Stolen by Paul Finch

Homeless people have begun to disappear from the streets of Manchester, the kinds of people that society doesn’t seem to miss, despite repeated reports from Sister Cassie, an ex-nun who now wanders the streets. And then other people start to vanish – an elderly man out walking his dog after dark, a fit young woman out for a jog. Now the police have to take notice. Meanwhile sinister rumours are circulating around Manchester of a black van that patrols the streets. People are afraid. DC Lucy Clayburn is soon part of the investigation. She’s been looking at the theft of dogs in the area and the activities of a dog fighting ring. She suspects that everything might be connected and her bosses are inclined to give her a chance to prove it.

Unfortunately, there is a complication. Lucy’s father Franck McCracken, one of Manchester’s top gangsters, is interfering. Lucy’s been keeping him a secret. The time for secrets might be over.

Stolen is the third Lucy Clayburn novel by Paul Finch and it is an absolute corker! In fact, I think it’s my favourite of the three. It’s nigh on impossible to put down as the plot rattles along and it all begins with the creepiest of opening chapters. This sent shivers down my spine and may well keep me indoors as the moon rises. This fantastic chapter sets the tone for the rest of the novel and it’s maintained throughout.

Paul Finch is such a fine crime thriller writer. Like many people, I adore his Heck series but it may well be that the Clayburn books have now exceeded them, which is quite a feat. Lucy is a wonderful character. She has so much against her. It’s difficult to see how she could ever rise above the rank of DC, although she goes far and beyond what you would expect from that rank normally, in crime fiction at least. Lucy is a very likeable person and she lives in the shadow of a father, only recently discovered, she must deny. I’m no fan of gangster books at all but I do enjoy the relationship between Lucy and her father Frank. It’s tense and uneasy. It’s also dangerous and this adds such a frisson to the novels – and it reaches new heights here.

Aside from the business of Frank McCracken and his villains we have the story of the stolen people and this is a thoroughly engrossing mystery. The baddies are completely evil and rank high in my list of fictional baddies. There’s something a little pantomime about them but that doesn’t detract from their evil at all. This is frightening. It’s also very entertaining. The highlight, though, has to be Sister Cassie.

Stolen races along from start to finish. I read it late into the night, not wanting to put it down unfinished. I love Paul Finch’s books, you always know they’re going to be excellent, but Stolen is, I believe, the very best. I loved everything about it! Story, characters, creepiness, menace, scares, heart, baddies, setting, writing, the lot. The Lucy Clayburn series is now well established as one of the finest out there in the crowded world of crime fiction. It is not to be missed!

Other reviews
Hunted (Heck)
Strangers (Lucy)
Ashes to Ashes (Heck)
Shadows (Lucy)
Kiss of Death (Heck)
‘What seven things you should know if you want to write crime fiction’ – Guest post

Holy friggin’ hell! What a fantastic book! The reader finds themselves in immersed in an opening scene that may have some animal lovers shocked (I am one by the way) but it just HOOKED me! Definitely not for the faint of heart, but I bloody loved it and it all becomes more clear as you read the novel. What I love about this author is his amazing ability to suck you right into the pages. An action-packed read that delves into some dark situations and leaves you gasping for breath when you are done!

Lucy Clayborn is fast becoming a favourite character of mine. Fiercely independent, she just fascinates me! Although I think each book in the series so far can be read on their own, you get a better picture of Lucy and her backstory -which is deliciously complex – if you start from the beginning. And Lucy’s gangster father just throws a whole new level of OMFG into this novel.

Would I recommend this read? You bet your sweet arse I would. Mr Finch is an expert at writing stories that get under your skin. Characters come alive on the pages and intriguing storylines grab you by the throat. So do yourself a favour and grab this book today! Still unsure? Check out this extract and follow the tour to see what everyone else though!

This book is the third in the series.
This book took me a while to get into and it was difficult to keep track of the characters.

Stolen. Paul Finch


Any book with a character who is a homeless, drug addicted, ex-nun, who turns turns tricks to feed her habit, and continues to wear her gowns, has to be off to a flying start. You’ve got to read the book to meet Sister Cassie.

But she’s not the only reason to read this book. The lead character Detective Constable Lucy Clayburn is a firecracker of a character. She is relentless in her pursuit of criminals, but hides a dark secret from her colleagues, her dad is one of the leaders of Manchester’s biggest criminal gang, “The Crew”. Not that she’d ever exploit that, in fact she’s only just found out. So a constant throughout is weather she should commit career suicide by telling her bosses, or try to carry on and hope they don’t find out.

The start of this book is a bit of a tough read if you, like me, are a dog lover. Lucy busts an illegal dog fighting club, but amongst the dead and tortured animals she doesn’t find the ones she’s been looking for, the ones which have recently been stolen by somebody in a Black Transit Van.

What she does become aware of, thanks to Sister Cassie, is that some homeless people are also going missing, and the black van seems to be involved again.

Meanwhile there’s an internal dispute amongst the hierarchy of The Crew, including Lucy’s dad, that looks like it will lead to the gang imploding.

Whilst Lucy tries to find the Black Van, and what has happened to the people that were taken, her Dad becomes more embroiled in the infighting in The Crew. Inevitably the two storylines merge, but not in a way I anticipated, and father and daughter have decisions to make.

This is a belter of a book. Tough, and hard hitting, it is a story woven from several strands which knit together perfectly.

The characters in this book are stunning, but ultimately the ones I haven’t mentioned, the perpetrators of the crimes, are the ones that give it that real edge. I defy anybody to guess who they are, or what their motives are until they’re revealed, and then…..then it gets really scary.

Why?

Because they are way to realistic, and they really shouldn’t be.

Pages: 480
Publishers: Avon

This is such a good book, well written with a lot of detail and good descriptions. There is a lot going on in this book, people are going missing, pets are going missing, DC Lucy Clayburn is worried about the truth about her father coming out etc.

Another great book from Paul Finch which I enjoyed reading.

The author wrote a thriller that started with a bang and just kept going! The twists kept coming, so I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

thank you for allowing me to read this book. it was very easy to read. i enjoyed the story line and the characters. look forward to reading more from this author.

In Manchester people are disappearing off the streets, people who many wouldn’t even worry about; people who are sleeping rough and drug addicts, until a young woman vanishes while out running, which prompts a response from the police. One thing that links the disappearances is a dark coloured van seen in the area that has aroused the suspicions of several witnesses.

DC Lucy Clayburn becomes aware of the missing people and starts an investigation. But as she gets to grip with what could prove to be a very sinister case, her own position in the police begins to come under threat. Two years ago, Lucy discovered that she was Frank McCracken’s daughter; Frank is a dangerous criminal, well known to the police and is one of the top bosses of a criminal organisation. So far she’s managed to keep this a secret from her colleagues back at the station, but now it seems that she may have to come forward and tell the truth. Will her career survive? Will her father’s reputation survive? Lucy’s relationship with her father is what gives this series a really edgy feel.

Paul Finch’s Lucy Clayburn series is one of my favourites. There is always a strong element of mystery when it comes to Paul’s openings for his books, and this is what makes them so gripping, right from the get-go. There were a lot of things I liked about this novel; there’s a strong plot which pulled me into the story as well as Lucy’s own personal dilemma. She is perhaps faced with one of the toughest choices of her career here, and this was one of the most gripping parts of the story, would she or would she not come clean to her boss, but I won’t be revealing any details on that here.

There are quite a few on the edge of your seat moments throughout this book, and I just had to keep turning the pages to find out what was going to happen. Lucy is a police officer who is unafraid of sailing close to danger. I think what I really like about her, is that she is in this job simply because she cares about making a difference in her community. At the moment she doesn’t think about promotion, as she tells her father, she will quite happily stay as a detective constable if it means coming clean about their relationship.

One character who I thought was written really well was Sister Cassie, a former nun who still likes to stick to her old ways. I really liked the friendship that she had with Lucy, and I think she was one of my favourite characters from this book. I’d definitely like to see her return.

I think Stolen is the best book yet in this series. Gritty, full of suspense and with a nail-biting ending, this makes for a really enjoyable read. Another top read from Paul Finch, which I highly recommend.

Another great book following the life of DC Lucy Clayburn. Lucy has a lot to cope with in this book. Dogs and people are going missing are the two things linked. An ex Nun who is now part of the homeless society just might be able to help Lucy. When her father gets dumped at the hospital shot will her secret come out. So much going on for Lucy a gripping read.

# Stolen # Netgally
Overall I can't say I was too impressed with this read, Its not a bad storyline it more predictable if anything. I don't want to slate the book because it's much to good to completely do so, it's a fairly decent paced boo book. Just not enough to completely grab me.

'Stolen' by Paul Finch.

Wow, amazing book!
Well written, fast paced, just incredible!
I can't wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this mystery! I’ve never read anything by Paul Finch and I look forward to seeing more from this author. He did a fantastic job at keeping me engaged with the story line and characters.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I love the Lucy Clayburn series and I thin Stolen is the best yet. Really good character development and plenty of fast paced action in this excellent police procedural. Lucy is a gritty determined character who goes off alone to solve the disappearance of homeless people. As the truth emerges about Lucy's gangster father, can she keep her detective job? Another great read from Paul Finch and one I would recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC. Reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and Facebook.

3.5 Stars
This is the first book I’ve read in this series and whilst it was fine as a stand-alone, I’m intrigued to find out what happened in the first two books.
The story begins with Lucy busting a dog fighting syndicate which was quite uncomfortable reading.
Then the story moves on to an old man going missing with his dog.
Sister Cassie asks to see Lucy, and tells her of other people that have gone missing and Lucy starts to look into the situation.
As well as this we see what Frank McCracken and the Crew are up to and I must admit I became a bit overwhelmed at this stage.
There seemed to be too many different aspects to the story and I found myself drifting away from the book and starting to lose interest as there was too much to remember.
I did finish the book and whilst it made more sense at the end, I think this story was a bit too over complicated.
Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The case that Lucy finds herself at the heart of is a very distressing one for animal lovers everywhere but rest assured, although you will be saddened by the opening, a tragically all too believable tale in itself, this is only really the beginning. A dark van has been seen trawling the streets of Crowley just before beloved family pets have gone missing. But is it part of the bust that Lucy is arranging or is it the start of something far more sinister?

Well if you read the book (or the blurb) you'll know that something far more complex and disturbing is happening in Crowley. (Well that is relative and depends on your feelings on dogs v people I suppose). Residents are going missing, some noticed, many not, but to what end and who is responsible? It's going to fall to Lucy and the team at Robbers Row to find out and the facts are going to be very surprising and very dark, believe me.

I really enjoy the Lucy Clayburn series as it's nice to see a strong female character taking charge, even if she doesn't have any real level of responsibility as a DC. Lucy has always been someone who can hold her own, intelligent and determined, and truly gutsy in her approach. She has a very complicated personal life, made more so since the reappearance of her father in her life. She is passionate about her job, protective of her mother, and has a great intuition, making her a joy to read about. I like the dynamic between her and her father, gangster Frank McCracken, even with his friend and chief enforcer, Mick Shallicker, seeing them all torn between their sense of duty to their respective careers, and sense of protection for each other, even if that feeling sends chills through Lucy. Complex but compelling, it's a story I love to follow.

A real revelation in this book though is former Nun, Sister Cassie (no religious pun intended). She has led a very interesting life and certainly adds colour to the story. I don't want to say too much about her, but it is fair to say that she plays a chief role in Lucy uncovering the truth behind all the disappearances, and a surprising part in seeing justice done. Call it divine intervention if you will, but Sister Cassie does seem to have a knack for being in the right place, even if it does occasionally land her in danger. She is a fun, sometimes mixed up, often misunderstood character who brings a smile to my face when reading. The author has done a brilliant job of developing her character, the perfect blend between the righteous and the woman fallen from Grace. Religious affectation a plenty, but also very down to earth.

This is a fast paced, fun, sometimes gruesome, often heart pumping, definitely sad pout inducing read which I really enjoyed.

Stolen is the first DC Lucy Clayburn book by Paul Finch and it is an enjoyable police thriller set in and around Manchester

The book is fairly non stop action and definitely keeps you interested. Yes some parts are fairly unbelievable but it is entertaining and a page clicker.

I read this book as a standalone without any issues & look forward to reading more of this series in the future

Recommended

ANOTHER FANTASTIC READ FROM THIS AUTHOR!!!!!!!
I actually requested this book without reading the blurb. THIS AUTHOR IS SO GOOD
What do illegal dog fights, dog baiting, missing people and a big black van have in common?
I was hooked from the first page and this book is full on from the start.
The dark underbelly of the North and The Crew. This read is brutal, gritty, packed with tension and suspense and so much more. Full on action which had me sat on the edge of my seat. OMG WHAT A READ I could not put it down and finally turned the last page at 2.am. IT IS THAT GOOD!!!!!!!
Another easy five stars and so Highly Recommended.
I would like to thank the author, Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

4.5 stars.
This is the third book in this series and, to get the very best from it, especially in terms of character backstory and development, it's best to start from book one and read in order. Lucy is a bit complex so it really will help!
This book starts with rumours. People are going missing but bodies never turn up and no one appears concerned as they are mostly from the homeless community. There are also sightings of a mysterious black van being reported. But there is nothing really to go on until Harry, a pensioner, also disappears. Could all this be linked to the spate of missing dogs Lucy is already aware of? Could this latest incident be the catalyst to give the spark Lucy needs to start her investigation properly?
Add Lucy's gangster father into the mix and you've got yourself one heck of a ride!
Well, this hit the ground running and, after all the threads were started, didn't let up until the very end! The action packed nature of the narrative did also mean that sometimes belief had to be suspended but with the overall quality of the plot and characters being top notch, I was happy to do just that! It's also a bit scattered at the beginning as there is so much going on but, by the end of the book, it does all come together very nicely and left me satisfied.
As with all series books we do delve into the main character's personal life. In this case however, personal clashes with professional as father Frank is quite the gangster. But is he as dark as he is painted? Lucy's mother wants to reconnect, Lucy notsomuch for obvious reasons but it does make for an interesting sidebar at times, especially when their world collide as they do in this book.
Admittedly this isn't the strongest book in the series to date but is a worthy addition that was, on the whole, satisfying. Looking forward to Lucy's next outing with baited breath.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This book was information overload . Lots going on and hard to remember what was going on. I struggled to get into the storyline. Not my cup of tea, but thats my opinion.

This was OK, if a little gory, but it was a little too protracted and could easily have been condensed considerably without losing any plot or characterisation. Already a sequel itself it's left open for further instalments but I won't be first in line.