It's wonderful to discover a new female P.I. to follow, especially a Latina whose mission is to find those who have disappeared. Alice Vega is on her home turf in California here, delving into a tale of two Jane Does clearly linked to some kind of trafficking scheme. She does call on her buddy from the east, former cop Max Caplan to fly out and help her get to the bottom of things. I suspect that we'll be hearing lots more about these two in future tales.

Max Caplan's life is settling down into a very steady rhythm. He is working for a lawyer as a private investigator and making good money. Now his boss wants to hire him full time with flexible hours, benefits, the whole nine yards, but he isn't sure what to do. He can't seem to keep Alice Vega out of his thoughts and the case they had worked on together. Then he gets a message Alice needs him.

Working under the table for the DEA and the California PD Cap and Alice are trying to track down the identity of two Jane Doe's that were brutally murdered. What they find is possible human trafficking, rival drug cartels and shady government agencies.

Dodging bullets, kicking people's asses and trying to stay alive seems to be the name of the game when working with Alice, not to mention the strange spark Cap feels for her and maybe something could come of it - if they get out of this alive.

This is a face paced thrill ride. Alice Vega still reminds me so much of Lisbeth Salander from the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, her social skills are lacking and she doesn't show much emotion. However saving children and girls from harm seem to be of particular interest to her.

Alice is a no nonsense kick ass female heroine. She is smart and capable and I'm not even sure if she really needs Caplan or just likes having him there to balance her. I love her go to mystery sidekick "the bastard" who can get information and hack just about anything. Only in this book we learn a bit more about the mysterious "Bastard" and I'm now excited to see how Luna incorporates this knowledge into future books.

Another great Alice and Cap crime adventure. The writing grabs you from the beginning and the twists keep coming with each chapter. I can’t wait for more from these two characters.

I enjoy reading books with strong female lead characters. Alice Vega is a smart and fearless private investigator who is determined to solve the mystery of the Janes even if it means going up against local police and the FBI. The Janes are the bodies of two young women, no names, no IDs, and no one seems to be looking for them.. The Janes is an interesting and fast paced mystery.

I didn’t read the 1st Alice Vega book so I wasn’t familiar with the character. Alice is sort of like a female Jack Reacher. And by that I mean she is a bad ass. She takes justice in her own hands. She has a strong moral code. But she isn’t afraid to circumvent the law to make sure the right thing is done. And in this case it’s making sure The Janes find justice. The Janes are 2 missing girls who were illegals & that without her help the authorities weren’t likely to bother finding out what was happening to these girls or to prevent it happening to others. Her partner is Cap who I loved. It was awesome that she bailed him out of a couple of problems. I don’t want to give much away. But if you like a strong female lead in a mystery then Alice Vega is for you.

This is the follow up (PI Alice Vega series) novel, Two Girls Down, which I read and really enjoyed. I enjoy the way she writes her main character, Alice Vega. I can only describe her like a more polished Columbo (no-nonsense), which I love! And, yes, Cap is back too!! *WOOT WOOT*

This was more of a slow-burn read for me, which is definitely not a bad thing when it comes to Alice & Cap! Not to spoil the book, but it was more drawn-out to me probably due to the theme of the book: two missing girls & a suspected human trafficking ring. Clues and evidence had to be found and digested in this story, more so than Two Girls Down. It was like peeling back layers of an onion, it just leads to another layer. However, I still loved the realness and intellect of the characters! The author has a way with words to just make you actually feel and breathe them---kudos Louisa!

I do suggest, reading Two Girls Down before you dive into this one. Simply, to get a feel for the writing style and the development of the characters. Irated this book, a 4 out of 5 stars. I find this series riveting and engrossing and worth the sleep, you may lose over reading them!!! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, in return for my honest review.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Vega and Cap strive to save a group of underage girls from a pedophile ring. Fast paced and good story line.

Just like I wrote in my review for first book in this series, this was a disturbingly addictive book.

Who is torturing and killing young Jane Does, and why is Alice Vega stealthily recruited to find out? Retired cop Cap and missing persons finder Vega are obsessed with this case at the onset, as is the reader. They interview possible witnesses, work out the facts, and they're blown away with each discovery.

