Jamie Brandt was not a bad mother. Later she would tell that to anyone who would listen: police, reporters, lawyers, her parents, her boyfriend, her dealer, the new bartender with the knuckle tattoos at Schultz’s, the investigator from California and her partner, and her own reflection in the bathroom mirror, right before cracking her forehead on the sink’s edge and passing out from the cocktail of pain, grief, and fear.
When two sisters disappear from a parking lot while their mother is in Kmart, the devastated family hires bounty hunter Alice Vega to help find the girls. Immediately shut out by a local police department already stretched too thin by budget cuts and the growing meth epidemic, Vega enlists the help of a disgraced former cop, Max Caplan. Cap is a man trying to put the scandal of his past behind him and move on, but Vega needs his help, and she will not be denied.
With little to go on, Vega and Cap will go to extraordinary lengths to untangle a dangerous web of lies, false leads, and complex relationships to find the girls before time runs out, and they are gone forever.
About the Author
Louisa Luna is the author of the novels Brave New Girl, Crooked, and Serious As A Heart Attack. She was born and raised in the city of San Francisco and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.
Industry Reviews
'Opening this book is like arming a bomb-the suspense is relentless and the payoff is spectacular. Lead character Alice Vega is sensational-I want to see lots more of her.' * Lee Child, #1 Bestselling author of The Midnight Line *
'Sensational...One of the book's great pleasures is seeing Caplan and Vega's initially testy entanglement develop into a true partnership. But there are many other aspects in Ms. Luna's story to savour as well...quick psychological revelations that pierce the heart.' * Wall Street Journal *
'This tautly written thriller balances suspense with strong characterisations and insightful reflections on motherhood. The story unfolds quickly, and it will hold your attention until the end.' * Canberra Times *
'[A] turbulent, razor-sharp book...this is a beautifully taut firecracker of a read.' * Readings *
'An engrossing mystery bulging with so many memorable characters...the writing is superb and the witty repartee between Vega and Cap, even as they deal with society's lowest, is a delight. The ending is as shocking as it is unexpected. It's a truly gripping read.' * Michael Rowland *
'This was so good, unforgettable characters (Alice Vega is brilliant), couldn't put it down.' * Chris Whitaker, author if Tall Oaks and All The Wicked Girls *
'Loved Two Girls Down by Louisa Luna. Tense, measured, spare writing, badass but relatable heroes, and a payoff that's worth every word of the wait. Whoever this Lee Child fella is on the cover, he's not wrong.' * Rod Reynolds, author of Black Night Falling *
