Girl under Water is the second book in the Private Investigator Charlotte Winters series. It begins with a chilling prologue that ends with the murder of a business mogul in his mansion. The seemingly obvious motive for the murder is money or perhaps greed…or both. With 5 children and a mistress set to benefit from an inheritance, there are plenty of suspects. The pool of suspects further widens with the reveal of more secrets about the Dutch’s life.

Once again, I had a great time following Charlotte as she investigated the case with her sister, Allie, who actually lives in her head. I was so curious about the Dutch’s death and couldn’t stop changing my mind about the suspects. The reveal was a shock because the baddie turned to be the one person who I never suspected. In addition, the answers were not as straightforward, there was a lot more going on that I never could have guessed.

My only little niggle with this series is the role that the PI plays. You know those action movies where the hero saves the day and just as dust settles, we hear the sirens and suddenly the police arrive? I had a hard time trying to figure out what the police were doing as they seemed always a step behind the PI. At some point, they even let her chase new leads and only ask to be kept updated. They also relied on her to get them answers. This dynamic is a bit odd for me. However, it still doesn’t take away my love for this series.

This is a captivating, well-paced, entertaining addition to the series. With a likeable MC, twisted case, family secrets and a large suspect pool, I was hooked from the first to the last page.

What a trip. I have a real soft spot for Violet Darger but with each book Charlie is really getting a spot right there with Violet. I’m loving getting to know Charlie more and this case was really something. It reminded me almost of an Agatha Christie mystery. A rich family with lots of secrets and twists. So great!

Really struggled to get into this. Wasn't a massive fan of Charles charter and i found her sisters voice in her head distracting from the story.

I really enjoyed this, I did feel like several story lines were left unfinished,  I did guess 98% of the What, who, and why. I also started skimming again about 3/4 through, but sometimes the minute details just aggravate me and seem pointless. Nothing against the author or anything, I just get impatient probably. I would definitely recommend this series to a friend.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This is the second book in the Charlotte Winters series; it is easily a stand alone book but I really enjoyed the first book and it gives a little more detail about Charlotte’s life.  Charlottes little voice in her head, is the voice of her dead twin, whose death has never been solved; whether it is just her subconscious talking or whether it somehow is her sister’s spirit, it doesn’t matter, Allie adds the little bits of humour that make this detective book all the better.

In this book Charlotte is tasked with finding out how one of the areas richest men died and help find the will. Duke Carmichael’s  six children are an odd cast of characters and any one of them or the girlfriend of the deceased could be the killer. When Charlotte gets a little too close, bad things start to happen including the death of one of the siblings; and Charlotte wonders if she is going to solve this crime or be killed in the process. It was a great book; edge of your seat thriller while I tried to solve the crime right alongside Charlotte. Cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Detective Charlie Winters is back in the second series of this book set in Salem Island Michigan.

Charlie is now running her uncles's private detective agency, after her uncle Frank became ill. She has settled in nicely and has a assitance Paige. Charlie is hired by Gloria Carmichael, the daughter of seventy-seven-year-old billionaire Randolph ”Dutch” Carmichael to investigate his death and find the missing will. The case certainly isn't going to be easy as Charlie has to deal with the all of the Carmichael siblings. 

The story is very riveting as it is a good old PI story and a strong main protagonist who is intriguing.

Charlie finds a family when she takes on the case full of jealously, greed and good old backstabbing. As you read you don't know who to trust in the family and I admit I didn't see what was coming. 

Charlie's sister Allie still appears to Charlie in her head with her funny comments. We also see Charlie's private life which includes dealing with her Mum and also her uncle Frank makes appearances. 

Overall a good second book to the series which a strong female protagonist and case that is interesting the right way through. 

I received a ARC from Netgalley and Bookouture for an objection review.

