Grabtown

by Sarah P. Blanchard

Twin sisters Cassandra and Anastasia have discovered their mother's legacy: a 40-year-old cold case murder.

When Cassie and Ana return to their childhood home in rural Connecticut, among their deceased mother’s belongings they stumble across an unpublished a murder mystery, written by their mom's girlfriend AJ —and featuring their mother as a key character.

Cassie, a writer, wants to turn the old story into a bestseller. Ana, fearful of what they will learn, wants to destroy it.

As the sisters delve into AJ's story, they uncover a disturbing trail leading to an abandoned village the locals call Grabtown.
As AJ says, “Small towns are great for scolding the kids who throw too many snowballs, but not always good at spotting real evil.”.

When Cassie's volatile husband Marsh demands they stop digging, and a retired detective arrives asking dangerous questions, the twins realize someone believes AJ's story isn't fiction—it's a confession.

What's really behind Marsh's highly successful rare-motorcar enterprise? Why does the past refuse to stay buried? And why is a major crimes detective now urging them to flee?

Set in rural New England, Grabtown is a powerful twofold story that exposes the dark underbelly of small-town secrets, where courage and unshakable loyalty become the only weapons against those who prey on the vulnerable.

If you enjoy suspense, high-stakes tales of sisterhood, and satisfying stories of justice and redemption, you'll love Grabtown. Readers of Grabtown are also fans of Kellye Garrett's Like a Sister, Liz Moore's The God of the Woods, and The Moonflowers by Abigail Rose-Marie.

Readers love Grabtown:

“A story that lingers long after the last line—beautiful, bold, and utterly unforgettable.”
—Kathryn Dare, Seattle Book Review

“Unique, gripping, and well-written…one of my favorite psychological thrillers! Five stars.” —Chloe Belle Daffon, Readers’ Favorite

“Just brilliant ten-star storytelling! Psychological suspense at its very best...a must-read for everyone who appreciates truly great writing.” —Lorraine Cobcroft, Reedsy Discovery

“Grabtown is a beautifully written psychological thriller with a lit fuse and an explosive ending. It’s also a search for truth and healing between sisters who face hard realities and deadly threats... Highly recommended! —A.W. Baldwin, bestselling author (Moonshine Mesa, The Antidote)

"I was completely hooked...If you're looking for a story that will keep you on your toes and stay with you long after the last page, Grabtown is it!" —Chrissy Marie, instagram (abeautyandbooks)

"[Grabtown] builds atmosphere—dense, emotional, and quietly suspenseful. It’s a book about loyalty, silence, and the courage it takes to look back. If you like your mysteries with emotional depth and a touch of literary melancholy, Grabtown is a beautifully crafted, slow-burning read." — Leanne Hague, Goodreads reviewer

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2025

About the author

I've always been drawn toward flawed, compassionate characters who believe they must battle their demons alone; and complex antagonists who think they have nothing to lose.

My 2024 debut novel, Drawn from Life, reflects this theme, as does my latest release, the Amazon best-selling novel Grabtown (October, 2025).

I also love short fiction! Many of my short stories, poems, and essays have been published in magazines and journals. One story is a 2025 nominee for the Pushcart Prize; another won the 1993 Dorothy Daniels Writing Award (American PEN Women). I was also a finalist for the 2024 Porch Prize for Short Fiction (TN), and a finalist for the 2021 Doris Betts Fiction Prize (NC).

A dozen of my short stories are included in the anthology, Playing Chess with Bulls (2023), and I've also published a poetry chapbook (river, horse, morning.

Want to learn about the next release? Subscribe to my newsletter at sarahpblanchard.com.

Reviews

[Rita Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grabtown is an old shed in a quiet field in the small country town where two sisters grew up. Years later, Cassie, the sister living in New York, returns to help her older sister, Ana, pack up their mother’s house following her death. They discover a book that was written by their mother’s best friend, split into two sections and hidden in two separate places in the house, about the unsolved murder of one of the neighbours. Was this designed to bring the sisters closer to each other, or is it a true story waiting to be told? And what is the true nature of Cassie’s husband’s business? This break away from him makes her wonder if his treatment of her is caring or controlling. An intriguing tale, well-written and engaging. Highly recommended.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie and Ana meet back at their mother’s house after her passing. While going though her things, they find an old manuscript left for them to read from their mother’s best friend, AJ. The manuscript tells an old story of a murder in the 1980s in the small town. As the sisters read the manuscript, it quickly becomes clear that the past is tied to their futures. Secrets, lies, and danger are around every corner. Can they piece it all together in time?

