.
Chief Maggie Riley is the Chief of Police in a small town, Coyote Cove, Maine. Maggie moeved to take the job 4 years ago from Florida. She left under a cloud after interfering in a crime of a family member. Steve Winters is her boyfriend. Both Maggie and Steve have secrets that they don't talk about. On one night Maggie discovers a body on a logging road. Then she meets Heather McGillis, and they form a bond over several days. Maggie wants to know why Heather is out in the middle of the woods at night. So begins the mystery behind the body and Heather. This story is told through different people. It is well written and great descriptions of the location and people. No spoilers as you will have to read this for yourself. I will be recommending this book.
Chief Maggie Riley is the Chief of Police in a small town, Coyote Cove, Maine. Maggie moeved to take the job 4 years ago from Florida. She left under a cloud after interfering in a crime of a family member. Steve Winters is her boyfriend. Both Maggie and Steve have secrets that they don't talk about. On one night Maggie discovers a body on a logging road. Then she meets Heather McGillis, and they form a bond over several days. Maggie wants to know why Heather is out in the middle of the woods at night. So begins the mystery behind the body and Heather. This story is told through different people. It is well written and great descriptions of the location and people. No spoilers as you will have to read this for yourself. I will be recommending this book.
February 15, 2024
The Girl Who Lied by Shannon Hollinger is a fabulous, and compelling book I couldn't keep down. For real! I have come to love Maggie and Steve. Every character in the book has a past, is messy but the author still somehow manages to draw out the likeable and almost likeable parts about them for me. Just like real life no one is flawless and without baggage which makes for a very interesting read! Maggie & Steve work well together despite having a dark past & being unaware of who their partner used to be. I even loved Margot who was just a side character in the book. Despite the lack of any shocking twists, this book was great. Somehow everything about it works out and I loved it. Coyote Cove seems like an atmospheric small town & I can't wait to hang out on it some more despite the murderers and creepy townsfolk!
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture & Shannon Hollinger for the arc!
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture & Shannon Hollinger for the arc!
July 13, 2023
This book was a total mess. The characters were all over the place. Some jumped in some jumped out. Plot holes were conveniently opened and closed with no rhyme or reason. I almost DNF'ed but stuck with it because of the good reviews. The police procedural had no basis in reality or fiction for that matter. And the misogyny was so heavy handed it didn't help the character building at all.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ARC
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ARC
August 7, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Girl Who Lied' by Shannon Hollinger.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Shannon Hollinger, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 2nd August 2023.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have also read 'Best Friends Forever' and 'The Slumber Party' which I would highly recommend! It is also the first book in the 'Chief Maggie Riley's series.
This novel consists of 75 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
'The Girl Who Lied' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Shannon discusses infanticide and child abuse/neglect.
OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK!! A FANTASTIC START TO A PROMISING NEW SERIES!!! WELL DONE SHANNON ON ANOTHER HUGE SUCCESS 🥂
Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. Shannon's evocative writing skills and descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.
An absolutely explosive start to a promising new series by the fantastic Shannon!!! I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, suspense, murder, lies, loss, family, secrets, friendship, secrets and omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see any of them coming!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Shannon!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you did that over and over and over!!! I absolutely loved both the multiple perspectives which are all weaved together perfectly to drip feed the reader just the right amount of information to keep them guessing and hooked without giving too much away. One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking psychological thrillers I have read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. Shannon includes the death of a baby and goes into other details which I have included a trigger warning for at the start of my review. The storyline is filled with crime, twists, shocks, suspense, tension, deceit and everything you could want in a psychological thriller. There was not one, not two but several explosive bombshells I did not see coming!!! There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I loved that the story was so multi layered and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the storylines from this book in 'Their Angel's Cry' which is next on my reading list. Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!! I am looking forward to reading'Their Angels Cry' as ,if this is anything to go by, they are guaranteed to be page turner's!!
This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Amelia Sciandra who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Amelia did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Shannon but also to listening to more books narrated by Amelia! I have previously listened to 'The Girl In The Pink Shoes' by Stacy Green which is also narrated by Amelia and which I would also recommend reading/listening to.
