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They Say a Girl Died Here
From the New York Times bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes, a thrilling, genre-bending mystery about two murdered girls, a town with dark secrets, and a race to break a deadly cycle.
Anna Maybourne never imagined herself living in a place like Harper’s Creek, a nowhere town full of dusty farmland plagued by drought. It’s supposed to be a new start for her and her family, but after dropping out of college, Anna feels stuck in place—working a part-time job, watching her little sister grow up, and taking care of her grandmother with dementia, whose paranoid episodes have started to unnerve her. The only interesting thing about her new town, it seems, is the string of grisly murders attributed to a killer called the Farmhand—and the clue she discovers that reveals the case is yet unsolved.
Along with outspoken loner Melissa Laverne and handsome deputy Todd Greenbough, Anna fills her hours with the town’s darkest curiosity—but even though the prime suspect is long dead, the Farmhand murders begin to feel too close for comfort as the anniversary nears. Tension is building in Harper’s Creek, and everyone can feel it. The house is becoming more claustrophobic by the day, and her grandmother is growing stranger. Anna begins to wonder if her delusional moments are somehow the key to discovering the truth about the murders, and if the old house, and her new start, is haunted by its own bloody baggage.
With a devastating mystery at its core, They Say a Girl Died Here is a novel of thrilling and terrifying secrets, with a mind-bending twist that could only come from Sarah Pinborough.
A Macmillan Audio production from Pine & Cedar Books.
Anna Maybourne never imagined herself living in a place like Harper’s Creek, a nowhere town full of dusty farmland plagued by drought. It’s supposed to be a new start for her and her family, but after dropping out of college, Anna feels stuck in place—working a part-time job, watching her little sister grow up, and taking care of her grandmother with dementia, whose paranoid episodes have started to unnerve her. The only interesting thing about her new town, it seems, is the string of grisly murders attributed to a killer called the Farmhand—and the clue she discovers that reveals the case is yet unsolved.
Along with outspoken loner Melissa Laverne and handsome deputy Todd Greenbough, Anna fills her hours with the town’s darkest curiosity—but even though the prime suspect is long dead, the Farmhand murders begin to feel too close for comfort as the anniversary nears. Tension is building in Harper’s Creek, and everyone can feel it. The house is becoming more claustrophobic by the day, and her grandmother is growing stranger. Anna begins to wonder if her delusional moments are somehow the key to discovering the truth about the murders, and if the old house, and her new start, is haunted by its own bloody baggage.
With a devastating mystery at its core, They Say a Girl Died Here is a novel of thrilling and terrifying secrets, with a mind-bending twist that could only come from Sarah Pinborough.
A Macmillan Audio production from Pine & Cedar Books.
10 pages, Audiobook
First published October 31, 2016
About the author
Sarah Pinborough
81 books8,580 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 830 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
They Say a Girl Died Here by Sarah Pinborough
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Twenty two year old Anna Maybourne radiates anger more than any emotion and her rages at anyone near her (whether external or internal rages) made it hard for me to want to be around her. Alas, she's the main character of the book and I wanted to know what was going on in the story and I actually did like many of the characters. I especially liked Anna's grandmother who is sinking deeper into her dementia.
Anna has to help take care of her grandmother and younger sister as her mom works long shifts as a nurse. The city family was hard up and finally moved back to the place Anna's grandmother grew up. The house that Anna's grandmother bought for the four of them is rundown and creepy. It even has a reputation of sorts, everyone seems to know about the house and many have been in it at one point or another.
This is a farming community, everyone is struggling to get by and not all of them make it. Added to that fact is that six years ago and three years ago, the Farmhand murders occurred. Each time, young women were killed and even though the suspected killer was shot and killed trying to evade capture, not everyone believes the real murderer has been caught. As Anna's grandmother goes in and out of lucidity, there are signs she might know something about the murders, or some other murders. It's so hard to make sense of what is being said and Anna doesn't want to make things worse by pushing her grandmother too hard.
As volatile as Anna's moods seem to be, I do feel for her because there is a "thing" that happened in the not too distant past that Anna can't remember but that caused Anna tremendous shame and loss of reputation and friends. It's understandable that Anna has emotional and social problems but sometimes she may be snapping at people who do not deserve her venom. Living in a rural farming community that struggles daily to keep going made this perplexing story seem too close to home, for me, at times.
Saskia Maarleveld does a fabulous job narrating this story. There are so many things going on in it and Saskia handles all the emotions so very well and that's one of the reasons I will grab an audiobook she narrates. I also want to give this "new to me" author another look since she has a good number of books already published.
Publication August 25, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Twenty two year old Anna Maybourne radiates anger more than any emotion and her rages at anyone near her (whether external or internal rages) made it hard for me to want to be around her. Alas, she's the main character of the book and I wanted to know what was going on in the story and I actually did like many of the characters. I especially liked Anna's grandmother who is sinking deeper into her dementia.
Anna has to help take care of her grandmother and younger sister as her mom works long shifts as a nurse. The city family was hard up and finally moved back to the place Anna's grandmother grew up. The house that Anna's grandmother bought for the four of them is rundown and creepy. It even has a reputation of sorts, everyone seems to know about the house and many have been in it at one point or another.
This is a farming community, everyone is struggling to get by and not all of them make it. Added to that fact is that six years ago and three years ago, the Farmhand murders occurred. Each time, young women were killed and even though the suspected killer was shot and killed trying to evade capture, not everyone believes the real murderer has been caught. As Anna's grandmother goes in and out of lucidity, there are signs she might know something about the murders, or some other murders. It's so hard to make sense of what is being said and Anna doesn't want to make things worse by pushing her grandmother too hard.
As volatile as Anna's moods seem to be, I do feel for her because there is a "thing" that happened in the not too distant past that Anna can't remember but that caused Anna tremendous shame and loss of reputation and friends. It's understandable that Anna has emotional and social problems but sometimes she may be snapping at people who do not deserve her venom. Living in a rural farming community that struggles daily to keep going made this perplexing story seem too close to home, for me, at times.
Saskia Maarleveld does a fabulous job narrating this story. There are so many things going on in it and Saskia handles all the emotions so very well and that's one of the reasons I will grab an audiobook she narrates. I also want to give this "new to me" author another look since she has a good number of books already published.
Publication August 25, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC
May 19, 2026
They say a girl like me shouldn’t have read this...
Anna Maybourne feels trapped in Harper’s Creek. The town is known for the unsolved cases of two women who died exactly three years apart from each other. But Anna being new in town wonders if the closed case is actually unsolved and she wants to get to the bottom of it.
Ugh I am so annoyed that this wasn’t an enjoyable read for me as I really do enjoy this author, but this was sooooo damn boring.
Admittedly I was drawn in at first with the mystery and eerie behaviors of the characters and the town but as the story went on my mind started wandering off.
I became, bored, confused and was ready to DNF. But the FOMO in me (even if I am not having a good time) decided to ride it out and it all came to a drastic end in the final two chapters.
It did not give me the same ‘WOW’ factor that I had with Behind Her Eyes and it was somewhat predictable and underwhelming.
I don’t want to write this author off, but I think I need to lower my expectations going into her future reads, so I don’t get so disappointed easily.
2.5 ⭐
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Solely because of Behind Her Eyes
I must continue reading this woman's books
I hope this one is a winner!
💛🧡🧡💛
Anna Maybourne feels trapped in Harper’s Creek. The town is known for the unsolved cases of two women who died exactly three years apart from each other. But Anna being new in town wonders if the closed case is actually unsolved and she wants to get to the bottom of it.
Ugh I am so annoyed that this wasn’t an enjoyable read for me as I really do enjoy this author, but this was sooooo damn boring.
Admittedly I was drawn in at first with the mystery and eerie behaviors of the characters and the town but as the story went on my mind started wandering off.
I became, bored, confused and was ready to DNF. But the FOMO in me (even if I am not having a good time) decided to ride it out and it all came to a drastic end in the final two chapters.
It did not give me the same ‘WOW’ factor that I had with Behind Her Eyes and it was somewhat predictable and underwhelming.
I don’t want to write this author off, but I think I need to lower my expectations going into her future reads, so I don’t get so disappointed easily.
2.5 ⭐
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Solely because of Behind Her Eyes
I must continue reading this woman's books
I hope this one is a winner!
💛🧡🧡💛
September 8, 2026
Anna has moved back home after “the thing” happened to her in college. She’s taking some time off to help her mom and sister with her grandmother, who has beginning stages of Alzheimer’s. The town they move to is where her grandmother grew up, where everyone knows everyone’s business, and they are still reeling from the deaths of two young women, three years apart, that have given way to a bit of folklore. Every three years, a woman is killed, and the town is coming up on the anniversary. Anna doesn’t believe the local legend and decides to do some detective-ing of her own.
I really enjoyed the premise of this. I loved the folklore, mystery, and atmosphere surrounding the town. The mystery gave both natural and supernatural elements to investigate and ponder. Although, I wish the supernatural element had been more fully explored. It was an interesting premise and would have loved to see more of it.
Where it went downhill for me was Anna. She mentioned “the thing” it felt like every page. Between that and her man-hating remarks on EVERY man, it became so repetitious it became distracting. Being this was a slow burn of a novel, these things stood out even more.
The novel premise is good. I just found myself having a low tolerance for the repetition surrounding Anna.
I really enjoyed the premise of this. I loved the folklore, mystery, and atmosphere surrounding the town. The mystery gave both natural and supernatural elements to investigate and ponder. Although, I wish the supernatural element had been more fully explored. It was an interesting premise and would have loved to see more of it.
Where it went downhill for me was Anna. She mentioned “the thing” it felt like every page. Between that and her man-hating remarks on EVERY man, it became so repetitious it became distracting. Being this was a slow burn of a novel, these things stood out even more.
The novel premise is good. I just found myself having a low tolerance for the repetition surrounding Anna.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 18, 2026⭐️ 3.25 ⭐️ This is a mystery about two murdered girls in Harpers Creek, a town full of dark secrets. After Anna and her family move into this town, she becomes obsessed with the murders attributed to a killer called Farmhandman. As the anniversary of murders leans closer, everyone begins to feel the tension. The house that she lives in, including her dementia-stricken grandmother, starts to feel haunting. Her grandma grows more delusional and paranoid. But those delusional episodes are somehow the key to discovering the truth. What did REALLY happen to those girls?
This is a classic Pinborough structured book: you have a very creepy town/atmosphere with unsettling vibes and people (a drought stricken town/the town, the sheriff, the pastor, the neighbors all seem fishy), you have characters with a past (Anna) that is also an unreliable narrator and a psychological side (past trauma, memory repression).
What makes this book great is that as you're reading it, you kind of start losing your wits. Anna is a character who can't trust her own memories. She experienced a traumatic event which caused a lapse in her memories. Can something like this actually happen? Yes it can. Some trauma causes people to repress their memories or make them inaccessible. So everything and anything can become distorted and questionable. Along with Evelyn's progressive dementia, it was hard to differentiate fiction from the truth and I wasn't sure what is reliable vs imaginary. Was the grandmother imagining things or remembering something? Her 'visions' were creepy but also felt like the biggest clues to the overall mystery. I thought that the combo of Annas psychological trauma/lapsed memories and Evelyn's dementia was arguably the best aspect of the story.
The novel lost me with its ending where I felt everything was compressed into the last two chapters. The twist didn't work for me because it felt far-fetched. It felt too paranormal for a psychological novel. Pinborough added an element of magical realism that simply wasn't written in well, so it felt out of place, making the pay off disappointing.
I'd say this is still worth reading if you want a slow-burn mystery with good built up. But don't expect a shock ending that will give you that WTF moment like in Behind Her Eyes.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author, Sarah Pinborough for an early ARC.
Narrator: Saskia Maarlevald
Duration: 9 hours 20 minutes
Speed: 1.75x
Publication date: August 25, 2026
This is a classic Pinborough structured book: you have a very creepy town/atmosphere with unsettling vibes and people (a drought stricken town/the town, the sheriff, the pastor, the neighbors all seem fishy), you have characters with a past (Anna) that is also an unreliable narrator and a psychological side (past trauma, memory repression).
What makes this book great is that as you're reading it, you kind of start losing your wits. Anna is a character who can't trust her own memories. She experienced a traumatic event which caused a lapse in her memories. Can something like this actually happen? Yes it can. Some trauma causes people to repress their memories or make them inaccessible. So everything and anything can become distorted and questionable. Along with Evelyn's progressive dementia, it was hard to differentiate fiction from the truth and I wasn't sure what is reliable vs imaginary. Was the grandmother imagining things or remembering something? Her 'visions' were creepy but also felt like the biggest clues to the overall mystery. I thought that the combo of Annas psychological trauma/lapsed memories and Evelyn's dementia was arguably the best aspect of the story.
The novel lost me with its ending where I felt everything was compressed into the last two chapters. The twist didn't work for me because it felt far-fetched. It felt too paranormal for a psychological novel. Pinborough added an element of magical realism that simply wasn't written in well, so it felt out of place, making the pay off disappointing.
I'd say this is still worth reading if you want a slow-burn mystery with good built up. But don't expect a shock ending that will give you that WTF moment like in Behind Her Eyes.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author, Sarah Pinborough for an early ARC.
Narrator: Saskia Maarlevald
Duration: 9 hours 20 minutes
Speed: 1.75x
Publication date: August 25, 2026
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Claustrophobic, haunting, and eerie, They Say a Girl Died Here was Pinborough at her best as she took a gripping family drama and wrapped it up in a small-town murder mystery. Don’t get me wrong, the best part of this immersive tale was the interplay between the oppressive atmosphere and the strong sense of place. Evocative and vivid, it almost felt like another character as it came alive more and more with each page. You see, I not only felt as if I was in this dying farm town, but the oodles of secrets and side-eye-worthy suspects kept me fully invested as Anna went about her sleuthing campaign. Surely hiding a dark mystery at its core, I couldn’t get enough of Harper’s Creek as the tension wound tighter until it blew up sky high. Yup. You’ll be happy to hear that Pinborough delivered yet another one of her classic mind-bending twists, which made the slow-burning pace even more delicious.
I do have to say, though, that on top of the hypnotic plot and powerful setting, the characters had that extra special something. Complex, messy, and yet strong in their own ways, Anna and Grandma Evelyn were the true stars of the show. The latter, however, had to be my favorite of the two. Grumpy and sharp-tongued but also endearing, she made me question what was real as the ambiguity around her memory got more and more intense. Alongside of the deeply traumatized Anna and the rest of her family, it was quite the combo of dysfunction and love. As I mentioned, though, the twists were the *chef’s kiss* part of the puzzle. Clicking into place with a mind-blowing “WTF?!” reveal, the ending reframed it all. So if you loved the atmosphere of We Have Always Lived Here and the shock value of Behind Her Eyes, grab this book now. I can promise that it was all that and more. Rating of 5 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Genre-bending plots
- Supernatural elements
- Murder mysteries
- Suspicious characters
- A dark past
- Unreliable narrators
- Dysfunctional family dynamics
- Mind-bending twists
- Slow-burning suspense
- Short chapters
- A strong sense of place
- Small-town secrets
- Thought-provoking themes
- Purposeful ambiguity
- Amateur sleuthing
- A dash of feminine rage
SYNOPSIS:
Anna Maybourne never imagined herself living in a place like Harper’s Creek, a nowhere town full of dusty farmland plagued by drought. It’s supposed to be a new start for her and her family, but after dropping out of college, Anna feels stuck in place―working a part-time job, watching her little sister grow up, and taking care of her grandmother with dementia, whose paranoid episodes have started to unnerve her. The only interesting thing about her new town, it seems, is the string of grisly murders attributed to a killer called the Farmhandman―and the clue she discovers that reveals the case is yet unsolved.
