The Sister Under the Stairs

by Steena Holmes

Please note this is a revised edition of Lies We Tell Ourselves.

My twin sister disappeared twelve years ago.

Jess went missing on our way home from school. We were sixteen. Dad’s golden rule was Never walk home alone. But I was in a hurry and she was flirting with boys. She just vanished. No word. No sightings. Nothing. My family destroyed.

I blame myself. And I won’t ever give up looking for her.

Each year, on the anniversary of Jess’s disappearance, a bunch of flowers is delivered to our home, along with a note. Two words: I’m sorry.

It’s the only clue we’ve ever had as to what happened. Until the day I get a text: I found her.

And in my desperation to know the truth, I’m walking into a carefully-laid trap . . .

The truth about what happened to my twin is even worse than I could ever have imagined.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Book Club

354 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2020

About the author

Steena Holmes is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with nearly 3 million copies of her titles sold worldwide, including The Patient, The Forgotten Ones, and Sister Under the Stairs.

Named in the Top 20 Women Author to Read by Good Housekeeping, she won the National Indie Excellence Award for her breakout novel Finding Emma and the USA Book News Award for The Word Game. Steena has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, websites such as Goodreads, BookBub, RedBook, Glamour, Coastal Living and Goodhousekeeping.

One of Steena's passions is to travel with her readers, so she created her Sweet Tours, where she shares her love for the sweet life with her readers, whether in Paris, Italy, or exploring Christmas Markets.
To learn more about her books and join her on the next Sweet Tour, visit her website at http://www.steenaholmes.com.
You can also find Steena on the web at:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorsteenaholmes
Facebook: SteenaHolmes.author

LIST OF HER NOVELS STARTING FROM MOST RECENT:

SHE TOOK MY BABY

THE GIRLS IN THE BASEMENT (follow up to The Sister Under the Stairs)

THE TWIN

ENGAGED TO A SERIAL KILLER

THE SISTER UNDER THE STAIRS

THE PATIENT

THE FORGOTTEN ONES

SAVING ABBY & ABBY'S JOURNEY

THE WORD GAME

Stillwater Bay Series:
Stillwater Shores
Stillwater Rising
Stillwater Tides
Stillwater Deep

The Memory Child & The Memory Journal

FINDING EMMA series:
Finding Emma
Dear Jack
Emma's Secret
Dottie's Memories
Megan's Hope

Reviews

[Ashley Fusco · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I’m going against the majority here, but I really didn’t love this book. I did like that it started off fast paced, and I liked the ending for the most part, although I found it really predictable.

The characters got under my skin! I hated Paiges helicopter parenting style, I hate the way she treated her fiancé and her mother and I couldn’t give her the sympathy I think the author wanted readers to. Meri was such a random character for me and I really don’t see how/why she fit into the story.

The story was also confusing at parts and I found myself reading parts again to make sure I didn’t miss something.

A lot of people loved this book so maybe my expectations were too high, but after reading some really good books lately, this one fell flat for me.

[Kitter Bitters · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too Complex and Not Worth It

This book was annoying. The author tries to weave three stories together and basically forces them to work. It doesn’t feel natural at all. I don’t know where the under the stairs comes in. There are some deep emotions to be felt but honestly it all felt like a waste of time. I enjoyed reading it but I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody. It’s rushed at the end and very forced.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special, special thanks to the author for allowing me to be part of her reader team on this novel!

*Trigger warning: This novel features aspects of human trafficking, abduction, and domestic abuse/violence. *

Twelve years ago, Paige’s twin sister, Jessica, went missing, without a trace. Full of guilt and self-blame, Paige has tried for years to make amends, including working with CHILD, an organization that works to fight human trafficking. One day, Paige receives a phone call and the three simple words she hears—“I found her”—are enough for Paige to put everything on the line. Soon she is in a fight for her life, in the hopes of finding her long-lost sister.

