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They Say a Girl Died Here
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 269 hours, 20 minutes
From the New York Times bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes and We Live Here Now comes a thrilling, genre-bending mystery about two murdered girls, the ones who might be next, and a town with dark secrets.
It’s happening again. . . .
Anna Maybourne feels trapped in Harper’s Creek, a nowhere town of dusty farmland plagued by drought, known for the murders of two young women who died exactly three years apart. The presumed murderer, killed as he tried to escape the police, was known as the Farmhand. But Anna, new in town and caring for her grandmother with dementia, wonders if the closed case is actually unsolved.
As the three-year anniversary of the last Farmhand murders nears, Anna’s younger sister worries it could happen again and she and her friend might be next. Anna’s grandmother’s experiences odd paranoid episodes, and she claims to know things about the girls who died.
Anna begins to think her grandmother may be the key to discovering the truth about the murders. Something strange is happening in their old house, Grandma knows more than she should, and instead of being over, the mystery seems like it’s starting again.
They Say a Girl Died Here is a novel of thrilling and terrifying secrets, with a mind-
bending twist that could come only from Sarah Pinborough.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes and We Live Here Now comes a thrilling, genre-bending mystery about two murdered girls, the ones who might be next, and a town with dark secrets.
It’s happening again. . . .
Anna Maybourne feels trapped in Harper’s Creek, a nowhere town of dusty farmland plagued by drought, known for the murders of two young women who died exactly three years apart. The presumed murderer, killed as he tried to escape the police, was known as the Farmhand. But Anna, new in town and caring for her grandmother with dementia, wonders if the closed case is actually unsolved.
As the three-year anniversary of the last Farmhand murders nears, Anna’s younger sister worries it could happen again and she and her friend might be next. Anna’s grandmother’s experiences odd paranoid episodes, and she claims to know things about the girls who died.
Anna begins to think her grandmother may be the key to discovering the truth about the murders. Something strange is happening in their old house, Grandma knows more than she should, and instead of being over, the mystery seems like it’s starting again.
They Say a Girl Died Here is a novel of thrilling and terrifying secrets, with a mind-
bending twist that could come only from Sarah Pinborough.
Audiobook
Expected publication August 25, 2026
About the author
Sarah Pinborough
91 books8,373 followersSarah Pinborough is a New York Times bestselling and Sunday Times Number one and Internationally bestselling author who is published in over 30 territories worldwide. Having published more than 25 novels across various genres, her recent books include Behind Her Eyes, now a smash hit Netflix limited series, Dead To Her, now in development with Amazon Studios, and 13 Minutes and The Death House in development with Compelling Pictures. Sarah lives in the historic town of Stony Stratford, the home of the Cock and Bull story, with her dog Ted. Her next novel, Insomnia, is out in 2022. You can follow Sarah on Twitter at @sarahpinborough.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
Want to Read
July 30, 2026Solely because of Behind Her Eyes
I must continue reading this woman's books
I hope this one is a winner!
💛🧡🧡💛
I must continue reading this woman's books
I hope this one is a winner!
💛🧡🧡💛
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
"A little fear was at least feeling something, and there were plenty who would call that progress in her post-trauma journey." *
I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book, but I was hooked after only a few pages! After a life-altering experience, Anna moves to the small town of Harper's Creek with her mother, little sister, and grandmother, who has dementia. Grandma insists they live in her old house, which has an eerie presence. The town has a brutal history of young girls murdered by the 'Farmhand'—who was never caught. Legend says he kills every three years, with the anniversary fast approaching. Everyone worries who will be killed next, including Anna. Her grandmother becomes increasingly agitated and mutters strange things—is it her dementia or something more?
A sense of unease, dread, and paranoia seeps from the pages as Anna deals with chunks of missing memories and her grandmother's disturbing utterances. Both women struggle with self-doubt and trusting reality—and so will readers. While I figured out a few elements and a key aspect, the latter you must accept without explanation. The twisty layers all come together in a spectacular fashion that fans of Pinborough—and new readers like me—will appreciate. This slow-burn atmospheric read is impossible to put down!
SARAH PINBOROUGH slays the gothic vibe in a contemporary setting—where there's no way to know what's really happening—while expertly delving into the fear of losing one's mind and the effects of trauma. Readers who enjoy ambiguity, cold case mysteries, and an immersive setting will love THEY SAY A GIRL DIED HERE!
____
*Quote is subject to change upon final publication
Thank you to Pine & Cedar Books & Flatiron Books for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book, but I was hooked after only a few pages! After a life-altering experience, Anna moves to the small town of Harper's Creek with her mother, little sister, and grandmother, who has dementia. Grandma insists they live in her old house, which has an eerie presence. The town has a brutal history of young girls murdered by the 'Farmhand'—who was never caught. Legend says he kills every three years, with the anniversary fast approaching. Everyone worries who will be killed next, including Anna. Her grandmother becomes increasingly agitated and mutters strange things—is it her dementia or something more?
A sense of unease, dread, and paranoia seeps from the pages as Anna deals with chunks of missing memories and her grandmother's disturbing utterances. Both women struggle with self-doubt and trusting reality—and so will readers. While I figured out a few elements and a key aspect, the latter you must accept without explanation. The twisty layers all come together in a spectacular fashion that fans of Pinborough—and new readers like me—will appreciate. This slow-burn atmospheric read is impossible to put down!
SARAH PINBOROUGH slays the gothic vibe in a contemporary setting—where there's no way to know what's really happening—while expertly delving into the fear of losing one's mind and the effects of trauma. Readers who enjoy ambiguity, cold case mysteries, and an immersive setting will love THEY SAY A GIRL DIED HERE!
____
*Quote is subject to change upon final publication
Thank you to Pine & Cedar Books & Flatiron Books for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
March 31, 2026
The tension starts from the first page and doesn’t relent. There is a horrible sense of dread as you try and decide if Anna’s past trauma is causing her to lose her mind, if Grandma is really psychic or is it her dementia, and if the killer of Lila and Bonnie was really caught. Only Sarah Pinborough could write so convincingly that you will be jerked from one scenario to another until you are finally shown the unimaginable truth. #pineandcedar #flatironbooks
July 15, 2026
If you have read Sarah Pinborough books before you know that you are in for a wild ride. They Say a Girl Died Here is expertly narrated by the wonderful Saskia Maaleveld, one of the best there is. She brings this intense and creepy story to life and I loved it.
Anna and her family are looking for a fresh start in Harpers Creek, as all creepy town whose residents aren’t exactly what they appear to be. There has been 2 girls murdered, 3 years apart and the killer is supposedly dead, but the anniversary is nearing and the townspeople are on edge. Anna doesn’t think the stories that she has heard make sense and so does her own investigations which of course puts her in danger.
Anna has plenty of her own secrets and is struggling with what has happened to her before moving to Harpers Creek. She finds herself fighting with her mother all the time and being a carer to her little sister and her grandmother who has dementia. Are her grandmothers ramblings just bad dreams or is she trying to warn Anna? She is a frustrating character and an unreliable narrator but you come to understand her actions as the story moves along.