Along with outspoken loner Melissa Laverne and handsome deputy Todd Greenbough, Anna fills her hours with the town’s darkest curiosity―but even though the prime suspect is long dead, the Farmhandman murders begin to feel too close for comfort as the anniversary nears. Tension is building in Harper’s Creek, and everyone can feel it. The house is becoming more claustrophobic by the day, and her grandmother is growing stranger. Anna begins to wonder if her delusional moments are somehow the key to discovering the truth about the murders, and if the old house, and her new start, is haunted by its own bloody baggage.
Thank you Sarah Pinborough and Flatiron Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 25, 2026
Content warning: dementia, alcoholism, violence, murder, grief, gun violence, rape, mention of: drug abuse, addiction
I do have to say, though, that on top of the hypnotic plot and powerful setting, the characters had that extra special something. Complex, messy, and yet strong in their own ways, Anna and Grandma Evelyn were the true stars of the show. The latter, however, had to be my favorite of the two. Grumpy and sharp-tongued but also endearing, she made me question what was real as the ambiguity around her memory got more and more intense. Alongside of the deeply traumatized Anna and the rest of her family, it was quite the combo of dysfunction and love. As I mentioned, though, the twists were the *chef’s kiss* part of the puzzle. Clicking into place with a mind-blowing “WTF?!” reveal, the ending reframed it all. So if you loved the atmosphere of We Have Always Lived Here and the shock value of Behind Her Eyes, grab this book now. I can promise that it was all that and more. Rating of 5 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Genre-bending plots
- Supernatural elements
- Murder mysteries
- Suspicious characters
- A dark past
- Unreliable narrators
- Dysfunctional family dynamics
- Mind-bending twists
- Slow-burning suspense
- Short chapters
- A strong sense of place
- Small-town secrets
- Thought-provoking themes
- Purposeful ambiguity
- Amateur sleuthing
- A dash of feminine rage
SYNOPSIS:
Anna Maybourne never imagined herself living in a place like Harper’s Creek, a nowhere town full of dusty farmland plagued by drought. It’s supposed to be a new start for her and her family, but after dropping out of college, Anna feels stuck in place―working a part-time job, watching her little sister grow up, and taking care of her grandmother with dementia, whose paranoid episodes have started to unnerve her. The only interesting thing about her new town, it seems, is the string of grisly murders attributed to a killer called the Farmhandman―and the clue she discovers that reveals the case is yet unsolved.
Along with outspoken loner Melissa Laverne and handsome deputy Todd Greenbough, Anna fills her hours with the town’s darkest curiosity―but even though the prime suspect is long dead, the Farmhandman murders begin to feel too close for comfort as the anniversary nears. Tension is building in Harper’s Creek, and everyone can feel it. The house is becoming more claustrophobic by the day, and her grandmother is growing stranger. Anna begins to wonder if her delusional moments are somehow the key to discovering the truth about the murders, and if the old house, and her new start, is haunted by its own bloody baggage.
Thank you Sarah Pinborough and Flatiron Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 25, 2026
Content warning: dementia, alcoholism, violence, murder, grief, gun violence, rape, mention of: drug abuse, addiction
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is equal parts chilling, mysterious, brooding, and atmospheric. Sarah Pinborough has once again crafted a haunting and riveting plot that got under my skin and had me feeling uneasy. I enjoyed the moody and brooding vibe of this book. Two young women have been murdered, and Anna Maybourne who is new in town and looking after her grandmother, believes that the killer is out there and planning to kill again. Feeling of dread, paranoia, unease and tension ebb and flow throughout this book. I also liked wondering if Anna's grandmother who had dementia was having visions, was clairvoyant, or was just experiencing symptoms of her dementia.
Anna is not willing to let things go no matter how often she is advised to stop looking and searching for the truth. The police believe they caught the Farmland killer, but Anna's grandmother seems to know things that she should not. Who is right and who is wrong? Secrets are the name of the game in They Say a Girl Died Here. I loved the mood for this book. Everything simmers just below the surface in this book. Sarah Pinborough has done a marvelous job of setting the stage and evoking feelings of unease and dread. I never knew what was going to happen next or what Anna would uncover. This book has that something-isn't-quite-right feeling that I love in books. I am not a slow burn kinda gal and 99% of the time, I struggle with slow burns but there was something about They Say a Girl Died Here, that drew me in and captured my attention. I HAD to know what happened next. The plot was sweltering and moody and I was there for all of it.
I listened to the audiobook, and it was fantastic! The narration was terrific, and the plot and characters were wonderfully brought to life!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Anna is not willing to let things go no matter how often she is advised to stop looking and searching for the truth. The police believe they caught the Farmland killer, but Anna's grandmother seems to know things that she should not. Who is right and who is wrong? Secrets are the name of the game in They Say a Girl Died Here. I loved the mood for this book. Everything simmers just below the surface in this book. Sarah Pinborough has done a marvelous job of setting the stage and evoking feelings of unease and dread. I never knew what was going to happen next or what Anna would uncover. This book has that something-isn't-quite-right feeling that I love in books. I am not a slow burn kinda gal and 99% of the time, I struggle with slow burns but there was something about They Say a Girl Died Here, that drew me in and captured my attention. I HAD to know what happened next. The plot was sweltering and moody and I was there for all of it.
I listened to the audiobook, and it was fantastic! The narration was terrific, and the plot and characters were wonderfully brought to life!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 27, 2026
“One day I will save you even if it kills me. I swear it.”
Set in the small town of Harper’s Creek, Nebraska.
Anna Maybourne, 22, recently dropped out of college (Columbia University, in NYC). She and her family move to her grandmother’s hometown.
Mother Callie, 44, is a nurse; little sister Caroline “Callie” is 12. Grandmother is Evelyn.
Anna works at the diner in town.
There have been suspicious murders of girls, both six (Lila Clarke) and three (Bonnie Buchanan) years ago. Though the perpetrator was allegedly identified, the townsfolk have doubts. Hence the source of The Farmhand urban legends… 🧑🏻🌾 ⋔
The town doctor, Johnny Burdett. Grandma Evelyn’s old sweetheart.
Todd Greenbough, the deputy sheriff. Dubious attraction. Held at arm’s length.
Melissa Laverne, the wild child who refuses to obey the rules…she’s the way Anna used to be.
Jamie Carlson, Lila’s boyfriend.
It must be said that Anna is recovering—and continuing to unpack—severe trauma. Without spoiling, the author handles Anna’s damage realistically.
Excellent atmospheric writing throughout. Stifling heat. Dry; dusty; drought.
Three-and-a-half generations of women, all under the same roof.
What a household they were, Anna thought as they drove toward town, the bright sun burning the hard skin of the dead fields around them. Three screwed-up women and a little girl bound together by blood and each no doubt wondering how in hell they’d ended up like this.
The clown mask. The heroin.
Grandma’s…lapses… seems to be the Alzheimer’s… 🤔
Suspicious overdose. Growing friendship with Melissa. Lucas, the handyman—Mom has a crush.
The notebook. The dreams. 👀
For a moment she didn’t have a clue what Grandma was talking about and then realized that had happened in a dream. How could Grandma know about her dream?
Does creepy and ominous so damn well. Easter Eggs and clues abound, too.
Bloodstains that grow—and disappear. 🩸
Anna remembering—and misremembering. Chili, lasagna, pot pie. Bathroom; pool. Brilliant, intentional foreshadowing.
“Don’t just read, Anna. Remember. It’s in you too, but you don’t remember.”
Humming “Send in the Clowns” 🎧 🤡
The Sailor’s Choice soap. The red scarf. 🧣
Gets a little trippy 😵💫
Excellent villain selection.
A grandmother’s love…
The Huckleberry Finn book 📕
And of course there’s a mischievous wink at the end! 😉
Stellar, from start to finish.
“I need to help.”
“You helped, Grandma. Boy, did you help. We’d be dead without you.”
