Jennifer D. (Jennmarie68) reviewed A Slaying in the Suburbs: The Tara Grant Murder on + 217 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
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.
Kimber R. (divakimber) reviewed A Slaying in the Suburbs: The Tara Grant Murder on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This was a very chilling look intot he real lives of people and it shows how far off base people can get- it was a wake up call for me!
Susan L. (ncsuz) -
Helpful Score: 2
This was my first true crime book! I picked this one because it had good reviews and an interesting plot. It was a really interesting story and had some similarities to a case I had become obsessed with earlier this year. I still can hardly believe this stuff really happens!
Patti H. (bearcub) reviewed A Slaying in the Suburbs: The Tara Grant Murder on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Interesting book since I live very close to the crime scene -
The actual murder was horrible - I really felt for her family
and children. It was a good true crime book - would
recommend!
The actual murder was horrible - I really felt for her family
and children. It was a good true crime book - would
recommend!
Dana W. (SouthWestZippy) -
Helpful Score: 1
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.
Beverly H. (GainesvilleGirl) -
An excellent portrayal of the life and death of Tara Grant, a woman who apparently had it all. Two wonderful little kids, a stay at home hubby who took great care of the house and children while she worked hard at her job traveling the country, and sometimes OUT of the country, in her drive to get to the top of her career ladder. This might make her seem unloving, or perhaps a bit cold. But she really wasn't. It might even make her husband sound like something of a Casper Milquetoast, but he wasn't. In fact their families, their lives, and their community were sent into a spiral of disbelief, fear, and horror as the story of Lara's brutal murder became a terrible nightmare that no one could wake from.
I couldn't put this one down. In my opinion, it's True Crime at it's best. Well researched and well written. I would have liked to see more and better photos, but maybe that's just all there were. Even so, I highly recommend this for those who like the True Crime genre.
I couldn't put this one down. In my opinion, it's True Crime at it's best. Well researched and well written. I would have liked to see more and better photos, but maybe that's just all there were. Even so, I highly recommend this for those who like the True Crime genre.
I have read the other book about this murder and I much prefer this one. It is more balanced. This happened in my old neighborhood and I knew some of the people in the story. As a true crime story, it was a very good read.
