Vargus & McBain....awesome writers! This novel was Wow!! It grabbed me from the very beginning. Honestly, I felt like I was an invisible character in the book. When Charlie is called to investigate the death of the patriarch of the Carmichael family, she finds herself in a nest of whiners, drunks and snobs! Gloria Carmichael (the elder daughter) runs across some information that she wants to share with Charlie and decides to pay her a visit. Upon arriving at Charlie's place, Gloria is gruesomely killed by a speeding driver and whatever information she had goes with her. Charlie finds herself in a position where she has to interview the entire family.

My favorite character was Vivian, who happened to be the elder patriarch's girlfriend. All suspicion is thrown her way by the family and after Charlie interviews her, a different dynamic is thrown into the story. Vivian (and I couldn't help picturing Richard Gere yelling for Vivian in "Pretty Woman") and Charlie make a great team! It would be nice inserting her in a book somewhere (what do you think?).

In short, this novel is 1, 2, 3....Homerun! Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy. I read it right away! And, not disappointed.

An outstanding crime thriller that moves at a fast pace and keeps readers guessing until the very end. Vargus and McBain expertly weave a tale of deceit, murder, and revenge. The narrative gives an intriguing look into a prominent family’s deepest secrets. Every character is expertly crafted, offering their own energy and thereby engaging the reader. Absolutely love the dynamic of Charlotte and her alter ego that comes in the voice of her dead sister, Allie. Great read.

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

#bookouture #ltvargus #timmcbain #bookstagram #bookit #bookish #bookoutureanonymous #teambookouture #booksontour #bookblog #booktweets #readreviewrepeat #tbralert #suspensenovels #whodunit

I have the impression that more and more female main characters are featured in crime stories/thrillers. Of course there was the great Miss Marple many moons ago, but afterwards it seemed to me like men were taking over. I have nothing against men obviously but it feels good to see all those ladies in leading roles.
Those ladies are certainly forces to reckon with. They have a goal and that’s were they are headed, no matter who or what crosses their path.
In this series it’s Charlie (Charlotte), a PI, who is determined to show the perpetrators the fastest way to prison. Men or women, young or old, she makes no exception. Off they go. 😊 If she has to deal with a few attempts on her life fist, so be it. Nothing is going to stop her. I almost feel sorry for the baddies crossing her path. 😉
This time Charlie will find herself in very choppy waters, but even those won’t drag her under.
Sometimes I had the feeling I was reading a cosy mystery book. Sometimes chills were running down my spine because of the way the author built up the suspense. Sometimes I was smiling because of a funny passage. Sometimes I was suspecting A, changing my mind to B or C or back to A again, or …
If you want a array of emotions, this is the book for you. I enjoyed it a lot. 4 stars.

Thank you, LT Vargus, Tim McBain and Bookouture

Where there is a WILL there is a way. Money appears to be the root of all evil. Murder, mayhem & family feuding is the case Charlie is hired to unravel, at great risk to her own well- being. Enjoyed the storyline while keeping up the suspense until the end but found the character & constant narrative of Allie overdone. Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book has definitely given me all the feels. I have been completely addicted to this book and it is one that I literally haven't been able to put down. I have devoured this entire book in just one sitting.
This book has had me on the edge of my seat and I literally feel as though I have been on a rollercoaster. The characters are brilliant and it is easy to become invested in the characters of this book.
There are elements of this book which have made me hold my breath and feel completely on edge. However, the novel is so well-written you feel as though you are living the pages and events.
This is my favourite in this series so far and definitely a five star read.

Dutch Carmichael lay dead at the bottom of the stairs. Standing at the top of the stairs a silhouette staring down at him. Cold, detached.

When Charlie Winters came to work that morning little she had no idea that she was going to become entangled in the mess that Dutch Carmichael left behind when he died. The fortune that his children were fighting over and would do anything to control. Charlie's adventure in Carmichael Land began when Gloria Carmichael walked through the door of A1 Investigations. Gloria explained to Charlie that while going through her father's paperwork she found there was a large sum of money missing and wanted Charlie to find it. It was a troubling four hundred million dollars.

I really like this lead character Charlie Winters. She's smart and down to earth. The added bonus of her dead twin sister coming back to talk to her is so much fun, adds humor and compassion to Charlie's character.

I look forward to more books from Lex and Tim. With Charlie or any other characters that they bring to life.

First, I want to thank L.T. Vargus, Tim McBain, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review

WOW!!! Reading L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain’s latest book Girl Under Water was like playing the very modernized version of clue in your mind. Girl Under Water is a sequel to their first book First Girl Gone. I highly suggest you read that first so you get to know the main characters from the first book. I absolutely loved this book and it was so completely different from their other books.

If you read the last book then you will remember how Charlie’s twin sister passed and her voice is in her head. You will hear a lot of Allie once again in this book. Plus, Charlie’s Mom is back as well.

