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A Slaying in the Suburbs: The Tara Grant Murder
The true story of the Tara Grant murder.
To their suburban Detroit neighbors, Stephen and Tara Grant were happy as could be. But their marriage, plagued by resentment and extramarital affairs, was held together only by their children. Until the night Stephen snapped, strangled and dismembered his wife, then disposed of her body piece by piece in the very park his children played in.
To their suburban Detroit neighbors, Stephen and Tara Grant were happy as could be. But their marriage, plagued by resentment and extramarital affairs, was held together only by their children. Until the night Stephen snapped, strangled and dismembered his wife, then disposed of her body piece by piece in the very park his children played in.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
47 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Steve Miller
6 books27 followersSteve Miller is an investigative reporter with 19 years of experience in daily newspaper and magazine reporting. Miller has covered countless trials and murder cases, including serving time as a court and cops beat reporter at the Dallas Morning News and writing about numerous national crimes as a national reporter for the Washington Times, People magazine and U.S. News and World Report. Miller, the former vocalist in the Midwest punk rock outfit the Fix, is also a music journalist and has been a contributing editor at Your Flesh Magazine since 1991. Books: A Slaying in the Suburbs; The Tara Grant Murder (Penguin/Berkley, 2009) Touch and Go: The complete Hardcore Punk Zine '79-'83 (Bazillion Points, 2010) by Tesco Vee and Dave Stimson, edited by Steve Miller Girl, Wanted: The Search for Sarah Pender (Penguin/Berkley, 2011) Johnny Ramone Memoirs (Abrams, 2012) (co-editor) Nobody's Women: The Crimes and Victims of Anthony Sowell, the Cleveland Serial Killer (Penguin/Berkley, 2012)
Detroit Rock City: The Uncensored History of Five Decades of Rock 'n Roll in America's Loudest City (Da Capo, 2013
Detroit Rock City: The Uncensored History of Five Decades of Rock 'n Roll in America's Loudest City (Da Capo, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 2, 2024
Disturbing Content Warning
True Crime
Stephen and Tara Grant met in College, fell in love, married and lived in a nice house in an affluent area of Detroit Michigan, with their two children, a six and four year old.
The Grant's appeared to be a normal suburban family, and a happy one at that.
Ten years after they got married, Tara was a highly paid business executive. The last six months she'd been transferred to the office in Puerto Rico.
She was away on the weekdays and only at home on the weekends.
Steve was working at his father's heavy machinery warehouse. He acted as a full time parent with the help of a live in au pair, nineteen year old Verena who was from Germany and was taking classes at the local college.
Steve had wooed Verena and was having an affair with her in the absence of his wife. She'd fallen in love with him and he told her that he was in love with her.
On the 9th of February 2007, Tara took an evening flight home for the weekend from Puerto Rico, arriving home after 10pm on that cold, snowing Detroit night.
Verena was out with friends that night.
Five days later Steve reported Tara missing.
He said that the night of Tara's return they argued and Tara left in a taxi, leaving her car behind.
He said Tara did not call, so Steve left numerous messages on her phone.
There was no activity on Tara's phone and no credit card transactions for the last five days.
The house was searched by the police but nothing was found.
Searches were conducted in the area but three weeks went by and there was nothing, Tara had disappeared into the night.
Steve was making emotional public pleas, asking the public for help via the TV news cameras.
He was dubbed Mister mom by the media.
In March police got a search warrant to search the house again.
In the garage police noticed a container that was not there at the first search.
In the container, inside multiple black bags, they discovered the headless, frozen torso of a woman.
Tara Grant has been found.
After a suicide attempt Steve confessed. He said that the night of Tara's arrival, they had a disagreement about cutting back her travel schedule.
According to him, she came and announced that she would be returning to Puerto Rico a day earlier than usual.
Steve accused her of having an affair with her boss. She slapped him and Steve hit her back in response. She fell backwards.
She'd threatened to take the kids away and never see them again.
Steve proceeded to strangle and suffocate her until she was dead.
He couldn't carry her down the stairs so he took a belt and wrapped it around her neck and with that he dragged her down and placed her body in the boot of her car.
