Solid Second Installment

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Having read the first book of the Alice Vega series, I was interested in reading this next installment. The first book in the series, Two Girls Down, was a good mystery with a memorable duo to root for. Since I especially enjoyed the Alice Vega and Max Caplan camaraderie in the first installment, I had elevated hopes for The Janes. This book met my expectations for the most part, but left me a little underwhelmed at times.

I must say that I still enjoy the characters of Alice Vega and Max Caplan. Alice Vega, who I am sure most people would identify as an equivalent to Lee Child's Jack Reacher, is rock solid and always on the hunt. This story gives you a tad more information about her personal life and lets you see behind her steely facade more than the opening installment. Max Caplan, who reminds me of Chief Hopper of Stranger Things, is perpetually tired of everything and always underestimated as a retired cop turned private investigator. I've enjoyed their solid partnership and friendship and how the trauma they have endured has given them a certain bond over the course of the past two books. I'm not sure how I feel about how their relationship evolved in this book and will leave it at that for now.

In regards to the actual story, it definitely had good bones and I was invested in the outcome of the people involved. However, the first half of this book, particularly the latter part of the first half, seemed to slog along for me. This book seemed a little too long for what I though it needed to be for a good story. If you're looking for a story that details the thorough scenes of an investigation then this may be a book for you. For the most part, especially in that first half, there is no "Cut to four scenes later with no explanation of how they found out the results of the autopsy or lab results." No CSI shortcuts here. Luna has the characters going to the morgue, the person of interest's house, etc. No having a throw-in character explain it in two sentences as a way to cut to the chase. I'm not saying this is a negative aspect of the book, just that it slowed the story for me during parts of the book. However, once you hit the second half of the book, it jogs through the main scenery of the plot at a clipped pace.

Overall, I give it a 3 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed it as a mystery and second installment in the Alice Vega series. I still enjoy following Alice Vega and Max Caplan. I still enjoy Caplan's sweet relationship asides with is daughter, Nell. It met my expectations for the story and the series. Wouldn't mind reading the next installment, if not to see where the two main characters are heading.

I would like to thank NetGalley for an eARC of this book.