With an incredible writing team like L.T Vargus and Tim Bain it is hard to know who wrote what part of the story. Right off the bat they captured my attention in the prologue. It was extremely dramatic, detailed, graphic (I could feel Dutch’s pain) and not to mention very suspenseful. It left you with a cliffhanger that we wouldn’t find out til the end.

Girl Under Water literally has something for everyone’s taste! Tragic deaths, sibling rivalries, extremely juicy secrets, family drama, celeb chefs, investigations, etc.

I loved how Charlotte Winters got to investigate and get to know all of Dutch’s Sons and Daughters. Each of them had their own unique personality and loved bashing eachother. As she got to know them she got a tour of their beautiful big house! I was in awe of how many bedrooms and bathrooms!

I am a fan of Bobby Flay and enjoy watching him on the Food Network. So, I loved how he was mentioned in Vivien’s storyline.

There were so many interesting stories within the main storyline. So many twists, turns and shocking revelations revealed!

Oh Snap!! L.T. And Tim actually went there!! Mind blown totally shocked with the ending that I would have not guessed in a million years!! Way to spice up the story last minute! Loved the twist!

First off I want to say huge thank you to the publisher Bookouture , the authors LT Vargus and Tim McBrian as well as to NetGalley for inviting me to join the blog tour for this book as well as letting me read and review. This was my fist time reading anything by these authors and it won't be my last, in fact I just realized that I have book 1 to read as well, and after reading this one I can't wait to get to that one especially since this one was so suspenseful right from the very start and had me trying to guess who was lying and who was telling the truth. Another thing I loved was the interaction between the characters .

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Girl under Water, the second novel to feature PI Charlie Winters, set in Salem Island, Michigan.

After the success of her last case (see First Girl Gone) Charlie is asked by wealthy socialite Gloria Carmichael to look into her father “Dutch”’s death and find his will and missing millions. Her siblings aren’t overly enthusiastic about a stranger poking about the family secrets, even more so when Gloria is killed before revealing one of them.

I enjoyed Girl under Water which is a high octane read with plenty of action, deaths and secrets, some more credible than others, but which still add to the readability. It is told from Charlie’s point of view so the reader knows what she knows and is able to get immersed in the read. It is fairly standard fare with one revelation leading to another, a few twists thrown in for confusion and an action packed conclusion. It is, however, well done and had me turning the pages to see what was coming next. I would never have guessed what Charlie found out.

The novel revolves around Charlie and she’s a great character. She is smart, strong and, at times, sassy although her twin sister, Allie, gets the best lines. To be clear, Allie disappeared twenty years ago but keeps up a running commentary on events. It is up to the reader to decide whether it is a supernatural thing or Charlie’s way of coping. Whichever, her sarcasm is amusing.

Girl under Water is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I haven't read the first book in the series, First Girl Gone yet, but after reading this second one, I'm looking forward it because there are many great things that I need answers to.
The story is full of suspenseful twists and turns that kept me glued to my kindle because I love a great family drama when that family is rich and famous and they are all about the millions and how to always look the part when in reality it's nothing like that.
It's a fast paced read, with many characters that have a special effect in the story and bring all the suspense in the who and why murdered Dutch.
Everyone has a secret and a motive to hide something and the author manages to write an interesting story overall about power, revenge and greediness.

Thanks to #Netgalley #Bookouture and the authors for the opportunity to read "Girl Under Water", the second book in the Charlie Winters Investigations series in return for a fair and honest review.

Having recently read the first book in the series - and enjoyed it very much - I jumped at the chance to read "Girl Under Water" (and, she does spend quite too much time under water in this one, through no fault of her own).

When "Dutch" Carmichael dies of a supposed accident in his palatial estate, the family discovers that a large portion of their inheritance seems to be missing. So they hire Charlie Winters to a) find out what happened to the missing millions and b) to maybe discover just who it was who knocked Dutch on the head and pushed him down a flight of stairs.

Was it one of his large brood - Marjory, Brandon, Jude, Gloria or Dara? Gloria Carmichael really wants to know, and she wants to know what happened to the estate. But, mere minutes after calling Charlie to say she'd discovered something sordid in her family, Gloria meets an untimely and bloody death practically right in front of Ms. Winters' eyes. Was it one of the family? And why?

Things take a darker turn when Charlie is forced off the road and into the water by what appears to be the exact same car that did for Gloria? And then, another of the family attempts suicide.

The story barrels right along (and Charlie's twin sister is along for the ride again) from peril to peril and from discovery to discovery to the ultimate climax and a solution to everything.

Oh, and Uncle Frank is coming back! So stay tuned for the further adventures of Winters Investigations.

All in all, a great addition to the series and highly recommended.