Set in the small town of Harper’s Creek, Nebraska.
Anna Maybourne, 22, recently dropped out of college (Columbia University, in NYC). She and her family move to her grandmother’s hometown.
Mother Callie, 44, is a nurse; little sister Caroline “Callie” is 12. Grandmother is Evelyn.
Anna works at the diner in town.
There have been suspicious murders of girls, both six (Lila Clarke) and three (Bonnie Buchanan) years ago. Though the perpetrator was allegedly identified, the townsfolk have doubts. Hence the source of The Farmhand urban legends… 🧑🏻🌾 ⋔
The town doctor, Johnny Burdett. Grandma Evelyn’s old sweetheart.
Todd Greenbough, the deputy sheriff. Dubious attraction. Held at arm’s length.
Melissa Laverne, the wild child who refuses to obey the rules…she’s the way Anna used to be.
Jamie Carlson, Lila’s boyfriend.
It must be said that Anna is recovering—and continuing to unpack—severe trauma. Without spoiling, the author handles Anna’s damage realistically.
Excellent atmospheric writing throughout. Stifling heat. Dry; dusty; drought.
Three-and-a-half generations of women, all under the same roof.
What a household they were, Anna thought as they drove toward town, the bright sun burning the hard skin of the dead fields around them. Three screwed-up women and a little girl bound together by blood and each no doubt wondering how in hell they’d ended up like this.
The clown mask. The heroin.
Grandma’s…lapses… seems to be the Alzheimer’s… 🤔
Suspicious overdose. Growing friendship with Melissa. Lucas, the handyman—Mom has a crush.
The notebook. The dreams. 👀
For a moment she didn’t have a clue what Grandma was talking about and then realized that had happened in a dream. How could Grandma know about her dream?
Does creepy and ominous so damn well. Easter Eggs and clues abound, too.
Bloodstains that grow—and disappear. 🩸
Anna remembering—and misremembering. Chili, lasagna, pot pie. Bathroom; pool. Brilliant, intentional foreshadowing.
“Don’t just read, Anna. Remember. It’s in you too, but you don’t remember.”
Humming “Send in the Clowns” 🎧 🤡
The Sailor’s Choice soap. The red scarf. 🧣
Gets a little trippy 😵💫
Excellent villain selection.
A grandmother’s love…
The Huckleberry Finn book 📕
And of course there’s a mischievous wink at the end! 😉
Stellar, from start to finish.
“I need to help.”
“You helped, Grandma. Boy, did you help. We’d be dead without you.”
October 11, 2016
Sarah Pinborough has a gift of telling amazing stories of teenaged girls with empathy, passion and honesty. With the book "They Say a Girl Died Here Once" is the third book of Ms. Pinborough's that I have read over the past year, following "Thirteen Minutes" and "The Death House" both of which were excellent.
In "They Say a Girl Died Here Once" we have a story dominated by the X chromosome. The main characters are Anna, her younger sister, Anna's mother and Anna's Grandmother, they all live in the same house in a small town. These female's all have flaws and they are trying to cope with these flaws.
The small town has had two recent mysterious murders of highschool girls. And due to circumstances Anna has the need to try and understand what has happened while her mother has begun dating the new handyman.
Ms. Pinborough has given the world another gift through her talent. If possible pick up one of these wonderful Earthling hardcovers, there are only five hundred, of this number twelve in their halloween series and keep your eyes peeled for her next offering, you will not be disappointed.
This is copy 144 of an edition of 500 signed and numbered hardcover copies signed by Sarah Pinborough.
In "They Say a Girl Died Here Once" we have a story dominated by the X chromosome. The main characters are Anna, her younger sister, Anna's mother and Anna's Grandmother, they all live in the same house in a small town. These female's all have flaws and they are trying to cope with these flaws.
The small town has had two recent mysterious murders of highschool girls. And due to circumstances Anna has the need to try and understand what has happened while her mother has begun dating the new handyman.
Ms. Pinborough has given the world another gift through her talent. If possible pick up one of these wonderful Earthling hardcovers, there are only five hundred, of this number twelve in their halloween series and keep your eyes peeled for her next offering, you will not be disappointed.
This is copy 144 of an edition of 500 signed and numbered hardcover copies signed by Sarah Pinborough.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Harpers Creek is a dying town, heat, parched fields, poverty and prayer. Two dead girls, one every three years, now it’s another year three – who’s next? The cops say they got their man, many don’t believe it. Is The Farmhand still out there, watching unobserved, waiting for his next victim? Anna Maybourne.’s grandmother keeps repeating ‘ They say a girl died here’. Is she confused because of her Alzheimer’s or is it a real memory or something else entirely? Anna is determined to find out.
First of all, the quality of Sarah Pinborough’s prose is excellent and she effortlessly pulls me into the storytelling. The atmosphere the author creates is outstanding as it positively drips with it. Right from the start it feels suffocating and stultifying.. The oppressive heat adds to this and so the tone is constantly uneasy and claustrophobic, growing increasingly creepy and threatening, making my nerves jangle, just like Anna‘s. The tension builds like an approaching storm, getting darker and darker and more and more odd and at times, downright weird.
The plot is very mysterious, it’s extremely puzzling, it has a haunting quality to it and it’s very enigmatic. It’s very hard to grasp the truth. That’s partly due to Anna’s mental state due to trauma, but is she onto something elusive, secretive, suppressed by someone or is she being gaslit? In addition, there are ghostly Gothic overtones which also play onto the what’s real and what’s not vibe. The family dynamics are yet another puzzle. There’s a lot of bitterness as well as anxiety. This is partly due to grandma‘s declining health but also Anna‘s situation. As layer builds upon layer it becomes very hard to know what’s true and what’s a dream, nightmare or hallucination. However, there is a heartwarming growing bond between Anna and her grandmother due to the circumstances at play.
Whilst I’m not 100% convinced by the ending, it’s very dramatic but as everything is explained, I’ll go with the flow.
Overall, this is a really good atmospheric slowburn and if you liked ‘Behind her Eyes’ then you’ll probably like this one too.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review
First of all, the quality of Sarah Pinborough’s prose is excellent and she effortlessly pulls me into the storytelling. The atmosphere the author creates is outstanding as it positively drips with it. Right from the start it feels suffocating and stultifying.. The oppressive heat adds to this and so the tone is constantly uneasy and claustrophobic, growing increasingly creepy and threatening, making my nerves jangle, just like Anna‘s. The tension builds like an approaching storm, getting darker and darker and more and more odd and at times, downright weird.
The plot is very mysterious, it’s extremely puzzling, it has a haunting quality to it and it’s very enigmatic. It’s very hard to grasp the truth. That’s partly due to Anna’s mental state due to trauma, but is she onto something elusive, secretive, suppressed by someone or is she being gaslit? In addition, there are ghostly Gothic overtones which also play onto the what’s real and what’s not vibe. The family dynamics are yet another puzzle. There’s a lot of bitterness as well as anxiety. This is partly due to grandma‘s declining health but also Anna‘s situation. As layer builds upon layer it becomes very hard to know what’s true and what’s a dream, nightmare or hallucination. However, there is a heartwarming growing bond between Anna and her grandmother due to the circumstances at play.
Whilst I’m not 100% convinced by the ending, it’s very dramatic but as everything is explained, I’ll go with the flow.
Overall, this is a really good atmospheric slowburn and if you liked ‘Behind her Eyes’ then you’ll probably like this one too.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you so much to Sarah Pinborough and Macmillan Audio for my copy of this amazing book! It was about Anna, a girl who feels trapped in the midwest. The town is known for the murders of two women who died exactly three years apart. The killer, known as the Farmhand, was killed, but Anna believes that the cases are still unsolved. As the three year anniversary approaches, Anna's grandmother starts having episodes, claiming she knows about the girls who died. Strange things start happening in their house, and Anna realizes she's much closer to the mystery than she ever thought.
