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Where Monsters Hide: Sex, Murder, and Madness in the Midwest
An unexplained disappearance spirals into an unrelenting murder mystery. In October 2014, local Michigan police chief Laura Frizzo faced a perplexing missing-person case. It was not like Chris Regan, a devoted father and dependable employee, to take off without explanation. When Frizzo learned Chris was having an affair with Kelly Cochran, a married co-worker, suspicion fell on Kelly’s hulking husband, Jason. Soon after that the Cochrans abruptly moved to Indiana. Sixteen months later, Jason Cochran died from a drug overdose. Friends and family rallied around the grieving Kelly. But when the coroner ruled Jason’s death a homicide, no one reacted more bizarrely than his widow. Detectives tried to put Kelly’s past into focus. But the horrific truth was hidden under a near-perfect patchwork of lies. Veteran investigative journalist M. William Phelps expertly reveals Kelly Cochran’s staggering saga of murder, revenge, and payback. “Anything by Phelps is an eye-opening experience.” —Suspense Magazine “Phelps knows how to work it.” —Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review “Master of true crime.” —Real Crime magazine
451 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2019
1125 people are currently reading
1447 people want to read
About the author
M. William Phelps
88 books1,161 followersCrime, murder and serial killer expert, creator/producer/writer and former host of the Investigation Discovery series DARK MINDS, acclaimed, award-winning investigative journalist M. William Phelps is the New York Times best-selling author of 30 books and winner of the 2013 Excellence in (Investigative) Journalism Award and the 2008 New England Book Festival Award. A highly sought-after pundit, Phelps has made over 100 media-related television appearances: Early Show, The Today Show, The View, Fox & Friends, truTV, Discovery Channel, Fox News Channel, Good Morning America, TLC, BIO, History, Oxygen, OWN, on top of over 100 additional media appearances: USA Radio Network, Catholic Radio, Mancow, Wall Street Journal Radio, Zac Daniel, Ave Maria Radio, Catholic Channel, EWTN Radio, ABC News Radio, and many more.
Phelps is also a member of the Multidisciplinary Collaborative on Sexual Crime and Violence (MCSCV), also known as the Atypical Homicide Research Group (AHRG) at Northeastern University, maintained by NU alumni Enzo Yaksic.
Phelps is one of the regular and recurring experts frequently appearing on two long-running series, Deadly Women and Snapped. Radio America calls Phelps “the nation’s leading authority on the mind of the female murderer,” and TV Rage says, “M. William Phelps dares to tread where few others will: into the mind of a killer.” A respected journalist, beyond his book writing Phelps has written for numerous publications—including the Providence Journal, Connecticut Magazine and Hartford Courant—and consulted on the first season of the hit Showtime cable television series Dexter.
Phelps grew up in East Hartford, CT, moved to Vernon, CT, at age 12, where he lived for 25 years. He now lives in a reclusive Connecticut farming community north of Hartford.
Beyond crime, Phelps has also written several history books, including the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling NATHAN HALE: The Life and Death of America’s First Spy, THE DEVIL’S ROOMING HOUSE, THE DEVIL’S RIGHT HAND, MURDER, NEW ENGLAND, and more.
Phelps is also a member of the Multidisciplinary Collaborative on Sexual Crime and Violence (MCSCV), also known as the Atypical Homicide Research Group (AHRG) at Northeastern University, maintained by NU alumni Enzo Yaksic.
Phelps is one of the regular and recurring experts frequently appearing on two long-running series, Deadly Women and Snapped. Radio America calls Phelps “the nation’s leading authority on the mind of the female murderer,” and TV Rage says, “M. William Phelps dares to tread where few others will: into the mind of a killer.” A respected journalist, beyond his book writing Phelps has written for numerous publications—including the Providence Journal, Connecticut Magazine and Hartford Courant—and consulted on the first season of the hit Showtime cable television series Dexter.
Phelps grew up in East Hartford, CT, moved to Vernon, CT, at age 12, where he lived for 25 years. He now lives in a reclusive Connecticut farming community north of Hartford.
Beyond crime, Phelps has also written several history books, including the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling NATHAN HALE: The Life and Death of America’s First Spy, THE DEVIL’S ROOMING HOUSE, THE DEVIL’S RIGHT HAND, MURDER, NEW ENGLAND, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
February 12, 2019
Where Monsters Hide: Sex, Murder, and Madness in the Midwest
I really got into this awesome true crime book. Once I was all involved in the story, I stayed up super late, not wanting to stop until finally pure exhaustion and not being able to see the letters anymore caused me to quit. I confess to being a Phelps fan, and I was thrilled when I got this e-ARC. I love Phelps books, and this one was good enough to keep me going right to the end. A great story about a man who suddenly goes missing right before his life was about to change for the better. He had just accepted a new job in Asheville, NC and failed to show up for his scheduled drug test prior to his starting date.
Chris Regan was very excited about the move. His oldest son was moving there too, which made it even better so they could spend time together in the outdoors doing things they both enjoyed. They talked and texted about it daily as they each were wrapping up their lives in Michigan, getting ready for the move. Then in mid-October, suddenly Chris Jr. was no longer able to reach his dad and didn’t hear back from him any longer either. His worry kept increasing. An old girlfriend of Chris Senior’s, Terri O’Donnell, became worried too. They had remained friends after they had stopped their dating relationship and she was very concerned when suddenly she didn’t hear from him. She knew of his upcoming move and plans, and it was so strange that he was out of touch. She went to the police and reported him missing. That’s what led to the investigation, and eventually the solving of, this horrifying case that Phelps writes about so well in this book. I’d call this one of his best books ever on an incredible story. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by NetGalley, author M. William Phelps, and the publisher for my fair review.
