Day: April 26, 2022

I thought that The Housemaid by Freida McFadden was going to be a good psych thriller just from the description. I did not expect to be blown away.

But I was. This is by far one of the best psych thrillers I have read in recent memory. And yes, I may have said that a few times recently, but this one really shoots to the top of the list.

I feel like I repeat myself about plot spoilers, but I also feel like I cannot stress enough how important it is to me to NOT give anything away. Especially with this one.

The action is in three parts. The first part is from Millie’s point of view. If there is a definition of “down on your luck” it can be found in her situation. She is desperate and knows that she has slim chances at success in anything she does due to a mysterious past.

It is the perfect setup for the action of the rest of the book.

Millie’s dream come true job as the housemaid soon turns out to be nothing that she expected. But, as she is hiding secrets, she has to stick with it no matter how bad it gets.

And boy, does it get bad.

Nina is a real piece of work. I can’t say why (because…spoilers). I spent a lot of time in the first part wanting to scream at Millie, “GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN!” I also wondered about Millie’s character…that she tolerated so much.

But the worse it got, the more I started thinking there had to be another reason for everything that was happening. I mean, it is a psych thriller. So, there should be.

And boy, are there reasons.

The second part of the book gives the reader an alternative viewpoint on the action of the first part. It may sound convoluted, but it isn’t. It’s a genius way to show what was really going on.

The third part converges the first two parts and secrets are uncovered, wrapping everything up to one of THE most satisfying conclusions in a psych thriller that one could hope for.

And just when you think the author has given you everything about the characters you could possibly know, she hasn’t. She saves the final surprise for literally the last page in the book.

I am not exaggerating when I say that my jaw dropped, and I instantly thought “what a frickin’ amazing twist that was!”

(Side note: I don’t know if it was intentional, but the last character introduced in the epilogue has an epic last name (sort of NSFW) that is a clue to what may happen).

Honestly, I can’t believe this is my first book from this author – how have missed Freida McFadden’s other psych thrillers?

I am headed to Unlimited right now because The Housemaid was amazing, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

About the author

#1 Amazon bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.