Two Girls down drew me in from the start. Kept me guessing until the end. The characters were well written with depth. Left me hoping the two main characters continue to grow and have more detective/missing persons work together very soon!

Jamie Brandt is taking her daughters to a party when she stops at the Kmart in small-town Pennsylvania to pick up a gift. When she returns to her car, the girls, Kylie and Bailey, are gone. Alice Vega, a private investigator from California with success in finding kidnapped children, is called in by Jamie’s wealthy aunt to find the girls. Vega is no-nonsense, terse in both questions and answers and unwilling to listen to unnecessary conversation. When she goes to the police department, she gets a frosty welcome - although stretched thin from budget cuts and a heavy caseload, they want nothing of an outsider and let her know. So she turns to Max “Cap” Caplan, a private detective who resigned from the police department five years earlier under pressure after a suspect in custody dies. Vega and Cap’s relationship is a subplot, but one that is not distracting and helps define both characters. Using a hacker friend, Vega gets information that she and Cap can use in the rush to find the girls. Racing against time, they move across the Pennsylvania landscape chasing leads and overcoming frustration. Lots of suspects and an intriguing ending make this a good read. But there was one thing that really bugged me - what was with no capitalization in the first paragraph of each chapter? Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my review.

Talk about how to grab a reader. “Jamie Brandt was not a bad mother. Later she would tell that to anyone who would listen: police, reporters, lawyers, her parents, her boyfriend, her dealer, the new bartender with the knuckle tattoos at Schultz’s…”.

What Luna does is get the characters exactly right. In just a few pages, she was able to nail the main characters. I loved Cap from right off the bat. An ex-cop and current PI, he loves his teenage daughter and the two of them together just seemed real. And Alice Vega, as well, unsuccessfully trying yoga to calm herself down. By the end of the first chapter, Luna had me sold.

This is a fast paced book that kept me totally engaged. One of those books i was loath to put down. Lots of phrases that would just nail a scene or a character. Like this “he saw Jamie for what she was: an unstable element, a cut wire spraying sparks”. Yes, Alice is a tad unbelievable, in a Jack Reacher kind of way; she always has a solution to getting what she needs. And I didn’t quite connect with the little bit of romance in the book. But overall this book gets a definite thumbs up and I will definitely seek out the next book that Luna writes.

My thanks to netgalley and Doubleday Books for an advance copy of this book.

2.5 stars

This book had the potential to be terrific, with an enigmatic female PI who specializes in finding missing kids, a disgraced ex-cop, and a couple of missing little girls for them to find. Unfortunately, the anticipation was far better than the delivery.

The problem was with the main characters. While it’s perfectly fine to weave some mystery around the protagonist, the character’s actions and thoughts need to be consistent to draw a sharp picture of her and to hint at the secrets. But Alice Vega supposedly was this incredibly successful PI who actually was a total mess in both thoughts and actions. She was a loose cannon who sporadically was violent, her thoughts boomeranged from past to imagined conversations to weird sexual thoughts at inappropriate times, and she was TSTL on at least a couple of occasions. Through most of the book, she seemed barely functional, with the only hints of her past being the deaths of her mom from cancer, her mentor being killed (with no inference that she was even present), and the fact that she joined the army but went only through basic training. Nothing even to hint at why she’s such a mess. While damaged heroes/heroines can be very appealing, they only are so if they manage to function fairly well while suffering mostly behind the scenes. Instead, Alice appeared to crash around and rely on the services of a hacker until she solved the case.

Max “Cap” Caplan was a bit, though not much, better. He sacrificed his career to cover for a colleague because that co-worker had a wife and family, but so did Cap, and his own marriage and family suffered instead. He was more level-headed and competent, but he also had weird sexual thoughts at odd times and seemed almost to wag his tail whenever Alice or his old boss appeared to approve of him. Not a flattering portrayal for a grown man. The only bright spot as far as characters go was Cap’s daughter Nell, and she was almost too good to be true.

Even the case itself was puzzling, with some very obvious points completely ignored. <spoiler>After Alice acknowledging that one of her recovered victims was severely damaged by sexual abuse, why was Kylie so unaffected after being held, and one must believe abused, by a pedophile? Her mother was more emotionally distraught.</spoiler>

All in all, the emotions and actions did not ring true for too many characters, making for an unsatisfying read.

