It was a good psychological thriller but I wanted more about the girls in the basement, about the s*x trafficking... And we got little to nothing on it. The ending also felt very rushed and unfinished, it just didn't do it for me.

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and Netgalley for this alc in exchange for an honest review.

The Girls in the Basement by Steena Holmes is a dark and twisted psychological thriller and it's the first book I've read by this author. The cover art really drew me in and made me curious. I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. With an interesting plot and unexpected twists, it was going really well. But the end kind of ruined it for me. It felt very rushed and unfinished. I did like the audiobook narration as well. The narrator's voice was perfect for this role.

I love me a good thriller. This had different povs and it left you asking the same questions some parts you saw where it was going but it was a fantastic thriller. My only complaint was the end just seemed rushed I wanted more thing tied up and more action taken on some people.

Thank You NetGalley for this Audio Arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed the story up until the last few chapters. There is so much lacking at the end! We are left with lots of unanswered questions. There were no twists and everything felt so anticlimactic! I was hoping for so much more at the end, especially because the buildup was so tense in the beginning!

I did enjoy the premise and thought it was perfect for a thriller. The multiple POVs were helpful. There are a lot of characters to get to know, but I found it easy to keep track of who was who. The author did a great job intertwining all of the different characters.

Overall, this was an engaging mystery, but sadly the ending really ruined it for me. I was hoping for more closure and bigger twists! The narration for the audiobook was great. If you decide to give this book a try, I’d listen to the audiobook!

The narration was great perfect speed and cadence. The story was terrible. Had really little to do with girls in the basement and more about a family’s messed up ties into a dark topic. Should have had a completely different title.

Well, didn't care for this one. Far too long and convoluted. Too many characters. I would not recommend.

3.25 stars

This book is listed as a psychological thriller, but I don’t think that is correct. It was not even really a thriller. This book is about human trafficking, but there wasn’t any intensity until the very end and that was very mild. Also, there were no twists in this book to make it a psychological thriller. Everything was very obvious throughout the book.

I also struggle with weak FMCs. You can’t tell me a wife would be that naive to not know what is going on when they have moved that many times and have been in the witness protection program. That annoys me.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I typically love this kind of thriller. Locked in captivity, a depraved family but this ultimately felt like all of the thrillers I’ve read before. Not bad by any means and I will still recommend it, it just felt a bit on the nose. I saw the twist coming from very early on and I can’t imagine how they were able to get away with it for as long as they did when they constantly were talking in the open and always being overheard?

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time!!

I was sent the ALC of this book to review and I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook! I feel like the Narrator did a good job conveying the many emotions in this book!

Now for my review of the story itself… yes! 5 star Thriller!!! The plot of this book was so good and honestly I was so sad to see it end!! I would love another book exploring the past with the other characters!

I do have 1 little issue and that is that at the end of the book I still had a few questions that didn’t get answered and so I was left unsatisfied with those plot lines…

Besides that I loved this book and I will definitely be telling all of my thriller loving book besties to pick this one up!!! So so good!!!

Plot line/ spoilers ahead

Jil thought they were starting over… new town and new home. It was supposed to be different this time… but now there are bodies, there are police and missing girls…
And Jil is starting to ask questions… why is this happening again? Can it really be a coincidence or is there something that Tucker isn’t telling her?

Mary is so so tired of being so close to answers yet so far away. How many trafficking rings does she have to shut down before she finds her sister? Will she ever find her or is she too late?? All she knows is she can’t give up because once again she is closing in and this time feels different… this time has to be it…. Right???

Lola is wondering when the jig will be up… she knows Mother can’t protect her forever and The Auction is coming up once again…. Will she be able to get away or is this the year she is put on the stage to be auctioned off to the highest bidder….

Dark story about human trafficking that runs fairly quickly with multiple perspectives and most characters are untrustworthy. The idea was decent, I just thought it was unreasonable to believe all the connections and decisions made by relatively intelligent adults. I have so many questions, which is OK, but it felt incomplete instead of realistic. Fans of dark thrillers will like this as long as they don't require total closure at the end of the story.

Told from four distinct points of view, The Girls in the Basement was a quick listen that kept me engaged—even if I left with more questions than answers.

There’s Jillian, living what looks like a quiet life in Montana with her husband and son... until bodies are found on their property and her husband’s behavior starts raising red flags. Then there’s Agent Meri Amber, on the hunt for a sex trafficker and still searching for her sister who vanished years ago. (Apparently, Meri appears in a previous Holmes novel, The Sister Under the Stairs, which I haven’t read—but this one stands on its own.)

Then we meet Lola, clearly a captive in a nightmarish world of sex trafficking, and Becky, stuck in a dangerously abusive relationship. These women’s stories intersect in a chilling conclusion that seems a little farfetched in how they are connected.

Christina Traister’s narration was strong and helped differentiate the voices well. And while I definitely enjoyed the listen, I can’t deny I had a lot of questions—most of which I can’t get into without diving into spoiler territory.

Still, if you're looking for a fast-paced, multi-POV thriller with a dark edge and a hint of hope, The Girls in the Basement is worth the download. Freida McFadden fans will enjoy.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for an advanced copy for review.

What a wild ride!!! I really enjoyed this Psychological Thriller thoroughly. There was so many layers, the different pov’s, and how all the characters connect yo the bigger story. I had no idea where this book was and in the beginning I was a little confused but once I caught on, man!! I don’t wanna give anything away but… You don’t know him like you think you do!! Great book, great writing, great storytelling. I’ll definitely be checking out more of this author’s books.

Enjoyed this quick thriller!
This was written in a way that made me feel like Lucinda Berry and Freida McFadden had a baby book.
I don't think it is quite the caliber of their writing yet, but so close!
The plot had me hooked for most of the book. There were a few places where the pace slowed a bit too much for me, but it quickly recovered.
Characters were well-developed. I did finish the book with several unanswered questions, much like some of my favorite thrillers, especially regarding Tucker, the MMC.
I also wanted to know more about the sheriff; something wasn't right with that part of the story, and I need to know! lol..
Jillian was a good FMC - I did want her to stand up and start taking care of business a little sooner, but she still rocked it out in several aspects of the story.
The subplot with Jillian's best friend and the detective's sister was well done. The writer did a great job giving those subplots the attention they needed without taking over the main plot line.
I highly recommend reading this book.
Trigger warnings: this book deals with sex trafficking, so be warned and read with caution. There were some areas I struggled with reading due to the content, but the writer does a great job with the way she respects writing about such a hard topic.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

The Girls in the Basement by Steena Holmes is a fully loaded, artfully crafted suspense thriller filled with twists and turns.
It begins with an intriguing chapter, making it clear that this will be a heavy book. The premise behind this story is heartbreaking!

The audiobook is narrated by Christina Traister, and her voice is a perfect match! She adapts the characters so skillfully that it often feels as if there are multiple narrators. You can sense how deeply she connects with this book!

Jillian and Tucker have been married for twenty years, but does she know him? They recently moved to a small town with their little boy, who is settling in at the local school. While one might assume they relocated for a fresh start, we quickly learn that they are fleeing from past secrets. After discovering two trailers full of bodies on their property, Jillian realises their past has caught up with them, but she's done with running! She is ready to confront the dark secrets of Tucker's past, although she isn't prepared for how they will unfold. Nothing could prepare her for the truth...

Even though I loved it, I felt something was missing. It didn't seem like I received all the answers, and unless I misunderstood, some stories felt abrupt. I prefer when all the dots are dotted on the i.

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 Nick Galley for the opportunity to listen to this title

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

The narration on this book flowed perfectly throughout and she did a wonderful job covering all the characters! The story was a bit dull for me at times and predictable, but there were some twists and turns that caught me off guard. I enjoyed all the background information that came to light and how detailed and descriptive the story was. I would recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers dealing with family and lots of death!

this was a very dark thriller, but absolutely worth the read. There were multiple POVs and a dual timeline that connected at the end and gave good backstory for the characters. the moral dilemmas that were faced were very tough: how do you do the right thing when it's the people you love who want you to do the wrong things? I hope to read more my the author!

thank you to NetGalley, the author Steena Holmes, and Brilliance Publishing for my ARC of this audiobook.

The Girls in the Basement by Steena Holmes is a captivating suspense audiobook. This book had me cleaning, organizing, walking more than I typically do because I did not want to stop listening. It was a very productive 2 day read for me. I also found myself talking to the main character. Saying things like "OMG, you can't seriously be this stupid", "Sis, you need a new husband", "Dude leave" and occasionally I'd be yelling at her "stupid, stupid, stupid". I'm pretty sure, my husband thought I was losing my mind.

I think Christina Traister did an amazing job narrating this book. Her voice brought you into the story, the feeling and emphasis that she added made added so much to this book.

I do believe the ending was rushed, especially compared to the buildup of the story. I do wish the author would have taken a little more time to wrap it up for us.

I will suggest this audiobook to my community and recommend it, I think anyone who likes suspense, thrillers and real-life horror will enjoy this book.

It took me way too long to realize it was about more than one family lol. I was too confused and didn’t get what was going on in 90% of the book. Everyone had the same voice.

This was such a good book the only reason it got 4⭐️ and not 5 is that I guessed a major twist before it happened but the other one caught me off guard and I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller