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Flocksdale Files #1
Have You Seen This Girl
Wendi Wise is a troubled young woman who snorts her breakfast through a straw and spends more time in rehab than in the real world…
Her life is seemingly out of control.
But now she has a plan.
That plan involves a sharp set of butcher knives.
She's going back to where all of her troubles began…
Flocksdale.
Wendi was lured away from a local skating rink, at the age of thirteen, and held captive in a place she calls 'The House of Horrors.' Dumped off blindfolded on the side of a dirt road, Wendi soon discovered that she was addicted to the drugs they fed her while she was captive.
Too scared to go home, and having a new habit to deal with, she hopped on a bus, vanishing from the family she loved.
Vanishing from Flocksdale…
The town of Flocksdale is littered with fliers with a grainy image of young Wendi, and the words 'Have You Seen This Girl?' written below.
Now, eight years later, she's on a mission—a mission to find the mysterious house from her youth and the monsters who dwell inside it.
Her life is seemingly out of control.
But now she has a plan.
That plan involves a sharp set of butcher knives.
She's going back to where all of her troubles began…
Flocksdale.
Wendi was lured away from a local skating rink, at the age of thirteen, and held captive in a place she calls 'The House of Horrors.' Dumped off blindfolded on the side of a dirt road, Wendi soon discovered that she was addicted to the drugs they fed her while she was captive.
Too scared to go home, and having a new habit to deal with, she hopped on a bus, vanishing from the family she loved.
Vanishing from Flocksdale…
The town of Flocksdale is littered with fliers with a grainy image of young Wendi, and the words 'Have You Seen This Girl?' written below.
Now, eight years later, she's on a mission—a mission to find the mysterious house from her youth and the monsters who dwell inside it.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2015
123 people are currently reading
687 people want to read
About the author
Carissa Ann Lynch
32 books731 followersBesides my family, my greatest love in life is books. Reading them, writing them, holding them, smelling them…well, you get the idea. I’ve always loved to read, and some of my earliest childhood memories are me, tucked away in my room, lost in a good book. I received a five dollar allowance each week, and I always — always — spent it on books. My love affair with writing started early, but it mostly involved journaling and writing silly poems. Several years ago, I didn’t have a book to read so I decided on a whim to write my own story, something I’d like to read. It turned out to be harder than I thought, but from that point on I was hooked. My first and second books were released by Sarah Book Publishing: This Is Not About Love and Grayson’s Ridge. I’m a total genre-hopper. Basically, I like to write what I like to read: a little bit of everything! I reside in Floyds Knobs, Indiana with my husband, three children, and massive collection of books. I have a degree in psychology and worked as a counselor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
September 16, 2015
This isn't a real review, since I technically wrote the book and all...but apparently all the cool kids are rating their own books, so I will too. I need all the help I can get. I give myself 5 stars for effort. This book was my "baby" project and I rewrote it ten times. I loved writing it. Whether you love or hate the book, thank you to everyone who takes the time to read and review it.
dnf
July 22, 2020Dnf @25%
January 27, 2021
I’m doing a bit of reading for myself at the moment.
I thought she could write a better book than Whisper Island, and I was right. This was quite the story! 13 year old Wendi Wise and her best friend Claire are groomed by a couple of older boys and are grabbed one night, when they are ostensibly at a party, and whisked off to a 'house of horrors'. You can imagine what goes on there.
After some months Wendi is surprised to find herself cut loose, she skips town and takes the first bus out which just happens to be heading to Albuquerque. After many ups downs she gets herself off the drugs and heads home with a set of butcher's knives to exact revenge on those that abused her and her friend.
Things are, however, not what they seem and she soon lands in even hotter water. Can the girl who survived so much hang tough one more time and prevail against the viper's nest of users and abusers. 3.5 stars rounded up.
I thought she could write a better book than Whisper Island, and I was right. This was quite the story! 13 year old Wendi Wise and her best friend Claire are groomed by a couple of older boys and are grabbed one night, when they are ostensibly at a party, and whisked off to a 'house of horrors'. You can imagine what goes on there.
After some months Wendi is surprised to find herself cut loose, she skips town and takes the first bus out which just happens to be heading to Albuquerque. After many ups downs she gets herself off the drugs and heads home with a set of butcher's knives to exact revenge on those that abused her and her friend.
Things are, however, not what they seem and she soon lands in even hotter water. Can the girl who survived so much hang tough one more time and prevail against the viper's nest of users and abusers. 3.5 stars rounded up.
December 14, 2015
I Have Seen This Girl, And She's a Badass
Thank you to Mitsy for recommending this book to me. I don't typically read thrillers but this one definitely held my attention.
Do you have teenage daughters? If so, you might want to steer clear of this story. Wendi Wise is 13 when she and her friend meet two cute boys at the mall. The boys offer them a joint, and they smoke behind a store. From such an innocent beginning comes Wendi's downfall when she is kidnapped and forced to become a drug-addled sex slave.
Most girls are killed at this point, but Wendi isn't like most girls. She's going to claw her way back to a life worth living any way she can.
I like the timeline of Wendi's story, starting with the prologue at age 21, flashing back to age 13, and then picking up again at age 21.
It's an accurate portrayal of drug addiction, without drugs being the central focus of the story:
Whenever I thought about using, I imagined one of those old seesaws you see on primary school playgrounds. On one end were all of the things I liked about using: The numbness. The excitement. The comfort. But on the other end was all of the bad things: Lost jobs. Lost friends. Disappointed faces. Terrible, writhing pain that rattled my bones and scared me shitless.
At times I love the writing, like when Wendi discovers her foster mother is pregnant: It was a miracle; it was a tragedy. But there are too many adverbs for my taste.
The vibe of the story is creepy. There are a few welcome surprises in the climactic ending, though parts seem a bit far-fetched.
This is definitely a page-turner! Wendi says it best:
Yes, I've seen this girl. I know her and I know her pain. But I also know her triumph and recovery.
