Have you ever imagined you’d know someone for a long time and then realize you truly never did know them at all? That’s how Jillian feels when secrets are revealed about the property she and her husband, Tucker, recently purchased. Horrifying details emerge and Jillian is forced to attempt to carry on her daily life as usual. With the sheriff and a determined FBI agent on the case, every horrific clue will lead to answers. This was a very good and tense psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages!

This is the first novel I’ve read from Steena Holmes and having enjoyed this books so much, I’m eager to read more. The Girls in the Basement is a fast paced psychological thriller. Jillian through she knew her husband Tucker, they’ve been married for twenty years, but it seems she doesn’t know him at all. They’ve moved to Montana with their son Ethan for a fresh start. The house is perfect, the town quiet and the neighbours friendly. It was perfect, until the bodies were found. Buried by on their land. And now Tucker is acting strange, disappearing for hours and won’t tell Jill where he’s been. This book had me hooked from the start. The plot unfolds at pace and it’s impossible to put down. Thank you to NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author for the chance to review.

⭐️: 3.5/5

Jillian Harper and her husband, Tucker, just moved to Montana with their son. They’re settling in nicely and hoping for a fresh start; that is until someone gives law enforcement a tip that there are two trailers full of bodies on the Harper’s property.
Tucker claims that even though the house was bought at an unbelievable price, quickly with cash, and in his name alone, he had no idea about the bodies.
While picking up snacks before her son’s baseball game, Jillian swears she sees her best friend, who went missing when they were younger. Then again at the games, she’s adamant that it has to be her; they look so much alike. At the same time, Jillian is noticing unusual behaviors with her husband since they’ve moved. She’s worried he could be up to something, which is what caused them to move in the first place.
Does Jillian really know her husband of twenty years, the father of her son, as well as she thinks? Is the mystery lady at the baseball games her missing best friend? Was there more to this move than her husband let on?

I did really like this book, but the ending, ugh! 🤯 It’s hard to give this book a proper rating without giving an explanation that will involve spoilers.

The ending left me with so many unanswered questions. There definitely could be a sequel if the author wanted to tie up all the loose ends.

I have so many questions about the town, the sheriff, what happens after, what happened to the family, where did the bodies actually come from, and who should be held accountable!?!? SO MANY QUESTIONS‼️

I definitely will read more by this author. I only rated this book so low because of the way the ending lacked details and explanations.


✨Thank you @netgalley for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

A great book! I Couldn't put it down. The mystery of what's going on will keep you guessing until the end.

This book had me gripped from the beginning! The changes in POV definitely through me off until I got further into the book. I did kinda see where it was going but still enjoyed the journey never the less

It was fast paced and intriguing. I read a lot of suspense/thriller books and liked how it was a different take on sex trafficking, and kidnapping.

Please check your trigger warnings!

Thank you net galley for this ARC!

I love a spooky book! When bodies are found things get crazy. I loved the mom and the way the supports and stands with her family. This book is dark, brutal, and it leaves you uneasy alot. It's perfect!

This book is absolutely filled with suspense that will leave you on the edge of your seat, making your toes curl! This had me hooked from the moment I read the blurb until the last page! The story's secrets and suspense kept me turning every page quickly. It was an exciting read, filled with anticipation and an intriguing storyline. It's a domestic thriller novel about a family's dark secrets and mysteries and the lengths one will go in order to keep your family safe—even if it means keeping them in the dark.

I don't think I have a favourite character here, but I definitely like Jillian's mum and Agent Meri. I admired Kathy's unwavering support for her daughter and her daughter's friend and how relentless Agent Meri was in finding her lost sister. Despite loving the book, I must admit that the ending left me unsatisfied. I seemed rushed and left quite a few questions hanging. For example— what happened to Becky? Because her character deserves some closure and justice, she deserves so much more after all those years! In addition, Tucker's backstory and family secrets also lack explanation and elaboration, especially in the end. It overshadowed the brilliant start of the book. Nevertheless, the novel kept me engaged, and I would definitely recommend it.

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 one day bodies are discovered in old trailers on their property, opening a web of lies and mystery.

I had loved the premise of this book based on the description and the title, however I do feel slightly disappointed. The title for starters I think is a bit misleading, as although the story does tie back to the girls in the basement, I think their perspective/storyline along with the trafficking side of the story could have been touched on more. We did hear a little bit from the perspective of Lola, a girl in the trafficking house, but I did find it rather lacking and had hoped to hear more from her.

Same goes for Becky, another character tied in to the mystery -I felt her story ended rather abruptly and I had hoped we would have had more of a conclusion for her.

I did enjoy the multiple povs and it did have some good twists.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for approving me to read this!

Sometimes, you have to hide to protect yourself and your family. When this is no longer enough, even with the help of certain authorities, moving to a small village seems like the ideal solution.

Jillian and her son quickly find their footing, but when her husband, Tucker, starts acting strangely and gruesome discoveries are made on their vast property, doubt begins to creep in. She was convinced she knew him inside and out and could trust him completely, but now she’s not so sure anymore...

From the very first page, the author takes us to a place where inhumane things happen. The people behind these actions have no respect for their fellow human beings and see them as disposable once they are no longer useful.

It became quite clear to me early on who was aware of what was happening and who was responsible, so the revelations weren’t entirely surprising. However, that doesn’t mean everything was predictable—the author still managed to surprise me.

What I found a bit disappointing was that too much attention was given to things that didn’t really add much, while other aspects could have been explored in more depth. But, of course, this is just my personal opinion.

In short, I loved the setting, but the pacing was a bit slow. Jillian could have been a bit tougher, and Tucker lacked personality for me. Maybe he should have taken inspiration from the strength of his parents but used it in a different way. 4 stars.

Thank you

I personally found the book to have too many characters and it became confusing trying to figure out who was who and what storyline I was reading.

I liked the premise and I wish we had more chapters on Lola and Becky and more on the actual trafficking ring. I don’t feel the books title is overly accurate as we didn’t ever go into the basement. Yes, it was spoken about but unfortunately, it just needed to be explained more which would’ve made the story more interesting.

It’s a relatively quick and easy read but I wasn’t necessarily blown away by anything. Nothing against the author, it takes a lot to write a book! It just wasn’t for me.

The Girls in the Basement is deeply layered and darkly disturbing. Jillian is a strong woman who has been through the absolute ringer and I truly admire her but for me the star of the show is the wolf dog! While this wasn't a easy read due to the nature of the crime it was a hard one to put down. The author has woven a complexly plotted physcological thriller with a few likeable characters who seem ultimately down to earth and realistic. I felt my pulse pounding through my throat and I was anticipating the danger. I found it hard to take my mind away from the story even when I wasn't reading it and that is how I know that it's a page turning read.

WOW! Thank you Steena Holmes. I just love Steena's books and this may be one at the top of the list. This is such a gripping read you won't want to put it down so you can find out what is going to happen next. Steena writes about psychological thrillers and on the edge of your seat stories. This is kind of gut wrenching but oh so wonderful to read. This is about sex-trafficking, violence, and abuse. Thank you NetGalley and Joffee books for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this, I am rating it 3.25 stars.

I was intrigued by the blurb, and I did find the story quite engaging. I feel like the ending is a little bitter sweet and I would’ve liked more of a conclusion.

I quite liked Jillian and Meri, they both carried the story for me and their moral compasses didn’t waiver. Jillian especially had some tough choices, that being said I would’ve liked us to expand more on the ending with her and her family.

I recommend this for fans of fairly fast paced thrillers who enjoy a dark plot with multi POV.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm always very happy about an ARC and being able to give it a review! <3

I didn’t really get into this story at first. The characters felt kinda distant to me, and the writing style was a bit too stiff for my taste.

That being said, the story did start off strong – it jumps right in without wasting any time.

But like I said, it just really didn’t grab me.

This book was so good, it had me absolutely gripped from the very start and held me in its clutches until the very end. I read it in one sitting I couldn't put it down.
I spent my whole time reading this not knowing what to think or who to believe as you get multiple points of view but all the narrators are unreliable which kept me guessing all the way through. I loved it

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.