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The Girl in the Basement
Twenty years ago she was taken. Now her daughter is next.
Seventeen-year-old Ellie was last seen at a party with her boyfriend, star quarterback Josh, before she went missing…
Twenty years later, Ellie has rebuilt her life. The man who ruined it is behind bars. He can't hurt her now. But as Ellie leaves her therapy group, a face she hasn't seen in decades appears before her. Josh, her high school boyfriend, is back in town.
As they reconnect after years apart, trying to make sense of their shared trauma, a few streets away, Ellie's seventeen-year-old daughter Jess vanishes.
Is history repeating itself? Ellie is about to discover the shocking truth about the night she was taken but can she unearth long-buried secrets to save her daughter?
The Girl in the Basement is a heart-pounding psychological thriller that will keep you turning pages late into the night. Perfect for fans of The Housemaid, Gone Girl and Shari Lapena.
Seventeen-year-old Ellie was last seen at a party with her boyfriend, star quarterback Josh, before she went missing…
Twenty years later, Ellie has rebuilt her life. The man who ruined it is behind bars. He can't hurt her now. But as Ellie leaves her therapy group, a face she hasn't seen in decades appears before her. Josh, her high school boyfriend, is back in town.
As they reconnect after years apart, trying to make sense of their shared trauma, a few streets away, Ellie's seventeen-year-old daughter Jess vanishes.
Is history repeating itself? Ellie is about to discover the shocking truth about the night she was taken but can she unearth long-buried secrets to save her daughter?
The Girl in the Basement is a heart-pounding psychological thriller that will keep you turning pages late into the night. Perfect for fans of The Housemaid, Gone Girl and Shari Lapena.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2024
459 people are currently reading
594 people want to read
About the author
Eoin Dempsey
37 books1,050 followersEoin Dempsey was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1977. He grew up in the beautiful Dublin suburb of Dalkey, where he and his friends would jump into the icy waters of the Irish Sea (during summertime) to prove their manliness. Eoin had a fantastic time attending Blackrock College, where he played rugby (poorly) and did his best to coast his way through. Eoin’s first ambition was to play rugby for Ireland. Due to a lack of talent, he soon abandoned that goal for the more reasoned path of the rock star. He played in bands through his teens and well into his twenties before harsh reality came calling, and his dreams of being the next Keith Moon faded.
Eoin made the ill-reasoned decision to study business in university and was accepted into University College Dublin to study Commerce in 1995. While Eoin did attend college, studying wasn’t his priority there.
He met his beautiful wife, Jill, while traveling to the USA in 1997, though it would be several years before he managed to break her down and they got together as a couple. It was during Eoin’s second stint in the USA, which he spent with his brother in New York City, that he decided to start writing a novel, for the express purpose of impressing women. This effort was met with mixed success. Eoin finished his first novel a year later. The over hundred and fifty rejections he received from publishers didn’t discourage him. He pinned them to his wall. After spending a year in Australia, where he was fired from many jobs, including picking red and green peppers and toiling for scallops miles out to sea on a fishing trawler, he returned home and decided to write again. Another novel followed while he phoned it in at a number of jobs in financial services in Dublin.
By this time Eoin had managed to convince Jill, the girl he’d met in the USA years before to move over to Dublin. She did so in 2004. It was the best negotiation he ever undertook. They were married in 2007. Jill’s more brilliant negotiating skills led Eoin to move to her hometown of Philadelphia in 2008, just in time for the economy to collapse. The plan to live with her parents for a few weeks turned into eighteen months, as Eoin struggled to retain employment in a fractured economy. It was during this time that he wrote FINDING REBECCA, which would go on to be his first published novel and be translated into fourteen different languages.
Eoin and Jill have three beautiful sons, Robbie, who was born in 2015, Sam, born in 2017, and Jack who came in 2019. Eoin enjoys playing with them and marveling at how much more talented they are at the sports that he loves, particularly golf.
Eoin made the ill-reasoned decision to study business in university and was accepted into University College Dublin to study Commerce in 1995. While Eoin did attend college, studying wasn’t his priority there.
He met his beautiful wife, Jill, while traveling to the USA in 1997, though it would be several years before he managed to break her down and they got together as a couple. It was during Eoin’s second stint in the USA, which he spent with his brother in New York City, that he decided to start writing a novel, for the express purpose of impressing women. This effort was met with mixed success. Eoin finished his first novel a year later. The over hundred and fifty rejections he received from publishers didn’t discourage him. He pinned them to his wall. After spending a year in Australia, where he was fired from many jobs, including picking red and green peppers and toiling for scallops miles out to sea on a fishing trawler, he returned home and decided to write again. Another novel followed while he phoned it in at a number of jobs in financial services in Dublin.
By this time Eoin had managed to convince Jill, the girl he’d met in the USA years before to move over to Dublin. She did so in 2004. It was the best negotiation he ever undertook. They were married in 2007. Jill’s more brilliant negotiating skills led Eoin to move to her hometown of Philadelphia in 2008, just in time for the economy to collapse. The plan to live with her parents for a few weeks turned into eighteen months, as Eoin struggled to retain employment in a fractured economy. It was during this time that he wrote FINDING REBECCA, which would go on to be his first published novel and be translated into fourteen different languages.
Eoin and Jill have three beautiful sons, Robbie, who was born in 2015, Sam, born in 2017, and Jack who came in 2019. Eoin enjoys playing with them and marveling at how much more talented they are at the sports that he loves, particularly golf.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
June 19, 2024
3.5⭐
The first part of this story takes place when our FMC, Ellie Welsh is a senior in high school. On the first day of school, news travels that there is a new football player who just transferred to her school . Josh Thomas is a all-star quarterback, a straight-A student, and Ellie finds him attractive. However, his ex-girlfriend was murdered and even though he was found innocent, people still looked at him as the most likely suspect. One night after a party, Ellie goes missing, she was kidnapped and held captive in a basement where she barely escaped.