This is a slow burning mystery that you need to take your time with but trust me it is worth the wait. The outcome was shocking and worked so well.
Thanks so much to Macmillan Audio for my advanced copy of this audiobook to listen to. Out on August 25th.
Anna and her family are looking for a fresh start in Harpers Creek, as all creepy town whose residents aren’t exactly what they appear to be. There has been 2 girls murdered, 3 years apart and the killer is supposedly dead, but the anniversary is nearing and the townspeople are on edge. Anna doesn’t think the stories that she has heard make sense and so does her own investigations which of course puts her in danger.
Anna has plenty of her own secrets and is struggling with what has happened to her before moving to Harpers Creek. She finds herself fighting with her mother all the time and being a carer to her little sister and her grandmother who has dementia. Are her grandmothers ramblings just bad dreams or is she trying to warn Anna? She is a frustrating character and an unreliable narrator but you come to understand her actions as the story moves along.
This is a slow burning mystery that you need to take your time with but trust me it is worth the wait. The outcome was shocking and worked so well.
Thanks so much to Macmillan Audio for my advanced copy of this audiobook to listen to. Out on August 25th.
July 28, 2026
Nothing revolutionary.
July 25, 2026
The Say a Girl Died Here is a fast-paced mystery that kept me wanting to know what would happen next. Set in the small town of Harper's Creek, the story follows Anna, who has recently moved back home after a tragic accident. While helping her mom care for her grandmother, who has dementia, and looking after her younger sister, Anna becomes determined to uncover the truth behind the murders of two local girls.
Even though the police believe they killed the murderer, many people in town are convinced they caught the wrong person, creating an unsettling atmosphere throughout the story. I really enjoyed the mystery and how the suspense built as Anna searched for answers.
Anna's character was sometimes difficult to connect with because of her moody personality, and there were moments when I found her frustrating to read. However, the intriguing plot and quick pacing made up for it. Overall, this was an engaging mystery with plenty of twists that kept me turning the pages.
Even though the police believe they killed the murderer, many people in town are convinced they caught the wrong person, creating an unsettling atmosphere throughout the story. I really enjoyed the mystery and how the suspense built as Anna searched for answers.
Anna's character was sometimes difficult to connect with because of her moody personality, and there were moments when I found her frustrating to read. However, the intriguing plot and quick pacing made up for it. Overall, this was an engaging mystery with plenty of twists that kept me turning the pages.
Want to Read
April 22, 2026I am predicting 5 stars for this beauty, which also happens to be one of my most anticipated books of 2026. A huge thank you to Flatiron for sending this my way.
July 28, 2026
They Say a Girl Died Here
(audio) 4.5⭐️
Sarah Pinborough is an absolute talent! I clung to every word and flew through this audiobook. 3 generations of women under one roof, in the town where the eldest grew up. Tensions are high as Anna recovers from a traumatic event, her grandmother battles dementia, her sister has one foot in womanhood and one foot in childhood, and her mom is just trying to hold everything together. Anna finds herself hyper-focused on the murder of 2 girls, 3 years apart. The anniversary of their deaths are coming up and Anna isn’t convinced their actual killer has been found.
I loved the meld of reality and psychological confusion as Anna tried to piece everything together. Anna’s trauma is referred to as “the thing”, allowing enough information to not be frustratingly mysterious, but also allowing Anna to protect her experience, even to the reader. That choice of who knew the details in the book was taken from her, so I appreciated her being able to choose when to divulge her truth. The characters were well developed, the tension was thick, the emotions raw, and the family bonds were complex. I only wanted the best for Anna and I grew suspicious of the town and the men along side her.
Thank you NetGalley Macmillan Audio for this ALC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date Aug 25 2026
(audio) 4.5⭐️
Sarah Pinborough is an absolute talent! I clung to every word and flew through this audiobook. 3 generations of women under one roof, in the town where the eldest grew up. Tensions are high as Anna recovers from a traumatic event, her grandmother battles dementia, her sister has one foot in womanhood and one foot in childhood, and her mom is just trying to hold everything together. Anna finds herself hyper-focused on the murder of 2 girls, 3 years apart. The anniversary of their deaths are coming up and Anna isn’t convinced their actual killer has been found.
I loved the meld of reality and psychological confusion as Anna tried to piece everything together. Anna’s trauma is referred to as “the thing”, allowing enough information to not be frustratingly mysterious, but also allowing Anna to protect her experience, even to the reader. That choice of who knew the details in the book was taken from her, so I appreciated her being able to choose when to divulge her truth. The characters were well developed, the tension was thick, the emotions raw, and the family bonds were complex. I only wanted the best for Anna and I grew suspicious of the town and the men along side her.
Thank you NetGalley Macmillan Audio for this ALC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date Aug 25 2026
July 12, 2026
Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me this free advance copy, and I’m writing this review honestly and without bias.
Another interesting read from Sarah Pinborough, although some parts of the story revolving around Anna did leave me puzzled. The writing however is on point and the author draws you into the story which is full of mystery and has a wonderful haunting atmosphere. It's a slow burn that materialises into a twisty layers with the pace elevating towards the end. I loved the small town vibe with the people and the weather really coming through the pages. There is no doubt Sarah Pinborough is a master story teller, but the ambiguity surrounding Anna and the ending stopped me giving it five stars. However this is still a very good and solid read.
July 21, 2026
This one started off interesting but got a little weird and far-fetched for me.
Anna lives with her mom, sister, and grandma, who has dementia. It’s clear she’s not happy with her life, but we know she’s had some trauma in the past, referred to as “the thing” throughout the book. So she’s kind of just stuck, working through her own issues while helping with her grandma and figuring out what she wants to do next.
Saskia Maarleveld narrates the audiobook, and she’s great. It carries on like a typical mystery as Anna becomes increasingly obsessed with finding out what happened to the two girls who were murdered exactly three years apart. Everyone we meet is a suspect as the date of the murders approaches, along with talk of “the Farmhand” returning for his next girl.
It’s relatively obvious what “the thing” that happened to Anna is, but it gets a little frustrating that it is referred to so often without us getting the full story.
Eventually, this takes a weird turn, and that’s when it started to lose me a bit. We carry on questioning everyone, including our narrator, and for a while I wasn’t even sure what kind of story this was becoming.
By the end, there were too many twists, familiar tropes, and people involved in covering everything up for it to feel believable to me. I was also still confused about a few details, and I’m not sure whether I missed something or they simply weren’t fully explained. We do finally get the full story about “the thing,” though.
Overall, this was an okay mystery with an interesting setup, but the ending became more complicated than satisfying. The narration was great, though, and helped keep me listening.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy.
Anna lives with her mom, sister, and grandma, who has dementia. It’s clear she’s not happy with her life, but we know she’s had some trauma in the past, referred to as “the thing” throughout the book. So she’s kind of just stuck, working through her own issues while helping with her grandma and figuring out what she wants to do next.
Saskia Maarleveld narrates the audiobook, and she’s great. It carries on like a typical mystery as Anna becomes increasingly obsessed with finding out what happened to the two girls who were murdered exactly three years apart. Everyone we meet is a suspect as the date of the murders approaches, along with talk of “the Farmhand” returning for his next girl.
It’s relatively obvious what “the thing” that happened to Anna is, but it gets a little frustrating that it is referred to so often without us getting the full story.
Eventually, this takes a weird turn, and that’s when it started to lose me a bit. We carry on questioning everyone, including our narrator, and for a while I wasn’t even sure what kind of story this was becoming.
By the end, there were too many twists, familiar tropes, and people involved in covering everything up for it to feel believable to me. I was also still confused about a few details, and I’m not sure whether I missed something or they simply weren’t fully explained. We do finally get the full story about “the thing,” though.
Overall, this was an okay mystery with an interesting setup, but the ending became more complicated than satisfying. The narration was great, though, and helped keep me listening.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy.
March 23, 2026
This book was BRUTAL but in a good way. A small town is haunted by the deaths of 2 young girls 3 years a part. So haunted that an urban legend named The Farmhand has been blamed for their deaths. Enter Anna, a city girl who moves with her family to the small town after something happens in college. She doesn't believe the police have the right man for the deaths of these girls and with the 3 year anniversary coming up, she must investigate the murders before another girl is taken...This book was quick, twisty, and an easy read that also tackled traumatic and sensitive topics in an easy to read way. I definitely recommend this is you want a quick thriller that will have you questioning every character.
Want to Read
April 12, 2026I'm a big fan of this author! August release, can't wait to read it!
July 28, 2026
I absolutely loved Behind Her Eyes and We Live here Now by Pinborough so I was really excited to receive this ARC! After a traumatic episode so disturbing that her memory has shut down and won’t let her remember, Anna Maybourne moves to a small town named Harper’s Creek to live with her mother, sister, and grandmother. Her grandmother has dementia and keeps repeating the same phrase “They say a girl died here”. Anna believes she is referring to the girls who were murdered years ago in this town by a killer called “the farmhand”. The killer was never caught and the legend says he kills every 3 years, the anniversary that is fast approaching. Not really believing the story, but still intrigued and concerned about her grandmothers rambling… Anna begins to do a little research into the deaths of the two girls, Lila and Bonnie, and find out what really happened all of those years ago. But someone doesn’t want her to uncover the long hidden secrets behind these murders and Anna soon finds that her own life may be in danger. Struggling to remember her own violent experience, Anna has doubts about herself and doubts about the current reality, But she carries on searching for the answers before another girl (possibly herself or her little sister) is murdered. A very twisty read with a very unforeseen ending! Great read!
July 31, 2026
I’m a little torn on this one. Absolutely loved the atmosphere of the creepy town, with the anxiety riddled people waiting to see who the next victim of this “farmhand” would be. Anna was a great lead, and I found her struggles to line up with her actions. The grandma creeped the hell out of me. There was a strange twist that I don’t want to give away, but it was confusing as hell. The end reveals seemed a little far fetched to me, but I suppose in a tight-knit town I can leave some room for imagination. Overall, not a bad listen. The narrator was awesome!
Thank you MacMillan Audio for the early listen!
Thank you MacMillan Audio for the early listen!
July 31, 2026
The thing that got me was i totally forgot the authors penchant for the supernatural/otherworldly and totally found myself immersed in a murder mystery thriller and then suddenly hit with a twist that blindsided me 😆 big fan!
July 19, 2026
THEY SAY A GIRL DIED HERE is a haunting, slow-burn thriller. It was filled with small-town secrets, psychological suspense, and supernatural undertones. I enjoyed all of these characters while trying to figure out the mystery. It definitely kept me guessing until the final twist at the end. I really enjoy Sarah Pinborough’s books, and this is one you will want to add to your TBR list if you enjoy thrillers as much as I do. Saskia Maarlrveld is a wonderful narrator and really did an amazing job with the audiobook. I can’t thank Macmillian Audio enough for my gifted ALC!
June 1, 2026
I really love this author, so I was thrilled to get my hands on this ARC and make it my vacation read! I went in blind, so I had no idea what to expect. Anna moves from the big city to her grandma's small childhood town with her mom and sister. They all live together in a sort of rundown house, as her grandma is starting to lose her faculties. Anna suffers from PTSD with a terrible occurrence from her past, and it causes her to act out sometimes. This leaves both Anna and her grandma not 100% trusted by her mom and those around them. So when things start happening, stirrings of the story of the "farmhand" who killed two girls in town three years apart and another three years is coming up, people are reluctant to trust Anna and her judgement. Grandma and Anna make an unlikely pairing, but the two women connect and help each other through what transpires in this book. There is seriously so much more to this, but you'll have to read to get the whole story, which is part murder-mystery, part familial obligation and bond, and part rediscovering oneself. I was hooked! The small town vibe and psychological suspense had me entirely in Sarah Pinborough's grasp. And while I was dying to know the truth of the "farmhand" and the murders, the emotional currents make it something special. There are twists and turns and even a touch of magical realism. Another great read by Sarah Pinborough! I definitely recommend it!
Thank you Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar for the ARC. Book releases 8/25/26.
Thank you Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar for the ARC. Book releases 8/25/26.
July 20, 2026
I’m sorry but this was awful. I know it was a republishing of a book from 2016 so I’m not sure if it’s just repackaged, rewritten, or a merger of old and new. Either way, it’s clearly not up to the level of the author’s recent work and should’ve been left on the backlist.
First of all, it can be tough to write trauma. Many authors throw one sentence in and call it a day, despite nothing being realistic about the response of the characters to trauma. This doesn’t do that but instead Anna tells us about 10 times a page about the “the thing” yet none of her actions align with her thoughts. She hates men, which we get told repeatedly, and she randomly freaks out around men but then she’s going to a hotel to meet with a random strange man she just met.
Secondly, the entire plot is inconsistent. Things change to fit the plot. Like supposedly it’s a super small town and everyone knows everyone and everything that goes on except twice Anna goes to the dental office and that apparently exists in a void where no one knows anything? In a town with three businesses (and a dental office that wasn’t mentioned early on with the three businesses).
Third, this was apparently sponsored by American Spirit cigarettes. Not only do we hear about everyone smoking and cigarettes about every third sentence, but we get it drilled into our head repeatedly that Anna smokes American Spirits. Weird.
Fourth, the pacing is a wreck. It started fairly quickly but then nothing happens for ages and then it all gets rushed together at the end. Cut 100 pages of cigarettes and we’d be better off.
Fifth, there’s an attempt at tossing in some paranormal sci-fi time travel that feels like an afterthought with no real purpose.
Finally, the portrayal of trauma, mental illness, drug addiction, dementia, poverty, etc. are all beyond problematic and insulting. The religious stuff is also a bit confusing as it’s sort of shown as a cult then shown as great? Pick a lane.
I only finished this because I need to know how things end. I should learn to DNF but I won’t so I’ll continue to suffer. I’m not sure what other people read but this was not good. I like the author and I’ll read her again, especially because this was an early book just tossed back out to readers.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.
