It was my first time reading something by this author and it enjoyed it right until the end! It has been a solid thriller, I was engaged, wanted to know more and hem it ended!! A few things were answered but lots weren’t, the ones that were weren’t answered satisfactorily and had there been a few more chapters laying it all out, this would have been 5 stars!

Leaving huge chunks out means 3

Dark Tale Well Told From An Interesting Perspective. First, I gotta give props to Holmes for the way she handled the trigger warning in this book. I personally prefer them to be on the author's website so those (like me) who prefer not to have any spoilers at all going into the book can have that experience, yet those who need/ want trigger warnings can still find that information as well. (Also, to be clear, Kindles automatically begin just after the table of contents in a book, so if a trigger warning is included at that spot, it *cannot* be easily skipped.) This noted, if you as an author are going to put one at the front of the book... maybe use a version of the one Holmes used here. ;)

As to the actual story here, it is one of those slower psychological thrillers where you *know* some *dark* stuff is going on largely behind the scenes... and even get the occassional glimpse of it from other characters... yet getting our main character to the point of seeing that which she has spent a lifetime not seeing.... takes some time.

One good thing that Holmes chooses here that keeps the book from going even more into the darkness is that while *some* aspects of the behind-the-pages darkness make it onto the page - enough to get a glimpse of all that is happening - that particular element isn't shown as much as perhaps some readers may want. Instead, Holmes focuses much more on the views of the wife who thinks her family is finally safe and can live a normal life... except that she keeps catching her husband having hushed conversations about... something. This, to me, is the far stronger storyline as it is one of the *less explored* stories in the genre generally.

There are a lot of characters here, absolutely, and while it can get a touch tough to track them all in the beginning, as the story plays out it does become much more clear who is doing what and when, particularly in the rather explosive climax.

For those who prefer their stories ended in nice little bows that wrap up every single thread... yeah, this aint that. And is actually a stronger tale because of it... and, perhaps, one that means that Holmes intends to come back to this world. Time will tell. ;)

Very much recommended.

The Girls in the Basement isn’t the first book I’ve read by Steena Holmes—and I already have another one waiting patiently on my Kindle TBR queue, which says a lot!

Once again, the author delivers a solid, dark, and twisty suspenseful read that I genuinely recommend to all fans of the genre. I’m not sure if it’s her engaging writing style, the vivid and insightful descriptions, or the powerful, haunting theme she explores—but I could clearly picture each scene playing out in my head.

That said, we don’t get all the answers. There are events from the past that I wish had been explored more deeply, and a few characters who definitely deserved better closure. Were these gaps intentional? If so, all those dark, intriguing backstories would make for a fantastic sequel—and I’d absolutely be on board to read it.

A gripping, dark and twisty thriller. 4 shiny stars!

This book was creepy and weird, and I could not get into it. It seemed really dark and just not my kind of thing.

3.5
This was my first time reading this author and overall I liked the story. I found this to be a slower paced thriller/mystery that was a good palate cleanser between bigger fantasy books.

From the title of the book I expected there to be a big dramatic scene in a basement but I don't think there ever was a basement - there are big scenes in other places though so it wasn't lacking in drama.
I often felt led to believe that a side character might have something more going on/I was suspicious of them but I think maybe this is supposed to be smoke and mirrors to keep you guessing - but I did find it a little disappointing that they were just who they said they were. Side characters that do have an underlying story however, I found their resolution a bit too easy/convenient.
I also felt the ending was a little lacking/kind of not satisfying - resolution could have been better/more I think.
Overall this wasn't a bad story but it also wasn't the best thriller I've ever read.

A haunting and well written thriller dealing with the seedy underworld of sec trafficking rings.
This book was steady paced and set in the quiet backdrop of a small town which was at odds with the premises it dealt with.
There were a few loose ends that I’d have liked to have known more about, like what happened to Becky and River plus more explanation about the hiding girl.
Well worth a read though.

The Girls in the Basement by Steena Holmes is a haunting psychological thriller that explores the deep emotional scars left by trauma, secrecy, and betrayal. It’s not a fast-paced, twist-every-page kind of thriller—but rather a slow-burning, emotionally layered story that pulls you in with a quiet intensity. While I didn’t find it completely immersive in every moment, I was deeply compelled by the themes, the atmosphere, and the painful truths it uncovered. For that reason, it earns a solid four stars from me.

What Holmes does especially well is build tension that doesn’t necessarily come from shocking reveals, but from an unrelenting sense of dread. From the opening chapters, there’s this gnawing feeling that something is very wrong—and she sustains that unease throughout the book. I appreciated how the story unfolds through multiple perspectives, each adding a new layer to the central mystery. Every character has their own secrets, and the slow unraveling of those secrets is what kept me invested, even during quieter moments.

Jillian, in particular, is a character I wanted to fully connect with—and while I didn’t always feel as emotionally close to her as I wanted, I did care about her story. Her emotional journey, especially in the face of betrayal and manipulation, felt raw and painfully real. There’s a certain distance in the way the story is told that occasionally made it hard for me to fully step into her shoes, but at the same time, that distance may reflect the emotional numbness and disorientation Jillian herself is experiencing. In a strange way, it worked—just not always in the most immersive sense.

What really impressed me was Holmes’s handling of heavy subject matter. This book doesn’t just hint at trauma—it dives headfirst into the psychological damage inflicted by abuse, gaslighting, and long-term manipulation. And yet, it does so with a level of care and thoughtfulness that doesn’t feel gratuitous. It’s uncomfortable at times, but that discomfort felt necessary and honest. Some of the twists, while not entirely unpredictable, still packed a punch, especially as the full scope of what was happening came into focus.

I’ll admit that parts of the story were emotionally difficult to read. There’s a darkness here that lingers, and I think that’s part of what makes the book effective. It may not have hit me on every emotional beat, but the overall impact was undeniable. It made me reflect on how trauma reshapes identity, and how people cope in the aftermath of profound betrayal and loss. That’s not something every thriller attempts, let alone pulls off.

In the end, The Girls in the Basement is a slow-burning, emotionally charged thriller that doesn't rely on flashy reveals but instead digs deep into the psychological damage hidden beneath the surface. While I didn’t feel completely immersed the entire time, I was absolutely drawn in by the story’s weight and complexity. For readers who appreciate darker, emotionally driven suspense with a strong psychological undercurrent, this book will stay with you. It certainly stayed with me.

Solid thriller! There was a lot of characters so it was a little hard to follow at times and I wish the ending game more but overall a good read!

This book kept me constantly on my toes, and when I got to the end, I felt like it fell short in many ways, and that even so, I would have read another 100 pages because the author truly knows what she's doing and how to draw us into the plot.

In this story, we meet a woman who thinks she knows her husband, but she doesn't. Several characters, several intertwining stories, and endings that are completely open in many ways, leaving you wondering why the author decided to end (or not) the way they did.

I think that was my main problem with the story. Because I wanted to keep turning the pages, and there weren't any more. THERE WERE NO MORE PAGES!

I need the extended version by tomorrow (?)

Thank you, Joffe Books, for the ARC I received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a gripping read, right away I was drawn into the danger and the growing suspense that kept the pace flowing, great twists too.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I absolutely love this author's books but I did not like the last one and decided to try another one. Sadly, I was very disappointed. This was just too dark for me and too many characters at once. I can normally keep up with this if the author is clear about them but this was a hot mess to me. I sure miss the old writings of this author.

Great book and full of suspense. This is the second book I have read from this author and she never fails to keep me interested. I will be going to find more of her work

A book you will not put down, from start to finish I was on the edge of my seat! This is a must read! I will definitely be reading more from this author!

Very good book! Very captivating from start to finish! With each page you're turning faster to find out what's going to happen next! It's also emotional! Your heart goes out to the characters in the situation as it plays out. The author did a phenomenal job... there's great foundation, easy flow from one page to the next, great world building, and relatability! I definitely recommend this book!

THE GIRLS IN THE BASEMENT BY STEENA HOLMES.
Release date set for the 190th of April 2025.
This is my first book by this author.
I was drawn to the cover instantly. I love it.
Mutiple POVs and really easy to follow along.
I thought this was a tense thriller.

The Girls in the Basement by Steena Holmes, published by Joffe Books, is a gripping, literally unputdowable thriller of its finest.
Complex, complicated with characters I could easily connect with, twisty and full of very unexpected turns that book had me in suspense from start till the last page.
I recommend the book, 4,5 stars.

A fast paced thriller that kept me up all night reading one more chapter till the end. Lillian and her family move to Montana but bodies are found and why is her husband so secretive? Plenty of twists in this well plotted novel that will keep you guessing till the end. Thanks to Joffe books and Netgalley for this review ARC.

Is her husband a monster? Does she know him?

Phew- this is a wild ride but so fun! I enjoyed the story, how it flowed and the ups & downs throughout. The twists twisted and I found myself excited to know more and unable to out it down!

Worth the read!

Absolutely loved this book, it is well written and such a great story which awful things happen in but the ending is good. I won't tell to much.

Thank you Joffe Books and Netgalley for this ARC! Another truly gripping story by Steena Holmes! When Jillian and her family move to Montana, her hopes to put down roots are tested once again. How did they get such a deal on her dream home? What is keeping her husband Tucker away from home and from explaining what’s going on. Why does Jillian think she sees her long lost friend that went missing 20 years ago? This page turner of a book will keep invested even when you put it down!