Thank you to Mitsy for recommending this book to me. I don't typically read thrillers but this one definitely held my attention.
Do you have teenage daughters? If so, you might want to steer clear of this story. Wendi Wise is 13 when she and her friend meet two cute boys at the mall. The boys offer them a joint, and they smoke behind a store. From such an innocent beginning comes Wendi's downfall when she is kidnapped and forced to become a drug-addled sex slave.
Most girls are killed at this point, but Wendi isn't like most girls. She's going to claw her way back to a life worth living any way she can.
I like the timeline of Wendi's story, starting with the prologue at age 21, flashing back to age 13, and then picking up again at age 21.
It's an accurate portrayal of drug addiction, without drugs being the central focus of the story:
Whenever I thought about using, I imagined one of those old seesaws you see on primary school playgrounds. On one end were all of the things I liked about using: The numbness. The excitement. The comfort. But on the other end was all of the bad things: Lost jobs. Lost friends. Disappointed faces. Terrible, writhing pain that rattled my bones and scared me shitless.
At times I love the writing, like when Wendi discovers her foster mother is pregnant: It was a miracle; it was a tragedy. But there are too many adverbs for my taste.
The vibe of the story is creepy. There are a few welcome surprises in the climactic ending, though parts seem a bit far-fetched.
This is definitely a page-turner! Wendi says it best:
Yes, I've seen this girl. I know her and I know her pain. But I also know her triumph and recovery.
January 26, 2016
***** 5 House of Horrors Stars *****
This is book 1 of the Flocksdale Files . Get ready for a tale of complete honesty from the MC. What I loved most about this book, Wendi, the MC never makes an excuse for the bad choices she makes. She takes responsibility for everything she does. Her story will leave you shocked and heartbroken.
Wendi is a teenage girl just trying to have some fun in life. Doing what teenagers do, push the limits their parents set all in the name of living their life. Becoming their own person. Only pushing the limits has horrible results for Wendi and her friend Claire.
After lying to her parents and meeting up with two older boys she should have nothing to do with, Wendi is abducted. Wendi's life is about to enter a drug induced House of Horrors. What she goes through for the next 6 months is fogged over by her drugged up state. Thankfully the drugs mask the abuse and rape she repeatedly endures by the hands of an awful family.
Finally one day, she is released from captivity. Out of the blue, a suit case is packed for her and she is given $1000 dollars and told she can leave....under one condition. She will NEVER EVER speak of what happened in this House. If she does. her entire family will be killed.
Wendi does the only thing she thinks is possible, she runs very far away and becomes homeless. Her life is turned upside down from the abuse she has endured and not being able to be with her family. She turns to drugs over and over again.
Finally, one day, Wendi wakes up and realizes to get her life back she must once and for all get clean and make her way home and stand up against the monsters that robbed her of a normal life and her family. Revenge is about to be unleashed and the good and bad will collide.
The story of secrets and lies that unfolds on Wendi's revenge mission is a dark tale of a Family of Monsters in the town of Flocksdale.
Miss Carissa Ann Lynch....AMAZING story girl!! I love this twisted tale of horror.
Book 2.... House of the Lost Girls is sure to be a book filled with more secrets and horror!! I can't wait!!
This is book 1 of the Flocksdale Files . Get ready for a tale of complete honesty from the MC. What I loved most about this book, Wendi, the MC never makes an excuse for the bad choices she makes. She takes responsibility for everything she does. Her story will leave you shocked and heartbroken.
Wendi is a teenage girl just trying to have some fun in life. Doing what teenagers do, push the limits their parents set all in the name of living their life. Becoming their own person. Only pushing the limits has horrible results for Wendi and her friend Claire.
After lying to her parents and meeting up with two older boys she should have nothing to do with, Wendi is abducted. Wendi's life is about to enter a drug induced House of Horrors. What she goes through for the next 6 months is fogged over by her drugged up state. Thankfully the drugs mask the abuse and rape she repeatedly endures by the hands of an awful family.
Finally one day, she is released from captivity. Out of the blue, a suit case is packed for her and she is given $1000 dollars and told she can leave....under one condition. She will NEVER EVER speak of what happened in this House. If she does. her entire family will be killed.
Wendi does the only thing she thinks is possible, she runs very far away and becomes homeless. Her life is turned upside down from the abuse she has endured and not being able to be with her family. She turns to drugs over and over again.
Finally, one day, Wendi wakes up and realizes to get her life back she must once and for all get clean and make her way home and stand up against the monsters that robbed her of a normal life and her family. Revenge is about to be unleashed and the good and bad will collide.
The story of secrets and lies that unfolds on Wendi's revenge mission is a dark tale of a Family of Monsters in the town of Flocksdale.
Miss Carissa Ann Lynch....AMAZING story girl!! I love this twisted tale of horror.
Book 2.... House of the Lost Girls is sure to be a book filled with more secrets and horror!! I can't wait!!
Read
August 31, 2015༺**Complimentary Copy**༺ Provided by the author "Carissa Lynch" in exchange for an honest review..Thank you!!
TITLE: Have You Seen This Girl?
SERIES: (Flocksdale Files Book #1)
AUTHOR: Carissa Lynch
GENRE:
RELEASE DATE: September 08th, 2015
✫ This is my first time reading something by this author ✫
MY RATING:
NOW
The story starts off where she's lost her snorting straw and has to revert to using a rolled up dollar bill, this will be her last indulge as rehab starts this day..Then after that's accomplished she's going to make it back to where it all started..
When you’re an addict, you don’t spend money on things like food, water, clothes, electricity…you spend it on drugs. At least the truly hardcore addicts like me do.
This isn't a story about love, or addiction, this story is about murder..
PAST ~ EIGHT YEARS AGO
Lying to her parents about going to the mall but in retrospect meeting two boys, getting caught out in the lie and being grounded for a month, next lie making up a bogus birthday invitation at a skating rink only to be meeting up with the same boy again, going to the boys aunties place before heading off to his, feeling uncomfortable she demands that she be taken back to the rink, 45 minutes drag by whilst awaiting for her mother to pick her up, the rink closed, the car park empty.