Twenty years later, after Ellie re-builds her life and has a daughter of her own, Josh Thomas shows back up in town wanting to reconnect. While they are out on a date, Ellie's teenage daughter vanishes and questions are left unanswered. Why do things keep happening to her when Josh is in her life? Did Ellie's past come back to haunt her?
I enjoyed this one, it kept me tuned in to the story and guessing along the way. I honestly was able to binge-read this from the moment I picked it up. However, the beginning of the book seemed juvenile at times and I could not stand the insta-love between the characters. I mean would you instantly fall in love with someone who was suspected of killing their last girlfriend?
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Eoin Dempsey for granting me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
The first part of this story takes place when our FMC, Ellie Welsh is a senior in high school. On the first day of school, news travels that there is a new football player who just transferred to her school . Josh Thomas is a all-star quarterback, a straight-A student, and Ellie finds him attractive. However, his ex-girlfriend was murdered and even though he was found innocent, people still looked at him as the most likely suspect. One night after a party, Ellie goes missing, she was kidnapped and held captive in a basement where she barely escaped.
Twenty years later, after Ellie re-builds her life and has a daughter of her own, Josh Thomas shows back up in town wanting to reconnect. While they are out on a date, Ellie's teenage daughter vanishes and questions are left unanswered. Why do things keep happening to her when Josh is in her life? Did Ellie's past come back to haunt her?
I enjoyed this one, it kept me tuned in to the story and guessing along the way. I honestly was able to binge-read this from the moment I picked it up. However, the beginning of the book seemed juvenile at times and I could not stand the insta-love between the characters. I mean would you instantly fall in love with someone who was suspected of killing their last girlfriend?
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Eoin Dempsey for granting me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2024
3.5★s
Seventeen year old Ellie Welsh felt an instant connection to the new boy at school when she met Josh Thomas, but the rumours surrounding him were vicious. Josh was a star quarterback and the team at their school welcomed him with open arms. As Josh and Ellie grew closer, she could see there were problems at home with Josh's parents, especially his father. But when Ellie was abducted after a party, the week that followed was terrifying...
Twenty years later, Josh returned to town and reacquainted himself with Ellie. Josh was divorced, while Ellie had a daughter, Jessica, who was seventeen. Ellie and Jess were very close, having grown up just the two of them, and when suddenly Jess vanished, Ellie's nightmares from the past returned with a vengeance. What was going on? The man who'd abducted her was in prison, so who could it be? Would she find Jess before it was too late?
The Girl in the Basement by Eoin Dempsey is a slow burn mystery/suspense which spent a little too long talking about football, IMO. The actual mystery was great - it kept me on my toes, guessing, trying to work out whodunnit, but I was wrong in the end!! I've read two of his historicals, with another on my kindle, and have to say I enjoy his historicals more than this mystery. But I still enjoyed it enough to recommend it.
With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC.
Seventeen year old Ellie Welsh felt an instant connection to the new boy at school when she met Josh Thomas, but the rumours surrounding him were vicious. Josh was a star quarterback and the team at their school welcomed him with open arms. As Josh and Ellie grew closer, she could see there were problems at home with Josh's parents, especially his father. But when Ellie was abducted after a party, the week that followed was terrifying...
Twenty years later, Josh returned to town and reacquainted himself with Ellie. Josh was divorced, while Ellie had a daughter, Jessica, who was seventeen. Ellie and Jess were very close, having grown up just the two of them, and when suddenly Jess vanished, Ellie's nightmares from the past returned with a vengeance. What was going on? The man who'd abducted her was in prison, so who could it be? Would she find Jess before it was too late?
The Girl in the Basement by Eoin Dempsey is a slow burn mystery/suspense which spent a little too long talking about football, IMO. The actual mystery was great - it kept me on my toes, guessing, trying to work out whodunnit, but I was wrong in the end!! I've read two of his historicals, with another on my kindle, and have to say I enjoy his historicals more than this mystery. But I still enjoyed it enough to recommend it.
With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC.
July 7, 2024
Ok first of all, the title of this book is so misleading! The first 60% of the book isn’t even about what the synopsis says it’s about. Then the last 25% is a bunch of fluff, followed by everything the book is supposed to be about in the last like 15%. I was highly disappointed with this read, but shout out to net galley for the eARC.
July 31, 2024
I was expecting this to be more of a thriller. The first half was a lot of back story about the teens in highschool and it felt more YA. the second half started to pick up, but then at the end I was left disappointed. Overall it was just okay for me.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 21, 2024
Great read!
I really liked this book. I couldn’t put it down. I feel like the first half kind of went for too long.
With teenage Ellie, you want to yell at her to trust her instincts and talk to someone. With adult Ellie, you root for her nonstop. The ending is very cute as well. The book has some good twists and turns
Definitely recommend!
I really liked this book. I couldn’t put it down. I feel like the first half kind of went for too long.
With teenage Ellie, you want to yell at her to trust her instincts and talk to someone. With adult Ellie, you root for her nonstop. The ending is very cute as well. The book has some good twists and turns
Definitely recommend!
June 21, 2024
Where do I even begin with this? First, I spent the first half of the book entirely confused. I thought this was a story about a daughter being kidnapped twenty years later after her mom. Eventually it is, just not until after the 50% mark. There is a lot of backstory and fluff that comes in the beginning and then as The Girl in the Basement finally becomes thrilling, it ends. I did have the kidnapper pegged initially in the beginning as well, the twist during the reveal was not what I expected though.
Overall, The Girl in the Basement wasn't horrible. I would personally recommend it for a YA audience instead of Adult since the first half of the book is a slow burn story involving high schoolers. If you're looking for a good summer thriller, The Girl in the Basement will be out on shelves July 30, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, author Eoin Dempsey and Storm publishing for the ARC and opportunity to review this book.
Overall, The Girl in the Basement wasn't horrible. I would personally recommend it for a YA audience instead of Adult since the first half of the book is a slow burn story involving high schoolers. If you're looking for a good summer thriller, The Girl in the Basement will be out on shelves July 30, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, author Eoin Dempsey and Storm publishing for the ARC and opportunity to review this book.
June 23, 2024
Calling all Football thriller fans , this is a read for you !!
“Twenty Years ago she was taken and now her daughter is next “!
Coming in at 283 pages this is a short read that reads more like a Teen YA Suspense Drama with a little bit of thrill!!
Read this if you like :
* Dual Time Lines
* Likeable FMC
* Quick Reads
* Football
* Kidnapping based Crimes
The Girl in the Basement starts off strong with Ellie who has been kidnapped and is in a basement of some kind and we can hear here thoughts and then jumps into the back story of how she got there .
Ellie the main character in the first time line is 17 and I found her very sweet and likeable and gets along with everyone including her family and siblings.
When a new student comes to the school Josh ,he is the high school football star and the rumours flying around are that his former girlfriend that was murdered , Josh was accused of killing her but was found innocent , now Josh has eyes only for Ellie . 👀
The story spends a lot of time about 50% on Josh’s life and we spend a lot of time at the football games leading up to the night Ellie is kidnapped, and I felt this part dragged on for me and her escape was quick and rushed for my liking .
Then we find ourselves in present day and now Ellie is a single mom with a 17 year old and out of the blue Josh shows up in town and there seems to be “sparks “ in the air and Ellie must decide if she wants to proceed with this old romance or will it bring back nightmares and old trauma from so long ago ?? Not only that ….now her daughter Jess is missing !!
Now with her daughter missing will Ellie leave things up to the law to find her daughter or will Ellie take matters into her own hands and do what it takes to find her ? You must read to find out for yourself!
This was definitely a slooow burn suspense and for me everything felt rushed when it came to the plot twists leaving no element of surprise, however considering this is more of a Teen YA read I do think young readers will really enjoy this one as it kind of gives Riverdale Vibes . The author did throw in some red herrings so if you like to be mislead then you’ll like these twists !
Thank you so much NetGalley , Storm Publishing and Eoin Dempsey for this ARC!
Respectfully Another Read by Angie
“Twenty Years ago she was taken and now her daughter is next “!
Coming in at 283 pages this is a short read that reads more like a Teen YA Suspense Drama with a little bit of thrill!!
Read this if you like :
* Dual Time Lines
* Likeable FMC
* Quick Reads
* Football
* Kidnapping based Crimes
The Girl in the Basement starts off strong with Ellie who has been kidnapped and is in a basement of some kind and we can hear here thoughts and then jumps into the back story of how she got there .
Ellie the main character in the first time line is 17 and I found her very sweet and likeable and gets along with everyone including her family and siblings.
When a new student comes to the school Josh ,he is the high school football star and the rumours flying around are that his former girlfriend that was murdered , Josh was accused of killing her but was found innocent , now Josh has eyes only for Ellie . 👀
The story spends a lot of time about 50% on Josh’s life and we spend a lot of time at the football games leading up to the night Ellie is kidnapped, and I felt this part dragged on for me and her escape was quick and rushed for my liking .
Then we find ourselves in present day and now Ellie is a single mom with a 17 year old and out of the blue Josh shows up in town and there seems to be “sparks “ in the air and Ellie must decide if she wants to proceed with this old romance or will it bring back nightmares and old trauma from so long ago ?? Not only that ….now her daughter Jess is missing !!
Now with her daughter missing will Ellie leave things up to the law to find her daughter or will Ellie take matters into her own hands and do what it takes to find her ? You must read to find out for yourself!
This was definitely a slooow burn suspense and for me everything felt rushed when it came to the plot twists leaving no element of surprise, however considering this is more of a Teen YA read I do think young readers will really enjoy this one as it kind of gives Riverdale Vibes . The author did throw in some red herrings so if you like to be mislead then you’ll like these twists !
Thank you so much NetGalley , Storm Publishing and Eoin Dempsey for this ARC!
Respectfully Another Read by Angie
July 26, 2024
“The Girl in the Basement” by Eoin Dempsey is a thrilling 4-star read. Ellie Welsh is just an average high school student until she falls for Josh Thomas, the new guy and star quarterback. Josh had to move to a new school after some trouble at his previous school. Ellie starts to question whether her boyfriend is who he says he is or if he could be the monster others believe him to be. Can Ellie answer that question before trouble finds her?
While this book deserves a solid 4-star rating, the synopsis being used is disappointing and only worth 1 star. If you’re reading this review and haven’t read the synopsis, I recommend skipping it and diving straight into the book. I enjoyed Ellie’s day-to-day struggles with high school life while trying to maintain her relationship with a football star. Josh’s father is pretty out of control and I felt bad for the treatment that Josh receives. There are plenty of surprises along the way, especially if you avoid the synopsis. The ending was satisfying, and I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thanks to Storm Publishing, Eoin Dempsey, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.
While this book deserves a solid 4-star rating, the synopsis being used is disappointing and only worth 1 star. If you’re reading this review and haven’t read the synopsis, I recommend skipping it and diving straight into the book. I enjoyed Ellie’s day-to-day struggles with high school life while trying to maintain her relationship with a football star. Josh’s father is pretty out of control and I felt bad for the treatment that Josh receives. There are plenty of surprises along the way, especially if you avoid the synopsis. The ending was satisfying, and I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thanks to Storm Publishing, Eoin Dempsey, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.
June 28, 2024
I'm a sucker for these types of thrillers, and this one did not disappoint. It kept me captivated and guessing up to the very end, I couldn't put it down.
Ellie was in her senior year when she began dating a quarterback named Josh Thomas. Josh was dating a girl named Rachel who was murdered and Josh was eventually cleared as a suspect but many still believed he was involved. But when Ellie goes missing and Josh was the last to see her Josh once again is a suspect. Ellie was being held in a basement but was never able to hear or see her captor, when the house is set on fire Ellie manage to escape. Her kidnapper was caught and convicted, but 20 years later after Josh shows up again up out of the blue and her daughter Jess goes missing doubts begin to take hold.
I really enjoyed this book and Eoin Dempsey is now on my radar!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review..
Ellie was in her senior year when she began dating a quarterback named Josh Thomas. Josh was dating a girl named Rachel who was murdered and Josh was eventually cleared as a suspect but many still believed he was involved. But when Ellie goes missing and Josh was the last to see her Josh once again is a suspect. Ellie was being held in a basement but was never able to hear or see her captor, when the house is set on fire Ellie manage to escape. Her kidnapper was caught and convicted, but 20 years later after Josh shows up again up out of the blue and her daughter Jess goes missing doubts begin to take hold.
I really enjoyed this book and Eoin Dempsey is now on my radar!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review..
July 3, 2024
The title of this book had me immediately intrigued as I love any kidnapping/abduction stories. Ellie was kidnapped as a teen and now 20 years later her daughter has been taken! We’re left wondering who it could be as her kidnapper is in prison!
This was a very easy read, a book you will finish quickly. It’s separated into Ellie as a teen and current day. I didn’t see the end coming. Whoever is responsible will surprise you for sure!
This was a very easy read, a book you will finish quickly. It’s separated into Ellie as a teen and current day. I didn’t see the end coming. Whoever is responsible will surprise you for sure!
July 6, 2024
Unfortunately I did not like this book. I felt that the title and synopsis of this book did not live up to the content until pretty far into the book and even then, it was seriously lacking. If you tell me this book is about a girl being kidnapped and held in a basement, I expect that to be the main focus of the book. I hoped for a thrilling and suspenseful story but, for me, it fell flat.
On a side note, I don't like to read books that have a lot of sports terminology. I don't follow football, and I don't want to read a book that is giving me a play by play of a football game, none of that means anything to me. Again, that is just my personal preference and some people who like sports may enjoy that aspect of the book, unfortunately I do not.
On a side note, I don't like to read books that have a lot of sports terminology. I don't follow football, and I don't want to read a book that is giving me a play by play of a football game, none of that means anything to me. Again, that is just my personal preference and some people who like sports may enjoy that aspect of the book, unfortunately I do not.
June 19, 2024
Football was everything at Lower Merion High School and the new addition of star quarterback Josh Thomas has the whole school buzzing because of his talent and his past. The previous year Josh’s girlfriend ended up murdered and despite being cleared of all charges, the speculation followed him.
Seventeen-year-old Ellie is excited for her Senior year and the appearance of Josh makes things more complicated for her. Ellie dispels the rumors that Josh killed his ex and begins dating him. Things are going well for Ellie and Josh, that is until Ellie disappears from a party and the last person seen with her before she disappears is Josh.
Could the rumors be true. Is it happening again???
Ellie ends up being held hostage in- you guessed it - a basement before she is able to escape. 20 years later Jess has moved on from her nightmare and her captor is behind bars. 20 years later Ellie has moved on, rebuilt her life and has a daughter of her own - Jess. Ellie ends up bumping into her old boyfriend Josh when he comes back to town.
As Ellie and Josh reconnect and try to make sense of their shared trauma, life seems to repeat itself for Ellie as her own daughter Jess who is now 17 is taken. Is history repeating itself? How is this happening again?
The race is on to find and rescue Jess from the nightmare her mother lived. Will the shocking truths finally be brought to light and will she be able to save her daughter?
The girl is the basement is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing and the pages turning. Eoin Dempsey got this right and left me wanting to know more - just one more page! I devoured this book in a day as it sucked me in from the start.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC. *all opinions are my own*
Seventeen-year-old Ellie is excited for her Senior year and the appearance of Josh makes things more complicated for her. Ellie dispels the rumors that Josh killed his ex and begins dating him. Things are going well for Ellie and Josh, that is until Ellie disappears from a party and the last person seen with her before she disappears is Josh.
Could the rumors be true. Is it happening again???
Ellie ends up being held hostage in- you guessed it - a basement before she is able to escape. 20 years later Jess has moved on from her nightmare and her captor is behind bars. 20 years later Ellie has moved on, rebuilt her life and has a daughter of her own - Jess. Ellie ends up bumping into her old boyfriend Josh when he comes back to town.
As Ellie and Josh reconnect and try to make sense of their shared trauma, life seems to repeat itself for Ellie as her own daughter Jess who is now 17 is taken. Is history repeating itself? How is this happening again?
The race is on to find and rescue Jess from the nightmare her mother lived. Will the shocking truths finally be brought to light and will she be able to save her daughter?
The girl is the basement is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing and the pages turning. Eoin Dempsey got this right and left me wanting to know more - just one more page! I devoured this book in a day as it sucked me in from the start.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC. *all opinions are my own*
July 30, 2024
Thank you to Storm Publishing & NetGalley for this e-book ARC. Publish date is 7/30/24.
3.5 stars.
