Claire

by Liz Sower

I interview my neighbors in our shockingly haunted town Wellesley, Massachusetts and I transcribe their stories for my blog Ghosts in the Burbs. Three women told me a horrific tale from their past and in doing so involved me in their horror. You may have heard part of this story before but I didn't tell you everything..... This is the complete story of Claire.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Paranormal, Audiobook, Ghosts, Thriller, Supernatural

189 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 18, 2018

About the author

Liz Sower is a writer of paranormal horror. Her novels, Claire and Lilith, are based in the world of Ghosts in the Burbs, a blog and podcast about the people of Wellesley, Massachusetts and the ghosts (and monsters) who haunt them. She lives in that haunted little town with her husband, two daughters and four elderly dogs. She is most proud of her PhD level knowledge of reality ghost hunting television.

Reviews

[Liz Sower · Rating 5 out of 5]

CREEPY!

[Mairead the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, love the podcast, Ghosts in the Burbs! If you haven’t listened yet, and you like atmospheric ghost stories, then I urge you to check it out. Start at the beginning as the stories build upon one another and highlight some recurring characters. One of these characters is Claire, who is dead. This book tells the extended version of her story. That’s all I’m going to tell you. I’ll let you discover the rest for your self.

The book, like the blog and podcast, is terrific: scary and yet cozy in a way that will make you wish you could be friends with the narrator. She is intelligent and a touch sarcastic in the way that I love. She is also a kind of stranger in a strange land, a relatively new resident in the upper class town of Wellesley, MA. Even as she is part of the town, she stands near the periphery looking in, observing the frequent snootiness, backbiting, and competition with wary frustration and charming wit.

And did I mention that Liz’s story is full-on scary? Because it is. Claire is one pissed-off spirit, and she’s got a plan.

But now, I’ve really said too much. It’s your turn to dive in. But, be warned, the water is cold.

Happy reading!

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoy this podcast so much that I was stoked when Sower released this book. However, “the complete story of Claire” is NOTHING different from what the podcast already gives about her. Like nearly word for word with minor changes and some added details (not kidding - I matched an episode up and everything else was just a recap of what I knew). DON’T spend your money on this book unless you just want a recap of what the podcast already offers. While I understand this is only volume 1, the premise was completely misleading. The whole time I was reading I kept looking at how many pages I had left wondering when I would get to the new content.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

👻👻👻

Ghosts in the Burbs, the podcast Liz created, is the first pod i became seriously obsessed with. She has a way of drawing in the listener, piling up the shivers and freakish sounds. You wonder all the time it what you are hearing and now, reading is real? She is *that* good. I read this in one sitting, staying up way past my bedtime so I could finish Claire's story. This is so well written, so authentic with no false notes that it feels real.

Is it? That is for you to decide. So pick it up, read it, then go listen to all the podcast episodes...

[Shannon Higginbotham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll confess that I’ve never checked out “Ghosts in the Burb” but after reading this, I’m dying to! I set out with a mission to read creepy stories this month, and have been sadly disappointed with all my choices until I read “Claire”. Liz Sower’s writing style is captivating. I devoured this book because I absolutely needed to know what was going to happen next. I loved the different POVs and the ending! I’ve never believed in the supernatural but just in case I will forever avoid Ouija Boards, any sort of game involving ghosts or summoning them, and haunted anythings!

[exorcismemily · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I feel every terrifying bit of what they took from me."

3.5⭐

Claire is the first book from one of my favorite fictional paranormal podcasts - Ghosts in the Burbs. If you aren't listening, you're missing out! Start from the beginning & you'll be hooked forever.

Claire's story is fascinating & creepy. Something bad happened to her, and she wants revenge. I loved the dark magic aspect of the story, and seeing how everything falls apart when people mess with stuff they shouldn't mess with. It's a recurring story on the podcast, and I ordered this book as soon as I found out about it.

Now about the book itself - this is really more of a podcast companion than a standalone book. I was really hoping to be able to say otherwise so that maybe I could encourage people to read it & then follow up with the podcast. However, I know I would have struggled with Claire if I wouldn't have listened to the podcast first. It's a little bit too disjonted to stand on its own as a novella.

For example, some characters aren't fully introduced, and some storylines fade out & never come back - I imagine this is because they will come up again in later volumes. Claire also isn't a complete story on its own, and you will have to read the next book to find out more. I was frustrated by the lack of resolution, and was hoping that this would be a complete novella with the ending wrapped up (at least a little bit).

