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Claire Fletcher and Detective Parks #1
Finding Claire Fletcher
In the first book in bestselling author Lisa Regan’s new series, a one-night stand sets a detective on the trail of a terrifying unsolved crime.
With his career on thin ice and fresh ink on his divorce papers, Sacramento PD Detective Connor Parks goes searching for solace at the bottom of a bottle…and winds up in the arms of a beautiful woman. By morning she’s gone, and the one clue she left behind sends Connor on a desperate mission to unravel a decade-old mystery—her abduction.
Presumed dead for the last ten years, Claire Fletcher has been living her life as “Lynn,” a woman in the terrifying grip of her captor. After her unforgettable night with Connor, Claire clings to the hope that she’ll see him again, that he’ll follow her into the dark. But anyone who gets close to Claire has a way of turning up dead…and she’s unwittingly made Connor next on the list.
Before long, it becomes disturbingly clear: finding Claire Fletcher isn’t just going to be dangerous—it could be deadly.
Revised edition: This edition of Finding Claire Fletcher includes editorial revisions.>
With his career on thin ice and fresh ink on his divorce papers, Sacramento PD Detective Connor Parks goes searching for solace at the bottom of a bottle…and winds up in the arms of a beautiful woman. By morning she’s gone, and the one clue she left behind sends Connor on a desperate mission to unravel a decade-old mystery—her abduction.
Presumed dead for the last ten years, Claire Fletcher has been living her life as “Lynn,” a woman in the terrifying grip of her captor. After her unforgettable night with Connor, Claire clings to the hope that she’ll see him again, that he’ll follow her into the dark. But anyone who gets close to Claire has a way of turning up dead…and she’s unwittingly made Connor next on the list.
Before long, it becomes disturbingly clear: finding Claire Fletcher isn’t just going to be dangerous—it could be deadly.
Revised edition: This edition of Finding Claire Fletcher includes editorial revisions.>
430 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2012
4481 people are currently reading
10225 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Regan
57 books3,658 followersLisa 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 Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She is a member of Sisters In Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers’ Association, and International Thriller Writers. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, daughter and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,004 reviews
July 23, 2017
4+++ Stars! "EscapeEscapeEscapeEscapeEscapeEscape"
Oh I liked the way this one started....and ended!
Detective Connor Parks is having a really bad day....an unforgettable one....one of the worst of his life....and after having a few to drown his sorrows, he finds himself in the arms of a mysterious and intriguing woman....and working a cold case from ten years past.
FINDING CLAIRE FLETCHER definitely held me captive as the story evolved and the investigation began to take shape despite the despicable perverted demon who performed his sick acts upon the young and innocent. And boy, I was thinking 5 Star all the way too....until one darn implausible action...then two, took my rating down a notch.
Anyway, I was shocked and disgusted with the monster and his torturous routines, but I was also interested in the characters....the solving of the crime, and finding out Claire's WHOLE story. The author even had me questioning suspicious connections and more than one storyline detour....so cool.
Many thanks to NetGalley, author Lisa Regan and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2017
A traveling sister read with my 3 favorite Canadian sisters Norma, Brenda and Lindsay!
Wow! Powerful and heart-wrenching.
Claire Fletcher is a young lady of just 15 when she is brutally kidnapped off the street, only blocks from her home. Now she’s in the hands of a deeply disturbed maniac, who takes great pleasure and sick joy abusing her physically and emotionally over the next 10 years. Nearly half her entire lifetime. Absolutely frightening!
During her endless captivity, Claire has earned the so-called privilege of working part-time. She takes advantage of this small window of opportunity to slip out past her “curfew.” On one such outing, destiny leads her to Connor Parks, a recently divorced police detective. He quickly realizes there is a great deal more to this young, mystery lady. Is it possible she’s the same girl that’s been missing for the last 10 years?
This book explores the horrific acts and depraved mind of a pedophile. Then also delves into the psyche of the kidnapped victim. The guilt Claire is burdened with, and the small sliver of herself that she desperately clings to throughout this living nightmare.
Now you ask... why in the world would Claire remain in this crazy animal’s grasp for 10 years? Why wouldn't she run for home or to the police when given the chance? Well, keep turning the pages. You will be enlightened after finishing this book.
The hardest part of reading this with my lovely sisters is that I wanted to keep reading (I think we all did, actually!). It took everything I had not to finish this in one sitting! (I’m only human!)
This book may be hard for some to read, the subject matter is difficult, but it is so well crafted. It will leave you cheering for Claire's strength, will and determination.
Absolutely amazing. Highly recommend!
To find this review along with our Traveling Sister Read Review, please visit the Traveling Sister Read Review section of Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lisa Regan for an ARC to review.
Wow! Powerful and heart-wrenching.
Claire Fletcher is a young lady of just 15 when she is brutally kidnapped off the street, only blocks from her home. Now she’s in the hands of a deeply disturbed maniac, who takes great pleasure and sick joy abusing her physically and emotionally over the next 10 years. Nearly half her entire lifetime. Absolutely frightening!
During her endless captivity, Claire has earned the so-called privilege of working part-time. She takes advantage of this small window of opportunity to slip out past her “curfew.” On one such outing, destiny leads her to Connor Parks, a recently divorced police detective. He quickly realizes there is a great deal more to this young, mystery lady. Is it possible she’s the same girl that’s been missing for the last 10 years?
This book explores the horrific acts and depraved mind of a pedophile. Then also delves into the psyche of the kidnapped victim. The guilt Claire is burdened with, and the small sliver of herself that she desperately clings to throughout this living nightmare.
Now you ask... why in the world would Claire remain in this crazy animal’s grasp for 10 years? Why wouldn't she run for home or to the police when given the chance? Well, keep turning the pages. You will be enlightened after finishing this book.
The hardest part of reading this with my lovely sisters is that I wanted to keep reading (I think we all did, actually!). It took everything I had not to finish this in one sitting! (I’m only human!)
This book may be hard for some to read, the subject matter is difficult, but it is so well crafted. It will leave you cheering for Claire's strength, will and determination.
Absolutely amazing. Highly recommend!
To find this review along with our Traveling Sister Read Review, please visit the Traveling Sister Read Review section of Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lisa Regan for an ARC to review.
October 12, 2017
3.5 stars
Extremely disturbing thriller about a teenage girl who fights to survive after being kidnapped by a sick and twisted individual.
I read Finding Claire Fletcher way back in July, and forgot to write a review--so this is going to be a short one based on what I remember.
I found the beginning intriguing: One night in a bar, Claire Fletcher hits on a random stranger named Connor. What she doesn’t realize is that he is a police detective. What Connor doesn’t realize is that Claire was kidnapped when she was a teenager and her family hasn’t given up hope that she is still alive.
After their the night together, Connor is determined to see Claire again. But he soon discovers that Claire went missing years ago. Determined to get to the bottom of things, Connor begins investigating Claire’s disappearance. What he discovers is shockingly awful.
I went into this book blind, not knowing what to expect. The detailed descriptions of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse forced me to put it have to put it down and take reading breaks. There are also some moments that didn’t work for me. While this wasn’t an easy reading experience, it was certainly an interesting one. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Extremely disturbing thriller about a teenage girl who fights to survive after being kidnapped by a sick and twisted individual.
I read Finding Claire Fletcher way back in July, and forgot to write a review--so this is going to be a short one based on what I remember.
I found the beginning intriguing: One night in a bar, Claire Fletcher hits on a random stranger named Connor. What she doesn’t realize is that he is a police detective. What Connor doesn’t realize is that Claire was kidnapped when she was a teenager and her family hasn’t given up hope that she is still alive.
After their the night together, Connor is determined to see Claire again. But he soon discovers that Claire went missing years ago. Determined to get to the bottom of things, Connor begins investigating Claire’s disappearance. What he discovers is shockingly awful.
I went into this book blind, not knowing what to expect. The detailed descriptions of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse forced me to put it have to put it down and take reading breaks. There are also some moments that didn’t work for me. While this wasn’t an easy reading experience, it was certainly an interesting one. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2017
I really loved this book. It was a dark emotional read. The author did a very good job of the emotions of the characters. She did this so well that I even got a little emotional. I felt every emotion while reading this book. It was a heart breaking roller coaster ride.
The characters are very real. Claire was so strong and fought for her life. I also loved Connor, he just never gave up. I loved the romance between him and
Claire. The author's psychological insight into her characters make the story as intriguing as it is real as today's headlines. This is a well written and thought provoking novel that will keep you turning the pages until the end of the novel.
The crimes in this book are dark, ugly and disturbing, with some very graphic scenes, but they happen in real life, we can’t just pretend that they don’t exist.
Claire Fletcher is a 15 year old girl who was abducted on her way to school one morning, and then subjected to years of torment and abuse by a truly evil man. Claire’s story will break your heart, but her perseverance and determination to maintain her own sense of right and her own sense of self will gain your respect even when she’s giving in to the darkness of her abductor’s threats. Connor spends a lot of his time looking for her and just never gives up.
