I really enjoyed the character of Alice Vega. She was a badass. The plot didn't engage me as much as I had thought it would but it was an interesting story. I liked it but didn't love it. Would still recommend to friends.

I could not put this book down. I loved the characters and the quick pace. I’d read many more books with Cap or Vega in them.

Free copy courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Louisa Luna's Two Girls Down is a binge-worthy whodunnit crime fiction novel that realistically paints how rural America is affected by today's drug epidemic. The story starts off with single mother Jamie Brandt taking her two daughters Kylie and Bailey to the mall so they can get a gift for Kylie's friend's birthday party. Jamie is a struggling single parent in a town where income inequality is rampant. Denville, Pennsylvania is a small town outside of Philadelphia—modest, poor, ignorant, and proud, 'Murica. After Jamie returns from the mall to get her daughter's friend a gift, she is startled to see that her daughters are missing. The kidnapping of Kylie and Bailey Brandt has received considerable attention in the news; throwing the town of Denville on a loop. The police force is struggling to find any leads, so the Brandt family hires private investigator Alice Vega to help with the case.

Alice Vega is a no-nonsense Californian who acts first and speaks later. She has an impeccable track record in finding missing children, arriving to Denville and ready to investigate. The town doesn't take to Alice very well—they too proud to accept her services. Alice quickly starts figuring out that things in Denville aren't exactly what they seem. Everyone has an alibi, everyone has a story, but who has something to gain from these two missing girls?

Two Girls Down was a very interesting read for me because when I first picked it up, I was initially thinking, "oh this will be just like every other crime fiction/detective novel", but I was happily mistaken. Alice Vega might actually be my favorite heroine of all time. She is a bad ass to the Nth degree! She is witty, strong, funny, smart—ugh I can keep going. I really hope Louisa Luna continues writing stories including Alice Vega because she really is just amazing and nothing I can say here can perfectly describe how much I fangirl over her. Alice Vega easily gives me the ability to give this read a 4 star rating without even batting an eye.

I also really enjoyed the way the plot began to unfold before my eyes. I really thought this story was going to take a certain turn, but I was pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong. It kept me on my toes and captured my attention. The story unfolds in an interesting, unique way; without the gimmicky plot twists that many novels are throwing out there to try to shock the reader. Ms. Luna also intelligently mentions the drug epidemic sprawling throughout America; showcasing it through the town of Denville and its inhabitants. I really haven't picked up anything recently that portrays that aspect of American society and it was something that actually made me take a second to think about. It was a really robust story that pieced everything together seamlessly.

Two Girls Down will be released January 9, 2018. Thank you Netgalleys, Doubleday Books for my advanced copy for my honest review. You can find this review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2190415637?type=review#rating_140129550 and it will also be on my bookstagram and on thesuspenseisthrillingme.com early next week.

(2 1/2). With the exception of the first and last 10 pages his book cooks right along. A not totally unusual storyline is handled really well with a terrific, kick ass protagonist in Alice Vega. A serious helping hand from a (incorrectly) disgraced cop, his precocious daughter and an unbelievable, phantom IT guy keep the layers of the onion peeling nicely. A touch of local yokels and an exciting conclusion made this little book much more fun than I anticipated. Exceeded my expectations.

This was a quick read with an interesting, but difficult, storyline. The story focuses on Vega, a private investigator, and Cap, a former cop, who she partners up with to find two girls who have gone missing. Vega seems to have a knack for finding missing children, but it's never really fleshed out as to why. It sort of hints at her having special abilities, but then never goes down that path. There are so many characters introduced throughout the story, I had a hard time keeping track of who was who and what relevance they played, so that took me out of the story many times. Overall, it was interesting, but could have been better.

More - more - more! What a nice surprise this novel was. This author is new to me, as she usually writes YA novels, which I don't usually read. She outdid herself here, introducing two protagonists that we definitely want to see more of. Alice Vega is a bounty hunter hired by the family of two missing young girls, last seen outside of a Kmart at a strip mall. She has found over a dozen missing children with her tenacity. She'll challenge obstacles that the police won't or don't have manpower for. She engages the services of a former disgraced cop, Max Caplan, who is not interested in taking on work, but Vega is not one to take no for an answer and eventually acquiesces.. With Caplan's expertise and Vega's drive and ingenuity, they make a mighty team, putting themselves into precarious situations that propels the story forward, keeping us on the edge of the precipice.

