A Book A Week

I just finished reading The Housemaid Is Watching, the third book in Freida McFadden's addictive, page-turning series, and I was genuinely impressed by how natural and fresh the story expanded. That third installment was a hit for me, and it left me eager for more. To my surprise, I discovered there’s a short novella in the series—The Housemaid’s Wedding—a quick story meant to fill the gap between books two and three. Still riding high from Watching, I decided to dive in.

Millie is just four hours away from what’s supposed to be the happiest day of her life, her wedding to Enzo. It’s a day she’s dreamed about, though never truly believed would come, especially after everything the couple has endured. When Millie found herself pregnant, Enzo popped the question, and now a small, winter-themed ceremony is underway. But things are already starting to unravel. Her dress doesn’t fit, she’s running out of time, and then she gets a threatening phone call from an unknown number. It’s not just cold feet—someone doesn’t want her to walk down the aisle. Someone wants her dead.

After enjoying all three full-length novels in Freida McFadden’s Housemaid series, I have to admit this novella left me disappointed. The Housemaid’s Wedding struggles to justify its existence. There’s little suspense, barely any twists, and even the central mystery feels underdeveloped. I suppose you could read it for completion’s sake, but honestly, even that seems unnecessary. McFadden has wowed me up until this point, but this one just doesn’t work. If you’re looking for more thrills from the Housemaid universe, you’re better off skipping this one.

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

(2025, 52)

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)

After devouring Freida McFadden's breakout thriller The Housemaid in a single sitting last month, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I dove into another one of her works. Surprisingly, I discovered The Housemaid had a sequel and even a third installment featuring the same character. Naturally, The Housemaid’s Secret became my next pick. I brought it along on a tropical vacation, and true to McFadden’s reputation, I was instantly hooked. Packed with the shocking twists and breakneck pacing I’ve come to expect from her, I tore through it in just one day.

Finding a job has always been an uphill battle for Millie. With a criminal record hanging over her, most employers hesitate to give her a chance. But after the chaotic events of her last job, the struggle has only gotten worse. Seriously, if you’ve read The Housemaid, you’ll understand why Millie isn’t exactly an employer’s dream candidate. Truthfully, even Millie might think twice about hiring herself. But hey, a girl’s got to eat. Determined to turn her life around, Millie is dating a wonderful guy with a great career who seems head over heels for her. She’s also enrolled in college, inching closer to her dream of becoming a social worker. Things are far from perfect, but she’s trying.

When she’s abruptly fired from her current position, Millie is desperate for a new job. That’s when Douglas Garrick comes to her rescue with an incredible offer. He needs a housekeeper and cook for his luxurious penthouse at the top of a Manhattan high-rise and is willing to pay handsomely for the right person. The salary is so enticing that Millie is willing to ignore a few odd details—like the fact that she’s never met Mrs. Garrick, or that the woman apparently lives locked away in the guest room, completely out of sight. Millie agrees to leave the mysterious wife undisturbed, but things turn chilling when she hears crying behind the door. Spotting bloodstains on Mrs. Garrick’s laundry pushes Millie’s curiosity over the edge. When she finally knocks, and the door opens, she's unprepared for what she finds on the other side. 

The Housemaid's Secret proves that Freida McFadden knows how to keep readers hooked. It delivers all the suspense and shocking twists that made the first novel such a compulsive read while steering Millie’s character in an intriguing new direction. I initially worried this sequel might recycle the same plot beats, but I was pleasantly surprised by how McFadden chose to develop Millie. She feels more in control of her life, even if that control requires carefully hiding her troubled past from those around her.

While some plot elements struck familiar chords—Millie stepping into a new job full of glaring red flags—McFadden skillfully played with that familiarity to subvert my expectations. The result is another wildly over-the-top, twist-filled thriller that kept me tearing through pages late into the night. The Housemaid's Secret cements McFadden as a master of addictive storytelling, and I’m already looking forward to what surprises the next book will bring.

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

(2025, 6)

What’s the last book you couldn’t put down? I get through my TBR pile steadily, squeezing in pages whenever possible and ending each day with reading before bed. Still, nothing beats the excitement of discovering a true page-turner—one of those books that demands you keep reading no matter the hour. That’s exactly how I felt with Freida McFadden’s breakout thriller, The Housemaid. I picked it up late one afternoon and found myself utterly hooked, staying up well past my usual bedtime to finish it in the early morning hours.

Millie is no stranger to hard times. After spending a decade in prison, she’s struggling to rebuild her life. With nothing but her beat-up car to live in, some secondhand clothes, and a few slices of bologna to her name, Millie is desperate for a fresh start. But finding work is nearly impossible with a criminal record hanging over her. Even the most menial jobs seem out of reach. Just as she’s about to lose hope, Millie stumbles across a job listing for a live-in maid. Could this finally be her chance to turn her life around?

The Winchester mansion is a vision of perfection, a far cry from the life Millie knows. Nina Winchester, the elegant lady of the house, is flawlessly put together as she welcomes Millie into her pristine home. On the surface, Nina seems to have it all: a luxurious lifestyle, a beautiful daughter, and a handsome, hardworking husband. The interview goes surprisingly well, and Millie is shocked to find herself not only hired but also with a new place to live. Yes, things are finally looking up. 

From the start, though, Millie senses something isn’t quite right. While the Winchester home is opulent in every way, Millie’s attic room is small and bare, with a door that can only be locked from the outside. Nina brushes off her concerns, explaining that the room is usually used for storage. Still, the oddities pile up. Most alarming is Nina herself, whose demeanor shifts unpredictably—one moment lavishing Millie with praise for her work, the next berating her for following Nina’s own instructions. It quickly becomes clear that the Winchester home harbors secrets, and Millie is about to be wrapped up in them. 

The Housemaid delivers everything I look for in a popcorn thriller. It grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go until the last. While the premise will feel familiar to anyone who reads domestic thrillers, Freida McFadden’s execution sets it apart. The story is sprinkled with red flags and eerie clues, keeping the reader on edge as Millie ignores the warning signs in her desperation for stability. The twists come fast and furious, ramping up the tension with every chapter.

Yes, the plot leans into the outrageous at times, and some scenes—especially those involving domestic violence—are difficult to stomach. But the book’s short chapters and breakneck pace kept me compulsively turning the pages. While somewhat predictable, the conclusion ties everything together in a deliciously satisfying way. Freida McFadden has crafted a bona fide page-turner in The Housemaid, and I was more than happy to lose sleep devouring it in one sitting.

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

(2024, 92)