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.

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.

⭐⭐⭐.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.

While I love a thriller this felt very extreme for my taste. The story was very dark and graphic and at points felt like it went too far.

Omg talk about a roller coaster read wow this book kept me on the edge of my seat threw out I just couldn't put it down this writer keeps you hooked and once your hooked your not letting go I found this book thrilling the characters were fantastic and well thought out and the little clues all the way threw keep you guessing until the end this book stays with you long after you close the book this book is well worth the read I promise you wont be disappointed

This was a really interesting concept and I loved the dual timeline and dual point of view. I felt like some parts dragged though, especially when not from Claire's perspective. The book deals with some major bad things so there are TW's galore for this one but overall, I really enjoyed it!

This is a twisty thriller that will keep you guessing, Claire has a secret = and she's in hiding. Connor Parks is a detective with a lot of problems. These two meet, part, and then he goes looking for her for a good reason, unlike someone else. No spoilers! Good characters.

This is the first Lisa Regan book I have read, but I can assure you that it is definitely not my last. I am looking forward to exploring some of her other titles as well. She is a brilliant writer and quickly becoming one of my new favourites.

Although some readers might find the story to be a bit on the 'dark side', I absolutely loved the story for just that. I kept me in suspense! I could actually feel the tension as I was working my way through the book. A brilliant page turning mystery. Highly recommended.

Ahhh the beginning was just as good as the end. What a great new start to a series that Im sure will be getting more great reviews.

I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I would highly recommend this book to my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!!!!

I read a lot of mysteries/thrillers. It is very rare for a book in that genre to feel "fresh" to me anymore. From page one this book felt different and it did not disappoint for any of the words that followed. With a hero and heroine that you want to cheer for every step of the way, which thrilled me to see that it is book one of a series. I will continue to read this series and any other by Lisa Regan.

A really good psychological thriller that I enjoyed reading. I hope to read the sequel sometime.

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.

It was beyond amazing and completely blew me away off the sofa! I did not expect anything like that, I am not a big fan of instaloves, but oh boy I instantly fell in love with this book and for good reasons!

Lisa did a great job pulling up this story and did her research, making it unforgettable.

If you are interested in reading this book, please be aware of the following TRIGGERS: rape, abduction, very heavy and graphic violence, child abuse, paedophilia

The beginning!! That beginning was like a shock to the system. After reading the first few sentences I was already cooked (yes you read that correctly).

You know when you start reading a book or start watching a movie and you know since the beginning that this book or that movie will be awesome? Oh well, this book was that kind of a book!!

I literally loved everything about it, the story was very well executed, the characters have depth and personality and just aghhh AMAZING! The whole mystery element, the struggles and all the horrors that Claire had gone and is still going through were spot on. I just cannot put it into words and explain you how much I loved it because words cannot do it justice.

It is very crude, raw, true to real life story, that deals with very heavy and difficult topics that people don't talk much about. I am glad that here we have explored those topics from the victim's perspective much more in depth, getting to know all of the horrible things Claire went though and how despite all of this she is not breaking down, she is strong willed and that kept her going on and fight for her sake. It is admirable and inspirational even, to read about such amazing main characters, that felt real, with real emotions and struggles and everything was just perfect.

Although I truly loved this book there is just one thing that I wish it was done differently and this is nothing else but the ending. I cannot go into too much details because I do not want to spoil anything for you guys, but I would just say that I wanted him to suffer and pay for his actions. (if you have already read the book you probably know what I am talking about)

In conclusion if you are in a search for thrills, well written book with amazing plot and turns then this is it GO FOR IT!

3.5 stars

Extremely disturbing thriller about a teenage girl who fights to survive after being kidnapped by a sick and twisted individual.

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.

Incredible debut novel. Gripping, harrowing psychological suspense thriller!
Excellent premise and execution. The characters seem so real and the writing and suspense grabs a hold of you from the opening lines and doesn't release you.
The point of view goes back and forth between "the victim" and the policeman who is trying desperately to find her which works brilliantly.
I don't think this book is for everyone due to its graphic nature in places but i will certainly looking for more to read from this author!

I really enjoyed this book. It was great . I loved Claire and desperately wanted her to get home. Can't wait for the next Claire fletcher novel.

(4.5) As a note, a review copy of this novel was provided on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way. Thank you!

Isn't the cover for this novel so deliriously gorgeous and creepy? I love how out of focus and dark it is, that hint of colour just a blur of mystery--much like the novel itself. Penned by Lisa Regan, Finding Claire Fletcher is one of my favourite finds this year due to its content and superb writing. There were times when the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. Regan really captivated me with this one from the get-go and the brief summary leaves no questions to whether or not this is a must-read. It just is.

There's something so utterly compelling about crime novels. Whether they're fiction or non. They get under your skin. They take you on this hugely emotional journey and keep you pinned to the page because you can't help but want to solve it by yourself. Or at the very least, witness the resolution of it on its own. In the case of Regan's novel, it's fiction--with parallels to real life cases, I'm sure. The fact that the big plot-line in this is circled in on a mysterious cold case that is years old is all the more appealing to fans of the genre.

Lisa Regan paints a startling tale that is terribly chilling and something you just can't put down. From the discovery of a lead (ahem) all the way to the victim reliving the last decade of her life, there's never a moment where you don't feel your gut twisting for one reason or another. What's so very striking about Finding Claire Fletcher is the horrors that feel almost too real for readers and the road we take from then on out. There's so much intensity in this novel that you can't help but to gasp or sit the novel down, here and there, just to breathe a little.

The tone and pacing is incredible. I had chills the majority of the time because the way that each minute passes is tense. Every page is packed with emotion, pain and tension. It's impossible to not feel anything during Lisa Regan's mind-blowing novel. Definitely one of my favourite reads this year.

Finding Claire Fletcher is a must-have for readers who enjoy a thriller or mystery. It's fast paced, spooky and all around impossible to forget. I loved it, and so will you.

** spoiler alert ** 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.

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Troubled detective Connor, is seduced by a mysterious woman who leaves him alone in the morning with just an address. It turns out claire has been missing for years and connor sets out to rescue her against all odds.

Well I loved this book! Couldn't read it fast enough. I loved the changing chapter perspective and I felt for Claire and how she was held captive. Brilliant read!

wow! this book is so good! some of the content is a bit hard to read but what a fantastic story. i can't wait for the next book. i will definitely be looking out for more by this author. thanks to netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for an advance copy of this book to read and review

4 Stars.

<b>Now this one Packs a Punch! </b>

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.

<b>“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. </b>

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.