The writing flowed well with the story and I found myself looking forward to more from AJ’s manuscript. By the end of the story, I was right there with the characters trying to save themselves before the past caught up with them. The manuscript is the key, but the real story is happening all around it.

The story took a little bit to get going, but if you’re good with a chilled pace then definitely give it a go.

[CHRIS CARTER · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins with a murder that was never solved. Forty years ago, a farmer was killed near an abandoned place called Grabtown, and the truth was buried along with it. When twin sisters Cassie and Ana return to their childhood home after their mother’s death, they expect grief and memories, not secrets. But while sorting through their mother’s belongings, they find something disturbing: a draft of a novel written by their mother’s long time girlfriend, AJ. The story centers on the Grabtown murder, and their mother appears as an important character.

Cassie, a struggling writer trapped in an unhappy marriage, sees the manuscript as a chance to finally understand her family and maybe herself. Ana, afraid of what they might uncover, wants it destroyed. As Cassie keeps reading and digging, she starts to see signs of long-hidden abuse and trauma that reach deep into their family and their town. The question becomes terrifyingly simple: is this manuscript fiction, or a confession?

What makes this book so powerful is how real it feels. The characters are complex and emotionally believable. Cassie’s confusion, grief, and determination are easy to understand, and Ana’s fear feels just as real. Even the quiet moments, sorting belongings, remembering childhood, noticing strange reactions from people, are filled with tension.

The structure of the story is especially well done. The past and present blend smoothly, and the mystery slowly tightens instead of rushing. You feel the pressure building as Cassie gets closer to the truth, especially when her husband starts acting controlling and a retired detective begins asking new questions.

This book handles heavy topics like abuse and trauma with care and respect. It never feels sensational. Instead, it focuses on the emotional impact and the long shadows these experiences cast over people’s lives.

Grabtown is suspenseful, thoughtful, and emotionally intense. It’s the kind of psychological thriller that makes you hold your breath while reading, then sit quietly when it’s over. If you enjoy intelligent, character-driven suspense that explores truth, memory, and the cost of silence, this book is a must-read.

[Whitney Warrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book has some serious triggers, so consider yourself warned.

*Loved* this book; read it in one day.


I can't recommend it enough.

[Brenda Maximenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you start the book, you can’t put it down. The two sisters work to clean up their mother’s house after her passing. The sisters find a manuscript and discover information about their mother and her friend from years ago. You will be surprised how the story evolves.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if you discovered that your life was based on lies and the reasons behind them hold an awful truth? How will you face this new reality where everything that surrounds you feels tainted in the worst possible way? Would you be able to forgive and uphold the truth even when it cuts you? Grabtwon is a story about family secrets, domestic abuse, child abuse and traficking so it's not an easy read but will give lots of food for thought.
I thank the author for this ARC.

[sheila ruksznis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book.

Definitely a thriller. Slow to begin, thinking it's just another quick read memoir about someone's youth. Surprise! Much more. Gripping.

[Tami Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a well written book. I liked the story line and did not loose me when going from past to future.

[Lillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fast-paced, heart-hammering and so sad. Definitely some potential triggers, but it was well worth the read. I could not put it down! I definitely recommend it.

[Katie Billington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sucked me in, and I read it all in about 24 hours. Never a dull moment! Well written and all consuming. So good!

[Aletha Pagett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling thriller that explores, among other things, the difference between being a killer and being a protector. Blanchard wove an awesome story! This e-book was received from Goodreads.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
I loved the mystery of this and how everything came together. It was written very well! I had my SMH moments and shocked moments. This was so good!

[Allen Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grabtown is the kind of novel that settles into your bones and refuses to leave. From the first pages, it announces itself not just as a mystery, but as an excavation of family, of memory, and of the lies small towns tell themselves to survive.

At its heart are Cassie and Ana, sisters bound by shared loss and divided by fear. Their discovery of AJ’s unpublished manuscript is a brilliant narrative device: a story within a story that slowly, devastatingly, reveals itself as something far more dangerous than fiction. Watching Cassie’s ambition clash with Ana’s dread gives the novel its emotional charge, and the tension between them feels achingly real. This is sisterhood portrayed with honesty fierce love braided tightly with resentment, guilt, and unspoken truths.