This was a short, fast-paced thriller that hooked me right away. The story is about Ellie, a senior in high school, who gets kidnapped and makes it out alive. Fast forward 20 years, her daughter has been kidnapped under familiar circumstances.
Just an FYI, this reads as YA (in my opinion). The book’s synopsis was a little misleading. I thought the story was going to be about Ellie’s daughter’s kidnapping, but that did not occur until about 70% in. A lot of the book was the buildup to Ellie’s kidnapping when she was in high school. I found it interesting but do wish there was more time spent on Ellie’s story in the basement. I would have read another 50 or so pages with that included. Overall, I loved the setting of this book as a Philadelphia native and I recommend this book to thriller readers, especially new thriller readers! And as this author's FIRST thriller novel (he usually writes historical fiction), I give him props.
3.5 stars.
This was a short, fast-paced thriller that hooked me right away. The story is about Ellie, a senior in high school, who gets kidnapped and makes it out alive. Fast forward 20 years, her daughter has been kidnapped under familiar circumstances.
Just an FYI, this reads as YA (in my opinion). The book’s synopsis was a little misleading. I thought the story was going to be about Ellie’s daughter’s kidnapping, but that did not occur until about 70% in. A lot of the book was the buildup to Ellie’s kidnapping when she was in high school. I found it interesting but do wish there was more time spent on Ellie’s story in the basement. I would have read another 50 or so pages with that included. Overall, I loved the setting of this book as a Philadelphia native and I recommend this book to thriller readers, especially new thriller readers! And as this author's FIRST thriller novel (he usually writes historical fiction), I give him props.
July 10, 2024
haven’t read a thriller in awhile, so jumping into this one was so great! a shorter read - less than 300 pages. it was definitely an attention grabber and a page turner that I finished in one day!
told from the past and present, ellie fell for the new kid at school who was suspected his ex-girlfriend’s death. getting to know him meant getting to know his family too. and ellie definitely had some weird feelings about his parents. after being abducted and locked in a basement, all the clues point to her boyfriend’s father. but fast forward a few years and ellie has a daughter. and at just about the age that ellie was, her daughter was also abducted. but who did it? it couldn’t be her teenage boyfriend’s father - he’s been locked up in prison for years.
a story of history repeating itself, buried family secrets, and teenage love.
told from the past and present, ellie fell for the new kid at school who was suspected his ex-girlfriend’s death. getting to know him meant getting to know his family too. and ellie definitely had some weird feelings about his parents. after being abducted and locked in a basement, all the clues point to her boyfriend’s father. but fast forward a few years and ellie has a daughter. and at just about the age that ellie was, her daughter was also abducted. but who did it? it couldn’t be her teenage boyfriend’s father - he’s been locked up in prison for years.
a story of history repeating itself, buried family secrets, and teenage love.
July 23, 2024
Ellie is in her senior year of high school when handsome new quarterback, Josh becomes smitten with her and they begin dating...much to the chagrin of her friend Julia who sprays "murderer" on his locker after rumors that he killed his previous girlfriend over the summer. And when Ellie goes to dinner at his parents' house, she is "weirded out" by his dad who attempts to fondle her but she stays silent. She remembers all this as she's locked in someone's basement in darkness with only a little food to eat each day. Who is behind this and why? We jump into the future 20 years and Ellie--now a successful real estate agent--runs into Josh and isn't sure if she can trust him or not. It's an intriguing story to say the least with many twists and turns I didn't see comiing!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
June 28, 2024
2.75 stars rounded up.
I was excited to read this when I read the description so I am thankful to have gotten the ARC for free from Netgalley and Storm Publishing so I can leave my voluntary and honest review.
This book is categories as General Fiction, Mysteries and Thrillers, and True Crime.
It’s technically only 1 of the 3 genres as it is a mystery.
I’m not sure if I’m mistaken on what True Crime is but this is fiction 100%.
I also would classify it as YA. 52% of the book is indeed when the FMC and MMC are teens. After that it switches to 20 years later but the story is so thin that you still feel that you are in the YA world.
Thin is the best word I can use for the plot. Nothing is really developed with the sub plots being very quickly blown through. It’s also a book with a relationship built on nothing. With the exception of saying that the characters are very good looking and the male is a star football player, there is not any other attributes mentioned about the characters or any other reason that they should have spoken.
Lastly as I don’t want to beat too much up on it, it really frustrates me when there is a kidnapping and authors succumb to the trope that the police can’t do anything until a certain time period has past. That’s not reality and it actually harms reality as people actually think you can’t call the police until someone is missing for 24 or 48 hours depending on what has stayed in someone’s head from books and other media.
On the positive side it was a very very quick read as it’s only 289 pages. The premise had so much promise so I don’t understand why it wasn’t developed properly and made into a standard 350-400 page book. I wish this had a better Beta read which could have given feedback to make it the best it could be.
That being said, if you want a quick, fluffy read and like the premise, give it a go when it is published on July 30 2024.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
I was excited to read this when I read the description so I am thankful to have gotten the ARC for free from Netgalley and Storm Publishing so I can leave my voluntary and honest review.
This book is categories as General Fiction, Mysteries and Thrillers, and True Crime.
It’s technically only 1 of the 3 genres as it is a mystery.
I’m not sure if I’m mistaken on what True Crime is but this is fiction 100%.
I also would classify it as YA. 52% of the book is indeed when the FMC and MMC are teens. After that it switches to 20 years later but the story is so thin that you still feel that you are in the YA world.
Thin is the best word I can use for the plot. Nothing is really developed with the sub plots being very quickly blown through. It’s also a book with a relationship built on nothing. With the exception of saying that the characters are very good looking and the male is a star football player, there is not any other attributes mentioned about the characters or any other reason that they should have spoken.
Lastly as I don’t want to beat too much up on it, it really frustrates me when there is a kidnapping and authors succumb to the trope that the police can’t do anything until a certain time period has past. That’s not reality and it actually harms reality as people actually think you can’t call the police until someone is missing for 24 or 48 hours depending on what has stayed in someone’s head from books and other media.
On the positive side it was a very very quick read as it’s only 289 pages. The premise had so much promise so I don’t understand why it wasn’t developed properly and made into a standard 350-400 page book. I wish this had a better Beta read which could have given feedback to make it the best it could be.
That being said, if you want a quick, fluffy read and like the premise, give it a go when it is published on July 30 2024.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
July 19, 2024
"Twenty years ago she was taken. Now her daughter is next."
If you tell me this book is about a girl being kidnapped and held in a basement, I expect that to be the main focus. However, "The Girl in the Basement" takes 53% of the book to actually get to the basement. There's not even really any anticipation in this book - no thrills, no mystery, just a weird storyline with an inconsistent plot.
This book is not good: unrealistic and devoid of thrills. The timeline of "twenty years later" doesn't add up at points, and the story is super predictable—I guessed the identity of the unhinged kidnapper/murderer at their first introduction. There are odd anecdotes, like the unnecessary gun range scenes, and way too much focus on football. When I'm promised dingy basement horrors, I don’t need to read about a high school boyfriend trying to make it to the NFL. Also, "The Voiceless One" ends up being one of the lamest bad guy names I’ve ever encountered.
"The Girl in the Basement" reads more like a YA novel, with much of it focusing on the main character's high school romance, making it feel more like a romance than a psychological thriller. The writing is chaotic, with multiple inconsistencies, and it lacks depth and research.
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Eoin Dempsey for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you tell me this book is about a girl being kidnapped and held in a basement, I expect that to be the main focus. However, "The Girl in the Basement" takes 53% of the book to actually get to the basement. There's not even really any anticipation in this book - no thrills, no mystery, just a weird storyline with an inconsistent plot.
This book is not good: unrealistic and devoid of thrills. The timeline of "twenty years later" doesn't add up at points, and the story is super predictable—I guessed the identity of the unhinged kidnapper/murderer at their first introduction. There are odd anecdotes, like the unnecessary gun range scenes, and way too much focus on football. When I'm promised dingy basement horrors, I don’t need to read about a high school boyfriend trying to make it to the NFL. Also, "The Voiceless One" ends up being one of the lamest bad guy names I’ve ever encountered.
"The Girl in the Basement" reads more like a YA novel, with much of it focusing on the main character's high school romance, making it feel more like a romance than a psychological thriller. The writing is chaotic, with multiple inconsistencies, and it lacks depth and research.
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Eoin Dempsey for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2024
My 6P review: Publication, Plot, People, Place, Prose/Pace, Praise
The premise of the book was the disappearance of Jess. The blurb told the whole story so there really wasn’t any point in reading it. 70% of the book was the abduction of Ellie and I felt it didn’t really focus on the disappearance of Jess. The first 70% was also in-depth and laboured at times. The last 30% was too quick and it wrapped up too nicely with no depth to it.
It felt more like a romance than a psychological thriller.
It was easy enough to read though.
I’m really not sure how I feel about this book. This was the first I’ve read of this author and I’m unlikely to read any others.
I found the characters annoying and I didn’t get a sense of where I was either
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review
The premise of the book was the disappearance of Jess. The blurb told the whole story so there really wasn’t any point in reading it. 70% of the book was the abduction of Ellie and I felt it didn’t really focus on the disappearance of Jess. The first 70% was also in-depth and laboured at times. The last 30% was too quick and it wrapped up too nicely with no depth to it.
It felt more like a romance than a psychological thriller.
It was easy enough to read though.
I’m really not sure how I feel about this book. This was the first I’ve read of this author and I’m unlikely to read any others.
I found the characters annoying and I didn’t get a sense of where I was either
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review
June 22, 2024
This was my first book by this author and unfortunately, it was a disappointment. It is a slow read with chaotic writing (multiple inconsistencies), lacks depth and research. The insignificant football dialogue was excessive. The superficial characters actions were foolish and unrealistic. The police were portrayed as being inept and a minimal presence throughout which doesn’t make sense since there were several crimes.
This is more a young adult book than an “adult” thriller in my opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is more a young adult book than an “adult” thriller in my opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 9, 2024
The Girl in the Basement by Eoin Dempsey
Eoin Dempsey's *The Girl in the Basement* is a letdown. Despite its intriguing title, the girl is in the basement for only two pages, making the title misleading. The plot is very predictable, lacking suspense and surprises.
However, a personal highlight was that Josh goes to LSU, which added a nice touch for an LSU fan. Overall, the book fails to deliver an engaging or unexpected narrative. #GeauxTigers
Eoin Dempsey's *The Girl in the Basement* is a letdown. Despite its intriguing title, the girl is in the basement for only two pages, making the title misleading. The plot is very predictable, lacking suspense and surprises.
However, a personal highlight was that Josh goes to LSU, which added a nice touch for an LSU fan. Overall, the book fails to deliver an engaging or unexpected narrative. #GeauxTigers
July 1, 2024
I knew that this book was one that would grab my interest and with an intro like that I knew I wasn't wrong. The book starts off with our character, Jess, kidnapped by an unknown person desperate to escape from her captor at any means necessary. Suddenly the plot switches to twenty years earlier. Now main character Ellie is starting back at her school and things are going to be different this year. She is dating the new star quarterback, Josh, and even though there are tons of rumors circling about how he murdered his last girlfriend, Rachelle, Ellie doesn't take any stock in them. While everyone is trying their best to warn her to be careful she doesn't take any of their worries to heart because she know her boyfriend wouldn't be capable of nothing like that, but is that really the case? Ellie is desperate to get to the bottom of what happened with Rachelle and hopefully in turn findout what is really going on with Josh and his family. The book shifts multiple times from Ellie's past twenty years earlier to her current situation where her daughter Jess is kidnapped and stuck in a dark basement by her unknown captor. I found this part to be the most interesting. I loved the characters in this book they were all very interesting and I loved to see their interactions with each other. What I loved the most about this story though was the plot it was very dark and sinister however it was written with a very light teen style of writing. This was great because it gave the reader a serious subject but the flow was nice and simple so it was very easy to follow. I don't normally like time changes but I loved this one for that specific reason. This was a super dark story line that I just couldn't put down. Great read and I consider myself super lucky to be able to say that I got to check it out first. This is the kind of book that everyone will want to read and I highly suggest this one to anyone to likes crime thrillers. This is the kind of book that I suggest you start on a quiet day because once you get started you will be pulled in so deep that it was impossible to put down. I thought the first half was a little long however the nice it jumped to the second half where Ellie's daughter Jess was kidnapped it really took off and I understood why the first half was necessary. Great read unlike anything I have read before I loved this book and couldn't get enough of it. I really liked how you felt all the terror that Jess was feeling not knowing who was behind her cage door. This is one book that is super hard to describe in any from that will do the actual plot any justice. However I know that I will be recommending this book for years to come. Dark readers will love this story but it is also just light enough that normal readers will love this too.
July 7, 2024
2.5/5 stars rounded up to 3 for GR
This read more like a YA Thriller in my opinion. A big portion of the book was set during Ellie's high school years. Given the synopsis, I assumed more time would be spent on her and her daughter's disappearance, but both were a small portion of the book. While the beginning chapters did allow the reader insight into Josh and his family dynamics, I felt Ellie's kidnapping was not the focus and went by quickly.
The Epilogue was of Ellie in the basement.
Chapters 1-13 were of 6 months before Ellie's kidnapping. The focus is heavy on her high school life, the high school football team, and her romance with Josh.
Chapter 14-15 is back in the basement. Chapter 15 she escapes.
Then the timeline jumps ahead 20 years starting at Chapter 16.
It wasn't until chapter 19 that Ellie's daughter was taken (70% into the book). Jess's kidnapping is never told from her perspective, so we don't have any chapters about what occurs when she is taken and after.
The remaining chapters are of Ellie's journey in trying to find her daughter.
There is a lot of focus throughout the book of Ellie and Josh's relationship. So it almost reads like a thriller romance.
It is a short read- only 216 pages according to the NetGalley ARC (Goodreads lists it at 283 pages). I do feel like this story could've been stretched out further to 350 pages or so to add more suspense and depth to the plot.
I feel like YA readers will love this book and connect with it since there is so much focus on high school years/life. There is definitely a target audience for this book, but I don't feel like it's adult.
It is my understanding that this is a new/newer genre for this author. After reading this, I wouldn't hesitate any to try another book of his in the future under this genre.
This read more like a YA Thriller in my opinion. A big portion of the book was set during Ellie's high school years. Given the synopsis, I assumed more time would be spent on her and her daughter's disappearance, but both were a small portion of the book. While the beginning chapters did allow the reader insight into Josh and his family dynamics, I felt Ellie's kidnapping was not the focus and went by quickly.
The Epilogue was of Ellie in the basement.
Chapters 1-13 were of 6 months before Ellie's kidnapping. The focus is heavy on her high school life, the high school football team, and her romance with Josh.
Chapter 14-15 is back in the basement. Chapter 15 she escapes.
Then the timeline jumps ahead 20 years starting at Chapter 16.
It wasn't until chapter 19 that Ellie's daughter was taken (70% into the book). Jess's kidnapping is never told from her perspective, so we don't have any chapters about what occurs when she is taken and after.
The remaining chapters are of Ellie's journey in trying to find her daughter.
There is a lot of focus throughout the book of Ellie and Josh's relationship. So it almost reads like a thriller romance.
It is a short read- only 216 pages according to the NetGalley ARC (Goodreads lists it at 283 pages). I do feel like this story could've been stretched out further to 350 pages or so to add more suspense and depth to the plot.
I feel like YA readers will love this book and connect with it since there is so much focus on high school years/life. There is definitely a target audience for this book, but I don't feel like it's adult.
It is my understanding that this is a new/newer genre for this author. After reading this, I wouldn't hesitate any to try another book of his in the future under this genre.
July 28, 2024
When FMC Ellie was a senior in high school, she meets Josh, a new student and football player at her school, and Ellie feels an attraction for him. However, Josh has a past: his ex-girlfriend was murdered, and while Josh was found innocent of the crime, it's not completely believed by everyone that he is actually innocent. Ellie is then kidnapped and held in a basement.
So now, after Ellie escapes, time passes and Ellie is now a single mother, when Josh returns and things with Ellie reignite. And during this time frame, Ellie's daughter goes missing and Ellie starts to wonder why this happened again, and why did both times happen when Josh was in her life, and why was it happening again when the man who did it the first time was in prison.
Unfortunately, I think that due to the synopsis, I was expecting more about Ellie's daughter and what happened to her, and how it was similar to what Ellie went through. However, most of the book was actually about Josh and Ellie before Ellie was kidnapped, it seemed like it dragged on for so long.
I did enjoy that this was a short read, shorter than most other thriller books that I've read, but this may have also affected how much wasn't added to the story, and left out. I felt that the amount of backstory was so long and not entirely necessary, and I wish that there was more to do with Ellie's daughter. The prologue hooked me from the start, but at some point during the amount of backstory, it lost me and it was hard for me to keep from putting my kindle down. This book did have some twists and turns that kept me guessing at the end, but I just wish that it wasn't so rushed at the end.
Thank you to Eoin Dempsey, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.
So now, after Ellie escapes, time passes and Ellie is now a single mother, when Josh returns and things with Ellie reignite. And during this time frame, Ellie's daughter goes missing and Ellie starts to wonder why this happened again, and why did both times happen when Josh was in her life, and why was it happening again when the man who did it the first time was in prison.
Unfortunately, I think that due to the synopsis, I was expecting more about Ellie's daughter and what happened to her, and how it was similar to what Ellie went through. However, most of the book was actually about Josh and Ellie before Ellie was kidnapped, it seemed like it dragged on for so long.
I did enjoy that this was a short read, shorter than most other thriller books that I've read, but this may have also affected how much wasn't added to the story, and left out. I felt that the amount of backstory was so long and not entirely necessary, and I wish that there was more to do with Ellie's daughter. The prologue hooked me from the start, but at some point during the amount of backstory, it lost me and it was hard for me to keep from putting my kindle down. This book did have some twists and turns that kept me guessing at the end, but I just wish that it wasn't so rushed at the end.
Thank you to Eoin Dempsey, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.
July 23, 2024
This one was a bit of a mystery thriller but I also think it could have been two books in the sense that between part 1 and part 2 there could have been more build up and more details about what was happening between the characters.
There was quite the shift between part 1 and part 2 which merited more character development for Ellie and partially Jake. When we see her shift there is a lot that is unknown and it leaves lots of questions.
While this was a fast read I also think it was so fast because it could have been more, I did get bored in the middle of the book and I think is partially because there are details that are left out.
There was quite the shift between part 1 and part 2 which merited more character development for Ellie and partially Jake. When we see her shift there is a lot that is unknown and it leaves lots of questions.
While this was a fast read I also think it was so fast because it could have been more, I did get bored in the middle of the book and I think is partially because there are details that are left out.
July 27, 2024
The girl in the Basement was a good psychological suspense read. It’s starts with the girl in the basement, then goes onto explain why she ended up in there and then 20 years later.
I enjoyed reading about Ellie, she was a likable teenager and adult. Josh who was her childhood boyfriend arrives back on the scene 20 years later. He’s a football player and the book does talk about that a lot. What a great ending.
It’s a quick read that keeps you engaged. A chilling 4 star read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.
I enjoyed reading about Ellie, she was a likable teenager and adult. Josh who was her childhood boyfriend arrives back on the scene 20 years later. He’s a football player and the book does talk about that a lot. What a great ending.
It’s a quick read that keeps you engaged. A chilling 4 star read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.
June 30, 2024
I want to thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow this book kept me hooked all the way through!! I did not see any of the twists coming and every guess I had was basically wrong! I did. start to figure it out towards the end, but that was wayyy towards the end which was fine with me! Such a captivating read that kept you on the edge of your seat with such gasping moments!
Wow this book kept me hooked all the way through!! I did not see any of the twists coming and every guess I had was basically wrong! I did. start to figure it out towards the end, but that was wayyy towards the end which was fine with me! Such a captivating read that kept you on the edge of your seat with such gasping moments!
July 9, 2024
This book is frustrating. The full plot of the book only happens in about 20% of the book, the rest is filled with high school American football and Ellie's dramatic inner voice.
The book starts of well, telling us Ellie has clearly been kidnapped. It then jumps back six month and goes through her meeting Josh Thomas, the new school football star and quarterback and the start and progress of their relationship. The reader certainly learns a lot about football and fanatical parents.
The concept is brilliant, Ellie get's kidnapped and twenty years later the same happens to her daughter - coincidence? I think not. I just feel so much of the book was wasted on teenage drama that wasn't actually necessary for the reader to experience. And the interesting bits i.e. Ellie's capture, was very short lived and almost skipped over.
I read it so 3*, but not the thriller I thought this would be - most of the book reads more like a young adult genre.
The book starts of well, telling us Ellie has clearly been kidnapped. It then jumps back six month and goes through her meeting Josh Thomas, the new school football star and quarterback and the start and progress of their relationship. The reader certainly learns a lot about football and fanatical parents.
The concept is brilliant, Ellie get's kidnapped and twenty years later the same happens to her daughter - coincidence? I think not. I just feel so much of the book was wasted on teenage drama that wasn't actually necessary for the reader to experience. And the interesting bits i.e. Ellie's capture, was very short lived and almost skipped over.
I read it so 3*, but not the thriller I thought this would be - most of the book reads more like a young adult genre.
August 9, 2024
Ellie and her boyfriend, Josh, go to a party. Ellie is abducted, but escaped. Josh's father is convicted of the crime, and also of killing his son's previous girlfriend. Twenty years later, Josh returns and he and Ellie begin to date. Then Ellie's daughter, Jess, is abducted. Is history repeating itself?
I'm a fan of this author's previous books but this one didn't work for me. The title is misleading because the story spends very little time on Ellie in the basement. The characters lacked depth and the story dragged. I had to force myself to finish it. Not a favorite.
I'm a fan of this author's previous books but this one didn't work for me. The title is misleading because the story spends very little time on Ellie in the basement. The characters lacked depth and the story dragged. I had to force myself to finish it. Not a favorite.
July 30, 2024
3.5⭐️ such a quick easy read, wasn’t even expecting a plot twist felt like the book was all laid out but loved it! especially loved the ending🥲🥹 thankyou so much to NetGalley for the eARC 💕
August 4, 2024
I’m still not sure how I feel about this book. Was it good? Yes. Did the title completely match the story? No. I thought I had guessed the ending which made part of the story boring but I did not guess it. It was good. I’d say 3.5 stars.
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