As Casey prepares for an upcoming storm, she can’t help but worry about the old roof caving in or if the tree outside will finally collapse onto her cabin. With no power, no phone signal, and no where else to go, all she can hope is that the cabin survives until morning. But the storm becomes the least of her worries when she spots a figure outside her cabin. It’s a young girl holding a knife and she’s covered in blood.
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When I saw this latest release from Freida McFadden, I immediately dove right in without reading the synopsis. Going off the title, I expected a tense story centered around surviving a storm in the middle of the woods, but instead I found a deeply emotional narrative about family, trauma, and the lasting effects of difficult upbringings.
The dual perspectives were easy to follow and added depth, which made it easy to invest in these characters. I formed plenty of predictions along the way, most of which turned out to be wrong, but that’s what I love about McFadden’s books. I love that most twists in her stories aren’t obvious and catch you off guard.
This isn’t your typical thriller and some readers may consider this a slow burn, but I personally enjoyed the pacing. It wasn’t a page-turner because of nonstop action, but because of how invested you are in these characters.
The ending was bittersweet, leaving just enough room for interpretation without overwhelming the reader with unanswered questions. Given the book’s strong reception on Goodreads, I hope this story will continue with another installment. If dark and twisty thrillers peak your interest, I’d recommend adding this book to your list. Get your copy on Amazon today.
The Intruder by Freida McFadden
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pages: 279
Rating: 4/5
I have only read The Housemaid series by Freida McFadden, and I have been curious to read more of her books. The Intruder does sound interesting, even if it is more of a slow burn than a normal thriller.
It doesn’t feel like her typical stuff, which I think people will really enjoy since it catches you off guard. Thanks for reading Karalee!
I love the depth of the story and the unexpected twists. These make the story so much richer and ultimately, keep you thinking about the plot long after you put the book down.
I absolutely agree! Thank you for reading Heidi.
Oooh this book sounds so good! I was just about to start reading The Housemaid by this author, I may have to check this one out next! Thanks for sharing your review!
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I hope you enjoy The Housemaid, Melissa!
Such a chilling setup, and I love that it leans into emotional, family-driven twists instead of just stormy cabin scares.
It was a refreshing twist and I really enjoyed it. Thanks for reading Candice!
I haven’t read anything by Freida McFadden.. she has so many books. Am going to have to figure out where to start.
I highly recommend starting with The Housemaid!
Sounds good and I might like it since it’s not your typical
Thriller Freida!
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Absolutely! I was definitely caught off guard, but in a very good way. Thanks for reading Cindy!
I have recently discovered this author after reading her January 2026 release of Dear Debbie and was captivated by it. This one sounds excellent as well. She has yet another book coming out in May which is already on my TBR. I love that she is such a prolific writer of such wonderful thrillers!
I loved your review for Dear Debbie! I’m hoping to get to it by the end of this month. Thanks for reading Jodie!
Great review, I’m yet to read any Frieda McFadden books and I’m drawn to this one!
This didn’t feel like her typical work, but I really enjoyed it! Thanks for reading Sarah.