Things take a turn for the worst when a car stops beside her, a surly looking man gets out and throws her in the car..
I kicked and screamed angrily, clawing at his eyes and skin. He threw me in the backseat. My body hit the cold, vinyl surface of the seat.
TITLE: Have You Seen This Girl?
SERIES: (Flocksdale Files Book #1)
AUTHOR: Carissa Lynch
GENRE:
RELEASE DATE: September 08th, 2015
✫ This is my first time reading something by this author ✫
MY RATING:
NOW
The story starts off where she's lost her snorting straw and has to revert to using a rolled up dollar bill, this will be her last indulge as rehab starts this day..Then after that's accomplished she's going to make it back to where it all started..
When you’re an addict, you don’t spend money on things like food, water, clothes, electricity…you spend it on drugs. At least the truly hardcore addicts like me do.
This isn't a story about love, or addiction, this story is about murder..
PAST ~ EIGHT YEARS AGO
Lying to her parents about going to the mall but in retrospect meeting two boys, getting caught out in the lie and being grounded for a month, next lie making up a bogus birthday invitation at a skating rink only to be meeting up with the same boy again, going to the boys aunties place before heading off to his, feeling uncomfortable she demands that she be taken back to the rink, 45 minutes drag by whilst awaiting for her mother to pick her up, the rink closed, the car park empty.
Things take a turn for the worst when a car stops beside her, a surly looking man gets out and throws her in the car..
I kicked and screamed angrily, clawing at his eyes and skin. He threw me in the backseat. My body hit the cold, vinyl surface of the seat.
October 18, 2015
I loved this book! The first thing I enjoyed was it being written in the first person from Wendi's POV as it really allows you to get inside the head of Wendi and understand her thoughts and actions. The quality of the writing makes this an intimate and shared experience as we follow Wendi's life story from the lowest of lows to eventual highs, which are also ultimately achieved without drugs.
The book is dark in places but there is always hope and Wendi is a very determined and heroic young woman, who seeks revenge and manages to deliver an uplifting end, although I loved the epilogue which added the touch of realism to finish the story. In fact, the story was so realistic, I was completely gripped from the first few pages and I wouldn't have been surprised to discover it was based on real events.
Highly recommended to anyone who likes a well written, page turning, adult crime thriller with great characters.
The book is dark in places but there is always hope and Wendi is a very determined and heroic young woman, who seeks revenge and manages to deliver an uplifting end, although I loved the epilogue which added the touch of realism to finish the story. In fact, the story was so realistic, I was completely gripped from the first few pages and I wouldn't have been surprised to discover it was based on real events.
Highly recommended to anyone who likes a well written, page turning, adult crime thriller with great characters.
September 29, 2015
Where to begin with this book? I was truly surprised when I cracked it open and reached the end of the prologue. The description was very interesting but I’d been expecting a story about a girl who was disabled or handicapped somehow, not a girl struggling with a drug addiction.
I’ll admit I was tempted to put this book down and throw in the towel. I didn’t want to read about addiction, I didn’t want to see a girl suffer through the drug world. I thought, this is another sob story, another tale of woe. But boy was I wrong!
Have You Seen This Girl? is a story of vengeance. It’s a story about a young girl who gets tricked into the world of human trafficking, for those who are unfamiliar, human trafficking is forced prostitution. It’s kidnapping, it’s a sex slave industry, and it’s absolutely wrong. Lynch has a way of presenting a very PG-13 version of this horrible realm which I appreciated very much. No one wants to read through a graphic rape of a thirteen-year-old, right? The language and the dialogue of this book were very well worded and realistic, as was the entire novel.
The descriptions and the emotions were raw. I mean that in a good way, they were intense, honest, and true to the scene. The main character was a girl I understood very well, she was strong in her own right and she was easy to like. I found myself rooting for her throughout the entire journey.
The way she dealt with every situation and how she reacted in each predicament was human; it fit her age and her past, which made it enjoyable for me as a reader. I can’t stand those characters that always react the right way, always make the right decisions, always come out on top. Wendi struggled, and she struggled hard, but I got to see her stand back up again and it was very believable.
The best part of this story is the awareness that it brings to the sex-trade. As a female, I felt a different kind of anger towards the antagonists in this story. I felt an anger that I don’t think many men can identify with and Lynch brought that to light. She showed Wendi’s innocence, she highlighted her girlish charm, even included a silly crush at the beginning of the story—which ended tragically. But Lynch turned on us when she flipped this story into the dark matter that it was. It was a story that needed to be told and it needed to be told truthfully. I think it’s a sad but honest read that somehow inspires me.
I don’t think you’re human if you have a bad thing to say about this book. It needs to be read by every teenager and every parent on the planet. There are so many things you can learn from this book; first of all, trust no one. LOL, second of all, do not be afraid to say no!
That’s another point I wanted to highlight. Lynch addresses two issues in her piece; the sex-trade industry and the drug market. She ‘went there’ with her in-depth details and the descriptions of Wendi’s struggles. I learned a thing or two about drugs from reading this book, things I probably never would have learned otherwise. I got a firsthand look at a nasty lifestyle. I felt afraid, I felt sad, I felt hopeful, all of these emotions wrapped up in one novel was a roller coaster of passion and sentiment that left me feeling high once I turned the last page—no pun intended!
As a writer, I applaud Lynch. She isn’t using her talents to just make us laugh, or even make us cry. She is sending a message, she is spreading awareness, and she is shining a much needed light on a pitch black world. I hope that her book serves as an anchor that brings justice to many of the young girls and boys who suffer in the sex-trade on a daily basis. God bless Carissa Lynch.
I’ll admit I was tempted to put this book down and throw in the towel. I didn’t want to read about addiction, I didn’t want to see a girl suffer through the drug world. I thought, this is another sob story, another tale of woe. But boy was I wrong!
