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Cassidy Knox #5

Sinister Secrets

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It was a betrayal she thought she had left in the past...

When the search for a missing child leads authorities to the body of a murdered man on the Sanctuary's grounds, Cassidy’s thrust back into a nightmare she’d thought had ended. Though injuries obscure the victim’s identity, she knows who it is—and she knows the terrible truth of what he did.

Desperate to be a part of the investigation, Cassidy leaves her impending retirement behind and joins the Miami FBI field office. But as she’s drawn deeper into the web of her old friend's lies, it soon becomes clear… someone’s trying to send her a message.

Not only is this case personal, but the consequences could prove dire. As every clue reveals a new layer of deception, Cassidy quickly becomes the prime suspect. Framed for a murder she didn't commit, she finds herself up against the last person she expected—and perhaps the only person able to get her to admit defeat.

Prepare yourself for the heart-pounding adventure of what’s possibly the most shocking book in the Cassidy Knox series yet.

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2026

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About the author

Shannon Hollinger

54 books443 followers
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
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https://www.tiktok.com/@shannonhollinger
http://www.pinterest.com/thiswritersays
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5 stars
42 (70%)
4 stars
14 (23%)
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4 (6%)
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Debra .
3,465 reviews36.7k followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 28, 2026
Riveting, shocking, and brimming with secrets, Sinister Secrets: A suspenseful crime thriller with a shocking twist is the fifth book in the gripping Cassidy Knox series! I do highly recommend reading this series from the beginning as the previous books are all fantastic, and the character development over the series has been marvelous. Having said that, one could read this book as a stand-alone novel but again, do yourself a favor and begin with the first book in the series.

Things are never quiet at Cassidy Knox's animal sanctuary. When a child goes missing and the search leads to a dead man on the grounds of her sanctuary, Cassidy has a huge mess and a boat load of problems on her hands. Having recently joined the Miami FBI field office, Cassidy throws herself into the investigation and comes up against secret after secret and lie after lies. As things begin to hit closer to home and become more and more personal, the real nightmare begins!

I love Cassidy's character. She is still dealing with trauma from her past while trying to be strong and resilient in her present. She is a strong and vulnerable woman. She is also intelligent, brave, hardworking, and great at her job. I found Sinister Secrets: A suspenseful crime thriller with a shocking twist to be equal parts thrilling, mysterious, gripping, shocking, and captivating. I always try to figure out whodunit, and this time I wasn't even close! I love it when that happens. When Shannon Hollinger made the reveal, I was shocked and left with my mouth hanging open! I love it when an author shocks me and leaves me both awed and smiling.

If you have not read this wonderful series, what are you waiting for?

Thank you to Shannon Hollinger who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Profile Image for Maureen ~Bitch Can Write A Book.
1,632 reviews35 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 11, 2026
This was another great installment to the series. I love how Shannon weaves a story, even if she occasionally makes me want to slap certain characters. Mmm, I think she does it on purpose. 🤣

Cassidy is such a fun character. I love how tenacious she is and vulnerable. Although sometimes…she needs to kick a certain person in the arse. 🤣

This was non-stop action from the start and what a tangled web. I’m looking forward to more in this series.

PS…don’t get me started about the Sheriff.
Profile Image for Katie Mettner.
Author 139 books1,781 followers
October 7, 2026
Sinister Secrets is another fantastic installment in Shannon Hollinger’s Cassidy Knox series! This one kept me guessing right up until the final page. When a child goes missing, his recovery and the ensuing investigation lead authorities to a murdered man on the grounds of Cassidy’s animal sanctuary. Suddenly, she’s tossed right back into the nightmare she thought was in her rearview mirror. Little did she know how close the danger really was. As if that isn’t enough, Cassidy knows the victim, and the truth about what he did.

Determined to be part of the investigation, even with her FBI retirement looming, Cassidy agrees to join the Miami FBI field office, which puts her squarely in the middle of a tangled web of lies, betrayal, and long-buried secrets. Not to mention, Cassidy isn’t great at following orders, so her introduction to her partner in Miami doesn’t go well. As she digs deeper, the case becomes more and more personal and before long, Cassidy finds herself framed for a murder she didn’t commit.
I absolutely love Cassidy’s character. She’s strong and resilient, but she’s also vulnerable and still carrying the weight of her past. Shannon Hollinger is a master at giving her characters emotional depth and faults, which makes the suspense even more powerful.