I wasn't just 100% invested in the storyline but also in the characters. Every single one of the characters were well defined and developed, realistic and strong. I really liked Heather as a protagonist especially the fact that she isn't perfect and has her own secrets and history which I'm intrigued to discover more of her in the next books in this promising series. Maggie has gone from being a well known hot shot homicide detective in the big city and moved to the chief of police in the tiny Maine town of Coyote Cove. This book has a lot of character development as is usual in the first book in any series and as we meet alot of characters in can get confusing at times but this didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book as it is normal in the case of books at the start of a series. I'm all for a strong female protagonist and am looking forward to getting to know Heather more. The other main characters we meet and hear from are Heather's deputy Dale Murphy who is leading the investigation into the discovery of a strangers body found in the wood and whose mother went missing 30 years ago, Steve who is Maggie's neighbour and has his own secrets and Heather who is a 16 year old developmentally challenged girl who is discovered by the body in the woods. All of the main characters have their own secrets some of which we discover in this story and others that we are yet to discover. It was intriguing to watch their personalities change and grow along with the relationship development between each of the characters. I am not going to say anything about any of the other characters as it isn't worth the risk of dropping any hints but there was major shocks to be had!! If you want to know more you will just have to click the link below to get a copy!! All in all a great mix of characters that worked well with this storyline and I'm looking forward to getting to meet most of them again in the next book 'Their Angel's Cry' which I'm off to read next.
An explosive start to a promising new series!! This is EXACTLY why you are in my favourite author club Shannon!!!! Here's to the next success 🥂
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue of Shannon's 'Their Angel's Cry' which is the next book in this series and looks just as addictive as this book was!!
Overall an absolutely heart racing, never wracking, unputdownable addictive and explosive start to a promising new series!!
284 pages/ 7 hours and 28 minutes.
This book is just 99p to purchase, free with kindle unlimited, £8.99 in paperback, £39.37 on Audiobook and £7.99 with Audible via Amazon at time of review which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheGirlWhoLied #ChiefMaggieRiley #ShannonHollinger #AmeliaSciandra #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous #Bookworm1986 #bookworm86 #BookBlogger#BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #NetGalley #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger #KindleUnlimited @Audible @Audiobook
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Review for 'The Girl Who Lied' by Shannon Hollinger.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Shannon Hollinger, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 2nd August 2023.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have also read 'Best Friends Forever' and 'The Slumber Party' which I would highly recommend! It is also the first book in the 'Chief Maggie Riley's series.
This novel consists of 75 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
'The Girl Who Lied' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Shannon discusses infanticide and child abuse/neglect.
OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK!! A FANTASTIC START TO A PROMISING NEW SERIES!!! WELL DONE SHANNON ON ANOTHER HUGE SUCCESS 🥂
Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. Shannon's evocative writing skills and descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.
An absolutely explosive start to a promising new series by the fantastic Shannon!!! I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, suspense, murder, lies, loss, family, secrets, friendship, secrets and omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see any of them coming!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Shannon!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you did that over and over and over!!! I absolutely loved both the multiple perspectives which are all weaved together perfectly to drip feed the reader just the right amount of information to keep them guessing and hooked without giving too much away. One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking psychological thrillers I have read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. Shannon includes the death of a baby and goes into other details which I have included a trigger warning for at the start of my review. The storyline is filled with crime, twists, shocks, suspense, tension, deceit and everything you could want in a psychological thriller. There was not one, not two but several explosive bombshells I did not see coming!!! There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I loved that the story was so multi layered and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the storylines from this book in 'Their Angel's Cry' which is next on my reading list. Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!! I am looking forward to reading'Their Angels Cry' as ,if this is anything to go by, they are guaranteed to be page turner's!!
This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Amelia Sciandra who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Amelia did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Shannon but also to listening to more books narrated by Amelia! I have previously listened to 'The Girl In The Pink Shoes' by Stacy Green which is also narrated by Amelia and which I would also recommend reading/listening to.
I wasn't just 100% invested in the storyline but also in the characters. Every single one of the characters were well defined and developed, realistic and strong. I really liked Heather as a protagonist especially the fact that she isn't perfect and has her own secrets and history which I'm intrigued to discover more of her in the next books in this promising series. Maggie has gone from being a well known hot shot homicide detective in the big city and moved to the chief of police in the tiny Maine town of Coyote Cove. This book has a lot of character development as is usual in the first book in any series and as we meet alot of characters in can get confusing at times but this didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book as it is normal in the case of books at the start of a series. I'm all for a strong female protagonist and am looking forward to getting to know Heather more. The other main characters we meet and hear from are Heather's deputy Dale Murphy who is leading the investigation into the discovery of a strangers body found in the wood and whose mother went missing 30 years ago, Steve who is Maggie's neighbour and has his own secrets and Heather who is a 16 year old developmentally challenged girl who is discovered by the body in the woods. All of the main characters have their own secrets some of which we discover in this story and others that we are yet to discover. It was intriguing to watch their personalities change and grow along with the relationship development between each of the characters. I am not going to say anything about any of the other characters as it isn't worth the risk of dropping any hints but there was major shocks to be had!! If you want to know more you will just have to click the link below to get a copy!! All in all a great mix of characters that worked well with this storyline and I'm looking forward to getting to meet most of them again in the next book 'Their Angel's Cry' which I'm off to read next.
An explosive start to a promising new series!! This is EXACTLY why you are in my favourite author club Shannon!!!! Here's to the next success 🥂
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue of Shannon's 'Their Angel's Cry' which is the next book in this series and looks just as addictive as this book was!!
Overall an absolutely heart racing, never wracking, unputdownable addictive and explosive start to a promising new series!!
284 pages/ 7 hours and 28 minutes.
This book is just 99p to purchase, free with kindle unlimited, £8.99 in paperback, £39.37 on Audiobook and £7.99 with Audible via Amazon at time of review which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheGirlWhoLied #ChiefMaggieRiley #ShannonHollinger #AmeliaSciandra #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous #Bookworm1986 #bookworm86 #BookBlogger#BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #NetGalley #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger #KindleUnlimited @Audible @Audiobook
@TheGirlWhoLied @ChiefMaggieRiley @ShannonHollinger @AmeliaSciandra @Bookouture @BookoutureAnonymous @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Goodreads @Netgalley @Amazon @AmazonKindle @KindleUnlimited @Bookstagram @BookBlogger @KindleUnlimited @Audible @Audiobook
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August 3, 2023
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Girl Who Lied is the book one in the Chief Maggie Riley series and my first time reading the author's work. I picked this one up as I am always on the lookout for a good police procedural, and The Girl Who Lied promised a gripping and suspenseful tale.
The story which unfolds took place in Coyote Cove, a small town in Maine. It introduces readers to Chief Maggie Riley. Maggie, a former detective, left the big city to become the chief in this small town. She is a woman with many secrets, some of which came to light as the story unfolded. Interestingly enough, she's not the only one with secrets. The featured secondary characters also had their share of secrets, which made for an interesting read.
Since her arrival in Coyote Cove, she faced resentment from a few of the locals because of her gender. However, it didn't stop her from performing her duties. One night, while performing said duties, she happened on a corpse. On closer inspection, she discovered the individual met a violent end, a rarity in the small town. Added to that, he was not from the area. Now Maggie faces the task of learning the identities of the victim and the murderer.
The mystery failed to provide much of a challenge, as the identity of the killer was evident right out of the gate. Now, while I had an idea about the motive, how remained a mystery until the end. Despite figuring from early the identity of the killer, the story held my attention. The secrets of the characters and its impact on the murder investigation, along with the POVs of the characters, made The Girl Who Lied a compelling read.
Although classified as a thriller, the story did not deliver a thrilling and suspenseful ride. It lacked the nail-biting suspense one would expect from this genre. Also, I wouldn't consider this a twisty read, as the events meant to be plot twists were predictable. I am curious to learn what else Maggie is hiding. Therefore, I look forward to picking up book 2, Their Angel's Cry, which shares a release date with book one.
Overall, The Girl Who Lied delivered an interesting tale, which will appeal to readers who have no issue with predictability in the mystery genre.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
The story which unfolds took place in Coyote Cove, a small town in Maine. It introduces readers to Chief Maggie Riley. Maggie, a former detective, left the big city to become the chief in this small town. She is a woman with many secrets, some of which came to light as the story unfolded. Interestingly enough, she's not the only one with secrets. The featured secondary characters also had their share of secrets, which made for an interesting read.
Since her arrival in Coyote Cove, she faced resentment from a few of the locals because of her gender. However, it didn't stop her from performing her duties. One night, while performing said duties, she happened on a corpse. On closer inspection, she discovered the individual met a violent end, a rarity in the small town. Added to that, he was not from the area. Now Maggie faces the task of learning the identities of the victim and the murderer.
The mystery failed to provide much of a challenge, as the identity of the killer was evident right out of the gate. Now, while I had an idea about the motive, how remained a mystery until the end. Despite figuring from early the identity of the killer, the story held my attention. The secrets of the characters and its impact on the murder investigation, along with the POVs of the characters, made The Girl Who Lied a compelling read.
Although classified as a thriller, the story did not deliver a thrilling and suspenseful ride. It lacked the nail-biting suspense one would expect from this genre. Also, I wouldn't consider this a twisty read, as the events meant to be plot twists were predictable. I am curious to learn what else Maggie is hiding. Therefore, I look forward to picking up book 2, Their Angel's Cry, which shares a release date with book one.
Overall, The Girl Who Lied delivered an interesting tale, which will appeal to readers who have no issue with predictability in the mystery genre.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
August 6, 2023
There’s a storm approaching the tiny Maine town of Coyote Cove when Chief Maggie Riley comes across the body of a man, blood seeping from stab wounds into the damp forest floor. As she desperately struggles to secure the evidence before the rain hits, Heather, a local teenage girl, emerges from the woods, shivering and unable to talk.
The grisly murder brings in the state police and during the investigation, it comes apparent that everyone in Coyote Cove has a secret, and I mean everyone!
The Girl Who Lied is the first of three in the Chief Maggie Riley series, and this was a great start to the series.
The story captured my attention immediately and had me hooked until the very end. It is told in alternating chapters between 4 POV. This definitely kept me on my toes. The author maintained a great pace throughout, and the chapters flow well. I loved the relationship between Maggie & her boyfriend Steve and hope to find out more about these two in the next book. There were a fewtwistst andrevelationsn in this book!
A totally addictive crime thriller packed with suspense and with a great female lead character. Chief Maggie Riley is complex and flawed, with her own secrets, and I am excited to get to know her more.
Thank you, @netgalley, @bookouture, and @thiswritersays for the opportunity to read the ARC.
The grisly murder brings in the state police and during the investigation, it comes apparent that everyone in Coyote Cove has a secret, and I mean everyone!
The Girl Who Lied is the first of three in the Chief Maggie Riley series, and this was a great start to the series.
The story captured my attention immediately and had me hooked until the very end. It is told in alternating chapters between 4 POV. This definitely kept me on my toes. The author maintained a great pace throughout, and the chapters flow well. I loved the relationship between Maggie & her boyfriend Steve and hope to find out more about these two in the next book. There were a fewtwistst andrevelationsn in this book!
A totally addictive crime thriller packed with suspense and with a great female lead character. Chief Maggie Riley is complex and flawed, with her own secrets, and I am excited to get to know her more.
Thank you, @netgalley, @bookouture, and @thiswritersays for the opportunity to read the ARC.
August 11, 2023
Narrated by Amelia Sciandra ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This narrator has a great voice, but it took me a while to get used to her, because sometimes she sounded so much like Romy (of Romy and Michelle) I couldn't help but giggle.
Story by Shannon Hollinger ⭐⭐⭐
"The Girl Who Lied" by Shannon Hollinger offers a thrilling and fast-paced narrative through multiple perspectives. Maggie's character stood out, captivating me and leaving me eager to delve deeper into her story in the forthcoming series on Audible. Although I found Murphy's actions and storyline somewhat perplexing, they didn't detract from the overall narrative flow. His eventual circumstances felt a tad implausible. Despite this, the book remains a robust recommendation, presenting a compelling read.
This narrator has a great voice, but it took me a while to get used to her, because sometimes she sounded so much like Romy (of Romy and Michelle) I couldn't help but giggle.
Story by Shannon Hollinger ⭐⭐⭐
"The Girl Who Lied" by Shannon Hollinger offers a thrilling and fast-paced narrative through multiple perspectives. Maggie's character stood out, captivating me and leaving me eager to delve deeper into her story in the forthcoming series on Audible. Although I found Murphy's actions and storyline somewhat perplexing, they didn't detract from the overall narrative flow. His eventual circumstances felt a tad implausible. Despite this, the book remains a robust recommendation, presenting a compelling read.
August 2, 2023
*** Happy Publication Day ***
I'm always on the lookout for new-to-me authors and mystery series so when I heard about this book, it checked both boxes, the premise piqued my interest and I decided to give this first book in a series a try. I'm glad I did.