The rural New England setting is rendered with quiet menace. Grabtown itself feels like a character abandoned, decaying, and heavy with the weight of what it’s swallowed. The line about small towns being good at scolding kids but bad at spotting real evil perfectly captures the book’s central thesis: that harm often hides behind familiarity, politeness, and willful blindness.

As the plot tightens, the stakes escalate beautifully. Marsh is a chilling presence, his success and volatility raising questions that hum with danger, while the arrival of the retired detective shifts the novel into truly nerve-wracking territory. The revelation that AJ’s story may be a confession is handled with restraint and intelligence, allowing dread to bloom naturally rather than relying on shock alone.

What elevates Grabtown beyond a standard psychological thriller is its emotional depth. This is a story about justice, yes but also about complicity, survival, and the terrible cost of silence. The writing is lyrical without being indulgent, suspenseful without sacrificing character, and the ending is both explosive and deeply earned.

Fans of literary suspense will find a lot to admire here. Like The God of the Woods or Like a Sister, Grabtown understands that the most haunting mysteries are the ones rooted in human relationships. This is a novel about looking back when it would be easier not to and finding the courage to keep going anyway.

A powerful, unforgettable read. I closed the book, sat quietly for a long moment, and knew I’d be thinking about Grabtown for a long time to come.

[Clara Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grabtown pulled me in far deeper than I expected. What begins as a simple return-home story for twin sisters Cassie and Ana unfolds into a haunting excavation of memory, grief, and buried truth. Sarah P. Blanchard writes with an honesty that feels almost intrusive at times, like you’re overhearing confessions meant only for the dead.

What struck me most was how the novel balances two parallel mysteries: the decades-old murder of the twins’ mother and the unsettling manuscript left behind by AJ, her former lover. The manuscript-within-the-book becomes more than a clue; it becomes a pulse. Each page Cassie and Ana read forces them to confront not only the small-town secrets around Grabtown, but the parts of themselves they’ve learned to hide. Cassie’s hunger for the truth and Ana’s fear of it make for a beautifully tense dynamic, one grounded in real, lived sisterhood.

Blanchard captures the atmosphere of rural Connecticut with a quiet authenticity: the way an abandoned village seems to breathe in its own silence, the way a town's friendliness can be both comforting and suffocating. And the line about small towns being great for scolding snowball throwing kids but blind to real evil stayed with me. It’s a sentence that sums up the book’s entire heartbeat, how everyday life can sit on top of rot that no one wants to disturb.

As the mystery tightens, Marsh’s unsettling behavior, the retired detective’s sudden reappearance, and the chilling realization that AJ’s story might not be fiction, the tension rises in a way that feels earned. Nothing is rushed. Every revelation lands with emotional and moral weight.

But beyond the twists, Grabtown shines in its themes: the courage it takes to confront painful legacies, the complicated ferocity of sisters who love differently, and the quiet heroism of choosing truth when it’s far easier to leave the past buried.

By the final pages, I wasn’t just reading a mystery. I was reflecting on how families carry stories, and how freeing the truth can be, even when it comes at a cost.

A powerful, resonant, beautifully layered novel. It stayed with me long after I closed it. Perfect for readers who crave suspense wrapped in heart and humanity.

[Darryl Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a few days before author Sarah P. Blanchard's appearance at a local indie store when I first learned of Grabtown. As I often do, I looked up what the guest has written to see if I might be interested in it. After reading the blurb that appears on the back of Grabtown, I thought it was a great premise, but from there, I just moved along to what I was doing next. It was a few hours later when my mind went back to the book, so then I knew I needed to know more.

It turns out that my second thoughts paid off handsomely. At that author event, I spoke to Ms. Blanchard for a few minutes and purchased both of her books. (As an aside, go read her first novel,Drawn from Life, you won't be disappointed.)

Grabtown is the story of twin sisters Cassie and Ana reconnecting after the death of their mother, Marla, aided by both of them reading a story written by Marla's friend AJ. Ms. Blanchard handles the dual timelines effortlessly and avoids confusion by indicating in each chapter whose point of view we are seeing.

The book starts slowly, delving into the relationship between the twins. And then, when the first portion of AJ's story is found, and Cassie begins reading about a murder committed in town years ago, the pace of the book picks up to match the flow of information the reader is getting. Once Ana begins reading, it's a full-on, well-paced thriller.

Any reader of the genre knows what's going to eventually happen, and Ms. Blanchard doesn't disappoint by adding an odd twist. What we get is a very well-written conclusion. And as with her first book, Grabtown is full of smartly written characters, who are all easily identifiable with.

Some parts of this book might be a little difficult for some readers to get through, but Ms. Blanchard treats those situations with grace and dignity, and like her description of the car crash in Drawn from Life, much of it is done in a manner where you know what happened without it being overly descriptive.

There is no sophomore jinx in Grabtown; it's a solid second outing from Ms. Blanchard, and I highly recommend it.

[Roberts Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grabtown by Sarah P. Blanchard is a taut, emotionally layered psychological thriller that blends family trauma, buried secrets, and the haunting legacy of small-town sins. Set in rural New England, this slow-burning, atmospheric novel examines how truth, loyalty, and courage collide when two sisters uncover the chilling possibility that their mother’s death was never an accident but a confession waiting to be read.

Twin sisters Cassie and Ana return home after decades apart, only to discover an unpublished manuscript that implicates their late mother’s girlfriend in a forty-year-old murder. As they unravel the pages of that story and the dangerous truths behind it the sisters must confront not only the darkness in their family’s past but also the fractures within themselves.

Blanchard’s prose is sharp, evocative, and deeply human, rich with tension and emotional authenticity. The novel’s interplay between memory and mystery recalls the moral complexity of Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods and the sisterly intensity of Kellye Garrett’s Like a Sister. Grabtown is not merely a story about solving a murder it’s about what we owe the dead, the living, and ourselves when the past refuses to stay buried.

Both thrilling and introspective, Grabtown cements Blanchard as a storyteller of rare precision and empathy. It’s a literary psychological thriller that grips from the first page and lingers long after the last.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grabtown is one of those stories that creeps in quietly and stays. Sarah P. Blanchard paints a rural Connecticut town with a kind of faded intimacy—where grief settles like dust and secrets are stitched into the landscape. When twin sisters Cassie and Ana return home after their mother’s death, they stumble upon a manuscript that may be more than fiction. What follows is a slow, unsettling unraveling of family history, buried trauma, and the lingering question: what really happened in Grabtown?

The novel moves between 1985 and the present with a gentle rhythm, never rushed, always deliberate. Cassie’s voice—frustrated, curious, quietly aching—guides us through layers of memory and resistance. Ana’s caution adds tension, and the manuscript at the heart of it all pulses with ambiguity. Is it a story, or a confession?

Blanchard doesn’t rely on twists or spectacle. Instead, she builds atmosphere—dense, emotional, and quietly suspenseful. It’s a book about loyalty, silence, and the courage it takes to look back. If you like your mysteries with emotional depth and a touch of literary melancholy, Grabtown is a beautifully crafted, slow-burning read.

Thank you to Sarah Blanchard, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Nicola Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the format of this book, with a book inside a book. Twins Cassie and Ana are clearing out their family home after their mother dies, when they find a manuscript written by a very close family friend telling the story of a local murder. They don't know if it is a true story or not, especially when their mother appears in the story. Cassie has always been quite distant from her family and very reliant on her husband for support whereas Ana has a settled family life. I can't say much more without spoilers, but family and community secrets are revealed as both stories progress. It was good to be able to read the manuscript alongside reactions etc. There's a lot of suspense and mystery and the story is fast paced.
There are some triggers in the book, but saying what they are is a spoiler, so something to be aware of.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

[LKJ AUDHD Baddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to be honest and say that this book was a bit boring. The characters really fell flat for me and I wanted to like it but it took me so long to finish. I just couldn’t engage with the characters. The story was linear and it made sense but the lead up to the twists wasn’t memorable or satisfying. I think it could’ve been a good story if the characters had more depth and a bit more natural dialogue.