This book had everything I want in a thriller. There’s mystery, danger, secrets, betrayal, and plenty of moments that had me racing through the pages. My favorite kind of mystery is one where I think I have it all figured out, and then the rug is pulled out from under me. That’s Sinister Secrets.

Sinister Secrets is the fifth book in the Cassidy Knox series. You can read it as a standalone, but I highly recommend starting the series from the beginning. Sinister Secrets is gripping, mysterious, emotional, and full of surprises from beginning to end.
Profile Image for Chapters_with_VDKeck.
796 reviews94 followers
October 7, 2026
Y’all, Sinister Secrets is one twisty thriller! 🔥 In Book 5 of the Cassidy Knox Series, Cassidy finds a murdered man on Sanctuary grounds while searching for a missing child—and she knows exactly who he is and what he did. When she joins the Miami FBI investigation, old betrayals resurface, secrets spill, and suddenly she’s the prime suspect. Because apparently, her week wasn’t busy enough.

Cassidy is fierce, stubborn, and determined to clear her name, while Hollinger keeps the tension high and the twists coming. Just when you think you’ve figured it out—BAM! Nope.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved it! Read the whole series, or start here—each book stands alone. But fair warning: you’ll want them all!
Profile Image for Rachel Browning.
1,117 reviews11 followers
September 15, 2026
“Sinister Secrets” by Shannon Hollinger is another great Cassidy Knox story! This is book 5 in the series, and Cassidy is once again finding herself in the middle of a mess. This time, though, she’s the prime suspect in a murder, and things get intense fast!
This one was super suspenseful and had my heart rate elevated more than once. I loved seeing Cassidy join the local FBI office and come out of retirement. She’s such a great character, and I’m definitely hoping this isn’t the last we see of her!
Profile Image for Heather Flaherty.
1,179 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 28, 2026
This is the fifth book in the Cassidy Knox series and it blew me away with twists I would have never imagined. Love! Love! Love! Cassidy wakes early one morning to a missing boy and a dead body in her pond. She recognizes the murdered man and how he is tied to her past. As she joins in the investigation as an FBI agent, she learns that someone is trying to frame her for murder. Who would want to pin this on her? And why? I cannot wait for the next book!
Profile Image for Gillian Gates.
39 reviews5 followers
October 6, 2026
Sinister Secrets is book 5 of The Cassidy Knox Series. Another brilliant suspenseful crime thriller from Shannon.
I was hooked from the start and didn’t want to stop turning the pages. There were many twists and turns within this story which kept me trying to guess what was happening.

Cassidy wakes up from a nightmare to find out that a 4-year-old boy is missing in the woods along the back of her animal sanctuary property. A search finds the body of a man, who Cassidy knew, floating in the water. This case was going to be harder than she thought as it wasn’t random where the body was found. She felt it was something personal. They were looking for someone who had the means, motive and opportunity to have done this.

I loved the character of Cassidy. She was strong, brave, and kept on searching for answers and clues even when she herself was a suspect in the murder. She was not going to stop until she had revealed the real killer.

There were lots of suspense, secrets, lies, mystery and deception throughout the story making it a very interesting and thrilling read. It was a very surprising ending. One which I hadn’t expected.

I highly recommend you read this exciting crime thriller.

Thank you, Shannon, for allowing me to read this ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed this and gave it five stars. Looking forward to the next book in the Cassidy Knox Series.


Profile Image for Mercedes Narain.
378 reviews5 followers
October 7, 2026
Sinister Secrets is the fifth book in the Cassidy Knox series, and Shannon Hollinger delivers once again.

This book starts with a bang and hooks me from the first page. Just when I think this series can't get any better, it does. When a body is found in the pond at Cassidy's sanctuary, the story takes off and doesn't slow down.

There were so many twists and turns that I was constantly trying to figure out what was going on, and I still didn't see that ending coming. I kept changing my mind about who I could trust and what was really happening. Is someone trying to frame Cassidy? You'll have to read it and find out.

I don't want to spoil anything, but this book is fast-paced and full of suspense. Shannon really knows how to draw you in and keep you hooked until the end.

I love Cassidy and Jake, and it's been great to see their story develop with each book. The characters, the mystery, and the suspense all come together perfectly.

You can read each book on its own, but I really recommend starting with the first one. Seeing the characters grow and the story build over the series makes it even more enjoyable.

If you enjoy crime thrillers, you should add this series to your TBR list. I can't wait for the next book!

Thank you, @shannonhollinger, for the complimentary eBook!

Happy Release Day!

