Her Broken Dreams

Chief Maggie Riley #6

by Shannon Hollinger

Maggie’s breath catches as a human skull appears on the screen before her, the eye sockets staring emptily into the camera.

When an accident on the lake leaves a mother of three missing, Chief Maggie Riley puts everything on hold to find the woman—including exchanging vows with the man she loves.

But the lake won’t easily give up what it’s claimed . . . and that includes its secrets.

Once it becomes clear that the rescue has become a recovery, Maggie calls in an underwater search and evidence response team to help find the woman’s remains. What they find instead is the last thing they expected.

The lakebed is covered with human bones.

As the body count from the underwater graveyard grows, it soon becomes clear—a serial killer has used Coyote Cove as their dumping ground. Are they still hunting? Or is it someone else who has Maggie in their crosshairs?

This time, has Maggie met her match? Because the truth just might destroy her.

An absolutely addictive crime thriller, Her Broken Dreams will have you on the edge-of-your-seat with your heart racing as you read the most explosive Maggie book yet! Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, D.K Hood, Mary Stone and Melinda Leigh.

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 17, 2026

About the author

With 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...

Reviews

[Chapters_with_VDKeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’ALL—this one hooked me instantly with that chilling skull-on-screen moment 😳💀

Chief Maggie Riley is racing to find a missing mother when the case takes a dark turn—an underwater graveyard at Coyote Cove 😮‍💨🌊 And yes…there’s a serial killer vibe lurking beneath the surface.

The setting is eerie and immersive, the tension is nonstop, and Maggie is fierce, raw, and under serious pressure (with her wedding on the line 👀). The twists kept coming—I never had it fully figured out.

Shannon Hollinger delivers sharp, fast-paced writing with short, addictive chapters that make “just one more” impossible.

✨ Dark, twisty, and completely binge-worthy. Read it…just maybe not before bed 😏

[Adrienn Csép · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars

[PAULINE BENNETT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic.

Read every one after the other. Love Maggie. No spoilers but hold on tight. Glad the publisher left-you did great on your own. Hopefully not too long to wait for another book

[Rachel Ducote · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Put it down and it had me guessing all the way through the ending. Loved it!

I’m usually pretty good at figuring out who did what and how things were going and I was pleasantly surprised with this kept me guessing fast action emotionally drawn to the book and it was very good and highly highly

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Shannon Hollinger ignited the biggest bonfire in the narrative and with every chapter she squeezed another stream of igniter fluid on the plot!
I was a wreck reading this book because Maggie has things coming at her from every angle- a wedding, Bone Lake, a serial killer, blasts from both her and Steve’s pasts, and finally two ultimate betrayals.
I was a nervous wreck as the bonfire flames licked closer and closer as I reached the end.
I figured out who was the killer quickly but never did I dream of the ending that I read!
It made me so mad I wanted to add one more body to Bone Lake……..
No idea what will happen next in Maggie’s life but I may need some strong beverages to get me through.
Nice touch of linking two series together but the way.
Thanks Shannon Hollinger for the advance copy.

[Rosana Cogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me on the seat of my chair from the moment I started reading! Throughout the chapters I had various characters chosen as the killer. But when the killer was revealed I was in shock, unbelievable writing! This thriller is very different than the other books in a series that keeps getting better and better!

[Maureen ~Bitch Can Write A Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Cannoli…

I’m still processing this book. This was a non stop, high octane book. And the end…I have no words. I don’t do spoilers. But man, the author blew this up. I need the next book. But she better get herself together, I can only take so much.

[Olivia Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wait I was not expecting that ending at all and I’m honestly confused? Like are we fr rn orrrr
I love these books but I’m always so lost with all the names and I’ve never seen the twist coming once lol

[Mary R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful and intriguing

I figured out who did it but doubted myself, wrists and turns keep you hooked until the end. Great read.

[Connie Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great but tragic story of Marges life.

I can't believe what her new husband did to her. I can't wait for the next book. I'm sure it will be as explosive as the others