I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about Vega ever taking a cash job in this manner. It was incredibly shady. But, true to Vega's usual M.O., her curiosity exceeded her skepticism. She wasn't gullible, just determine.

I love that the author doesn't go to deep into something the first book for the reader. We have a murderer to find and no time to waste! For that reason, though, I would not consider this a standalone book.

This was a gripping gruesome murder that has me looking for more Alice Vega mysteries. Alice is called in to help solve the murder of two illegal Mexican girls by the San Diego Police Department and the DEA. Of course, the story turns into much more and by the end it turns out much differently than expected. As in all mysteries that I enjoy there is strong character development. Both Vega and her partner, Max Caplan, need more mysteries to solve.

Master investigator Alice Vega is back. When two Jane Does, young teenagers, are found dead near an underground tunnel to Mexico, officers at the San Diego Police Department call her and ask her to help identify the girls and find any more that may be out there. Both Janes have IUDs and appear to be victims of sex traffickers. And one of them was found with a piece of paper balled up in her hand. That piece of paper had two words on it: Alice Vega.

As Vega has become known as an expert at finding missing children, she takes the SDPD and the up on their job offer and gets to work trying to locate the place where the girls had been kept. With help from her sometimes partner, Max “Cap” Caplan, Vega follows the tiny threads from one witness to another, one source to the next. When the DEA also gets involved, their concerns about the drugs coming through those tunnels, Vega is unphased. She is single-minded in her investigation: find the girls and get them home.

But as they get closer to the truth, Vega and Cap find that not everyone in law enforcement is on their side. If they find the girls and the traffickers, they put themselves in danger. But if they don’t, then these scumbags get away with trafficking these girls, and murdering at least 2 of them. Vega and Cap will need to use all the tools at their disposal, and maybe depend on a couple of new friends, in order to get out alive themselves.

I adore the character of Alice Vega. She is tough and smart and doesn’t take anything from anyone. She can defend herself in almost fight (although sometimes it may take a pair of bolt cutters) and won’t stop until she rescues the kids she came for. I think her of an amalgam of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone and Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, and reading about her in action makes me believe in superheroes. And Cap is good too. Seriously, he is the perfect partner for Vega on these tough cases, from his past in law enforcement to his easygoing way of tuning in to a situation and reading a room. His warmth with people is a balance to Alice’s straightforward, take-no-prisoners approach to interrogation. They make a great team.

But. Sadly there is a but.

But Vega takes on really dark criminals in her investigations. Her skills are ideal for finding missing children. And any story where children have been taken by someone committing a crime is going to be painfully dark. These are the types of cases we read books to escape from. Vega and Cap make them bearable, but afterwards I’m needing some light, pointless reading or stupid comedy movies to stop hating humanity again. In other words, Vega is not for everyone. It takes guts to get through her stories. They’re worth it, but they are in no way easy.

So if you think you’ve got what it takes to read about girls being trafficked, abused, even tortured, then definitely reach for The Janes by Louisa Luna. It is a truly amazing book with an important story. And the characters will make you remember the best of humanity.

Galleys for The Janes were provided by Doubleday Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

An amazing second book in Luna’s new series. Loved the first one and this one didn’t disappoint either.

Love these characters together! It’s a hot read that I highly recommend for mystery/cop thriller lovers !

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this one -

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 from me !

Title: The Janes
Author: Louisa Luna
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

There are two bodies, two young girls dead. They have no names, no IDs—and no one is looking for them. The only possibility is a human trafficking ring, so San Diego police and the FBI call in Alice Vega, a private investigator who has a way of getting things done. She’s their only hope of finding out who the Janes are and finding out if more girls are missing.

Even more than her determination, Vega relies on her intellect, which is formidable. She and her partner, Cap, start asking questions—and the answers they find lead them into a situation filled with danger, murder, and enemies they never suspected.

I haven’t read the first book in the Alice Vega series, but that didn’t hamper me at all. There are a lot of layers in the book and figuring out just what was going on was an exciting and intriguing process. Vega is an interesting character—her mind works differently than anyone else—and Cap is both funny and intelligent, a perfect foil for Vega. This was a solid thriller read!

Louisa Luna was born and raised in San Francisco and now lives in Brooklyn. The Janes is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Doubleday in exchange for an honest review.)