I recommend this book to those that like a dark gritty thriller. It is not for the faint of heart.
I want to thank Netgalley, the publisher and Lisa Regan for
the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2017
4 stars! This was an intense and gripping thriller!
I was completely intrigued and hooked to this novel from the very first page. The author, Lisa Regan, does a fantastic job creating an extremely addictive story, building suspense as each page and chapter passes. I loved the main characters, Claire and Connor. I cared about their lives and what was happening to each of them on this gut wrenching, devastating and terrifying journey.
The story revolves around solving a decade old child abduction case. Claire has been beaten down - mentally, physically and sexually abused while living in captivity for ten years. At the hands of her abductor, she lives in a world that is so disturbing and sickening that I had to turn away from the book for moments to calm myself. I was so upset and frustrated with Claire’s situation and wanted to reach into the story to save her. Regan’s writing is so addictive that even though I had a hard time reading these scenes, it didn’t deter me from continuing with the book – I absolutely HAD to know what was going to happen.
The first 85% of the book was a 5-star reading experience but the last 15% of the story lost its spark which is why I took one star away. I felt some of the things that happened near the end were somewhat unrealistic and didn’t fully add up for me. It was still a good ending and I did feel a sense of closure, but for me, the ending simply wasn’t as amazing as the rest of the book.
Overall, this was a great read that I would definitely recommend! It was such a pleasure to read this along with my amazing Traveling Sisters – Brenda, Norma and Kaceey!! It always makes for a much more enjoyable reading experience when I can chat with my lovely ladies along the way!
A big thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lisa Regan for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
To find this review along with our Traveling Sister Read Review, please visit the Traveling Sister Read Review section of Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
I was completely intrigued and hooked to this novel from the very first page. The author, Lisa Regan, does a fantastic job creating an extremely addictive story, building suspense as each page and chapter passes. I loved the main characters, Claire and Connor. I cared about their lives and what was happening to each of them on this gut wrenching, devastating and terrifying journey.
The story revolves around solving a decade old child abduction case. Claire has been beaten down - mentally, physically and sexually abused while living in captivity for ten years. At the hands of her abductor, she lives in a world that is so disturbing and sickening that I had to turn away from the book for moments to calm myself. I was so upset and frustrated with Claire’s situation and wanted to reach into the story to save her. Regan’s writing is so addictive that even though I had a hard time reading these scenes, it didn’t deter me from continuing with the book – I absolutely HAD to know what was going to happen.
The first 85% of the book was a 5-star reading experience but the last 15% of the story lost its spark which is why I took one star away. I felt some of the things that happened near the end were somewhat unrealistic and didn’t fully add up for me. It was still a good ending and I did feel a sense of closure, but for me, the ending simply wasn’t as amazing as the rest of the book.
Overall, this was a great read that I would definitely recommend! It was such a pleasure to read this along with my amazing Traveling Sisters – Brenda, Norma and Kaceey!! It always makes for a much more enjoyable reading experience when I can chat with my lovely ladies along the way!
A big thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lisa Regan for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
To find this review along with our Traveling Sister Read Review, please visit the Traveling Sister Read Review section of Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
July 26, 2017
Traveling Sisters NetGalley Sister Review by Norma, Brenda, Lindsay and Kaceey.
An absolutely brilliant take on the double meaning of the title!! Loved it!!
5 stars!! Well that was one awesome all-around great read for Norma & Kaceey!
4 stars!! From Brenda & Lindsay (So for the purpose of this review 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars)
We thought it was time to bring our regular Traveling Sisters Lindsay and Kaceey together to do a Traveling Sister Read/Review with us. After a bit of searching by Brenda and trying to coordinate all four us with the same book at the same time with a few unsuccessful attempts, we finally decided to go with FINDING CLAIRE FLETCHER by LISA REGAN from NetGalley. This is our very first Traveling Sister Review with thoughts from all four of us altogether in one review. What a great choice this book was as we all thoroughly enjoyed this emotional and heart-breaking read.
FINDING CLAIRE FLETCHER is an intense, dark, disturbing, haunting, gripping, and suspenseful psychological thriller that captured all of our attention right from the very start and had some of us reading way past our reading goals as we kept thinking of this story and simply could not put it down.
LISA REGAN delivers a well-written and fascinating story here told in two alternating timelines from the perspective of our main character, Claire as we follow along her horrific ordeal that she endured while being held captive for 10 years. As well as the point of view from Connor a detective and his involvement and determination in FINDING CLAIRE FLETCHER. We were really able to feel the nightmare that Claire went through because LISA REGAN gave us a clear picture and a good understanding and insight into the horror that Claire endured asking ourselves why do we read this stuff.
Right away Brenda and Lindsay put their detective skills to work and thought they figured out someone suspicious, almost having Norma convinced but leaving Kaceey not convinced and waiting for it to go somewhere. We had a good laugh over that one.
To sum it all up it was a gripping, fast-paced, and an enjoyable read with a perfectly paced satisfying ending that didn’t feel rushed. Would recommend!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lisa Regan for the opportunity to read a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
Our Traveling Sisters Review can be found along with all of Brenda and my reviews on our sister blog:
https://www.twogirlslostinacouleeread...
An absolutely brilliant take on the double meaning of the title!! Loved it!!
5 stars!! Well that was one awesome all-around great read for Norma & Kaceey!
4 stars!! From Brenda & Lindsay (So for the purpose of this review 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars)
We thought it was time to bring our regular Traveling Sisters Lindsay and Kaceey together to do a Traveling Sister Read/Review with us. After a bit of searching by Brenda and trying to coordinate all four us with the same book at the same time with a few unsuccessful attempts, we finally decided to go with FINDING CLAIRE FLETCHER by LISA REGAN from NetGalley. This is our very first Traveling Sister Review with thoughts from all four of us altogether in one review. What a great choice this book was as we all thoroughly enjoyed this emotional and heart-breaking read.
FINDING CLAIRE FLETCHER is an intense, dark, disturbing, haunting, gripping, and suspenseful psychological thriller that captured all of our attention right from the very start and had some of us reading way past our reading goals as we kept thinking of this story and simply could not put it down.
LISA REGAN delivers a well-written and fascinating story here told in two alternating timelines from the perspective of our main character, Claire as we follow along her horrific ordeal that she endured while being held captive for 10 years. As well as the point of view from Connor a detective and his involvement and determination in FINDING CLAIRE FLETCHER. We were really able to feel the nightmare that Claire went through because LISA REGAN gave us a clear picture and a good understanding and insight into the horror that Claire endured asking ourselves why do we read this stuff.
Right away Brenda and Lindsay put their detective skills to work and thought they figured out someone suspicious, almost having Norma convinced but leaving Kaceey not convinced and waiting for it to go somewhere. We had a good laugh over that one.
To sum it all up it was a gripping, fast-paced, and an enjoyable read with a perfectly paced satisfying ending that didn’t feel rushed. Would recommend!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lisa Regan for the opportunity to read a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
Our Traveling Sisters Review can be found along with all of Brenda and my reviews on our sister blog:
https://www.twogirlslostinacouleeread...
February 19, 2024
EXCERPT: I still saw her sometimes - the girl I used to be. She lived behind a locked door in my mind. The door that protected the last secret part of me. The final secret bastion that I had that no one else could infiltrate or overcome. It was locked so securely that no one but me could force or tease it open.
Behind the door, the girl stood on a street corner waiting to cross, shielding her eyes from the sun with one slender hand. She was in the tenth grade and was on her way to school. She wore jeans and a yellow cotton shirt with a backpack slung over her left shoulder.
Behind that door in my mind, I liked leaving the girl suspended on the street corner for as long as I could. Sometimes I just watched her stand there, guarding her eyes, vaguely aware of the cars whizzing by in front of her, a slight smile on her face. I wanted her to stay right there on the street corner forever, frozen in her peaceful beauty and her teenage innocence.
But she couldn't stay there forever, not even behind the locked secret door in my mind. Eventually she crossed the street, walked the thirty feet or so . . .
ABOUT 'FINDING CLAIRE FLETCHER (CLAIRE FLETCHER #1): Newly divorced and with his career in jeopardy, Detective Connor Parks takes solace in the arms of a beautiful woman he meets at a bar. The next morning, Claire Fletcher is gone, leaving nothing behind but an address and a decade-old mystery. The address leads to the Fletcher family home where Claire’s siblings inform Connor that their fifteen-year-old sister was abducted from a city street ten years ago and is presumed dead.
During those ten years, Claire endured the cruel torture and depravity of the man who abducted her. Paralyzed by fear and too ashamed to return to her family, Claire is resigned to her life as Lynn, the identity her abductor forced upon her. Every time she attempts escape or betrays him in the smallest way, someone dies. Even now, her clandestine run-in with Connor Parks may have put his life at risk, as well as the lives of her family.
