The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).
This is a series I want to read.
Kindle freebie on April 15, 2023 (currently $2.99 at Amazon and Barnes and Noble as of writing this post)
Audible purchase for $3.75 on December 17, 2020
Overall rating 4.20 with 27,496 ratings and 1,931 reviews
Vanishing Girls by Lisa Regan Narrator: Eilidh Beaton
Series: Detective Josie Quinn #1
Published by Audible, Bookouture on January 15, 2018
Genres: Thriller
Pages: 337
Length: 11 hours, 40 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Apple
She was close enough to see that the girl had written a word on the wall in bright, warm red blood. Not a word, actually. A name…
Everyone in the small American town of Denton is searching for Isabelle Coleman, a missing seventeen-year-old girl. All they’ve found so far is her phone and another girl they didn’t even know was missing.
Mute and completely unresponsive to the world around her, it’s clear this mysterious girl has been damaged beyond repair. All Detective Josie Quinn can get from her is a name: Ramona.
Currently suspended from the force for misconduct, Josie takes matters into her own hands as the name leads her to evidence linking the two girls. She knows the race is on to find Isabelle alive, and she fears there may be others…
The trail leads Josie to another victim, a girl who escaped but whose case was labelled a hoax by authorities. To catch this monster, Josie must confront her own nightmares and follow her instinct to the darkest of places. But can she make it out alive?
I’d been wanting to try this series before I bought the audios since they are Audible only. I’ve seen Jonetta’s reviews and wanted to read them. I had the ebook as a freebie and had bought the audio on sale. So it was an easy choice for this month to read Vanishing Girls.
Josie Quinn is suspended when we meet her. She is a detective in a small town in Denton, Pennsylvania. For some reason, I thought this series was set in England. Josie is trying to divorce her husband Ray, who she has known since childhood. He is also in the police. She is engaged to Luke who is in the state police.
Josie is a bit impulsive and while it is clear she has smarts to investigate the missing girls in town, she doesn’t seem to do it in a very legal way. She doesn’t seem very skilled in self defense or firearms either. But she has integrity and she cares. She goes right on investigating even though she is suspended.
She knows the force is shorthanded with many out looking for the girls. She’s kind of mad at the chief for suspending her. As she begins to figure out what is happening it is harder to know who to trust. She doesn’t really have any backup and goes on to try to expose the criminals. Ray begs her to stay out of it and she knows he knows more than he is saying.
I like Josie but she is a bit of a mess. I’ll be curious now to go on with the Josie Quinn series and watch her growth.
About Lisa Regan
Lisa Regan is the USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series as well as several other crime fiction titles. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English and a Master of Education degree from Bloomsburg University. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers Association, and Mystery Writers of America. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, daughter and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip.
Bluesky : @lisaregan.bsky.social
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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- 🎧 The Vanished Sister by Sherry Thomas @[email protected] @penguinaudio.bsky.social @berkleypub.bsky.social @sherrythomas @BerkleyPub @KateReadingVO @PRHAudio #LoveAudiobooks - October 1, 2026
- 🎧 The Dying Light by Ann Cleeves @anncleeves.bsky.social #JackHolden @macmillanaudio.bsky.social @minotaurbooks.bsky.social @AnnCleeves @MinotaurBooks @StMartinsPress - September 29, 2026
- Sunday Series:Rizzoli & Isles series by Tess Gerritsen @tessgerritsen.bsky.social @tanyaeby.bsky.social #BrillianceAudio #LoveAudiobooks #SundaySeries - September 27, 2026
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
I like the idea of starting with a messy character and then seeing what happens with her. Sounds like the husband is bad news!
She has a long connection with Ray who protected her as a child. But he is weak as an adult and makes some bad decisions. He’s not a truly bad guy but he is easily led astray.
Neat how a series you wanted to start came up with the first book free and reduced on the audio. I don’t mind a messy character at first, but tough go that they are both working together, too.
Jonetta likes this series so I am sure I will too. But the character has a ways to go.
LOve a messy character!
This series might be for you then, at least at the beginning as hopefully she learns some things over many books.
Sounds like a new series for you to enjoy! Great review!
yes I’ll have to collect these. There are 20 or so and Audible only.