I liked this book and it was a great read but the only problem was that it triggered me. I was triggered because of certain events that happened in my rough past but I know this can happen with some thrillers and it’s not the book’s fault. The book was very suspenseful and had a very surprising ending that was very unexpected. I am sure that a lot of people would thoroughly enjoy this book but for me it was hard to enjoy it at times because of the triggers. This book was well written and would recommend to readers who love a chilling suspense.

4.5 stars, actually.

I've always maintained that declarations of whether or not a book is well written shouldn't be soured by how much you love, relate to, or even like, the main characters - ttttthat's my story and I'm sticking to it. But when you do, it sure sweetens the whole experience - as was, happily, the case here. In fact, perhaps the primary strength of this book is the exceptionally well-developed characters.

The top two are Max Caplan, a private investigator and former cop who left the force under a cloud; he's divorced and has a smart, headstrong daughter named Nell. Complementing "Cap" is Alice Vega, perhaps more of a bounty hunter than private eye. She's single, extremely focused, somewhat psychic and weighs in with a hefty load of emotional baggage of her own. They come together when Alice is hired to find two young sisters who have gone missing in Denville, Pa. (not far from Philadelphia).

Vega, asks Cap for help with the case, but he turns her down - claiming he's busy chasing a bad guy who's from New Castle, Pa. (which, for the record, isn't far from my own home in northeastern Ohio), but in reality more because he doesn't want to interact with his former cronies on the police force. Not to be deterred (she's intensely focused, remember?), Vega takes off and finds the guy, thus removing Cap's reason for not jumping into her own fray. Apparently, she's very good at what she does; at one point, she tells Cap that she expects to earn $50,000 for finding the missing girls - and she's willing to split it 50-50 with him.

Somewhat reluctantly, Cap recapitulates, making them something of a team (which, depending on the situation or who's thinking about it, can be for better or for worse). Clues ferreted out and followed up by Vega and Cap turn out to be productive enough that the local police and FBI opt to at least consider them serious players in the chase (albeit grudgingly). While there's never any romantic interaction between the two, the potential chemistry is there - if only in Cap's mind. When it comes to investigation, they're not always on an identical wavelength; here, score one for Cap, and there, the edge goes to Vega.

There's plenty of action as well as false leads and twists to make for a hard-to-put-down story with an ending revelation that I didn't predict ahead of time (neither did Cap nor Vega, at least until the last couple of chapters, so I don't feel too bad). When I finished the last page, I said two things to myself: First, this is a really good book; and second, I sure hope I'll see these two characters again. Meantime, a big thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

When a distracted single Mom makes a quick stop at a local store, she tells her young daughters to stay in the car. When Mom returns, the girls are gone. Not trusting the cops in this small, understaffed, drug-ridden Pennsylvania town to get results, the mother’s Aunt hires Alice Vega. Alice doesn’t come cheap but she has a record of results and the Aunt has the resources to lure her. But Alice is from the West Coast and needs someone who knows the locals. She teams up with Max Caplan, a former local police officer who left the job after a volatile incident.

Alice has a certain skill set, unusual resources, and a one-track mind. Max has a way with suspects and a good cop’s intuition. Together they face a ticking clock to learn what happened to these girls. Along the way, they build an uneasy relationship with each other and learn to play off each other’s strengths.

Secondary characters are terrific. They include the missing girls’ family, Max’s precocious teen daughter, Max’s former co-workers, Alice’s mysterious cyber friend and many of the leads the team hunts down.

Can’t wait for more Alice, more Max and more insight into these two unique characters. Highly recommended, up all night thriller!

Thanks to Negalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this title.

So glad I saw early rave reviews of this one and decided to see for myself! The mystery of two sisters disappearing in small-town Denville, against the backdrop of the opioid epidemic in America was a fresh spin on what could have been a “by-the-book” procedural mystery. Alice and Cap are two great characters and I enjoyed seeing the story from their eyes. I hope to see more of these characters in the future and I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next from Louisa Luna.

This is a great mystery/thriller releasing in January that you will want to add to your list! Vega - the kick ass female bounty hunter women been waiting for teams up with Cap a “retired” cop turned PI to find two little girls who were abducted. I see this as the beginning of what could be a great series. I hope the publisher puts some media behind this release.

