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Charlotte Winters #1
First Girl Gone
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2020)Down the beach, she can just make out the rusting hulk of the Ferris wheel through the dawn mist. The hairs prickle on her neck as she drags her focus back to the chestnut hair fanned out in the shallow water at her feet. To the grains of sand decorating the beautiful girl’s white cheeks like freckles.
Private Detective Charlie Winters never thought she’d find herself back on Salem Island, but she’s forced home re-opening the wound that never healed: her sister was abducted from the small town when they were teenagers.
For Charlie, her sister’s voice in her head—pushing her to risk everything to seek justice for the innocent—is a painful and constant reminder of what she lost. And never has that voice been louder than when a family friend comes to Charlie begging for help to find her missing daughter, Kara.
Searching Kara’s messy, poster-covered bedroom, Charlie finds more questions than answers. Did Kara run away, or was she snatched? She’s clearly been keeping secrets from her family—but don’t all teenagers?
A little black matchbook hidden in a jewelry box is Charlie’s only lead, but the seedy nightclub it comes from proves to be nothing but a dangerous dead end. Until Charlie is approached by a second distraught mother whose daughter has also vanished.
Forced at every turn to relive the trauma she ran away from, Charlie’s blood runs cold when a girl’s body is discovered in the exact spot on the water’s edge where the last trace of her sister was found. It’s clear someone is taunting Charlie, but with other innocent girls’ lives at risk, she has no choice but to take the bait…
Private Detective Charlie Winters never thought she’d find herself back on Salem Island, but she’s forced home re-opening the wound that never healed: her sister was abducted from the small town when they were teenagers.
For Charlie, her sister’s voice in her head—pushing her to risk everything to seek justice for the innocent—is a painful and constant reminder of what she lost. And never has that voice been louder than when a family friend comes to Charlie begging for help to find her missing daughter, Kara.
Searching Kara’s messy, poster-covered bedroom, Charlie finds more questions than answers. Did Kara run away, or was she snatched? She’s clearly been keeping secrets from her family—but don’t all teenagers?
A little black matchbook hidden in a jewelry box is Charlie’s only lead, but the seedy nightclub it comes from proves to be nothing but a dangerous dead end. Until Charlie is approached by a second distraught mother whose daughter has also vanished.
Forced at every turn to relive the trauma she ran away from, Charlie’s blood runs cold when a girl’s body is discovered in the exact spot on the water’s edge where the last trace of her sister was found. It’s clear someone is taunting Charlie, but with other innocent girls’ lives at risk, she has no choice but to take the bait…
ebook
First published September 18, 2020
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About the author
L.T. Vargus
52 books1,092 followersLex Vargus is the co-author of over 20 thriller and horror novels.
FIND LEX ON:
Amazon - Twitter - LTVargus.com
BOOKS BY LT VARGUS
The Violet Darger series
The Victor Loshak series
The Charlotte Winters series
FIND LEX ON:
Amazon - Twitter - LTVargus.com
BOOKS BY LT VARGUS
The Violet Darger series
The Victor Loshak series
The Charlotte Winters series
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
September 18, 2020
First Girl Gone (Charlotte Winters Book 1) is definitely a page turner. First Girl Gone is a mystery/thriller. There is suspense and anticipation from the first page.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for First Girl Gone (Charlotte Winters book 1).
Full review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for First Girl Gone (Charlotte Winters book 1).
Full review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
September 21, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
So… Misty Dawkins… She got fat… See? That’s why I’m never having kids… You pop out some crotch fruit, and your hips and thighs stay doughy until the end of time.
He’d lost so much weight, and the lack of hair and eyebrows only added to the frail appearance. He looked withered and gaunt. Like a tree that someone forgot to water.
His hulking figure looked, in this moment, very apelike. Between his oddly animal posture and the unkempt beard crawling so high on his cheeks, Charlie couldn’t help but think of him as a man about halfway through the transition to werewolf.
It strikes me that a lot of us live in a sort of echo chamber these days. We surround ourselves with people who agree with us on everything— politics, art, entertainment.
But you don’t know what it was like growing up next door to him. He was like Bart Simpson. One time, he melted a hole in one of my Barbie dolls with a magnifying glass.
My Review:
This was a ripper of a series opener; I will be camping out on the authors’ pages to make sure I don’t miss the subsequent installments. I am hooked, ensnared, addicted, and infatuated with these clever and conniving wordsmiths as well as their oddly appealing and unusual quirky characters. I do loves me a kickass chick with clever snark, and this book had two.
The writing was easy to fall into with storylines that intrigued, beguiled, and taunted the little pea in my brain to immediately begin to conjure theories. I was so smug in believing I had easily solved the case with my initial suspect being the villain. But, nooooo. These wily authors had outmaneuvered me and I had fallen for their trickery. How have I not read these prolific scribblers before? They seem to be like potato chips as now that I’ve had a taste of their salty goodness, I must have more.
So… Misty Dawkins… She got fat… See? That’s why I’m never having kids… You pop out some crotch fruit, and your hips and thighs stay doughy until the end of time.
He’d lost so much weight, and the lack of hair and eyebrows only added to the frail appearance. He looked withered and gaunt. Like a tree that someone forgot to water.
His hulking figure looked, in this moment, very apelike. Between his oddly animal posture and the unkempt beard crawling so high on his cheeks, Charlie couldn’t help but think of him as a man about halfway through the transition to werewolf.
It strikes me that a lot of us live in a sort of echo chamber these days. We surround ourselves with people who agree with us on everything— politics, art, entertainment.
But you don’t know what it was like growing up next door to him. He was like Bart Simpson. One time, he melted a hole in one of my Barbie dolls with a magnifying glass.
My Review:
This was a ripper of a series opener; I will be camping out on the authors’ pages to make sure I don’t miss the subsequent installments. I am hooked, ensnared, addicted, and infatuated with these clever and conniving wordsmiths as well as their oddly appealing and unusual quirky characters. I do loves me a kickass chick with clever snark, and this book had two.
The writing was easy to fall into with storylines that intrigued, beguiled, and taunted the little pea in my brain to immediately begin to conjure theories. I was so smug in believing I had easily solved the case with my initial suspect being the villain. But, nooooo. These wily authors had outmaneuvered me and I had fallen for their trickery. How have I not read these prolific scribblers before? They seem to be like potato chips as now that I’ve had a taste of their salty goodness, I must have more.
October 28, 2021
Na jesienne deszczowe, szalenie wietrzne dni – lektura równie wietrzna, deszczowa i mroczna na dokładkę. Dreszczowiec o zaginionych dziewczynach, o śledztwie i małej społeczności, w której pozory mogą mylić.
Opowieści o zaginięciach, porwaniach, zniknięciach mają w sobie coś hipnotycznego. Czytelnik za wszelką cenę chce poznać prawdę, pragnie rozwikłać tajemnicę, ba, czuje, że musi zamknąć śledztwo, zakończyć sprawę, inaczej opowieść będzie powracać do niego jak upiór, nawiedzając każdą wolną myśl. Bez względu na to, jak okrutny może być finał, potrzebujemy klamry, domknięcia, potrzebujemy świadomości, że taka opowieść ma jakieś rozwiązanie. Nie inaczej jest w „Ona już nie wróci”, thrillerze, którego autorzy pozwalają czytelnikom snuć się po gąszczu domysłów, obserwować z bliska kłamliwe twarze, podążać za nikłymi śladami zaginionych.
L.T. Vargus i Tim McBain mają świetne wyczucie chwili, potrafią budować napięcie, a także kreować momenty, które zbijają czytelników z tropu. Potrafią również przerazić tym, jak realistycznie oddają skomplikowane meandry ludzkiej natury. Natury, która potrafi się przekształcać, kamuflować, zmieniać w zależności od tego, kim akurat w tym momencie próbujemy być, jaką odgrywamy akurat rolę. „Ona już nie wróci” to mocny thriller, świetnie skonstruowany i bezbłędnie poprowadzony do intensywnego w emocje finału. Koloru dodaje tutaj zimny, przenikliwy klimat całości, który doskonale odzwierciedla naszą rzeczywistość za oknem. Nic tylko czytać!
Opowieści o zaginięciach, porwaniach, zniknięciach mają w sobie coś hipnotycznego. Czytelnik za wszelką cenę chce poznać prawdę, pragnie rozwikłać tajemnicę, ba, czuje, że musi zamknąć śledztwo, zakończyć sprawę, inaczej opowieść będzie powracać do niego jak upiór, nawiedzając każdą wolną myśl. Bez względu na to, jak okrutny może być finał, potrzebujemy klamry, domknięcia, potrzebujemy świadomości, że taka opowieść ma jakieś rozwiązanie. Nie inaczej jest w „Ona już nie wróci”, thrillerze, którego autorzy pozwalają czytelnikom snuć się po gąszczu domysłów, obserwować z bliska kłamliwe twarze, podążać za nikłymi śladami zaginionych.
L.T. Vargus i Tim McBain mają świetne wyczucie chwili, potrafią budować napięcie, a także kreować momenty, które zbijają czytelników z tropu. Potrafią również przerazić tym, jak realistycznie oddają skomplikowane meandry ludzkiej natury. Natury, która potrafi się przekształcać, kamuflować, zmieniać w zależności od tego, kim akurat w tym momencie próbujemy być, jaką odgrywamy akurat rolę. „Ona już nie wróci” to mocny thriller, świetnie skonstruowany i bezbłędnie poprowadzony do intensywnego w emocje finału. Koloru dodaje tutaj zimny, przenikliwy klimat całości, który doskonale odzwierciedla naszą rzeczywistość za oknem. Nic tylko czytać!
September 17, 2020
First Girl Gone is the first instalment in the Private Investigator Charlotte ”Charlie” Winters series, set on Salem Island, Michigan. Charlie has felt as though she had no choice but to return to Salem Island as her Uncle Frank, also a P.I. with his own business, undergoes treatment for cancer and needs someone to keep the company afloat. Returning has re-opened old wounds as her twin sister, Allie, was abducted during their high school years in Salem and she never saw her again. Ever since Allie’s funeral Charlie has heard her sisters voice in her head as a sort of running commentary on life, albeit a sardonic and sarcastic one. Then one of Charlie’s long-term friends approaches her and begs her to investigate the disappearance of her teenage daughter, Kara Dawkins. Having not dealt with a missing persons case before, Charlie is in two minds whether to take a look but reliving her sister's case in her head and seeing the similarities and parallels between Alllie and Kara’s cases she decides she can't pass up the opportunity to possibly bring an incredibly dangerous perpetrator to justice, not only for Allie but the rest of the victims, too.
This is a riveting, addictive and twist-laden cross between a police procedural and a thriller and marks the beginning of an interesting new series. It's compulsive and fast-paced with a well-crafted plot and an intriguing and engaging cast of characters. This is well-written and highly readable fiction with a plethora of twists, turns and red herrings to throw you off the scent and right from the beginning I was hooked. I loved the unique and original ”voice in your head” interspersed throughout with Allie coming down hard on her sister in a really amusing fashion that only close family can get away with. Told primarily from Charlie’s perspective, with only the opening chapter being dedicated to Kara, the author creates an effortlessly flowing style of writing which never fails to immerse you. I can relate to protagonist Charlie as I'm sure many others can too, she is a strong and individual person who prefers to be alone and is unfairly judged as a bit of a weirdo. An easy, entertaining read with enough happening to keep you satisfyingly turning the pages. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
This is a riveting, addictive and twist-laden cross between a police procedural and a thriller and marks the beginning of an interesting new series. It's compulsive and fast-paced with a well-crafted plot and an intriguing and engaging cast of characters. This is well-written and highly readable fiction with a plethora of twists, turns and red herrings to throw you off the scent and right from the beginning I was hooked. I loved the unique and original ”voice in your head” interspersed throughout with Allie coming down hard on her sister in a really amusing fashion that only close family can get away with. Told primarily from Charlie’s perspective, with only the opening chapter being dedicated to Kara, the author creates an effortlessly flowing style of writing which never fails to immerse you. I can relate to protagonist Charlie as I'm sure many others can too, she is a strong and individual person who prefers to be alone and is unfairly judged as a bit of a weirdo. An easy, entertaining read with enough happening to keep you satisfyingly turning the pages. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
Read
November 5, 2020Chestnut hair fans out in the shallow water. Grains of sand decorate the girl's cheeks like freckles. Her broken body sprawls on the beach.
Kara Dawkins is missing. Taken. A high school girl plucked off the small town streets of Salem Island, Michigan.
For Detective Charlie Winters, it's not just a new case. The evidence contains eerie similarities to a case from Charlie's past.
Charlie's sister, Allie, vanished seventeen years ago, when they were teenagers. All signs suggested foul play. But her body was never found.
Forced at every turn to relive the trauma she ran away from, Charlie’s blood runs cold when a girl’s body is discovered in the exact spot on the water’s edge where the last trace of her sister was found.
It’s clear someone is taunting Charlie, but with another innocent girl’s life at risk, she has no choice but to take the bait…
First Girl Gone is still available at the special launch price of $0.99 for the ebook!
Amazon: http://mybook.to/firstgirlgone
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/firs...
Apple: https://apple.co/2NQmRh3
Google: https://bit.ly/2YEEhmW
Audible: http://zpr.io/Hxa9N
Kara Dawkins is missing. Taken. A high school girl plucked off the small town streets of Salem Island, Michigan.
For Detective Charlie Winters, it's not just a new case. The evidence contains eerie similarities to a case from Charlie's past.
Charlie's sister, Allie, vanished seventeen years ago, when they were teenagers. All signs suggested foul play. But her body was never found.
Forced at every turn to relive the trauma she ran away from, Charlie’s blood runs cold when a girl’s body is discovered in the exact spot on the water’s edge where the last trace of her sister was found.
It’s clear someone is taunting Charlie, but with another innocent girl’s life at risk, she has no choice but to take the bait…
First Girl Gone is still available at the special launch price of $0.99 for the ebook!
Amazon: http://mybook.to/firstgirlgone
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/firs...
Apple: https://apple.co/2NQmRh3
Google: https://bit.ly/2YEEhmW
Audible: http://zpr.io/Hxa9N
January 6, 2021
I’m shocked by the other reviews. This book? It’s bad. So bad. The characters are flat, trite, and irritating. The story? Hackneyed. I rarely abort mission before finishing a book, but I couldn’t do it. It was that bad.
September 18, 2020
I do love a great crime thriller and this one had me well and truly hooked.
Charlie Winters returns home after several years away and takes over the reins of her uncle’s private detective business.
An old friend comes in sobbing and begging for help as her daughter is missing.
Charlie is wary about taking the case on as she thinks the Police are best to deal, but Misty tells her the Police are doing nothing.
With her own sister going missing years before, this case is close to Charlie’s heart so she takes it on.
Soon another girl is missing and Charlie faces a race against time to find them.
I really liked the interaction with Charlie and her dead sister Allie, whose voice Charlie thinks she can hear and there’s some great humour between them.
I also liked Zoe and Will and hope they will be in the next Charlie Winters book.
This is a fantastic start to a new series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Charlie Winters returns home after several years away and takes over the reins of her uncle’s private detective business.
An old friend comes in sobbing and begging for help as her daughter is missing.
Charlie is wary about taking the case on as she thinks the Police are best to deal, but Misty tells her the Police are doing nothing.
With her own sister going missing years before, this case is close to Charlie’s heart so she takes it on.
Soon another girl is missing and Charlie faces a race against time to find them.
I really liked the interaction with Charlie and her dead sister Allie, whose voice Charlie thinks she can hear and there’s some great humour between them.
I also liked Zoe and Will and hope they will be in the next Charlie Winters book.
This is a fantastic start to a new series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
October 5, 2020
Private Investigator Charlie Winters searches for a missing girl in this mystery thriller. She's come back to Salem Island after many years and this abduction hits too close to home. When she was a teenager, Charlie's twin sister Allie vanished and this case is a huge reminder. Who has taken Kara and why? Charlie's a little out of her typical caseload on this one, but is making progress until another family reports another missing daughter.
I think I would have liked this more if the "voice" of Allie wasn't speaking constantly to Charlie. I didn't care for the use of that narrative device and it annoyed me so much that I just couldn't really appreciate this story. I didn't care for Charlie as a character and I guessed the "bad guy" much too easily. I did finish the book, but I don't believe I'll be reading another in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
I think I would have liked this more if the "voice" of Allie wasn't speaking constantly to Charlie. I didn't care for the use of that narrative device and it annoyed me so much that I just couldn't really appreciate this story. I didn't care for Charlie as a character and I guessed the "bad guy" much too easily. I did finish the book, but I don't believe I'll be reading another in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
October 13, 2020
I expected this to be great like everything I’ve read by Vargus & McBain and I wasn’t disappointed. The characters all came to life for me, even the ones that only appear briefly. The story was good too. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
October 10, 2020
I’ve read a number of books from Vargus and McBain and I loved this book. I plowed through it, even reading it at work. They are masters at the written word...weaving a scene and event with the perfect amount of detail and in a way that literally sucks you in. The story flows along nicely and I have to admit I wasn’t expecting the twist in the plot. Charlie, Allie, Will, Zoe, and Frank are very likable and I look forward to the next book and hopefully many more. Love you both and keep them coming
July 25, 2020
What a thrilling ride, this book gave, lots of twists, gripping intrigue, intense larlre night reading. I have been a huge fan of the author for years, never been a book written by the team that I did not devour. If you are looking for a great crime procedural to read, you have found the one. Now to sit impatiently for the nest installment to arrive of this riveting series!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.
#netgalley
#firstgirlgal
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.
#netgalley
#firstgirlgal
September 28, 2020
The Ghost and Mrs Muir? Got 10% in and thought how silly. Done. Don’t bother. Life’s to short for bad books or bad wine!
September 19, 2020
Private Investigator Charlotte (Charlie) Winters never expected to be returning home to Salem Island, Michigan, but she comes back to look after her uncle’s PI business after he falls ill. When an old friend requests her help following the disappearance of her teenage daughter, Kara Dawkins, Charlie feels torn as her own sister, Allie, was abducted from the small town when they were teenagers. Ever since Allie’s funeral Charlie has heard her sister's voice in her head. Never having dealt with a missing persons case before, Charlie is unsure whether she ought to take on the job but seeing the similarities and parallels between Allie and Kara’s cases, she decides she must grab the opportunity to maybe bring a dangerous perpetrator to justice, for Allie and also the other victims.
In this first book of an exciting new series, the reader meets Charlie as she has to cope with painful memories from the past. I liked Charlie’s character who was smart, a bit of a loner and she made a great lead. As she was forced to relive the disappearance of her sister, I could definitely feel her anguish. This was my first 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 Allie, whose voice Charlie could hear in her head, made the story all the greater.
The plot was well thought out and I enjoyed the progression to the surprising reveal. First Girl Gone was entertaining and held my attention throughout, and it will be interesting to see what LT Vargus and Tim McBain have in store for Charlie in the second instalment, Girl Under Water. Overall, a fantastic start to a new 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.
In this first book of an exciting new series, the reader meets Charlie as she has to cope with painful memories from the past. I liked Charlie’s character who was smart, a bit of a loner and she made a great lead. As she was forced to relive the disappearance of her sister, I could definitely feel her anguish. This was my first 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 Allie, whose voice Charlie could hear in her head, made the story all the greater.
The plot was well thought out and I enjoyed the progression to the surprising reveal. First Girl Gone was entertaining and held my attention throughout, and it will be interesting to see what LT Vargus and Tim McBain have in store for Charlie in the second instalment, Girl Under Water. Overall, a fantastic start to a new 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.
September 1, 2020
This is the second book I have read by these authors and having loved the first book I read in the Violet Darger series I had high expectations. I was not disappointed! The story follows private detective Charlotte Winters as she works to find two missing girls in her small hometown. There is also a sub-plot about the abduction and murder of Charlotte's own sister, Allie, decades earlier.
Through most of the book, the authors use an internal dialogue between Charlotte and "Allie" to provide context, humor, and an insight into Charlotte's crime solving methodology. It was a surprising but effective method of providing narration of the unfolding mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope that this continues with the next book in the series because it was just so different from the way books are normally narrated. The authors also did a great job at creating little red herrings that I tripped me up when I thought I had figured it all out. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a good crime mystery thriller!
**SPOILER**
I really appreciated that the authors didn't do the obvious tie in between the current abductions and that of Charlotte's sister. It left room for further digging in future books. Very smart choice.
Through most of the book, the authors use an internal dialogue between Charlotte and "Allie" to provide context, humor, and an insight into Charlotte's crime solving methodology. It was a surprising but effective method of providing narration of the unfolding mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope that this continues with the next book in the series because it was just so different from the way books are normally narrated. The authors also did a great job at creating little red herrings that I tripped me up when I thought I had figured it all out. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a good crime mystery thriller!
**SPOILER**
I really appreciated that the authors didn't do the obvious tie in between the current abductions and that of Charlotte's sister. It left room for further digging in future books. Very smart choice.
September 7, 2020
Well oh well what a brilliant start this is to a brand new series featuring private detective Charlotte Winters. This is my first book by LT Vargus and Tim McBain but it certainly won’t be my last as I am eagerly waiting for the next in this compulsive series.
I read a lot of police procedurals so it was a pleasant change to have a book that has a private detective as the main character and Charlotte is really likeable and well written. Still struggling to get over her twin sisters murder Charlotte reluctantly takes on the case of a missing girl plunging her into a mystery that deepens as another girl goes missing and from then on this a race to find the perpetrator.
I loved the well crafted story it was fast paced, exciting and clever ... I read it really quick because it was just to good to put down and as I said I can’t wait for the next instalment.
A highly recommended book and many thanks to both the authors for a great read, i loved it !!
My thanks also to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I read a lot of police procedurals so it was a pleasant change to have a book that has a private detective as the main character and Charlotte is really likeable and well written. Still struggling to get over her twin sisters murder Charlotte reluctantly takes on the case of a missing girl plunging her into a mystery that deepens as another girl goes missing and from then on this a race to find the perpetrator.
I loved the well crafted story it was fast paced, exciting and clever ... I read it really quick because it was just to good to put down and as I said I can’t wait for the next instalment.
A highly recommended book and many thanks to both the authors for a great read, i loved it !!
My thanks also to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 12, 2020
I had SUCH a great time reading First Girl Gone! This action-packed amateur sleuth thriller had my ears perked up right from the opening chapter, when we witness a kidnapping. After that, the reader meets Charlie Winters, a fairly new small-town investigator holding up her uncle's business. When she's tasked with solving the mystery of a missing girl, the assignment hits close to home as it triggers memories of her twin sister's disappearance many years ago. Vargus and McBain use their quirky writing and twisty plotting to unfold an unexpected tale that left me simultaneously haunted and itching for more. I can't wait for the sequel!
September 13, 2020
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'First Girl Gone' by L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 18th September 2020
This is the first book that I have read by either of these authors. It is also the first book in the 'Detective Charlotte Winters' series.
I was originally drawn to this book by its intriguing cover and interesting sounding blurb. The write up also stated that fans of Angela Marsons (along with others) will need to sleep with the light on. I'm a huge fan of Angela Marsons so I wanted to see if it lived up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 94 chapters and an epilogue which are short to medium in length so ideal to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Detective Charlie Winters. I enjoy books written in third person as it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters.
This book is based in the US.
I must admit I was quite dubious to begin as I didn't really like the way it was written with several one word sentences but it wasn't long before I became hooked and found the writing improved. It was only the prologue written like that and as it was from a victims perspective I think it was done like this on purpose, it just wasn't my cup of tea. The rest of the book was written differently and I couldn't put it down.
The storyline was very fast paced and action packed as well as being full of suspense and mystery. It was very descriptive and I found myself completely absorbed in it. I must say I wasn't completely shocked when I found out who the perp was but it wasn't necessarily obvious, I just had a feeling.
I thought the characters were very strong and I look forward to reading more about Charlotte along with the others. I was disappointed with what happened with Will, can't say I blame her though after what he did. I loved the fact the main character was a strong female and seem to connect more when this is the case.
Overall an action packed, suspense filled crime thriller that will keep you turning the pages.
Genres covered include Crime Thriller, Mystery and Murder,
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Angela Marsons, C.L TAYLOR and Carol Wyer.
429 pages.
This book is 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I loved it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Review for 'First Girl Gone' by L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 18th September 2020
This is the first book that I have read by either of these authors. It is also the first book in the 'Detective Charlotte Winters' series.
I was originally drawn to this book by its intriguing cover and interesting sounding blurb. The write up also stated that fans of Angela Marsons (along with others) will need to sleep with the light on. I'm a huge fan of Angela Marsons so I wanted to see if it lived up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 94 chapters and an epilogue which are short to medium in length so ideal to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Detective Charlie Winters. I enjoy books written in third person as it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters.
This book is based in the US.
I must admit I was quite dubious to begin as I didn't really like the way it was written with several one word sentences but it wasn't long before I became hooked and found the writing improved. It was only the prologue written like that and as it was from a victims perspective I think it was done like this on purpose, it just wasn't my cup of tea. The rest of the book was written differently and I couldn't put it down.
The storyline was very fast paced and action packed as well as being full of suspense and mystery. It was very descriptive and I found myself completely absorbed in it. I must say I wasn't completely shocked when I found out who the perp was but it wasn't necessarily obvious, I just had a feeling.
I thought the characters were very strong and I look forward to reading more about Charlotte along with the others. I was disappointed with what happened with Will, can't say I blame her though after what he did. I loved the fact the main character was a strong female and seem to connect more when this is the case.
Overall an action packed, suspense filled crime thriller that will keep you turning the pages.
Genres covered include Crime Thriller, Mystery and Murder,
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Angela Marsons, C.L TAYLOR and Carol Wyer.
429 pages.
This book is 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I loved it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#FirstGirlGone #LTVargus #TimMcBain #Bookouture #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@LTVargus @TimMcBain @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
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September 18, 2020
Charlie Winters has recently returned to her hometown to be a private investigator when an old friend enters her office crying. Mistys daughter has been missing for a few days, the police show no interest in helping she needs Charlies help.
When she begins to look into the disappearance it brings her back to when her sister Allie went missing and how they never caught her killer, the similarities make things worse. Will she find Kara in time or is it already too late?
I enjoyed this book the only thing that pulled me out of it at times was the voice of Allie in Charlies head even though she did make me laugh a few times.
I received a free copy from the author/publisher through netgalley in return for an honest review
When she begins to look into the disappearance it brings her back to when her sister Allie went missing and how they never caught her killer, the similarities make things worse. Will she find Kara in time or is it already too late?
I enjoyed this book the only thing that pulled me out of it at times was the voice of Allie in Charlies head even though she did make me laugh a few times.
I received a free copy from the author/publisher through netgalley in return for an honest review
January 10, 2021
Altamente prescindible. Como una película de sobremesa de domingo por la tarde, activando todos los resortes y estrategias mil veces utilizadas en el género, desde el falso culpable hasta el sobadísimo truco del novio bueno/malo, se salva en parte por el fantasma de la hermana muerta, una historia que supongo se desarrollará a lo largo de la serie. Lástima que viendo lo predecible del argumento el día en que decidan desenterrar el misterio probablemente se trate de la solución más manida de todas. No creo que esté allí para verlo.
February 18, 2021
An avid fan of great suspense and mystery, I have journeyed through a James Patterson and Scott Pratt (especially Joe Dillard) addiction, and also thoroughly enjoyed the hilariously entertaining mysteries of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. In a state of mourning the loss of Scott Pratt, I happened onto the Violet Darger series and have been hooked ever since on the style and depth of this dynamic writing duo of Vargus and McBain. Once I caught up with Darger, the Victor Loshak books followed and now Charlotte Winters. I never tire of the well thought-out characters and the situations that somehow defy the feeling of being contrived. I love Charlotte—she's gritty and determined on the one hand, and yet not beyond the vulnerabilities of the human experience (“voices in her head”) on the other. Her journey intrigues me—not just what she experiences with her detective adventures, but what she will go through as she grapples with incredible loss that obviously still haunts her to some degree. I think she needs a pet! Some being to talk to other than Allie—and perhaps a way of bringing light/humor to whatever is going on as well. Not sure what makes sense here...a dog? A parrot? Of course I haven't read book 2 yet, and am “behind” most of the mainstream readers, so maybe this is moot. I look forward to more of Charlotte and what becomes of her in Salem Island and...beyond! Thanks for a great escape.
September 20, 2020
First Gone Girl by L.T. Vargus & Tim McBain
Charlotte Winters #1
Charlotte “Charlie” Winters is back in her childhood home after almost a decade away. Her reason for being there is not fully given but there are inklings provided. At first, reading the synopsis, I thought that Charlie was a police detective, but she is really more of a private investigator and has been for several years in Seattle before returning home. She is currently working in her Uncle Frank’s private investigation office and has mixed feelings about being back in Michigan.
The prologue sets the stage for the missing persons case, The next chapter had me quickly pondering who the characters were and how they would impact the case Charlie will ultimately agree to pursue. The missing person case Charlie accepts soon triggers memories of her past and the loss of her twin sister, provides interaction with old friends from high school, provides flashbacks to past events in her life, provides information related to Charlie’s backstory, and ultimately provides an intriguing thriller with a bad guy to catch in hopes of saving a young girl’s life.
What I liked:
* Charlie: an interesting character with an interest in seeking to provide recompense or justice for victims.
* Not knowing what to think of Allie and her relationship with Charlie
* Learning more about Charlie’s backstory although I believe there is much more to learn
* Zoe: I hope to see more of her in the future as she and Charlie work cases that overlap
* Uncle Frank: I charmer with a bit of a rough edge – do hope he is there for many more books in the series
* Will: I would like to hear more about him. He seems to be a lawyer dedicated to his clients’ best interests
* The twists and turns that occurred in the pursuit of the kidnapper-murderer
* Some of the red herrings – there was more than one
* Reading a story that introduced me to new authors
* knowing that there will be a book two to look forward in the future
What I did not like:
* Knowing that such crimes occur more often than we would like to believe
* Amber’s parents
* The double standard related to bending the law that Charlie had depending on whether it was her or someone else doing the bending
* Knowing I will have to wait awhile to find out what happens next
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series/by these authors? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Charlotte Winters #1
Charlotte “Charlie” Winters is back in her childhood home after almost a decade away. Her reason for being there is not fully given but there are inklings provided. At first, reading the synopsis, I thought that Charlie was a police detective, but she is really more of a private investigator and has been for several years in Seattle before returning home. She is currently working in her Uncle Frank’s private investigation office and has mixed feelings about being back in Michigan.