Loved the book! A great follow up to First Girl Gone. Well written and a great storyline. Please make another Charlie Winters story. I’m almost done with the Victor Loshak series and will read the Violet Darger one as well. I’ve been a fan since TSATD. Thanks again for the preview. I’m still buying this when it comes out. It’s the least I can do.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, but, wow! This is even better. It can be read as a standalone but I’d highly recommend you read the first book as it sets the scene so well for Charlie Winters as a PI and her sister, Allie, who has been missing for a number of years and whose voice she hears every day. It’s a fabulous voice too, full of inappropriate phrases and their relationship, albeit odd, is a critical element of this book.

An incredibly rich man has been found murdered and Charlie takes the case. It appears, right from the off that there are many secrets in the family and as Charlie progresses her investigation much is slowly revealed. Then there is her private life, she is continuing to grieve for her missing sister, her uncle, Frank, has cancer and her mother is a challenge, but, all is handled with humour and this is an interesting second book in a series I’m keen to follow.

Many thanks to NetGalley and BookOutre for the opportunity to preview and congratulations to the authors.

Survival Instinct Kicks In....
Detective Charlie Winters book two and Winters has another complex case thrust upon her. Taking matters into her own hands, putting herself at huge risk, she needs her survival instinct to kick in fast. Tautly plotted thriller which successfully creates a mounting tension throughout. Some odd loose ends apparent although, admittedly, these may well be picked up in future books. An enjoyable sequel.

This is a terrific follow up to book one and it was so good to be back with Charlie and Frank in what is fast becoming another favourite series of mine these are characters that are so likeable and that really makes for an added bonus in the read.The way the book is written is so well done especially the rapport that goes on in Charlie’s head between her and Allie her missing sister and it made me laugh quite a number of times due to Allie’s wicked sense of humour.
Charlie is brought into a new case of a suspected murder and missing money of the wealthy patriarch of the Carmichael family and it was a thrill a minute ride which left me guessing right to the conclusion it was a well thought out plot line and interesting.
So great writing, brilliant plot and and plenty more in a read that I totally loved and can highly recommend, I look forward to reading the next in the series.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Girl Under Water by LT Vargus and Tim McBain is the second book in the Charlotte Winters, PI series. Charlotte/Charlie Winters is running A1 Investigations while her Uncle Frank is recovering from cancer treatments. Charlie has recently received attention for the previous Kara Dawkins case and one day she is hired for her biggest case yet.
Gloria Carmichael walks in and wants to hire Charlie because her famous father's billions are missing. Her father's death has been ruled as a homicide but the adult children want to find the will and the money. Charlie accepts the case and is soon in the middle of sibling strife, lies, and danger. Charlie is often accompanied by the voice of her twin sister, Allie. Only Charlie is able to hear this voice in her mind, but she finds some comfort in thinking her dead sister is with her. I think Allie's commentary is so amusing!
Charlie gets closer to the answers she needs to solve this case and she ends up under the water more than once. The mysterious red sports car that hit Gloria knocks Charlie's car off the road into the lake before she can get the Carmichael laptop to the police. The case intensifies after Charlie finds Marjory in her own blood, near death.
I won't post spoilers, but the pace never slows and the secrets within this family continue to be revealed.
Publication Date: December 17, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Keeps the action pulsing with enough intrigue to make it hard to turn the virtual pages fast enough. Thoroughly fleshed-out characters you tend to either like or dislike with enthusiasm. A great bedtime read that'll keep you engaged till the very end. Highly recommended!

*This book was provided free of charge in exchange for my honest review. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to participate in this program.*

Suspenseful and Intriguing.

I really enjoy this read great follow up to the first book in the series as we get to know Charlie more she is hired by Gloria Carmichael to investigate missing millions find a will and learn who is a killer.

As she interviewed each of the Carmichael siblings she realize they each has secrets that may be connected but what she does see is that each of them aren’t that worried about solving the case. When Gloria finds out a terrible secret that can destroy her family she tells Charlie before she died. Will Charlie be able to stop the killer before they kill again and will the secret she knows destroy this family as she fights for her life. I do feel some parts felt unfinished maybe they’ll be address in the next book.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

A fantastic follow-up to book 1. This one kept me guessing right up until the end. There were so many possiblities on who the killer could be and they all had valid reasons. My only complaint is I feel like a couple of the story lines were left unfinished - I felt like they were just left hanging without a conclusion. (Won't share because of spoilers). Other than that -- definitely recommend!!!

It could be read as a stand-alone but I prefer to read series in order.

Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.

So Charlie and Frank are back with Allie coming along for the ride again even though she has been dead for many years. This time she is investigating some missing millions and murder after the death of a wealthy business man. Although she has been hired by the family to investigate each one of the children seem to be hiding things and not really in a hurry to uncover the truth about their fathers death. This book does not disappoint and kept me hooked to the last page. I really love the dynamics of Charlie and Frank and think this is a great detective series as all of the characters feel very honest and real to me. Roll on the next book.