Two Girls Down

A novel by Louisa Luna


Alice Vega is a bounty hunter who specializes in finding abducted children. She is headquartered in California but has a national reputation because of her success rate, 18 out of 18. Ask, “How many were alive?” And she will tell you 16, one dead and one alive but “dead.” Her job is what she lives for, and she pursues it with a single-mindedness that is feral. So when two girls go missing from a Pennsylvania shopping mall parking lot Alice gets a call and a job offer. She will bring absolute dedication to bear and will brook no B.S. from anyone, not even a local police captain.

This story has a quirky, human quality to it that I have not encountered before. And what can I say about Alice, Cap, Nell, Jamie and the rest of the characters? Major personalities are vivid, vital and well rounded. Even the minor ones have a spark that makes them live in their moment. Like a real police investigation, the storyline has a chaotic feel that kept me guessing right until the last moment. I could say that I had no clue, but there were clues, I just didn’t pick up on them.

I highly recommend “Two Girls Down” and hope that somewhere there is a real Alice Vega kicking ass and taking names.

I received a digital copy of this novel from Doubleday and NetGalley in exchange for this review.

This book is full of tough, possibly triggering, topics, but does so in a way that packs a punch and will have readers glued to the page. Alice Vega is a troubled bounty hunter and investigator who has been called in by the family to help solve the disappearance of two sisters. Max Caplan is a former police officer whose disgraced exit from the force still has people talking, but when he and Vega team up they are a powerful investigative team.
Kidnappings and missing children are really difficult topics for me to read about, but Luna has written a narrative that is both immersive and harrowing. The setting of a small, down-on-its-luck Pennsylvania town is appropriately dreary and uncomfortable. The primary characters, Vega and Caplan, are fairly well developed, but there is enough mystery left around Vega that I'm hoping she's going to become a series character. The pacing is pretty good throughout, and there are enough big breaks or changes in the case throughout the story that keep it moving.
This is a new to me author, and I was pretty impressed with the story and the writing. I'd like to see Alice Vega in more stories, but I expect I'll be intrigued by whatever the author does next.

Wow, talk about a suspenseful read. This is the first thing I have read by Louisa Luna, but it will not be the last. I was guessing until the very end!

Jamie Brandt's two girls are missing. She went into the store and came out and they were gone. Now the race is on to find them before it's too late. I have to applaud Luna's writing, I may not have cared for Jamie, but my heart ached for her.

Alice Vega finds people, it's just what she does. I really liked Vega and her unique character, and I think her and Cap made a fantastic team.

This story was full of twists and turns and connections I never expected. It makes you wonder if everyone connected the dots the way Vega does if we would find more people, or at least what happened to them.

If you are looking for a suspenseful read that keeps you guessing, then look no further than Two Girls Down.

***ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!***

What a great book!!! A definite must read. I give it five stars. I didn't see the shocking ending coming at all. What I really liked about this book was the relationship that Cap and Vega had. They really bounced off each other in such a great way. I really loved what the author did with these characters. I also liked the relationship that Cap had with his daughter, Nell. What makes this story so great besides the characters was the shocking twist in the end. I would have never guessed who or why they took those girls. The author did such a great job of hiding on who it can be. I would definitely recommend this book.

It's such a great feeling to come across a new thriller (which is easily my favorite genre) from an author I have not read before, and actually end up loving the story and recommending it to everyone I know! The story begins with a single mother of two daughters who can, at times, be a handful. Jamie, the mother, finds herself longing for a few moments of peace, which she rarely gets to enjoy. That is, until her daughters are taken from her vehicle while she has ran into a store. The panic and suspense starts to build from there, and never slows back down. The introduction of Alice Vega, a bounty hunter with an excellent history of locating the missing, is requested for help, all while trying to work against the towns police officers who are trying to keep her out.

First off, I LOVE suspense, I love nail-biters, and I love when I'm actually antsy while reading! This all totally happened during this story! I was FURIOUS during the section where Jamie leaves the girls in the care alone, thinking that only something bad can come of this. But then while she was frantically asking around from store to store, I only felt her pain.