Maggie Riley is running from her past. Leaving a distinguished career in law enforcement in Florida she flees to the backwoods of Maine to become the police chief in tiny Coyote Cove. All is going well until a body is discovered, brutally stabbed with no identification. Maggie is preserving the crime scene until the State police can assume control when a disoriented teen, Heather, wanders in with what appears to be bloody hands. Maggie can only wonder if Heather has any connection to the dead man.
As the investigation gets underway, the threads lead to more bodies--some hidden for years--and it's up to Maggie to follow the clues and uncover secrets long held in her small town.
This is an excellent start to a new series. Although I had doubts that all of the loose ends would be tied up in this book, most clues were satisfyingly answered. I thought the pacing was good and the characters interesting. Maggie has emotional baggage but does a good job of putting aside personal biases when it comes time to finger the murderer. I think I have found a new mystery series to follow.
I'm always on the lookout for new-to-me authors and mystery series so when I heard about this book, it checked both boxes, the premise piqued my interest and I decided to give this first book in a series a try. I'm glad I did.
Maggie Riley is running from her past. Leaving a distinguished career in law enforcement in Florida she flees to the backwoods of Maine to become the police chief in tiny Coyote Cove. All is going well until a body is discovered, brutally stabbed with no identification. Maggie is preserving the crime scene until the State police can assume control when a disoriented teen, Heather, wanders in with what appears to be bloody hands. Maggie can only wonder if Heather has any connection to the dead man.
As the investigation gets underway, the threads lead to more bodies--some hidden for years--and it's up to Maggie to follow the clues and uncover secrets long held in her small town.
This is an excellent start to a new series. Although I had doubts that all of the loose ends would be tied up in this book, most clues were satisfyingly answered. I thought the pacing was good and the characters interesting. Maggie has emotional baggage but does a good job of putting aside personal biases when it comes time to finger the murderer. I think I have found a new mystery series to follow.
August 2, 2023
This book was so hard to put down! It kept me hooked and wanted to know what happens next.
This is the first of a new series by Shannon Hollinger that will be following Maggie Riley, the police chief in a small town called Coyote Cove. It is a multiple POV mystery/thriller/crime novel that alternates between the POV of Maggie, her lieutenant Dale Murphy, her boyfriend Steve and a young girl named Heather.
Maggie Riley finds a body that was brutally stabbed on the old logging backroads in her small town of Coyote Cove. Since the town is so small, it is only her and her lieutenant Dale Murphy on the police force. She is forced to call in the state police, who make the investigation anything but easy. While analyzing the crime scene, a teenager named Heather comes stumbling out of the bush looking traumatized. Could she be the murderer? Or is it someone else? Everyone in this book has their secrets. At different points of the novel, I suspected each main character could have been the murderer. The twists keep you on the edge of your seat, trying to solve the murder on your own while reading.
I am definitely looking forward to reading the other books in this series! Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
This is the first of a new series by Shannon Hollinger that will be following Maggie Riley, the police chief in a small town called Coyote Cove. It is a multiple POV mystery/thriller/crime novel that alternates between the POV of Maggie, her lieutenant Dale Murphy, her boyfriend Steve and a young girl named Heather.
Maggie Riley finds a body that was brutally stabbed on the old logging backroads in her small town of Coyote Cove. Since the town is so small, it is only her and her lieutenant Dale Murphy on the police force. She is forced to call in the state police, who make the investigation anything but easy. While analyzing the crime scene, a teenager named Heather comes stumbling out of the bush looking traumatized. Could she be the murderer? Or is it someone else? Everyone in this book has their secrets. At different points of the novel, I suspected each main character could have been the murderer. The twists keep you on the edge of your seat, trying to solve the murder on your own while reading.
I am definitely looking forward to reading the other books in this series! Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
June 29, 2023
The Girl Who Lied (Chief Maggie Riley Book 1) by Shannon Hollinger First book in the Chief Maggie Riley Series is a fast paced mystery with multiple cases to solve. Told from multiple POVs, each voice is unique to the individual. Maggie and Steve are a couple who are keeping big secrets from each other and from the people in town. There was a surprising outcome with an innovative twist. This is a binge worthy series and it is good that books 2 and 3 come out within a month of each other. I am more than ready to revisit the town of Coyote Cove Maine and follow more of Maggie's cases.
Thank you to the author, publisher, Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to the author, publisher, Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
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