Connor is convinced that not only is Claire Fletcher alive, but that she is also the woman he met at the bar. Driven to see her again, he begins his own investigation, off the clock and without the police department's consent. He is determined to find her and unravel the mystery of her abduction and odd reemergence. But finding Claire Fletcher proves more dangerous than he anticipates. In fact, it may be deadly.
MY THOUGHTS: Finding Claire Fletcher is a suspenseful story of abduction and abuse. It's not quite a mystery because we know where Claire Fletcher is and what she is enduring. What we don't initially know is why, when she has a certain amount of freedom, she doesn't leave. It is Claire's story that is the hook.
The story is told by Claire in both the present and past, and by Connor Parks, the detective who has a totally random meeting with Claire and then discovers when he goes to the address she left him, that she disappeared ten years ago. Smitten, Connor just can't get this mystery woman out of his mind.
I had to both feel for and admire Claire's mum, Jen. She just never gave up despite her determination to find her daughter costing her her marriage. Claire is an amazing character. She has spent ten years being abused, threatened and cowed into submission. But there comes a breaking point, and I am not going to tell you what triggered Claire finally rebel.
Finding Claire Fletcher is quite brutal in its telling. There is a lot of graphic violence and abuse in this novel but it is in context, not gratuitous. There does come a point in the book where I felt everything was just completely OTT but by then I was nearly at the end and really wanted to know what happened.
A decent enough read although I far prefer her Josie Quinn series.
I listened to the audiobook of Finding Claire Fletcher and thought Amy Landon did a superb job of the narration.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#FindingClaireFletcher #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Lisa Regan lives in Philadelphia with her husband, daughter and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Finding Claire Fletcher by Lisa Regan for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Behind the door, the girl stood on a street corner waiting to cross, shielding her eyes from the sun with one slender hand. She was in the tenth grade and was on her way to school. She wore jeans and a yellow cotton shirt with a backpack slung over her left shoulder.
Behind that door in my mind, I liked leaving the girl suspended on the street corner for as long as I could. Sometimes I just watched her stand there, guarding her eyes, vaguely aware of the cars whizzing by in front of her, a slight smile on her face. I wanted her to stay right there on the street corner forever, frozen in her peaceful beauty and her teenage innocence.
But she couldn't stay there forever, not even behind the locked secret door in my mind. Eventually she crossed the street, walked the thirty feet or so . . .
ABOUT 'FINDING CLAIRE FLETCHER (CLAIRE FLETCHER #1): Newly divorced and with his career in jeopardy, Detective Connor Parks takes solace in the arms of a beautiful woman he meets at a bar. The next morning, Claire Fletcher is gone, leaving nothing behind but an address and a decade-old mystery. The address leads to the Fletcher family home where Claire’s siblings inform Connor that their fifteen-year-old sister was abducted from a city street ten years ago and is presumed dead.
During those ten years, Claire endured the cruel torture and depravity of the man who abducted her. Paralyzed by fear and too ashamed to return to her family, Claire is resigned to her life as Lynn, the identity her abductor forced upon her. Every time she attempts escape or betrays him in the smallest way, someone dies. Even now, her clandestine run-in with Connor Parks may have put his life at risk, as well as the lives of her family.
Connor is convinced that not only is Claire Fletcher alive, but that she is also the woman he met at the bar. Driven to see her again, he begins his own investigation, off the clock and without the police department's consent. He is determined to find her and unravel the mystery of her abduction and odd reemergence. But finding Claire Fletcher proves more dangerous than he anticipates. In fact, it may be deadly.
MY THOUGHTS: Finding Claire Fletcher is a suspenseful story of abduction and abuse. It's not quite a mystery because we know where Claire Fletcher is and what she is enduring. What we don't initially know is why, when she has a certain amount of freedom, she doesn't leave. It is Claire's story that is the hook.
The story is told by Claire in both the present and past, and by Connor Parks, the detective who has a totally random meeting with Claire and then discovers when he goes to the address she left him, that she disappeared ten years ago. Smitten, Connor just can't get this mystery woman out of his mind.
I had to both feel for and admire Claire's mum, Jen. She just never gave up despite her determination to find her daughter costing her her marriage. Claire is an amazing character. She has spent ten years being abused, threatened and cowed into submission. But there comes a breaking point, and I am not going to tell you what triggered Claire finally rebel.
Finding Claire Fletcher is quite brutal in its telling. There is a lot of graphic violence and abuse in this novel but it is in context, not gratuitous. There does come a point in the book where I felt everything was just completely OTT but by then I was nearly at the end and really wanted to know what happened.
A decent enough read although I far prefer her Josie Quinn series.
I listened to the audiobook of Finding Claire Fletcher and thought Amy Landon did a superb job of the narration.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#FindingClaireFletcher #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Lisa Regan lives in Philadelphia with her husband, daughter and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Finding Claire Fletcher by Lisa Regan for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
July 16, 2017
Sometimes I have to say I come up with some pretty good ideas and I have to say bringing Kaceey, and Lindsay together to do a Traveling Sister Read with Norma and me is definitely one of them. It was a little challenging finding the perfect book for our read and in the end it turned out quite simple with Finding Claire Fletcher from NetGalley.
Finding Claire Fletcher is a dark, disturbing, intense, yet fascinating story that had me wondering why I am reading this but so engrossed in the story I couldn't put it down. I wanted to learn more about what Claire had endured in her years of captivity and wanted to understand the psychological effects it had one her.
Lisa Regan does a good job going deep into Claire’s mental state, giving a good understanding and insight to her psychological side from the abuse she received from her abductor. I could really feel her terror, her shame and her will to survive her captivity. She is strong yet damage along with compassionate yet revengeful and she had me gripping my IPad intensely with fear but cheering her on as well.
I highly recommend Finding Claire Fletcher to thriller lovers who like some psychological insight to the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lisa Regan for a copy to read and review
Our full Traveling Sister review along with Lindsay and Kaceey's thoughts can be found on our sister blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
Finding Claire Fletcher is a dark, disturbing, intense, yet fascinating story that had me wondering why I am reading this but so engrossed in the story I couldn't put it down. I wanted to learn more about what Claire had endured in her years of captivity and wanted to understand the psychological effects it had one her.
Lisa Regan does a good job going deep into Claire’s mental state, giving a good understanding and insight to her psychological side from the abuse she received from her abductor. I could really feel her terror, her shame and her will to survive her captivity. She is strong yet damage along with compassionate yet revengeful and she had me gripping my IPad intensely with fear but cheering her on as well.
I highly recommend Finding Claire Fletcher to thriller lovers who like some psychological insight to the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lisa Regan for a copy to read and review
Our full Traveling Sister review along with Lindsay and Kaceey's thoughts can be found on our sister blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
February 26, 2015
Wow!! What a heart-wrenching, devastating, emotional, well-written and fantastic book!
At first I was skeptical but within a few pages I was absolutely hooked. I don't think I've read any other Lisa Regan books but I am now a huge fan. I have been thinking about this story constantly since finishing it. Well Done Lisa! I'm sure this will be a top read of mine for 2015!
At first I was skeptical but within a few pages I was absolutely hooked. I don't think I've read any other Lisa Regan books but I am now a huge fan. I have been thinking about this story constantly since finishing it. Well Done Lisa! I'm sure this will be a top read of mine for 2015!
May 18, 2018
I read this book out of order. I first read Losing Leah Holloway and LOVED it. I knew I had to read the first in the series. Finally, I found/made the time to dig into the first book in the Claire Fletcher series!
Sacramento Police Detective Conner Parks begins a desperate mission to find the woman he spent the night with after meeting her in a bar. She has left behind her name and an address. He knows that he MUST see her again and decides to track her down, only to learn that the woman, Claire Fletcher, has been missing since she was fifteen years old.
Claire was kidnapped and re-named Lynn by her captor. She has been terrorized by this man for the last ten years. Every once in a awhile, she makes contact and gives her name and her parents address, with the hope that they will know she is still alive.
This book show's Connors search for Claire and Claire's life with her kidnapper from when she was kidnapped to the present day. Some may wonder, how she was able to leave and spend the night with Connor, how does she have a part time job working with animals, and why hasn't she gone home? The book explores these issues and the rationale behind Claire staying with her captor.
This book does not disappoint but it is not going to be for everyone. There are tough issues going on in this book and tough scenes to read as well. For some there will be triggers. Lisa Regan is off to a great start with this book and in my opinion, book two was even better. Not only is this book well-written, it evokes feeling and is thought provoking. Regan is just getting geared up. Having read several of her books, I proudly state that I am a fan of her work.
This was a riveting page turner that had me glued to my seat and clutching the pages. If you have not read Regan before, start here or with her Josie Quinn series. She doesn't disappoint!
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
Sacramento Police Detective Conner Parks begins a desperate mission to find the woman he spent the night with after meeting her in a bar. She has left behind her name and an address. He knows that he MUST see her again and decides to track her down, only to learn that the woman, Claire Fletcher, has been missing since she was fifteen years old.
Claire was kidnapped and re-named Lynn by her captor. She has been terrorized by this man for the last ten years. Every once in a awhile, she makes contact and gives her name and her parents address, with the hope that they will know she is still alive.
This book show's Connors search for Claire and Claire's life with her kidnapper from when she was kidnapped to the present day. Some may wonder, how she was able to leave and spend the night with Connor, how does she have a part time job working with animals, and why hasn't she gone home? The book explores these issues and the rationale behind Claire staying with her captor.
This book does not disappoint but it is not going to be for everyone. There are tough issues going on in this book and tough scenes to read as well. For some there will be triggers. Lisa Regan is off to a great start with this book and in my opinion, book two was even better. Not only is this book well-written, it evokes feeling and is thought provoking. Regan is just getting geared up. Having read several of her books, I proudly state that I am a fan of her work.
This was a riveting page turner that had me glued to my seat and clutching the pages. If you have not read Regan before, start here or with her Josie Quinn series. She doesn't disappoint!
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
August 20, 2017
4 Stars.
Now this one Packs a Punch!
Detective Connor Parks wants to Find Claire Fletcher in the worst of ways. He spent the night with her, (albeit an innocent one) only to wake up and find that she took off. Thankfully she left her address behind. Unable to help himself, Connor decides to track her down. And that’s when things get weird: As it turns out, Claire Fletcher, the Claire Fletcher he just spent the night with, has been missing for the last 10 years.
She was kidnapped from the street corner near her home when she was 15 years old. Her kidnapper has been brutally assaulting her in the worst of ways, physically and sexually. Claire has lost every ounce of herself, such that he has called her Lynn for the last 10 years and she almost doesn’t remember who she is. Sadly, she is not the only one. He is a pedophile and he thrives on harming women. He is also a master manipulator and has even made threats of harming Claire’s family. And after all these years as his captive, being found hasn’t seemed realistic.
Now however, there is someone looking for her who might just be able to find her. Detective Connor Parks. Claire Fletcher has gotten under his skin and now that he knows that there is more to her story, he will stop at nothing until he can bring her home safely, even it if puts him in the line of fire.
“Finding Claire Fletcher” is a psychological suspense that keeps you on your toes, that freaks you out, that torments you and to be honest, is often hard to read at times. It is however. so good that you keep turning the pages, full of anxiety and fear, rooting for Claire and Connor until the very end.
Lisa Regan does a phenomenal job of writing a compelling novel with strong willed, interesting characters. This story is intense. It leaves nothing on the floor and leaves nothing to the imagination. While it deals with a difficult subject matter, it is as gripping as all get out.
Highly Recommended (with caution as the subject matter is a difficult one).
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lisa Regan for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon on 8.20.17.
Now this one Packs a Punch!
Detective Connor Parks wants to Find Claire Fletcher in the worst of ways. He spent the night with her, (albeit an innocent one) only to wake up and find that she took off. Thankfully she left her address behind. Unable to help himself, Connor decides to track her down. And that’s when things get weird: As it turns out, Claire Fletcher, the Claire Fletcher he just spent the night with, has been missing for the last 10 years.
She was kidnapped from the street corner near her home when she was 15 years old. Her kidnapper has been brutally assaulting her in the worst of ways, physically and sexually. Claire has lost every ounce of herself, such that he has called her Lynn for the last 10 years and she almost doesn’t remember who she is. Sadly, she is not the only one. He is a pedophile and he thrives on harming women. He is also a master manipulator and has even made threats of harming Claire’s family. And after all these years as his captive, being found hasn’t seemed realistic.
Now however, there is someone looking for her who might just be able to find her. Detective Connor Parks. Claire Fletcher has gotten under his skin and now that he knows that there is more to her story, he will stop at nothing until he can bring her home safely, even it if puts him in the line of fire.
“Finding Claire Fletcher” is a psychological suspense that keeps you on your toes, that freaks you out, that torments you and to be honest, is often hard to read at times. It is however. so good that you keep turning the pages, full of anxiety and fear, rooting for Claire and Connor until the very end.
Lisa Regan does a phenomenal job of writing a compelling novel with strong willed, interesting characters. This story is intense. It leaves nothing on the floor and leaves nothing to the imagination. While it deals with a difficult subject matter, it is as gripping as all get out.
Highly Recommended (with caution as the subject matter is a difficult one).
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lisa Regan for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon on 8.20.17.
July 26, 2017
Frightening, disturbing, and crazy intense. You know that urban legend where a man goes to return a sweater belonging to the hitchhiker he picked up the night before? He shows up to her door and is informed that the girl who had been in his car last night has been dead for years. Cue the creepy music. This book reminded me of that urban legend in a way, but took it to a whole different level and made it more sick and scary. We get chapters from both Claire's perspective and Connor's. The ones from Claire detail her current life and the last ten years, and are quite disturbing.
Detective Connor Parks has had a very bad day. His career is in danger, and his divorce is made final. He heads to the bar for a drink, and immediately a beautiful woman shows an interest in him. They go back to his home, where he learns very little about her other than her full name: Claire Fletcher. Despite that, they both feel a real connection. In the morning, she has vanished. She's left behind a note with only her name and address. Connor definitely wants to see her again, but doesn't want to look too desperate. He waits a few days before stopping by her house. That's when things get crazy: Claire Fletcher has been missing for ten years.
Shown photos of teenage Claire, he is confident she's the woman he spent the night with. Turns out he isn't the only one... other men have claimed the same thing over the years, but she's never been found. Why would she leave behind identifying information if she wanted to stay hidden? If she is being forced to stay, why has she left her family heartbroken all these years if she's clearly able to do things on her own?
Claire's last ten years have been filled with torment. She was taken when she was only 15 by a very sick man. Though she's allowed some time of "freedom", she hasn't contacted the police or her family. Why?
Unknowingly, Connor has put himself in danger by starting to investigate her appearance. The ten year old trail is ice cold, but he's determined to find out who took Claire and where she is. The problem is finding him before he finds Connor.
I was given an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer, thank you! My opinion is honest and unbiased.
Detective Connor Parks has had a very bad day. His career is in danger, and his divorce is made final. He heads to the bar for a drink, and immediately a beautiful woman shows an interest in him. They go back to his home, where he learns very little about her other than her full name: Claire Fletcher. Despite that, they both feel a real connection. In the morning, she has vanished. She's left behind a note with only her name and address. Connor definitely wants to see her again, but doesn't want to look too desperate. He waits a few days before stopping by her house. That's when things get crazy: Claire Fletcher has been missing for ten years.
Shown photos of teenage Claire, he is confident she's the woman he spent the night with. Turns out he isn't the only one... other men have claimed the same thing over the years, but she's never been found. Why would she leave behind identifying information if she wanted to stay hidden? If she is being forced to stay, why has she left her family heartbroken all these years if she's clearly able to do things on her own?
Claire's last ten years have been filled with torment. She was taken when she was only 15 by a very sick man. Though she's allowed some time of "freedom", she hasn't contacted the police or her family. Why?
Unknowingly, Connor has put himself in danger by starting to investigate her appearance. The ten year old trail is ice cold, but he's determined to find out who took Claire and where she is. The problem is finding him before he finds Connor.
I was given an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer, thank you! My opinion is honest and unbiased.
December 9, 2021
Wow. Scary stuff.
I felt a huge amount of discomfort the whole time I was reading this. Some of the scenes were so hard to read because of the repetitive sexual abuse and graphic depiction of physical harm and violence. I had to close my eyes every time Claire suffers a beating. So dark and heartbreaking. I couldn't help but wonder how anyone could survive such tragedy and still make a life.
Lisa Regan took me for a wild ride with this book. It was long and extensive but never made me feel bored or unenthusiastic, even though the scenes were heavy and depressing, I was able to finish it with ease. I cried a lot during the latter part of the book because the emotions were so overwhelming you have to be heartless not to be moved.
This story begs the question; Are we ever really safe when evil lurks in every corner of our dwelling? Someone could be taken in plain sight and never be seen again, like Claire. At 15 years old, she was abducted and kept for over a decade by a monster. And although freedom is only a drive away, why wouldn't she go home?
My heart is still heavy a day after reading this. Brilliant.
I felt a huge amount of discomfort the whole time I was reading this. Some of the scenes were so hard to read because of the repetitive sexual abuse and graphic depiction of physical harm and violence. I had to close my eyes every time Claire suffers a beating. So dark and heartbreaking. I couldn't help but wonder how anyone could survive such tragedy and still make a life.
Lisa Regan took me for a wild ride with this book. It was long and extensive but never made me feel bored or unenthusiastic, even though the scenes were heavy and depressing, I was able to finish it with ease. I cried a lot during the latter part of the book because the emotions were so overwhelming you have to be heartless not to be moved.
This story begs the question; Are we ever really safe when evil lurks in every corner of our dwelling? Someone could be taken in plain sight and never be seen again, like Claire. At 15 years old, she was abducted and kept for over a decade by a monster. And although freedom is only a drive away, why wouldn't she go home?
My heart is still heavy a day after reading this. Brilliant.
November 20, 2017
ESCAPE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME!!!
I loved this book sooooooooooo much nothing to complain about everything was PERFECT I was hooked from the very beginning right until the end.
Claire Fletcher was 15 when she disappeared off the streets now being held captive by a maniac, she suffers terrible abuse starvation, torture beatings living in darkness only getting some light on the odd occasion. She leaves her jail ends up at a nightclub where she meets a stranger Connor Parks she likes him invites him back to a motel where they have a night of passion, But when Connor wakes up Claire is gone.
He looks for Claire everywhere its not until he is left a note meet me at my home so he turns up there only to find Claire not there he meets Claire's brother & sister Tom & Brianna he tells them his story then they say she has been missing for ten years.
Connor starts an investigation into Claire's disappearance he has his own demons to deal with the breakup of his marriage to Denise a botched armed robbery & a rape charge that went wrong under his charge he is told to take leave by his boss BUT Connor doesn't heed the warning.
Claire returns to her torture chamber only to get beaten by her maniac captor she gets so badly abused that finally she cant cope with it anymore she goes numb saying HE CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS I"D RATHER BE DEAD!!
Then her unnamed captor brings in another girl Tiffany she does what he tells her to do which is pretty sick anyway after 5 years held captive the maniac puts her in a trailer across from her jail it is from there on the tension builds between Tiffany & Claire, Claire wants to escape & threatens Tiffany that she will kill her if she doesn't.
Connor finally gets a suspect Rod Page he has form & Aliases COULD HE BE THE ONE!!
that's What Connor & his team have to find out?
What happens from here on is a race to get Claire Fletcher & Parks will stop at nothing to find her.
I loved this novel Claire became a strong woman quite ballsy really which made the book her strength & determination was beautiful as a reader I was rooting for her right through.
5 stars.
I loved this book sooooooooooo much nothing to complain about everything was PERFECT I was hooked from the very beginning right until the end.
Claire Fletcher was 15 when she disappeared off the streets now being held captive by a maniac, she suffers terrible abuse starvation, torture beatings living in darkness only getting some light on the odd occasion. She leaves her jail ends up at a nightclub where she meets a stranger Connor Parks she likes him invites him back to a motel where they have a night of passion, But when Connor wakes up Claire is gone.
He looks for Claire everywhere its not until he is left a note meet me at my home so he turns up there only to find Claire not there he meets Claire's brother & sister Tom & Brianna he tells them his story then they say she has been missing for ten years.
Connor starts an investigation into Claire's disappearance he has his own demons to deal with the breakup of his marriage to Denise a botched armed robbery & a rape charge that went wrong under his charge he is told to take leave by his boss BUT Connor doesn't heed the warning.
Claire returns to her torture chamber only to get beaten by her maniac captor she gets so badly abused that finally she cant cope with it anymore she goes numb saying HE CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS I"D RATHER BE DEAD!!
Then her unnamed captor brings in another girl Tiffany she does what he tells her to do which is pretty sick anyway after 5 years held captive the maniac puts her in a trailer across from her jail it is from there on the tension builds between Tiffany & Claire, Claire wants to escape & threatens Tiffany that she will kill her if she doesn't.
Connor finally gets a suspect Rod Page he has form & Aliases COULD HE BE THE ONE!!
that's What Connor & his team have to find out?
What happens from here on is a race to get Claire Fletcher & Parks will stop at nothing to find her.
I loved this novel Claire became a strong woman quite ballsy really which made the book her strength & determination was beautiful as a reader I was rooting for her right through.
5 stars.
July 17, 2017
4.5 stars!
Excellent story. Well written and so sad and devastating.
A police detective meets a young woman he instantaneously likes in a bar one evening. They only exchange first names. He takes her home and they just talk and sleep in each other's arms all night. When he wakes up she's gone but has left an address scribbled on a piece of paper. As he begins to investigate he finds out the lady from that address has been missing for 10 years. What has happened to her? What is her story?
The story is told through Claire's eyes from the past and the present as well as in the present through the detective's eyes.
Lisa Regan is a talented and captivating writer. It is my understanding that there is a second book about this character coming out soon called, "Losing Leah Holloway." I will definitely read it. I highly recommend this book. Although the content and situation are sometimes disturbing and emotional it is a very good book!
Thank-you to Thomas & Mercer Publishers and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this advanced reader's edition.
Excellent story. Well written and so sad and devastating.
A police detective meets a young woman he instantaneously likes in a bar one evening. They only exchange first names. He takes her home and they just talk and sleep in each other's arms all night. When he wakes up she's gone but has left an address scribbled on a piece of paper. As he begins to investigate he finds out the lady from that address has been missing for 10 years. What has happened to her? What is her story?
The story is told through Claire's eyes from the past and the present as well as in the present through the detective's eyes.
Lisa Regan is a talented and captivating writer. It is my understanding that there is a second book about this character coming out soon called, "Losing Leah Holloway." I will definitely read it. I highly recommend this book. Although the content and situation are sometimes disturbing and emotional it is a very good book!
Thank-you to Thomas & Mercer Publishers and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this advanced reader's edition.
July 25, 2017
Lisa Regan's new novel, Finding Clair Fletcher will evoke all combinations of shock and horror. I am still reeling from this book.
A one-night stand opens up old wounds for Detective Conner Parks. When the mysterious woman discretely leaves in the morning, she leaves behind a clue about her life. An address. This simple piece of paper will lead Conner down a gruesome path towards a pedophile and abductor who is holding Clair hostage.
Finding Clair Fletcher is a story told from Claire's, and Detective Conner's alternate points of view. As Detective Conner is navigating his way through this cold case, Claire depicts the horrors and depravity she faced as being a captor both the past and present day. As Claire is revealing her story, the reader is taken captive into the mind of a sadistic pedophile who tortures, rapes, and deprives his young victims of any sense of themselves. Even when there is a chance to escape.
Finding Claire Fletcher is a compelling, well-written psychological novel that both transfixed and terrified me. Lisa Regan has an eye for detail in both scene and character development. As Regan's words unfold, you are placed on center-stage along side the characters experiencing their world. The opening chapter was intense, as Clair's haunting voice takes you through her brutal beginning. The alternating views of Claire and Conner are seamless; as when he ends the phone call at the end of one chapter, she hangs up the phone at the beginning of the next. Claire's abductor is a very disturbing portrayal of evil. The penetration into the captor's eyes gives us a look into the dark realms of inhumanity. A beast who manipulates the victim in such a slow and devious way that they grow to enjoy any comfort he may bring. Detective Conner's gritty vulnerability is palpable, as a man on the brink and desperate to find Claire. And, the astonishing torture scenes are squalls of horror which stay with you after the book closed. "The strange wastelands of Lynn Wood's life."
Although the plot was well played out in the narrative, there were a few implausibilities of character's actions that left you wondering. But after all, this is Claire's journey. And I would not let this deter you from reading this outstanding novel.
The title is more about Clair finding her way into that locked door ten years ago, to discover the child on the street corner before she crossed it. "That when she smiles, it's beautiful and not broken."
As the first book in a series, Regan has created a great hook. I am probably not the only person ready for the second novel in the series due out in October, 2017-Losing Leah Holloway.
Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A one-night stand opens up old wounds for Detective Conner Parks. When the mysterious woman discretely leaves in the morning, she leaves behind a clue about her life. An address. This simple piece of paper will lead Conner down a gruesome path towards a pedophile and abductor who is holding Clair hostage.
Finding Clair Fletcher is a story told from Claire's, and Detective Conner's alternate points of view. As Detective Conner is navigating his way through this cold case, Claire depicts the horrors and depravity she faced as being a captor both the past and present day. As Claire is revealing her story, the reader is taken captive into the mind of a sadistic pedophile who tortures, rapes, and deprives his young victims of any sense of themselves. Even when there is a chance to escape.
Finding Claire Fletcher is a compelling, well-written psychological novel that both transfixed and terrified me. Lisa Regan has an eye for detail in both scene and character development. As Regan's words unfold, you are placed on center-stage along side the characters experiencing their world. The opening chapter was intense, as Clair's haunting voice takes you through her brutal beginning. The alternating views of Claire and Conner are seamless; as when he ends the phone call at the end of one chapter, she hangs up the phone at the beginning of the next. Claire's abductor is a very disturbing portrayal of evil. The penetration into the captor's eyes gives us a look into the dark realms of inhumanity. A beast who manipulates the victim in such a slow and devious way that they grow to enjoy any comfort he may bring. Detective Conner's gritty vulnerability is palpable, as a man on the brink and desperate to find Claire. And, the astonishing torture scenes are squalls of horror which stay with you after the book closed. "The strange wastelands of Lynn Wood's life."