Two girls are found dead and law enforcement fears it might be a human trafficking case as there is no way to identify the young bodies. Alice Vega, a private investigator who specializes in missing persons, is hired. Alice is not afraid to find the answers she wants as she pursues the organization from the bottom up.

Alice Vega and Max "Cap" Caplan are back! When Vega gets hired for an off-the-books assignment in San Diego, she calls in her former partner for backup. The case: Two Jane Does were found murdered and their bodies dumped on the outskirts of the city. It's not pretty - sex trafficking, torture, police corruption - but Vega and Cap are on the case, and they never let up. The chemistry between these two is undeniable. They seem to know what the other needs without ever stating it, and this makes for the perfect partnership, one with trust at the center. I could read Vega and Cap novels all day every day, so here's hoping for more adventures!

Published by Doubleday on January 21, 2020

The Janes is the second Alice Vega novel, following Two Girls Down. Both books are a fresh take on the concept of a private investigator who tracks down missing children. While most protagonists who track down missing kids are ridiculously self-aggrandizing, reminding everyone they meet how much they care about victims, Vega cares about being paid. Yeah, she cares about the kids too, but she doesn’t talk about it. In fact, she doesn’t talk about much of anything. Unlike thriller heroes who can’t stop talking about themselves or recalling their difficult childhoods or berating others for not caring enough about victims, Vega keeps her mouth shut and gets the job done. Vega is not loquacious; she lets her actions speak.

The title refer to two Jane Does, two female children who have been killed and dumped. A piece of paper with Alice Vega’s name is clutched in the hand of one of the dead girls. We learn in an early scene that Spanish-speaking girls are being held for sex work in a “television room.” If a month goes by when no customer picks them, or if customers complain about their performance, they are taken to the garage by a fellow named Rafa, where something bad will happen. Vega has been in the news thanks to her child rescue efforts, which is how the girls in the television room know about her.

The girls are wearing IUDs with serial numbers that are only five numbers apart. Vega assumes there are at least four more girls where these two game from. A couple of police officers hire Vega to track down the girls. To that end, Vega doubles the proposed fee so she can use half to pay her friend, Max Caplan.

Cap is a retired cop with a potentially lucrative and easy job awaiting him. He’s not sure he wants to take on another adventure with Vega, who has a tendency to place him in dangerous situations. His daughter is even less certain that he should be risking his life. But Cap has a thing for Vega, who played him in Two Girls Down with a kiss he can’t forget. Whether she has any actual feelings for Cap won’t be clear until the novel ends.

Vega goes about her business efficiently, without ever talking about herself or her worldview. I love that about her. She wasn’t trained in the military or by a martial arts expert. She’s fairly small and doesn’t rely on superior fighting techniques when she places herself in danger, as she regularly does. If she needs to overcome a larger foe, she hits them in the knee with a bolt cutter. Or she shoots them in a nonlethal location. I love the fact Louisa Luna doesn’t make her protagonist a superhero. Cap is a bit more philosophical, and certainly the more demonstrative of the two, which makes him a good counterpoint.

I’m not typically a fan of human trafficking stories (thriller writers love to imagine there is human trafficking everywhere, but in reality, it’s pretty rare in the US). This story won me over because of the intriguing twists it takes, as Vega investigates corruption and an off-the-books approach to immigrant detention in various police and government agencies. The plot is credibly low-key and all the more fascinating because of it. The Alice Vega series establishes Louisa Luna as a thriller writer worth following.

RECOMMENDED

What a great mystery/thriller. The story takes place in San Diego, California (a beautiful place). The beauty of San Diego is juxtaposed with the ugliness of the murder of two young girls. These girls are unidentified, thus the title The [two] Janes. In other words, both become a Jane Doe.

Alice Vega is the detective that the police and FBI want to be the lead investigator because they know she works with human trafficking to save girls and they think the murders are somehow connected to sex trafficking.

After reading book 1, Two Girls Down, I knew what a bad-ass Alice Vega is, so I was excited to see her go to work on the case. And, of course, Max Caplan (Cap) that she partners up with is back to help her again. I love the two together because they just seem to truly complement each other. Cap also has a daughter named Nell who has changed from her character in book 1, so at first I didn't care for her, but that turned around.

There are quite a few bad guys and the story line is a little complex, this is a book that I would not listen to the audio only. I'd either read a physical copy or use both.

I highly recommend this book (and book 1 if you've not read it). Alice Vega and Max Caplan make a fun, bad-ass team and I think we'll see (or I hope we'll see) a bit more of a romantic relationship in book 3, assuming and hoping there'll be book 3.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley and Double Day Publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion/review of the book.

I really enjoyed this book. Although a bit bloody, this is the story of bounty hunter, kick-ass woman Alice Vega. She and her partner are hired to help when two Jane Does show up dead. It is a good action book with unexpected twists and just the right amount of border politics. I think this book will have wide appeal and I have added the first book in the series (which I had not read but would like to now).

Thank you to Netgalley for the free, advance copy. It's a good one!

I wish I would have had the chance to read the first book. Then I may have felt way differently about this one. While it’s a definite on the go read. By that I mean that there is a whole lot going on. I just had a hard time with it. To much was happening to the main characters and the context of the story, sex slavery, while a great topic that needs to be addressed, got to me. Such young girls and what happens to them. The many things Vega and Cab get into was a bit much but at times good also.
This book just did not leave me with the kind of feelings that I love in a good thriller. It was very sad in places and broke my heart. Thinking of what happens to young girls in the world is horrible and need to be stopped. It was just not the book for me.
I thank #NetGalley #The Janes #DoubleDayBooks for the eARC of this book.
I give it 3 stars and while it wasn’t for me I’m sure there are lots who will love it. Maybe I’ve just read to many about sexual abuse but I just could not get into this one like I usually do.

Quickly I realized this book was not for me. I had a really tough time connecting to the characters and I couldn't follow the story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for my honest review.

Alice Vega is the bomb! What a fantastic character. Vega is the main character in The Janes, written by Louisa Luna, which is the second book in the Alice Vega series. I did not read the first book, Two Girls Down, but I don't feel that it detracted from enjoying The Janes. Ms. Luna does an excellent job of reintroducing her recurring characters. Saying that I do plan on reading Two Girls Down for the simple reason, I LOVE ALICE VEGA!

Vega and Cap have a history together, having previously worked together on a high-profile case. When Vega's name was found on a crumpled piece of paper, in the fist of a dead girl, the San Diego PD, FBI, and DEA contacted and hired Vega and Cap to help them find the killer of the two dead girls, The Janes. I love the way Ms. Luna cleverly uses the term "Jane Doe" in her title. However, the plot is not as simple as two dead girls; it delves deep into the many horrific aspects of human trafficking, drug cartels, and much more.

From the first line, "Meet our girl…", this book had me hooked, but we never really know who our girl is, until the end... Even though this book hooked me from the start, the book is a slow burn. Luna was very careful to dole out the action just enough to keep the reader interested, and then, bam, she delivers her slam dunk. I enjoyed her writing style, and her attention to detail is spot on. Not only are Luna's main characters well thought out and engaging, but her supporting characters add an undeniable spark to the story, some good and some terrifying. My two favorites being McTiernan and "the Bastard." McTiernan is an honest cop just trying to do the right thing. "The Bastard" is a totally unknown element, and I really didn't know what to make of them, but no worries, we find out a bit about them in the end.

Ms. Luna was a bit stingy in giving us the inner workings of Vega's mind; I just wanted more Vega. However, this does work because now my wish is to read more of this series so I can get my Vega fix. Alice Vega is intelligent, tenacious, tough as nails no-nonsense girl who is not afraid to use her gun or swing a bolt cutter. Cap was the perfect balance for Vega. He is a retired cop with a delightful teenage daughter and an estranged wife. He is not only an intelligent, seasoned cop, but he also has a sadistic hilarious side to him. One of my favorite parts is when Cap is tantalizingly eating different kinds of chips, M&M's peanut butter cups. I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. I don't want to say more and ruin all the fun.

Overall, The Janes is a top-notch piece of crime fiction, with action, twists and turns, and a massive surprise at the end. But what I loved most about this book was Vega and Cap. They kept this book real and relatable without being over the top.

I am looking forward to reading backward to the first book in this series and reading the third book in the future. I could defiantly see this series becoming one of my favorites. I recommend this book to anyone who loves crime fiction that features a strong female who has a fantastic sidekick that may just become more.

*** I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion. ***