Steena Holmes’ new novel, “Lies We Tell Ourselves” is unlike anything we’ve seen from this author before. The author of “Finding Emma”, “Saving Abby” and the “Chocolate” series (written under the name of Steena Marie) , “Lies” is suspenseful, gripping and completely addicting, pulling the reader into the dark underbelly of human trafficking and the heroes who seek to rescue its victims.

Paige is a case worker, working a call centre for human trafficking sightings, and helping families deal with the horrible tragedy of abduction. Desperate for a clue about her twin sister, Jessica, Paige is warm, caring and honest, but also brave and determined. Frantic to make a change and help others, she is a relatable and empathetic character, and I immediately rooted for her from page one. I am going to give Ms. Holmes bonus points for the character of Sam, the little Down’s syndrome son of one of the victims- I ADORE him!

The story is told from alternating viewpoints and time periods. We hear from Paige (of course) , as well as Detective Meri Amber and an unnamed victim in the hospital (who we can only speculate on her identity until the last chapters) ; the story takes place in present day, seven days ago (and counts down from there) , and one chapter takes places twelve years ago, when Jessica was taken. Although there is quite a bit of jumping back and forth, the chapters are clearly labeled and the plot is easy to follow.

There are a few clues throughout the novel that give chase to speculation as to who the suspect could be. It doesn’t smack you in the face, but if you pay close enough attention, you can figure out who plays a role in not only Jessica’s abduction, but several others. There is a slight twist at the end as well, making the ending not entirely predictable, and it is definitely left wide open, with room for a sequel (or two) .

I was confused as to the Gabrielle plotline; she plays such a strong role throughout the entire novel and then at the end, her outcome is merely glossed over- I had a lot of questions about her ending that were not resolved (in this novel anyway) . Due to the fact that there is quite obviously going to be a sequel, I will simply hope that I get more answers in future novels.

“Lies We Tell Ourselves” is gripping, emotional and suspenseful, filled with relatable characters. A creative foray into a new genre, Holmes definitely needs to bring some more books like this to life! I can’t wait for the sequel to this novel, and I really hope “Lies” brings attention to an all-too-real and disturbing topic that is on the ride in today’s society.

[Mónica C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m going to go against he grain here, but I think the book was mediocre - leaning towards bad. You could predict who the “bad guy” was practically from the beginning.
The characters are neither believable nor likeable - especially Paige. How can she be so terribly bad at her job? Does she NEVER do background checks? And, if she does, how can she be that bad at it and yet keep her job? Not to mention the fact that no self-respecting organisation would hire someone so personally invested. The way she treats her son and partner is also horrible - no partner would put up with it, even if just for the sake of the kid. She is selfish and self obsessed, and blames all her many fails on her trauma.
What is the point of detective Amber? She is totally unnecessary, except to throw suspicion over Monique… just based on a hunch. Totally irrelevant character… unless her only point was to show how useless the local detectives were. They didn’t check backgrounds of the people they were working with either.
The writing is confusing at times - I guess it tries to look clever, it just feels as it he editor did a sloppy job. There are lots of plot holes - how can they explain that an unconscious patient is identified by a friend, when she has family in town? Even with identical twins, did nobody x-rayed the patient and realised she had old fractures Paige did not? When Jessica said she was NOT Paige, why did Monique not immediately realise who she was? She had been looking for her for years, after all.
In short, the idea was intriguing, the execution awful.

[Tammie P ℓօรƭเɳαɓօօҡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Compelling Premise That Falls Flat

The Premise
The Sister Under the Stairs is told from the perspective of Paige, whose twin sister, Jess, disappeared twelve years ago. Paige blames herself for the disappearance, as she was supposed to wait for her sister on their walk home from school. This trauma fuels her life's work at CHILD (Children who are Hidden, Lost or Disappeared), as she has never given up on the search for her twin.

Sigh. I thought I was going to like this one. ​This was a profoundly disappointing read, which is a shame, because the book starts with such an intriguing concept. Unfortunately, that initial promise quickly dissipates. The pacing feels sluggish, making it a struggle to stay invested in what’s happening on the page. The only reason I finished the book was my commitment to finding out if Paige would find her sister; the overall story didn't hold my interest.
The one notable highlight is the reveal of the antagonist, but it's not enough to save the overall narrative. Hence, my rating below:

I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.

Rating Breakdown:
Suspense/Pacing - 2/5
Intrigue/Plot Complexity - 2/5
Character Depth/Motivation - 2/5
Twists/Surprises - 3/5
Violence/Intensity - 2/5
Resolution/Satisfaction - 2/5

I purchased a copy of this novel (publication date: August 28, 2025). All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steena Holmes has written a story about grief, loss and guilt. It was hard for me to read because of the subject matter, but it is well written and examines the subject of child abductions. Recommend.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me the chills! Absolutely, chills! The theme of human trafficking is hard to read about, so I cannot imagine living through it or surviving it. Paige Fischer has an identical twin sister who disappeared twelve years before. Now that she is working for CHILD, an organization dedicated to helping families of the missing and to help locate them if possible, Paige is totally focused on her work and is losing track of her own small family. But that seems to be all that she can do, help others find the closure that she has never had and to one day hope to find Jess. With the help of Detective Lindsay, a determined and tireless supporter of her efforts, Paige tracks the lost and Lindsay tries to bring them home. This book frustrated me because I wanted the victim, Angel, to get out of her plight more quickly. I know that the plot had to run its natural course, but it was so hard to read about what Angel had to go through with her captor. The plot was well-developed with characters that I either loved or hated, no in-between. For example, I hated Paige’s boss because she did not seem to understand Paige’s desperation to find her sister. I sped through this book, finding the different POV’s challenging at times because I just wanted to get back to Angel’s story. However, all of the POV’s gradually meshed as the story rushed to its conclusion. Fans of thrillers and suspense will not be able to put this book down. It’s a fast-paced, heart-tugging and realistic book that will long stay with me, even now that I have finished it. Somewhere, someone is like Angel, crying for help, with no one to hear.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

[Rachel Girdler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn’t impressed. While Holmes was trying to draw attention to sex trafficking and I think use this book as a PSA on how it affects family’s and that it is a real issue in the US as well… the vast majority of victims aren’t kidnapped randomly and held hostage. It does happen, but This is an outdated and misused metaphor that is constantly repeated. As someone who works in HT prevention and previously in aftercare / survivor services, this is a major problem with the writing.

Literary and thematic wise: There are major plot holes and the characters are inconsistent and not very likable. The book as a whole, as well as the ending, are unrealistic. That a human trafficking ring would be found and broken up, two victims would be found that had each been Missing more than a decade, and a third case would be pulled in from another city that connected to a different serial kidnapper all in the span on 1 week because of trafficking hot line… it’s not anywhere close to believable. It’s just not a good book.

[Harriet Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5
Title makes no sense, which annoys me.
Liked the story but wasn't fully shocked by the ending.

[Georgia Birch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could be the hardest rating of a book yet. So I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, like really really loved it. BUT it was so messy, very confusing and a lot of things didn’t even make sense. There’s a lot of answers I am missing in my head, like who actually took Gabrielle? Who was the suspicious nurse? Also what a massive coincidence that there were two girls with sons found on the same day. It just wasn’t piecing together in my mind and then it ended so abruptly. It kinda felt like reading a first draft and not an actual book!

[Susan (The Book Bag) · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! This book had me spellbound from the very first, intense, heart-pounding chapter. I knew I was in for a roller-coaster ride when I came to the end of those first few pages. And it didn't let up—there where multiple times that my heart was racing just like the characters' were. So intense and scary!

Like a lot of other thrillers that I have read, there are so many twists and turns to the storyline, as well as being full of those characters that you aren't sure if you can trust. Who is the bad guy, and how can he really be that evil? So many questions and doubts. But Steena has woven a story that is impossible to figure out until you get to the end of this exciting story and everything you thought you knew is wrong.

I love this dark side to Steena's writing that we've been seeing lately and these dark stories of hers just keep getting better and better. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

I highly recommend Lies We Tell Ourselves! If you're up for an amazing thriller, this is the one you should dive into.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book of 2021 is Steena Holmes’ newest book “Lies We Tell Ourselves”. Boy oh boy did this keep me awake into the wee hours on New Years Eve. It grabbed me from the first page, was full of suspense and kept me engaged till the end. I will admit to not knowing very much about sex trafficking and this was eye opening! It’s so scary this is going on every single day.

[Jennifer Nethers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate the story this book is trying to tell and the awareness it is trying to raise. It starts off rather strong, reading almost like an FX procedural TV show that you want to binge watch. However the writing loses momentum and credibility when the "twists" end up to just be major plotholes or just complete story changes at the end of the book. Not twists in the sense that if you reread you'll notice how the pieces fit together but more like the author wanted to play God and make changes in the middle of things because she could, ultimately making for a confusing and unbelievable ending. The ending was rushed and thrown together to tie everything with the proverbial bow, another disservice to the underlying PSA about sex trafficking. I'm disappointed that the message gets so lost in the story-telling and I would not recommend wasting time on this cheap thrill when there are so many good real stories that have been told by survivors.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book and found it to be very confusing. Several times I looked back to see if my kindle had somehow jumped forward because I felt like I was missing chunks of time. If I were reading a paper book, I would have wondered if pages had been ripped out or were stuck together.

I got the impression that the author had an idea she wanted to present, that her goal was to provide information about sex trafficking, but she had to add a story as a vehicle to get her perspective across to the readers. The characters were not well developed - hard to tell the difference between Mari and Paige. No background on Detective Lindsay to explain his dedication to the cause. Pastor Jeremy seemed like an awkward, forced character that only made sense at the end, but that only emphasized his awkward involvement.

The whole thing just left me feeling lost, confused and unsatisfied.

[Hannah McKinnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In LIES WE TELL OURSELVES, Steena Holmes once again demonstrates she’s a master of suspense and doesn’t blink while tackling gut-wrenching material. A deftly-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller that will make you gasp as the truth about what really happened to Jessica Fischer is slowly revealed, and culminates in an explosive finale.

[Joanne Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grabbed at the prologue and couldn’t put it down 🌟

[Lizzie McNally · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paige and her twin sister Jessica are 16 years old and walking home from school. When they have an argument, Paige goes home and Jessica disappears. Now, 12 years later, Paige is working with an organization called CHILD that helps families of children who have disappeared into the world of sex trafficking. She has a wonderful fiancé and son but won't consider moving forward with her life until her sister is found. When a local sex ring is discovered in her area, she hopes and prays that her sister will be found even as she helps other families that are part of CHILD.

I really don't want to say more about the plot because I don't want to give away any clues but I will tell you that it had me racing through the pages to find out what happened to Jessica. I planned to read a few chapters of this book on a Saturday morning but ended up doing nothing the rest of the day but reading it - no cooking or cleaning - because I couldn't put the book down. I have read and enjoyed all of Steena's books but this one was absolutely her best!

Sexual trafficking is a horrific part of our current society and the information in this book was at times difficult to read but it's something that everyone needs to be aware of. Education and awareness are the beginning of stopping it and we all need to work to put an end to sexual exploitation of minors.

Steena has given her readers a fantastic story about the terrible things that people can do to others and about the bond between sisters that can't be broken. I read a lot of books every year and this novel is one of my favorites of the year - you don't want to miss it!

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty fast paced suspense around a child trafficking ring. Paige is still grieving and looking for her sister that’s been missing for years. She can’t get on with her life until she finds her sister. She’s involved with a group who supports families also looking for their loved ones. Is everyone working for the group on the up and up? The last half was a real page turner with an unexpected twist. I can see where a sequel could happen. The book helps us to see if we see something; do something. So much is happening right under our noses. Thanks to the author for the ARC; all opinions are my own.

[ROBIN RUIZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to a twisty, page turner, wild ride !
Twelve years ago Paiges twin sister, Jessica disappears, to this day it is Paiges life work to help all families if missing children. She works for an organization called CHILD.
Here we see and feel the pain of these families, the desperation and every parent nightmare.
I don’t want to give any spoilers but this is Steena Holmes at her best ! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and my brain had everyone lying and everyone telling the truth.

[Laural Locke · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not get into this book. First off very predictable - I guessed who the culprit would be within the first 50 pages. Second - idk if it was my attention span but there were so many unnecessary characters and storylines that were hard to follow and they never seemed to circle back to a point of why it was included in the book. I’m not sure how this book has a 4 plus rating - it just wasn’t it for me.

[Trinica Shumate · Rating 1 out of 5]

Preachy

This book felt preachy throughout, which is not a good thing. The main narrator was whiny and unlikable. No town is so wrapped up with missing children, so it felt unrealistic. I typically finish a book in a few hours, but this one took days, and that's AFTER skipping 20% and only skimming the rest.

[Taylor Hadaway · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slooooooooow. Boringgggg. Predictableeee.
One star because I had to rate it. One star for me because I finished this snooze fest.
Not much else to say, just slow, boring, and predictable.
2/5 stars.

[Puja · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 10%

[Ariane Baet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the twist and the work up to it! Trying to get away from crime fiction but I just can’t seem to 🥲

[Clued-in With A Book (Elvina Ulrich) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Truth is ugly. It's never easy, even when sugar-coated. Truth strips us of all our ignorance, wishful dreams, and dredges up pain we've all tried to hide"

The Story: Twelve years ago, Paige Fischer made a bad decision that ended with the disappearance of her twin sister, Jessica. Carrying the guilt ever since, Paige is determined to look for her sister as long as it takes. Paige now works for CHILD - Children who are Hidden, Lost or Disappeared and one day, she gets the long awaited phone call - "I found her." Can this really be true? Is Jessica still alive?

My thoughts: This is one riveting mystery/thriller that I couldn't put down! The plot is filled with suspense and twists. It delves into the heartbreaking subject of human trafficking and we see the devastation from both sides of this tragedy - the families and the victims. It was hard to read at times.

Both Paige and Jamie are such endearing characters that will stay with you for a long time. Jamie is very supportive of Paige's mission to find her sister. We also see how Jessica's disappearance has changed Paige and her mother's relationship. It was pretty emotional.

I enjoyed this book overall. It is both a plot and character driven story. I think the author did an excellent job in balancing these in the story by giving us an intense story while drawing out the emotions and feelings of these characters that are relatable. This was my first book by Steena Holmes and will not be my last. A must read!

This book is available now and portions of every print sale will be donated to RESET Society of Calgary - a non-profit organization that provides support and safe housing to women and girls ages 16 and over exiting sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Please visit www.resetcalgary.ca for more information.

***Thank you Kate Rock Book Tours and author Steena Holmes for having me in Lies We Tell Ourselves Book Tour, and for this gifted review copy in exchange for an honest review. ***

[Jenny Coyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second time I'm reading this book. I originally read it when it was published as Lies We Tell Ourselves. When I found out the sequel was coming out I wanted to read it again to refresh my memory.

As it has been a few years, there was enough that I didn't remember that the book was fresh for me. What I did remember was feeling confused and not quite sure if I completely understood the outcome in the end. This is one of those books that you benefit from reading twice as it made more sense to me the second time around.

I really enjoyed the tension and suspense. I never would have guessed who was behind the sister's kidnapping and had no idea if there was a chance of her being found alive or if she had died long ago.

As much as I enjoyed this one, The Girls in the Basement (the sequel to this) is even better!

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. You know a book is going to be good when it starts with a reader warning. Although this book was not based on true events or an actual true story, I felt like it was! I was sad and heartbroken by it but it's a reality we live in, and sadly doesn't always have a happy ending. I wanted to know more and how these girls were going to go home to their families.

[Wendy Deerwester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good story!

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0