Have You Seen This Girl? is a story of vengeance. It’s a story about a young girl who gets tricked into the world of human trafficking, for those who are unfamiliar, human trafficking is forced prostitution. It’s kidnapping, it’s a sex slave industry, and it’s absolutely wrong. Lynch has a way of presenting a very PG-13 version of this horrible realm which I appreciated very much. No one wants to read through a graphic rape of a thirteen-year-old, right? The language and the dialogue of this book were very well worded and realistic, as was the entire novel.
The descriptions and the emotions were raw. I mean that in a good way, they were intense, honest, and true to the scene. The main character was a girl I understood very well, she was strong in her own right and she was easy to like. I found myself rooting for her throughout the entire journey.
The way she dealt with every situation and how she reacted in each predicament was human; it fit her age and her past, which made it enjoyable for me as a reader. I can’t stand those characters that always react the right way, always make the right decisions, always come out on top. Wendi struggled, and she struggled hard, but I got to see her stand back up again and it was very believable.
The best part of this story is the awareness that it brings to the sex-trade. As a female, I felt a different kind of anger towards the antagonists in this story. I felt an anger that I don’t think many men can identify with and Lynch brought that to light. She showed Wendi’s innocence, she highlighted her girlish charm, even included a silly crush at the beginning of the story—which ended tragically. But Lynch turned on us when she flipped this story into the dark matter that it was. It was a story that needed to be told and it needed to be told truthfully. I think it’s a sad but honest read that somehow inspires me.
I don’t think you’re human if you have a bad thing to say about this book. It needs to be read by every teenager and every parent on the planet. There are so many things you can learn from this book; first of all, trust no one. LOL, second of all, do not be afraid to say no!
That’s another point I wanted to highlight. Lynch addresses two issues in her piece; the sex-trade industry and the drug market. She ‘went there’ with her in-depth details and the descriptions of Wendi’s struggles. I learned a thing or two about drugs from reading this book, things I probably never would have learned otherwise. I got a firsthand look at a nasty lifestyle. I felt afraid, I felt sad, I felt hopeful, all of these emotions wrapped up in one novel was a roller coaster of passion and sentiment that left me feeling high once I turned the last page—no pun intended!
As a writer, I applaud Lynch. She isn’t using her talents to just make us laugh, or even make us cry. She is sending a message, she is spreading awareness, and she is shining a much needed light on a pitch black world. I hope that her book serves as an anchor that brings justice to many of the young girls and boys who suffer in the sex-trade on a daily basis. God bless Carissa Lynch.
December 5, 2016
This was a really intense read from beginning to end. The plot was fast paced with lots of action. The character development was solid. I was impressed. The only thing I would change, is that everything seemed to wrap up a bit too easily at the end. It had a "rushed" feel to it. I'll definitely read more of this writers work though.
September 2, 2015
What’s It About?
“Perhaps you are wondering how I got this way. Or perhaps you don’t give a damn. Either way, this is my story. It’s not a story about addiction. This is a story about murder.”
Wendi was kidnapped as a teenager, forced into a lifestyle that involved drugs to numb the pain, and eventually let go to fend for herself. After a brief hiatus, she returns to Flocksdale on a mission.
“Wendi Wise was back.”
What her kidnappers weren’t expecting, was for this tortured girl to become a torturer…
Have You Seen This Girl? is a tale of revenge, told in first person perspective by the lead protagonist, Wendi.
My Thoughts
WOW!!!! What a story!!! I have whiplash from all the plot twists and turns! Have You Seen This Girl? is the furthest thing from predictable!
Immediately, I was drawn into the plot. When Wendi said that this wasn’t a story about addiction, and that it was a story about murder, I had CHILLS! -And this was in 90 degree weather! I was dying to learn her story! As a warning, do not start this novel at night if you plan on getting any sleep because you will NOT be able to put this story down!
My favorite character was Wendi. I loved everything about her. I didn’t care that she was a dope addict, living like it was the stone age. That actually drew me to her more. I love tortured, angst-ridden characters, that somehow manage to pull themselves up out of the hellhole they are living in. Wendi was never a “damsel in distress”. I found this extremely endearing. I routed for her throughout.
The vivid, descriptive settings described by the author made it easy to fall into, and get lost in the story. Her world building was incredible. I felt like I was watching a movie playing in my head.
I have to mention that I love this author’s writing style. Every single chapter ended with a cliff hanger! That is why I said earlier that this book is very hard to put down.
The conclusion was very satisfying. I had tears in my eyes. I was so glad the author ended this story the way she did. I know this story is the first in a series, so I wonder what book 2 will be about? I impatiently await!
This novel is worth reading for so many reasons. I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed reading, Have You Seen This Girl? If you enjoy an angsty, psychological suspense, then I highly recommend this book to you! Order your copy today!
Can I give this more than 5 stars? No? DARN!
***I received a copy of this novel in exchange for a thoughtful, honest, and fair book review. This in no way swayed my opinion or rating.***
Full book review: https://aprillwood.wordpress.com/2015...
“Perhaps you are wondering how I got this way. Or perhaps you don’t give a damn. Either way, this is my story. It’s not a story about addiction. This is a story about murder.”
Wendi was kidnapped as a teenager, forced into a lifestyle that involved drugs to numb the pain, and eventually let go to fend for herself. After a brief hiatus, she returns to Flocksdale on a mission.
“Wendi Wise was back.”
What her kidnappers weren’t expecting, was for this tortured girl to become a torturer…
Have You Seen This Girl? is a tale of revenge, told in first person perspective by the lead protagonist, Wendi.
My Thoughts
WOW!!!! What a story!!! I have whiplash from all the plot twists and turns! Have You Seen This Girl? is the furthest thing from predictable!
Immediately, I was drawn into the plot. When Wendi said that this wasn’t a story about addiction, and that it was a story about murder, I had CHILLS! -And this was in 90 degree weather! I was dying to learn her story! As a warning, do not start this novel at night if you plan on getting any sleep because you will NOT be able to put this story down!