The character I enjoyed reading about the most was Alice Vega. Although we didn't get much to go on for her, I thought she seemed so interesting, and that could be because we didn't find out much about her.

A brilliantly written story that I will be recommending to all my friends in hopes that they get as much enjoyment as I have! And a huge thanks to Netgalley and Louisa Luna for allowing me a chance to read an ARC copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Jamie left her girls in the car at the strip mall for just a moment... and in that moment her life changed.  The girls are gone- no one can figure out anything, the police don't seem to be getting anywhere.  She calls in Alice Vega, a PI with a reputation for finding people.  Shut out by the police, Vega partners up with Max Caplan (Cap) a disgraced former cop.  As the two work the case, it seems like it may be linked to other missing girls.  The clock is ticking... can they find the girls before they disappear?
        First, I loved these characters.  Vega and Cap were well developed and interesting, both with their own demons and past.  I fell hard for these two, desperate for more information and time with them.  I loved the plot, and was instantly drawn to this fast paced story.  So far this is a stand alone... but we have the makings of more.  (Please?)  I would love to see this as a series, even a short one.  It was a definite five star book for me.  
           As far as the adult content scale goes, there's a lot of violence, drugs, language and some sexual content.   Trigger warning- the sexual content, while only hinted at, refers to one of the girls.  I give it an eight.  
           I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Doubleday Books in exchange for an honest review.   My thanks.  
The book comes out on December 9th- if it isn't on your radar, it should be.

An enjoyable, well-written murder suspense that features two sympathetic central protagonists. The plot line keeps moving, and the interactions of the characters are engaging. I hope there will be more Alice Vega books to come, but they better include a deepening connection to Cap.

Two Girls Down
By
Louisa Luna



What it's all about...

Who do you turn to if both of your young daughters have suddenly disappeared? If you are able...you hire Alice Vega...PI and she links up with Cap...an ex police officer. Alice is tough...really tough but her record for finding kids is unblemished. She is damaged...of course...doesn’t eat much nor does she sleep much and she does what she has to do to get the job done. She finds the perfect match or perhaps an unmatched in Cap...but they become an unbeatable team.

Why I wanted to read it...

This book took place in a small Pennsylvania town...lots of poverty, drugs, and dealers. The two little girls taken...this time...were daughters of a single mom...a single mom who perhaps didn’t watch her daughters closely all of the time. But only because a person can never believe something like this can ever happen.

What made me truly enjoy this book...

The twists and turns in this book were what kept my pages turning. I had no idea where the story would end. I had no idea who took these girls as well as the others. I had no idea how this book would end. All I know is that whenever Alice Vega got mad...I was scared...very very scared.

Why you should read it, too...

Readers who love fast paced intense dramas...will love this book. It’s not a book that can be put down easily.

I received an advance reader’s copy from the publisher and Netflix to be read on my Kindle Oasis in exchange for an honest review.

Jamie runs inside a store for a few minutes and leaves her two girls Bailey 8 and Kylie 10 year old in the car . She comes back to find them missing with nobody having a clue where they went . The police department is short staffed so Alice Vega, a private investigator, who has a great track record for finding missing kids is hired by the family . She enlists the help of an ex-cop Max Caplan to help her with the search. A lot of suspects and very few clues makes finding the girls an almost impossible task for Vega and Max.

A fast paced, good mystery book with great but flawed characters makes it an interesting read. Vega is a tough no-nonsense detective lacking some social skills while Cap is a family loving detective who misses his job as a cop. The dynamics between Cap and his teenage daughter was also fun to read . I would definitely look forward to more by this author

I would like to thank Doubleday Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

It's always a good thing when you try a new author, at least new to me, and you get a good, gritty crime thriller!

When mom Jamie, leaves her 8 and 10-year-old daughters in the car to run in for a quick birthday gift, the girls disappear.  Her parents hire Alice Vega, who has a reputation for finding children. Shut out by the local cops, she hooks up with Cap, a former cop who took the fall for a friend.

There were so many plot twists you couldn't put it down even if you wanted to. Which I did not. 

All of the characters were real, honest and imperfect. And I loved them all. I can only hope that the author gives us more!

Thanks Netgalley/Doubleday    Release Date January 9, 2018

This was a really good book. I didn’t expect it to end the way it did. The “who” definitely surprised me.