The Monsters of Templeton
by Lauren Groff
The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff holds a well received rating of 3.58 out of 5, based on 13.8K reader ratings. First published in 2008. The book spans 384 pages.
About The Monsters of Templeton
"The day I returned to Templeton steeped in disgrace, the fifty-foot corpse of a monster surfaced in Lake Glimmerglass." So begins The Monsters of Templeton, a novel spanning two centuries: part a contemporary story of a girl's search for her father, part historical novel, and part ghost story, this spellbinding novel is at its core a tale of how one town holds the secrets of a family. In the wake of a wildly disastrous affair with her married archeology professor, Willie Upton arrives on the doorstep of her ancestral home in Templeton, New York, where her hippie-turned-born-again-Baptist mom, Vi, still lives. Willie expects to be able to hide in the place that has been home to her family for generations, but the monster's death changes the fabric of the quiet, picture-perfect town her ancestors founded. Even further, Willie learns that the story her mother had always told her about her father has all been a lie: he wasn't the random man from a free-love commune that Vi had led her to imagine, but someone else entirely. Someone from this very town. As Willie puts her archaeological skills to work digging for the truth about her lineage, she discovers that the secrets of her family run deep. Through letters, editorials, and journal entries, the dead rise up to tell their sides of the story as dark mysteries come to light, past and present blur, old stories are finally put to rest, and the shocking truth about more than one monster is revealed.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Lauren Groff |
| Published | 2008 |
| Pages | 384 |
| Genres | Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction |
| Average Rating | 3.58 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 13,849 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is The Monsters of Templeton?
The Monsters of Templeton is categorized as Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Fantasy, Historical Fiction. Its primary genre classification is Fantasy.
Is The Monsters of Templeton worth reading?
Based on 13.8K reader ratings, The Monsters of Templeton has an average score of 3.58 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is The Monsters of Templeton?
The Monsters of Templeton has 384 pages.
Who wrote The Monsters of Templeton?
The Monsters of Templeton was written by Lauren Groff. It was first published in 2008.
What is the ISBN for The Monsters of Templeton?
The ISBN-13 for The Monsters of Templeton is 9780434017840.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