The prologue sets the stage for the missing persons case, The next chapter had me quickly pondering who the characters were and how they would impact the case Charlie will ultimately agree to pursue. The missing person case Charlie accepts soon triggers memories of her past and the loss of her twin sister, provides interaction with old friends from high school, provides flashbacks to past events in her life, provides information related to Charlie’s backstory, and ultimately provides an intriguing thriller with a bad guy to catch in hopes of saving a young girl’s life.
What I liked:
* Charlie: an interesting character with an interest in seeking to provide recompense or justice for victims.
* Not knowing what to think of Allie and her relationship with Charlie
* Learning more about Charlie’s backstory although I believe there is much more to learn
* Zoe: I hope to see more of her in the future as she and Charlie work cases that overlap
* Uncle Frank: I charmer with a bit of a rough edge – do hope he is there for many more books in the series
* Will: I would like to hear more about him. He seems to be a lawyer dedicated to his clients’ best interests
* The twists and turns that occurred in the pursuit of the kidnapper-murderer
* Some of the red herrings – there was more than one
* Reading a story that introduced me to new authors
* knowing that there will be a book two to look forward in the future
What I did not like:
* Knowing that such crimes occur more often than we would like to believe
* Amber’s parents
* The double standard related to bending the law that Charlie had depending on whether it was her or someone else doing the bending
* Knowing I will have to wait awhile to find out what happens next
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series/by these authors? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
September 20, 2020
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. I love a good detective novel so I was excited to read this story.
Charlotte Winters is a private detective, usually, I read police procedurals but, in all honesty,, there wasn’t too much difference. Yes, Charlotte could break the rules more than the police but most of the time the rules get broken anyway! I really liked Charlie. She’s been through a terrible ordeal in her life and to continue on through that is quite remarkable.
The case of missing girls Kara and Amber is full of dead ends. I was so stumped. There were lots of red herrings and leads that went nowhere. I could really feel Charlie’s frustration too.
The book was full of action and was very fast-paced. The last 30% or so somehow seemed to get faster. I was right on the edge through the last few chapters. I felt every step, every movement every heartbeat of Charlie’s. The danger felt so real.
This is the first book I have read by these authors but it certainly won’t be the last. It was so easy to become absorbed and forget your surroundings. I felt like I was right there with Charlie. I am looking forward to seeing this series progress.
Charlotte Winters is a private detective, usually, I read police procedurals but, in all honesty,, there wasn’t too much difference. Yes, Charlotte could break the rules more than the police but most of the time the rules get broken anyway! I really liked Charlie. She’s been through a terrible ordeal in her life and to continue on through that is quite remarkable.
The case of missing girls Kara and Amber is full of dead ends. I was so stumped. There were lots of red herrings and leads that went nowhere. I could really feel Charlie’s frustration too.
The book was full of action and was very fast-paced. The last 30% or so somehow seemed to get faster. I was right on the edge through the last few chapters. I felt every step, every movement every heartbeat of Charlie’s. The danger felt so real.
This is the first book I have read by these authors but it certainly won’t be the last. It was so easy to become absorbed and forget your surroundings. I felt like I was right there with Charlie. I am looking forward to seeing this series progress.
November 15, 2023
I liked this book and listened to it pretty much non-stop - however, now, a week later, I don't remember it very well. I remember liking it, but the details are already slipping into oblivion.
Maybe that's saying something about how it didn't stand out from the crowd in the mystery or thriller gen.
Will I return for book 2 though?
Yeah, probably.
Maybe that's saying something about how it didn't stand out from the crowd in the mystery or thriller gen.
Will I return for book 2 though?
Yeah, probably.
September 19, 2020
The first book in a new series and I was looking forward to making new friends, because honestly if you read a series meeting up with the main characters again feels like reading about fictional friends.
Often the investigators are police officers. Here the biggest part of the job is being done by a PI. This mean she is a bit freer and does not always have to follow the rules but it certainly helps when you have a good friend who is a cop and you can join forces.
Charlotte is also fighting her own demons. I hope she can conquer them too.
I liked the protagonist. She is brave and I admire her for going through those creepy situations. She does not give up easily. Well, she does not give up at all in fact. 🙂
The story is well structured and had me guessing who was the culprit until the end. I really enjoyed the conversations between Charlie and her sister. They made me smile more than once. A fascinating story that kept me entertained from the first page until the last one. I certainly would like to read more books by these authors. 5 stars.
Thank you, L.T. Vargus, Tim McBain and Bookouture
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
Often the investigators are police officers. Here the biggest part of the job is being done by a PI. This mean she is a bit freer and does not always have to follow the rules but it certainly helps when you have a good friend who is a cop and you can join forces.
Charlotte is also fighting her own demons. I hope she can conquer them too.
I liked the protagonist. She is brave and I admire her for going through those creepy situations. She does not give up easily. Well, she does not give up at all in fact. 🙂
The story is well structured and had me guessing who was the culprit until the end. I really enjoyed the conversations between Charlie and her sister. They made me smile more than once. A fascinating story that kept me entertained from the first page until the last one. I certainly would like to read more books by these authors. 5 stars.
Thank you, L.T. Vargus, Tim McBain and Bookouture
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
October 2, 2020
This book is like if Sherlock Holmes was a woman, and she had a dead sister who followed her around cracking jokes all the time instead of Dr. Watson. It's exciting, it's funny, it's scary, this novel has it all. I love the supernatural elements mixed in with the classic detective thriller genre! I'm stoked that there will be more books in this series, because I'm already a fan of Charlie Winters!
September 20, 2020
Tim McBain and LT Vargus have introduced a new series to add to their growing collection.
This time the main character is Charlotte (Charlie) Winters who returns to her childhood home of Salem Island when her uncle falls ill and needs Charlie to run his PI business.
Charlie is approached by an old school friend as her daughter has gone missing, Charlie decides to take the case as there are many comparisons to her own twin sisters disappearance when they were younger.
The book is written in the 3rd person, with the exception of the prologue which is written as the victim herself.
An interesting aspect to the book which I really enjoyed was the voice of Charlie’s lost sister in her head who adds a sarcastic and scathing commentary to Charlie’s life.
As any fan of Vargus and McBain would know there are twists and turns throughout the book the biggest one being the who did it twist at the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read what’s planned for Charlie in the next instalment.
Would definitely recommend to any murder mystery or thriller readers or indeed to anybody who fancies trying out a new genre, I doubt you’ll be disappointed.
This time the main character is Charlotte (Charlie) Winters who returns to her childhood home of Salem Island when her uncle falls ill and needs Charlie to run his PI business.
Charlie is approached by an old school friend as her daughter has gone missing, Charlie decides to take the case as there are many comparisons to her own twin sisters disappearance when they were younger.
The book is written in the 3rd person, with the exception of the prologue which is written as the victim herself.
An interesting aspect to the book which I really enjoyed was the voice of Charlie’s lost sister in her head who adds a sarcastic and scathing commentary to Charlie’s life.
As any fan of Vargus and McBain would know there are twists and turns throughout the book the biggest one being the who did it twist at the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read what’s planned for Charlie in the next instalment.
Would definitely recommend to any murder mystery or thriller readers or indeed to anybody who fancies trying out a new genre, I doubt you’ll be disappointed.
September 29, 2020
Omg, where do I start this review? This was hilarious, suspenseful filled with action and a tinge of paranormal. The authors did a bang-on job in writing this thriller.
2 missing girls + 1 private investigator + 1 dead sister + 1 best friend + many suspects = 1 rollercoaster unputdownable thriller
Charlie was everything I longed to be, a kickass heroine. The one who stood strong after having lost her sister to a killer and now ran a private investigation firm. Determination and single-minded focus made me love her more. Her conversations with sister Allie in her mind (yes, Allie was some kind of ethereal being) and friend Zoe were sarcastic and super fun. Allie’s zingers made me laugh even when Charlie was busy investigating the cases of 2 missing girls.
The writing was simply smooth with loads of humor. I found myself giggling in between the action and suspenseful scenes. I was quite amazed at the balance the authors could maintain in the entire book. Very few could do it.
Ah well, I couldn’t guess the perp, and I was still happy because the journey to reach the end was filled with multitude of action, emotions, some betrayal, humor, and intelligence. Total fun!!
2 missing girls + 1 private investigator + 1 dead sister + 1 best friend + many suspects = 1 rollercoaster unputdownable thriller
Charlie was everything I longed to be, a kickass heroine. The one who stood strong after having lost her sister to a killer and now ran a private investigation firm. Determination and single-minded focus made me love her more. Her conversations with sister Allie in her mind (yes, Allie was some kind of ethereal being) and friend Zoe were sarcastic and super fun. Allie’s zingers made me laugh even when Charlie was busy investigating the cases of 2 missing girls.
The writing was simply smooth with loads of humor. I found myself giggling in between the action and suspenseful scenes. I was quite amazed at the balance the authors could maintain in the entire book. Very few could do it.
Ah well, I couldn’t guess the perp, and I was still happy because the journey to reach the end was filled with multitude of action, emotions, some betrayal, humor, and intelligence. Total fun!!
July 11, 2020
Private investigator Charlie never thought she comes back to Salem island a small town where her twin sister was abducted she return because her uncle fallen ill.
While there an old friend Misty begs Charlie to find her missing daughter Kara who hasn’t been seen for last two days. While she tries find clues she realize Kara has been keeping secrets and one of them is a matchbook from a nightclub when she goes there she hits a dead end.
While she tries to find Kara another mother tells her daughter is missing and when a body of a young girl found at the same place her sister was taken she wonders are they connected and will finally find out what happen to sister.
I like dialogue it was well paced the characters were great Allie Misty Kate and others supporting characters. Look forward to next book in this series.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
While there an old friend Misty begs Charlie to find her missing daughter Kara who hasn’t been seen for last two days. While she tries find clues she realize Kara has been keeping secrets and one of them is a matchbook from a nightclub when she goes there she hits a dead end.
While she tries to find Kara another mother tells her daughter is missing and when a body of a young girl found at the same place her sister was taken she wonders are they connected and will finally find out what happen to sister.
I like dialogue it was well paced the characters were great Allie Misty Kate and others supporting characters. Look forward to next book in this series.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
May 20, 2022
This was the least thrilling “thriller” I’ve ever read. Dull from start to finish, far too long, uninteresting and cliched characters that inspired no interest or investment in the unrealistic plot. Truly shocked this book is so well reviewed!
July 16, 2020
First I’ve read by these authors. Great start to a new suspense series.
Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.
Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.
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