Profile Image for Janilyn Kocher.
5,684 reviews124 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
October 6, 2026
Excellent read and Hollinger threw some curveballs at me!
There were plenty of characters I wanted to be fed to hungry gators but all in good time!
I snickered as a pest keeps interrupting the intimate scenes but the barn provides for all romps In the hay!
These covers are just gorgeous!
Thanks Shannon Hollinger for my early copy!
Profile Image for Sharon.
589 reviews
September 30, 2026
This is the 5th installment in the Cassidy Knox series. It is a suspenseful crime thriller that will be sure to keep you engaged to the satisfying & unexpected ending.

Mari is being framed for a murder she didn’t commit & the lengths she goes to clear her name.

If you like your thrillers full of secrets, blind anger, vengeance, jealousy & murderous intent, then this is the book for you. They can be read as standalone’s, however I recommend reading them in order.

A shout out to the adorable animals that are depicted. Chomp the Alligator, Same Mule, the Pigs Chip & Bagel and especially Stephano the Pygmy Goat.

Favorite Line: “Which is worse? Having someone you suspected prove you were right, or the betrayal of misplaced trust?”

Thank you to Shannon for including me on her ARC Team and providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Joanne Dunn.
227 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 30, 2026
Cassidy Knox is back in book 5, Sinister Secrets!
With the discovery of a body on the Sanctuary, it does not take long to realize, this is personal, someone wants Cassidy’s life to fall apart, but just how far will they go?
Chelsea, a newcomer, moves onto the sanctuary to assist with the animals, but there is something not quite right about her, as she oversteps the bounds of generosity and ignores personal boundaries.
The story will draw you in as you try to discover who wants to destroy Cassidy and why. As with prior books in the series, Hollinger will deliver a twist/bombshell you won’t see coming.
698 reviews12 followers
October 2, 2026
Another amazing thriller in the Cassidy Knox series! I know these characters so well, I feel like their family are family. Filled with lots of mystery and suspense, I couldn’t put it down! Love the animal sanctuary in the book too!


Release date October 7, 2026
1,346 reviews20 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 15, 2026
This is a good thriller. It is a case that has Cassidy mixed up in it from the start. She is the one who finds the body on her property. She is the one tasked by the sheriff to investigate even though they have never gotten along. Cassidy is then framed to look like she is the killer, and it will take everything in her power to find the killer. This is a fast-paced thriller that keeps you on edge right up until the shocking twist at the end.
Profile Image for Bella Crooke Myers .
213 reviews63 followers
September 9, 2026
SOOOOOO GOOD!!!!! UGH THE SERIES JUST GET’S BETTER AND BETTER!!!!!! IM IN LOVE WITH JAKE WALKER LOVE CASSIDY KNOX TOO!!!! THIS WAS A WILD RIDE.
308 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 9, 2026
Awakening from a recurring nightmare, Cassidy finds herself in a real life nightmare as the prime suspect of a murder. This is the fifth book in the Cassidy Knox series and just as exciting and suspenseful as Shannon Hollinger's other books. I love everything about these books, the suspense with a twist at the end, the characters of Cassidy and Jake, even the sheriff who has a vendetta against Cassidy and the power to make her life miserable. The setting of a sanctuary in Florida is a perfect backdrop for the plot. The writing is supreme. Even though this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend starting with book one for important background material. You won't be disappointed .
Profile Image for Simone.
471 reviews23 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 4, 2026
I am BLOWN AWAY by Sinister Secrets. Wow… just WOW. 😱

The Cassidy Knox series is absolutely phenomenal, and somehow, book #5 may have just raised the bar to a whole new level for me! This is truly one of my all time favorite series, and Shannon Hollinger continues to amaze me with every book.

Sinister Secrets is dark, atmospheric, suspenseful, and SO incredibly immersive. The characters are another huge reason I love this series. Cassidy and Jake have completely stolen my heart, while there are definitely others who make me want to scream, “Oh, I do NOT like you!” 😂 And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way!

The twists?! I thought I had things figured out more than once, and Shannon basically said, “Nope… nice try!” 😂 Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, she pulled the rug right out from under me. Some of the twists were so shocking, they literally had me holding my breath.

The plot is smart, layered, and incredibly well crafted. I was so completely immersed that I forgot I was reading a book, I was LIVING this story. And now that I’ve finished, I’m honestly a little sad to say goodbye to Cassidy and the gang… BUT thankfully, book #6 is already in the works, and you better believe I am counting down!

If you haven’t started the Cassidy Knox series yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! Trust me, you NEED this series on your TBR ASAP!