Girl Under Water is the second chapter in the Detective Charlie Winters series, set in Salem Island Michigan. It begins with a prologue showing us the 77 year old founder of a successful hedge fund, Carmichael Investments, and self-made billionaire Randolph ”Dutch” Carmichael and one of his relatives seemingly patching things up. They hug it out in Dutch's lavish mansion. Dutch walks in front to lead the way, but no sooner has he reached the top of the stairs when he's smashed over the head and sent tumbling to the bottom where his motionless body now lies. Charlie is hired by Gloria Carmichael as the police have deemed the death a murder but haven't managed to make any progress with the investigation. She claims to also have found that about four hundred million dollars is missing from her fathers estate. Charlie has no clue what she is letting herself in for.
Gloria’s four siblings - Brandon, Marjory, Jude and Dara - are more interested in finding his missing millions than discovering what happened to him and who did it, which troubles Charlie from the start. The family members begin to argue and fight between themselves and Charlie realises she is in the centre of more than she first thought.
I loved Charlie's twin in her head, she provided quite a few funny moments for me throughout. A thriller based around a family that are all more concerned with the inheritance than who actually killed their father. There a quite a number of suspects that had the means, motive and even the opportunity and Charlie knows she needs to find who it is before they strike again.
I started to read and before I knew it I was knee deep in the investigation with Charlie. An absorbing story that had just the right pace for me and I am looking forward to another book with Charlie Winters.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the copy of the book to give you my thoughts today.

When Randolph "Dutch" Carmichael, billionaire of Salem Island, is found dead at the bottom of his mansion's stairway, his six adult children decide to hire Private Investigator Charlotte Winters to find out who murdered him. The usual motive is, of course, money in these cases, but soon Charlie finds out that there is a lot more going on than greed. NO SPOILERS.

This is my first read of 2021 and I found it fast-paced and entertaining with a twist that surprised me despite my best guesses. I had read the first book in this series and was hoping this installment would  make me a bit more attached to Charlie, but I still find myself incredibly annoyed with the voice of her murdered twin sister Allie interjecting comments throughout the narrative. I did like the plot of this more than the previous installment, so I may give future books a go. The overly long dramatic climax on the water could have been edited down and what is it with these women getting so beat up on all the time? Seemed to me like Charlie should have required hospitalization! But, I did enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

What a fantastic addition to the series! Having read the first book, I was eagerly waiting to read Girl Under Water and I am impressed! 
Engrossing, entertaining (Allie!) and a complete pager-turner. This is a new favorite in the series. 
Excellent character development and the mystery behind the murder(s) keeps one on the edge of their seat. The authors are master storytellers and I am a fan of their writing. 
The ending was a shocker (believe me, you will not see this coming!).
I am eagerly waiting to read the next book in this series.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

This is the second book in L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain's new series and it was as good as, if not better, than the first book! I love crime thriller series and this is definitely going to be a fun, thrilling series to read.

Once again we have a fast-paced, suspense-filled read that kept me flipping the pages from start to finish. Yes, these books tend to be a bit on the longer side, but once you start reading them, you don't really notice the length as you become so engaged in what is going on and the twists and turns just keep you completely guessing as to what might come next.  My favorite aspect of this series remains to be the voice that Charlie hears in her head. It happened in the first book and it continued to happened throughout this latest installment. I love this - I find it to be a unique part of the story. It is both humorous at times as well as quite telling in regards to Charlie as a character.

Charlie continues to have a lot on her plate. This time around she is dealing with the case she is working on, issues with her mother and issues with her new assistant. Luckily she has her best-friend Zoe to watch her back. I love Charlie - I find her to be a strong, fierce protagonist but she is also flawed and I love that about her. She makes mistakes and doesn't always think things through. 

I loved that this case had a Clue-like feel to it. The big house, the big family, all the secrets and drama within the family. And then there was the issue of there not being able to locate the will after the father has been killed. And the further Charlie looks into it, the more questions she comes up with. It just pulls you in and you can't help but get wrapped up into trying to put all the pieces together, yet you know something is missing.

This writing duo is fantastic. They push the envelop, they take chances and they give an all-out gripping, exciting read. I am so excited to see what comes next for Charlie...and I really hope that at some point, we get some closure on her sister's murder that happened 20 years ago.