Although the plot was well played out in the narrative, there were a few implausibilities of character's actions that left you wondering. But after all, this is Claire's journey. And I would not let this deter you from reading this outstanding novel.
The title is more about Clair finding her way into that locked door ten years ago, to discover the child on the street corner before she crossed it. "That when she smiles, it's beautiful and not broken."
As the first book in a series, Regan has created a great hook. I am probably not the only person ready for the second novel in the series due out in October, 2017-Losing Leah Holloway.
Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 23, 2020
This book has been on my Kindle for four years. What took me so long to read it?!
This is a “vacuum cleaner” book. It sucked me in with the first sentence. I let almost everything else go while I read this book. When I was drawn away, I couldn’t wait until I could pick it back up.
Very emotional story, and not always easy to read.
This is a “vacuum cleaner” book. It sucked me in with the first sentence. I let almost everything else go while I read this book. When I was drawn away, I couldn’t wait until I could pick it back up.
Very emotional story, and not always easy to read.
May 26, 2018
I’m starting to think it’s me. This adds to my growing pile of books that others loved and I found just okay. I read this and listened to it on audio when I was unable to read it. I don’t think the audio had much of an impact on my overall rating, though I didn’t find the male voices to be well done.
I unfortunately had a lot of issues with this one. It was too drawn out and needed better editing. There were long stretches in which I was bored. The dialogue was sometimes cheesy. It was effectively sad and creepy, but based on the ten years of extremely severe abuse, I struggled to believe in the instant connection and flirty girlish behavior, not to mention the mutual attraction and long term aspirations of both characters. Also, I freely admit that the subject matter is not one I enjoy and based on the synopsis, I expected more of a mystery. Though the author did not take a gratuitous approach to the violence, I just don’t want to read about young girls held captive, raped and tortured, and because the story was structured with flashbacks, much of that was included. It turned out to be too much for me. I’m not suggesting that anyone enjoys those aspects of a fictional story, but rather I’m admitting that it ruins the reading experience for me. I think it’s important to take that into account while reading my review. 2.5 stars
I unfortunately had a lot of issues with this one. It was too drawn out and needed better editing. There were long stretches in which I was bored. The dialogue was sometimes cheesy. It was effectively sad and creepy, but based on the ten years of extremely severe abuse, I struggled to believe in the instant connection and flirty girlish behavior, not to mention the mutual attraction and long term aspirations of both characters. Also, I freely admit that the subject matter is not one I enjoy and based on the synopsis, I expected more of a mystery. Though the author did not take a gratuitous approach to the violence, I just don’t want to read about young girls held captive, raped and tortured, and because the story was structured with flashbacks, much of that was included. It turned out to be too much for me. I’m not suggesting that anyone enjoys those aspects of a fictional story, but rather I’m admitting that it ruins the reading experience for me. I think it’s important to take that into account while reading my review. 2.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2020
Finding Claire Fletcher by Lisa Regan is the first in the series and my god what a dark,disturbing and heartbreaking start it is 😱
Claire Fletcher was kidnapped at 15 and it's about her life then and now and obviously about finding her.
You have a victim who really is brave and extremely strong , a kidnapper who you just want to shoot (or just do extremely bad bodily harm to 😏) and a hero to save the day who your rooting for from the beginning and who will stop at nothing to bring Claire home.
There are many triggering moments in this book which are going to make you put the book down walk away and come back later too, apart from that it's a great page flipping book that's going to keep you on the edge.
I definitely recommend this 📖
Claire Fletcher was kidnapped at 15 and it's about her life then and now and obviously about finding her.
You have a victim who really is brave and extremely strong , a kidnapper who you just want to shoot (or just do extremely bad bodily harm to 😏) and a hero to save the day who your rooting for from the beginning and who will stop at nothing to bring Claire home.
There are many triggering moments in this book which are going to make you put the book down walk away and come back later too, apart from that it's a great page flipping book that's going to keep you on the edge.
I definitely recommend this 📖
May 22, 2025
This was great! Well not the sad, heartbreaking content, but the writing was. I’ll try to review soon.
February 11, 2019
*3.75 stars rounded up*
Finding Claire Fletcher is a heartbreaking thriller. Claire has been missing for ten years, abducted at the age of fifteen. One night, Detective Connor Parks is at a bar nursing a very difficult day at both work and home, when a young woman approaches him. They spend the evening together, and as Connor wakes in the morning to find her gone, he sees a slip of paper. This paper simply has a name and address written on it. Connor, desperately wanting to see this woman again, goes to the address only to find out that Claire, the woman he spent the night with, vanished ten years prior. And so begins Connor's deep dive into this dangerous cold case.
This story packs an emotional punch. It is a crime thriller, but there is a great deal of emotional depth in this novel. Lisa Regan does an excellent job diving into the psyche of an abductee. It is hard to fathom the horrific events some kidnapping victims endure, and Regan presents the reader with insight to what a victim might feel/think/experience in such an awful situation. Regan also does a very nice job with the reactions of a victim's family and working through the various feelings/effects of a child/sibling being kidnapped and missing for a decade.
This is a well written novel, and I particularly liked the title as it is most appropriate. Not only are the detectives, family, friends trying to literally find Claire Fletcher, Claire is trying to find herself as well. The only thing that affected my rating was the change of pace. This book starts off strong... the level of suspense is very intense, the agony and tension are palpable. However, the back half of the book slowed tremendously for me. The change of pace was a bit offsetting, but the book circled back to finish strong at the very end. That said, I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoy crime fiction/thrillers. This was my first Lisa Regan book, and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.
Finding Claire Fletcher is a heartbreaking thriller. Claire has been missing for ten years, abducted at the age of fifteen. One night, Detective Connor Parks is at a bar nursing a very difficult day at both work and home, when a young woman approaches him. They spend the evening together, and as Connor wakes in the morning to find her gone, he sees a slip of paper. This paper simply has a name and address written on it. Connor, desperately wanting to see this woman again, goes to the address only to find out that Claire, the woman he spent the night with, vanished ten years prior. And so begins Connor's deep dive into this dangerous cold case.
This story packs an emotional punch. It is a crime thriller, but there is a great deal of emotional depth in this novel. Lisa Regan does an excellent job diving into the psyche of an abductee. It is hard to fathom the horrific events some kidnapping victims endure, and Regan presents the reader with insight to what a victim might feel/think/experience in such an awful situation. Regan also does a very nice job with the reactions of a victim's family and working through the various feelings/effects of a child/sibling being kidnapped and missing for a decade.
This is a well written novel, and I particularly liked the title as it is most appropriate. Not only are the detectives, family, friends trying to literally find Claire Fletcher, Claire is trying to find herself as well. The only thing that affected my rating was the change of pace. This book starts off strong... the level of suspense is very intense, the agony and tension are palpable. However, the back half of the book slowed tremendously for me. The change of pace was a bit offsetting, but the book circled back to finish strong at the very end. That said, I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoy crime fiction/thrillers. This was my first Lisa Regan book, and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.
February 16, 2018
4.5 Stars
In the first book in bestselling author Lisa Regan’s new series, a one-night stand sets a detective on the trail of a terrifying unsolved crime.
Detective Connor Parks is not having a good day. It doesn't matter that he shot and killed a man ... he was a rapist that had evaded capture for weeks. The fact that he was unarmed is what leads to an internal review and possibly the end of his career. And just to add insult to injury, a letter stating his divorce was final was waiting for him.
When he goes searching at the local bar to drown his sorrows, he winds up with a beautiful woman sleeping in his bed ... alone. When he awakes, she is gone after leaving a note with her name and address.
Eager to see this mystery lady again, he is shocked to learn that Claire was abducted and disappeared 10 years ago. So who is this woman he met? A missing person afraid to come home? An imposter?
When he starts investigating he finds that 3 men have met this woman ... each time she left her name and address. One of them is found dead ... 2 others have gone missing and never seen again. Is she a victim? or a killer?
This is a merry-go-round of suspense. Alternating chapters are told by Connor in the present and "Claire" sometimes in the present, but mostly in the past. Extremely well written, it's a suspenseful story of abduction, violence, mental and physical abuse, manipulation and one man with a mission to find a missing person who may or may not actually be missing.
I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley for the digital copy of this intense thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
In the first book in bestselling author Lisa Regan’s new series, a one-night stand sets a detective on the trail of a terrifying unsolved crime.
Detective Connor Parks is not having a good day. It doesn't matter that he shot and killed a man ... he was a rapist that had evaded capture for weeks. The fact that he was unarmed is what leads to an internal review and possibly the end of his career. And just to add insult to injury, a letter stating his divorce was final was waiting for him.
When he goes searching at the local bar to drown his sorrows, he winds up with a beautiful woman sleeping in his bed ... alone. When he awakes, she is gone after leaving a note with her name and address.