Though I found it repetitive in parts, it wasn't enough to sway me away from the read. I loved the characters. Max Caplan is divorced, not remarried but living with his feisty but loyal 16-yr old daughter Nell was also a delight to meet. Alice Vega gives us the impression she is fighting ghosts in her past, but is a strong and admirable woman. I certainly hope author Luna is considering a series featuring Vega and Caplan so we can get to know them even better. Thumbs up on this one. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Vega and Cap make for two exciting protagonists! Vega especially is a very interesting character. Hope she appears again in future tales! Enjoy!

This book had me at hello. Ok, maybe not hello but the very first page. I knew I was going to like it. I love a good thriller, mystery that keeps you guessing and Two Girls Down had me going around in circles wondering who did it. I thought for sure I knew but guess what? I didn't! The subject matter is tough, missing children and Ms. Luna does a wonderful job of helping us get to know all of the characters from the main detectives/investigators all the way to the petty criminals along the way. She really helps you love or hate the characters. When I was about halfway through the book I looked to see if Louisa Luna and written other books I could go back and read but found she had only written YA books. I will watch for any thrillers she writes in the future and look forward to reading her coming works. Very well done for Luna's first foray into thrillers/mysteries!

I could definitely see the main characters Max Caplan and Alice Vega being characters in a series! I was drawn in from the very beginning, it was suspenseful and entertaining. Louisa Luna did a fabulous job character building and I just want more, I want to know what happens next in their lives, what about Alice's next case? How is Max going to fit in her life? I definitely recommend this book to those of you who enjoy suspense and strong characters! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, I loved it

I was able to read Two Girls Down for free from Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a page turner with well developed characters, an intriguing plot, suspense and a feeling of dread. It had twist all the way from the first page to the last. The main characters, Alice Vega is a seriously bad-ass bounty hunter from California who specializes in finding missing children. Max Caplan (Cap) is a disgraced ex-police officer who is now a private investigator. Together they are able to do things the cops are not able to do to find the missing children. A very unexpected ending.
This is the first book I have read by Louisa Luna and I am very impressed.
After this one I will continue to read her books.

I would give this book a 4.5/5

Two Girls Down is my first book from Louisa Luna, and while I probably won't read any of her previous books, I will definitely read any other adult books she will (hopefully) put out. This book was intense, very mysterious, and I had no clue who it was until it was revealed at the end.

The cover of this book is beautiful, and I'm sure it will be even prettier in person once the book is out. I read an ARC via NetGalley and the publisher, and it had a different cover on my uncorrected proof.

Vega is a very strong female character and I LOVED her. She literally kicked ass and it was amazing. Although this book had a very heavy subject manager it was very well done. Cringe worthy moments were interspersed with plenty of funny moments and one liners, and it was a very nice touch.

I also thought the main characters were well developed and I got to know them enough that I actually cared about them, that is to say I cared about Nell, Cap and Vega. You don't get all the details about any of their lives, but it was enough for me to connect to them and worry about their well being during this book.

It has plenty of action, and I found myself not wanting to put it down. Some parts got a little slow for me, but overall there was a ton of action, and it kept me hooked for the entire read.

My only small disappointment is what happened at the end with Vega and Cap, wish that would have ended differently.

A definite 4.5 star book. A great suspenseful mystery that will keep you interested the whole time. The mystery surrounds 2 girls who have just gone missing, with a private detective Vega and her new partner Cap in pursuit. While investigating they connect this case with two other girls who have disappeared which adds to the mystery and hunt for who is involved. Cap and Vega both have interesting backstories that add to the plot, along with a little romantic interest budding between them. While the backstories were key to understanding who they are, I wish there had been a little more information or resolution to Cap's story. I love when an author can surprise you at the end with the final reveal of who the villain is without it being too far fetched, and this book will not disappoint in that regard. Definitely a recommended read and I look forward to reading another by this author.

This took me far too long to read due to personal circumstances. I wanted to read this book in like, a day. It was really good, kept my attention, and kept me wanting to finish it.

I really enjoyed the two main characters, Alice Vega and Max Caplan. I would read more series with both or either of these characters. I also like the way the authors writes. I had to keep putting the book down, but when I picked it back up, I jumped right back into the story. I like that the author wrote from several different points of view. You could get a little insight to each of the characters and how they were feeling or what they were thinking. But without going overboard.

I hope the author keeps going with Alice Vega; I really enjoyed the tough girl/badass character. Max Caplan and his daughter I would read about too. Hopefully as a team.

Thank you for the ARC!

This was a terrific mystery/thriller. I wanted to read it in one sitting. It was very suspenseful. I loved Vega. She was strong as nails and I love how she was the tough one and Cap was softer and more vulnerable. The only objection I had to the book as I wanted more Nell! She is awesome! I want a series of books just about her! The best part of this is that I didn’t guess the ending. Sometimes that can really take away the enjoyment of a book (looking at you Girl on the Train!) and I was shocked at the ending.

This is another one of those books you just can't put down: a plot that grabs you by the front of your shirt and doesn't let go, with excellent character development, and what a way with words. Two Girls Down, by Louisa Luna, takes the reader through the emotional roller coster of searching for missing children. That emotional trauma is, of course, felt most by the children's families, but we are shown how it also affects the authorities involved in the search.

Two Girls Down is the heart-wrenching story of the kidnapping of two little girls, and the search and rescue effort. It would be easy to blame the mother, Jamie Brant, as she curses at them and is, herself, an abuser of both drugs and alcohol, but she loves her children. Jamie's aunt hires a famous bounty hunter, Alice Vega, to find the girls.

Lead character, Vega, refers to herself as someone who finds missing persons. Lead supporting character, Max Caplan (Cap) is a disgraced police officer turned private investigator who Vega hires to assist her. Cap's disgrace is due to his taking the fall for a younger officer who had a family to support.

Through the voices of her characters, Luna reminds us of the dangers of starring at our phones instead of watching our children in any public place; of our prejudices: one character disliked Vega because of her appearance - she was a quarter Mexican. Then there is the effect drug use and alcoholism have on families: one older couple was at risk of losing their home because of their daughter's abuse of drugs and alcohol. The opioid crisis was mentioned several times.

Through the voice of the narrator, she reminds us of many of today's issues: urban sprawl is mentioned more than once, and runoff from a coal mine is said to be causing a stream to be named Black Creek. One character with leathery skin was said to resemble another attractive character, except that she had spent too much time in the sun. Also, mentioned was the dangers of tobacco use (a person who had smoked for years and looked it, and another who didn't know if her cancer was caused by a life with parents and a husband who smoked or by asbestos in her workplace).

All of these things are subtly woven into a compelling yet agonizing, and all too realistic story. This is one that will stay with you after you have closed the book, or turned off your e-reader.

Fast-paced suspense thriller set in present day Denville, Pennsylvania, USA.

Alice Vega is a bounty hunter who specializes in finding kidnapped and missing children. When two young sisters go missing from a strip mall parking lot, she's called in by the girls' aunt to find them. The local police department is understaffed and aren't interested in Alice's "help", so she tracks down a disgraced former detective turned private investigator (Max Caplan) to help her with the search.

Bailey is 8 and Kylie is 10, according to their mother Jamie Brandt, who was just inside a store for a few minutes before returning to the empty car where she'd left the girls. Witnesses report seeing the girls get into a car, but other details are sketchy or missing. It's up to Vega and Cap to figure out what happened. The narrative moves along quickly alternating between the points of view of Vega and Cap. The Feds are called in and the police also get involved as different veins of the investigation proceed and more is discovered -- could be that this nabbing is related to the cases of two other missing girls.

The characters are what makes this book so interesting. Lots of flaws and personality quirks, some great dialogue and a hint of backstory. Makes the reader want to get to know the parties better. Cap's daughter, Nell, was very three dimensional teen and seems to have a good head on her shoulders. Alice is self-contained and sensitive though she's as tough as nails while getting the job done. Cap is solid as both man, father and cop. Although there is a hint that Vega and Cap could deepen their relationship beyond their professional partnership, romance is not in bloom ...yet(I so appreciate that). I'm wondering if this is the first in a new series. I'll definitely look for a sequel!

I enjoyed this and look forward to reading other books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Penguin Random House for this e-book ARC to read and review.

I could not put this book down! I read this book over the course of one day. Brilliant. Two Girls Down is a page turner with well developed characters, an intriguing and well written plot, suspense and a feeling of dread.

Jamie is a single Mother to two young daughters, 10 year old Kylie and 8 year old Bailey. She is running errands and goes into a Kmart ALONE (R U f'ing kidding me? Who leaves kids alone in a car?)to buy a birthday present. While she is in the Kmart picking out a gift, her daughters get out of the car and are not seen again. Later they are seen on camera walking around, going into an ice cream shop, and then walk out of the camera's frame. Gone. Missing. Abducted. It doesn't help that eye witness accounts vary and not all eye witnesses are viewed as reliable.

Jamie's family calls in a tough as nails bounty hunter named Alice Vega to help find the girls. Vega has a reputation for finding people that the police cannot. While in town Vega hires Max Caplan, a private detective who was once a police officer who resigned after a scandal. The local police are also on the case but they are stretched thin and the family wants answers as the clock is ticking. The police are not happy that Vega and Cap are also investigating which adds some angst to this story. Every second counts in child abduction and even the feds are eventually called in to find the missing girls

Initially there is not much to go on but Vega has the assistance of an unknown Computer hacker/whiz called "the Bastard". As their computer whiz begins digging up info, Vega and Cap have information to go and start the process of eliminating suspects. Along the way they get leads, some of which pan out, some of which don't really seem to go anywhere. I appreciated seeing them investigate false leads as not all police investigations are cut and dry. This gave the book a very realistic feel. As the clock ticks the duo follow every lead hoping to find the girls.