The super rich Carmichael family call in private investigator Charlie Winters when the patriarch is found murdered at the bottom of the stairs. She immediately suspects one of the six siblings is responsible but as she begins her investigation there are motives and suspicious behaviour everywhere. Then another member of the family dies in front of her...
Girl Under Water is the sequel to First Girl Gone but you do not need to have read the first book: there are no spoilers if you choose to go back and read them in the wrong order.
I love the quirkiness of the style of writing and the brilliant literary device of Charlie's ghostly or imagined sister Allie, murdered years before. The sibling bickering between Charlie and her deceased sister continues to entertain and adds a wonderful extra dimension to the characterisation. The emotional and personal side of Charlie's life comes to the fore as her uncle receives good news but her mum has mental health concerns.
The murder investigation itself is dramatic and kept me guessing until the end. Secrets and motives appear as the plot twists unfurl. Charlie's life is in danger as she searches for the truth and the ending was action packed.
Overall, Girl Under Water was an entertaining thriller with a wonderful lead character and witty writing style. The book is divided into short chapters (my favourite style!) so the pace is fast and keeps the dramatic momentum.

Girl Under Water by L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain is the 2nd book in the Charlotte Winters series, and my first book by this author, but it won't be my last.  Charlotte, Charlie, Winters is a private Detective, who is hired by Gloria Carmichael to find out who murdered her father.  There are six children, who seem to fight over everything, but is one of them a killer?  This book kept me reading until the end, I wanted to know who the murderer was, and there were so many secrets in this family.  I highly recommend this book is you enjoy mysteries.  
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Our determined private detective Charlie Winters, is driven to catch the bad guy more than most. Still haunted by her sister’s death, she is compelled to uncover the Carmichael’s family secrets, not just to solve Gloria’s murder, but to prevent anybody else from being hurt. There is just one thing, can she save herself in time to do it?

Girl Under Water is the second instalment in the Charlie Winters series and is another thrilling addition to it. Whilst it can be read as a standalone, I do encourage you to read the first book, First Girl Gone, not just to gain knowledge of Charlie’s background etc, but also because it is another great read.

Full of complexities, Charlie is a loveable character and has been added to my already long list of favourite female leads! This is a testament to the authors, who have masterfully created a strong and relatable woman. They really do just bring her to life perfectly.

Girl Under Water is a gripping page turner that kept me reading long into the night. A thrilling read that is both dark and humorous, in the form of Charlie’s sister Allie who’s voice she hears, which provides some lighter moments. This really is a great series and I can’t wait for the next instalment. 

Thank you to LT Vargus, Tim McBain, Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Girl Under Water, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

The authors have created a novel that is tense and intense. It is pacy, intelligent and compelling, and managed to keep me awake until long after midnight in my desire to learn the final denouement. You should not presume to know who is guilty!
I think I must nominate Charlie Winters as the best PI in crime fiction since Kinsey Millhone missed out on her final case with the sad and untimely death of her author Sue Grafton.
Quite brilliant storytelling.

Private Investigator Charlotte (Charlie) Winters never expected to be returning home to Salem Island, Michigan, but she came back to look after her uncle’s PI business, A1 Investigations, after he became ill. When Gloria Carmichael requests her help with locating her father’s will, Charlie is keen to help in any way she can. Later, Gloria’s dead body is found following the uncovering of a terrible secret that would break the mystery of her father’s death wide open. Charlie's own sister, Allie, was abducted from the small town when they were teenagers and ever since Charlie has heard her sister's voice in her head. Charlie is determined to grab the opportunity to bring justice to the innocent as she won’t let another family break apart like her own, even if it means putting herself in grave danger and risking everything.

In this second book of an exciting series, the reader meets Charlie who realises she's in the middle of a nasty, perilous situation of treachery, menace, secrets and lies. I liked Charlie’s character who was smart, a bit of a loner and she made a great lead. This was my second book by LT Vargus and Tim McBain and together they made a good team. I connected with the writing style and I liked the sharp dialogue throughout. The inclusion of the late Allie and her witticisms, whose voice Charlie could hear made the story all the greater.

The plot was well thought-out and I enjoyed the progression to the surprising, crazy reveal. This novel - Girl Under Water - was as good as the first in the series - First Girl Gone. Entertaining and attention-grabbing throughout, it will be extremely interesting to see what LT Vargus and Tim McBain have in store for Charlie in the next instalment. Overall, a fantastic continuation of a very promising series that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Favorite Quotes:

“I mean, you’re not getting any younger…. Those eggs of yours are probably halfway to hardboiled by now.” “That’s not how it works,” Charlie grumbled. “Regardless… what are you waiting for? Your AARP card?”