Shannon, thank you so much for sending me this eARC and for allowing me to be part of your ARC Team. I feel incredibly grateful and blessed to be part of this journey.

All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Charlene's  Bookish  Archives .
2,878 reviews52 followers
November 2, 2026
The past doesn't stay buried forever… and some secrets were never meant to see the light. 🩸🌿

Sinister Secrets is hands down the most shocking, twisty, and emotional book in this incredible series so far, and that's truly saying something! When a body turns up on sanctuary grounds and Cassidy knows exactly who it is, the nightmare isn't just knocking, it's already inside.

Hollinger masterfully peels back layer after layer of deception. Just when you think you've got it figured out, boom, another revelation that changes everything. Framed for murder, fighting against the system she's always stood for, and up against someone she never thought she'd face, this book had me gripping my book so tight my knuckles turned white. The betrayal cuts deeper than ever before, and seeing Cassidy doubted, isolated, and fighting for both the truth and her reputation? It hurt. But seeing her rise, fight, and refuse to be broken? Pure inspiration.

This is Shannon Hollinger at her absolute finest, suspense that keeps you guessing, emotional beats that hit you right in the chest, and a heroine who proves that strength isn't about never falling, it's about getting back up every single time. If you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for?

"Every clue reveals a new layer of deception… and someone's trying to send her a message."

Absolutely mind-blowing. Sinister Secrets is the BEST one yet. An absolute must read! 🐊🔥
Profile Image for LitWithBritt27.
286 reviews
October 31, 2026
Another great addition to the Cassidy Knox series! I absolutely love Cassidy and Jake. Cassidy is such a strong, determined female lead, and I love that she can handle just about anything thrown her way.

These books are easy to fly through! They’re fast-paced, full of suspense, and have just enough twists to keep you guessing without getting too dark or heavy. Plus, that little touch of romance is the perfect balance.

And the twists in this one?! SO good! My only little complaint is that the climax felt a tad rushed. I would’ve loved a little more explanation, but maybe that was just me not wanting it to end so quickly

If you love twisty murder mysteries, FBI crime thrillers, strong female leads, and a little romance mixed into your suspense, I’d definitely recommend checking out this series! Now I’m already excited for Buried Deceit!

Thank you to Shannon Hollinger for an early copy of this book, but as always, all thoughts are my own.
443 reviews18 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 10, 2026
WOW!! So many twists and turns. I really couldn't put this down. I really enjoy Shannon Hollinger's books and I just love this series. I just love Cassidy Knox and Jake Walker. They are a great couple. Cassidy gets woken up to find a missing child but she first finds a dead body in her pond and then realized that the child also found the dead body and was hiding in the bushes. And that is just the start of the story. You won't be disappointed and if you haven't read the series, I highly recommend it. Thank you, Shannon for the ARC for my honest opinion. I can't wait to see what you write next.
634 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 9, 2026
If you haven't read this series, you are seriously missing out! Cassidy and Jake are back! A body is found in the pond at Cassidy's sanctuary. As Cassidy starts looking into why a body is found on her property, she uncovers someone trying to frame her.. but why? Is it the Sheriff or his son? There's a nice little twist in the end. Really love this series. Love Cassidy and especially love all the different storylines in each book. This author just pulls you into every story that you don't want the book to end! Highly recommend reading!
Profile Image for Tracy ann  Robinson.
1,251 reviews25 followers
October 9, 2026
I am a big fan of this series, and this story did not disappoint. Cassie has woken up from a bad dream. and the police are outside her house and the one man who is a thorn in her side the Sheriff is asking where the child is on her property. Cassie finds the little boy but also finds a dead body. Cassie is going to have to be very careful someone wants to frame her and she thinks she can't trust anyone it's an amazing read
33 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 4, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Such a great read! I was hooked from the beginning and loved how the twists and turns kept me guessing throughout the entire book. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist would pull me in a completely different direction. The story kept me engaged right until the end, and I couldn’t wait to find out what was really going on. Definitely a suspenseful and gripping read!
Profile Image for Kayla Wiklanski.
302 reviews21 followers
October 8, 2026

Stunned and shocked by that twist 😲. This book nailed the mystery. All along you are wondering who could do such a thing. And when it's revealed, jaw dropped. Not at all what you expect. I was so engrossed into what was going on and turning pages I stayed up needing to finish.

I cannot get enough of the Cassidy Knox series. Every single book is simply amazing. Once you start reading you can't stop. Cassidy feels like a real person. She deals with her personal problems just like anyone else. This woman has been through hell and back yet she is so strong when needed
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews