A Book A Week

The blistering heat of a Texas summer is officially upon us, and the only way I’ve learned to cope, short of staying inside, is to escape to the lake cabin. That’s precisely what I did this weekend, and it was a much-needed relief. Of course, no summer getaway is complete without a page-turning read, and I had the perfect book waiting to be devoured.

I first discovered Freida McFadden’s addictive writing late last year. Her blockbuster novel The Housemaid was everything I look for in a popcorn thriller, and its sequel delivered even more jaw-dropping twists. I’d been sitting on the third book in the series, The Housemaid Is Watching, for a while now, and this lake trip felt like the perfect moment to dive in.

Millie’s life is now much different from when we last saw her. In fact, she’s more reminiscent of the women she used to clean for than the maid she once was. She’s no longer scrubbing toilets. She’s earned her degree, works as a hospital social worker, and is now married to Enzo, the charming Italian landscaper who’s stood by her through more than one dark chapter. They have two kids, Ada and Nico, and are finally moving out of their cramped Bronx apartment into a bigger home on Long Island. It’s a stretch financially, but Millie is determined to make it work.

But trouble has a way of finding Millie, and this new neighborhood is no exception. Their next-door neighbor, Mrs. Lowell, is all smiles and fake sweetness, the kind of woman who can't stop bragging about her bigger house, her maid, her booming real estate career, and her child-free lifestyle. Millie doesn’t trust her for a second. Especially when Mrs. Lowell takes a little too much interest in Enzo. Still, Millie is trying to fit in, even if it means enduring fake friendships. So she accepts an invitation to dinner at the Lowells’. But the second the door opens and she sees their maid—expressionless, silent, eerie—Millie gets chills.

Then there’s the house across the street. Someone seems to be watching them. Flickers in the window. Unsettling stares. Enzo starts acting strange, claiming he’s trying to build his landscaping business and needs Mrs. Lowell’s help to network. But Millie isn’t convinced. And when she finally meets the reclusive woman who lives across the street, she’s greeted with a chilling warning: don’t trust the neighbors. Millie thought a fresh start would finally free her from the darkness that had haunted her past, but this new neighborhood might hold the darkest chapter yet.

With The Housemaid Is Watching, Freida McFadden proves once again why she’s the queen of the psychological thriller. This third installment isn’t just a retread of what’s come before. McFadden evolves her characters, places them in new and perilous situations, and manages to thrill in completely original ways. While returning readers will appreciate the callbacks and nuance, newcomers can jump in here without feeling lost. The story stands on its own, and the continuity mostly serves to reward longtime fans.

As with the previous books, I couldn’t put this one down. I read it in a single sitting, and I suspect you will too. McFadden writes with urgency. Her short chapters keep the pages flying, and she expertly drops breadcrumbs that pull you along until the very last twist. Every time I thought I had it figured out, she flipped the script. This is exactly the kind of addictive summer read I crave: fast, fun, and full of surprises.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 51)