🚓 🚨 🏜️ The Janes 🏜️ 🚨 🚓 (2020) - Book Review

MY REVIEW

Series: An Alice Vega Novel (Book 2)

Hardcover: 368 pages

Publisher: Doubleday (January 21, 2020)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0385545517

ISBN-13: 978-0385545518

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“"Lead character Alice Vega is sensational--I want to see lots more of her."--Lee Child

The electric follow-up to Louisa Luna's acclaimed thriller Two Girls Down, featuring private investigators Alice Vega and Max Caplan.

On the outskirts of San Diego, the bodies of two young women are discovered. They have no names, no IDs, and no family looking for them. Fearing the possibility of a human trafficking ring, the police and FBI reach out to Alice Vega, a private investigator known for finding the missing, for help in finding out who the Janes were--and finding the others who are missing.

     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 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 in crime fiction.”


This ARC was won through BookishFirst and sent from the publisher, Doubleday Books (a division of Penguin Random House). A positive review was not required or requested as a condition. All thoughts and words are my own.

["The Janes" - An Alice Vega Novel. Debuts January 21, 2020 ]

This is the second “Alice Vega” novel by Louisa Luna. The first being “Two Girls Down”.

While the main characters from this novel were introduced in the first one, this can act as a standalone read. There are some references to the first novel – the “Brandt” girls – however, the first novel isn’t required to be read to enjoy this one. Though it would be interesting to see how the characters were in the first novel.

While I had points to redeem for this one, I was holding on to them to redeem for another novel. Luckily I won this from the website.

Outside romance, I do enjoy crime fiction books. And, this seemingly fit my interests according to the blurb.

This will have some “trigger” warnings for readers depending on their views and experiences:

* Human Trafficking

* Child murder

* Child prostitution

* Illegal Immigration

* Graphic and Gratuitous Violence

* Potential Political Undertones

The bodies of two young “Jane Does” are discovered in the outskirts of San Diego. But, no one has reported the two young girls as missing.

Thinking it might deal with human trafficking, the police and FBI hire bounty hunter Alice Vega to help find out what happened. In addition, she is also trying to find the other “Janes” after a birth control device links the two deceased victims, with some of the sequential devices “missing”.

She teams up with former disgraced cop, Max “Cap” Caplan from Philadelphia to find the other “Janes” and bring them home. And, Vega will stop at nothing to do her job.

Luna sets the story against illegal immigration, trafficking, and border tensions in this fast-pace, high-action thriller, complete with police corruption.

The language is questionable with the “f” word used throughout and in different forms. This is a warning to those who might want a “cleaner” read.

The Alice Vega character, though admirable in her quest to help find the “Janes”, seemingly takes the law into her own hands in vigilante style – complete with breaking and entering, felony assault, and interfering in a police investigation.

As this is the second novel the character appears in, it is difficult to ascertain as to why she is the way she is. Perhaps this was addressed in “Two Girls Down”.

The “divorced” Cap is more or less along for the ride. Despite being a former cop, he is less violent than Vega. He has his own problems with his daughter, but she isn’t as bad as most teens. For that he is grateful, and he seemingly confides in her about the case.

Once I got past the “our girl” narrations, and not clearly finding out “who” is narrating those parts (which would’ve been interesting as to who and why) – the writing fell into the standard “third person” voice.

In an effort to clarify the narrator, I had to re-read the last chapter and slightly have an idea who “narrated” the beginning, but not sure how it was related. I know who was narrating the end – and it would have been interesting to see how this character related to everything. Perhaps that was also explained in the first novel.

Rather than bouncing between the good guys and bad guys, the story is told solely from the Vega/Cap point of views, in as I said before, in third person.

The action picked up around chapter 18. And, the ending was a complete surprise. I didn’t see it coming – nor could I have possibly have guessed who really killed “The Janes”.

It is a gritty crime/suspense/thriller. The plot seemed a bit overwhelming at times. It isn’t an easy read by any means.

I would recommend, though it isn’t required, for those interested in “The Janes” to also read “Two Girls Down” to get the complete picture. I found the first novel available at my county (7 copies; 5 available) and city (2 copies; both available) libraries. Availability was as of the writing of this review.

If you’re on the fence, wait until both books are available through the library.

Release Date: January 21, 2020

3 ⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads (More like 2.5 stars. It was okay, though I didn’t really “like” it that much)

3 ⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub (It was “okay”)

2½ ⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  – Personal Rating (see rating explanation below ⬇️)

Other books in the series:

Series: An Alice Vega Novel (Book 1)

Hardcover: 320 pages

Publisher: Doubleday (January 9, 2018)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0385542496

ISBN-13: 978- 0385542494

“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.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  

 

Louisa Luna is the author of the debut Alice Vega novel Two Girls Down, as well as Brave New Girl and Crooked. She was born and raised in San Francisco and lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband and daughter.

My personal rating system (something new for this blog and 2020):

1 star – Would suggest borrowing it from the library. Definitely glad it was free.

Interesting premise, but didn’t satisfy the build up around the book. The plot/execution/characters did not satisfy the interest or time vested in reading it. Plot somewhat differed than the “blurb”. Was a “chore” to read. If it was a library book based on interest, likely to DNF (did not finish) and return. If it is a “review” copy – will have read the entire thing to properly review.

Likely to place in a “free little library” for trade to let someone else read. Would definitely trade with someone who was interested in it (most of my books are “nearly new” if I got them as “new”).

Would not be reading it again or recommending to family and friends.

2 stars – Again, glad it was “free” or a library book. Not likely to purchase or request as a gift. If seen at a library book sale would pass it up. Would only discuss it if asked by family or friends. Would not read it again, or other stories connected to it. Likely to trade it off in a little free library, or with someone who has shown interest in it.

3 stars – Goes without saying that I’m glad it was free (prize, ARC/review copy/library copy). Wouldn’t purchase for self at full price. Iffy chance I would read it again. If I bought it at a library for cheap, might donate it back if it isn’t something I would read again. Some interesting moments. Time invested in reading the book was slightly well-spent. Might read other “connected” books if I could get them through the library.

Satisfied/dissatisfied ratio would depend, varies from book to book. Not likely to read again anytime soon. Recommendations would vary.

4 stars – Might have had questions regarding characters, plot, and execution; otherwise completely satisfied. Emotionally connected; definite connection to the characters or could see them as people I’d know (or want to know). I might have even cried or felt panic at some moments in the story. Want to know about the characters after or some in it that were not touched on.

Couldn’t put it down as I wanted to know what was happening, but wanted to pace myself to spend more time with it.

Worth the money paid (if purchased). If it was borrowed from the library – want my own copy for certain.

On the “re-read” list, once I cycle through everything. Would more than likely recommend to family and friends, would be discussing and highly promoting the book.  

5 stars – Stellar! Everything from 4 star rating applies here! Satisfied my interest. Book and story was exactly what I thought it would be. No questions asked. Definitely high on a “re-read” list (almost right after reading it the first time), and worth spending the money on.