Grabtown - by Sarah P Blanchard (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Their mother left them more than memories-she left them a murder.

When twin sisters Cassandra and Anastasia return to their childhood home in rural Connecticut, they discover an unpublished manuscript hidden among their deceased mother's belongings. Written by their mom's girlfriend AJ, it's a murder mystery that reads like fiction-except their mother is a key character, and the 40-year-old cold case at its center is all too real.

Cassie, a writer, sees a bestseller. Ana, terrified of what they'll uncover, wants to burn it.

As the sisters follow AJ's story into the disturbing truth behind an abandoned village the locals call Grabtown, the line between past and present blurs. Cassie's volatile husband Marsh demands they stop digging. A retired detective arrives asking dangerous questions. And someone believes AJ's manuscript isn't fiction-it's a confession.

What's really behind Marsh's lucrative rare-motorcar business? Why won't the past stay buried? And why is a major crimes detective now urging them to flee?

Grabtown is a gripping dual-timeline thriller that exposes the dark underbelly of small-town secrets, where sisterhood and courage become the only weapons against those who prey on the vulnerable. Perfect for fans of Kellye Garrett's Like a Sister, Shari Lapena's Listen for the Lie, and Amy Gentry's Good as Gone.

Grabtown is a Kirkus Reviews featured title and a finalist for the 2025 CIBA Clue Awards.

"This was such an emotional read! It was so captivating. I loved this book. The deeper core to it is something I love so much in thriller books." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review Quotes

"Grabtown is suspenseful, thoughtful, and emotionally intense. If you enjoy intelligent, character-driven suspense that explores truth, memory, and the cost of silence, this book is a must-read." -Chris Carter, author of the Robert Hunter thrillers (The Crucifix Killer, The Executioner)

"This astonishingly suspenseful novel should be on the bestseller's list, for it is an outstanding read...a fascinating mystery." -U.S. Review of Books

"A dark, satisfying thriller perfect for readers who love family drama and scandalous secrets....A masterfully constructed work, balancing the story within the story with excellent pacing [and] a nail-biting showdown." -Kirkus Reviews

"Blanchard's deft control of mood and tone...lends an atmosphere of constant unease, yet never overshadows the emotional force of Cassie's discoveries, nor the sharper social commentary on the silences small towns demand. In the end, Grabtown is a story about refusing the inheritance of secrets and cycles of harm-and mustering the courage it takes to rise above them." -BookLife

"A story that lingers long after the last line-beautiful, bold, and utterly unforgettable."⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -Kathryn Dare, Seattle Book Review

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

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

"...unique, gripping, and really well-written....one of my favorite psychological thrillers! Great work! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐" -Chloe Belle Daffon, Readers' Favorite