Eager to see this mystery lady again, he is shocked to learn that Claire was abducted and disappeared 10 years ago. So who is this woman he met? A missing person afraid to come home? An imposter?
When he starts investigating he finds that 3 men have met this woman ... each time she left her name and address. One of them is found dead ... 2 others have gone missing and never seen again. Is she a victim? or a killer?
This is a merry-go-round of suspense. Alternating chapters are told by Connor in the present and "Claire" sometimes in the present, but mostly in the past. Extremely well written, it's a suspenseful story of abduction, violence, mental and physical abuse, manipulation and one man with a mission to find a missing person who may or may not actually be missing.
I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley for the digital copy of this intense thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
August 17, 2017
I received a copy of Finding Claire Fletcher from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
2.5
Many readers love Finding Claire Fletcher so I was looking forward to reading it. I was intrigued by the first few chapters where we meet Claire, who has been renamed Lynn by the man who abducted her ten years ago. We get a real sense of her anguish and her despair for the future she has lost because of her captivity. We then meet Detective Connor Parks in a bar as he is being hit on by an attractive woman, who turns out to be Claire. Connor is having some personal and professional issues and before he knows it, he is taking Claire to his place. They form a fast connection with each other but the night ends before they go too far. The next morning Connor wakes up alone with only a note containing Claire’s name and an address. When he finally has a chance to visit the address, he discovers that Claire Fletcher disappeared ten years ago - and he is not the first person to come looking for her with the same story. Just what is going on?
The chapters are told from Claire’s first person POV and Connor’s third person POV. Claire’s chapters occur in both the present and the past. We learn how she was abducted and, in disturbing and sometimes overly long detail, what her abductor has done to her over the years. There are a lot of pages of rape and savage beatings. I did not realize going in that it would have graphic scenes of this type of violence. We also learn early in the book that she’s approached several other men and has left them clues to “find” her and the indication is that her abductor has killed them before they could succeed. I was confused by her going out and finding men to help her when she is a captive. She even has a job so she is out of this man’s “possession” several hours a day. Why not just go to the police? And, when she meets a cop, why not tell him the truth, especially when you believe others may have been killed? That’s where the book lost me. I just couldn’t get on board with the concept. I understand how ashamed and frightened she is but having some form of freedom to move about and make contact with people and all she does is leave notes for men to risk their lives to find her? I just had a difficult time accepting it.
I did like Connor and felt his part of the story was good. I also liked the Private Detective, Mitch Farrell, who has been involved with Claire’s case for many years. These characters and their interactions as they pursue their own investigation into Claire’s abduction are the best part of the book for me. I definitely did not enjoy reading about the horrors Claire experienced during ten years of captivity. It was just too much for me. Overall, the book is well-written and moves along quickly but the premise just failed for me. I noticed that this is going to be a series but I will not be reading any further.
2.5
Many readers love Finding Claire Fletcher so I was looking forward to reading it. I was intrigued by the first few chapters where we meet Claire, who has been renamed Lynn by the man who abducted her ten years ago. We get a real sense of her anguish and her despair for the future she has lost because of her captivity. We then meet Detective Connor Parks in a bar as he is being hit on by an attractive woman, who turns out to be Claire. Connor is having some personal and professional issues and before he knows it, he is taking Claire to his place. They form a fast connection with each other but the night ends before they go too far. The next morning Connor wakes up alone with only a note containing Claire’s name and an address. When he finally has a chance to visit the address, he discovers that Claire Fletcher disappeared ten years ago - and he is not the first person to come looking for her with the same story. Just what is going on?
The chapters are told from Claire’s first person POV and Connor’s third person POV. Claire’s chapters occur in both the present and the past. We learn how she was abducted and, in disturbing and sometimes overly long detail, what her abductor has done to her over the years. There are a lot of pages of rape and savage beatings. I did not realize going in that it would have graphic scenes of this type of violence. We also learn early in the book that she’s approached several other men and has left them clues to “find” her and the indication is that her abductor has killed them before they could succeed. I was confused by her going out and finding men to help her when she is a captive. She even has a job so she is out of this man’s “possession” several hours a day. Why not just go to the police? And, when she meets a cop, why not tell him the truth, especially when you believe others may have been killed? That’s where the book lost me. I just couldn’t get on board with the concept. I understand how ashamed and frightened she is but having some form of freedom to move about and make contact with people and all she does is leave notes for men to risk their lives to find her? I just had a difficult time accepting it.
I did like Connor and felt his part of the story was good. I also liked the Private Detective, Mitch Farrell, who has been involved with Claire’s case for many years. These characters and their interactions as they pursue their own investigation into Claire’s abduction are the best part of the book for me. I definitely did not enjoy reading about the horrors Claire experienced during ten years of captivity. It was just too much for me. Overall, the book is well-written and moves along quickly but the premise just failed for me. I noticed that this is going to be a series but I will not be reading any further.
June 27, 2013
BRILLIANT! Had me hooked from the beginning. Just could not put it down. This book is an incredible journey through the life of a young woman who was abducted and held by her captor for ten years. It is not always an easy read (some parts are definitely harrowing and emotional) but it is a very compelling one. Excellent story and characters - one that depicts the darker side of the protagonists psyche, and the effect on the human mind.
A.haunting psychological suspense. A MUST read.
A.haunting psychological suspense. A MUST read.
September 11, 2021
A heart wrenching story of a young girl who was kidnapped and held captive for ten years. An absolutely brilliant read that is quite detailed, very emotional and sometimes difficult to read. Filled with suspense, fear and the strength to survive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2012
Finding Claire Fletcher is truly a story of our times, and magnificently told, even in its brutality. It follows ten years in the life of a girl kidnapped off the streets on her way to school at the age of fifteen. We’ve all seen or read those news stories of kids who vanish without a trace. We wonder what happened to them, if they still live, and if so, how? We know the type of monsters who prey on these children, and we can only imagine what they do once they’ve captured their victims. This is that story. It isn’t pretty, and it makes no excuses for that.
Claire Fletcher, though young and naive, fights against her captor, trying her best to outrun the villain who subjects her to daily atrocities. He uses her fear against her to keep Claire hostage as he chips away at the girl she used to be, slowly and effectively destroying any hope of reuniting with her family and a mother who never gives up hope that Claire is still alive.
Even as she ages and becomes physically stronger, Claire cannot escape the torture and degradation. Her captor holds Claire in an emotional cage every bit as much as a physical one. To control her, he not only uses the threat of violence against those she loves most, he uses violence itself, hurting Claire’s family or killing those she asks for help. Knowing she cannot expose her loved ones or even strangers to the kind of cruel fate her kidnapper threatens, she resignedly settles into life as Lynn, the name her captor has given her.
Still a hostage, but allowed to leave her captor’s compound, Claire meets Police Detective Connor Parks at a bar. When she disappears following a chaste night together, leaving behind only an old family address, Connor discovers the beautiful woman he’s come to know as Claire Fletcher has been missing for ten years and is presumed dead. But he knows she’s not, and he’s determined to find her, even as his commander orders him off the case and Claire’s captor targets Connor as punishment for defying him.
Told from alternating points of view, we see the story emerge from both Claire’s perspective, as well as Connor’s. Author Lisa Regan delves into the mind of a sexual deviant, exposing and exploring what drives a man to such desperate acts. But while she alludes to the horrific misery Claire’s captor subjects her to, Regan never stoops to showing the acts themselves, only examining the effect such debased treatment has on his victim.
Those who wonder why women like Elizabeth Smart or Jaycee Dugard never attempted to leave their real-life captors will find the reasons eloquently explored in this well-written, hauntingly brutal, yet sweetly realized story, a story of love and determination to overcome the most heinous of fates.
Though it is superbly written and moves with intense, page-turning speed, Finding Claire Fletcher is not always an easy read in that it probes into the most corrupt behavior imaginable. It’s difficult to feel what the young Claire experiences as she is made to suffer at the hands of a pedophile. But as tough as those parts are to read, the story is balanced by the hope and memories Claire holds as a way of surviving her ordeal. And as much as it is Claire’s story, it is also Detective Park’s story, as well, analyzing the failure of his marriage and his precarious position within the police department following a questionable shooting and his involvement with Claire’s seemingly unsolvable cold case.
But in the end, Finding Claire Fletcher is a love story about a child and her mother, and the man, Connor Parks, who cannot forget or abandon her, and risks not only his career, but his own life to save Claire. This story will frighten you, make you angry, cry, and cringe, but it will also energize your faith in the human spirit and its ability to heal and move forward. Regan deserves every one of these five stars for her original and haunting debut novel.
Claire Fletcher, though young and naive, fights against her captor, trying her best to outrun the villain who subjects her to daily atrocities. He uses her fear against her to keep Claire hostage as he chips away at the girl she used to be, slowly and effectively destroying any hope of reuniting with her family and a mother who never gives up hope that Claire is still alive.