All this activity just before Verena returned back from her night out and while the children were asleep in their beds.
Two days later he drove Tara's frozen body to his father's heavy machinery warehouse.
It was a Sunday and the shop was closed.
He proceeded to cut the body into fourteen pieces which he placed into bags and stored back at his residence's garage.
That very night he had sex with Verena.
What can l say, l am shocked!
Later the same night, he drove the remains to Stony Creek Metropark and scattered them around.
Weeks later, as he got word that a search of the park was imminent, he collected the larger piece, the torso, and hidden it in a container in the garage, where it was eventually discovered by law enforcement.
Stephen Grant was convicted in December 2007 of premeditated homicide and mutilation and sentenced to 50-80 years in prison.
The writers of the book conducted an excellent research and provided enormous amount of information and detail.
True Crime
Stephen and Tara Grant met in College, fell in love, married and lived in a nice house in an affluent area of Detroit Michigan, with their two children, a six and four year old.
The Grant's appeared to be a normal suburban family, and a happy one at that.
Ten years after they got married, Tara was a highly paid business executive. The last six months she'd been transferred to the office in Puerto Rico.
She was away on the weekdays and only at home on the weekends.
Steve was working at his father's heavy machinery warehouse. He acted as a full time parent with the help of a live in au pair, nineteen year old Verena who was from Germany and was taking classes at the local college.
Steve had wooed Verena and was having an affair with her in the absence of his wife. She'd fallen in love with him and he told her that he was in love with her.
On the 9th of February 2007, Tara took an evening flight home for the weekend from Puerto Rico, arriving home after 10pm on that cold, snowing Detroit night.
Verena was out with friends that night.
Five days later Steve reported Tara missing.
He said that the night of Tara's return they argued and Tara left in a taxi, leaving her car behind.
He said Tara did not call, so Steve left numerous messages on her phone.
There was no activity on Tara's phone and no credit card transactions for the last five days.
The house was searched by the police but nothing was found.
Searches were conducted in the area but three weeks went by and there was nothing, Tara had disappeared into the night.
Steve was making emotional public pleas, asking the public for help via the TV news cameras.
He was dubbed Mister mom by the media.
In March police got a search warrant to search the house again.
In the garage police noticed a container that was not there at the first search.
In the container, inside multiple black bags, they discovered the headless, frozen torso of a woman.
Tara Grant has been found.
After a suicide attempt Steve confessed. He said that the night of Tara's arrival, they had a disagreement about cutting back her travel schedule.
According to him, she came and announced that she would be returning to Puerto Rico a day earlier than usual.
Steve accused her of having an affair with her boss. She slapped him and Steve hit her back in response. She fell backwards.
She'd threatened to take the kids away and never see them again.
Steve proceeded to strangle and suffocate her until she was dead.
He couldn't carry her down the stairs so he took a belt and wrapped it around her neck and with that he dragged her down and placed her body in the boot of her car.
All this activity just before Verena returned back from her night out and while the children were asleep in their beds.
Two days later he drove Tara's frozen body to his father's heavy machinery warehouse.
It was a Sunday and the shop was closed.
He proceeded to cut the body into fourteen pieces which he placed into bags and stored back at his residence's garage.
That very night he had sex with Verena.
What can l say, l am shocked!
Later the same night, he drove the remains to Stony Creek Metropark and scattered them around.
Weeks later, as he got word that a search of the park was imminent, he collected the larger piece, the torso, and hidden it in a container in the garage, where it was eventually discovered by law enforcement.
Stephen Grant was convicted in December 2007 of premeditated homicide and mutilation and sentenced to 50-80 years in prison.
The writers of the book conducted an excellent research and provided enormous amount of information and detail.
March 30, 2009
I ordered this today from Amazon. I worked with Tara for over 10 years, and knew her well. This entire incident still leaves me sick. I think I'm looking for some kind of closure, here. Knowing it isn't there.
I finished this book pretty quickly. It's an easy read as far as that goes. For me to review this to others is not realistic. I'm too close to the situation and know too much to critique the author's work. Suffice to say they did a credible job with research, it's organized well and reads well for a "true crime" genre work.
That's really all I can say about this on any type of public forum.
I finished this book pretty quickly. It's an easy read as far as that goes. For me to review this to others is not realistic. I'm too close to the situation and know too much to critique the author's work. Suffice to say they did a credible job with research, it's organized well and reads well for a "true crime" genre work.
That's really all I can say about this on any type of public forum.
January 31, 2015
Very interesting book based on a horrible crime. I was a little taken aback at the author's obvious dislike for Alicia, Tara Grant's sister. The truly bizarre behavior displayed by Steve Grant during the weeks after murdering his wife was by far the most interesting parts of the book. I don't know that the trial was covered as thoroughly as if could have been, and the writing was a little uneven in places. Still, it was a fast, compelling read and will no doubt lead to a great book club discussion!
July 3, 2016
Very interesting to me because it happened so close to home, this is the story of Steve Grant's murder of his wife Tara. An uncomplicated story unless you are living in it, like their son and daughter who have not seen their mother in over 3 years as I write this. Presented as the story of another idjit who thought that it would hurt the kids too much if their parents divorced, and decided murder would be a better option all the way around. I'm far from sure that's what was really going on here.
February 18, 2016
It is just beyond my reasoning when husbands kill their wives after so many years of marriage. Now that I am done reading this, it reminded me of the Scott Peterson case. This case was about a husband who murdered and dismembered his wife. He was having an affair with the nanny and his wife was a successful career woman. This was a tragic case all around. I couldn't get over how he chopped up her body into 14 pieces and scattered the parts at a park. I will never understand the psychosis behind this act.
April 5, 2023
This book was disturbing, especially how it's described how Steve wraps a belt around her neck after murdering her and drags her around with it. I'm still trying to figure out why Steve murdered his wife. It can't be because he was jealous that she was the breadwinner and the "affair" with the au pair was kind of far-fetched. It seems like they just got together and then he decides after less than a week to murder his wife. I really think there is more to this story. I read a review about this book before I started it and it said that they thought the authors didn't like Tara's sister, Alicia. After finishing this book, I have to agree. It seemed like it more about the murderer than of the victim. Even the background chapters were more in depth and longer about Steve. The authors make Tara sound as if she is just a bossy b!tch. Well, who the heck cares if she is? That doesn't give anyone the right to kill them. Ya know what I think? I think the real reason Steve killed her is because he's a psycho and she probably told him she wanted a divorce because he's controlling and complains all the time.
After finishing the book, I went on Alicia's Facebook. I'm glad she has custody of Tara's children and keeps her legacy for them. Despite what the authors wrote about Tara and Alicia's relationship; I think they were close and had a sisterly bond. I don't feel like the authors went into this getting information from both sides. I also didn't like that they portrayed Kelly and her father as victims. They were enablers to Steve's bad behavior growing up and never making him responsible for his actions.
After finishing the book, I went on Alicia's Facebook. I'm glad she has custody of Tara's children and keeps her legacy for them. Despite what the authors wrote about Tara and Alicia's relationship; I think they were close and had a sisterly bond. I don't feel like the authors went into this getting information from both sides. I also didn't like that they portrayed Kelly and her father as victims. They were enablers to Steve's bad behavior growing up and never making him responsible for his actions.
February 17, 2021
Hmmm... So this man REALLY THOUGHT he would get away with murdering his wife 🤔... this was a verrryyy sssllloowww read..but im FINALLY done with this book 📖
March 7, 2016
WOW what a horrific murder. Well written book that will have you turning pages as fast as you can and not want to put it down. Not over done with details, well researched and somewhat balanced. Does show the side of the Murder, Stephen, a little more than his victim.
February 6, 2016
When I heard that this was written by people affiliated with People Magazine I confess I wasn't expecting much, but the book was actually pretty decent. I particularly liked the way they covered the trial without re-telling the entire story.
June 23, 2020
Steve had positive words used to describe him and Tara had negative words. Steve is described as "charming"and "soft". Steve Miller and Andrea Billups didn't use positive words or phrasing with Tara at all. She was always the bad guy in the book. SHE WAS THE VICTIM. A MOTHER TORN FROM HER KIDS. Even to use neutral words and phrasing would be a benefit.
Furthermore, not about the books authors, it mad me angry to read that the defenses tried to argue that the murder was justified because Steve was an underappreciated stay at home dad.That theory was treated as a valid defense. If Steve was a stay at home Mom that argument would have been thrown out immediately. 0/1000 Quality
1000/1000 Sexism from Authors, lawyers, and jurors.
Furthermore, not about the books authors, it mad me angry to read that the defenses tried to argue that the murder was justified because Steve was an underappreciated stay at home dad.That theory was treated as a valid defense. If Steve was a stay at home Mom that argument would have been thrown out immediately. 0/1000 Quality
1000/1000 Sexism from Authors, lawyers, and jurors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2024
I’d love is GoodReads had half stars
I would probably give this a 3.5
It’s an easy well written read and I read through it quickly enough.
Some true crime books that cover cases spend an extraordinarily long time one the trial, highlighting how the case was made up and getting too much into legal jargon; but this book isn’t like that. The authors did a great job of providing enough detail and depth for us as a layperson not to be confused or bored by it.
I would probably give this a 3.5
It’s an easy well written read and I read through it quickly enough.
Some true crime books that cover cases spend an extraordinarily long time one the trial, highlighting how the case was made up and getting too much into legal jargon; but this book isn’t like that. The authors did a great job of providing enough detail and depth for us as a layperson not to be confused or bored by it.
March 2, 2018
A Slaying in the Suburbs
This was a good story and I read it fairly quickly. So sad that two young successful people can't work out their differences for the children's sakes. The young children are the victims here.
This was a good story and I read it fairly quickly. So sad that two young successful people can't work out their differences for the children's sakes. The young children are the victims here.
November 9, 2020
I read this purely for the fact that this murder occurred about 10 houses down from my house at the time. I didn't think the book was particularly well written or interesting. Just average. A very sad story. As I always say, you never know what is going on behind closed doors.
June 30, 2017
I wanted to read this because I'm from the area and remember this case. Still very troubling...
December 1, 2019
Very interesting true crime book. It wasn't a bad read.
May 29, 2021
This book is absolutely amazing! I finished it in about three days. As sad as it is, the storyline is extraordinary! I definitely recommend this book💙
June 25, 2022
Out of 8 pages of photos, there was only one of Tara. The victim but many many pictures of her husband who murdered her.
I did not finish this book
I did not finish this book
February 26, 2022
I enjoyed this book. I feel like there was a bunch of extra stuff about their college lives that rant necessary but it didn't take away from the book.
April 18, 2025
I thought this was a great book with alot of details and background on the people involved.
March 8, 2009
This book surprised me. I live in the Detroit area, so the Tara Grant murder was on every news broadcast and every instance of breaking news during the search for her body was about this case. Given that, I figured there would be little that I would "learn" from this book. I figured that it would end up being a re-hash of everything covered in the news. This book was so not a simple re-hash.
The book starts the night the cops searched the Grant home. The search that turned up the torso of Tara Grant, in the garage. After the discovery the story jumps into the past. These authors present Stephen and Tara's lives before they met. It sets up the kind of people they were and then talks about how they met, their dating and their lives as a married couple.
What I really liked about this book is that it didn't "take sides". Tara was not portrayed as a saint and Stephen was not portrayed as evil. It just told about their lives, and the problems they had. It gave facts, and the facts were that Stephen killed his wife, who at times seemed to be a bit of a domineering wife. After reading this my views on the case have not changed, if anything I'm more set in my belief that Stephen Grant killed his wife and was in a panic to try and cover it up.
While this isn't a who done it kind of book I would have to recommend it to anyone that likes murder mysteries. To have this much insight into the mind of a murderer is quite a shocking thing. And even if you think you know all about this murder, I would still say read it. There are things that this book uncovers that I don't remember the media even touching.
