The Woman Beneath the Stairs

by Christopher Greyson

Uncovering her husband’s family secrets could cost her everything…

Ally’s perfect marriage to Tim Hawthorne is crumbling under the weight of one trial after another. Forced to visit Tim’s mother on her secluded island off the coast of Maine, Ally uncovers a sinister years ago, a member of the family was the prime suspect in a young woman’s disappearance from the same island. Now, history is repeating itself. Another woman has vanished without a trace. Ally digs into all the dark secrets of the Hawthorne family’s past, but what she discovers may cost her more than her marriage — it may cost her life.
From multi-award-winning Wall Street Journal bestselling author Christopher Greyson comes a heart-pounding psychological mystery thriller that will leave you gasping for breath until the shocking conclusion.

Grab your copy and start reading this electrifying novel today!

Christopher Greyson's novels have been read by millions of readers. Look for other standalone novels by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Christopher Greyson featuring leading man Detective Jack Stratton. These books can be read in any order.

The Detective Jack Stratton Mystery-Thriller Series
And Then She Was Gone (Prequel)
Girl Jacked
Jack Knifed
Jacks Are Wild
Jack and the Giant Killer
Data Jack
Jack of Hearts
Jack Frost
Jack of Diamonds
Captain Jack
Jack of Spades

Also by Christopher
The Girl Who Lived
• Best Mystery-Thriller eBook of the Year — Independent Publisher Book Awards
• Winner Best Thriller — National Indie Excellence Awards
• Winner Best Thriller — Silver Falchion Award
• Finalist eBook Fiction — Indie Book Awards
• Silver Medal Suspense — Reader’s Favorite Book Awards

One Little Lie
The Adventures of Finn & Annie
Pure of Heart
The Dark

KIKU – The Yakuza War Trilogy
A Beautiful Place to Die
Kindle the Fires of War
Dance of Death

Please visit ChristopherGreyson.com to find out more about your favorite characters, giveaways, and updates on new book releases and get a FREE copy of the exclusive Detective Jack Stratton short FIRST PATROL.

Enjoy this novel FREE as part of your Kindle Unlimited subscription. Start reading today!

Genres: Psychological Thriller, Thriller

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2024

About the author

My name is Christopher Greyson, and I am a storyteller.

Since I was a little boy, I have dreamt of what mystery was around the next corner, or what quest lay over the hill. If I couldn’t find an adventure, one usually found me, and now I weave those tales into my stories. I am blessed to have written over twenty novels.

My love for tales of mystery and adventure began with my grandfather, a decorated World War I hero. I will never forget being introduced to his friend, a WWI pilot who flew across the skies at the same time as the feared, legendary Red Baron. My love of reading and storytelling eventually led me to write and it’s the best job I’ve ever had.

I love to hear from my readers. Please visit ChristopherGreyson.com, where you can become a preferred reader, download an exclusive Jack Stratton mystery, and receive advanced notifications of book releases and more! Please follow Detective Jack Stratton on Twitter @chris_greyson and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherG.... Thank you for reading my novels. I hope my stories have brightened your day.

Sincerely,

Christopher Greyson

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

predictable

Boring and "flat" plot. Ridiculously stupid and waste of time. Do not recommend this book. The same lines and ideas are repeated continuously

[sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the twists and turns

Huge fan! Well written and definitely keeps you guessing. Fantastic! Couldn't put it down! Truly kept you on the edge of your seat

[Jeanette Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok

I read the book intermittently because it was convoluted and a bit long-winded. The ending was unsatisfactory and a bit of an overkill as far as I'm concerned. Some may love this book I just didn't....

[Anna B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Woman Beneath The Stairs is the best psychological suspense I’ve read in a long time. Brilliantly written, it grabs you and won’t let go.

Tim and Ally embark on a trip to Maine to see his ill mother and twin brother Tom. When they arrive at the home on a private island things aren’t as expected. When the police arrive looking for a missing woman and try to implicate her husband she isn’t sure what to believe. Soon bodies are stacking up, their boat is sabotaged, and they have no communication with the outside world.

Ally is already struggling with depression and taking medication. When she starts to hear a woman’s voice she wonders if what’s she’s experiencing is real or a figment of her imagination. She needs to find out the truth.

Each person in the book has quirks, attitudes, or physical characteristics that set them apart from the rest making it interesting while strengthening the mystery as to who is actually committing murder on the island, and why.

I love a book that keeps me guessing right to the end and this one hit the mark. It was perfectly paced, with each clue hidden within diversions that sent me on a few side paths leading in different directions. Add in plenty of heart pounding action and I couldn’t put it down. 

I highly recommend this book.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ally and Tim have a close marriage, and they have just weathered one of the worst heartaches a couple can. When Tim is called yet again to visit his mother on her secluded island, Ally decides she is going with him this time to ensure he returns home instead of getting talked into staying longer. Once they arrive, things start unraveling: A boyfriend looking for his girlfriend last known to be on this island; Ally learning of Tim's first love who has been missing for years; the police now stuck on the island due to damaged boats and a captain leaving; Tim's uncle acting all aggressive and defensive; to Tim's mother, Victoria, controlling and emotional cutting everyone to the core. Ally hears a cry for help, and she has to decide if she is hearing voices again or is this real. It's a mix ready to implode, and I found Ally's bravery refreshing.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. With a strong set-up of an isolated island home giving the mystery a locked-room vibe, an unsolved scandal in the past, and a definite POV narrator, this should have been a fairly decent read. However, it is just a meh based on writing (uneven) and characters (large cast, lacking depth) and the plot feeling rather too "haven't we done this sort of thing before?" It wasn't bad and I finished it but it is not something that inspires me to read the author's other works.

Also... dude, that is not how twins work.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times you could tell the narrator was a virtual voice and not a real person. That took away from the story. This was very slow through about the first 2/3 of the story. Then it was all shoved together at the end with how many twists can the author throw in. Overall story was ok, just not very believable and a bit over the top. The whole concept behind why people were being killed was a tad ridiculous. It had the chance to be really interesting, but fell short.

[Melissa McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart Pounding Thriller

Wow this had me from the first page. So many unexpected twists I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Family drama, blackmail, suspense, murder. You had it all in this book. I thought I had it figured out until I didn't. Definitely a nail biter and highly recommended.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tons of twists

I don't think I can even count the number of twists in this book ... or the number of murders. Even those that make it out alive have some bullet wounds. Read the synopsis for the gist of the story.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. I listened to this on Audible & it had a virtual voice (AI) narrator, which was interesting. I love my favorite narrators, so the AI generated reading was different but not terrible. That aside, I enjoyed the plot and the ending.

[Liz Kledhans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Read

If interested in a good read that is like mystery novels of the past, then this is your book. A lot of nice twists and turns in the plot. Well done again Christoper!!

[Shirley Burkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

This story has a lot of twists and turns. Once I got started I couldn't put it down. I found the entire story intriguing. It also had real life applications about, greed manipulation and lies.

[Lauriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the narration was horrible. I do not like computer generated voice. Very monotone. I had a hard time keeping interested and engaged. The story was decent. Predictable in some parts but not bad. I think a better narration would make this better. Just my opinion.

[Scott Humphrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just another predictable “woman in peril” book. Waste of time.

I listened via Audible. The AI narrated with a number of fluctuating or wrong pronunciations. Gunshots “blam! blam! were give the same emphasis and inflection as putting on shoes.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another head scratcher

Grayson comes through again. Another plot twist and turn novel. The suspense never ends. It's difficult for this 85 year old to keep all the characters straight, but couldn't put it down

[judy ulman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done Christopher Greyson. Marvelous as always. 👏👏

[Valerie zazueta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

What a great mystery book! I was on the edge of my seat, wanting to know who the killer was. Again, this author didn't disappoint, I definitely recommend this book.

[Kerri Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of plot twists

I was hooked almost immediately and suddenly it became a page turner. I did not see the ending until the last few pages.

[Robert M. Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending

The book kept you in suspense until the last chapter. The ending was a complete surprise. I recoomend it if you enjoy thrillers

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book with this author and I was blown away by this story. There were so many intricate twists that left me speechless. There was no way to figure them out beforehand.

[Jodi KH · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book made no sense and the ending is ridiculous.
It was a cross between a poor attempt to channel Agatha Christi mixed with Scooby Doo.
I

[Deborah Ricupero-Bess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

Enjoyed another thriller by Christopher Greyson! Christopher doesn't disappoint with a true murder mystery keeping you guessing until the end!

[kathy inderbitzin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on true events…..glad my life isn’t filled with that much drama!!! Wow quite a story!

[Krista Traill Middleton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oomph, that was not worth it. -KM

[Brian R. O'Callaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher Greyson does it again another great read

[Rebecca Boldyga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent thriller with a semi-unexpected ending. Intentionally misleading, which I happen to love. Overall decent story.

[Karin Tillotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed Jane and why??? Kim and Scott are twins??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.

[sharon santi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much could not put it down, but when I had to, I could not wait to get back to it. I love Christopher Grayson‘s writing.

[Evelyn Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t go wrong with a Christoper Grayson book. I have read just about all of his books.
Enjoyed this one immensely. I thought I had figured it out but am always glad when I am wrong.