D.B. Woodling's Reviews > Local Girl Missing

Local Girl Missing was my introduction to Lisa Regan’s work, and to Josie Quinn, mild-mannered detective. Homebound from a much too short honeymoon on a foggy, winding mountain road, Josie and her detective husband, Noah, encounter a murdered young woman (Dina Hale), her fleeing companion (Allison Mills), and a killer on the run. Not exactly the homecoming they envisioned.

Hindered by seemingly irrelevant, sparse clues, Josie believes her best shot at solving the murder lies in locating Allison. Discovering a local hotel employed both the girls, Josie begins her search there and thinks she may have struck pay dirt when stumbling upon a photo, which suggests Allison’s interest in working at the hotel wasn’t relegated to collecting a paycheck. But when someone puts a bullet through Allison’s suspected love interest’s head (Max Combs) after ransacking his house, Josie finds herself scratching her head and back at square one.

With Dina’s murderer in custody and believing the contents of a mysterious black bag stolen from Max holds the key to the murder and the escalating possibilities surrounding motive, Josie realizes she’s not dealing with a single suspect or random acts of violence.

Interspersed throughout the novel is a somewhat disturbing secondary story involving a mysterious girl, which adds an additional layer of mystery. Because Local Girl Missing is a solid whodunit, mystery buffs will eagerly embrace Ms. Regan’s latest book. Those craving fast-paced action may find the pacing a bit slow, exceedingly at times, though most will find their patience rewarded in the end. Much appreciation to Lisa Regan, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the ARC.