My favorite character was Wendi. I loved everything about her. I didn’t care that she was a dope addict, living like it was the stone age. That actually drew me to her more. I love tortured, angst-ridden characters, that somehow manage to pull themselves up out of the hellhole they are living in. Wendi was never a “damsel in distress”. I found this extremely endearing. I routed for her throughout.
The vivid, descriptive settings described by the author made it easy to fall into, and get lost in the story. Her world building was incredible. I felt like I was watching a movie playing in my head.
I have to mention that I love this author’s writing style. Every single chapter ended with a cliff hanger! That is why I said earlier that this book is very hard to put down.
The conclusion was very satisfying. I had tears in my eyes. I was so glad the author ended this story the way she did. I know this story is the first in a series, so I wonder what book 2 will be about? I impatiently await!
This novel is worth reading for so many reasons. I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed reading, Have You Seen This Girl? If you enjoy an angsty, psychological suspense, then I highly recommend this book to you! Order your copy today!
Can I give this more than 5 stars? No? DARN!
***I received a copy of this novel in exchange for a thoughtful, honest, and fair book review. This in no way swayed my opinion or rating.***
Full book review: https://aprillwood.wordpress.com/2015...
November 27, 2015
Drugs and murder? The prologue introduces us to our main female lead Wendi,a heroine addict. At first, I was tempted to completely leave this book. I have read so many drug addiction books, I was tired of them. But this book was not about this.
As it begins we are thrown into the past of Wendi's life, eight years earlier, at the age of thirteen. The story storms right into the thick of things, the ugly underworld of human trafficking. Wendi is a victim, thrown into a life of prostitution, forced against her will.
This was heart-wrenching read. I went through all the emotions any normal human being would. Anger, rage, hurt. But it is the sad truth and still goes on to this day. Young girls forced into a heinous life, mostly because they were born female.
As it begins we are thrown into the past of Wendi's life, eight years earlier, at the age of thirteen. The story storms right into the thick of things, the ugly underworld of human trafficking. Wendi is a victim, thrown into a life of prostitution, forced against her will.
This was heart-wrenching read. I went through all the emotions any normal human being would. Anger, rage, hurt. But it is the sad truth and still goes on to this day. Young girls forced into a heinous life, mostly because they were born female.
November 23, 2015
This is one of the reasons I sign up to review on blog tours. I've never heard of this author until a tour sign up form popped into my email. I thought I'd give it a go and I'm so happy I did.
As a young child Wendi is kidnapped and abused. Her captives use her and get her addicted to drugs. When she's let go she doesn't return home. She runs!
This is a story of a courageous girl who battles her inner demons on a daily basis. When she goes back to get her revenge she's on a path of self destruction.
Can she be saved?
Really brilliant well written story. I'm looking forward to jumping into book two now.
As a young child Wendi is kidnapped and abused. Her captives use her and get her addicted to drugs. When she's let go she doesn't return home. She runs!
This is a story of a courageous girl who battles her inner demons on a daily basis. When she goes back to get her revenge she's on a path of self destruction.
Can she be saved?
Really brilliant well written story. I'm looking forward to jumping into book two now.
January 4, 2016
Another fantastic story by one of my favorite authors Carissa Ann Lynch, but this time it’s a dark and twisted read that will keep you on the edge till the last page. The main character Wendi gets kidnapped when she was only thirteen and basically sold into sex slavery together with her best friend Claire. Surprisingly, her abductors let her go after some time, but now the girl has to face another horror – an addiction to heroin, which her captors used to keep her obedient. Struggling with both her demons, the nightmares that come at night and the drugs that numb the pain, Wendi could become just another statistics lost to drugs forever… But she finds strength to continue her struggle, even though it means that someone must die to pay for their sins.
The gothic atmosphere of the hometown where Wendi comes back to face her horrors, the nightmares both real and produced by the drug use, make this book impossible to put down. You can’t help but feel for the main character and wish her to get her horrific past and kill her demons once and for all… maybe even literally…
Loved it, loved it, loved it! Looking forward to more thrillers by the author, she’s really great at it! Five stars!
The gothic atmosphere of the hometown where Wendi comes back to face her horrors, the nightmares both real and produced by the drug use, make this book impossible to put down. You can’t help but feel for the main character and wish her to get her horrific past and kill her demons once and for all… maybe even literally…
Loved it, loved it, loved it! Looking forward to more thrillers by the author, she’s really great at it! Five stars!
September 6, 2015
This was a fantastic read. The only issue I had is that it kept me up late two nights in a row. Seriously-don’t pick this book up expecting to read a few chapters and set it down.
The story begins with a young girl, Wendi and her friend making poor decisions, as many thirteen-year-old girls do. One decision alters the course of her life forever as she crosses paths with vile and disgusting excuses for human beings. Her innocence is taken in the most brutal way imaginable, and she is left to deal with the aftermath.
The author does an excellent job painting the psychological downfall of Wendi. As the story is told, the girl’s past wreaks havoc on her mentality. She continues to self-medicate and lash out at those that try to help her.
In order to find closure, Wendi must get to the root of her problems-the stuff of her nightmares. And that’s where the fun begins.
This book will have you entranced and turning pages, and the ending will leave you in tears. I’m a fan of, Carissa Ann Lynch. I’m looking forward to future works and I highly recommend this read.
The story begins with a young girl, Wendi and her friend making poor decisions, as many thirteen-year-old girls do. One decision alters the course of her life forever as she crosses paths with vile and disgusting excuses for human beings. Her innocence is taken in the most brutal way imaginable, and she is left to deal with the aftermath.
The author does an excellent job painting the psychological downfall of Wendi. As the story is told, the girl’s past wreaks havoc on her mentality. She continues to self-medicate and lash out at those that try to help her.
In order to find closure, Wendi must get to the root of her problems-the stuff of her nightmares. And that’s where the fun begins.
This book will have you entranced and turning pages, and the ending will leave you in tears. I’m a fan of, Carissa Ann Lynch. I’m looking forward to future works and I highly recommend this read.
