Surviving a car crash was just the beginning. Now, you are David, a newly orphaned teen trapped in Grandma’s isolated cottage in the Virginia mountains—and something in the house wants you dead.
Don’t be fooled by the lace doilies and cozy tea sets. Darkness lurks behind every door, and terrifying creatures prowl the halls. With your little sister Sam by your side, every choice you make could mean survival—or a gruesome death for both of you.
Two ways to experience the nightmare:
Interactive Version: Make the choices that determine your fate. Choose wisely, or meet a horrific end.
Survivor Version: Sit back and listen to the full story without making decisions—if you dare.
Do you have what it takes to escape? Or will Grandma’s house become your final resting place?
Try Not to Die At Grandma’s House is a thrilling, fast-paced horror gamebook perfect for fans of slasher films or dark escape-room vibes. The audiobook format offers two reading modes: an interactive experience (choose-your-own-path) and a linear “survivor” option. This is the 1st book in the popular Try Not to Die franchise series and will resonate with readers who love “choose your own path” stories and emotional survival horror! There’s also a sequel, Try Not to Die Back at Grandma’s House, now available on Kindle, in paperback format, and on audio!
The story follows teenager David and younger sister Sam, who, after the sudden death of their parents, are sent to live with their grandparents in a remote house nestled deep in the Virginia mountains. The house holds dark secrets, and danger lurks around every corner. As David, the reader is forced to make critical decisions at the end of each short chapter, and there’s an urgent need to unravel what’s really happening in Grandma’s house. Only one narrow path of decisions leads to survival and escape!
In the physical book or audio “Interactive” mode, readers will navigate 41 chapters with branching choices at the end of each chapter. A wrong choice leads to a sudden, often gory death, while correct choices edge the reader closer to uncovering the mystery of what’s going on at Grandma’s house and surviving. Only one path leads to freedom, which is revealed in the “survival” mode of the audiobook—it’s recommended to listen only after successfully completing the story via the interactive mode. No matter which route you take, the narrative is fast-paced and adrenaline-driven from start to finish. When making choices, it’s important to pay close attention to how the choices are worded and the small details—in some chapters hints of bad outcomes are given, while in others detours are designed to fool you!
The isolated house setting, surrounded by a high fence to keep out dangerous predators, immediately sets a horrifying tone for this atmospheric story. The house sits in the remote Virginia mountains, far from neighbors, towns, or any quick escape—and the remoteness intensifies the danger for David and Sam! A grandmother’s home usually evokes feelings of comfort and nostalgia, but by making it threatening instead, the book adds a layer of unsettling psychological tension right from the siblings’ arrival. The house itself has so many unsettling features that heighten the siblings’s anxiety—narrow hallways, locked doors, windows that need to remain shut, and creaking staircases, almost feeling like a maze where one wrong step could be fatal!
David and his younger sister Sam are at the emotional heart of the story. Every choice the reader makes as David has additional weight because the outcome doesn’t just affect him—it affects Sam too! David is a cautious, thoughtful protagonist. Since the siblings are still processing the death of their parents, he feels it’s his job to look out for Sam. His decisions are an internal struggle between doing what’s best for himself and what might keep her safe. In contrast, Sam is impulsive, headstrong, and curious—she’s not always as aware of the danger as David, and readers will need to tread carefully when she comes up with schemes or resists David’s help! Her childish outbursts sometimes make her seem younger than she is, but they also add more drama and tension to the story. The sibling bond adds a compelling layer to the story, and readers will definitely feel emotionally invested in their survival, adding extra hesitation to every branching choice!
Despite the characters being young, readers should be aware of the graphic content in some of the stomach-churning, gruesome death scenes when wrong choices are made. The book is marketed as adult horror, though its storyline is similar to teen-oriented survival horror, so it’s also suitable for older YA to adult readers. If reading the physical book or listening in the interactive mode, with well over a dozen ways to die, you’ll likely have multiple deaths before making it to the end. The final chapters are extremely fast-paced and filled with shocking reveals, pulse-pounding tension, and horrifying creatures that you won’t soon forget! The story has an open-ended conclusion, but this was likely intentional by the author to create anticipation for the sequel—and readers will be eager to read it immediately afterwards!
Overall, Try Not to Die At Grandma’s House is a modern, darker spin on traditional Choose Your Own Adventure style horror and will keep readers on edge and fully entertained from start to finish. The combination of nightmarish horror and the engrossing puzzle-like narrative will appeal to a wide range of readers. The companion audiobook is a fantastic reading option, and its “survivor” mode will appeal to readers who’d rather enjoy the story without the pressure of choices! Anyone who enjoys puzzle-like branching narratives and relishes the challenge of finding the right path amidst numerous deadly traps will absolutely love this book and series!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Try Not to Die: At Grandma’s House is a thrilling, highly immersive listen narrated by seasoned horror narrator Joe Hempel! The audiobook is a high-quality production that offers an interactive version composed of 41 chapters and linear “survivor” tracks, where listeners can follow the survival route without stressful decision-making.
Joe Hempel delivers the narration using an engaging and compelling voice that keeps listeners hooked from start to finish. His pacing is calm and deliberate, with well-placed pauses before choices, adding to the immersion. Hempel portrays protagonist David with a grounded, slightly weary tone—perfectly suited for a teenager who’s been forced into survival mode. For Sam, David’s younger sister, Hempel uses a more emotional, impulsive-sounding voice, accentuating her immaturity and reactive nature—and the sibling tension is palpable in many scenes without ever sounding overly dramatic. Once the siblings arrive at Grandma’s house, Hempel maintains a constant sense of tension and urgency in his tone and amplifies the emotional intensity of the characters (especially Sam) whenever they are presented with sudden dangers or tough decisions.
Hempel also does an amazing job giving each character a distinct, authentic-sounding voice that matches their age and personality. Hempel’s portrayal of Grandma Barb is especially compelling as he gives her a warm, nurturing-sounding voice with a sinister undertone that will make listeners question her motives. In contrast, Hempel’s performance of Grandpa Joe has an authoritative, intimidating tone, perfectly capturing the character’s military background and adding tension to the listening experience.
Hempel seamlessly shifts between narration and character dialogue, masterfully guiding listeners through the story and choices. His narration especially shines during death scenes. Even though many are sudden and gruesome, his calm, commanding voice manages to keep them vivid without being overly dramatic.
Overall, Joe Hempel elevates the reading experience of Try Not to Die At Grandma’s House with his dynamic performance, impressive emotional intensity, and authentic character voices. For these reasons, the audiobook is the absolute best reading format and is a must-listen for fans of survival horror and interactive audiobooks! If you haven’t listened to Joe Hempel’s narration before, you’ll likely become an instant fan of his smooth, engaging voice and expert storytelling, and you’ll be eager to check out his backlog of 600+ titles, including several other books in the Try Not To Die series!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Try Not to Die: At Grandma’s House is a thrilling, highly immersive listen narrated by seasoned horror narrator Joe Hempel! The audiobook is a high-quality production that offers an interactive version composed of 41 chapters and linear “survivor” tracks, where listeners can follow the survival route without stressful decision-making.
Joe Hempel delivers the narration using an engaging and compelling voice that keeps listeners hooked from start to finish. His pacing is calm and deliberate, with well-placed pauses before choices, adding to the immersion. Hempel portrays protagonist David with a grounded, slightly weary tone—perfectly suited for a teenager who’s been forced into survival mode. For Sam, David’s younger sister, Hempel uses a more emotional, impulsive-sounding voice, accentuating her immaturity and reactive nature—and the sibling tension is palpable in many scenes without ever sounding overly dramatic. Once the siblings arrive at Grandma’s house, Hempel maintains a constant sense of tension and urgency in his tone and amplifies the emotional intensity of the characters (especially Sam) whenever they are presented with sudden dangers or tough decisions.
Hempel also does an amazing job giving each character a distinct, authentic-sounding voice that matches their age and personality. Hempel’s portrayal of Grandma Barb is especially compelling as he gives her a warm, nurturing-sounding voice with a sinister undertone that will make listeners question her motives. In contrast, Hempel’s performance of Grandpa Joe has an authoritative, intimidating tone, perfectly capturing the character’s military background and adding tension to the listening experience.
Hempel seamlessly shifts between narration and character dialogue, masterfully guiding listeners through the story and choices. His narration especially shines during death scenes. Even though many are sudden and gruesome, his calm, commanding voice manages to keep them vivid without being overly dramatic.
Overall, Joe Hempel elevates the reading experience of Try Not to Die At Grandma’s House with his dynamic performance, impressive emotional intensity, and authentic character voices. For these reasons, the audiobook is the absolute best reading format and is a must-listen for fans of survival horror and interactive audiobooks! If you haven’t listened to Joe Hempel’s narration before, you’ll likely become an instant fan of his smooth, engaging voice and expert storytelling, and you’ll be eager to check out his backlog of 600+ titles, including several other books in the Try Not To Die series!
The audiobook of Try Not to Die: At Grandma’s House is a thrilling, highly immersive listen narrated by seasoned horror narrator Joe Hempel! The audiobook is a high-quality production that offers an interactive version composed of 41 chapters and linear “survivor” tracks, where listeners can follow the survival route without stressful decision-making.
Joe Hempel delivers the narration using an engaging and compelling voice that keeps listeners hooked from start to finish. His pacing is calm and deliberate, with well-placed pauses before choices, adding to the immersion. Hempel portrays protagonist David with a grounded, slightly weary tone—perfectly suited for a teenager who’s been forced into survival mode. For Sam, David’s younger sister, Hempel uses a more emotional, impulsive-sounding voice, accentuating her immaturity and reactive nature—and the sibling tension is palpable in many scenes without ever sounding overly dramatic. Once the siblings arrive at Grandma’s house, Hempel maintains a constant sense of tension and urgency in his tone and amplifies the emotional intensity of the characters (especially Sam) whenever they are presented with sudden dangers or tough decisions.
Hempel also does an amazing job giving each character a distinct, authentic-sounding voice that matches their age and personality. Hempel’s portrayal of Grandma Barb is especially compelling as he gives her a warm, nurturing-sounding voice with a sinister undertone that will make listeners question her motives. In contrast, Hempel’s performance of Grandpa Joe has an authoritative, intimidating tone, perfectly capturing the character’s military background and adding tension to the listening experience.
Hempel seamlessly shifts between narration and character dialogue, masterfully guiding listeners through the story and choices. His narration especially shines during death scenes. Even though many are sudden and gruesome, his calm, commanding voice manages to keep them vivid without being overly dramatic.
Overall, Joe Hempel elevates the reading experience of Try Not to Die At Grandma’s House with his dynamic performance, impressive emotional intensity, and authentic character voices. For these reasons, the audiobook is the absolute best reading format and is a must-listen for fans of survival horror and interactive audiobooks! If you haven’t listened to Joe Hempel’s narration before, you’ll likely become an instant fan of his smooth, engaging voice and expert storytelling, and you’ll be eager to check out his backlog of 600+ titles, including several other books in the Try Not To Die series!
