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Agent Victoria Heslin #2

Pretty Little Girls

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The disappearance of a prep school girl from an affluent family leads to a hidden world of shocking secrets.

Winner of the 2020 Reader’s Favorite International Book Award in Thriller Fiction

FBI Agent Victoria Heslin is called to Charlotte, NC to investigate alongside local police, but the mysteries only get deeper. Why are the girl’s parents so uncooperative? And why are the local authorities resisting Victoria's help?

When her efforts uncover a sex trafficking operation, Heslin enlists friend and fellow Agent Dante Rivera to go rogue and try to save the girls, before it’s too late.

Pretty Little Girls is the second book in the gripping Agent Victoria Heslin Thriller Series by USA Today Bestselling Author Jenifer Ruff. It can be listened to as a standalone.

Grab your copy of Pretty Little Girls and dive into this bestselling mystery-thriller series today!

Audible Audio

First published August 4, 2019

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About the author

Jenifer Ruff

60 books616 followers
USA Today bestselling author Jenifer Ruff writes dark and twisty mystery thrillers, including the award-winning Agent Victoria Heslin Series. Jenifer spends her days writing with the goal of keeping her readers eagerly turning the pages and putting the clues together. She adores peace and quiet, animals, and exercise, especially hiking. If she’s not writing, she’s probably out exploring trails with her dogs. Sign up for her Reader's Newsletter at Jenruff.com and never miss a new release.

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5 stars
1,561 (51%)
4 stars
1,118 (36%)
3 stars
307 (10%)
2 stars
36 (1%)
1 star
12 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 210 reviews
Profile Image for Lynda Kelly.
2,205 reviews106 followers
November 13, 2019
I preferred this one to the first in this series and the ending was perfect. Although it made me sniffy, it was spot on. There were fewer errors in this one, too. I'm really liking her stories and her characters. Though I'm torn as to which man Victoria needs to have in her life.....I think Ned would shade it for me over Dante as Ned's the real animal lover so wins out because of that for me. It will be interesting to see which side she comes down on in the end. Another lovely cover as well on this one.
The story was terribly sad featuring the dreadfully true toll of human trafficking. Scary what goes on. Yes, this is fiction but it is happening a lot out there and here as well. The parents of the girl kidnapped in this story were both horrible pieces of work, though I really liked young Sofia !!
A few times fullstops were missed off, she wrote stationary and not stationery and once she put the apostrophe in the wrong place in Manning's which was annoying as she got it right every other time. She added a needless one in to-do's as well.
However, this is a great improvement so an easy 5* and I look forward to the next instalment, if only to see what occurs with the new additions in Victoria's life !!
Profile Image for S.A. Krishnan.
Author 31 books231 followers
August 11, 2020
Scary story about human trafficking and the toll on the children because of the despicable evil of the society.
The story starts very simply as Victoria was trying to look into a single missing child. The story soon blows up as Victoria carries an in-depth analysis of the sex trafficking around the place.
However, the story had a quick end and it almost seemed like the bad people got it easy, by the end of it.
But overall, the story was powerful and though it was fiction, it seemed almost real.
Profile Image for Donna-Dee Mullings.
63 reviews10 followers
August 11, 2019
Once again Ms. Ruff pulled me directly into the story. I didn't want to put the book down! The main focus of this book is sex trafficking young Eastern European girls, a serious, and important topic. I've heard of real stories similar to what happened with the girls, and like it did with the news, my heart broke for the characters in the book. It is something we don't pay enough attention to, how often do you think of sex trafficking when you don't see those fliers in the bathrooms? It's a huge business, using not only girls brought in from other countries, but also girls (and boys) from the United States. There should be more awareness, instead of being reminded by a great story.

Agent Victoria Heslin is called in to consult on a missing person's case in Charlotte by her boss, Larry Murphy. Though missing less than 24 hours, a friend of his wife's asked for help in finding her daughter. Without meeting the family in question, we already know from the conversation between Larry and Victoria that the family is affluent and privileged, giving them access to early help from the FBI. However, the family is uncooperative, and almost hostile towards Victoria, even though they requested the FBI's assistance. This is theme one, and makes more sense throughout the book, though how it ties in is a huge suprise. In the course of her investigation, she comes across a large sex trafficking ring, theme two and the parallel main theme that runs the course along with the kidnapping. Again are the minor, "just reminding you", in the back of your mind, themes of Victoria's background and romance.

As I thought it did from the first book, the slow moving, in the background romance adds to Victoria's character development. Unlike with her work, in the realm of romantic relationships she's uncertain, uncomfortable AND giddy with her feelings, and confused at times. So we continue to see her softer side develop in this book, and how it blends with her work persona. The candidness familiar in her position as a female agent is still apparent in her personal life, which can make for some awkward moments, but relatable. Her protective side is out in full force even before the sex trafficking ring is unveiled, giving a nod to her mother's kidnapping. The mention of both themes points to their continued development in further books.

