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Runaway
Book by Poulson, Clairm
272 pages, Audiobook
First published January 1, 2004
9 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Clair M. Poulson
55 books296 followersClair M. Poulson was born and raised in Duchesne, Utah. His father was a rancher and farmer, his mother a librarian. Clair has always been an avid reader, having found his love for books as a very young boy.
He has served for forty years in the criminal justice system. Twenty years were spent in law enforcement, ending his police career with eight years as the Duchesne County Sheriff. For the past twenty years Clair has worked as a justice court judge for Duchesne County. Clair is also a veteran of the US Army where he was a military policeman. He has served on various boards and councils during his professional career, including the Justice Court Board of Judges, Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, Utah Judicial Council, Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, an FBI advisory board and others.
In addition to his criminal justice work, Clair has farmed and ranched all of his life. He has raised many kinds of animals, but his greatest interest is horses.
Clair has served in many capacities in the LDS church, including fulltime missionary (California Mission) bishop, counselor to bishop, young men president, high councilor, stake mission president, scoutmaster, High Priest group leader, etc. He currently serves as a Sunday School teacher.
Clair is married to Ruth, and together, they have five children, all of whom are married: Alan (Vicena) Poulson, Kelly Ann (Wade) Hatch, Amanda (Ben) Semadeni, Wade (Brooke) Poulson, and Mary (Tyler) Hicken. Between them they have twenty-three children. Clair and Ruth met while both were students at Snow College and were married in the Manti temple.
Clair has always loved telling his children, and later his grandchildren, make-up stories. His vast experience in life and his love of literature has always contributed to both his telling stories to children and his writing of adventure and suspense novels.
He has served for forty years in the criminal justice system. Twenty years were spent in law enforcement, ending his police career with eight years as the Duchesne County Sheriff. For the past twenty years Clair has worked as a justice court judge for Duchesne County. Clair is also a veteran of the US Army where he was a military policeman. He has served on various boards and councils during his professional career, including the Justice Court Board of Judges, Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, Utah Judicial Council, Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, an FBI advisory board and others.
In addition to his criminal justice work, Clair has farmed and ranched all of his life. He has raised many kinds of animals, but his greatest interest is horses.
Clair has served in many capacities in the LDS church, including fulltime missionary (California Mission) bishop, counselor to bishop, young men president, high councilor, stake mission president, scoutmaster, High Priest group leader, etc. He currently serves as a Sunday School teacher.
Clair is married to Ruth, and together, they have five children, all of whom are married: Alan (Vicena) Poulson, Kelly Ann (Wade) Hatch, Amanda (Ben) Semadeni, Wade (Brooke) Poulson, and Mary (Tyler) Hicken. Between them they have twenty-three children. Clair and Ruth met while both were students at Snow College and were married in the Manti temple.
Clair has always loved telling his children, and later his grandchildren, make-up stories. His vast experience in life and his love of literature has always contributed to both his telling stories to children and his writing of adventure and suspense novels.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 16, 2025
"Runaway" by Clair M. Poulson is about a mother and a teenager separated by thousands of miles because the teenager didn't know what was best for herself and allowed herself to leave with, and basically be kidnapped by, some guy multiple years older than her. This book was pretty good but not my favorite by this author, although I did get it read in three days easily. There was a lot of annoyance, hatred, and despair that I felt while reading this story because of the situation this mother and her child were in but that is to be expected with this genre. The story was overall interesting and the characters did seem very lifelike, and they had well developed personalities. Something I disliked about this story is how un-suspenseful it was. The author is usually well known for his incredible suspense stories, but with this one it just wasn't scary, action packed, or suspenseful enough for me. Overall the book was decently good, a solid four out of five stars and was free of unneeded content. This book would probably suit more mature audiences because of the serious topics addressed in this. But basically any teenager at least 14 or older should be fine reading this book.
Clair M. Poulson, the author of "Runaway" frequently built suspense in his novel when he had the daughter of the woman frequently removed from potentially helpful situations and into new dangerous ones in completely different locations. The mystery was pretty predictable, especially for the reader, but it was artfully composed to be a mystery for the mother and the daughter. The daughter because she didn't know if her mother actually loved her, as well as not knowing if she would ever get to safety or even see her mother again. The mother's side of the story was a mystery because she never knew the absolute location of her daughter and a lot of it was mainly guesswork supported by many clues that the kidnapper had unknowingly left behind. This is also a great example of dramatic irony because the reader is aware of both situations as a whole while each character is only aware of a singular situation. Generally the story was quite predictable because of the two perspectives shown in a single situation, but it was still quite interesting and did have some unexpected elements included in it.
Clair M. Poulson, the author of "Runaway" frequently built suspense in his novel when he had the daughter of the woman frequently removed from potentially helpful situations and into new dangerous ones in completely different locations. The mystery was pretty predictable, especially for the reader, but it was artfully composed to be a mystery for the mother and the daughter. The daughter because she didn't know if her mother actually loved her, as well as not knowing if she would ever get to safety or even see her mother again. The mother's side of the story was a mystery because she never knew the absolute location of her daughter and a lot of it was mainly guesswork supported by many clues that the kidnapper had unknowingly left behind. This is also a great example of dramatic irony because the reader is aware of both situations as a whole while each character is only aware of a singular situation. Generally the story was quite predictable because of the two perspectives shown in a single situation, but it was still quite interesting and did have some unexpected elements included in it.
July 28, 2021
I was in the mood for a mystery, so I decided to listen to this older audiobook. Meredith refuses to allow her teenage daughter, Deedee, to date an older man with a questionable reputation, so, mad at her mother, Deedee runs away. She thought it would just be for a few days to get even with her mom for being mean, but Stu has other plans. Meredith is devastated, and she insists on going with the detective on his investigation.
This is an intense story! I’m not sure how realistic some aspects of the policework are, but it’s a book, and I was entertained, so that’s all that really matters. I liked this book, but whenever I read a book that has human trafficking as part of the story, I’m reminded how unthinkable it is that this really goes on, and how so many don’t have the happy ending like in books.
This is an intense story! I’m not sure how realistic some aspects of the policework are, but it’s a book, and I was entertained, so that’s all that really matters. I liked this book, but whenever I read a book that has human trafficking as part of the story, I’m reminded how unthinkable it is that this really goes on, and how so many don’t have the happy ending like in books.
October 9, 2020
This is probably more of a 3.5 rather than 4 stars. If you have read, and liked, books by this author you will like this one. As is typical of this author, there is a lot of cheesy stuff, and some “oh, that was convenient” moments, but the overall story was interesting and exciting. There were moments where it was very hard to put down.
September 17, 2019
A good suspense novel but choppy.
September 16, 2019
This was a suspenseful book. A defense attorneys daughter decides to run away, with an older man. but when she wants to go home, he tells her lies and makes it seems her mom doesn't want her. This tells the story of how mom is looking for her daughter, the tangled webs of lies and how love beats all.
June 24, 2011
Meredith Marchant is a public defender. She is also a single mom to a rebellious 15-year-old daughter, Deedee. After a particularly heated fight, Deedee runs away with an older man (whom her mother has forbidden her to date). When days pass and she doesn't return, shy but competent Detective Enos Fauler is put on the case, and together, he and Meredith trek across country--even going as far as the Bahamas to locate Deedee before it's too late.
Suspenseful. The action really picked up once they got to the Bahamas. I felt like I could have used more background between Deedee and her mother. The one fight we witness in the story didn't seem like enough to lead to such a dramatic decision by Deedee. Along those same lines, the aftermath was very tidy, with our three main characters seemingly putting all their issues completely behind them, which just didn't ring true after all they had been through.
I liked how he handled the religious aspect of the novel: the characters were religious; for example, they prayed and received answers to prayers; but it didn't slow down the plot at all. It was just who they were.
Overall, a good, quick read.
Suspenseful. The action really picked up once they got to the Bahamas. I felt like I could have used more background between Deedee and her mother. The one fight we witness in the story didn't seem like enough to lead to such a dramatic decision by Deedee. Along those same lines, the aftermath was very tidy, with our three main characters seemingly putting all their issues completely behind them, which just didn't ring true after all they had been through.
I liked how he handled the religious aspect of the novel: the characters were religious; for example, they prayed and received answers to prayers; but it didn't slow down the plot at all. It was just who they were.
Overall, a good, quick read.
September 20, 2016
Deedee Marchant believes she is old enough to make her own decisions. When her mother, defense attorney Meredith Marchant, refuses to allow her to date a much older man of questionable character, Deedee runs away with him. Meredith turns to Detective Enos Fauler for help in locating her daughter. Meredith decides to accompany him on a chase that leads them across the country and, finally, to an island in the Bahamas. There, Deedee faces an evil so great that it threatens both her life and her eternal soul.
I liked almost everything about the book. This book was not very predictable. Right when you thought you knew what was going to happen a huge twist occurred and it changed your whole thought of it all. The beginning dragged on a little bit but all of it is kind of important later in the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone that loves mystery/ detective work. The book has a lot of suspense and some parts you just want to read faster so you can just see whats going to happen already. The book is not inappropriate at all and I think would be okay for anyone to read.
I liked almost everything about the book. This book was not very predictable. Right when you thought you knew what was going to happen a huge twist occurred and it changed your whole thought of it all. The beginning dragged on a little bit but all of it is kind of important later in the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone that loves mystery/ detective work. The book has a lot of suspense and some parts you just want to read faster so you can just see whats going to happen already. The book is not inappropriate at all and I think would be okay for anyone to read.
November 16, 2016
The book Runaway by Clair M. Poulson is about a young girl named Deedee that runs away from home with her boyfriend that is much older than her, and is a shady character. Her mom, Meredith Marchant, turns to a detective to help locate her daughter and they set off on the chase across the country, to find Deedee. This book was okay. It was REALLY cheesy and kind of boring at times. They author ranted on and on about the same things and the repetition got kind of annoying. At the end of the book there was a major twist that no one saw coming, and in some books, an unexpected twist is awesome! But in this book ending didn't really fit the rest of the story and was kind of random. I have read quite a few of Clair Poulsons other books and enjoyed them. But this one was different. The plot was spread out, and it felt like just when things were getting better, some random, unnecessary horrible thing happened. Unlike some of his other books, this one was predictable, unrealistic and boring. If this book gave me one theme it was that you shouldn’t date sketchy, shady, men because you never know when they might just kidnap you!
July 25, 2008
This was my first Mormon mystery novel and I guess you could say it was about what I expected. I never liked spiritual insertions in books. I think that it is okay where it feels natural and right, but most of the time the references to the sons of Helaman or the Book of Ecclesiastes seems out of place and forced. Cliches bother me (i.e. in the nick of time, filled his heart with hope) but they annoy me even more when they are repeated within subsequent paragraphs or pages. Little mistakes (i.e. Time zone mix ups) also bother me and strike me as careless writing. Most of it was cheezy (the bad guys name was 'Rapper', a herd of wild mustangs saves the day), but in the end, I stayed up 'till two reading it. So, though I thought most of it was gratuitous and annoying, the story still compelled me to finish.
December 28, 2008
This was a fun book for me as I know Clair. He used to be my Grandma's bishop. The book started out in Duchesne, which was my Grandma's hometown.
Clair jumps right into the intense plot and gets you involved in the story right away about a young teenage girl who runs away from home with her boyfriend. When she is ready to return home, her boyfriend talks her out of it and they flee UT. She fears what will happen to her and doesn't put up much resistance. At times I had a hard time putting down the book. It was an easy read, but I have decided to stick to romance for now.
Clair jumps right into the intense plot and gets you involved in the story right away about a young teenage girl who runs away from home with her boyfriend. When she is ready to return home, her boyfriend talks her out of it and they flee UT. She fears what will happen to her and doesn't put up much resistance. At times I had a hard time putting down the book. It was an easy read, but I have decided to stick to romance for now.
May 23, 2010
I gave it a two-star rating because, to be honest, I found it very amusing. The book kept me chuckling the entire time, I must admit.The narrator (I listened to the audiobook) also lent to that with her dramatic reading style that really seem to fit the book itself.
Despite the literary critique side of me whispering certain things in my ear, I'm glad I listened to this, and have told my wife that she'd probably find it enjoyable as well.
I'll just leave it at that. :)
Despite the literary critique side of me whispering certain things in my ear, I'm glad I listened to this, and have told my wife that she'd probably find it enjoyable as well.
I'll just leave it at that. :)
July 15, 2012
I gave it a two-star rating because, to be honest, I found it very amusing. The book kept me chuckling the entire time, I must admit.The narrator (I listened to the audiobook) also lent to that with her dramatic reading style that really seem to fit the book itself.
Despite the literary critique side of me whispering certain things in my ear, I'm glad I listened to this, and have told my wife that she'd probably find it enjoyable as well.
I'll just leave it at that. :)
Despite the literary critique side of me whispering certain things in my ear, I'm glad I listened to this, and have told my wife that she'd probably find it enjoyable as well.
I'll just leave it at that. :)
April 30, 2023
Another novel from Clair Poulson. This one is about a Detective and a Defense lawyer and her runaway daughter. It details how quickly a young girl can get caught up in evil men's lies and then to be force into the sex trade (almost) and the lengths that such men will go to get them there. They travel across the country and end up in Miami and then to the Bahamas. This is where it gets really scary and dangerous. There is always a love story behind all the danger but its kept clean.
May 5, 2009
I was actually quite surprised. I have read some of this authors writings before and found myself knowing the end before I finished the first chapter. But this one had decent character depth and plot outline. I was scared with them, laughed with them, and even cried with them. Great clean wholesome read!
March 14, 2015
I read this book out of curiosity as the author is from my hometown. Skeptical initially, I was quickly drawn into the plot and it continued to hold my interest. Kudos to Clair for writing a clean novel!
July 25, 2008
Okay, so I am a closet reader of LDS fiction. They are horribly written, but a great, cheesy romance with a little suspense. Quite enjoyable.
October 1, 2008
good book
August 3, 2009
Another good book.
November 13, 2009
This was just as good a book the second time that I read it as it was the first time.
March 9, 2010
A lot like the movie Taken but LDS version. I really enjoyed it.
August 8, 2010
A bit too many things going on in this story. It was a bit confusing.
January 28, 2012
Another great Poulson book!
December 14, 2013
I like Poulson's books. This one was a bit different from usual because some of it occurred outside of Utah. I liked the characters (and disliked the ones I was supposed to dislike).
November 11, 2014
I thought this book was an easy book to read. I felt sorry for the poor mom that just didn't have the opportunity to contact her daughter, then got in a heap of trouble herself.
September 8, 2015
It was a kind of pathetic after finishing the Elizabeth Smart book. Definate fiction.
August 13, 2016
Deedee's rebellion leads her mom, Meredith, and Detective Fauler through a dramatic obsticle course in order to find her and bring her home. Super exciting read!
January 15, 2009
Own: Book/CD
January 20, 2016
Good book.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews