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.

A very interesting start to the new series. We have Charles, a PI, back in her hometown of Salem Island. A school friend asks Charles to help find her missing daughter. The story angle soon moves to drugs, lies and much more. Allie, Charles' twin, was murdered years ago. Finding the missing daughter brings back memories Charles has been trying to push away for years now.
The story is well-written. The ending seemed a little hurried up and hence a 4-star rating. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Book Description:

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.

Detective Charlie Winters never thought she’d find herself back on Salem Island, but she’s forced home re-open the wound that never healed: her sister was abducted from the small town when they were teenagers. But now a family friend needs her 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 jewellery 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…

An absolutely unputdownable crime thriller that will leave you gasping for breath. Fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Lisa Regan will need to sleep with the lights on!

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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Author Bio:

L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain are the authors of the Violet Darger series and The Scattered and the Dead series among others, which have collectively tallied over a million downloads. Their book, Dead End Girl, peaked at #3 in the US Kindle charts and has remained in the top 10 in multiple sub-categories since it was published in 2017.

https://ltvargus.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ltvargusbooks/
https://twitter.com/ltvargus

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3m81ebE
Apple: https://apple.co/2NQmRh3
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2BNOBzU
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2YEEhmW

A solid crime series for fans of the slow reveal. Vargus and McBain offer their characteristically flawed protagonist that draws readers in. As a veteran fan of these authors, the plot felt underwhelming in comparison to their other work. All aspects of the narrative from the plot to the characterization seemed a bit muted for them. However, that being said, it was fun read witnessing the main character's utilization of an alter ego of sorts. It will be interesting to watch this series develop.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the ARC of #FirstGirlGone which was read and reviewed voluntarily. All thought and opinions are my own.

Well...I read this in one sitting.

This is a new to me author and I have to say, I couldn’t put it down. So dang good I loved Charlie, and I’m very intrigued to where the series will go.

I also loved that she talked to her dead sister. This book had a lot of great dialogue...her conversations with Allie at times were downright hysterical. I laughed out loud.

Great characters, great dialogue and a mystery that kept me going. All around a really good book.

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.

First Girl Gone is the first book in what I hope will be a dynamic series focusing around Charlie Winters, private detective. Working for her lovable, but cancer-stricken Uncle, Charlie takes a case regarding a missing girl - with many parallels to her own sister's disappearance. And throughout the book, Charlie has Kara's voice in her head... sometimes guiding, sometimes teasing, and always near the forefront. Charlie's relationship with her Uncle is very special - I enjoyed those chapters so much. Once you start this book - you will not be able to put it down. It's a wonderful introduction to a fantastic character, Charlie Winters!

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.

First Girl Gone takes place in a small town called Salem Island in Michigan. The book starts with a teenage girl, Kara, goes missing. Kara’s mom hires a private detective, Charlie to help find Kara. Charlie has recently moved back to her hometown of Salem Island. Charlie’s twin sister, Allie, was abducted in high school. Charlie keeps thinking about Allie while investigating Kara’s disappearance. Allie’s killer was never caught. Charlie believes Allie and Kara’s cases are related. Misty is someone from Kara’s past. Charlie has to make some uncomfortable discoveries and come to difficult conclusions.

I really injured First Girl Gone. I was instantly invested in the story. The first chapter is from Kara’s perspective and the rest of the book is from Charlie’s perspective. I was really trying to figure out who the kidnapper was and could not figure it out. I felt like Charlie handled things rationally. A lot of books like this I feel like the main character either is not smart enough or too smart, but Charlie was a normal person.

One of my favorite parts of First Girl Gone is the characters. Charlie is a loner with very few friends. Charlie’s best friend is Zoe, a deputy at the local sheriff’s department. Zoe is one of the most loyal people ever. I love Zoe’s interactions with Charlie. Charlie’s main focus is work, so isn’t always the best friend to Zoe. Zoe is always there for Charlie and understands Charlie so well. Charlie’s other “friend” is her Uncle Frank. Uncle Frank is the only family Charlie has left. Uncle Frank is sick which is really hard for Charlie. Charlie’s last “friend” is Will. She has had a crush on him since childhood. Will and Charlie reconnect during this case. Will is a lawyer. He was Kara’s lawyer when she went missing. Kara had gotten in trouble shortly before disappearing, so most people think she left except her Mom and best friend. Charlie is a unique character and I really like her.

The only thing I didn’t really like about First Girl Gone was that Charlie talked and listened to Allie, her dead sister. This didn’t keep me from enjoying the book though. I also always like reading books with twins because I have a twin sister. Luckily, our life isn’t anything like Charlie and Allie’s.

First Girl Gone is the first book in the Charlotte Winters series and I cannot wait for the other books to be released. I signed up for my newsletter to find out when the next book is.
I recommend First Girl Gone to Mystery/Thriller fans. It is so good and I am looking forward to the rest of the series and reading more books by L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for First Girl Gone (Charlotte Winters book 1).

When Charlie Winters was a teenager on Salem Island her twin sister was abducted and never seen again. Ever since her funeral she's heard Allie's voice in her head providing a slightly caustic running commentary on her life. Back home again after vowing never to return Charlie's running her uncle's private detective agency while he fights his toughest battle yet against the cancer trying to kill him.

When an old school friend begs Charlie to try and find her missing daughter the past comes rushing back to collide with the present day and she has to help. With Allie once again putting her own slant on the investigation, which involves more than one of her old school friends, it becomes clear that a very dangerous perp once again stalks the darkness of Salem Island as another girl disappears.

The actual storyline was engaging throughout and I had no idea how it would end. There were plenty of possible candidates for kidnapper and I enjoyed their unmasking very much. The main protagonists were well written, believable and likeable which is always a plus.

I did however have a couple of problems with this book which spoilt it for me. Although Charlie was likeable her sister was another matter. Intensely annoying and distracting, I could see no real reason for her inclusion other than to add some originality to the much used plotline of traumatised main protagonist which for me would have been preferable I'm afraid. My second problem was with one of the recurring characters being called Leroy Gibbs which, as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, is the name of Mark Harmon's character in NCIS and was all I could see whenever he appeared.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who has read the work of these two authors and wants to enjoy their new series.  Without the sister this would get a 4.5 star rating and I will definitely try book two with the hope of getting past Allie's inclusion.

This is a really good murder / mystery / thriller about a woman (Charlie) whose sister (Allie) went missing years before and who has returned to her hometown to take up the role of PI. Her uncle had the business originally but he is struggling with cancer. Allie speaks to Charlie in her head and the relationship is real and creates an interesting dynamic to this thriller.

Another girl goes missing and Charlie decides to take the case.

This is a well written mystery that maintains interest throughout and I'm looking forward to learning more about what happened to Allie in future books?

A solid 3* Good Read and many thanks to Bookoutre and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview in exchange for this honest review.

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.

This was my first novel by these authors and it was really enjoyable. Sometimes when you read a book by more than one author it doesn’t flow well but this one is the exception.
This was a great start to a new series and I will be reading book two. The character of Private investigator Charlie was a good one with a unique twist that gives her depth. The other characters were also great and I look forward to learning more about them.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#FirstGirlGone #NetGalley

Charlie (Charlotte) Winters is a private investigator running her uncle's firm. Charlie's twin sister Allie disappeared many years ago. So when Charlie gets a case of a missing girl she is thrown back into the past. Can she overcome her feelings and solve this case objectively? Allie "talks" to Charlie throughout the book, which is a new twist on a story. I liked the characters and felt their pain. This is the first book in a new series. I am looking forward to the next one.

Thanks to netgalley, Bookouture and the authors for the arc

This series has potential, even though the first book did not fully convince me. I grew to like the Private Detective protagonist, Charlie, and I’d like to get to know her better, and I’m sure at some point she’ll find the truth about what happened to her sister. Charlie is a flawed, introverted character, with a couple of friends, and an old uncle she is worried about.

The book was too long, that was the main problem. A girl goes missing, and it didn’t move that much forward until another girl goes missing, and that got the ball rolling. Then it was packed with action, and the flow was good. I felt like the ending was a bit flat, and the culprit’s story was not that great. This could turn into a good series, but the books will have to be polished a bit more. 3,5 stars.

I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Private Detective Charlie Winters is asked by an old school friend to find her daughter Kara who has disappeared.
Charlie has returned home to Salem Island to take over her uncle’s PI agency - as he continues treatment for cancer. She left years previously to try and get away from the disappearance of her twin sister Allie. Allie still lives ‘in her head’ talking to her - which adds another dimension to the storyline- brining back memories of her twin sister.
During her search for Kara another local girl Amber disappears and the local police get involved - particularly Charlie’s old friend Zoe.
This is a well written and enjoyable story - even the conversations with her dead twin.
Charlie is haphazard in her approach so it is surprising she uncovers the killers.
A good, pacy thriller with enough twists and turns to keep the reader hooked.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this in return for an independent review.

Review

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

I struggled with the beginning but glad I made it! The rest of First Girl Gone is wonderful and I’m looking forwards to book number two!

I find books with multiple authors either fantastic or terrible and I’m glad to say this is a fantastic thriller. I fell in live with Charlotte, what a wonderful character! Please hurry up with the sequel!

I have read other books by the authors and thought they were great so I had high hopes for this. I was not disappointed and found myself whizzing through this. Really looking forward to reading more.

I liked this thriller. It kept my interest and I would read another in this series from this author.

The story and character development were really well done and I would recommend this book if you like a solid thriller.

After Violet Darger and Victor Loshak i was worried that a third protagonist from these writers wouldn't stack up but oh how wrong i was. I loved Charlotte from the very first chapter. Dynamic, smart, determined and passionate she was incredible. The story grabbed me and i was an invested as Charlotte in finding the truth. The back story mixed perfectly with her current investigation and i was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I can't wait to read more.