Even as she ages and becomes physically stronger, Claire cannot escape the torture and degradation. Her captor holds Claire in an emotional cage every bit as much as a physical one. To control her, he not only uses the threat of violence against those she loves most, he uses violence itself, hurting Claire’s family or killing those she asks for help. Knowing she cannot expose her loved ones or even strangers to the kind of cruel fate her kidnapper threatens, she resignedly settles into life as Lynn, the name her captor has given her.
Still a hostage, but allowed to leave her captor’s compound, Claire meets Police Detective Connor Parks at a bar. When she disappears following a chaste night together, leaving behind only an old family address, Connor discovers the beautiful woman he’s come to know as Claire Fletcher has been missing for ten years and is presumed dead. But he knows she’s not, and he’s determined to find her, even as his commander orders him off the case and Claire’s captor targets Connor as punishment for defying him.
Told from alternating points of view, we see the story emerge from both Claire’s perspective, as well as Connor’s. Author Lisa Regan delves into the mind of a sexual deviant, exposing and exploring what drives a man to such desperate acts. But while she alludes to the horrific misery Claire’s captor subjects her to, Regan never stoops to showing the acts themselves, only examining the effect such debased treatment has on his victim.
Those who wonder why women like Elizabeth Smart or Jaycee Dugard never attempted to leave their real-life captors will find the reasons eloquently explored in this well-written, hauntingly brutal, yet sweetly realized story, a story of love and determination to overcome the most heinous of fates.
Though it is superbly written and moves with intense, page-turning speed, Finding Claire Fletcher is not always an easy read in that it probes into the most corrupt behavior imaginable. It’s difficult to feel what the young Claire experiences as she is made to suffer at the hands of a pedophile. But as tough as those parts are to read, the story is balanced by the hope and memories Claire holds as a way of surviving her ordeal. And as much as it is Claire’s story, it is also Detective Park’s story, as well, analyzing the failure of his marriage and his precarious position within the police department following a questionable shooting and his involvement with Claire’s seemingly unsolvable cold case.
But in the end, Finding Claire Fletcher is a love story about a child and her mother, and the man, Connor Parks, who cannot forget or abandon her, and risks not only his career, but his own life to save Claire. This story will frighten you, make you angry, cry, and cringe, but it will also energize your faith in the human spirit and its ability to heal and move forward. Regan deserves every one of these five stars for her original and haunting debut novel.
March 6, 2018
Good but sad mystery.
Detective Connor after a horrible day wanted just to get a drink. Beautiful girl at the bar starts talking to him. They end going to his apartment, his wife left him for another man and divorced him. While he was sleeping, Claire Fletcher leaves him note, giving him the her home address. Connor goes to that address and talks with others that was on this ten year old cold, missing person case. Twists and turns will keep you reading this good mystery.
Detective Connor after a horrible day wanted just to get a drink. Beautiful girl at the bar starts talking to him. They end going to his apartment, his wife left him for another man and divorced him. While he was sleeping, Claire Fletcher leaves him note, giving him the her home address. Connor goes to that address and talks with others that was on this ten year old cold, missing person case. Twists and turns will keep you reading this good mystery.
August 8, 2017
Looking for a terrifying, well-paced psychological thriller? Then this is the book for you.
"Finding Claire Fletcher" is about a woman, abducted when she was a teenager, separated from her family for ten years. She has an encounter with a man at a bar who turns out to be a police detective, and leaves her name and family's address behind. Connor is captivated by her, and then even more so when he realizes who she is.
The chapters alternate between Claire's story (including the grim, scary first years of her imprisonment), and Connor's quest to find out where Claire went and who abducted her. Claire's reaction to what has happened to her is completely realistic - there's a mix of grief, disbelief, shame. Yet when she realizes that the cycle of abuse/abductions will not stop, Claire rises from her physical and psychological injuries to put a stop to her tormentor.
There's a lot of novels about abducted teenage girls, but you don't often get to see the victim becoming a heroine. I loved that about this book! Claire has had so much ripped away from her, but she will do anything to stop her kidnapper from taking another young girl. Yes!!!!
I really liked a lot of the supporting characters too - Connor, of course, but also Jen, Claire's mother, who never gives up hope that her daughter's alive, and the colorful detectives who work alongside Connor.
This was my first introduction to Lisa Regan's writing, but I will be on the look out for more of her novels!
*Much thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy of this wonderful book in exchange for a honest review*
"Finding Claire Fletcher" is about a woman, abducted when she was a teenager, separated from her family for ten years. She has an encounter with a man at a bar who turns out to be a police detective, and leaves her name and family's address behind. Connor is captivated by her, and then even more so when he realizes who she is.
The chapters alternate between Claire's story (including the grim, scary first years of her imprisonment), and Connor's quest to find out where Claire went and who abducted her. Claire's reaction to what has happened to her is completely realistic - there's a mix of grief, disbelief, shame. Yet when she realizes that the cycle of abuse/abductions will not stop, Claire rises from her physical and psychological injuries to put a stop to her tormentor.
There's a lot of novels about abducted teenage girls, but you don't often get to see the victim becoming a heroine. I loved that about this book! Claire has had so much ripped away from her, but she will do anything to stop her kidnapper from taking another young girl. Yes!!!!
I really liked a lot of the supporting characters too - Connor, of course, but also Jen, Claire's mother, who never gives up hope that her daughter's alive, and the colorful detectives who work alongside Connor.
This was my first introduction to Lisa Regan's writing, but I will be on the look out for more of her novels!
*Much thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy of this wonderful book in exchange for a honest review*
July 11, 2020
This is the first time I have tread one of this authors books. This book was different I can easily say that lol. She wrote in some ways that I am not a big fan of-flash backs and different time lines and alternate points of view. I have to say somehow she pulled it off the story flowed pretty good and the dialogue was not bad. At times the story had some sadness to it but it was well done. a hard book to rate took my time about it. I thought the ending was decent not bad maybe a little rushed but it got the job done. I have to say for the most part her actions in the story and time line were explained well. It just squeaked out of the 3 star rating and hit 4.0 on the dot. This book does have a second book following it-pretty sure a two book series. I will not read the second book however I just feel it should have ended after one book. I think we do not always need a series one book is fine. In the end I say go ahead and give this one a spin.
September 29, 2017
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a 4.5 star read for me. Before I get to the semi-spoiler part, I want to say that it's not entirely a spoiler. I don't specify characters or anything super specific, but if you want to go in blind, stop reading.
This book is terrifying, and full of awful things, but it's also really powerful. Trying to understand the mindset of abuse victims and the mentality of staying in a terrible situation, seems to be the underlying message in this book. What would you do if you were scared for the safety of your family and felt like you were the only one who had the power to protect them? The manipulation tactics that abusers use are awful. I know this is fiction, but it obviously reflects the horrible and unfortunate reality that some people go through. I hope that this doesn't happen very often, but our world is shitty and I hate a lot of things about it.
Back to the things I liked about this book, the 'happy things.'
I LOVE CONNOR. I think he's the best character in this book. I'm probably biased, but he really gets the ball rolling with everything that happens. I thought his character was so well thought out and almost perfect. I haven't had a 'book character crush' in a realllllly long time, and I'm not sure I can remember the last one. I ♥ you, Connor Parks. In addition to my love for Connor, I obviously really enjoyed the (semi) happy love story that evolves throughout the book, considering the circumstances.
The ending was perfect in a sense. I loved it/hated it and you'll understand once you know the characters.
That's all I'm going to say. I don't want to give anything away. Huge trigger warning for this book though, this is definitely the worst content I've read so far and I wasn't expecting it.
Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.
This was a 4.5 star read for me. Before I get to the semi-spoiler part, I want to say that it's not entirely a spoiler. I don't specify characters or anything super specific, but if you want to go in blind, stop reading.
This book is terrifying, and full of awful things, but it's also really powerful. Trying to understand the mindset of abuse victims and the mentality of staying in a terrible situation, seems to be the underlying message in this book. What would you do if you were scared for the safety of your family and felt like you were the only one who had the power to protect them? The manipulation tactics that abusers use are awful. I know this is fiction, but it obviously reflects the horrible and unfortunate reality that some people go through. I hope that this doesn't happen very often, but our world is shitty and I hate a lot of things about it.
Back to the things I liked about this book, the 'happy things.'
I LOVE CONNOR. I think he's the best character in this book. I'm probably biased, but he really gets the ball rolling with everything that happens. I thought his character was so well thought out and almost perfect. I haven't had a 'book character crush' in a realllllly long time, and I'm not sure I can remember the last one. I ♥ you, Connor Parks. In addition to my love for Connor, I obviously really enjoyed the (semi) happy love story that evolves throughout the book, considering the circumstances.
The ending was perfect in a sense. I loved it/hated it and you'll understand once you know the characters.
That's all I'm going to say. I don't want to give anything away. Huge trigger warning for this book though, this is definitely the worst content I've read so far and I wasn't expecting it.
Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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