April 23, 2016
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This is a gripping, often shocking, suspenseful, mystery thriller, exploring the adult themes of abduction, child abuse and murder. Written from the first person point of view of a teenage girl and then a young woman, Wendi Wise’s story doesn’t graphically describe the abuse she suffers. Yet it manages to convey its horror vividly, through Wendi’s feelings at the time and subsequent addiction, as a result of the abuse she has suffered.
This story is dark but as it progresses it lightens, as Wendi’s emotional strength allows her to rebuild her shattered life. Some of the characters restore your faith in human nature but most are truly demonic. This is an edge of your seat read, who can she trust? Will getting revenge destroy her fragile mind? The ending is realistic and provides hope in a dark world. The quality of the writing, and the complex characters, definitely makes this book worth reading.
I downloaded a free copy of this book from Amazon UK.
Carissa Ann Lynch
September 21, 2015
I couldn't put this book down.
Carissa Ann Lynch writes with such a unique, accessible voice and the story moves along at a great pace. At times incredibly tense and confronting, Have You Seen This Girl had me racing through the pages. What makes this story so engaging- and often uncomfortable- is that Wendi is such a relatable character. She makes some silly decisions as a teenager- decisions to succumb to peer pressure and to spend time with her crush- that most of us were probably guilty of. For Wendi, this has a grave impact on the rest of her life.
I would have liked to see the climax played out in its entirety, although for reasons that will become obvious after reading, this isn't possible. While I enjoyed the fast pace of the novel overall, the ending did feel slightly rushed.
Four and a half stars rounded up to five! A great, thrilling read from a very talented new writer.
Carissa Ann Lynch writes with such a unique, accessible voice and the story moves along at a great pace. At times incredibly tense and confronting, Have You Seen This Girl had me racing through the pages. What makes this story so engaging- and often uncomfortable- is that Wendi is such a relatable character. She makes some silly decisions as a teenager- decisions to succumb to peer pressure and to spend time with her crush- that most of us were probably guilty of. For Wendi, this has a grave impact on the rest of her life.
I would have liked to see the climax played out in its entirety, although for reasons that will become obvious after reading, this isn't possible. While I enjoyed the fast pace of the novel overall, the ending did feel slightly rushed.
Four and a half stars rounded up to five! A great, thrilling read from a very talented new writer.
September 18, 2020
When Wendi turns thirteen, she and her friend, Claire, meet two boys. They’re older, and their interest is something that Wendi has never experienced before. After being banned from hanging with them, Wendi and Claire find ways to sneak out and see them anyway. Except their disappearance becomes longer than a few hours. When Wendi finds herself in a sex trafficking ring, she feels too ashamed to go home to her family when she’s released. Instead, she flees vowing revenge on the monsters who turned her life upside down.
I absolutely adored Wendi’s character. Even though she has an immense amount of self-doubt, she is strong and ruthless. She did what she needed to do to take down the monsters who nearly destroyed her, fighting through her own demons to do so.
I was so caught up in Wendi’s story, that I found this book nearly impossible to stop once I’d started. By the time it came for Wendi to get her revenge, I thought I had the ending of the book figured out, but I was so wrong. Every chapter of this book has its own twists and turns. The ending was beautiful.
Overall, I thought this was a good cautionary tale about what can happen when a girl isn’t careful about who she picks as her “friends.”
Narration was wonderful.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
I absolutely adored Wendi’s character. Even though she has an immense amount of self-doubt, she is strong and ruthless. She did what she needed to do to take down the monsters who nearly destroyed her, fighting through her own demons to do so.
I was so caught up in Wendi’s story, that I found this book nearly impossible to stop once I’d started. By the time it came for Wendi to get her revenge, I thought I had the ending of the book figured out, but I was so wrong. Every chapter of this book has its own twists and turns. The ending was beautiful.
Overall, I thought this was a good cautionary tale about what can happen when a girl isn’t careful about who she picks as her “friends.”
Narration was wonderful.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
December 27, 2016
Amazing
Have you seen this girl
Have you seen this girl is the first book in the
Flocksdale Files, by Author Carissa Ann Lynch. This book was amazingly-heartfelt and touching. Wendi, a thirteen year old teenager only wants what almost every teen wants at her age: A good friend, a boyfriend and to fit in. This book has drug references, but you soon learn that it's nothing to really do with drugs and everything to do with surviving,overcoming-horrific-trauma and learning to live again. Have you seen this girl is about revenge, murder and uncovering the truth. Wendi was put through so much in her life and although I was frustrated with her at times it didn't take away from how tragically-sad and beautifully written this book was. If you are a parent, this is one of the many things you never want your child to go through. I couldn't imagine believing that my daughter ran away, or was dead. Then to find out that she was alive, which would be wonderful, but to know she had been through hell!! Author Lynch did an excellent job. Loved this book!!
Have you seen this girl
Have you seen this girl is the first book in the
Flocksdale Files, by Author Carissa Ann Lynch. This book was amazingly-heartfelt and touching. Wendi, a thirteen year old teenager only wants what almost every teen wants at her age: A good friend, a boyfriend and to fit in. This book has drug references, but you soon learn that it's nothing to really do with drugs and everything to do with surviving,overcoming-horrific-trauma and learning to live again. Have you seen this girl is about revenge, murder and uncovering the truth. Wendi was put through so much in her life and although I was frustrated with her at times it didn't take away from how tragically-sad and beautifully written this book was. If you are a parent, this is one of the many things you never want your child to go through. I couldn't imagine believing that my daughter ran away, or was dead. Then to find out that she was alive, which would be wonderful, but to know she had been through hell!! Author Lynch did an excellent job. Loved this book!!
July 16, 2016
Wendi Wise is the victim of a kidnapping that leads her down a dark road away from all she loves and knows. At 13, her and her best friend, Claire, try to explore their little part of the world and end up with the wrong crowd. When things go from bad to worse, Wendi spends years never really getting over the evil of "The House of Horrors" that took her innocence and made her addicted to drugs.