As I previously stated, I read this book in one day. It was a real page turner for me. I really enjoyed both Vega and Cap. I thought they had good chemistry together. Both were tough in their own ways, they both were driven to find the girls and each had a no-back-down attitude. I also liked that even though there were hints of attraction, and not so subtle hints between the two, this did not become a romance. Throughout the book, there was a feeling of dread as the two young girls are missing and there are seemingly very little clues. Will they be found alive? Will they be harmed? Could they have been taken by a child molester? Were they sold? Will there be a ransom? Are they dead? There are so many questions about the girls besides just their whereabouts and who may have taken them.

Another mystery in this book was bounty hunter Alice Vega. We know more about Cap and his life. But Vega is also a little bit of a mystery. She reveals very little about herself in this book. She opens up some to Cap but overall, she herself is a mystery to the reader. Which made her character even more interesting to me.

I loved that the plot was fast paced which helped keep the pages turning but added more suspense and anxiety as the girls lives are at stake. I could almost feel the anxiety that the characters in this book must be feeling while trying to track down the girls and their abductor/abductors. This book was brilliantly paced, well written and had a great story. This was my first book by Louisa Luna but it will not be my last.

Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley who provided me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent story! I loved reading this book. The author definitely captured my attention in the very beginning and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened. I had never read this author before and I’m looking forward to reading more books in the future.

Rating: 3/5

Genre: Mystery

Recommended Age: 16+ (language, violence, sexual lingo)

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinons are my own.

As addictive, cinematic, and binge-worthy a narrative as The Wire and The Killing, Two Girls Down introduces Louisa Luna as a thriller writer of immense talent and verve.
When two young sisters disappear from a strip mall parking lot in a small Pennsylvania town, their devastated mother hires an enigmatic bounty hunter, Alice Vega, to help find the girls. Immediately shut out by a local police department already stretched thin by budget cuts and the growing OxyContin and meth epidemic, Vega enlists the help of a disgraced former cop, Max Caplan. Cap is a man trying to put the scandal of his past behind him and move on, but Vega needs his help to find the girls, and she will not be denied.
With little to go on, Vega and Cap will go to extraordinary lengths to untangle a dangerous web of lies, false leads, and complex relationships to find the girls before time runs out, and they are gone forever. - Amazon.com

I've had a mystery kick for the past few months, so I picked this book up when I saw it on Netgalley. For the most part I thought this book was really good! It was a good mystery with a twist I didn't see coming. The plot was wonderfully well done and thought out and for the most part the main characters were very well developed. I really think that this book would do well in a series as apart of an ongoing mystery, Scooby-Doo type crime solving gang. However, I did have a bit of issues of with this book.

I really thought that while the main characters were developed, they felt a little awkward around each other, especially in how one character talks to another. I also felt that there were too many characters in the story who were not pertiant to the story. There were also a lot of loose ends that weren't solved by the end of the book and the book had some lull periods where it felt like the author went off on tangents.

Verdict: Awesome mystery, but lots of loose ends. I like my mysteries to wrap up completely at the end and for everything to be eventually connected and I'm a little disappointed that this one wasn't. It's a preference though and some readers might not care. It definitely was a good mystery novel and it comes out on January 9th! Make sure to grab your copy if your a mystery lover!

Thanks again for letting me have a copy of this,.

Louisa Luna's Two Girls Down was the perfect mystery/thriller. Such a well written story that kept me on my toes.

This book starts off with a single mother, Jamie Brandt and her two daughters, Kylie and Bailey. On the way to a birthday party, Jamie and the girls stop at a mall to pick up a gift. She leaves the children in the car seeing as she will only be a few minutes (which I find crazy) and knows letting the girls come into the store will only lead to chaos. When she comes out, her car is there but the girls are missing. With the police force stretched thin due to budget cuts, Jamie's family hires Alice Vega, a private investigator who specializes in finding missing children. The police are not too keen on welcoming Alice Vega so she then starts working with ex-cop Cap. Which by the way I love these two characters together.

From the moment I started this book I was sucked right in. The whole time I kept going “OMG HE TOOK THE GIRLS, OH NO WAIT MAYBE IT WAS HIM”. Kept me guessing and intrigued the whole way through. I would definitely read another novel by this author. Thanks Again!