Also on my BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
I really got into this awesome true crime book. Once I was all involved in the story, I stayed up super late, not wanting to stop until finally pure exhaustion and not being able to see the letters anymore caused me to quit. I confess to being a Phelps fan, and I was thrilled when I got this e-ARC. I love Phelps books, and this one was good enough to keep me going right to the end. A great story about a man who suddenly goes missing right before his life was about to change for the better. He had just accepted a new job in Asheville, NC and failed to show up for his scheduled drug test prior to his starting date.
Chris Regan was very excited about the move. His oldest son was moving there too, which made it even better so they could spend time together in the outdoors doing things they both enjoyed. They talked and texted about it daily as they each were wrapping up their lives in Michigan, getting ready for the move. Then in mid-October, suddenly Chris Jr. was no longer able to reach his dad and didn’t hear back from him any longer either. His worry kept increasing. An old girlfriend of Chris Senior’s, Terri O’Donnell, became worried too. They had remained friends after they had stopped their dating relationship and she was very concerned when suddenly she didn’t hear from him. She knew of his upcoming move and plans, and it was so strange that he was out of touch. She went to the police and reported him missing. That’s what led to the investigation, and eventually the solving of, this horrifying case that Phelps writes about so well in this book. I’d call this one of his best books ever on an incredible story. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by NetGalley, author M. William Phelps, and the publisher for my fair review.
Also on my BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
March 29, 2019
3.5 Stars
Lies upon Lies fill this work of true crime.
As father and son plan a fresh start at life together, a shocking development occurs when Chris senior does not respond to text messages or phone calls....but then having an affair with a dangerous sick-o-path of a woman in a dysfunctional marriage can be deadly.
WHERE MONSTERS HIDE is an informative and detailed account of exhaustive investigative police work in search of truth. What really happened to Chris....where is his body...and who are these despicable people, Kelly and Jason Cochran who reel in their victims with sex and then kill.
Kudos to Chief Laura Frizzo who does not give up and truly works for the dead, Detective Jeremy Ogden and Investigative Journalist M. W. Phelps for bringing us this all encompassing account of the case.
***Arc provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
July 20, 2019
This is a true crime story that occurred October 2014. Chris Regan, known to be a devoted father to his two children, a war hero, a dependable, reliable employee, just up and disappeared.
When investigators learn that he had been involved romantically with a married co-worker, the woman's husband became the prime suspect into what law officers were calling murder. Shortly after Kelly Cochran's husband, Jason, was named, they abruptly up and moved to another state.
Some months after, Jason Cochran was found dead from a drug overdose. But the medical examiner called it homicide, leaving Kelly acting strangely.
It gets really curious when investigators find that Kelly's life is nothing but lies held together with secrets.
This is a must read for all true crime aficionados. Well written, evenly paced, the author leaves nothing out. I remember this case from newspapers and never realized how much wasn't told at the time. The details are exceptional.
Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books / Netgalley or the digital copy of this compelling true crime story. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 9, 2019
PLEASE get a better editor!!
I preordered this book, giving Mr. Phelps one last chance. Sadly, his repetitive style of writing has not changed a bit, nor his UNBELIEVABLE overuse of quotation marks. I'm NOT nitpicking. The author puts things in quotes when there is no reason at all to do so. A few times, OK, but on almost every other page? PLEASE. it's SO distracting. Example: " Kelly walked into the room and appeared 'surly '". "Jon was afraid his tattoo had been 'spotted'". Why does he need to add quotation marks when they are completely unnecessary? ARGH! Moving on, Mr. Phelps grabbed into this story and ...prodded with it. Not ran, plodded. Lots of filler and repetition. Why on earth the main suspects were allowed to mosey around Iron River Michigan I'll never know. The book gets off to a fairly interesting start. A 53 year old Air Force Veteran, who seems to be a very nice man, and his son, decide they both want to relocate to North Carolina. Both men share a love of cycling, fitness, kayaking, and more. The father has a good job in Michigan, and has no trouble finding a new position in North Carolina. The father son team are eager to leave Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a nicer climate; they both seem to need a change. Enter Kelly and Jason Cochran, two psychopaths with very creepy agendas... I mean, I'm never sure what their agendas really ARE!
I just know that after not hearing from the father for two weeks, an EX GIRLFRIEND reports him missing. Why his son didn't report his dad missing, we never know. Odd!
So, the Fargo like police chief, Laura Frizzo, takes the case. She's a very good investigator and dedicated to her job, unlike the MSP, who really don't seem to care that a man simply vanished! Again, odd.
Chief Frizzo has her work cut out for her, even though it's fairly clear she's got the right people in her sights.
Now add what seems like an eternity of conversations that had to be invented by the author, with "you betchas" and "real goods" added to make Chief Frizzo seem like Margie from "Fargo."
Oh. Another gripe. (Sorry). The chapters are so ridiculously short, and often end with sentences designed to make the reader think a bombshell discovery awaits them in the next chapter. Spoiler; it doesn't.
The crime itself is senseless. I never really did figure out why it even happened. The woman who appears to be the "mastermind" NEVER STOPS LYING. It's maddening. But the Chief and her helpful detective/interrogator from another city need to question her and her bumbling overweight husband. A LOT.
The fact that there are NO other suspects, and no motive, make for a rather dry read, unless Mr. Phelps decides that even he is bored and adds erroneous information... such as the possibility that the couple may have killed many people and fed the body parts to their pigs. EYE ROLL.
So, the reader eventually finds out for sure what they've suspected all along, there's a trial, no hum. The "motive" is never clearly established . Maddening!
Lastly, and other reviews have touched on this, Mr. Phelps is not a huge fan of women. He picks them apart like a bitter old maid.
I wish I had not ordered this book. There are photos, which is always nice, but by the end of the book I'm guessing others like me, will be thinking " that's IT? It's over? "
Yes. Yes it is. I don't recommend. That's a shame because a better author could have done this story justice. Mr. Phelps writes this book as if it's an afterthought.
