I really liked this book it was very quick and kept me wanting to know more with each chapter. This is my first read by this author and I will be picking up more to read from her. I loved the different perspectives through out the story. I did find the wife a little clueless and I don't know if she was just that wrapped up in her own life to know that something wasnt just right about her husband. A good read for anyone that likes a good mystery. I listened to this audio book.

Steena Holmes wrote this well and was glad I got to read this. this was a strong psychological thriller novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. It was a strong psychological element that I wanted and was engaged with the suspenseful atmosphere that I was hoping for. I enjoyed the twists and how it was used in the storyline. The characters were everything that I wanted in this and had that secrets that I was expecting.

Jillian has been married for over twenty years but does she really know him? They had entered a witness protection programme but left voluntarily with her husband explaining it was for their own protection. They move to a rural farmhouse in Montana and start building a new life. That life is shattered when bodies are found on their land. They’ve clearly been there a while but how much does her husband know.

I found the lead character to be infuriating. She had a strong moral compass yet was happy to gloss over the things she really didn’t want think about. There were numerous loose ends and I found the ending unsatisfying. A fast paced read though if slightly infuriating.

This was ok, it didn’t really grip me like I was expecting which was disappointing as I’ve heard other people LOVE this book so maybe just wasn’t my cup of tea!
I would say If you’re a thriller fan and love suspense give this a try as you may love it, it was just very average for me!

I love a good thriller and this did not disappoint. Plenty of twists and turns. The characters were great and it had a really good plot, although it does cover some very disturbing topics.
My only complaint is that after all the build up, the ending was a bit disappointing.

Otherwise a good read

The Girls in The Basement by Steena Holmes is a slow burn thriller that slowly divulges secrets of the Harpers. Jillian and her husband Tucker have just moved to town when bodies were discovered on her property. Jillian puts 100% faith into her husband but can he be trusted? Is he telling the truth?
The story is very hard to get into in the beginning. It is repetitive with Jillian suspecting Tucker of something and Tucker brushing her off with an excuse that he doesn't want to talk about it. Then there is the side stories of the girl in the house and the FBI investigation into an another suspect. You wonder what all of this has to do with each other but if you stick it out you will see the connections and it will all make sense.
I enjoyed the story and I think it is worth a read if you enjoy slow-build thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Book for the advanced copy.

DNF. Unfortunately I really couldn’t get into this book. I got to about 35% of the way through and not a lot had really happened between the start and where I got to. I found Jillian boring, she knows her husband is dodgy but asks about it, he doesn’t tell, she moves on, gets upset again and then the cycle repeats. Also, this is supposed to be a standalone but it refers to the past a lot to the point I feel like I’m reading in the middle of a series. There’s thinking about things that have happened but making it out like we’ve been dumped half way though a story is just too much.
It had the potential to be gripping but it was too slow for me.

🏠 The story follows Jillian and her husband Tucker who have moved to Montana with their son. They are hoping to start a new life leaving the past behind until two trailers full of dead bodies are found on their property. Tucker claims that he has no idea about the bodies. Is he telling the truth? Does Jillian really know her husband?

🏠 Pick this up if you like/ don’t mind:
📌 psychological/ dark thriller
📌 slow burn
📌 multiple POVs
📌 addictive read/ binge worthy
📌 UNLIKEABLE characters
📌 hidden dark secrets/ missing girls
📌 rushed ending/ unanswered questions
📌 human/ sex trafficking ⚠️

🏠 Did I initially struggle to engage with the plot? Yes. Did I later on become totally “hooked?” Yes. Did the story keep me on the edge of my seat? Yes. Did I lose track of time while engrossed in the story? Yup, I stayed up late to finish it. Did I finish it in two sittings? Yup, I had to know what was happening and what dark secrets everyone was hiding. Did the ending answered all my questions? NO.

🏠 Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC.

Very good read, it's written from different perspectives and that makes it so interesting. You can really feel the pressure the police, the wife who is worried her husband is not who he seems. I especially loved the relationship between the main character and her mother. Their bond is so strong, and they've got each others backs no matter what. I love that. A good angle from the FBI agent too. That was really well written too.

Jillian and her husband Tucker, always moving around until they moved to Montana where Jillian believed it was to be their haven. That is until bodies are found in containers on their land. The containers had been hidden on the land for years. As a police investigation begins Tucker starts acting more and more shifty. Jillian knows Tucker is covering something up but nothing can prepare her for the truth.
It is a brilliant read, tense, nail biting and riveting. There are twists the reader does not see coming. I would recommend this to any reader who loves a twisted thrilling ride.

Very interesting story and plot line. You never truly know people even sometimes family. It’s scary how deceitful people can be!

This was not a top read for me- it felt anticlimactic with unbelievable characters. The story centers on Jillian, who has moved to a tiny town in Montana with her husband after they were involved in something that made them have to start over somewhere else. Jillian is also still constantly on the lookout for her friend Becky, who disappeared as a teen, and is laser focused on doing what is best for her young son. Almost as soon as they arrive, they are caught up in another scandal when bodies are found on their newly purchased property, causing Jillian to question how much her husband Tucker really knows. We also get some chapters throughout the book told from the POV of Lola, a young girl living in a house where it seems that there is human trafficking happening.

The story felt unbelievable to me. I couldn't believe how Jillian could be so far in the dark about things going on around her while also telling the reader that she is not the kind of woman who can be pushed around. There were also decisions that other characters made which felt like they were for either shock factor or to tie up a loose end versus what a reasonable person would really do. That being said, I did appreciate how far all of the mothers in the book would go to protect their children. There also wasn't any real mystery in this story- it all felt straightforward to me with the reader knowing more than the characters and just waiting for the characters to catch up. The ending tied the story up but nothing really came as a surprise.

Overall, while this was a quick read, it didn't really do it for me, with unrealistic characters and not much suspense. Rounded up from 2.5 starts. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

All through this book I was so sure I would be giving it 5 stars. It is probably the most exciting book I have read in a long time. From the very first page I was hooked. The description of Lola and the fact that she had to hide from some mysterious people who were coming to her house was such a great start. I didn't know if this was happening in the best, present or future. Or if it was all in someone's mind. All I knew was that I had to find out more and the scattered chapters about her had me racing through the book. So why the lost star? At about 90% of the story I was sure there would have to be a sequel, there was no way this story could be wrapped up in the last couple of chapters. Unfortunately the author thought otherwise and crammed the ending into them. It was such an anti-climax. Even the little hint of a cliffhanger couldn't save it. I had been planning to seek out the author's back catalogue but now I probably won't bother. Just a few more chapters would have eased my frustration but it wasn't to be.. Such a disappointment .

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ

Jillian Harper sees her family’s move to an idyllic town in Montana as the fresh start they all need and a chance to give her son the life he deserves.

Whilst navigating a lingering trauma and trying to rebuild her life, the discovery of multiple bodies on the grounds of their new farmhouse throws her back into a turmoil she was hoping to leave behind.

Police enquiries uncover secrets that stir up Jillian's growing suspicion of her husband, Tucker. Does he know more than he's letting on? And how much can she really trust the man she shares a life with?


This thriller was such an engrossing read. I was always eager to dive back into it and find out what was going on!

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 explores some heavy themes but they ar handled in a delicate manner, with both hopeful and heart breaking conclusions.

Told from multiple perspectives, the flawed characters and their imperfect choices make them relatable and realistic, their human errors making the twists in the plot more unpredictable.

In some ways, the ending felt a little rushed but I was still satisfied with the answers I received.

An easy, cosy read for anyone who likes mysteries

This book was a DNF for me. I felt like it jumped around a lot. Couldn’t get into any of the characters or the plot… was just not it for me

Wow! So many questions! Just finished this title and am still reeling

Gillian Harper has recently moved to her perfect home settling in with her husband and young son she hopes for a bright future.

Until the bodies are found.

Bodies have been buried for years surely her husband can have nothing to do with what’s been going on? But what secrets is he hiding? Why have they been running? Why are they in hiding?

Throughout this book, we followed Gillian as she discovers the secrets. Her husband has been hiding for all these years.

We also follow agent Meri, as she and the local sheriff investigate the bodies and the story behind them. Meri, has been searching for 20 years for her sister who vanished as a teenager has she finally found the answers?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The twist that turns I struggled with Gillian‘s naivety but despite that did feel the characters were well written and well developed. The ending has left me with so many questions I feel like there needs to be more and I’m hoping that there will be answers to come in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read to this title

A compelling read for those who appreciate psychological thrillers that explore the darker aspects of human relationships and the enduring impact of past traumas.

This was not my favorite book. I definitely struggled to get thru this one. I wanted to like it because I was so invested in the real life stories of the girls in Cleveland. This just lacked.

Fantastic book. I loved the storyline, the characters and I was up all night reading this. The only bad thing was that it had to end. Definitely 5 stars for this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jillian's best friend disappears when they were young. Ever since Jillian has been on the lookout for her. One day at the grocery store she sees a woman that looks like her friend Becky.
On Jillian's family land there is a truck trailer filled with girls that have been killed. Is Jillian's husband Tucker involved?
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Joffe Books.