Another thing was the storyline was a bit too predictable. I wish we would’ve seen more engagement/updates about the girls Elena, and her sisters. I wish we got a better sense of the two sisters relationship. It all seemed really surface level with the two characters. The information discovery/journey they were on to find out what happened with their mom and aunt was a bit boring as well. It just didn’t have the spark or connection that I was hoping for

[Alexander Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I loved most about Grabtown is how personal the mystery feels. Cassie and Ana aren’t just uncovering clues, they’re unraveling the grief and unanswered questions that shaped their entire lives. Their mother’s old manuscript adds a haunting layer to the story, blurring the line between fiction and confession in a way that kept me thinking long after each chapter.

The setting is vivid and unsettling in all the best ways. That small-town quiet, the abandoned village, the unspoken history everyone seems to avoid, it all creates a tension that slowly tightens as the sisters get closer to the truth. And when the danger finally becomes real, the emotional stakes feel earned.

It’s a powerful, atmospheric story that balances suspense with genuine heart. I couldn’t put it down.

[Amanda Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grabtown surprised me in the best way. What begins as a simple discovery among old family belongings quickly grows into a gripping, emotional search for truth. Cassie and Ana felt so real, their fear, their hope, their complicated bond as sisters all added layers that made the story hit deeper than a typical mystery.

The abandoned village, the old manuscript, the tension building around Marsh and the retired detective… everything blends into a web of secrets that feels both intimate and haunting. Blanchard knows how to create atmosphere without ever slowing the pace, and by the time the truth started to surface, I realized I was holding my breath.

[Louise Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will finish this book feeling like you need either a holiday or a bath - it really stays with you and some of the topics included are pretty dark. The book within a book concept is exceptionally well done in this case and adds to the sense that you are falling into something which may or may not be credible. I think this is a genuine example of a dark thriller, which many claim to be but ultimately can’t deliver. I’m excited to see more from this author.

[RT Robb · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW I loved this! I don't usually go for the really dark stuff—and there are some heavy themes here—but the story is told so well, with such heart and compassion, I couldn't put it down. Loved the story-within-a-story, which gives a feeling of historical fiction. And there's the question of the narrator's reliability. The author packs a lot in here and it kind of sneaks up on you so you don't realize how much sticks in your brain until a day later. What a great read!

[Marlowe Kelvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grabtown pulled me into a world of secrets, loss, and small-town shadows. Cassie and Ana’s bond felt real, full of love and tension that made every choice meaningful. The abandoned village and the hidden manuscript gave the story a haunting, mysterious pulse. Blanchard’s writing is evocative, drawing you deep into both the place and the sisters’ hearts. A suspenseful, emotional journey I won’t soon forget.

[Tammy George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grabtown is a gripping tale of family secrets, loyalty, and courage. Cassie and Ana feel completely real, their fear, determination, and love for each other make every twist matter. The abandoned village and hidden manuscript create a chilling, tense atmosphere that kept me hooked. Blanchard’s writing is both vivid and emotionally resonant. A beautifully crafted mystery that stayed with me long after I finished it.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will be sticking with me for a while. Told in two different generation's time frames. Small town secrets. (I grew up in a small town.) Murder. Arson. Mystery. Perversion. Twin sisters bridging their gap.
I was pretty sure I knew what was going to happen. I just didn't want it to be so..........

[Abigael Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grabtown is a story that lingers in the mind long after the last page. The sisters’ journey to uncover their mother’s secrets is both heart-wrenching and suspenseful. The abandoned village and buried truths create a chilling, unforgettable atmosphere. Blanchard’s storytelling is vivid, emotional, and utterly absorbing. A haunting tale of family, courage, and the shadows we cannot escape.

[P.A Social · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grabtown is one of those rare thrillers that balances suspense with genuine emotional weight. The bond between Cassie and Ana feels real and raw, and the mystery unfolding through their mother’s unfinished story is haunting. I loved how the novel explores silence, loyalty, and the cost of uncovering the truth. The ending stayed with me long after I turned the last page.

[Max Folsom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Blanchard's book pulled me into the story and held me captive from beginning to end. I read until two a.m. and then didn't move from my chair in the morning until it was done. The suspense builds slowly, until it is almost painful. The plot, the characters, the dialogue, the setting - all so real you forget you are reading a story.

I had the softcover edition, not a kindle.

[Kaitlyn | read_withkaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A story that lingers long after the last line—beautiful, bold, and utterly unforgettable.”
—Kathryn Dare, Seattle Book Review

The above review on the book could not have captured it better. The story within a story is such a work of art and is done so well by Blanchard.