After years away from Flocksdale, Wendi now going by Elsie McClain...is making her way back to right the wrongs that she was forced to be a part of. The years of hiding are coming to an end and everything lines up for her to take her revenge.
This was a great book you might as well grab the 3 books in this series, because you are going to want to know what happens next. Carissa Ann Lynch you've got me hooked! The writing flowed, the characters well drawn and the story explained clearly and concisely. I love this authors books.
If you like adult crime thrillers with great characters, then I recommend you get this series. You won't regret it.
After years away from Flocksdale, Wendi now going by Elsie McClain...is making her way back to right the wrongs that she was forced to be a part of. The years of hiding are coming to an end and everything lines up for her to take her revenge.
This was a great book you might as well grab the 3 books in this series, because you are going to want to know what happens next. Carissa Ann Lynch you've got me hooked! The writing flowed, the characters well drawn and the story explained clearly and concisely. I love this authors books.
If you like adult crime thrillers with great characters, then I recommend you get this series. You won't regret it.
September 10, 2015
A roller-coaster of a read. Highly recommend to thriller lovers.
The blurb indicates the story, a teenager is kidnapped and abused, escapes and plots her revenge. Very well-written with lots of suspense. Along with short chapters this is a real pager turner.
In the first half of the book we meet Wendi as a young naive girl being led astray by her friend into what should have been harmless fun. I found this section of the book sometimes hard to read as a parent. Not because of the violence and abuse which is suggested rather than described but due to the skill of the writer showing the teenage logic behind all the "wrong" decisions. Decisions that lead her deeper into trouble rather than risk her parents being hurt.
The second half of the book is a tense thriller as Wendi returns to her home town seeking revenge as she fights her demons. Some great twists to the story ratchet the suspense to breaking point.
The blurb indicates the story, a teenager is kidnapped and abused, escapes and plots her revenge. Very well-written with lots of suspense. Along with short chapters this is a real pager turner.
In the first half of the book we meet Wendi as a young naive girl being led astray by her friend into what should have been harmless fun. I found this section of the book sometimes hard to read as a parent. Not because of the violence and abuse which is suggested rather than described but due to the skill of the writer showing the teenage logic behind all the "wrong" decisions. Decisions that lead her deeper into trouble rather than risk her parents being hurt.
The second half of the book is a tense thriller as Wendi returns to her home town seeking revenge as she fights her demons. Some great twists to the story ratchet the suspense to breaking point.
October 21, 2015
When I first saw this book, I was highly intrigued. This was a book I just had to read. When I began reading it, my initial enthusiasm was vindicated. It gripped me from the word go, and was one of those rare books that you just do not want to put down. What's more, it was a book that I didn't want to end.
The reality it delivered was utterly stunning, and the author had me inside the mind of Wendi, the main character. I felt her pain and torment; few books can do that. The story also had me guessing, and the revelation near the end was a triumph. The closing narration was so utterly powerful that I genuinely felt emotional; no book has ever done that before.
I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. It's the best book I have read in years.
The reality it delivered was utterly stunning, and the author had me inside the mind of Wendi, the main character. I felt her pain and torment; few books can do that. The story also had me guessing, and the revelation near the end was a triumph. The closing narration was so utterly powerful that I genuinely felt emotional; no book has ever done that before.
I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. It's the best book I have read in years.
October 25, 2016
I jacked this in at 22%. It appears to be more a Young Adult type of story, not for grown-ups. Wendi comes across as really naive on some pages yet at other times she says things I don't believe a thirteen-year-old would say at all. She'd not be brave enough to call a kidnapper an idiot for sure nor swear at them as she was supposed to have done...not in the tone she used. I got to where Jeanna supposedly had a pleading quality to her voice and gave in. She wouldn't, she was a hardfaced cow !
At one point she mentions Claire not being the same girl she saw today at school but this was a Saturday and the conversation she referred to was on a Monday, I think. A little careless. I'd no idea what nodding out was, either, and had to Google it.
It's great if you're a teenager but not for me.
At one point she mentions Claire not being the same girl she saw today at school but this was a Saturday and the conversation she referred to was on a Monday, I think. A little careless. I'd no idea what nodding out was, either, and had to Google it.
It's great if you're a teenager but not for me.
September 23, 2015
Have You Seen This Girl completely blew me away. It is a tense, well-written thriller that follows a girl from young teen to early adulthood, and the gut wrenching turn her life takes after a series of poor decisions leads to every parent's worst nightmare. Wendi is kidnapped by sex traffickers, then used, abused, and left on the side of the road addicted to heroin. And that is only the beginning. The rest of this gripping story is Wendi's journey to recovery, and planning her revenge on her abusers. I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable read, full of darkness, despair, and the triumph of the human spirit. Highly recommended--a full five stars!
February 13, 2016
I wasn't sure what I was going to think about this book when I started. I honestly didn't even read what it was about before I read it. I was hooked from the first page. I read the entire book in less than 24 hours. Wendi's story is one of amazing courage, loss, and torture. To endure what she did is such a horrific thing, that is kept under wraps so much more than it should be. This is such a taboo issue and I am glad that there is awareness being brought to light. This is the first book I have ever read by Carissa and I am very glad that I got the opportunity. I will be reading many more. I will recommend this book to anyone who asks.
March 21, 2016
I did almost nothing today while I read this book. I couldn't put it down. It's beautifully written and keeps your attention. It show the hard truth about addiction. But it also shows you how horrible the world can be. You don't know you're strong until you have to be. Even though addiction gets ahold of you, you can still overcome. If you find people who love you unconditionally your addiction and past can fade into the background. No make believe where it all goes away and you have the happily ever after with no problems. Nope life is real and sometimes is messed up worst than we ever want to believe. Wow this book was simply great!
