The page-turning follow-up to acclaimed thriller Two Girls Down features the tenacious PI Alice Vega and her electric partnership with Max Caplan, as they follow a shocking murder investigation to it’s even more shocking conclusion. On the outskirts of San Diego, the bodies of two young women are discovered. They have no names, no IDs, but one of the Jane Does holds a note bearing the name, … holds a note bearing the name, “Alice Vega.” The police and FBI reach out to Vega, a private investigator known for finding the missing. Fearing the possibility of a human trafficking ring, Vega enlists the help of her one-time partner, former cop Max “Cap” Caplan.
Despite a case with so few leads, Alice Vega is a powerful woman whose determination is matched only by her intellect, and, along with her partner Cap, she will stop at nothing to find the Janes’ killers before it is too late.
Louisa Luna is writing new classics of crime fiction, and her partnership of Vega and Cap is rightfully joining the pantheon of the most memorable thrillers.
more
The scourge of human trafficking is the focus of this story of two missing unidentified girls : The Janes. No-nonsense and tenacious bounty hunter Alice Vega is recruited by law enforcement to crack the case. She, in turn, brings in her own guy, former cop Max Caplan. It is a reunion of sorts. The two of them had worked together on a missing persons case.
The blurb drew me in. Then her writing style, with its alternating perspectives, fleshed-out characters, and vivid detail kept my eyes glued to the page. All the action, together with the twists and turns, made for an unpredictable ride. Although there was a fair amount of profanity and graphic violence, it was warranted.
Overall, I liked the book. It was fast-paced and the ending was not one I could have anticipated. Despite not having read Two Girls Down(Alice Vega #1), I didn’t feel lost. But, I’m sure I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the series in sequence.
I absolutely loved this book, especially the quirky characters. Vega is a PI with a chip on her shoulder, an attitude that wont’ tolerate stupidity and a desire to right wrongs wherever she finds them. Together with her loyal helper, Max Caplan, Vega is determined to find the girls who are being trafficked, to rescue them and to follow the traffickers to the end of the earth if necessary. Vega’s methods of discovering the truth are as unusual as she is. Doing handstands is her way to prepare herself mentally and physically for the challenging tasks that she faces. In this book, she faces drug cartels and crooked DEA agents, as well as some policemen who are trying to enrich themselves. Vega doesn’t let the difficulty of the task dissuade her from completing her mission, and Cap is right beside her. My favorite character was Vega, of course, but I also liked McTiernan, the stalwart police officer who puts his job on the line to help with the investigation. Fans of mystery and suspense will really enjoy this book! I am looking forward to the next installment in the Alice Vega series, and I have already ordered the first book that I missed! I loved the characters and their ability to follow through and keep commitments, and I’m sure that other readers will, too!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I won a copy of this book from the publisher via Bookishfirst.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
This is the second Alice Vega novel and I was really looking forward to it because I absolutely loved Two Girls Down. I didn’t have the same feeling about The Janes, and I am disappointed. I just couldn’t get into this one, possibly because it seemed so complicated, and far-fetched. I love that Alice is very intuitive and can sense what is happening, but some of the storyline/plot development just didn’t ring true for me.
This is the story of 2 girls “The Janes” who are found dead with some distinctive marking. Alice and Cap are brought in as consultants by the San Diego Police Dept and the DEA to try and solve the murders. Alice and Cap discover a bit of troublesome dealings within these organizations, and are also blindsided by what is happening to girls who are smuggled into the US and sex trafficked.
While the issues are real, I just didn’t believe the storyline.
I hope the next Alice Vega story holds my interest more.
Thanks to Edelweiss.plus and Doubleday for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheJanes #LouisaLuna #Edelweiss+ #Doubleday
I was introduced to author Louisa Luna with her first Alice Vega/Max Caplan thriller Two Girls Down–wherein private investigator Alice Vega arrived in Pennsylvania from San Diego to help locate two girls abducted from their car, coerced former police detective Max Caplan into joining her search, and instantly became my favorite superhero.
Vega is unforgettable. In The Janes she’s approached by the San Diego police and the FBI to help identify two Jane Does in the country morgue, and to discover any links to other missing girls. Again, Vega appeals to Caplan (Cap) to join her in the project. Once in California, Cap (who has the most godawful crush on Vega) finds his partner roaming the streets with oversized boltcutters! This is not, as it turns out, your average missing persons case, and as Vega and Cap dig deeper they find there are people who want to shut them up–by any means necessary.
When it comes to abductions of young females, Vega won’t rest. She’s smart, she’s intuitive and she’s dangerous. She’s a walking thrill ride, and you will enjoy every minute. Many thanks to Penguin Random House/Netgalley for a review copy of this novel.
The Janes by author Louisa Luna is a non-stop thriller with Alice Vega as the main character. I enjoyed the first of the Alice Vega, PI series, Two Girls Down, and The Janes continues the fearless fight for justice. Alice is hired as a secret consultant by a joint task force of the San Diego Police Department and a branch of the DEA. Two young girls/teens have been found murdered and left in odd places. They appear to be victims of a sex trafficking organization. There is no identification for the young Latino girls so they are referred to as ‘The Janes’ for Jane Doe. Because of the reference numbers on internal IUDs, Vega knows there are more girls in the city which are being used as sex slaves. Alice Vega calls in PI Max Caplan to help her with this case. Vega and Caplan are perfect together! I enjoy reading a strong woman character who is smart and also very brave. During some of the altercations with the bad guys, I could not help but laugh at how resourceful Vega was when she needed a weapon. Go VEGA! Poor Cap, I was very worried about him!
Enough hints for you, now read the book, it is awesome!
Publication Date: January 21, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.