The book starts the night the cops searched the Grant home. The search that turned up the torso of Tara Grant, in the garage. After the discovery the story jumps into the past. These authors present Stephen and Tara's lives before they met. It sets up the kind of people they were and then talks about how they met, their dating and their lives as a married couple.
What I really liked about this book is that it didn't "take sides". Tara was not portrayed as a saint and Stephen was not portrayed as evil. It just told about their lives, and the problems they had. It gave facts, and the facts were that Stephen killed his wife, who at times seemed to be a bit of a domineering wife. After reading this my views on the case have not changed, if anything I'm more set in my belief that Stephen Grant killed his wife and was in a panic to try and cover it up.
While this isn't a who done it kind of book I would have to recommend it to anyone that likes murder mysteries. To have this much insight into the mind of a murderer is quite a shocking thing. And even if you think you know all about this murder, I would still say read it. There are things that this book uncovers that I don't remember the media even touching.
March 24, 2011
I have issues with the quality of the writing. It didn't make it impossible to read but it did distract me and make it annoying at point.
One of the things I did like was that they didn't paint Tara Grant as a perfect, innocent, victim like many true crime books. I definitely got the feeling she wasn't the nicest person, nor was she a good wife or mother. Please do not mistake this as me saying she deserved to be murdered. Not the case. Did she deserve to die, no absolutely not. However there is something to be said about someone who escalates situations emotionally on purpose. Steve Grant should not have taken her bait, but he did and while I find it appalling, I'd bet my life that everyone at one time or another has been pushed to the brink and reacted in a greivous manner. I'm sure I'll catch flack for this but in this case I feel 99% of the blame was on Steven Grant, but Tara does take some culpability for escalating an emotionally explosive situation.
Also, her sister Alicia induced really negative feelings in me. I felt she was a vindictive snake and i can't imagine the poisonous, venomous half truths or lies she may be telling Steve's children.
Also I agree with the jury. This was clearly second degree murder, not first degree. I didn't feel there was any proof of pre-meditation.
One of the things I did like was that they didn't paint Tara Grant as a perfect, innocent, victim like many true crime books. I definitely got the feeling she wasn't the nicest person, nor was she a good wife or mother. Please do not mistake this as me saying she deserved to be murdered. Not the case. Did she deserve to die, no absolutely not. However there is something to be said about someone who escalates situations emotionally on purpose. Steve Grant should not have taken her bait, but he did and while I find it appalling, I'd bet my life that everyone at one time or another has been pushed to the brink and reacted in a greivous manner. I'm sure I'll catch flack for this but in this case I feel 99% of the blame was on Steven Grant, but Tara does take some culpability for escalating an emotionally explosive situation.
Also, her sister Alicia induced really negative feelings in me. I felt she was a vindictive snake and i can't imagine the poisonous, venomous half truths or lies she may be telling Steve's children.
Also I agree with the jury. This was clearly second degree murder, not first degree. I didn't feel there was any proof of pre-meditation.
October 3, 2009
Giving this book 5 stars seems a bit morbid. This true story took place not too far from where I live. Many of the locations/cities, ect I am familiar with.
Stephen Grant met Tara Destrampe at MSU, and both eventually fell in love, and got married. Tara was the breadwinner of the family and eventually worked her way up in the corporate office she worked for. She was often away from home, but always strived to be home for important events for the kids, and called everyday to speak to her 2 young children.
Tara and Steve seemed to have the "perfect life" as many friends observed.
One day in February 2007 when Tara returned from a businees trip, something snapped in Stephen's mind and he strangled and killed and dismembered her.
I remember seeing him plead to news reporters that someone find his wife...he was so fake. I knew he had something to do with her disappearance as it took him 5-6 days to report her missing!
While police were trying to find her and investigating the house, Steve eventually fled to northern michigan.
This was a book that I read rather quickly, and this is probably the quickest I have read a book in recent months.
A sad story, yet glad to see that justice was served. I hope Grant stays in jail long past his 87th birthday.