September 10, 2015
This was a great book! I loved reading it, the ending is the only thing I'm hung up on. I'm not really sure what happened and had to read them a few times to figure it out. I would have preferred it more in the story than in an epilogue, but I'm glad for the HEA and I can't wait to see more. Yes, people will comment and say that it's rough, but it will get better. Take it from me! The author will improve as she writes more! This is a great story, and a great start! I can't wait for more!
May 31, 2024
Great book.
August 24, 2024
Couldn't put the book down! Loved the storyline
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Want to read
March 13, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/13/2020)! 🎁
January 22, 2016
I have no words to express my feelings towards this book.
Have You Seen This Girls is a thriller about a girl who's planning revenge and as the story goes she starts revealing the facts that brought her to that point in her life. The story was written in a perfect way. I could feel what the maing character, Wendi, felt. I felt her angst, her fury, her sadness, the loneliness she lived in. And that is something amazing to accomplish in a thriller, cause those are some complex feelings. I couldn't get into Wendi's position because what she went through was really hard, but I felt like I knew her. Like I was watching her live her life in the way she did. I felt sorry for her, like she was an old friend of mine; even though, I couldn't position myself in her shoes I could understand her point of view, the things she thought about. And I could pass those as mine too. And that is a great thing of the book, it's not always that you can connect with character in the way I did with Wendi, even if we have nothing in common.
Another thing to talk about this book is the plot. The way Carissa wrote the story is unbelievable, as are the twists she created. The book kept me guessing and I never got it right. And this is not one of those stories where you're going to lose the track of what's happening. And it's awesome cause that's a main problem in thrillers, that you don't know what's happening or when it's happening and you can't enjoy the story because of that mess. But this book is different. You will travel to the story without trouble, so smoothly. The way the author played with the words, the way she described the scenes, the characters, is beautiful.
I need to talk about the other characters in the book too. The impact they had in me. I love Wendi, I love how brave and strong she is. She may seem weak, and maybe she was at some point, but she never gave up even when she was facing a harsh reality. She did make bad decisions, a lot of them, but I could never judge her, cause I really did understand her story despite never living something like that. And I have to bring this up again. I felt like her friend or at least I wanted to be. I wanted her to have someone by her side, someone to talk to,to make her life less bitter. And at one point she did. Remy is a character we met at the middle of the story. She was to Wendi what I wanted her to be and I love her too. She is a strong girl. I felt so reliefed when she appeared in the story because I think the plot as well as Wendi needed her. And I adore how the author managed to do this. She created a plot where every character has an important place in the story. And Remy is one of the most important characters in the book, she's a catalyst in Wendi's plans, she plays a huge role in the things Wendi was planning to do. And don't forget about Officer Milby, we have the opportunity to meet him a couple of times in between the plot but he makes a great appearance and plays an important part and how things turned out, Wendi couldn't have done it without him.
So, in conclusion, if you're looking for a good thriller, one that will draw you in and will keep you turning pages wildly, this is the book you need to read. A book where all mysteries get solved, a book where you get to know the main character like it's yourself, where all you're feelings will be a rollercoaster and where you'll read a perfect timeline between scenes, and where the author plays with your feelings, emotions and thoughts like they were her toys... Have You Seen This Girl is one of the best thrillers I've ever read.
5 stars doesn't make justice to this book, 5 stars are not enough. It deserves so much more than that. I absolutely love this book!
Have You Seen This Girls is a thriller about a girl who's planning revenge and as the story goes she starts revealing the facts that brought her to that point in her life. The story was written in a perfect way. I could feel what the maing character, Wendi, felt. I felt her angst, her fury, her sadness, the loneliness she lived in. And that is something amazing to accomplish in a thriller, cause those are some complex feelings. I couldn't get into Wendi's position because what she went through was really hard, but I felt like I knew her. Like I was watching her live her life in the way she did. I felt sorry for her, like she was an old friend of mine; even though, I couldn't position myself in her shoes I could understand her point of view, the things she thought about. And I could pass those as mine too. And that is a great thing of the book, it's not always that you can connect with character in the way I did with Wendi, even if we have nothing in common.
Another thing to talk about this book is the plot. The way Carissa wrote the story is unbelievable, as are the twists she created. The book kept me guessing and I never got it right. And this is not one of those stories where you're going to lose the track of what's happening. And it's awesome cause that's a main problem in thrillers, that you don't know what's happening or when it's happening and you can't enjoy the story because of that mess. But this book is different. You will travel to the story without trouble, so smoothly. The way the author played with the words, the way she described the scenes, the characters, is beautiful.
I need to talk about the other characters in the book too. The impact they had in me. I love Wendi, I love how brave and strong she is. She may seem weak, and maybe she was at some point, but she never gave up even when she was facing a harsh reality. She did make bad decisions, a lot of them, but I could never judge her, cause I really did understand her story despite never living something like that. And I have to bring this up again. I felt like her friend or at least I wanted to be. I wanted her to have someone by her side, someone to talk to,to make her life less bitter. And at one point she did. Remy is a character we met at the middle of the story. She was to Wendi what I wanted her to be and I love her too. She is a strong girl. I felt so reliefed when she appeared in the story because I think the plot as well as Wendi needed her. And I adore how the author managed to do this. She created a plot where every character has an important place in the story. And Remy is one of the most important characters in the book, she's a catalyst in Wendi's plans, she plays a huge role in the things Wendi was planning to do. And don't forget about Officer Milby, we have the opportunity to meet him a couple of times in between the plot but he makes a great appearance and plays an important part and how things turned out, Wendi couldn't have done it without him.
So, in conclusion, if you're looking for a good thriller, one that will draw you in and will keep you turning pages wildly, this is the book you need to read. A book where all mysteries get solved, a book where you get to know the main character like it's yourself, where all you're feelings will be a rollercoaster and where you'll read a perfect timeline between scenes, and where the author plays with your feelings, emotions and thoughts like they were her toys... Have You Seen This Girl is one of the best thrillers I've ever read.
5 stars doesn't make justice to this book, 5 stars are not enough. It deserves so much more than that. I absolutely love this book!
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