That being said, I had a lot of fun reading this book & will definitely be picking up volume 2. This is a promising series, and I'm very interested to see what other podcast storylines Liz chooses to write about. If you decide to pick this one up, I recommend listening to the podcast first.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Ghosts in the Burbs fun

As fun as the podcast, definitely tied together some stories in a fun way. Read the entire book in one go, a great afternoon indeed.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the podcast Ghost in the Burbs, which this story is taken from. It brings together the story of Claire from several episodes. A fun read.

[liv ◡̈ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read it in a few hours. I’ve binged the podcast a few times now.
I was hoping for more of Claire’s POV, more of a look into what she did to the witches when she wasn’t with Liz. Hoping for more interactions with Liz and Claire.
Still good. GITB is my comfort pod🤍

[Tracy Schertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had first heard of the podcast Ghosts In The Burbs on another podcast I listen to called Guide To The Unknown. I admit, I had not listened to Ghosts In The Burbs, but it has been on my list of things to do. Then I heard that this book had come out and reading the synopsis was just too intriguing. I am soooooo glad that I did. I could not put this book down. The only reason that I did not finish it in one sitting was because I had to go to work. From the beginning I was drawn into the story. Liz Sower weaves an intricate tale that will keep you wondering what happens next.

On a side note, after reading the book, I have started listening to the podcast. It is great for people that enjoy the paranormal.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I looooove this podcast and was excited to finally get this on audio. I was hoping that Liz would flesh out Claire's story and give us an ending. Unfortch, this is a somewhat beefed up collection of her podcast stories that, IMO, didn't add much to what I already knew. Still a fan, I'm sure I will revisit it and I look forward to Liz's future writing.

[LL · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of the podcast, so I was destined to love this.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I stumbled across this author and series on GR accidentally, as I’ve never listened to the podcast. This was a surprisingly great find. Most paranormal books are frankly disappointing as they are not scary or creepy at all. This one does not disappoint. The only negative that I can come up with is that I didn’t want it to end so soon. I do think it’s ridiculous that a reviewer gave this book one star because it didn’t add anything to the podcast - it you liked the podcast why would you rate the book so horribly. I will definitely be reading the next book (Lilith), and I hope there will be more to come.

[Maritza Soto · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one go. Sower’s pacing is excellent. Eagerly looking forward to the next installment.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4½⭐︎

Liz Sower always does such an amazing job telling a creepy story. Some parts of this I've heard on her podcast before, but Liz's expanded tale of Claire is bone-chilling.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spooky, funny, and completely addictive, just like the podcast/blog!

[Jennifer Rux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure what I can say about Claire. From the reviews I take it this is part of a podcast. I have never listened to the podcast.

I listed to Claire on Audio and during the time it took me to get through it I enjoyed it. Which I believe is worth the 3 stars. I remember it had witchcraft and a trapped spirit. I am writing this review 5 days after I listened to it and that is all I can remember.

Well that isn't entirely true. I do remember that the atmosphere was creepy and I liked that, but I can't even remember how it ended to be honest.

[Yolanda Sfetsos · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novella had all the stuff I usually love reading (and writing) about. Yet, it didn't work for me.

I love ghost stories. I love witches. Love demonic infestations. Supernatural investigators. But, even with all of these ingredients, I still didn't enjoy it.

Liz lives in a town where she interviews people who want to share their ghost stories and then writes about it on her blog. But when she meets three women who share theirs, strange things start to happen...

At first, I really enjoyed the story because Liz going about her normal everyday mommy life, while dealing with the bizarre was very cool. The setup was great, but my interest dwindled after getting past the 50% mark. There was suddenly too much packed in, some of the details didn't quite fit, and I didn't like the ending. There was no resolution. At all!

Plus, having Claire's POV was distracting. I thought the story would've been better without her because she really didn't add to the overall story. She actually took a lot of the suspense away, IMO.

There were also a large amount of typos and missing words. I think the editing of this book should've been tighter.

I'm going to finish with something that really got on my nerves. And that's this: f--k. Yep. Instead of spelling out fuck/fucking, they were all changed to f--k and f--king. I mean, seriously? If you're not going to spell it out properly, don't bother including it. 😒

Anyway, I didn't enjoy this story like I thought I would and don't plan to read more of this series.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Liz Sower. Ghosts in the Burbs is my FAVORITE podcast. I stop what I am doing every time you publish a new episode. You're just brilliant.

As for Claire. This lovely little creepy tale is about Liz, who is a paranormal blogger in Wellesley, MA. She interviews her neighbors about their ghostly encounters (and some out of this world encounters) and publishes them to her blog. One of Liz's interviews puts her directly in the crossfires of a local little suburbanite coven. A few hexes weren't the only thing Liz walked away with from her encounter though... Claire is the dead friend of the witches and she's ready for a little revenge.

I listened to the audiobook, which with Liz narrating it is the way you should do it. Her ability to take on each of her characters immerses you in the story so thoroughly you'll be listening through the whole book before you even realize it. This story is full of Liz's humor that any mom just on the outside of suburban society will greatly appreciate. Claire is also full of some of the most frightening scenes in literary history. I have one bone to pick though, that ending?! I NEED MORE!!!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really did enjoy the book - I love the podcast. Liz Sower creates spooky tales for adults who grew up on Goosebumps books. My hope is that her next long format book will take less words straight from the podcast. I felt that she used a lot of old material to create something new. With that being said, I'm fine with giving her money because she has provided me countless hours of entertainment with her words. I hope she continues to tell many more scary stories.

[Megan Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVE Ghosts in the Burbs, so when I found out about this book, I was ecstatic! But, it is almost 100% word for word from her podcast. It is deceiving in the bio when she states, “I didn’t tell you everything”. I understand that this is only volume 1, so I will wait to make my final judgment when the other volume(s) come out, but as of now, I am slightly disappointed.

[Cindi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thankfully, I was able to read this "book" through my kindle unlimited subscription and didn't not have to pay for it individually. Normally, I enjoy independently published books, and try to support new authors. But this was a huge disappointment.

Liz Sower has a podcast called "Ghosts in the Burbs", and I came across it by accident, as I like ghosts and I currently live in Massachusetts, so the wonders of the internet thought this would be a NEW LOVE of mine. It's not. Liz also has a blog, and I've read through some of that. When I saw the book, I thought "Well, maybe she's added new details to the story". (Her 'reports' all seem a bit off. There are dozens of details about throw pillows and wall colors, what shoes they're all wearing and what they're eating and drinking - seriously, I know FAR too much about this person I've never met. It doesn't even seem safe for her to share SO much, but that's another note.)

But there's nothing useful new to this book. We hear more of Liz's inner thoughts, but nothing more about the actual story.

I also have issues with the thoughts that this is supposed to be 'real'. It seems SO made up.

Overall, if you want the story, go and listen to her podcast. Or read her blog. Don't waste your money on this book - or heaven forbid, the audio book, which is exactly the same as the podcast. AT this point in her podcast, she wasn't even advertising. (She is now).

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

No, I haven’t listened to the podcast. I read this for a book club(and full disclosure, my book club peeps apparently loved it, so you can dismiss me as an old crank if you like). I really hate giving a 2-star review but the time I spent reading this book isn’t time I’ll get back at the end of my life, so consider this a PSA

This is every story about the snotty, insular “pretty girl” clique told from the dog-tired POV of the cravenly envious (yet self-righteously superior) outcast. We’ve got the gorgeous sexpot blonde, the fiery, vicious and also gorgeous redhead, and the gorgeous, kindhearted-but-weak brunette sycophant (think: her father probably invented toaster strudel). I could not tell these characters apart but for their hair color stereotypes. They’re all beautiful, rich and bottomlessly cruel (except the brunette, who is beautiful, rich and bottomlessly useless, and the MC who constantly plays the victim and fails to engender any sympathy). Throw in some ghosts, demons, an unconvincing stab at occultism and a predictable secret pact, claim it’s “a true story,” shake it all together and dump it like a spilled Slim-Fast over a dull subdivision of McMansions.

[Caroline | caro.library · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the Ghosts in the Burbs podcast, and the stories about Claire and her three friends from high school I personally think are among the most terrifying episodes, so I was excited to hear the “complete story.” However, this book basically just mashed together all the relevant podcast episodes with very little new information. And since I chose to listen to this audiobook, I had literally heard it all before.

I really liked the chapters written from Claire’s POV, and I wanted more of the story to be told like that. I much prefer Liz Sower’s approach with Lilith, where she mostly removed herself from the narrative and elaborated on the experiences of the family, telling it from their points of view.