Stephen Grant met Tara Destrampe at MSU, and both eventually fell in love, and got married. Tara was the breadwinner of the family and eventually worked her way up in the corporate office she worked for. She was often away from home, but always strived to be home for important events for the kids, and called everyday to speak to her 2 young children.
Tara and Steve seemed to have the "perfect life" as many friends observed.
One day in February 2007 when Tara returned from a businees trip, something snapped in Stephen's mind and he strangled and killed and dismembered her.
I remember seeing him plead to news reporters that someone find his wife...he was so fake. I knew he had something to do with her disappearance as it took him 5-6 days to report her missing!
While police were trying to find her and investigating the house, Steve eventually fled to northern michigan.
This was a book that I read rather quickly, and this is probably the quickest I have read a book in recent months.
A sad story, yet glad to see that justice was served. I hope Grant stays in jail long past his 87th birthday.
March 30, 2024
This is the story of Tara Grant, a young, upwardly mobile mother and wife, who was murdered by her husband, as a result of jealousy, rage and just stupidity. It was a senseless murder that left two young children without either of their parents for the rest of their lives.
I've read better written true crime books but this one was a fast read. I just wished as I read the book that she had not had to spend so much time away from her family for the sake of her job. Such a terrible waste!!
I've read better written true crime books but this one was a fast read. I just wished as I read the book that she had not had to spend so much time away from her family for the sake of her job. Such a terrible waste!!
April 19, 2011
I found it okay. It's true crime, Stephen Grant murdered his wife in 2007. I found the book rather slow and boring. The only parts that got me jumping out of my seat is when the the body parts of Tara Grant were discovered. The husband was creepy from about the middle to the end of the book. Tara Grant was murdered in Macomb County, Michigan. So overall I wouldn't consider it in my top ten favorites because I found it slow, a bit boring. It wasn't as exciting as I thought it was.
June 26, 2011
You can tell these authors write for People magazine. Dreadful writing style.
What a captivating story, though. It's completely unreal. The idea that someone is such a psychopath that he chops up his wife, then goes to such trouble to make himself look innocent, even calling her cell phone over and over and yelling at her to come home to the children. It's something out of a fiction novel. Incredible.
Good to read for the story itself. Not so much for the writing.
What a captivating story, though. It's completely unreal. The idea that someone is such a psychopath that he chops up his wife, then goes to such trouble to make himself look innocent, even calling her cell phone over and over and yelling at her to come home to the children. It's something out of a fiction novel. Incredible.
Good to read for the story itself. Not so much for the writing.
November 26, 2013
Would have been more interesting to have Tara's family's take on things. I understand they wanted nothing to do with the book, so...
Felt like I was reading a story put together from newspaper clippings and gossip. Don't think the writer did Tara any justice if they were trying to really get her story out there.
Nonetheless, it's a sad story and I hope Ian and Lindsey can get past their parents history and live normal lives.
Felt like I was reading a story put together from newspaper clippings and gossip. Don't think the writer did Tara any justice if they were trying to really get her story out there.
Nonetheless, it's a sad story and I hope Ian and Lindsey can get past their parents history and live normal lives.
October 29, 2015
The book wasn't great but it happened in an area where I grew up so I was interested to read about it. By the end of the book you didn't really feel sympathy for either husband or wife. Although, the husband did kill and cut up his wife so he is truly the bad guy but I would not want to be friends with the wife either. When I read true crime it always amazes me that the "bad" guy never really thinks he is bad or deserves the punishment.
January 22, 2012
Pretty well written. A little repetitive, but not enough to get on my nerves. Easy to read, and understand. As much as you can understand a dude killing his wife and dismembering her body. But, in the end, I didn't have any lingering questions as to what happened. I'd recommend it to those interested in the genre.
September 27, 2014
Every once in a while I like a true crime book, especially if I have some knowledge of the case. I remember reading about the Tara Grant murder and trial in the news and this book caught my eye. I found it well written and compelling, even if slightly incomplete as Tara's family did not choose to be interviewed.
May 29, 2014
Considering this took place less than two miles from my house and personally knowing people who knew the Grant's it's not like I don't know this whole story. But I'd still be intrigued enough to read the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews