Steena Holmes

What words describe a parent’s relationship with a child or with a spouse? What words make promises while promising to break them? And what words betray a secret never to be told?

In The Word Game, words can’t be unsaid, and a mother once wounded can’t sit back and let another child be hurt. But are the words truth, exaggerations, lies of offense or defense, or simply confusion? Does a child try too hard to please mother, father or friend? And how do you balance protection against the show more people you’re going to hurt?

Author Steena Holmes does an excellent job of conveying the languages of teens and adults, the secrets behind their careful words, and the pain of not being believed. The Word Game offers a well-researched portrayal of how claims of sexual abuse are dealt with now and in the past. But it also offers a well-plotted story of friends caring for each other, the trust between adults, and the same trust shared between children. It’s a vivid haunting tale, well-told and highly recommended.

Disclosure: It was included in a deal. Lucky me. show less

📖 “I KNOW YOU KILLED YOUR HUSBAND” by Steena Holmes
3.75 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Confessions untangle like a loosely tied noose. Your past isn’t so secret anymore. One of you has already slipped. Who’s next?”

Thanks to the author and BookSparks for the #giftedARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Landing a spot on the ARC team for “I Know You Killed Your Husband” was so exciting. That cover is absolutely gorgeous. The premise had me reaching for my imaginary passport. show more We’re talking Paris, champagne, four besties, dead husbands, secrets piled higher than the Eiffel Tower, and one little whisper that sends everything spiraling: I know you killed your husband.

Is it rude? Oh, for sure. Does it work? Like a charm.

Olivia, Margo, Velissa, and Lyndy are on what’s supposed to be a glamorous girls’ trip in Paris, but let’s get real: this is less about croissants and more about who’s hiding the most dirt. These women know each other’s ugliest secrets, so friendship? I think that’s ancient history. Now they’re stuck together by bad decisions, and the kind of loyalty that feels one wrong sentence away from a police interview.

The prologue hooked me right away. An anonymous person is writing the first note to be secretly delivered, and the whole thing has that delicious “someone here is about to ruin everyone’s day" energy.

"The games have begun."

I was never fully convinced these four women liked each other enough to share a hotel room, let alone an entire vacation. I kept wondering if this trip was actually about friendship, survival, revenge, or just keeping everyone close enough to monitor their lies. No one felt trustworthy, which is exactly how I like my thriller characters: suspicious, stressed, and making questionable decisions while dressed nicely.

Olivia was my favorite. She’s the odd one out, never quite fitting into their glossy clique, which means she’s got a few morals left, maybe. Compared to the rest, she’s basically the group’s moral compass, even if it’s a little busted.

The pacing dragged more than I’d like, and I could have skipped half the Paris sightseeing. Yes, Paris is gorgeous, but I came for the secrets, not the travel brochure. Give me the lies, the cryptic notes, the poolside meltdowns, and the nonstop drama.

Still, this was a fun ride from an author I hadn’t read before, and I love stumbling onto new favorites. Steena Holmes serves up glitz, messy friendships, a shady death, and enough skeletons to make everyone look guilty.

And that twist? Did not see it coming. That’s always a win for my thriller-obsessed brain.
If you’re into domestic suspense, toxic friendships, girls' trips that go off the rails, and women who should never be trusted with secrets, “I Know You Killed Your Husband” is a juicy little trap you'll want to fall into.

#Bookouture show less

'Deliciously Dark' Sounds Apt But Becomes Problematic. Without going into spoiler territory, I can't find a better title for this review than "Deliciously Dark", and yet... well, read the damn book to find out why I have problems using that title. :D

But seriously, this is one *dark* book - and while I just can't bring myself to spoil anything... think whatever you feel would be the darkest a book could possibly go. Then go darker. Darker. Darker again. And again. Ok, now add a dying candle show more into that. Because that's about as light as this book gets. (Though I *will* note some things that you may imagine that *don't* happen here: no dog dies. No kids are sexually assaulted. And yet... the rest of this paragraph applies. Better to be prepared and have it be lighter than you expect, with this kind of tale.)

Holmes manages almost a Poe level of storytelling, where it isn't necessarily what is on the page, but what is clearly just *off* the page that is so intense... and, eventually, those things come onto the page in stunning fashion.

If you like dark yet not necessarily "heavy" books, you're going to love this one. If you're looking for something lighter... come back to this when you're ready for *dark*. :)

Very much recommended. show less

Favorite Quotes:

She told me she’d never find peace. She said it was a myth, like Parisian moderation or honest men.

Someone always knows something… That’s the problem with secrets. They don’t stay in one place.

He wore charm like a tailored suit—effortless, expensive, and utterly strategic.

The only thing more dangerous than a secret is the act of pretending you don’t have one.

It feels like letting something in and trying to lock it out at the same time.

My Review:

I was fully show more invested and highly curious to unravel the mysteries, yet I despised these women. I spent most of the book wanting to kick them in the shins. Olivia was a total train wreck. I was appalled at myself for wanting to know their secrets, yet they were the type of people I would eschew having anything to do with in my real life. The storylines were maddeningly paced yet well-plotted. Despite my lack of appreciation for her characters, this wily kept me primed for the next indirect hit and eager to resume the story when forced to put my beloved Kindle down. That alone takes some powerful word dexterity and magical ink to achieve. show less