First of all, it can be tough to write trauma. Many authors throw one sentence in and call it a day, despite nothing being realistic about the response of the characters to trauma. This doesn’t do that but instead Anna tells us about 10 times a page about the “the thing” yet none of her actions align with her thoughts. She hates men, which we get told repeatedly, and she randomly freaks out around men but then she’s going to a hotel to meet with a random strange man she just met.
Secondly, the entire plot is inconsistent. Things change to fit the plot. Like supposedly it’s a super small town and everyone knows everyone and everything that goes on except twice Anna goes to the dental office and that apparently exists in a void where no one knows anything? In a town with three businesses (and a dental office that wasn’t mentioned early on with the three businesses).
Third, this was apparently sponsored by American Spirit cigarettes. Not only do we hear about everyone smoking and cigarettes about every third sentence, but we get it drilled into our head repeatedly that Anna smokes American Spirits. Weird.
Fourth, the pacing is a wreck. It started fairly quickly but then nothing happens for ages and then it all gets rushed together at the end. Cut 100 pages of cigarettes and we’d be better off.
Fifth, there’s an attempt at tossing in some paranormal sci-fi time travel that feels like an afterthought with no real purpose.
Finally, the portrayal of trauma, mental illness, drug addiction, dementia, poverty, etc. are all beyond problematic and insulting. The religious stuff is also a bit confusing as it’s sort of shown as a cult then shown as great? Pick a lane.
I only finished this because I need to know how things end. I should learn to DNF but I won’t so I’ll continue to suffer. I’m not sure what other people read but this was not good. I like the author and I’ll read her again, especially because this was an early book just tossed back out to readers.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2026
the kind of book that makes you feel like you’re losing your mind alongside the characters.. oh this was such a good read! i loved the fact that we have 3 different generations of women at the core of this story, all strong and likeable in their own ways and all with their own problems. i found myself rooting for our lead, Anna from the very first chapter and even more so, once learning of her back story.
the setting is BRILLIANT!!!!! a creepy, small town called Harper’s Creek in the middle of a drought that’s known for the gruesome murders of two young women who died exactly three years apart. although authorities are confident the man responsible was caught, the locals aren’t so sure and start to worry as the three year anniversary of the second death comes closer. will another woman be killed? is the killer still out there?
considering we haven’t had rain here either in 26 days, it was extremely easy to immerse myself into the story. that feeling of constant uncomfortableness from both the heat, and the town’s secrets had me hooked. the end twists are well executed and although i saw a few of them coming, it was still a real enjoyable read.
the setting is BRILLIANT!!!!! a creepy, small town called Harper’s Creek in the middle of a drought that’s known for the gruesome murders of two young women who died exactly three years apart. although authorities are confident the man responsible was caught, the locals aren’t so sure and start to worry as the three year anniversary of the second death comes closer. will another woman be killed? is the killer still out there?
considering we haven’t had rain here either in 26 days, it was extremely easy to immerse myself into the story. that feeling of constant uncomfortableness from both the heat, and the town’s secrets had me hooked. the end twists are well executed and although i saw a few of them coming, it was still a real enjoyable read.
August 1, 2026
Review of advanced listener copy from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this one! The tension starts building right from the beginning.
A small town, dark secrets, mysterious murders, superstition, and lies…. the perfect blend for a slow burn thriller!
I really enjoyed the narration and feel like the voice for this one was perfect!
I definitely did not figure this out one, although I had many different scenarios in my head. This is my second book by this author and I’m really enjoying her writing style!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced listener copy!
I really enjoyed this one! The tension starts building right from the beginning.
A small town, dark secrets, mysterious murders, superstition, and lies…. the perfect blend for a slow burn thriller!
I really enjoyed the narration and feel like the voice for this one was perfect!
I definitely did not figure this out one, although I had many different scenarios in my head. This is my second book by this author and I’m really enjoying her writing style!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced listener copy!
July 8, 2026
This was a SLOW burn small town mystery thriller that was good, but took a while to get into.
After a traumatic experience, Ana moves to Harper’s Creek with her mom, sister & grandma to live in her grandmother’s old house. But this small town has problems & trauma of its own.
2 young girls were unalived in the same way, their bodies left in a field, exactly 3 years apart. It’s been almost another 3 years and the town is reeling with their memory & urban legend rumors of “The Farmhand” coming back to do it again!
The atmosphere was thick with dread & the oppressive heat & prolonged drought added to the suffocating feel of it all.
It was hard to grasp what was true because of Ana’s lapses in memory/PTSD and her grandmas dementia, which made everything seem unreliable.
I really liked the creepy farmhand myth, the constant unsettling sense of foreboding, character development, & evolution of the familial relationships - from complicated & strained to strengthened & comforting- especially between Ana & her grandma.
But there was one twist/element of the story that didn’t really hit for me. It was never really explained & didn’t make sense, leaving me with unanswered questions, so I wasn’t a fan. But other than that, I did enjoy the story.
Overall this was a very atmospheric, eerie & suspenseful mystery that also touches on grief, guilt and recovery from trauma!
3.5⭐️
Releases 8/25/26
Thank you to NeGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
After a traumatic experience, Ana moves to Harper’s Creek with her mom, sister & grandma to live in her grandmother’s old house. But this small town has problems & trauma of its own.
2 young girls were unalived in the same way, their bodies left in a field, exactly 3 years apart. It’s been almost another 3 years and the town is reeling with their memory & urban legend rumors of “The Farmhand” coming back to do it again!
The atmosphere was thick with dread & the oppressive heat & prolonged drought added to the suffocating feel of it all.
It was hard to grasp what was true because of Ana’s lapses in memory/PTSD and her grandmas dementia, which made everything seem unreliable.
I really liked the creepy farmhand myth, the constant unsettling sense of foreboding, character development, & evolution of the familial relationships - from complicated & strained to strengthened & comforting- especially between Ana & her grandma.
But there was one twist/element of the story that didn’t really hit for me. It was never really explained & didn’t make sense, leaving me with unanswered questions, so I wasn’t a fan. But other than that, I did enjoy the story.
Overall this was a very atmospheric, eerie & suspenseful mystery that also touches on grief, guilt and recovery from trauma!
3.5⭐️
Releases 8/25/26
Thank you to NeGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
July 24, 2026
#ad much love for my advance copy @flatironbooks #partner
& @macmillan.audio #partner for the ALC
🆃🅷🅴🆈 🆂🅰🆈 🅰 🅶🅸🆁🅻 🅳🅸🅴🅳 🅷🅴🆁🅴
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𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴..
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩..
"𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘉𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴."
Legend has it that the Farmhand returns every few years to claim another girl. Six years ago it was Lila Clarke. Three years later, Bonnie Buchanan. Now Anna and her family have moved into a farmhouse in Harper’s Creek, and her younger sister, Caroline, is convinced the Farmhand is coming back. Anna has far bigger concerns than a local boogeyman, but as fear spreads through the town, the residents are divided between those who believe the legend and those who dismiss it. The question is: what if the stories are true?
🎧: Also followed along with the audio and recommend the audio for this one! Saskia Maarleveld is another one of my go-to narrators and she always delivers in her performance. She’s one of those rare narrators where you see the story playing out like a movie in your mind. 10/10 stars.
I loved the small town farming setting of this book. Pinborough depicts the small town farm life so well that you will feel like you are right there in that town with the residents. I also enjoyed the mystery of what really happened to Lila and Bonnie. There’s a dark cloud that follows you throughout the book.
I did find myself struggling with the pacing at times. The story spends a lot of time developing the community and its characters, and while that adds to the plot and makes Harper’s Creek feel more authentic, it also caused the momentum to slow in places. I found myself getting a little bored during those sections. Thankfully, the chapters are short, so those slower moments pass quickly. Overall, this is definitely more of a slow-brew type of read than a fast-paced one.
& @macmillan.audio #partner for the ALC
🆃🅷🅴🆈 🆂🅰🆈 🅰 🅶🅸🆁🅻 🅳🅸🅴🅳 🅷🅴🆁🅴
< @
Releases:
𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴..
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩..
"𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘉𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴."
Legend has it that the Farmhand returns every few years to claim another girl. Six years ago it was Lila Clarke. Three years later, Bonnie Buchanan. Now Anna and her family have moved into a farmhouse in Harper’s Creek, and her younger sister, Caroline, is convinced the Farmhand is coming back. Anna has far bigger concerns than a local boogeyman, but as fear spreads through the town, the residents are divided between those who believe the legend and those who dismiss it. The question is: what if the stories are true?
🎧: Also followed along with the audio and recommend the audio for this one! Saskia Maarleveld is another one of my go-to narrators and she always delivers in her performance. She’s one of those rare narrators where you see the story playing out like a movie in your mind. 10/10 stars.
I loved the small town farming setting of this book. Pinborough depicts the small town farm life so well that you will feel like you are right there in that town with the residents. I also enjoyed the mystery of what really happened to Lila and Bonnie. There’s a dark cloud that follows you throughout the book.
I did find myself struggling with the pacing at times. The story spends a lot of time developing the community and its characters, and while that adds to the plot and makes Harper’s Creek feel more authentic, it also caused the momentum to slow in places. I found myself getting a little bored during those sections. Thankfully, the chapters are short, so those slower moments pass quickly. Overall, this is definitely more of a slow-brew type of read than a fast-paced one.
July 30, 2026
Thank you for the opportunity to review this ARC!
As a Midwesterner who grew up in the country, the opening chapter had me hooked. It is so descriptive and foreshadows the atmospheric tension that is felt throughout the book.
In an arid farmland a body is found immaculately prepared but ultimately strangled to death and left on the dry plot. In a small town, the locals pull together riding the waves of grief and consoling with thoughts and prayers. A pattern in this town develops that starts a terrible legend. Meanwhile Anna, returns to the town full of terrible memories to help take care of her little sister and Grandma, who is suffering from dementia, as her Mom works an hour away.
Her Grandmother insists on staying in her old farm house. A house that has so much presence it feels like a character in the story. In her lucid moments her grandmother is normal and watches tv and eats. But in her moments where the dementia takes hold of her, she repeatedly utters a single phrase so terrifying and frequents the basement of the house.
This book really dives into how much can you trust your neighbors in a land where people outnumber trees. Overall a creepy thriller where even the narrator doesn’t know if she can trust herself.
As a Midwesterner who grew up in the country, the opening chapter had me hooked. It is so descriptive and foreshadows the atmospheric tension that is felt throughout the book.
In an arid farmland a body is found immaculately prepared but ultimately strangled to death and left on the dry plot. In a small town, the locals pull together riding the waves of grief and consoling with thoughts and prayers. A pattern in this town develops that starts a terrible legend. Meanwhile Anna, returns to the town full of terrible memories to help take care of her little sister and Grandma, who is suffering from dementia, as her Mom works an hour away.
Her Grandmother insists on staying in her old farm house. A house that has so much presence it feels like a character in the story. In her lucid moments her grandmother is normal and watches tv and eats. But in her moments where the dementia takes hold of her, she repeatedly utters a single phrase so terrifying and frequents the basement of the house.
This book really dives into how much can you trust your neighbors in a land where people outnumber trees. Overall a creepy thriller where even the narrator doesn’t know if she can trust herself.
July 27, 2026
Anna has moved to Harper’s Creek with her mom, little sister and Grandma for a fresh start, after incurring a terrible personal trauma. Shortly after the move, Anna finds herself intertwined in the small town’s secrets relating to 2 murders of young women believed to have been committed by a serial killer.
I found They Say A Girl Died Here to be a combination of a thriller and a family drama. The audio narration was spectacular especially Grandma’s part. It really brought in the creepy thriller vibes to the story.
As Anna investigates into the murders further, the book allows for many suspects to be killer - which was fun to guess as the story was being told. The ending was a little bizarre to me, and there were a few parts of the storyline I had trouble reconciling, but overall the entire book held my interest and the narration enhanced the story.
I found They Say A Girl Died Here to be a combination of a thriller and a family drama. The audio narration was spectacular especially Grandma’s part. It really brought in the creepy thriller vibes to the story.
As Anna investigates into the murders further, the book allows for many suspects to be killer - which was fun to guess as the story was being told. The ending was a little bizarre to me, and there were a few parts of the storyline I had trouble reconciling, but overall the entire book held my interest and the narration enhanced the story.
July 25, 2026
I guessed the killer pretty early, but that didn't ruin the mystery for me because there were still plenty of twists I never saw coming. Every character is unlikeable in their own way, which actually works to the book's advantage because you never fully trust anyone. Just when I thought I had it figured out, something would happen that made me question my theory all over again.
Sarah Pinborough created a creepy, unsettling atmosphere that kept me listening, and the ending tied everything together in a satisfying way while still leaving one final question to think about.
I also have to give Saskia Maarleveld a shoutout because she absolutely nailed this audiobook. Anna drove me absolutely insane at times, and that's a credit to Saskia's performance. She captured Anna's personality so well that I found myself constantly frustrated with her, which only made the story more immersive.
If you're looking for a dark psychological thriller with strong narration, plenty of red herrings, and twists that go beyond simply revealing the killer, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Sarah Pinborough created a creepy, unsettling atmosphere that kept me listening, and the ending tied everything together in a satisfying way while still leaving one final question to think about.
I also have to give Saskia Maarleveld a shoutout because she absolutely nailed this audiobook. Anna drove me absolutely insane at times, and that's a credit to Saskia's performance. She captured Anna's personality so well that I found myself constantly frustrated with her, which only made the story more immersive.
If you're looking for a dark psychological thriller with strong narration, plenty of red herrings, and twists that go beyond simply revealing the killer, this one is definitely worth picking up.
July 29, 2026
This was a 4.5 star ⭐️ read so I rounded up to 5
I got this as an ALC from NetGalley
This book started off strong and I was hooked, I got pretty confused in the middle and the FMC did frustrate me quite a bit especially when she screwed up her sisters hair it made me want to punch her but I was super hooked and I couldn’t stopped listening. I did guess the twist about 75-85% in but it’s ok this was still very enjoyable.
I got this as an ALC from NetGalley
This book started off strong and I was hooked, I got pretty confused in the middle and the FMC did frustrate me quite a bit especially when she screwed up her sisters hair it made me want to punch her but I was super hooked and I couldn’t stopped listening. I did guess the twist about 75-85% in but it’s ok this was still very enjoyable.
August 2, 2026
I really enjoyed this literary suspense. The only things preventing me from rating it even higher was a major plot point that was left totally underdeveloped and unexplained. But it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. If you’re looking for a solid summer suspense, this is a great choice.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THEY SAY A GIRL DIED HERE by Sarah Pinborough is a phenomenal, emotional, deeply atmospheric psychological thriller that pushes the boundaries of a classic small-town crime mystery. Seamlessly weaving a dark local legend with a claustrophobic family dynamic, this gripping, genre-bending novel and audio captures you immediately and never lets go.
📌 The Hook
~ A dusty, drought-plagued farming town living in the shadow of a grisly, supposedly closed serial killer case.
~ A grandmother descending into severe dementia whose paranoid episodes hint that she knows secrets about the murdered girls.
~ A looming third anniversary that threatens a terrifying restart to a deadly local cycle.
🛗 Elevator Pitch
Anna Maybourne feels entirely stuck after dropping out of college and moving her family back to the isolated, drought-ridden farming town of Harper’s Creek. While managing a part-time job, looking out for her younger sister, and acting as a primary caretaker for her grandmother, Evelyn—whose escalating dementia and paranoid episodes have started to unnerve her—Anna discovers a hidden clue suggesting the town's notorious serial killer case remains unsolved. Known locally as the "Farmhandman" murders, the prime suspect is long dead, but as a critical anniversary approaches, the danger begins to feel entirely too close to home.
🌲 Setting
The stifling, dust-covered farmlands of Harper’s Creek, a small town gripped by an intense physical drought and a heavily claustrophobic domestic house that seems to store its own dark energy.
🕯️ Vibe
Creeping dread, claustrophobic, sun-bleached, haunting, and deeply unsettling.
📚 Genre
Psychological Thriller / Supernatural Suspense / Gothic Mystery
🧠 Themes
~The weight of unaddressed family trauma and unspoken past events.
~Small-town insularity and the dangerous preservation of dark secrets.
~Dementia is both a personal tragedy and an eerie vessel for lost truths.
~The terrifying breakdown of safe, domestic spaces under psychological pressure.
👥 Standout Characters
~Anna Maybourne: A resilient, protective young woman feeling stalled in life while trying to anchor her fractured household.
~Grandmother Evelyn: A fiercely religious, complex woman suffering from dementia whose shifting realities hold the terrifying key to local mysteries.
~Melissa Laverne: An outspoken local loner who helps Anna dig directly into the dark curiosity of the town's history.
✍️ Author Writing Standout
Pinborough excels at cultivating a slow-burning, atmospheric tension where environmental details—like the heavy town drought—perfectly mirror the psychological decay of her characters. She brilliantly walks the line between grounded crime procedural and an eerie, almost Gothic supernatural dread before delivering her signature, mind-bending narrative shifts.
💡 Takeaway
A closed case file does not mean a crime is truly settled; sometimes the deepest town secrets survive through the very spaces and people we choose to label as unreliable.
🏷️ Title Significance
"They Say a Girl Died Here" captures the exact way small towns pass down horrific historical events as casual gossip or local lore, distancing themselves from the active, lingering trauma that still lives right beneath the surface.
🕊️ Metaphor
The prolonged, suffocating town drought acts as a physical metaphor for the town's collective stagnation and the buried truths that are bound to crack wide open when the pressure becomes too high.
📖 Why You Should Read
Read this for a completely fresh, highly unpredictable take on small-town crime fiction. Pinborough discards standard thriller templates to deliver a deeply atmospheric, eerie mystery that will thoroughly catch you up in its tension.
💬 My Thoughts
Sarah Pinborough has delivered an absolute powerhouse of psychological suspense. They Say a Girl Died Here is an incredibly moving, tightly paced novel that brilliantly balances a tense serial killer mystery with deep character exploration. Anna is a phenomenal protagonist—vulnerable yet unyielding. Pinborough continues to prove why she is such a master of the genre, beautifully marrying gritty crime elements with gorgeous, slow-burning prose. It is a heart-wrenching read, yet she infuses the dark subject matter with an undeniable sense of narrative genius.
⚖️ Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars) — "An astonishing, heart-wrenching, and fiercely triumphant thriller. Sarah Pinborough delivers a stellar blend of literary fiction, emotional depth, and crime suspense that will linger with you long after the final page."
📚 Recs or Read Alikes
~Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
~We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
~Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell and The Night She Disappeared
~Insomnia by Stephen King
~Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
If you enjoy Sarah Pinborough’s signature style—which blends fast-paced psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators, dark family secrets, and shocking, and genre-bending plot twists, checkout thrillers by Riley Sager, Catriona Ward, Alice Feeney, Peter Swanson, BA Paris, and CJ Tudor.
🎧 Audio Standout
The audiobook is narrated by the exceptional Saskia Maarleveld (an all-time favorite) She delivers a stunning solo performance, using her signature nuance to balance the sharp, urgent investigative drive of the present timeline with the fragile, scattering, and genuinely eerie mindset of a grandmother losing her grip on reality.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2026, and NetGalley for providing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Host & Creator of:
#LitLiftMiniAuthorChats | #AuthorElevatorSeries
#AudioElevatorSeries
Pub Date: Aug 25, 2026
Aug 2026 Must-Read Books
📌 The Hook
~ A dusty, drought-plagued farming town living in the shadow of a grisly, supposedly closed serial killer case.
~ A grandmother descending into severe dementia whose paranoid episodes hint that she knows secrets about the murdered girls.
~ A looming third anniversary that threatens a terrifying restart to a deadly local cycle.
🛗 Elevator Pitch
Anna Maybourne feels entirely stuck after dropping out of college and moving her family back to the isolated, drought-ridden farming town of Harper’s Creek. While managing a part-time job, looking out for her younger sister, and acting as a primary caretaker for her grandmother, Evelyn—whose escalating dementia and paranoid episodes have started to unnerve her—Anna discovers a hidden clue suggesting the town's notorious serial killer case remains unsolved. Known locally as the "Farmhandman" murders, the prime suspect is long dead, but as a critical anniversary approaches, the danger begins to feel entirely too close to home.
🌲 Setting
The stifling, dust-covered farmlands of Harper’s Creek, a small town gripped by an intense physical drought and a heavily claustrophobic domestic house that seems to store its own dark energy.
🕯️ Vibe
Creeping dread, claustrophobic, sun-bleached, haunting, and deeply unsettling.
📚 Genre
Psychological Thriller / Supernatural Suspense / Gothic Mystery
🧠 Themes
~The weight of unaddressed family trauma and unspoken past events.
~Small-town insularity and the dangerous preservation of dark secrets.
~Dementia is both a personal tragedy and an eerie vessel for lost truths.
~The terrifying breakdown of safe, domestic spaces under psychological pressure.
👥 Standout Characters
~Anna Maybourne: A resilient, protective young woman feeling stalled in life while trying to anchor her fractured household.
~Grandmother Evelyn: A fiercely religious, complex woman suffering from dementia whose shifting realities hold the terrifying key to local mysteries.
~Melissa Laverne: An outspoken local loner who helps Anna dig directly into the dark curiosity of the town's history.
✍️ Author Writing Standout
Pinborough excels at cultivating a slow-burning, atmospheric tension where environmental details—like the heavy town drought—perfectly mirror the psychological decay of her characters. She brilliantly walks the line between grounded crime procedural and an eerie, almost Gothic supernatural dread before delivering her signature, mind-bending narrative shifts.
💡 Takeaway
A closed case file does not mean a crime is truly settled; sometimes the deepest town secrets survive through the very spaces and people we choose to label as unreliable.
🏷️ Title Significance
"They Say a Girl Died Here" captures the exact way small towns pass down horrific historical events as casual gossip or local lore, distancing themselves from the active, lingering trauma that still lives right beneath the surface.
🕊️ Metaphor
The prolonged, suffocating town drought acts as a physical metaphor for the town's collective stagnation and the buried truths that are bound to crack wide open when the pressure becomes too high.
📖 Why You Should Read
Read this for a completely fresh, highly unpredictable take on small-town crime fiction. Pinborough discards standard thriller templates to deliver a deeply atmospheric, eerie mystery that will thoroughly catch you up in its tension.
💬 My Thoughts
Sarah Pinborough has delivered an absolute powerhouse of psychological suspense. They Say a Girl Died Here is an incredibly moving, tightly paced novel that brilliantly balances a tense serial killer mystery with deep character exploration. Anna is a phenomenal protagonist—vulnerable yet unyielding. Pinborough continues to prove why she is such a master of the genre, beautifully marrying gritty crime elements with gorgeous, slow-burning prose. It is a heart-wrenching read, yet she infuses the dark subject matter with an undeniable sense of narrative genius.
⚖️ Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars) — "An astonishing, heart-wrenching, and fiercely triumphant thriller. Sarah Pinborough delivers a stellar blend of literary fiction, emotional depth, and crime suspense that will linger with you long after the final page."
📚 Recs or Read Alikes
~Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
~We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
~Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell and The Night She Disappeared
~Insomnia by Stephen King
~Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
If you enjoy Sarah Pinborough’s signature style—which blends fast-paced psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators, dark family secrets, and shocking, and genre-bending plot twists, checkout thrillers by Riley Sager, Catriona Ward, Alice Feeney, Peter Swanson, BA Paris, and CJ Tudor.
🎧 Audio Standout
The audiobook is narrated by the exceptional Saskia Maarleveld (an all-time favorite) She delivers a stunning solo performance, using her signature nuance to balance the sharp, urgent investigative drive of the present timeline with the fragile, scattering, and genuinely eerie mindset of a grandmother losing her grip on reality.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2026, and NetGalley for providing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Host & Creator of:
#LitLiftMiniAuthorChats | #AuthorElevatorSeries
#AudioElevatorSeries
Pub Date: Aug 25, 2026
Aug 2026 Must-Read Books
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
BLURB:
Anna Maybourne moves to Harper’s Creek with her family, where she gets entangled in the town’s Farmhand serial killer murders. As rumours of the killer’s return grow and eerie events unfold at their house, Anna uncovers dangerous truths.
REVIEW:
This was my first read from Sarah Pinborough, and although I’ve seen her books around over the years, I finally picked this one up because it’s narrated by one of my favourites, Saskia Maarleveld—and once again, she completely delivered! This is a slow-burn serial killer thriller set in a small farming town filled with lots of suspicious residents. The female lead, Anna Maybourne, and her family move into an old house hoping for a fresh start, unaware of the history surrounding both the house and the town. Right away, I loved how authentic the family dynamic felt. Anna is still affected by a traumatic attack a year earlier while acting as a caregiver for her grandmother, Evelyn, whose Alzheimer’s is worsening.
The story is easy to follow, unfolding via Anna’s POV in a single timeline as she adjusts to life in Harper’s Creek. She quickly becomes consumed with learning more about the Farmhand killer’s murders of teens Lila and Bonnie, who were killed three years apart. With another three-year anniversary approaching, rumours spread that the Farmhand could return despite police insisting the killer is dead. And as you’d expect, Anna becomes the amateur sleuth, only to get herself into danger—but aside from this, the story is very unpredictable. It’s obvious from the start that Anna’s attack a year earlier took a toll on her mental health, and as details are slowly revealed, I understood why she’s so guarded around men and on edge all the time. Unfortunately, her trauma shapes a lot of her decision-making, sometimes pushing away people who can help her while trusting others she shouldn’t.
I really enjoyed her unconventional friendship with Jamie, murdered Lila’s former boyfriend, who’s a recovering drug addict, and whose warnings that another murder is coming are dismissed by almost everyone in town. Anna is one of the few people willing to listen. Anna’s mom, Claire, is trying to rebuild their lives while fixing up the old house and growing close to the handyman, who’s another suspicious character. And then there’s Caroline, Anna’s much younger sister, who Anna becomes increasingly protective of as the stakes rise.
Anna’s grandmother Evelyn’s Alzheimer’s and the strange things she says while “losing herself” for brief periods are really terrifying. She repeatedly talks about people telling her that a girl died in the house, and while Anna initially dismisses it as another symptom of her dementia, unexplainable occurrences and details only Evelyn should know soon make her question everything! And let me tell you, you won’t be able to guess where the story heads next!
The chapters are very short, with many ending on mini cliffhangers that made me unable to put the book down. It’s very addictive! Around the halfway point, the story shifts into something I wasn’t fully expecting. I won’t say anything more, but it quickly became the kind of story that I couldn’t entirely wrap my head around and had me questioning what was real alongside Anna. There are some clever misdirections and red herrings surrounding the identity of the true killer towards the end. And more than once, I found myself very frustrated at Anna’s decisions, knowing they were only getting her into more danger. The climax is genuinely high-stakes, edge-of-your-seat stuff, and the aftermath provides some satisfying justice. The final scenes will leave you unsettled and wanting to discuss them—and the entire book—with others, making this a great option for a book club or buddy read! I’ll absolutely be going back and reading more from Sarah Pinborough’s backlist after this one!
If you enjoy serial killer thrillers and mind-bending stories that leave you thinking about them long after reading them, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up!
Anna Maybourne moves to Harper’s Creek with her family, where she gets entangled in the town’s Farmhand serial killer murders. As rumours of the killer’s return grow and eerie events unfold at their house, Anna uncovers dangerous truths.
REVIEW:
This was my first read from Sarah Pinborough, and although I’ve seen her books around over the years, I finally picked this one up because it’s narrated by one of my favourites, Saskia Maarleveld—and once again, she completely delivered! This is a slow-burn serial killer thriller set in a small farming town filled with lots of suspicious residents. The female lead, Anna Maybourne, and her family move into an old house hoping for a fresh start, unaware of the history surrounding both the house and the town. Right away, I loved how authentic the family dynamic felt. Anna is still affected by a traumatic attack a year earlier while acting as a caregiver for her grandmother, Evelyn, whose Alzheimer’s is worsening.
The story is easy to follow, unfolding via Anna’s POV in a single timeline as she adjusts to life in Harper’s Creek. She quickly becomes consumed with learning more about the Farmhand killer’s murders of teens Lila and Bonnie, who were killed three years apart. With another three-year anniversary approaching, rumours spread that the Farmhand could return despite police insisting the killer is dead. And as you’d expect, Anna becomes the amateur sleuth, only to get herself into danger—but aside from this, the story is very unpredictable. It’s obvious from the start that Anna’s attack a year earlier took a toll on her mental health, and as details are slowly revealed, I understood why she’s so guarded around men and on edge all the time. Unfortunately, her trauma shapes a lot of her decision-making, sometimes pushing away people who can help her while trusting others she shouldn’t.
I really enjoyed her unconventional friendship with Jamie, murdered Lila’s former boyfriend, who’s a recovering drug addict, and whose warnings that another murder is coming are dismissed by almost everyone in town. Anna is one of the few people willing to listen. Anna’s mom, Claire, is trying to rebuild their lives while fixing up the old house and growing close to the handyman, who’s another suspicious character. And then there’s Caroline, Anna’s much younger sister, who Anna becomes increasingly protective of as the stakes rise.
Anna’s grandmother Evelyn’s Alzheimer’s and the strange things she says while “losing herself” for brief periods are really terrifying. She repeatedly talks about people telling her that a girl died in the house, and while Anna initially dismisses it as another symptom of her dementia, unexplainable occurrences and details only Evelyn should know soon make her question everything! And let me tell you, you won’t be able to guess where the story heads next!
The chapters are very short, with many ending on mini cliffhangers that made me unable to put the book down. It’s very addictive! Around the halfway point, the story shifts into something I wasn’t fully expecting. I won’t say anything more, but it quickly became the kind of story that I couldn’t entirely wrap my head around and had me questioning what was real alongside Anna. There are some clever misdirections and red herrings surrounding the identity of the true killer towards the end. And more than once, I found myself very frustrated at Anna’s decisions, knowing they were only getting her into more danger. The climax is genuinely high-stakes, edge-of-your-seat stuff, and the aftermath provides some satisfying justice. The final scenes will leave you unsettled and wanting to discuss them—and the entire book—with others, making this a great option for a book club or buddy read! I’ll absolutely be going back and reading more from Sarah Pinborough’s backlist after this one!
If you enjoy serial killer thrillers and mind-bending stories that leave you thinking about them long after reading them, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There's nothing like moving to a small town and jumping headfirst into investigating an old closed case MŪrdɇr.
The M.u.r.d.e.r: Two young girls were killed exactly three years apart and the three-year anniversary is just around the corner.
The Family: After a traumatic event, Anna drops out of school and the family moves to what seems like the middle of nowhere. Family consists of a Grandma who has dementia, single hard working mom Claire, and little sister Caroline who is craving to be popular with the cool girls.
The Thing: Anna has blocked all memories of The Thing. "We don't talk about The Thing."
The Story: Grandma slips into an empty space and keeps saying "They say a girl died here. They say a girl died here". She is agitated and frightened. Things start to happen, and Anna believes the voices are trying to communicate a warning.
Caroline is worried it will happen again because the kids at school are all about the town's lore.
Anna starts investigating and is told by more than one local to butt out - the doctor, the sheriff, her new friend's dad, even her mom. The Case is Closed. Anna's mom is pushing her to go to therapy because "The Thing" is making her paranoid, but Anna can't push aside the feelings that the killer is still out there.
The Fear: Is the house haunted? Is grandma slipping away faster than they thought she would? Is the killer still out there? Are Anna or her sister at risk of being third victims on the quickly approaching anniversary date?
Favorite Character: Grandma. Grumpy is her love language.
🎧 Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld - Fantastic! One of my favs for Historical Fiction and she absolutely brought the Thrill to this Thriller. Never a lull.
EXTRA TIDBITS: Goodreads has listed Horror as a genre. Before diving in I consulted "Librarian Google" to see how graphic the horror is, because you know I don't like horror. The verdict? "Much heavier on creeping psychological dread and atmospheric tension then relentless, stomach-churning gore." I can do that!
It also indicated "Visceral Crime Scenes, Dementia Episodes, Creepy Local Lore". I can handle that too. We are good to go!
Thank you Sarah Pinborough for not going for shock value with graphic horror.
Not yet published. Expected 8-25-2026
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review.
^Image I created, Grandma's Hot Chocolate with verbiage "We don't talk about The Thing"
The M.u.r.d.e.r: Two young girls were killed exactly three years apart and the three-year anniversary is just around the corner.
The Family: After a traumatic event, Anna drops out of school and the family moves to what seems like the middle of nowhere. Family consists of a Grandma who has dementia, single hard working mom Claire, and little sister Caroline who is craving to be popular with the cool girls.
The Thing: Anna has blocked all memories of The Thing. "We don't talk about The Thing."
The Story: Grandma slips into an empty space and keeps saying "They say a girl died here. They say a girl died here". She is agitated and frightened. Things start to happen, and Anna believes the voices are trying to communicate a warning.
Caroline is worried it will happen again because the kids at school are all about the town's lore.
Anna starts investigating and is told by more than one local to butt out - the doctor, the sheriff, her new friend's dad, even her mom. The Case is Closed. Anna's mom is pushing her to go to therapy because "The Thing" is making her paranoid, but Anna can't push aside the feelings that the killer is still out there.
The Fear: Is the house haunted? Is grandma slipping away faster than they thought she would? Is the killer still out there? Are Anna or her sister at risk of being third victims on the quickly approaching anniversary date?
Favorite Character: Grandma. Grumpy is her love language.
🎧 Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld - Fantastic! One of my favs for Historical Fiction and she absolutely brought the Thrill to this Thriller. Never a lull.
EXTRA TIDBITS: Goodreads has listed Horror as a genre. Before diving in I consulted "Librarian Google" to see how graphic the horror is, because you know I don't like horror. The verdict? "Much heavier on creeping psychological dread and atmospheric tension then relentless, stomach-churning gore." I can do that!
It also indicated "Visceral Crime Scenes, Dementia Episodes, Creepy Local Lore". I can handle that too. We are good to go!
Thank you Sarah Pinborough for not going for shock value with graphic horror.
Not yet published. Expected 8-25-2026
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review.
^Image I created, Grandma's Hot Chocolate with verbiage "We don't talk about The Thing"
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