192 Days Missing is the second book in the Sara Flores Werewolf PI series by American author, Sue Denver. Sara Flores is setting up a very basic office for her PI business when her IT expert, Mason Spencer brings in a new client. George and Dyani Stintson are desperate: their daughter, Alaska Brown went missing 192 days earlier from the parking station of Tulsa’s Four Leaf Clover Casino, where she works as a cashier.

An eye-witness claimed she willingly got into a van with a swarthy man, and Tulsa police believe she went off with her boyfriend, but her parents vehemently deny that she would leave her teenaged son and daughter. Sara decides to take the case but, much as she would prefer to work alone, she realises they will need some muscle, so reluctantly calls on Connor Rockwood, a body-guard with a Special Forces background who assisted in her first case as a PI.

Mason also convinces her to bring in one of her previous rescues, events planner Judy Street, whose logistics skills will definitely come in handy. While Mason checks out possible suspects with whom Alaska has had adverse encounters, Connor infiltrates the casino’s security staff. Judy is excited about going under-cover into the casino to casually ask questions but this backfires when she’s the victim of a kidnapping attempt.

As a range of potential suspects (an ex-husband, a dodgy liquor store owner, a paroled paedophile, a local gang known for gun running, drugs and forgery) are eliminated or classified as hired thugs, Sara and her team close in on a possible location. A trip to Mexico, a lesson in drone use, a daring rescue (or two), quite a lot of bloodshed and a helicopter escape later, they still have to locate their object. Does Sara succeed?

Denver is building a Sara a team of capable and appealing members who provide muscle, IT smarts and organisational talents. Undaunted by her close shave, Judy relishes the challenge of making Sara’s PI business effective while keeping it under IRS radar. There’s plenty of fun banter between the characters which provides comic relief. Denver puts the emphasis on female self-sufficiency, and the werewolf aspect does not overwhelm the story.

Sara and her team specialise in rescues of those targeted by rich and powerful men whose hidden offshore accounts “donate” the funds that allow future rescues to be staged. Sara actions more than resemble vigilante justice, although most times she has solid proof if she takes on the role of judge, jury and executioner. At times it’s still necessary to don your disbelief suspenders, but the best advice is to just sit back and enjoy an entertaining ride.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and BooksGoSocial JGF Press