I’m still glad that I bought this book to support Liz and the show! This tale is very chilling, and it would definitely be five stars if I were hearing it for the first time or in a different way.

Content Warnings: death, suicide

Blog | Instagram

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Claire" is one of the best, spookiest books I have ever read. Author, creator, and host, Liz Sower, of "Ghosts in The Burbs" podcast includes the tales from Liz's interviews with the residents in and around Wellesley, Massachusetts, arguably one of the richest suburban communities in the United States and certainly in New England. But Wellesley isn't just rich in monetary wealth. Oh, no. As you will quickly discover, it is pouring with ghosts, demons, witches, shadow people, and even those who do their bidding...or attempt to use those spirits for their own gain. "Claire" is the tale of one young teen's life tragically altered forever and about three friends left behind. But Claire isn't truly gone and finished. Also interwoven in Claire's story are many other tales of Wellesleyian spirits and those dealing with them in their day-to-day lives. Read, enjoy, be spooked, get chilled. I LOVED this book! Need more? Check out Liz's podcast and blog.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is based on a podcast/blog which I haven't listened to or read yet, but my friend lent me this book as she knows I enjoy ghost stories and the paranormal. First of all, the author did a really good job with the story of Claire and the book ended in a sort of cliffhanger so I can't wait for more details. The book revolves around a clique of women who were "friends" since childhood and needless to say they were the "it" girls or the mean girls. They share their ghost story with Liz, the author, who collects and anthologizes ghost stories in her upper crust town of Wellesley. Liz isn't just the story recorder, however, when paranormal events start to happen to her. My favorite character in the book is Judith, the psychic, and I hope she makes more appearances in future volumes. I love the twist at the end of the book, and you'll just have to read it to see what it is.

[Christine Degyansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liz's Ghost in the Burbs podcast is what sparked my interest in reading "Claire." and I found there were both Pros and Cons it. What I like about "Claire", is you can hear Liz's voice in the narration. Like in her podcast Liz uses a lot of strong description and features seriously awesomely creepy stories. That said, these stories I recognized from her podcast, some of it felt a bit predictable, yet still interesting and enjoyable. One major issue I had / have with "Clair" is that there seems to be more of Liz's story and experience with Clair than Clair's story. To me, this book reads more like a memoir about Liz's own experience then it does about Clair. That all said, it is definitely worth a read and I recommend it. And no, you don't need to have heard the podcast to enjoy this book, it stands on its own.

[cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not major spoilers, but read carefully if you don't want to have any idea about the ending!

Ok, let's start.

I'm not a big fan of open endings, if I'm reading a story I would much like to know how it all ended, but for "Claire" the ending worked just fine. I have no idea if the podcast (I didn't know this was a podcast) have a conclusion to Claire's story so I guess I'll have to listen Ghost in the Burbs.

Miss Liz's words are simple yet effective. No need for fancy words or an overload of descriptions that leads nowhere, she said what was just needed and I find that ability very rare among authors, so kudos to her. My complain, though, is that the censored F-word didn't fit well with the story. We are reading about ghost and witchcraft, why would you not say fuc—. Oh, right.

3.5 ★

Would I read her next book? I would, no doubts.

[Karly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Liz Sower's blog and podcast, "Ghosts in the Burbs," features ghost stories she transcribed from her neighbors. Claire is a standalone book that compiles a frightening tale told to Liz by three friends about their old dear friend Claire.

As a fan of all things paranormal and Liz's podcast, I was happy to see this story released in book format since I never got around to listening to the these specific episodes, and I was also glad to get Claire's point of view in the book. Although I personally didn't find it scary, it was a quick and entertaining read that's perfect for the fall season.

I'll have to check out her other book, Lilith, at some point too. I think that one will be a little bit more creepy! 👹

If you’re also a lover of paranormal things, I definitely recommend you check out her podcast too!

[Meg Hofmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you listened to Liz’s podcast, this book provides no new information about Claire. I took off one star for that, since I could just listen to the podcasts for free. I was waiting for the Audible release, and now I’m thankful I didn’t waste my money practically listening to the podcast.

However, the book is fabulously written and pulls you in. It was a quick read. I love Liz’s writing tone and I adore that she writes spooky stories for the preppy set. It was interesting hearing the story from Claire’s point of view. I finished it wanting more. Well done!!!


I hope Liz continues to write books. However, I hope they’re not the same stories as on the podcast.