Girl Two: Taken

Maya Gray #2

by Molly Black

Maya must solve the murder of a female corrections officer. A seemingly black-and-white case, closed years ago, the local police refuse to take it up again. But as Maya delves into the world of prisons, correction officers and ex-cons, she quickly sees there is more there than meets the eye. She, it turns out, was not the only officer murdered. It was a serial. And this killer is more complex—and unpredictable—than anyone can imagine.

And if Maya doesn’t solve this case soon, her own sister’s life may be on the line.

Meanwhile, the first released “bunny” has given the FBI a promising lead on the killer’s whereabouts—but are they walking into a trap?

In a race against time, and with her sister’s life hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel the link between the 12 captives and end the killer’s dark game once and for all. Is this killer toying with her? Does he truly have her sister? Will he ever give her back?

Or will Maya end up sucked too deep into this killer’s twisted cat-and-mouse game to notice that she, herself, is the prey?

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks

181 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 23, 2021

About the author

Bestselling author Molly Black is author of the MAYA GRAY FBI suspense thriller series, comprising nine books (and counting); of the RYLIE WOLF FBI suspense thriller series, comprising six books; of the TAYLOR SAGE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising eight books; of the KATIE WINTER FBI suspense thriller series, comprising eleven books (and counting); of the RUBY HUNTER FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting), and of the CAITLIN DARE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting).

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Molly loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.mollyblackauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

BOOKS BY MOLLY BLACK

GRACE FORD FBI THRILLER

NEARLY MINE (Book #1)

NEARLY SAFE (Book #2)

NEARLY FREE (Book #3)

NEARLY GONE (Book #4)

NEARLY HIS (Book #5)

CAITLIN DARE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

COME GET ME (Book #1)

COME FIND ME (Book #2)

COME TAKE ME (Book #3)

COME CATCH ME (Book #4)

COME SAVE ME (Book #5)

RUBY HUNTER FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

IF I RUN (Book #1)

IF I TELL (Book #2)

IF I LIVE (Book #3)

IF I FORGET (Book #4)

IF I RETURN (Book #5)

MAYA GRAY MYSTERY SERIES

GIRL ONE: MURDER (Book #1)

GIRL TWO: TAKEN (Book #2)

GIRL THREE: TRAPPED (Book #3)

GIRL FOUR: LURED (Book #4)

GIRL FIVE: BOUND (Book #5)

GIRL SIX: FORSAKEN (Book #6)

GIRL SEVEN: CRAVED (Book #7)

GIRL EIGHT: HUNTED (Book #8)

GIRL NINE: GONE (Book #9)

RYLIE WOLF FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

FOUND YOU (Book #1)

CAUGHT YOU (Book #2)

SEE YOU (Book #3)

WANT YOU (Book #4)

TAKE YOU (Book #5)

DARE YOU (Book #6)

TAYLOR SAGE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

DON’T LOOK (Book #1)

DON’T BREATHE (Book #2)

DON’T RUN (Book #3)

DON’T FLINCH (Book #4)

DON’T REMEMBER (Book #5)

DON’T TELL (Book #6)

DON’T HIDE (Book #7)

DON’T BLINK (Book #8)

KATIE WINTER FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

SAVE ME (Book #1)

REACH ME (Book #2)

HIDE ME (Book #3)

BELIEVE ME (Book #4)

HELP ME (Book #5)

FORGET ME (Book #6)

HOLD ME (Book #7)

PROTECT ME (Book #8)

REMEMBER ME (Book #9)

CATCH ME (Book #10)

WATCH ME (Book #11)

Reviews

[Gale Costa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m enjoying this series, and the Chase the moonlight killer is sending Maya and the FBI after other murderers. I don’t like the fact that some things are done against normal procedure for the FBI or Law enforcement. One example is when Maya goes into interview a dangerous murderer that is already in prison they have the man in handcuffs, but not connected to the table. So she confronts him and aggravates him, and he jumps up and goes over the table at her. Things like that don’t happen or at least they shouldn’t. But other than a few realistic incidences I’ve been really enjoying the series.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting concept for a mystery series, I just wish the execution was better. In my opinion. I didn’t love the first book but I did enjoy it. This one I did not. You can’t tell me someone is strong and smart and then spend a book with her whining the entire time, and jumping to conclusions. Also, this book takes part in the US with a US born lead. Using the word torch instead of flashlight is annoying. It would be different if this was set in a different country or a person from another country.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maya Gray is still on the case of her sister’s kidnapper. She is tasked with investigating cold case murders attributed to the Moonlight Killer. Someone is arrested for a killing but they really aren’t the real culprit. If Maya fails the killer punishes one of ‘his bunnies’ then sends Maya a postcard or a body. Unfortunately the FBI’s communication network has been compromised or there’s a traitor in the mix. Her overzealous boss just wants the glory of catching a serial killer and isn’t invested in saving Maya’s sister.