While Ned was a focus (sort of) in the first part of the book, Rivera took over in the second half. Ms. Ruff let us sit with some of Ned's behaviors, while putting the attention on the agent's progression. His feelings for Victoria are fleshed out and presented to the readers in a more open fashion. This is not the only way we see growth in the character. Throughout we are given repeated flashes of his bravery, his rage and disgust for the sex traffickers, and his empathy, fear, and concern for the girls caught in the ring. To be honest, Ned felt like a secondary character in light of Rivera's presence.

I did feel that some of the tertiary characters were a little flat, for as often as they were used. There was very little backstory for any of them (which doesn't normally matter, as they aren't very involved in the story). For the secondary characters, we were given a slightly better understanding of, but some I couldn't decide if they were secondary or tertiary. It led to story lines that were left dangling.

I am very much anticipating the next book! This series has definitely been added to my favorites!

I was given an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Profile Image for Lail.
267 reviews32 followers
August 8, 2019
Pretty Little Girls by Jenifer Ruff
An Outstanding mystery thriller! The story is tastefully written about the all too real epidemic of sex trafficking. This stunningly captivating tale has an edgy storyline that is exciting and full of suspense that takes you down an emotional tale of crime, kidnapping, murder, desperation, and the longing to be free. The story flowed effortlessly keeping me rooted until the end! I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a great and exciting thriller.
I wanted to note that although this book is about sex trafficking and other dark content, the author’s writing is very tastefully done without being overly descriptive or crewed.
Profile Image for Angela.
1,088 reviews53 followers
January 20, 2020
I haven't read the first book in the Victoria Heslin series as it clearly stated this could read as standalone, and this is correct. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything overly important and this is very much a book in it's own right, definitely not a sequel.

The story itself is rather hard-hitting. Graphic and violent in parts dealing with underage sex trafficking and kidnapping. The story moves along at a good pace and the villains are portrayed well. There was one section where Ruff has attempted to humanise the ringleader, and that didn't wash with me and felt pretty out of place in the book. Ending was a little rushed but overall satisfactory.

Audio was done well. Dillard has a nice, melodic voice to listen to. Usually her type of voice wouldn't go with this type of book but I think it worked. There are a lot of female protagonists in this book and she was very good at being to differentiate between them all.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request via Audioboom and have voluntarily left this review.
Profile Image for Kayla Krantz.
Author 45 books739 followers
April 18, 2020
When rich girls start to turn up dead, there are plenty of theories as to why. The parents are suspicious, everyone is suspicious. When FBI agent Victoria Heslin’s work takes her into the depths of a sex trafficking ring, she enlists the help of an old friend to save the girls stuck in that prison.

I didn’t read the first book in this series, but even so, it was easy to get lost in this second book. It was full of suspense, mystery, and intrigue. Every time I thought I figured it out, there were twists that threw me for a loop. Characters are solid, and even the bad guys had enough character development that it was easy to understand their motives.

Though this book deals with some heavy topics such as sex trafficking and corruption, it’s still an immersive read.

Narration is good, especially with the accents.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
Profile Image for Julie Howard.
Author 2 books31 followers
January 17, 2020
wow I really enjoyed this book. but then again I enjoyed the first book as well. Each book is a stand alone book but as FBI agent Victoria Heslin is such a strong capable character I think you will enjoy both books and I hope there is a lot more to come in this series. The story is split between characters so you know what is going on and despite knowing who the baddy is there is still a free twist in store. When a young girl goes missing FBI agent Victoria Heslin is called in. Normally you have to wait 24 hours before the police get involved but as the boss's wife knows the missing girls parents Victoria is sent in to see what she can do. What she stumbles on isn't just a runaway teenager but a carefully orchestrated plan to traffic young girls for sex. Have they picked the wrong girl this time? With Victoria not sure who to trust, when they just miss finding the girls, she goes rouge and enlists help from sometimes partner Dante Rivera Can the pair find the girl in time or will it be another dead body with a brand on her back? I really like the narrator and think her voice helps to make this such a great book.
Profile Image for Scott Bush.
6 reviews
August 19, 2019
I read this book as soon as it became available to me on August 4th! Jenifer Ruff has taken another monumental step forward in her thriller 'Pretty Little Girls', in terms of technical and creative storytelling. Her writing in Book 2 of this V Heslin set is grittier and more descriptive than it's ever been, and I couldn't put it down for long without wondering how Ruff was going to connect all the dots. The story she's created is also vibrant and expertly set with twists and more twists. The best part about Book 2, in my opinion, is the continued maturation of her secondary characters and their connections to Agent Heslin. I like Heslin. She attracts most of the attention, especially with her animal-protection and philanthropic efforts, but it's the effect she has on the secondary characters around her, both male and female, that make her a character worth following. I look forward to reading more of Ruff's work and seeing more of her stories and characters take flight. Her level of sophistication as a storyteller is growing with every book she publishes.
Profile Image for Denise.
4,119 reviews12 followers
August 26, 2019
This author was able to hook me into another series. Victoria will keep you stuck to the pages as the mystery unfolds with us scrambling not to miss any of what is going on. Odd thing to is the subject matter is one that seems to be in a couple of books reading right now. It is a heart wrenching matter that is filled with darkness. Things will not go easily though with twists and turns that readers adore even when it can be baffling. Lets not forget that family that will have you scratching your head. good one from beginning to end.
86 reviews4 followers
August 3, 2019
I read Book #1 in this series recently and really enjoyed it. When the 2nd book became available I jumped right in. I’m really glad I did. The subject matter (no spoilers) is uncomfortable and yet very timely. It was written well, without becoming gruesome. There were lots of twists and turns which are what make for a good mystery. The characters were skillfully crafted adding to both the suspense and fondness for the central characters. Lovers of a good mystery will not be disappointed!
Profile Image for Lori Pappert.
9 reviews
August 3, 2019
Yay- Agent Heslin is back! I love this character. She is tough but kind at the same time. I would want Agent Heslin in my corner. This book kept me guessing and biting my nails all the way through. What a peek inside the stomach -turning world of sex trafficking. The descriptions of this blight on society felt so real. I highly recommend this book and Jenifer Ruff’s first Victoria Heslin book -The Numbers Killer. I can’t wait for the next book.
Profile Image for Mahita.
356 reviews60 followers
November 5, 2019
Short Take: Good things happen, people do their jobs and bad things have an end. :)

A crime thriller, less macabre than the others I have read, but a page turner nevertheless. Agent Victoria Heslin and Agent Dante Rivera make a good team. The story is about a rich girl kidnapped out of a mall and a small blessing that helped her find her way back home. With enough adrenaline to push you to turn pages, the story is narrated with the right mix of empathy and grit to make it touch your heart.
Profile Image for Donna.
1,550 reviews37 followers
December 7, 2019
Great story about girls trafficked

This started as a story about Emma a 14 year old girl from a wealthy home who is kidnapped to be trafficked. But the girl's voice we hear most is another girl, Sophia from Ukraine who has been a sex slave when Emma is brought in as the new girl. This is a story that happens right here in the USA.
"Drugs are sold and gone. Girls can be sold over and over."
Profile Image for Ted Tayler.
Author 79 books299 followers
August 19, 2020
"A salutary tale"

All too real, I'm afraid, but the more times the horror of sex trafficking is exposed then the greater chance that something will get done about it. One message that rings loud and clear, every parent should protect their children from making the gullible mistakes many of these girls did. I like the Victoria character, but she was surrounded by male characters that were made of cardboard. I'm not sure you can sustain a series without a strong foil to the female sleuth.
549 reviews6 followers
February 9, 2020
I really like Victoria Heslin as a character and Stephanie Dillard voices her and the other characters with an excellent performance. The story is quite suspenseful and manages to obscure contrivances with enough realism to make it believable. This is a great series so far.

NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
122 reviews
August 28, 2020
Although this deals with the serious topic of child sex trafficking, it keeps a level head throughout and treats the subject matter appropriately. It plays out mostly as expected but is still an interesting read. I originally only started reading this as it was free on Kindle, and I would read a page or two here or there, but after getting a bit into it, it was hard to put down which I guess is the mark of success for a book like this.
Profile Image for reneeNaDaCherry.
2,433 reviews1 follower
November 4, 2022
Pretty Little Girls (A Victoria Heslin Series Book 2)

A hard topic to discuss, yet the author Jennifer Ruff commanded my attention. Page after page of how the local 🚔 and the FBI work these cases. At times, their investigations lead to assistance from international police as well.


11/4/2022.
Profile Image for Chuck.
32 reviews1 follower
June 1, 2023
Yeah might be the fastest I’ve ever finished a book. Couldn’t put it down. Incredibly accurate fiction. Would be cool to work a case with Agent Heslin.

Great story
Profile Image for Sheri Kahne.
79 reviews1 follower
May 6, 2024
I would give it a 4.5! I always love this author’s books. They get me interested right from the very beginning and I read them super fast because I need to know what happens!
2 reviews
August 30, 2020
Great story telling. The writing did not get in the way of the tension and pace of the story. This is not literature, the author knows, and she does not distract the reader with prose and picturesque speech. Consider this: The riveting yarn is a great good v. evil, happy ending story. But IF YOU AND I DO NOTHING REAL TOWARD STOPPING SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF TRAFFICKED VICTIMS after enjoying this novel, then we, too, can be accused of having exploited their misery, madness, and death in our disassociated pleasure of the good read. So, read the book; be sickened, outraged and terrified; be satisfied at the villains' defeat; THEN GO DO SOMETHING ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING!
Profile Image for AddysBookishAddiction.
137 reviews8 followers
August 18, 2020
This was a tough book to read. Human trafficking, rape, kidnapping - all the hot topics of the disgusting monsters that are hidden in plain sight. This book, although a work of fiction, hits on some very real and present dangers. Although the material is gut-wrenching, Ruff did an amazing job at laying out the scenes, the character building, and the overwhelming feeling of truth of the situation.
Profile Image for Billie.
5,783 reviews72 followers
August 4, 2019
Until you know who to trust, trust no one.
The disappearance of a prep school girl from an affluent family leads to a world of hidden secrets more shocking and horrifying than anyone could imagine.
FBI Agent Victoria Heslin investigates alongside local police, but the mysteries only get deeper. Why are the girl’s parents so uncooperative? And why are the local authorities resisting her help?
When her efforts uncover a sex trafficking operation, Heslin enlists friend and fellow Agent Dante Rivera to go rogue and try to save the girls, before it’s too late..

This was a fantastic read from this wonderful author.
I am loving this series so far and each book can be read as a stand alone novel if you wish.
This story line is unfortunately very real in places and it is horrific to those it happens to. The author has done a magnificent job of bringing this to light in this wonderful novel.
The writing is superbly done with a magnificent plot and story line that keeps you gripped to the last word.
Characters are wonderfully fleshed out and realistic and make you want to read about them.
Can't wait to read the next one!
Highly recommend reading.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
5 reviews
August 6, 2019
It’s rare I read a fast paced, engaging, suspenseful book and walk away deeply impacted by insight into a tragic issue of our day. This is precisely what happened upon reading Jenifer Ruff’s latest psychological thriller, Pretty Little Girls. Agent Victoria Heslin and Agent Dante Rivera team up again to help find a missing privileged school girl in Charlotte, NC. The book delves head long into the unfathomable world of human trafficking providing a realistic view into those that run the rings, those that seek, finance and use the victims, and the frightened, young captives themselves.

Ruff has the uncanny ability to see things through the eyes of a teenager, a middle aged cop, and a young FBI agent and then bring the characters to life.  They are skillfully portrayed to the point you can visualize them and hear their voices. You feel the fear, hopelessness and need for survival of the girls exploited and the anxiety and adrenaline of those on the elusive trail to rescue them.

Human Trafficking is regularly in the news and I commend Ruff for her ability to expose the reality of this heinous crime by providing details based in truth, in a fictional setting from the perspective of her characters.

 I received an ARC from the author and chose to post my honest thoughts.
Profile Image for Dawn Myers.
1,299 reviews2 followers
January 2, 2020
I enjoyed this book more than The Numbers Killer the first book in the Agent Victoria Heslin Series. Pretty Little Girls handles a really tough subject human trafficking. I always struggle reading these stories. This book kept me on the edge of my seat turning the pages. I found myself rooting for Emma, Sofia and Anastasia I really wanted them to be okay. I figured out right of the bat who the bad guys were, I knew the minute we are introduced to them. I'm okay with that the story kept me wondering to the end. In my opinion Jenifer Ruff does a good job with suspense and twist. I read on Kindle Unlimited
Profile Image for Gina Maria.
217 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2025
This is the 2nd book in the series that I am now hooked on. Although this story is based on a very real and serious evil that is present in the world today, the author delivered another fantastic mystery that was thrilling and captivating. I am in love with her characters and creative story telling. At times, it feels like I’m watching a great crime series on tv. I would love for her books to bought by Netflix so I could really see these characters (and dogs) come to life- although she does a phenomenal job with character development. I’ll be on my way to reading Book 3 soon.
Profile Image for Ashley Hedden.
5,259 reviews43 followers
February 2, 2020
Pretty Little Girls was a great read by Jenifer Ruff. A prep school girl from an affluent family goes missing, which leads to many hidden secrets. Victoria is a FBI agent who is asked to assist the local police in investigating the disappearance. No matter how hard she tries, the girls resist her help. She uncovers a sec trafficking operation and Victori asks Dante, another agent, to help with the case. I really enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to read more by Jenifer Ruff.
731 reviews
December 22, 2019
Surviving

A very enticing story about the rescue of young victims of sex trafficking. The horrors these young boys and girls suffer are unbelievable. This FBI agent gives her best to save these victims and hopefully catch the people responsible. I think stories like this help us to become more aware that this is very real and happening in our areas.
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