Thoughts: I loved this story! It was so much fun to read about Anna, an unreliable narrator who is full of trauma and depth. The plot really caught my attention and I couldn't put it down. I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't. It was definitely a slow burn, but it unfolded piece by piece and I couldn't wait to see where it was going. 4 stars for this eerie thriller.
Thoughts: I loved this story! It was so much fun to read about Anna, an unreliable narrator who is full of trauma and depth. The plot really caught my attention and I couldn't put it down. I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't. It was definitely a slow burn, but it unfolded piece by piece and I couldn't wait to see where it was going. 4 stars for this eerie thriller.
September 4, 2026
Anna is a big city girl, dropped into smalltown Nebraska to live with her mother, 12-year-old sister, and demented grandmother. She recently dropped out of Columbia University after this terrible thing happens (referenced many, many times). In the town she lives, two girls were murdered, 6 years ago and 3 years ago, nearly to the day. Another 3 years is approaching, and Anna becomes invested in finding out the truth because there are some folks in town who are convinced it will happen again. Also, there may or may not be some strange things happening in the house where they live.
I was so excited to get this early release. Behind Her Eyes to this day remains my favorite thriller of all time, and I also really enjoyed Insomnia. Unfortunately, this story fell flat for me. I wasn't invested in any of the characters or the mystery surrounding the storyline. There were some fairly obvious suspects early on that ultimately panned out as being...well, fairly obvious. I feel this was trying to be both a psychological thriller and a paranormal thriller, but I don't think either approach really hit the mark.
As far as the plot goes, this terrible thing that is referenced throughout the story and motivates nearly all of Anna's decisions and is the basis for her personality is barely grazed upon when all is said and done. There are characters that have more than bit parts (one fairly significant one) that are introduced and then never heard from again. Overall, it was a disappointing read. I do feel this author excels in atmosphere, and that was done well here again. Grandma was also very creepy at times with the things she said and her behaviors which was fun, but those things couldn't save the story for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
I was so excited to get this early release. Behind Her Eyes to this day remains my favorite thriller of all time, and I also really enjoyed Insomnia. Unfortunately, this story fell flat for me. I wasn't invested in any of the characters or the mystery surrounding the storyline. There were some fairly obvious suspects early on that ultimately panned out as being...well, fairly obvious. I feel this was trying to be both a psychological thriller and a paranormal thriller, but I don't think either approach really hit the mark.
As far as the plot goes, this terrible thing that is referenced throughout the story and motivates nearly all of Anna's decisions and is the basis for her personality is barely grazed upon when all is said and done. There are characters that have more than bit parts (one fairly significant one) that are introduced and then never heard from again. Overall, it was a disappointing read. I do feel this author excels in atmosphere, and that was done well here again. Grandma was also very creepy at times with the things she said and her behaviors which was fun, but those things couldn't save the story for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
September 15, 2026
3 stars
“Small town life gets under your skin”
A family of three generations of women move back to the small town that holds their past. Their family dynamic is strained, messy and complicated but they depend on each other. The anniversary of the infamous local murders is approaching and everyone in the small town is on edge.
The novel follows the eldest granddaughter in the family who is trying to find her way after “the incident” that caused them to leave their previous town. I really liked and felt invested in her. She carried a heavy burden on her shoulders with a past that never left her alone, shame sitting in the shadows of every room she entered. She carried a large load of responsibility for her family, caring for her younger sister and aging grandmother while her mother worked long hours. She was looking to find her way in life but also looking to prove her worth to her family.
As with all of the books I’ve read by this author, the atmosphere was palpable — eerie, haunting and mysterious. From the local diner, to the old abandoned motel, to the creaky, crumbling family home, the author included several thriller elements that enhanced the overall sinister and foreboding feel. There is a constant sense of tension and dread that weaves its way into every scene of this story. The small town setting was incredibly plotted and played a big part in the overall storyline.
I found the first half of the book much stronger than the second half. The author built up an intriguing storyline that held a lot of potential but it failed to fully come together for me.
While there was a lot I enjoyed with this book, there were several elements that didn’t work for me. Teenage sleuths are most often a turn off for me, as was the case here. There were a few secondary characters that bothered me and took away from my investment. My biggest issue was the eye rolling ending. The storyline became convoluted and highly implausible which greatly took away from my connection. Also, I had the culprit figured out from early on which was a disappointment.
Overall this was a miss for me, but it did have several elements I loved. I do want to read more by this author.
Audio rating: 3.5 stars. The audio was averagely enjoyable, but nothing outstanding. I can’t say the audio narrator enhanced or took away from my enjoyment level. Try it out for yourself and see what you think!
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
“Small town life gets under your skin”
A family of three generations of women move back to the small town that holds their past. Their family dynamic is strained, messy and complicated but they depend on each other. The anniversary of the infamous local murders is approaching and everyone in the small town is on edge.
The novel follows the eldest granddaughter in the family who is trying to find her way after “the incident” that caused them to leave their previous town. I really liked and felt invested in her. She carried a heavy burden on her shoulders with a past that never left her alone, shame sitting in the shadows of every room she entered. She carried a large load of responsibility for her family, caring for her younger sister and aging grandmother while her mother worked long hours. She was looking to find her way in life but also looking to prove her worth to her family.
As with all of the books I’ve read by this author, the atmosphere was palpable — eerie, haunting and mysterious. From the local diner, to the old abandoned motel, to the creaky, crumbling family home, the author included several thriller elements that enhanced the overall sinister and foreboding feel. There is a constant sense of tension and dread that weaves its way into every scene of this story. The small town setting was incredibly plotted and played a big part in the overall storyline.
I found the first half of the book much stronger than the second half. The author built up an intriguing storyline that held a lot of potential but it failed to fully come together for me.
While there was a lot I enjoyed with this book, there were several elements that didn’t work for me. Teenage sleuths are most often a turn off for me, as was the case here. There were a few secondary characters that bothered me and took away from my investment. My biggest issue was the eye rolling ending. The storyline became convoluted and highly implausible which greatly took away from my connection. Also, I had the culprit figured out from early on which was a disappointment.
Overall this was a miss for me, but it did have several elements I loved. I do want to read more by this author.
Audio rating: 3.5 stars. The audio was averagely enjoyable, but nothing outstanding. I can’t say the audio narrator enhanced or took away from my enjoyment level. Try it out for yourself and see what you think!
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
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.
April 22, 2026
I am so bummed to have not enjoyed this book. After struggling to pick it up for the past few weeks, I finally finished it. My main takeaway is that I really struggled to feel engaged on any level with this story. Normally a fan of Sarah Pinsborough’s atmospheric writing, I never felt that wonderful eerie vibe she normally elicits. The pacing felt very, very slow and stagnant, and the characters felt flat and two-dimensional.
🎧 I chose to do an immersive read, and I’m not sure if the audiobook hurt or helped; or if it really just stayed consistent with the more meh storytelling. Ultimately, this should have been a DNF for me.
Will any of this stop me from running to read her next book when it’s released? No chance. But I do remain saddened that I don’t have glowing words for this book.
Thank you to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies.
🎧 I chose to do an immersive read, and I’m not sure if the audiobook hurt or helped; or if it really just stayed consistent with the more meh storytelling. Ultimately, this should have been a DNF for me.
Will any of this stop me from running to read her next book when it’s released? No chance. But I do remain saddened that I don’t have glowing words for this book.
Thank you to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies.
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.
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
September 20, 2026
**3.5-stars**
They Say a Girl Died Here is set in Harper's Creek, a small farming community known for the murders of two young women, killed exactly three years apart. The presumed murderer was killed by the police as they tried to apprehend him. In local lore, he's now known simply as the Farmhand.
Anna is new to town, moving there with her Mom and younger sister. They're caring for her ailing Grandma, but even though Anna's new, she's heard all about the murders and the Farmhand.
As the three-year anniversary of the last murder approaches, Anna's little sister is scared that the Farmhand could return, and because of a game she played with her new friends, she's afraid she could be his next victim.