I hope his corpse is rolling around in his grave knowing I won. Just spinning down there like a rotisserie chicken.

I’m just telling it like it is… Being honest, which is a concept I know you have no comprehension of. Is there a class you have to take when you become a politician that removes your ability to be authentic?


My Review:

Book two in the continuation of my besotted love fest for this clever pair of wordsmiths, I adore their snarky humor and dark thriller murder mysteries.  This one was lively, eventful, witty, well-paced, and intense with family drama, patricide, and an added kick of taboo.  Oh, my!  I am hooked on the main character of Charlie who comes replete with the humorous, argumentative, and observant voice of her dead twin in her head.  I deeply resented and hissed at any interruption to my perusal and was reluctant to relinquish my beloved Kindle for those pesky interruptions such as a churlish husband’s demands for sustenance, the need for caffeine infusions, and who needs sleep anyway?  The phone and doorbell went unanswered as I have my priorities straight.  I am eager to see what comes next from this dastardly duo of scribblers.

Hugely page turning, fascinating crime thriller.
Girl Under Water by LT Vargus and Tim McBain is the second of the PI Charlotte ”Charlie” Winters series, set in Salem Island, Michigan. This is standalone. The entire book is told from Charlie's point of view, POV, which I enjoyed. The tone and sub-genre were to me, cozy, slightly humorous; fun. The voice in Charlie's head of her disappeared, supposed-murdered twin, Allie, adds the humour.

The prologue sets the scene with the grisly murder of the seventy-seven-year-old billionaire Randolph ”Dutch” Carmichael at the hand of someone he knows and trusts, in his mansion. 

Dutch's daughter, Gloria, hires Charlie to investigate her father's death and his missing 400 million dollars, as she fears the police have stalled on the case. Charlie's interest is understandably piqued; so she enthusiastically starts her investigation. A minor quibble is that Charlie starts her investigation without any preliminary research, and finds herself constantly corrected by Gloria’s four siblings - Brandon, Marjory, Jude and Dara.

They are also more interested in locating his millions than unearthing the murderer, which raises Charlie's suspicion. Then there is a second murder with Charlie as a witness but with no glimpse of the killer.

Although Charlie's police friend, Zoe, is on hand to help or provide advice from time to time, Charlie is often off interviewing potential murderers on her own. What happened to a PI wingman? As expected, Charlie herself is soon in danger. Who is the girl under water? You'll have to read Girl Under Water to find out. This is a hugely page turning, fascinating crime thriller. I would happily read further books by the authors. This review also appears in Goodreads and readersvault.blogspot.com
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed revisiting Charlie, I love her character. And I love the concept of her sister speaking to her. Something with this story just didn’t do it for me. Maybe more Frank too.

This is book two in the series to feature private investigator Charlie Winters. I really tried to like this book but failed miserably. It started off with the brutal murder of Duke, a wealthy man, and his daughter hires Charlie to find the killer. it's all about greed, family rivalries and a missing fortune. I was constantly annoyed by the voice of Allie, the twin sister of Charlie and I just could not warm to Charlie's character. I enjoyed the first in the series but this, not so much. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

My review could have been “Had a lot of fun, go and buy it” but as this post is for a blog tour I think I must write something more.
I loved the first book in this series and I was wondering if the second one would as good as the first.
I had high expectations and I’m happy I wasn’t disappointed.
This series is becoming a favorite as I love Charlotte, her dialogues with the dead sister, and her complex family dynamics.
She’s a complex character, damaged and strong at the same time. An excellent detective as she’s able to see what other can’t see.
This book is a page turner that kept me reading till late in the night and it was sort of “just one more chapter”.
It’s fast paced, gripping and highly entertaining. There’s a lot of humor and there are some heartbreaking moments.
The mystery is full of twists and turns. A dysfunctional family, greed, secrets. It reminded me of some darker Golden Age mystery: everyone can be the culprit and you don’t know what the next twist will be.
An excellent story that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine