Haunted by her criminal past, Millie is desperate to rebuild her life and start over. When she lands a live-in housemaid position with the wealthy Winchester family, things seem to finally be looking up… or so she thought.
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Millie begins to notice Nina Winchester’s strange behavior. How she makes messes for her to clean up, how Nina’s husband, Andrew Winchester, seems more distant everyday, and how the room that she’s staying in locks from the outside…
It’s easy to see why The Housemaid #1 is one of Freida McFadden’s highest-rated series on Goodreads. It has everything you’d want in a thriller, such as good pacing, questionable characters, suspense, and unexpected twists and turns until the very end.
McFadden has a straight-forward style of writing compared to most stories in the genre, one that doesn’t lean into atmospheric descriptions and lyrical language to set the scene. While this minimalist approach is easy to follow and works for this type of story, it did come across as bland at times.
Despite the simplicity, this book exceeded my expectations. I’m drawn to thrillers that make you feel like you’ve figured everything out, only to completely upend your assumptions with unexpected twists and turns. That constant sense of surprise is exactly what I look for in a well-crafted thriller.
If you’re a fan of McFadden’s work or enjoy thrillers with unexpected twists, then I’d definitely recommend adding this one to your list. The Housemaid is set for theatrical release in December, so it might be fun to read it beforehand and see how the movie brings it to life. Get your copy on Amazon today.
The Housemaid #1 by Freida McFadden
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pages: 329
Rating: 4/5
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The door that locks from the outside sounds especially creepy! 🙂 I think you’ve got me hooked!!
Right? It should’ve been the first red flag! Thanks for reading Heidi.
I don’t know why I’ve never started this series, I see so many positive reviews about it and it does seem like something I’d enjoy but for some reason have never took the plunge 🤷🏻♀️
It’s entertaining and keeps you engaged, I hope you enjoy it!
Whoa! I’m now in the mood for mystery/thriller read. I should check out Freida McFadden works. My bestie has been recommending her works to me as well.
You should definitely check out her work. So far I’ve read two of her books and they did not disappoint. Thanks for reading Fadima!
I only read two chapters of this book, and now there’s a movie! I guess because I love a crime mystery thriller but not so big on psychological thriller. I might watch it though. I appreciate your honest review!
I’m typically not a fan of psychological thrillers either, but thankfully this one turned out to be very enjoyable. Thank you for reading Lux!
I read The Housemaid series earlier this year, and I enjoyed reading your review. I do agree that the book is fast-paced and has twists you do not expect. I am curious how the movie will compare to the book!
I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed this one too, Karalee! I’m also looking forward to seeing how the movie compares.
This sounds like my kind of read so I’m questioning myself why I haven’t read it yet Winnie. A wonderful review. ☺️
I hope you enjoy this book, Jodie! Thank you for reading.