Anna, lacking in patience for anyone around her, insists to her sister that that's ridiculous and she has nothing to worry about. Meanwhile, though, Anna does wonder if the police actually got their man.
Anna's Grandma, who is starting to lose herself to dementia, has mentioned dead girls on a couple of different occasions in reference to their own home. These comments, though potentially meaningless, do help to further fuel Anna's interest in the murders.
We follow Anna as she starts digging for the truth, both in the surrounding town and within their house. Anna's not exactly a likable, or truly reliable narrator, so I wasn't sure what the ultimate conclusion was going to be, but I did enjoy going along for the ride.
There are some great aspects to this book. I enjoyed the overriding mystery and the small town setting quite a bit.
Sadly, there were also things I didn't like as much however, including Anna's attitude. I did think she showed growth over the course of the story, but the 1st-half with her was pretty brutal. I don't need to like characters, but I just found her personality so grating. It was almost unpleasant.
She was super negative and bit disrespectful to everyone around her, including her family, which tends to rub me the wrong way.
As mentioned above, I did like the overall vibes and mystery. The Farmhand had become an urban legend around Harper's Creek, with the local kids using the story to scare one another. I thought that was fun and realistic to how a small town would be in the aftermath of something like that.
Pinborough never fails to capture my attention, so I did enjoy my time with the story for the most part. I just feel like in comparison to her other works, this won't stand out as a favorite for me. It's fairly forgettable.
Nevertheless, it's still a very solid story, especially in comparison with a lot of others on the market. I'm a huge Pinborough fan and love to pick up new stories from her and will continue to do so in the future.
Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. The audiobook is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, one of my faves, and she did a great job bringing the story to life.
I certainly felt like Maarleveld's narration was a good fit for Anna's character, and I would definitely recommend the audio format if you're going to be picking this one up. It made the story even more engaging.
They Say a Girl Died Here is set in Harper's Creek, a small farming community known for the murders of two young women, killed exactly three years apart. The presumed murderer was killed by the police as they tried to apprehend him. In local lore, he's now known simply as the Farmhand.
Anna is new to town, moving there with her Mom and younger sister. They're caring for her ailing Grandma, but even though Anna's new, she's heard all about the murders and the Farmhand.
As the three-year anniversary of the last murder approaches, Anna's little sister is scared that the Farmhand could return, and because of a game she played with her new friends, she's afraid she could be his next victim.
Anna, lacking in patience for anyone around her, insists to her sister that that's ridiculous and she has nothing to worry about. Meanwhile, though, Anna does wonder if the police actually got their man.
Anna's Grandma, who is starting to lose herself to dementia, has mentioned dead girls on a couple of different occasions in reference to their own home. These comments, though potentially meaningless, do help to further fuel Anna's interest in the murders.
We follow Anna as she starts digging for the truth, both in the surrounding town and within their house. Anna's not exactly a likable, or truly reliable narrator, so I wasn't sure what the ultimate conclusion was going to be, but I did enjoy going along for the ride.
There are some great aspects to this book. I enjoyed the overriding mystery and the small town setting quite a bit.
Sadly, there were also things I didn't like as much however, including Anna's attitude. I did think she showed growth over the course of the story, but the 1st-half with her was pretty brutal. I don't need to like characters, but I just found her personality so grating. It was almost unpleasant.
She was super negative and bit disrespectful to everyone around her, including her family, which tends to rub me the wrong way.
As mentioned above, I did like the overall vibes and mystery. The Farmhand had become an urban legend around Harper's Creek, with the local kids using the story to scare one another. I thought that was fun and realistic to how a small town would be in the aftermath of something like that.
Pinborough never fails to capture my attention, so I did enjoy my time with the story for the most part. I just feel like in comparison to her other works, this won't stand out as a favorite for me. It's fairly forgettable.
Nevertheless, it's still a very solid story, especially in comparison with a lot of others on the market. I'm a huge Pinborough fan and love to pick up new stories from her and will continue to do so in the future.
Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. The audiobook is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, one of my faves, and she did a great job bringing the story to life.
I certainly felt like Maarleveld's narration was a good fit for Anna's character, and I would definitely recommend the audio format if you're going to be picking this one up. It made the story even more engaging.
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 21, 2016
4.5 stars.
THEY SAY A GIRL DIED HERE ONCE, by Sarah Pinborough, is book #12 in Earthling Publication's Halloween Series, for 2016. I've been a fan of Pinborough's style for quite some time now. She brings her characters to life with their emotions, even more so than their actions. Another strength of hers is setting up a realistic atmosphere that ensnares the reader into it--much like a spider's web--keeping them mentally "trapped" in her novel, unable to focus on anything external while reading it.
This particular novel struck me very strongly as "psychological horror", because the emotions and internal conflict are so prominent throughout. However, there are still plenty of physical horror elements, entwined with several mysteries, that all combine in this evocative tale.
We begin with Anna's Grandmother, Evelyn, buying a house near her old hometown, in order that they might all escape from a traumatic "incident" that happened to Anna--effectively marking her as a pariah in the former town, and giving them all (Anna, her younger sister, Caroline, mother Claire, and Evelyn--who is now showing the effects of the onset of Alzheimer's) a change and a chance to have a fresh start. Unfortunately, the atmosphere of this town showcases more of a decay than a new life: ". . . It was a town being swallowed up by dust. Struggling to stay alive but dying all the same . . ." Despite the surly attitude that Anna is determined to portray outwardly, she is racked with guilt inside--knowing that this move was all on account of her, and that awful, fateful night in her past.
". . . Anna had trapped them all in that night even if they never talked about it . . . "
At the heart of this novel is the relationship between Anna and Grandma Evelyn--who she feels "blames" her for the episode in her past. As the two grow increasingly closer due to their own missing "memories", Anna begins to wonder, " . . . when Grandma got lost, how far did she go? . . . What if, when her mind was lost, she reached a place the dead could talk to her? . . . "
Amidst all of the internal drama, we then have the small town itself--with all of its small town secrets.
"They say a girl died here once . . . "
In the hands of Pinborough, we have a novel full of emotion, death, mystery, suspense, and of course, the human drama--exemplified by the cruelty of others; rumors, jealousy, resentment, and unfounded allegations. As Anna, who just wanted to "disappear" in the eyes of others soon discovers: ". . . there was no good way to try and be invisible to people who insist on seeing you."
This is a spellbinding tale that kept me thinking about those all-too-real characters, and the things that might harbor in the empty spaces our mind sometimes creates; whether from a disease, or some other trauma.
Highly recommended!
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
THEY SAY A GIRL DIED HERE ONCE, by Sarah Pinborough, is book #12 in Earthling Publication's Halloween Series, for 2016. I've been a fan of Pinborough's style for quite some time now. She brings her characters to life with their emotions, even more so than their actions. Another strength of hers is setting up a realistic atmosphere that ensnares the reader into it--much like a spider's web--keeping them mentally "trapped" in her novel, unable to focus on anything external while reading it.
This particular novel struck me very strongly as "psychological horror", because the emotions and internal conflict are so prominent throughout. However, there are still plenty of physical horror elements, entwined with several mysteries, that all combine in this evocative tale.
We begin with Anna's Grandmother, Evelyn, buying a house near her old hometown, in order that they might all escape from a traumatic "incident" that happened to Anna--effectively marking her as a pariah in the former town, and giving them all (Anna, her younger sister, Caroline, mother Claire, and Evelyn--who is now showing the effects of the onset of Alzheimer's) a change and a chance to have a fresh start. Unfortunately, the atmosphere of this town showcases more of a decay than a new life: ". . . It was a town being swallowed up by dust. Struggling to stay alive but dying all the same . . ." Despite the surly attitude that Anna is determined to portray outwardly, she is racked with guilt inside--knowing that this move was all on account of her, and that awful, fateful night in her past.
". . . Anna had trapped them all in that night even if they never talked about it . . . "
At the heart of this novel is the relationship between Anna and Grandma Evelyn--who she feels "blames" her for the episode in her past. As the two grow increasingly closer due to their own missing "memories", Anna begins to wonder, " . . . when Grandma got lost, how far did she go? . . . What if, when her mind was lost, she reached a place the dead could talk to her? . . . "
Amidst all of the internal drama, we then have the small town itself--with all of its small town secrets.
"They say a girl died here once . . . "
In the hands of Pinborough, we have a novel full of emotion, death, mystery, suspense, and of course, the human drama--exemplified by the cruelty of others; rumors, jealousy, resentment, and unfounded allegations. As Anna, who just wanted to "disappear" in the eyes of others soon discovers: ". . . there was no good way to try and be invisible to people who insist on seeing you."
This is a spellbinding tale that kept me thinking about those all-too-real characters, and the things that might harbor in the empty spaces our mind sometimes creates; whether from a disease, or some other trauma.
Highly recommended!
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
September 2, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
A slow-burn, atmospheric small-town mystery with plenty of creepiness and an unsettling sense of dread. I loved the creepy farmland mythology, the oppressive setting, and the exploration of grief, guilt, and trauma. The family dynamics—especially Ana and her grandmother’s relationship—were a standout for me.
One element of the story didn’t quite land and left me with more questions than answers, but overall I enjoyed this eerie and suspenseful read!
A slow-burn, atmospheric small-town mystery with plenty of creepiness and an unsettling sense of dread. I loved the creepy farmland mythology, the oppressive setting, and the exploration of grief, guilt, and trauma. The family dynamics—especially Ana and her grandmother’s relationship—were a standout for me.
One element of the story didn’t quite land and left me with more questions than answers, but overall I enjoyed this eerie and suspenseful 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.
September 26, 2026
3.5 stars "Two murdered girls. A town with dark secrets. A race to break a deadly cycle.
Anna Maybourne never imagined herself living in a place like Harper’s Creek, a nowhere town full of dusty farmland plagued by drought. It’s supposed to be a new start for her and her family, but after dropping out of college, Anna feels stuck in place―working a part-time job, watching her little sister grow up, and taking care of her grandmother with dementia, whose paranoid episodes have started to unnerve her. The only interesting thing about her new town, it seems, is the string of grisly murders attributed to a killer called the Farmhandman―and the clue she discovers that reveals the case is yet unsolved."
As her grandmother's dementia worsens, Anna thinks she is the key to solving what really happened. She begins to narrow down the suspects and the stakes climb higher.
The audiobook performance by Saskia Maarleveld is perfection as usual. She creates tension when it is present in the writing.
I loved the premise of this book but it took a while to become invested in the characters and the story. Once it did it was highly propulsive with an unexpected twist but, for me, it needed to start earlier.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Pine and Cedar, Macmillan Audio and Sarah Pinborough for the gifted advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.🎧
Anna Maybourne never imagined herself living in a place like Harper’s Creek, a nowhere town full of dusty farmland plagued by drought. It’s supposed to be a new start for her and her family, but after dropping out of college, Anna feels stuck in place―working a part-time job, watching her little sister grow up, and taking care of her grandmother with dementia, whose paranoid episodes have started to unnerve her. The only interesting thing about her new town, it seems, is the string of grisly murders attributed to a killer called the Farmhandman―and the clue she discovers that reveals the case is yet unsolved."
As her grandmother's dementia worsens, Anna thinks she is the key to solving what really happened. She begins to narrow down the suspects and the stakes climb higher.
The audiobook performance by Saskia Maarleveld is perfection as usual. She creates tension when it is present in the writing.
I loved the premise of this book but it took a while to become invested in the characters and the story. Once it did it was highly propulsive with an unexpected twist but, for me, it needed to start earlier.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Pine and Cedar, Macmillan Audio and Sarah Pinborough for the gifted advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.🎧
August 11, 2016
I promise not to give anything away in this review. They Say a Girl Died Here Once is so special, I'd hate for any reader not to have the same thrill of discovery I enjoyed reading this volume.
Seventeen-year-old Anna works as a waitress and lives at home with her mother, Clair, and her sister, Caroline, who is ten. Anna's grandmother, Evelyn also lives in the house.
About her situation...
It was a dead end job in a dead end town and they were all dead end people.
Also...
Four stages of womanhood stuck together by life, but with nothing in common.
This is one of those stories which reveals its secrets slowly. There's the secret about Anna's past, the one about the dead girls, Lila and Marcie, and Anna new friend, Melissa, certainly has her secrets.
The rest you'll need to discover for yourself. I will say, I found They Say a Girl Died Here Once to be quietly disturbing, yet beautifully written, spellbinding, powerful stuff It's not a "fun" read, but it is a powerful story which builds to a pulse-pounding climax.
In my modest opinion They Say a Girl Died Here Once is as close to a perfect horror story as you'll find. One of my favorite reads...ever.
Published by Earthling Publications, They Say a Girl Died Here Once is this year's book in their highly regarded Halloween series. Limited to 500 signed hardcovers and 15 lettered editions. I would like to thank Paul Miller and Earthling Publications for the chance to read an electronic ARC of this book. I like it so much I immediately ordered my own copy. I have to have this in my permanent collection. You can order your copy direct from the publisher here.
Sarah Pinborough's bio - Sarah is a critically acclaimed adult and YA author based in London. She was the 2009 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Story and the 2010 and 2014 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Novella, and has been short listed for Best Novel four times. Sarah is also a screenwriter who has written for the BBC and has several original television projects in the works.
Seventeen-year-old Anna works as a waitress and lives at home with her mother, Clair, and her sister, Caroline, who is ten. Anna's grandmother, Evelyn also lives in the house.
About her situation...
It was a dead end job in a dead end town and they were all dead end people.
Also...
Four stages of womanhood stuck together by life, but with nothing in common.
This is one of those stories which reveals its secrets slowly. There's the secret about Anna's past, the one about the dead girls, Lila and Marcie, and Anna new friend, Melissa, certainly has her secrets.
The rest you'll need to discover for yourself. I will say, I found They Say a Girl Died Here Once to be quietly disturbing, yet beautifully written, spellbinding, powerful stuff It's not a "fun" read, but it is a powerful story which builds to a pulse-pounding climax.
In my modest opinion They Say a Girl Died Here Once is as close to a perfect horror story as you'll find. One of my favorite reads...ever.
Published by Earthling Publications, They Say a Girl Died Here Once is this year's book in their highly regarded Halloween series. Limited to 500 signed hardcovers and 15 lettered editions. I would like to thank Paul Miller and Earthling Publications for the chance to read an electronic ARC of this book. I like it so much I immediately ordered my own copy. I have to have this in my permanent collection. You can order your copy direct from the publisher here.
Sarah Pinborough's bio - Sarah is a critically acclaimed adult and YA author based in London. She was the 2009 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Story and the 2010 and 2014 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Novella, and has been short listed for Best Novel four times. Sarah is also a screenwriter who has written for the BBC and has several original television projects in the works.
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.
September 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was exactly the kind of slow-burn, meticulously plotted mystery/thriller that I love. Add in some supernatural elements, an incredibly atmospheric setting, and a narrator you’re never quite sure you can trust, and I was completely hooked.
Anna and her family move to the small town of Harper’s Creek, where they’re trying to put the pieces of their lives back together after trauma. The town has a dark history involving the murders of two young women, killed three years apart, and with the anniversary of the most recent murder approaching, the possibility that the killer may not have been caught begins to loom over everyone. As Anna becomes increasingly interested in the old murders, strange things begin happening around her family—particularly involving her grandmother, whose dementia makes it difficult to determine what is real, what is memory, and what might be something much more sinister.
I could not put this book down! It’s definitely a slow burn, but Pinborough takes her time carefully layering the mystery, the characters, the family dynamics, and the supernatural elements until you’re completely immersed. I honestly wasn’t sure who was telling the truth, who had done what, what was real, or what the absolute tarnation was going on for much of the book. 😂 And I loved that!
The characters were another huge highlight for me. They’re incredibly flawed, messy, traumatized, and very human, but they were also so nicely fleshed out that I genuinely cared about them. I found myself rooting for this family of women as they tried to heal and start over in a new town while carrying so much baggage from their past.
I did NOT see that ending it coming, and I absolutely loved how everything finally came together. The reveal felt like the perfect payoff to all of the careful plotting and uncertainty that came before it.
Sarah Pinborough really is one of the best authors when it comes to incorporating supernatural elements into a thriller without making the story feel completely over-the-top. She has a way of making the supernatural feel just believable enough that you start questioning whether there might actually be something going on beyond what can be explained.
This is a novel I highly recommend for those looking for something atmospheric, creepy, twisty, emotional, and wonderfully unsettling. This was an excellent mystery/thriller that was an easy five stars for me, and one that I highly recommend!!
This was exactly the kind of slow-burn, meticulously plotted mystery/thriller that I love. Add in some supernatural elements, an incredibly atmospheric setting, and a narrator you’re never quite sure you can trust, and I was completely hooked.
Anna and her family move to the small town of Harper’s Creek, where they’re trying to put the pieces of their lives back together after trauma. The town has a dark history involving the murders of two young women, killed three years apart, and with the anniversary of the most recent murder approaching, the possibility that the killer may not have been caught begins to loom over everyone. As Anna becomes increasingly interested in the old murders, strange things begin happening around her family—particularly involving her grandmother, whose dementia makes it difficult to determine what is real, what is memory, and what might be something much more sinister.
I could not put this book down! It’s definitely a slow burn, but Pinborough takes her time carefully layering the mystery, the characters, the family dynamics, and the supernatural elements until you’re completely immersed. I honestly wasn’t sure who was telling the truth, who had done what, what was real, or what the absolute tarnation was going on for much of the book. 😂 And I loved that!
The characters were another huge highlight for me. They’re incredibly flawed, messy, traumatized, and very human, but they were also so nicely fleshed out that I genuinely cared about them. I found myself rooting for this family of women as they tried to heal and start over in a new town while carrying so much baggage from their past.
I did NOT see that ending it coming, and I absolutely loved how everything finally came together. The reveal felt like the perfect payoff to all of the careful plotting and uncertainty that came before it.
Sarah Pinborough really is one of the best authors when it comes to incorporating supernatural elements into a thriller without making the story feel completely over-the-top. She has a way of making the supernatural feel just believable enough that you start questioning whether there might actually be something going on beyond what can be explained.
This is a novel I highly recommend for those looking for something atmospheric, creepy, twisty, emotional, and wonderfully unsettling. This was an excellent mystery/thriller that was an easy five stars for me, and one that I highly recommend!!
September 2, 2026
"They Say a Girl Died Here" has all the hallmarks of a Pinborough novel: a tense, unsettling atmosphere, a wide cast of characters you only tentatively trust, and narrators that you have a sneaking suspicion may just be unreliable. Protagonist Anna moves to a small town to care for her grandmother, whose dementia is worsening. Anna soon finds herself drawn into a string of cold case murders. As the case pulls her in deeper, her grandmother's paranoid episodes start to feel like they might hold clues to what happened decades before. As the reader, you're left wondering: is Anna's unnamed past trauma muddling her perception of things, or is her grandmother's dementia the real source of confusion? Either way, Pinborough is a master at making you question everything that's happening.
I didn't love this one quite the way I loved "Behind Her Eyes," but the same style is unmistakably there. As a slow-burn novel, it asked for more patience than I had to give it at the time — so take my rating with a grain of salt. 3.5 stars that round down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advance copy for honest review.
I didn't love this one quite the way I loved "Behind Her Eyes," but the same style is unmistakably there. As a slow-burn novel, it asked for more patience than I had to give it at the time — so take my rating with a grain of salt. 3.5 stars that round down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advance copy for honest review.
September 4, 2026
I am gutted. And I mean GUTTED that I didn’t love this one.
I read We Live Here Now by the same author last year and gave it 5 stars, so I went into this fully expecting another gothic thriller that I would devour. Instead, I got a book that somehow took me several days to finish because I was just so bored. Not exactly the reading experience I had envisioned.
There was also a bizarre little twist thrown in at one point that had me wondering, “Wait…why are we doing this?” It felt so random and out of place that I’m still not entirely sure what it was supposed to add to the story.
And then we got to the ending.
The ending was dumb. I’m sorry. There is no elegant way for me to say it. 😂 After spending that much time trying to get through the book, I needed the payoff to be worth it, and it absolutely was not.
The good news is that this author is still firmly on my auto-read list because I know how much I’ve loved her work before. This one just really missed the mark for me, and considering how excited I was for it, that made the disappointment hurt even more.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
I read We Live Here Now by the same author last year and gave it 5 stars, so I went into this fully expecting another gothic thriller that I would devour. Instead, I got a book that somehow took me several days to finish because I was just so bored. Not exactly the reading experience I had envisioned.
There was also a bizarre little twist thrown in at one point that had me wondering, “Wait…why are we doing this?” It felt so random and out of place that I’m still not entirely sure what it was supposed to add to the story.
And then we got to the ending.
The ending was dumb. I’m sorry. There is no elegant way for me to say it. 😂 After spending that much time trying to get through the book, I needed the payoff to be worth it, and it absolutely was not.
The good news is that this author is still firmly on my auto-read list because I know how much I’ve loved her work before. This one just really missed the mark for me, and considering how excited I was for it, that made the disappointment hurt even more.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
September 16, 2026
Moving to Harper’s Creek, a nowhere town full of dusty farmland plagued by drought, is supposed to be a new start for Anna Maybourne and her mother, her grandmother and her young sister. Along with outspoken loner Melissa Laverne and handsome deputy Todd Greenbough, Anna fills her hours looking into the murders of two young girls three years apart. Even though the prime suspect is long dead, the murders begin to feel too close for comfort as the 3-year anniversary nears.
First of all I need to comment on the narration of this audiobook by Saskia Maarleveld. She did a truly amazing job and gave me chills every time grandma said "They Say a Girl Died Here". I'm not sure I would've rated the book as highly if I was reading it rather than listening to it because there is a lot of repetition of certain phrases (see previous sentence!) and references to "the thing" that happened to Anna in college.
The story is slow to unfold and there are many characters to be suspicious of. I was engrossed in the story right to the end and almost figured it out. I'm not normally a fan of supernatural elements in my fiction but this one didn't lean too far into that genre so I was able to ignore my misgivings. Thanks to GR friend MarilynW whose review put this audiobook on my radar.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, via Netgalley, for approving my request to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: August 25, 2026 (Originally published in 2016)
First of all I need to comment on the narration of this audiobook by Saskia Maarleveld. She did a truly amazing job and gave me chills every time grandma said "They Say a Girl Died Here". I'm not sure I would've rated the book as highly if I was reading it rather than listening to it because there is a lot of repetition of certain phrases (see previous sentence!) and references to "the thing" that happened to Anna in college.
The story is slow to unfold and there are many characters to be suspicious of. I was engrossed in the story right to the end and almost figured it out. I'm not normally a fan of supernatural elements in my fiction but this one didn't lean too far into that genre so I was able to ignore my misgivings. Thanks to GR friend MarilynW whose review put this audiobook on my radar.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, via Netgalley, for approving my request to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: August 25, 2026 (Originally published in 2016)
September 11, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
Honestly so sad about this one! Sarah Pinborough usually does a great job with suspense & always throws a crazy plot twist at you, but this was so boring, slow & the reveal actually made my eyes roll. Lots of plot holes & I disliked all the characters. 😬 Unfortunately this was nothing special!
Content warnings: substance abuse & lots of language
Honestly so sad about this one! Sarah Pinborough usually does a great job with suspense & always throws a crazy plot twist at you, but this was so boring, slow & the reveal actually made my eyes roll. Lots of plot holes & I disliked all the characters. 😬 Unfortunately this was nothing special!
Content warnings: substance abuse & lots of language
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