I preordered this book, giving Mr. Phelps one last chance. Sadly, his repetitive style of writing has not changed a bit, nor his UNBELIEVABLE overuse of quotation marks. I'm NOT nitpicking. The author puts things in quotes when there is no reason at all to do so. A few times, OK, but on almost every other page? PLEASE. it's SO distracting. Example: " Kelly walked into the room and appeared 'surly '". "Jon was afraid his tattoo had been 'spotted'". Why does he need to add quotation marks when they are completely unnecessary? ARGH! Moving on, Mr. Phelps grabbed into this story and ...prodded with it. Not ran, plodded. Lots of filler and repetition. Why on earth the main suspects were allowed to mosey around Iron River Michigan I'll never know. The book gets off to a fairly interesting start. A 53 year old Air Force Veteran, who seems to be a very nice man, and his son, decide they both want to relocate to North Carolina. Both men share a love of cycling, fitness, kayaking, and more. The father has a good job in Michigan, and has no trouble finding a new position in North Carolina. The father son team are eager to leave Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a nicer climate; they both seem to need a change. Enter Kelly and Jason Cochran, two psychopaths with very creepy agendas... I mean, I'm never sure what their agendas really ARE!
I just know that after not hearing from the father for two weeks, an EX GIRLFRIEND reports him missing. Why his son didn't report his dad missing, we never know. Odd!
So, the Fargo like police chief, Laura Frizzo, takes the case. She's a very good investigator and dedicated to her job, unlike the MSP, who really don't seem to care that a man simply vanished! Again, odd.
Chief Frizzo has her work cut out for her, even though it's fairly clear she's got the right people in her sights.
Now add what seems like an eternity of conversations that had to be invented by the author, with "you betchas" and "real goods" added to make Chief Frizzo seem like Margie from "Fargo."
Oh. Another gripe. (Sorry). The chapters are so ridiculously short, and often end with sentences designed to make the reader think a bombshell discovery awaits them in the next chapter. Spoiler; it doesn't.
The crime itself is senseless. I never really did figure out why it even happened. The woman who appears to be the "mastermind" NEVER STOPS LYING. It's maddening. But the Chief and her helpful detective/interrogator from another city need to question her and her bumbling overweight husband. A LOT.
The fact that there are NO other suspects, and no motive, make for a rather dry read, unless Mr. Phelps decides that even he is bored and adds erroneous information... such as the possibility that the couple may have killed many people and fed the body parts to their pigs. EYE ROLL.
So, the reader eventually finds out for sure what they've suspected all along, there's a trial, no hum. The "motive" is never clearly established . Maddening!
Lastly, and other reviews have touched on this, Mr. Phelps is not a huge fan of women. He picks them apart like a bitter old maid.
I wish I had not ordered this book. There are photos, which is always nice, but by the end of the book I'm guessing others like me, will be thinking " that's IT? It's over? "
Yes. Yes it is. I don't recommend. That's a shame because a better author could have done this story justice. Mr. Phelps writes this book as if it's an afterthought.
April 18, 2019
Not an easy read. Although the first chapters would lead you to judge so. It's also exhaustive, long winded and Kelly quotes or their analysis run triple or quadruple the lengths of what they needed to be. Her varying witness stories could have been captured with one quarter of their numbers.
Saying that, this couple dynamic and especially the placements for all of these events in MI and in Indiana! Intriguing. Especially the locations as I've visited or resided within that exact population and town, city, mobility prone dynamic. Could I ever have crossed paths with these people? It sure gave me thought, as they would be coming up and back directly upon the small town Cass County lines.
But the first aspect-the couple dynamic and the female police officer who solved this case (nearly singular in the effort too as the protocols overlapped and others were dubious at first that the missing man just didn't move / leave on his own to N.C. as he had planned); that was the crux of the book. And made the entire well worth the read. Too, too long. It could have been better with an organization rehash and a huge edit. The first 80 pages was a 4 star and after that point barely a 3.
Serial killers are rare and serial killers that are female are rarer. This states 0.7% of the population.
Why would someone as smart as Kelly seemed and as devious stay with a husband like Jason?
You'll get more of the answers from Kelly's mouth that you ever need to hear, but this sets in effect and with some decent photos (none of them gross or chewy) close to the whole accurate tale of this reality. Some of the post-indited portions are shocking surprise. So if you are going to read this length, don't investigate outcomes presently in 2019 and take it unknown to the "afterwards" reveals.
I don't recommend this book because of the 100 different ways and quotes of 20 or 30 page time sequences when you are hearing made up tales over and over again. Or references to numbers of work associates or venues (all of these people often worked 2 or 3 jobs in rotation or after being fired, re-hired, moving etc.) that are extraneous.
Saying that, this couple dynamic and especially the placements for all of these events in MI and in Indiana! Intriguing. Especially the locations as I've visited or resided within that exact population and town, city, mobility prone dynamic. Could I ever have crossed paths with these people? It sure gave me thought, as they would be coming up and back directly upon the small town Cass County lines.
But the first aspect-the couple dynamic and the female police officer who solved this case (nearly singular in the effort too as the protocols overlapped and others were dubious at first that the missing man just didn't move / leave on his own to N.C. as he had planned); that was the crux of the book. And made the entire well worth the read. Too, too long. It could have been better with an organization rehash and a huge edit. The first 80 pages was a 4 star and after that point barely a 3.
Serial killers are rare and serial killers that are female are rarer. This states 0.7% of the population.
Why would someone as smart as Kelly seemed and as devious stay with a husband like Jason?
You'll get more of the answers from Kelly's mouth that you ever need to hear, but this sets in effect and with some decent photos (none of them gross or chewy) close to the whole accurate tale of this reality. Some of the post-indited portions are shocking surprise. So if you are going to read this length, don't investigate outcomes presently in 2019 and take it unknown to the "afterwards" reveals.
I don't recommend this book because of the 100 different ways and quotes of 20 or 30 page time sequences when you are hearing made up tales over and over again. Or references to numbers of work associates or venues (all of these people often worked 2 or 3 jobs in rotation or after being fired, re-hired, moving etc.) that are extraneous.
January 2, 2022
The front cover promises a riveting nonfiction thriller, but the back cover gives it all away. The result is a plodding police procedural (with help from mysterious private detectives— who hired them?). The result is a book that is too long and repetitive. There is a romantic subplot and the police chief is fired— might these two things be related? Phelps is too enamoured by the police to touch on that issue.
Much is made of police insight and intuition yet this incredible sensitivity never solves the crime. Old fashioned police work and helpful informants are what cracked the case. There is also speculation about other murders, solely based on the word of a serial liar and fantasist.
Instead of a nonfiction thriller this was a flat, annoying read.
Much is made of police insight and intuition yet this incredible sensitivity never solves the crime. Old fashioned police work and helpful informants are what cracked the case. There is also speculation about other murders, solely based on the word of a serial liar and fantasist.
Instead of a nonfiction thriller this was a flat, annoying read.
November 13, 2022
Killer Caught
"It should be noted that Ogden and Frizzo logged countless hours on this case above and beyond what is expected in a typical investigation and, but for their dogged determination and dedication to seeing justice achieved for the families involved, Kelly Cochran might still be walking the streets."
This crime came too close to not having been solved. Fortunately, two tenacious investigative minds came together and put the monster behind bars. If not for these inquiring minds, nobody wants to think where more the monster might travel, destroying lives all along the way. No, they caught her and locked her up. Excellent.
So, what's wrong with people falling in love with someone they met at work? And it's reciprocated? And declared love?
It's a unique story and let's be glad about that.
"It should be noted that Ogden and Frizzo logged countless hours on this case above and beyond what is expected in a typical investigation and, but for their dogged determination and dedication to seeing justice achieved for the families involved, Kelly Cochran might still be walking the streets."
This crime came too close to not having been solved. Fortunately, two tenacious investigative minds came together and put the monster behind bars. If not for these inquiring minds, nobody wants to think where more the monster might travel, destroying lives all along the way. No, they caught her and locked her up. Excellent.
So, what's wrong with people falling in love with someone they met at work? And it's reciprocated? And declared love?
It's a unique story and let's be glad about that.
April 13, 2019
I found the write-up extremely sedentary and counter-productive to getting to the bottom of things and getting to the truth. I'm not even sure the entire body of Mr. Chris Regan Snr. was ever found or any of the supposed 'victims' of the alleged 'serial killing duo' were ever corroborated as having been identified as real people or confirmed as missing or dead. This made the book a bit of a stretch and unreliable. To top it all of, even the murder itself, the reason for it and the act of it is unbelievable, because the police do not really know what happened to Mr. Regan and they have zero evidence of the crime itself (the only thing they have is the skull and bits and pieces of bones and that too courtesy the most unreliable witness / killer / co-conspirator / abettor ever). So I don't know what the point of this book is other than to praise the retired female police chief and the former lead detective - who fell in love with each other during the course of this investigation which turned out to be their last!
Why write a book when you don't have the complete facts and don't know anything? I just googled 'Kelly Cochran' and 'Chris Regan' and a bunch of unsubstantiated rumors, innuendo-filled documentaries came up. This is all a very wrong approach to true crime and factual reporting.
Most of all, what peeved me was that when finally the investigators do find Mr. Regan's skull, no mention is made of what injuries, if any, the skull showed (apart from any environmental deterioration). Was he even shot in the head? Because the author certainly doesn't give you the forensics on that. Or do I have to google that too?
No one will ever know the personalities, family dynamics and actual sexual relationships of Mr. Regan or the Cochrans by reading this book, let alone the murder.
Why write a book when you don't have the complete facts and don't know anything? I just googled 'Kelly Cochran' and 'Chris Regan' and a bunch of unsubstantiated rumors, innuendo-filled documentaries came up. This is all a very wrong approach to true crime and factual reporting.
Most of all, what peeved me was that when finally the investigators do find Mr. Regan's skull, no mention is made of what injuries, if any, the skull showed (apart from any environmental deterioration). Was he even shot in the head? Because the author certainly doesn't give you the forensics on that. Or do I have to google that too?
No one will ever know the personalities, family dynamics and actual sexual relationships of Mr. Regan or the Cochrans by reading this book, let alone the murder.
April 26, 2019
This true crime story just missed the mark for me. It's hard to say exactly how, but it primarily had to do with the fact that the author seems to assume from the get-go that the reader knows who the killer is. Maybe that's unfair of me to assume, but this isn't the kind of true crime narrative I like to read. I like it when the story unfolds, as in a novel, and doesn't hit me over the head (no pun intended) with what the author thinks is obvious. I wasn't familiar with this case, and didn't know who the characters were before I started reading it. But I had to assume I knew who the murderer was, only because the author treated me, the reader, as if I did.
This wasn't a terrible book. The writing style was choppy at times and disjointed, and I found myself getting bored with trudging through it. But there were details that I was curious about, so I worked my way through it. In all, it was a fair attempt at telling what was probably a really interesting story. I just didn't quite enjoy reading it all that much.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 3 stars.
This wasn't a terrible book. The writing style was choppy at times and disjointed, and I found myself getting bored with trudging through it. But there were details that I was curious about, so I worked my way through it. In all, it was a fair attempt at telling what was probably a really interesting story. I just didn't quite enjoy reading it all that much.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 3 stars.
March 11, 2019
I enjoy reading true crime stories. Fans of these types of books will want to pick up a copy of this book to read. Mr. Phelps did his research with this book. His interviews with all those involved including Kelly were very insightful.
I liked Chief Laura Frizzo tenacity to keep poking around until the truth was revealed. She and Jeremy Ogden helped to bring justice for Chris. I could see how Kelly would be classified as a narcissist as the story that she gave the police was full of holes. However, I believe she went in believing that she would not be caught. She even tried to portray herself as a victim.
This was a fast read for me. This is because I was very interested in this case and finding out the truth. Laura really helped with this. After reading this book, I want to check out other books by Mr. Phelps.
I liked Chief Laura Frizzo tenacity to keep poking around until the truth was revealed. She and Jeremy Ogden helped to bring justice for Chris. I could see how Kelly would be classified as a narcissist as the story that she gave the police was full of holes. However, I believe she went in believing that she would not be caught. She even tried to portray herself as a victim.
This was a fast read for me. This is because I was very interested in this case and finding out the truth. Laura really helped with this. After reading this book, I want to check out other books by Mr. Phelps.
May 4, 2019
This was one of the most poorly written books I’ve read in a long time. There was little to no editing and the story was all over the place. Additionally the author claims to be an “expert” on serial murder but doesn’t actually have any credentials. The only reason I gave it two stars is because the case itself is interesting.
April 17, 2020
M. William Phelps delivers another stellar true crime book. I like how this book reads more like an episode of Ozark and not like a flat rehashing of court documents. The reader uncovers the bizarre details along with the detectives and because I was unfamiliar with this case, I was intrigued by the many twists and turns along the way. It is scary to know that murderers like those in this book walk among us. It is even crazier to think that this couple were next door neighbors before their marriage. What are the chances? I would have liked to have better understood what happened to the two main detectives careers following this case. You will know what I mean when you read the book. Recommended for all true crime enthusiasts.
February 14, 2019
This is an exhaustive account of the investigation into the crimes of a woman who was found guilty of killing her husband and one of her lovers 16 months apart.
Investigative journalist M. William Phelps details the story of 34 year old Kelly Cochran, of Lake County, Indiana, who was sentenced to 65 years in prison for injecting husband, Jason Cochran, with a lethal dose of heroin before smothering him. But she was already serving life for her involvement in the murder of Chris Regan, who vanished in 2014. Regan had been due to move to Florida with his son, but he was never seen again.
Iron River police chief Laura Frizzo, was the first officer to investigate Regan’s disappearance after another ex girlfriend, Terri O’Donnell, filed a missing person report. It transpired that Kelly Cochran had been having an affair with Chris shortly before he disappeared. Regan's car was found abandoned at a park-and-ride lot four miles east of Iron River, Michigan. Initially, Frizzo had a gut feeling that Jason had murdered Regan and that Kelly was somehow involved.
Attention had centred on Kelly because she was one of the last people to see Regan alive. When police searched her home with the FBI in March, 2015, they found nothing, but soon after, Cochran and husband Jason moved to Indiana.
Despite Frizzo's dogged determination to discover the truth, the case went cold until February 2016 when 37 year old Jason died of a suspected heroin overdose. Paramedics had been called to the house that Cochran shared with her husband. At first glance it looked like he had died of a heroin overdose, but the Indiana Lake County Coroner discovered that Jason had actually died from asphyxiation after being injected with heroin. Kelly Cochran later admitted that, two years previously, she and Jason had lured Regan to their home, shot him and dismembered him. Cochran said the slaying had been part of a “pact” to “kill off anyone involved in their extramarital affairs”. On October 13, 2014, Cochran lured Regan to her home with the promise of sex.
At times, Phelps' book reads more like a fictional thriller than an account of actual murders. The story is told from statements given by friends, neighbours and relations and reports from different law enforcement agencies. Overall, I felt it was Laura Frizzo who stands out in this story as she never let up trying to find what had happened to Chris Regan.
My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
Investigative journalist M. William Phelps details the story of 34 year old Kelly Cochran, of Lake County, Indiana, who was sentenced to 65 years in prison for injecting husband, Jason Cochran, with a lethal dose of heroin before smothering him. But she was already serving life for her involvement in the murder of Chris Regan, who vanished in 2014. Regan had been due to move to Florida with his son, but he was never seen again.
Iron River police chief Laura Frizzo, was the first officer to investigate Regan’s disappearance after another ex girlfriend, Terri O’Donnell, filed a missing person report. It transpired that Kelly Cochran had been having an affair with Chris shortly before he disappeared. Regan's car was found abandoned at a park-and-ride lot four miles east of Iron River, Michigan. Initially, Frizzo had a gut feeling that Jason had murdered Regan and that Kelly was somehow involved.
Attention had centred on Kelly because she was one of the last people to see Regan alive. When police searched her home with the FBI in March, 2015, they found nothing, but soon after, Cochran and husband Jason moved to Indiana.
Despite Frizzo's dogged determination to discover the truth, the case went cold until February 2016 when 37 year old Jason died of a suspected heroin overdose. Paramedics had been called to the house that Cochran shared with her husband. At first glance it looked like he had died of a heroin overdose, but the Indiana Lake County Coroner discovered that Jason had actually died from asphyxiation after being injected with heroin. Kelly Cochran later admitted that, two years previously, she and Jason had lured Regan to their home, shot him and dismembered him. Cochran said the slaying had been part of a “pact” to “kill off anyone involved in their extramarital affairs”. On October 13, 2014, Cochran lured Regan to her home with the promise of sex.
At times, Phelps' book reads more like a fictional thriller than an account of actual murders. The story is told from statements given by friends, neighbours and relations and reports from different law enforcement agencies. Overall, I felt it was Laura Frizzo who stands out in this story as she never let up trying to find what had happened to Chris Regan.
My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
November 18, 2019
Here's my struggle with a book like this..
I used to love crime books like this. The savvy police detectives solving crimes. The story of the evidence, the suspect, and the victim. This one even had an added bonus of two police officers falling in love as they investigated the murder.
Then I started reading about Innocence Project Books and learning more about techniques. These readings have allowed me to approach true crime books with more of a critical lens. To be honest, I haven't read many of this caliper in awhile. For some reason, I was compelled to read this one.
While I think Kelly Cochran is guilty as hell, I still found some of the techniques used in the investigation borderline inappropriate at times. I struggled, at times, to agree with the detectives. Jason Cochran was ridiculed in the book for denying to take a polygraph. He said they were unreliable (and they are - there are so many studies to prove that) but yet, he is made out to be uncooperative for stating a fact. There were other such incidents in this book. Yet, the author was not interested in stating facts like that, but rather to just tell the drama involved in this case. I couldn't quite understand why Frizzo and Ogden lost their jobs? I didn't feel that was well explained.
The book was drawn out, while it moved fast, there were parts that were boring or repetitive. Sometimes the story timeline was interrupted with more recent comments from Kelly Cochran, which I found a bit annoying. Overall, this book isn't horrible, but isn't great either. I'm going to look for the ID show that was made about this case, it may be more to the point.
I used to love crime books like this. The savvy police detectives solving crimes. The story of the evidence, the suspect, and the victim. This one even had an added bonus of two police officers falling in love as they investigated the murder.
Then I started reading about Innocence Project Books and learning more about techniques. These readings have allowed me to approach true crime books with more of a critical lens. To be honest, I haven't read many of this caliper in awhile. For some reason, I was compelled to read this one.
While I think Kelly Cochran is guilty as hell, I still found some of the techniques used in the investigation borderline inappropriate at times. I struggled, at times, to agree with the detectives. Jason Cochran was ridiculed in the book for denying to take a polygraph. He said they were unreliable (and they are - there are so many studies to prove that) but yet, he is made out to be uncooperative for stating a fact. There were other such incidents in this book. Yet, the author was not interested in stating facts like that, but rather to just tell the drama involved in this case. I couldn't quite understand why Frizzo and Ogden lost their jobs? I didn't feel that was well explained.
The book was drawn out, while it moved fast, there were parts that were boring or repetitive. Sometimes the story timeline was interrupted with more recent comments from Kelly Cochran, which I found a bit annoying. Overall, this book isn't horrible, but isn't great either. I'm going to look for the ID show that was made about this case, it may be more to the point.
July 14, 2019
My thanks go to M. William Phelps, Kensington Publishing, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
Father and son had decided to make a brand new beginning in Asheville, NC. But it was not to be because of a female psychopath.
And what a psychopath! Holy cow! So manipulative, so narcissistic. If only she had put her brain to good use.
Phelps is one of my favorite go-to true crime authors ever. I have many of his books and they always have a twist. This one didn't disappoint.
Father and son had decided to make a brand new beginning in Asheville, NC. But it was not to be because of a female psychopath.
And what a psychopath! Holy cow! So manipulative, so narcissistic. If only she had put her brain to good use.
Phelps is one of my favorite go-to true crime authors ever. I have many of his books and they always have a twist. This one didn't disappoint.
February 12, 2025
Madness is Right!
Good book, great story of a sadistic couple who were brought down by a couple of tenacious cops in spite of the politics that engulfed them. As the author points out in his afterword, these two deserve accolades and respect, and it's a shame they instead fell victims to petty supervisors and politicians. I get that more than most. Good job, Chief and Detective.
I would have given this five stars but the first third or so of the book seemed to drag and was also quite repetitive on some parts of the story. I almost stopped reading but I was fascinated with the case, so I persisted. I'm glad I did. The last two-thirds of the book was riveting.
Good book, great story of a sadistic couple who were brought down by a couple of tenacious cops in spite of the politics that engulfed them. As the author points out in his afterword, these two deserve accolades and respect, and it's a shame they instead fell victims to petty supervisors and politicians. I get that more than most. Good job, Chief and Detective.
I would have given this five stars but the first third or so of the book seemed to drag and was also quite repetitive on some parts of the story. I almost stopped reading but I was fascinated with the case, so I persisted. I'm glad I did. The last two-thirds of the book was riveting.
February 4, 2019
Where Monsters Hide is a true- crime read that captures both sides of the genre; those who commit unthinkable crimes and those who capture them. Through dogged police work and interviews, the case of missing Chris Reagan is solved to its horrific end and justice is meted out, though the greatest mystery may yet be how monsters sometimes hide among us, in plain sight. This tale is more twisted than most and the fact that it is non-fiction makes it all the more cautionary. Well done, Mr. Phelps.
October 28, 2024
Some people are psychotic and eventually they will get caught. Highly recommend this book
December 3, 2022
True Crime Time! I’ve been a fan of M. William Phelps for years – among TC writers, there are many that just crank out crap, there are one-hit wonders who put out a good ONE, and then there are the (very) few who consistently give us a well-researched, carefully written story. M. William Phelps is one of the few. His true crime books include Murder in the Heartland, Kill For Me, and Beautifully Cruel – with rare exception, I’ve enjoyed them all. So I was pleased to read and review Mr. Phelps’ latest, Where Monsters Hide, in return for my honest review (thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley).
One of the things that made this one stand out is that female serial killers/psychopaths are unusual. In addition, a good person-goes-missing-cops-get-obsessed-for-YEARS story is always interesting. The good person in this book is Chris Regan, a single father of adult children who lives in Michigan but is just about to leave for Asheville, NC, to start a new job. He and his namesake oldest son are planning the move together, and they are talking and texting constantly, nailing down all the details. One of the last things Chris needs to do is take a drug test for the new job he has accepted in Asheville. Chris the younger gets worried when he can’t reach his father. Chris Senior had an ex- named Terri O’Donnell, and because they had remained friends and kept in contact after the breakup, she also became worried when he disappeared, and she filed a missing person report.
The local police department is tiny, and another aspect of this story that stands out is the local police chief, Laura Frizzo. As she looks into the case, she learns that Chris had been having an affair with a married co-worker named Kelly Cochran, so her investigation naturally goes toward Kelly’s husband Jason. A search warrant on the Cochran’s house prompts them to up and move out of state unexpectedly. Then Jason turns up dead and the coroner rules it a homicide, so Laura starts looking at Kelly as a suspect. And OMG what happens to the body is – well, unique.
As the investigation goes on, Laura works closely with Detective Jeremy Ogden, and they REALLY get along! I found the treatment the two of them received from other members of law enforcement in Michigan pretty disgusting. At first, I thought it was just pointed at Laura, because of her gender – but Jeremy was a target as well.
The final unique aspect of this book is that Kelly is a SMART woman, a Purdue graduate and psychology major. She plays “catch me if you can” with Laura and Jeremy, and even though they just KNOW she is guilty, it takes a long time in real life for the unraveling of the story. Fortunately, the book moves right along, and will definitely be appreciated by true crime aficionados. I give stars within genres, and for true crime, this one is 5-star.
One of the things that made this one stand out is that female serial killers/psychopaths are unusual. In addition, a good person-goes-missing-cops-get-obsessed-for-YEARS story is always interesting. The good person in this book is Chris Regan, a single father of adult children who lives in Michigan but is just about to leave for Asheville, NC, to start a new job. He and his namesake oldest son are planning the move together, and they are talking and texting constantly, nailing down all the details. One of the last things Chris needs to do is take a drug test for the new job he has accepted in Asheville. Chris the younger gets worried when he can’t reach his father. Chris Senior had an ex- named Terri O’Donnell, and because they had remained friends and kept in contact after the breakup, she also became worried when he disappeared, and she filed a missing person report.
The local police department is tiny, and another aspect of this story that stands out is the local police chief, Laura Frizzo. As she looks into the case, she learns that Chris had been having an affair with a married co-worker named Kelly Cochran, so her investigation naturally goes toward Kelly’s husband Jason. A search warrant on the Cochran’s house prompts them to up and move out of state unexpectedly. Then Jason turns up dead and the coroner rules it a homicide, so Laura starts looking at Kelly as a suspect. And OMG what happens to the body is – well, unique.
As the investigation goes on, Laura works closely with Detective Jeremy Ogden, and they REALLY get along! I found the treatment the two of them received from other members of law enforcement in Michigan pretty disgusting. At first, I thought it was just pointed at Laura, because of her gender – but Jeremy was a target as well.
The final unique aspect of this book is that Kelly is a SMART woman, a Purdue graduate and psychology major. She plays “catch me if you can” with Laura and Jeremy, and even though they just KNOW she is guilty, it takes a long time in real life for the unraveling of the story. Fortunately, the book moves right along, and will definitely be appreciated by true crime aficionados. I give stars within genres, and for true crime, this one is 5-star.
July 13, 2019
A well written and researched true crime novel that reads as fiction...meaning it never became boring or tedious. M William Phelps obviously spent time making sure the reader could see each person and make their own judgement on the way the cases were handled. I enjoyed this book. I'm definitely looking for more titles from this author.
July 11, 2019
I love this author. He does a great job at telling the facts and getting to know the people he is writing about. I am fascinated with why people do what they do and what are they thinking.
January 9, 2021
Notes:
The author did amazon job on bring this case to life as well as the research that went in to this case, going into I had already knew a bit about it but not a hole lot and the author was able to make this case more real then some of the true crime shows that I watched that talked about.
Its very informative and detailed account of exhaustive investigative police work in search of truth. As well as showing how far people go to keep a dark secret like this one and thank that they can get away with it.
As for the written of it, its well written, evenly paced and it had me hooked from the start.
With that said I want to give a big thanks to the publisher Kensington Books , the author M. William Phelps and to Net Galley for letting me read and review .
The author did amazon job on bring this case to life as well as the research that went in to this case, going into I had already knew a bit about it but not a hole lot and the author was able to make this case more real then some of the true crime shows that I watched that talked about.
Its very informative and detailed account of exhaustive investigative police work in search of truth. As well as showing how far people go to keep a dark secret like this one and thank that they can get away with it.
As for the written of it, its well written, evenly paced and it had me hooked from the start.
With that said I want to give a big thanks to the publisher Kensington Books , the author M. William Phelps and to Net Galley for letting me read and review .
January 26, 2019
First I want to thank netgalley for letting me give an honest review of this book because M. William Phelps is truly one of my favorite all time true crime authors. Once again Phelps delivers an astonishing book of what people do to other people. His perspective is right on and never waivers from the nature of the crime. I have read every book he has written and watch him on television all the time and love that he tells it like it is. I would definitely recommend this book.
December 16, 2024
True crime is my favorite genre but I’ve never read anything from this author. I’m not sure is this is his usual genre but I did not enjoy the writing. It was all over the place and rather than build out the storyline, it was more about building up the investigators who apparently felt wronged by the lack of support during the investigation. I felt this was a huge disservice to the victim and his family. The killers and investigators were glorified and there was little about the victim.
April 17, 2019
This one grabbed me right from the start, with cops in Michigan's Upper Peninsula looking for a missing father. The cat-and-mouse aspect of it got a bit tedious, but I blame the perpetrator, not the author. There's even a surprising bit of romance in these pages.
January 21, 2024
M. William Phelps invites readers on a dark and unsettling journey through the Midwest in "Where Monsters Hide: Sex, Murder, and Madness." The book explores a series of true crime stories set against the seemingly tranquil backdrop of the region, unraveling the disturbing realities hidden beneath the surface.
Phelps, known for his storytelling prowess, skillfully intertwines multiple cases, offering a comprehensive view of the crimes and delving into the psychological landscapes of both victims and perpetrators. The author's meticulous research and attention to detail shine through, presenting not just the facts but also providing insights into the motivations and backgrounds of those involved.
The narrative is compelling, striking a balance between the emotional impact of the stories and the gritty details of the investigations. Phelps maintains a sense of suspense throughout, crafting each chapter like a true crime thriller that keeps readers engaged as they navigate the complexities of sex, murder, and madness.
However, the sheer volume of cases covered may be overwhelming for some readers, potentially diluting the impact of individual narratives and hindering the development of a deep emotional connection with any particular story. Additionally, the explicit and disturbing content depicted in the book may be unsettling for those sensitive to such themes.
In summary, "Where Monsters Hide" offers a thought-provoking and suspenseful exploration of true crime in the Midwest. Phelps's storytelling prowess shines through, although the abundance of cases may pose a challenge for some readers. The book prompts reflection on the blurred boundaries between good and evil within the human psyche.
Phelps, known for his storytelling prowess, skillfully intertwines multiple cases, offering a comprehensive view of the crimes and delving into the psychological landscapes of both victims and perpetrators. The author's meticulous research and attention to detail shine through, presenting not just the facts but also providing insights into the motivations and backgrounds of those involved.
The narrative is compelling, striking a balance between the emotional impact of the stories and the gritty details of the investigations. Phelps maintains a sense of suspense throughout, crafting each chapter like a true crime thriller that keeps readers engaged as they navigate the complexities of sex, murder, and madness.
However, the sheer volume of cases covered may be overwhelming for some readers, potentially diluting the impact of individual narratives and hindering the development of a deep emotional connection with any particular story. Additionally, the explicit and disturbing content depicted in the book may be unsettling for those sensitive to such themes.
In summary, "Where Monsters Hide" offers a thought-provoking and suspenseful exploration of true crime in the Midwest. Phelps's storytelling prowess shines through, although the abundance of cases may pose a challenge for some readers. The book prompts reflection on the blurred boundaries between good and evil within the human psyche.
April 11, 2019
Great author, very good book. I love it when an author doesn't use half of his book detailing the trial. Most of the time it gets tedious and very boring. Phelps didn't do that here! Thank you.
February 1, 2025
This book truly made me not want to read anything by this author again. The story itself is very interesting and messed up and sad, but was essentially ruined for me due to multiple issues.
My personal complaints:
1. Can't stand the way the author frequently starts new chapters mid dialogue about characters not yet introduced causing serious confusion for the first page or 2.
2. Just write the darn story chronologically. Not everyone knows all the details about a true crime story (hence why I'm reading the book..) and giving away details about the end of this story less than halfway into the book gave me less desire to even finish it.
3. How many times did it need to be brought up about Cheif Frizzo and her "spiritual feelings" about the case and how the victims "presence led her to further discoveries?.... just stop, at some point it's just embarrassing.
4. I really didn't need any of the silly details about Frizzo and Ogdens blooming relationship. It served no purpose to the story.
My personal complaints:
1. Can't stand the way the author frequently starts new chapters mid dialogue about characters not yet introduced causing serious confusion for the first page or 2.
2. Just write the darn story chronologically. Not everyone knows all the details about a true crime story (hence why I'm reading the book..) and giving away details about the end of this story less than halfway into the book gave me less desire to even finish it.
3. How many times did it need to be brought up about Cheif Frizzo and her "spiritual feelings" about the case and how the victims "presence led her to further discoveries?.... just stop, at some point it's just embarrassing.
4. I really didn't need any of the silly details about Frizzo and Ogdens blooming relationship. It served no purpose to the story.
September 26, 2020
Thank you, Netgalley, for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Disclaimer: I had not heard about this mystery before I received the ARC for this book. It did sound like a story I saw on Investigation Discovery at some point, meaning the story sounded familiar.
What I liked most about this book was the detective...Chief Laura Frizzo! Man, this woman is as persistent as they come! Chris Sr. and his son are lucky to have had someone on their case who really wanted to solve this mystery! I could absolutely see other detectives just throwing in the towel and this case turning into a cold case as a result. I'm glad that Chris and Chris Sr.'s friends got at least some answers to their questions. This book was well-researched and well-written. I have to be hones there and admit that I listened to the audio instead of reading the ebook. I listened to it during one of my morning runs. This was a great audio for that. I'm usually more interested in more gruesome crimes and how they were solved. While this was more on the mysterious than on the gruesome side, it was still a great true story to read about.
Disclaimer: I had not heard about this mystery before I received the ARC for this book. It did sound like a story I saw on Investigation Discovery at some point, meaning the story sounded familiar.
What I liked most about this book was the detective...Chief Laura Frizzo! Man, this woman is as persistent as they come! Chris Sr. and his son are lucky to have had someone on their case who really wanted to solve this mystery! I could absolutely see other detectives just throwing in the towel and this case turning into a cold case as a result. I'm glad that Chris and Chris Sr.'s friends got at least some answers to their questions. This book was well-researched and well-written. I have to be hones there and admit that I listened to the audio instead of reading the ebook. I listened to it during one of my morning runs. This was a great audio for that. I'm usually more interested in more gruesome crimes and how they were solved. While this was more on the mysterious than on the gruesome side, it was still a great true story to read about.
February 22, 2019
Wow! This was one messed up couple. This case makes me wonder how many more this woman or couple killed that we don't know about. I am sure that we will never know. I am glad she is unable to hurt anyone else. I was beginning to think that she was going to get away with it.
*Thank you to Netgalley, M. William Phelps, and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.
*Thank you to Netgalley, M. William Phelps, and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.
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