[Chelsea McInerney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was the exact same as the first; just with different sexist men, different suspects and a different killer. Very slow going to begin with too. Onto book 3 we go now though, because we’re too far in to give up on who has Megan …

[Marcia Gray-Wilkerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 well I’m officially addicted to this series

[Carolina Rojas · Rating 4 out of 5]

On to the next book!

[Vickie Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 Stars

[Lara Aelric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think overall I enjoyed this book less than I did the first one but I'm still invested in continuing the series to see what happens.

There were a few spots that jarred me a little, either catching me off guard or feeling like a glaring inconsistency. As with the last book, since I listened to it on audiobook I'm unable to go back and double check to see if I heard anything incorrectly.

1. The doctor said they managed to keep Liza alive, but in the chapter that immediately followed everyone was talking about how she was dead as if it was a known fact. I wouldn't have had an issue with her dying off screen if the last thing I'd heard hadn't been the doctor specifically saying that they'd managed to save her before kicking the FBI out. It feels like there was no reason not to just let her heart fail then rather than doing it off screen, especially since there was no lingering remorse about the timing.

2. One of the reasons Maya called Marco was because she said Harris was too excited about the moonlight killer angle, but then she immediately calls Harris after getting off the phone with Marco and is surprised when he seems to "already know" about that angle. "You didn't think I would figure it out?" Of course he did. They already talked about this.

3. I know the guy got into her head at the end but it felt so inconsistent with her established personality that she didn't think of all the things Marco pointed out after catching the killer. Saving her sister (and the kidnapped women) and doing anything to give them the best chance of safety has been almost solely on her mind, but in that moment Marco had to remind her of those things. It wasn't an end of the world inconsistency because I can understand the headspace she'd slipped into, but it felt more like the author was trying to confirm why he'd make a good partner for her rather than a natural conclusion for her to reach.

I really like Marco and I'm glad to see I was right in thinking that he'd find his way back into the picture.

These last two spoilers are end-book related, so I've separated them out.

I'm also still not entirely sure how they managed to miss the killer in their original intensive search into the inmates, since they searched for people who'd been in all four prisons and found the other prisoner that way. Eighteen months is plenty of time to get locked back up but have still been out of prison at the right time to commit the four murders.

I'm now interested to see how long it takes Maya's Moonlight Killer theory to be disproved. I had a similar theory while listening to book one, with the idea that someone out there was trying to set the Moonlight Killer's kills straight, but there are a lot more books in the series, so I'm interested to see whether this theory gets disproven or, if it gets confirmed, to see how the author keeps things surrounding that knowledge interesting through the rest of the books to come.

[Kathy Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrénaline!!!

Wow il reste encore au moins 3 livres à lire pour connaître la vraie issue de cette chasse à L'HOMME... Ces livres se lisent facilement sans fioriture... On se retrouve au côté de l'agente Gray, pour réfléchir avec elle afin retrouver vivante la femme qui sera libérée si elle réussit à gagner au jeu que L'HOMME lui impose de jouer!!! Va t elle retrouver sa soeur après toutes ces courses effrénée!?!!

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maya isn't getting any smarter.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Girl Two: Taken" starts off immediately after the first book in the series - oddly Maya Grey, 39, has apparently lost a couple of years in the interval.
In the blurb for the first book she is described as: "Special Agent Maya Gray, 39, has seen it all." Just seven pages into book two "she caught a glimpse of herself reflected in the glass of Liza Carty’s room ... her features looking their thirty five years and more now that she was tired."
Another oddity is that the rescued kidnap victim, Liza Carty, dies in hospital within a short time. She appeared to be in relatively good health, the medical staff were not overly concerned ... she's dead. It doesn't make any sense yet no-one questions it and never revealed what caused it.
For a series that depends on Maya solving a cold case to save a kidnapped woman, she is left hanging for five chapters until she receives a postcard - prison guard Samantha Neele, of Pollock, Louisiana, stabbed to death 18 months ago by her former boyfriend Jonathan Dennis, now convicted of the killing.
Her investigations, again with Det. Marco Spinelli by her side, lead her to the murders of three other female prison guards over the years. That, in turn, leads to a number of dead ends before the killer is finally unmasked.
Maya, however, is increasingly concerned that whoever kidnapped her sister and the other woman may by the Midnight Killer and by the quality of the information concerning her investigation he is getting. Is there a leak or a connection between the Midnight Killer and the FBI?
Her increasing attraction to Marco is put, by him, on the back burner until they no longer work together and that means we'll probably have to wait a long time for any romantic development!
"Girl Two: Taken" is a solid procedural but is very formulaic, I'll probably read another one or two books in the series, but I can't see my interest lasting beyond that.
3 Stars.

[Toni Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly Black masterfully weaves a complex narrative that hooks you from the start. The plot is a whirlwind of suspense and intrigue as we follow Maya's journey to uncover the truth behind a seemingly cold case. The story's pacing is excellent, keeping you on the edge of your seat as Maya navigates a world of prisons and ex-cons. The twist that the murder is part of a series adds a layer of depth and urgency, making it difficult to pause the audiobook.
​The characters are well-developed, particularly Maya, whose determination and personal stake in the case make her a relatable protagonist. The emotional tension is palpable, especially with her sister's life hanging in the balance. The parallel FBI investigation provides a nice contrast, highlighting the different angles of the same case and adding to the overall suspense.
​The audiobook is a great way to experience this story. The narration is clear and engaging, bringing the characters and plot to life. It makes for an effortless listen, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the mystery without any distractions. The only reason it doesn't get a perfect 5 stars is that a few of the plot points, while exciting, felt a little predictable at times. However, this is a minor critique in an otherwise stellar thriller.
​Overall, Girl, Two Taken is a fantastic addition to the genre. It's a fast-paced, suspenseful, and highly entertaining book that will keep you guessing until the very end. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good crime thriller.

[Jennifer Sturm · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this a zero star I would have. It's the same book over and over again. The ending is the same. Everything is the same except different killers. I love the concept and I was very excited for this series. IT just so disappointing. I could recite the ending in every book. I didn't start picking up on it until book 3-4. By book 5 I was getting annoyed but I told myself it would change. It didn't! By book 8 I was ready to stop listening to them but I figured I made it this far, I can finish it off. Well, new book.... and it's just the same. Maya off doing her own thing and getting in trouble, Check! Maya fight with sister and Marco, check! Maya getting assigned the case, check! Big screw up in the case, has the wrong guy, Check! Killer not mentioned until the last few chapters, Check! Maya also dying by garrote, Check. Maya thinks of sister and Marco while dying, Check. Marco shows up to save Maya, Check. Marco gets hurt, Check. Marco almost dies, Check. Maya saves Marco, Check. Every Book! It's like the author just went in and deleted the killer and replaced with new killer and sent it to publishing. This is just my opinion but I'd say don't waste your time.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I enjoyed Girl One - I got into this one so much more. The pacing was much tighter, and I was properly hooked from the beginning.

The FMC really comes into her own here and I felt a lot more connected to her. It’s got all the thriller tropes I love: missing persons, small-town secrets, strong female lead and that constant “who can you really trust?” vibe. It also has the potential love interest to give it a little more depth.

Without giving spoilers, I know before reading it how the story is going to develop and that gives the ‘Girl’ series a sense of predictability.. however in Girl Two I found the twists landed so much better, the tension kept building, and while parts of the plot seem a little far fetched, overall it feels like the series has finally hit its stride. Definitely one of those “just one more chapter” reads. I’m way more invested now and already looking forward to Girl Three: Trapped.

[Maegan Cutrone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maya Gray is on the hunt again, and this time she is trying to solve the case of a murdered corrections officer. She was able to solve the first case, even if she was an hour late, and the first 'bunny' was freed, only to die later in the hospital. Now she has her second assignment. Working as fast as she can, and finding one plausible suspect after another, will she do it in time to save another kidnapped woman? This time she has a partner, someone she met on the first case, and for the first time she wasn't against it. But this time she does not have the cooperation of local law enforcement, quite the opposite in fact, which is only making her job harder. A quickly approaching deadline, a hunky side-kick she can't decide if she wants to get closer to, and an arrogant sheriff who stands in her way at every turn. Will she finally save her missing sister?

[Kirsten Marie Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave the first book in the series a 5 star review, but too many inconsistencies remained in this one to go unnoticed. First, this is a book set in the USA with American characters..yet the word torch is used for flashlight and the word theater is used for operating room. Very odd.

The fact that the detective from her first case shows up to help her with this case, by the meddlings of her boss seems far too absurd to be believable.

The fight scene in the prison interview room towards the end is terribly unbelievable...no one would be put into that situation.

Decent story, but not sure I'll continue the series. I actually like FBI agent Gray/Grey in the first book, but in this second book she lost her likeabilty a little.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maya Gray is a cold case investigator for the FBI, that is until she receives a mysterious post card explaining that 12 girls are being held hostage and its up to Maya to set one free. All she has to do is solve a cold case of the perp's choosing. Maya discovers her missing sister is one of the 12 'bunnies' being held by this man and Maya is determined to find him, although her boss keeps making the wrong decisions, angering the perp.

I was shocked how much I enjoyed these books considering I hadn't heard of them before discovering them on Spotify. I intend at some point to pick up the following books to see how the series pans out.

[Destiny Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an okay follow-up, but it didn’t grab me quite like the first book did. I liked the main character and the premise had a lot of potential, but parts of the story felt rushed and some of the twists were a little too convenient. I found myself wanting more depth—especially when it came to the supporting characters and the emotional weight behind the case.

That said, the pacing was quick and the writing was easy to follow, which made it a decent weekend read. I’m still curious enough to continue the series, but I’m hoping the next book dives a little deeper and brings more complexity to both the plot and the characters.

[Melissa Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I again had trouble with Maya Gray’s consistency. She’s supposed to be a smart, seasoned FBI agent—but she keeps making odd choices, like ignoring procedure and rushing into dangerous situations. At times she acts logically, and other times she’s driven purely by emotion.
It also took a while for the story to really get going, which made it harder to stay engaged in the beginning. The case of the murdered corrections officer is suspenseful and the pacing does pick up, but Maya’s inconsistent behavior kept pulling me out of the story.
I’m too far into this series to pull out before finding out who the kidnapper is.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Girl Two: Taken and found it interesting (at least a new trend) a murderer wanting to set the record straight regarding his wrongdoings. It takes Maya in a desperate run against time to discover the culprit in order to release one more girl from the hands of the murderer/kidnapper. A good, and well-written plot that keeps the reader's attention from the beginning. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I downloaded a free copy of this book through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another solid read

## This was an interesting read that kept me engaged throughout. I'm glad that Maya was able to save one of the girls. It was. frustrating when the first one died; all that effort and scrambling for nothing. But this one is alive (so far), so that's a win. I read in the synopsis of book 3 that Maya returns to the prison from this book. I'm debating whether to continue this series. She was treated pretty poorly there. Fighting with everyone. It was a little exhausting. However, so far I've enjoyed book 1 & 2.

[Carrie Esler · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4
I think I liked #2 better than the first.
Maya is, of course, the best agent ever and every local police officer is an idiot and corrupted and fighting against her. But overall, the storyline was interesting and a quick read.
I think I like her almost 'partner' more than her, but that might be intentional.

I'll keep reading the series to see if the other 'bunnies' are released. No shock that they will be given the # of books in the series, but entertaining even when you can predict the endings.

[Louise McIntosh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, I didn't think this series could get worse, but damn, it did.

This time, Maya is not only smarter than everyone, but they all seems to be straight up idiots compared to her.
And somehow in contradiction to this, she is constantly rushing in and making mistake after mistake after mistake.

Also, I can accept quite a bit of things to make a storyline work, but this goes beyond the pale. She gets a convicted felon out of jail in two days because of two phonecalls, which no one but her noticed???

This book is a big No Thanks from me.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is interesting enough, but the writing is weak. We heard Maya's thoughts along the way, and it's hard to take her seriously as an FBI agent with the juvenile notions that roll through her thoughts.

Based on the volume of books that "Molly Black" produces, it's entirely possible that she is actually a writing team using some automation to produce the novels.

If you can get past some of the ridiculous dialogue, these have been a fun listen while I'm running errands around town.

[Cynthia A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl Two, who is she?

Maya was upset that girl one died after being rescued. The killer was playing a big game with her. Would she be able to save this one?
She was sent to Louisiana to find a killer. The sheriff was uncooperative and tried to derail her case.
Maya still kept going, but the results were surprising.
Another good book. Looking forward to book three.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome series

Second book in this series, kept me wanting to not put my kindle down. Maya is a dedicated FBI agent with a very motivated reason to find the real killer. Their are many twist and turns with just a hint of a romantic back story starting. This series is well worth your time to read. Starting next book immediately, no time to waste.

[Joan Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as much as the first (Girl One) which you should read first since it set up all that follows. Good logic and several wrong but believable turns. And some really annoying guys, and a few criminals, put away. And you have to like an FBI agent who's doing her best - and doubts herself from time to time.

[Samantha Buckle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook
The continuation from previous book to the next is flawless! I love how you listen to one and its like the book never ended in the next. Like one continuous book.
Talon Davids voice and range of voices identifies with each character.
The case in this book shows growth in the plot and the characters.
Let's keep the romance going!
LOVE THIS SERIES.

[John Hail · Rating 5 out of 5]

the challenge continues

Good read and continues from the first book. We had a gap in when we were able to get this second so a little summary, at the beginning, would have been helpful, but exciting and fast-paced story line. Believable and characters seemed real. Intrigue and suspense and details keeps the reader engaged with the text. Wonder what is next?