This book had me hooked from the first page. As a fan of crime tv and dateline, this is like living an episode. The alternate povs, unreliable narrators helped to paint a picture that isnt entirely in focus. This makes you want to rush through to get the whole complete picture.

The ending though felt a little abrupt and I wanted to know more. Not all my questions were answered. I can see the detective getting another book. This was my first book by this author and won't be my last!

Girls in the basement by Steena Holmes publication date of April 10, 2025!
This one was such a good book and had me hooked from page one!!
I want to thank NetGalley Joffee Books and the author for the opportunity to read this one early in exchange for a honest review. This wasn’t my first book from author and it will not be my last. The story shifts back and forth from alternate points of view!
This was quick read with a lot of twists and turns!! You will not be disappointed!!

This fast-paced, well-written crime thriller hooked me from the start with its multiple POV. I couldn’t stop reading & trying to piece everything together. I enjoyed how the different perspectives tied together, revealing the story bit by bit. However, the ending left me unsatisfied & wanting more, as I still had some unanswered questions.

Release: April 10, 2025
Author: Steena Holmes
Publisher: Joffe books

Rating: 4 ★ 

Steena Holmes delivers a gripping domestic thriller that slowly unravels a web of secrets, lies, and deeply buried fears. The novel excels at building tension, keeping the reader questioning everything—especially the protagonist’s own husband. The quiet Montana setting adds to the eerie, isolated atmosphere, making Jillian’s paranoia feel all the more suffocating. Holmes’ writing is immersive, pulling you into Jillian’s growing sense of dread as she tries to uncover the truth. While the pacing is deliberate, it works well for the slow-burn unraveling of the mystery. If you enjoy psychological thrillers where the real horror might be inside the home, this is a solid pick.

Jillian Harper moves to a small Montana town with her husband, Tucker, and their family, hoping for a fresh start. Their new farmhouse is supposed to be a dream come true—until bodies are discovered buried on their land, hidden for years. The shocking find rocks the town, drawing police investigations and hushed whispers from neighbors. But what disturbs Jillian most is her husband’s reaction. Tucker is acting strangely—avoiding her gaze, disappearing without explanation, and refusing to talk about what’s happening. Jillian knows he’s lying, but she has no idea how deep the secrets go. As she digs for the truth, she realizes the real threat may not be outside in the fields but inside her own home.

Favorite Quote:
"what happens to a person when they are made to live in darkness for so long? Can they ever be truly free?"

This book started off so strong, I was so into it and could not put it down... at first. I felt the book was just dragging along and a bit repetitive about halfway through. The ending for me was just ok, felt rushed and left a few questions unanswered. Although this was not a favorite of mine, it was interesting enough that I would recommend because some readers may really enjoy it.

What a book! This book would keep you on the edge of your seat! From the very first page, this gripping tale ensnares you with its suspense and nail-biting tension. Holmes masterfully weaves a story filled with twists and turns that are both intense and scary, leaving you breathless as you race through each chapter. The gut-wrenching emotions will resonate long after you’ve turned the last page! Trust me, once you start reading, you won’t be able to put it down. If thrillers are your thing, this book is an absolute must-read! I think you may experience a heart-pounding journey. Highly recommend!

This is a well woven tale and one I really enjoyed.

Jillian and Tucker move to a new home to start fresh with their son and Jillian soon discovers that Tucker is not the man she thought she knew.

Bodies are turning up and Jillian wonders if Tucker is the key..

I loved this book, There are a lot of characters and I did finf muslef lost at times but it soon works out and the ending is not to missed..

Wow! Thank you Steena Holmes, Netgalley, and Joffee books for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Jillian and her husband move to an old farm in Montana, to her it is her chance to start over again. Little does she know her husband has secrets, and these secrets affect a lot of people.
In the beginning there was way too many characters to keep up with but, eventually they all tied into place, and I got the story, the picture, and everything that the author was trying to tell me. This book was a little out there, but it was written to perfection. If you are looking for a psychological thriller that has many twists and turns, this is probably not something you will enjoy. But, if you are looking for a thriller that keeps you guessing and wanting more here is your book.

📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖
Title: The Girls In The Basement
Author: Steena Holmes
Page Count: 339
Format: E-book ARC
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Number: 41
Dates Read: 3/18-21
Review:
I received this free advanced copy, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I went into this story knowing it was going to hurt. It definitely did, but it had an ending. I honestly did not see it coming. The multiple points of view really added depth into the story. This is such a tough subject and Definitely gets at the fear inside you.

I really enjoyed The Girls in the Basement by author Steena Holmes.

We meet Jillian, who lives with her husband Tucker and their son and they have recently moved to a large farm house in a quiet town.

Their idyllic life appears to be untouchable but that is not how it goes. When some trailers are found on their property that contains body parts, Jillian starts to, rightly so, question everything about her life and especially her husband.

We also meet detective Meri who is investigating these containers that hold the body parts and we learn why it is so important for her to get to the bottom of this.

I enjoyed this novel, Steena creates good characters and narrative.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 3.5 stars from me

Thank you, NetGalley and Joffe Books for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

Jillian and Tucker move to Montana to start a new chapter for their son. They find many bodies in some cars on their land which appears to be related to human trafficking. Officer Meri Amber is working on the case, but also using this as an opportunity to find out what happened to her sister.

This is my first book from Steena and I have mixed feelings. The plot was entertaining and propelling. It kept me mostly engaged, but it did slow down in the middle. The writing felt rushed and almost amateur. The dialogue didn’t feel natural and the descriptions fell flat a lot of the time. The ending was a little unsatisfying, but that could be to help facilitate a sequel in the future.

This crime novel was brought to life really well by the different points of view. Telling the story in this way made it easier to understand the motivations and feelings of the main characters. I would have liked to read about the experiences of more characters at the end as I needed to get a greater sense of their journey. I think this would have made the conclusion more satisfying. Perhaps an epilogue?

There was a good balance of mystery and relationship drama and although the crime aspect was horrifying, the story was made compelling enough without traumatising the reader with too many details.

Intense and nail biting - small town secrets, family secrets, kidnapping, and human trafficking - all intertwined and the tension increases with each page. This story could be real, in many ways is real, and all the more powerful because of it. Be ready to get lost in this, you won't put it down.

R E V I E W

something about this book felt really rushed to me. at times the writing felt stilted or awkward and unrealistic. it was hard for me to get attached to the characters and get a good grasp on what was going on in their lives. it felt as if there was almost too much going on at once and the ending didn’t feel satisfying for me. i was left with a lot of questions that I didn’t feel were answered or resolved.

the book isn’t BAD, and if you’re someone who likes a fast moving plot it might be a better fit for you, but it wasn’t the read for me.

***thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy 🫶🫶🫶***

cw: crime scene discovery, sex trafficking, guns, violence, domestic abuse
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~~~
🏷️: #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booktok #bookish #reading #books #readersofinstagram #booksta #arc #arcreader #ebook #thrillerbook #mysterybook #thegirlsinthebasement#netgalley

I love a good Steena book and this one did not disappoint! I couldn't put it down! Jillian and her husband have married for 20 years. She feels like they know everything about each other now. But do they? Jillian and her family just moved to Montana recently and shortly after a trailer full of dead bodies is found on their property. Surely that must have happened before they moved in, right? Her husband begins acting guilty. Does he have something to hide?

Jillian, her husband and their young son move around a lot. She is tired of this and wants to stay in one place.
When they move to a remote farmhouse property she is happy until dead bodies are found in some old vehicles behind some overgrown land.
A story with some very upsetting scenarios that could give you nightmares.
The ending left me with many unanswered questions and some characters stories were abandoned.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a brilliant read .This book is a real page turner I couldn't put it down it keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way through . Fantastic book .

This is definitely a first rate thriller. The story moves at a rapid pace. I read through this exciting story in a day. I couldn't put this book down. There are some triggers in the story but its worth powering through to finish this tale. I loved it.

Jillian thought she knew her husband. They’ve been married for twenty years. But she doesn’t know him at all. Jillian Harper thought moving to the quiet little town in Montana would be the fresh start her family needed. A charming farmhouse, friendly neighbors, and endless open fields it was supposed to be perfect. Until the bodies are found. Buried deep on their land. Hidden for years! Wow! That was a crazy chilling thriller! Some psycho characters in this one! It had great suspense, mystery, gruesome murders, intriguing, abuse, gaslighting, and some crazy twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Jillian Harper thought that moving to Montana would be the beginning to the end of the chaos that has followed her family. However, that was before the bodies were found on their new property. Thrown into a new whirlwind of crazy Jillian has to step back and assess if she really knows who her husband is, and what she is willing to do to keep their family together.

"The Girls in the Basement" by Steena Holmes is a thriller that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. I literally could not put it down. All of the characters and the storylines blended together so perfectly. The ending was satisfying but now I want spin-offs!