The Housemaid

The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden is one of those thrillers that grabs you from the first page and keeps you thinking about it long after you finish. I felt like I was stepping into a world full of mystery and suspense that made me want to keep reading. This book has everything a good thriller should have; mind games, creepy characters and twists that keep you guessing. Just when I thought I had figured things out, the story took another shocking turn that kept me glued to the pages. The main character Millie is a young woman who’s just out of prison and in need of a fresh start. She’s struggling to get by until she gets a job as a live-in maid for the Winchester family. But soon, she realizes that this isn’t the perfect job it seemed to be. Nina, her new boss, is friendly one minute and strange the next and there’s something unsettling about the whole house. The author does an amazing job of creating a creepy atmosphere; Nina’s odd behaviour, the attic room where Millie has to stay with a lock on the outside and the strange way Nina’s daughter acts all made me feel the tension building. I also loved (and sometimes hated) how I never fully trusted any of the characters. They all have something to hide, including Millie herself. Her interactions with the landscaper Enzo and *not so* charming Andrew Winchester kept things interesting and intense. I could feel Millie’s fear and isolation as things got stranger and scarier. And then there are the twists! Every time I thought I knew what was going on, McFadden surprised me again. The last part of the book was especially exciting it felt like a fast race to the end, full of surprises that blew me away. The ending was beyond satisfying, one of those “wow” moments that makes you think about the book long after you’ve finished. Overall, I’d give The Housemaid five stars. It’s a thrilling, page-turning story that kept me up late and left me wanting more. If you’re a fan of thrillers full of mystery, tension, and big twists, you should definitely read this. Frieda McFadden has gained a new fan in me, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

📖Plot: Millie Calloway, recently released from prison and struggling to rebuild her life, accepts a live in housekeeping job with the affluent Winchester family. At first glance, the opportunity appears redemptive....a fresh start within the walls of privilege which eventually turns out to be something far more insidious. Nina Winchester exhibits increasingly erratic and unsettling behaviour while Andrew, her husband emerges as a seemingly sympathetic and sane figure. As Millie navigates the household’s suffocating dynamics....she uncovers a labyrinth of deceit, psychological control and buried trauma. Confined both physically and psychologically within the house, Millie is forced to confront a chilling truth.....escape is not merely about leaving but about outmanoeuvring those who have already anticipated her every move (not gonna spoil it by giving the name here).What follows is a sequence of escalating revelations culminating in a shocking inversion of truth and victimhood that redefines everything the reader believed. 🔖What I liked: The narrative is gripping, tightly constructed with crisp prose and short gripping chapters that make it difficult to pause. The tension builds steadily, creating an atmosphere that feels both unsettling & addictive. I particularly enjoyed the well timed twists which reframe the story in unexpected ways and they kept me engaged throughout. 🫤What didn't work for me: I found the characterisation somewhat limited with emotional depth occasionally taking a backseat to plot progression. Certain twists though effective felt reliant on familiar genre tropes, making parts of the narrative slightly predictable. At times....the emphasis on shock value overshadowed the psychological exploration. Overall it delivers exactly what it promises....Perfect for readers who crave drama, deception, and a story that refuses to let go. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Movie: The Housemaid is ⭐⭐/5 for me. Was miserably disappointed.

Frieda is too good. Better than movie. It’s amazing . I read 175 pages in sitting. Gripping, suspense. Got for it

The Housemaid Author : Freida McFadden Publisher : Bookouture Language : English Genre : psychological thriller About the book: “Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own… Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor. I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband. I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late. But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am. They don’t know what I’m capable of… 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. My take: What a book! This book begins with a simple story of Millie seeking the job of a housemaid at the residence of the filthy rich Winchester family. Millie has a dark past and secrets of her own, and she hopes she gets a new beginning in her life with this new job. But as she begins working for the Winchester's, she begins unravelling the secrets of the family. Nina Winchester isn't the perfect woman she portrays to be. Her moods swing like a swing, and one moment she is the caring host, and the other, she is a tormenting master. Her daughter Cece is equally tough to handle. The way they both always wear stark white clothes, especially Cece's unnaturally frilly frocks seem weird. The landscaper Enzo doesn't seem to speak English, but is he faking it? Because he keeps warning Millie that she is in danger. What is the mystery of the Windchester household. Does Millie get away unscathed? This book has me gripping it through the night as it revealed twists after twists. Some parts of the book are dark and disturbing, but the story, as usual, is terrific and something totally unexpected. The book is mostly from the POV of Millie, the POV of Nina Winchester appears later in the story, and while we get to know what each protagonist thinks, we are still left wondering what happens next. I love this author. She is a physician who writes terrific stories with amazing twists. The book never lets you get bored, and you want to finish it in one go. The book cover was okay, and could have been made more mysterious. Overall, I rate it 4.5.

I liked the twist in Part 2, but the ending went on a complete detour. The thing with the officer, mother and neighbors, everything felt too rushed and not put in place correctly. I had soo much hopes after the movie release and all but now I don't think I want to go watch the movie. It's a decent read, some section gave me goosebumps and some made me cringe (especially Millies internal monologue).

The Housemaid is the kind of book you pick up for a quick suspense fix and end up finishing in one sitting. The plot moves at a fast pace with short chapters, and the twists are dramatic enough to keep you turning pages. I really enjoyed the tension between the characters and the secrets unfolding inside the Winchester house. Yes, some parts are a bit over-the-top and not very realistic, but that’s what makes it fun — it’s a perfect popcorn thriller when you want something gripping yet easy to read. Overall, a super entertaining psychological thriller that delivers exactly what it promises. Highly recommended if you enjoy twisty, unputdownable reads!”

Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid is a masterclass in suspense that had me gripped from the very first page. Millie, the protagonist, takes on a new live-in job for the wealthy Winchester family, and what seems like a fresh start quickly devolves into a nightmare. Nina Winchester is an erratic and cruel employer, but the more you read, the more you realize that nothing is as it seems. The narrative's constant twists kept me guessing, with each chapter peeling back a new layer of deception. The genius of this book lies in its shocking reveals, particularly the jaw-dropping plot twist that completely redefines everything you thought you knew. This book is a fast-paced, addictive thriller that I couldn’t put down. For anyone who loves a good mind-bending mystery, The Housemaid is an absolute must-read!

The book came in very good condition, and I started reading it right away ...finished it in one sitting! I absolutely loved The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. Millie’s character was my favorite...strong, sarcastic, and so real. Her little bits of humor made the dark story even more enjoyable. The short chapters kept me hooked and made it so easy to keep saying “just one more.” It’s fast-paced, twisty, and completely addictive, a perfect psychological thriller!

História intrigante e com alta capacidade de prender a atenção do leitor. Acabei lendo o conteúdo todo em muito menos tempo do que havia previsto. Ótimo livro!

English is a second language for me.However, once you start, you can't stop flipping pages. I was so engrossed on my commuter train I missed my station more than several times.Can't help wishing Millie just a peaceful quiet life.

La trama è intrigante. non scontata. la storia evolve in un crescendo finale che coinvolge sempre di piu' il lettore.

I don’t usually read much thrillers, but I wanted to diversify my reading and broaden my horizons. Recently, I was stuck in a reading slump and struggled to focus on any book. I knew I needed something fresh and gripping to break the cycle, and that’s exactly what The Housemaid gave me—it completely blew my mind. The story follows Millie, who finds herself working as a live-in maid for the wealthy Winchester family. At first, things seem almost too good to be true, but she quickly discovers that the glamorous life she imagined comes with some dark, unsettling secrets. The Winchesters’ luxurious house and lavish lifestyle seem like a dream at first, but Millie quickly senses that something is very wrong beneath the surface. Nina Winchester, the wife, behaves erratically and veers from friendly to hostile in an instant. Andrew Winchester, her husband, seems kind, but his quiet nature only adds to the mystery. Their young daughter is cold and unsettling. And to top it off, the bedroom they’ve given Millie is a small, windowless attic room that locks from the outside—a subtle, eerie detail that makes her question her decision to stay. The Housemaid is an intense, page-turning thriller that had me hooked from the start! Millie is a relatable, if slightly flawed, protagonist who feels real and sympathetic. Her desperation to keep this job, even when things begin to spiral, is believable. McFadden does a good job of portraying Millie’s inner conflict as she balances her need for stability with her growing fear that something sinister is lurking in the Winchester household. Nina Winchester, on the other hand, is a fascinating character in her own right. She’s erratic, manipulative, and unsettling, with a carefully constructed persona that hints at a complex backstory. Her volatile personality and mind games keep Millie—and the reader—on edge. McFadden’s writing style is gripping and addictiv. She does a great job building suspense and tension. She crafts short, punchy chapters, which makes it so tempting to say, “just one more chapter.” I loved how the plot gradually unraveled with shocking revelations and how it keept me on the edge of your seat with its clever twists, sharp suspense. It’s a book that takes a seemingly simple setup—a young, desperate woman getting a job as a live-in housemaid—and turns it into a riveting, unpredictable journey full of secrets and mind games. Highlights One of the best things about The Housemaid is the way McFadden uses twists to keep readers guessing. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the plot takes another unexpected turn. Some twists are more predictable than others, but they’re executed with enough skill to keep the suspense high. The story doesn’t rely on shock value alone; instead, it’s the carefully constructed layers of deceit and manipulation that make each twist impactful. Without giving anything away, McFadden builds up to a surprising climax that satisfies, even if it raises a few questions. If you love twisty, fast-paced thrillers with complex characters and a chilling atmosphere, The Housemaid is well worth picking up.

This was my first ever Freida McFadden book and I really enjoyed my time reading it! It was captivating and I felt like I was always questioning who to trust and what made sense. It was cleaver and felt like a pretty unique plot line, certainly different than many other thrillers that I've read. Which admittedly I have to say isn't too many, but this book definitely has persuaded me to consume more of them. I just finished a few Stephen Kings, and now I am ready for another McFadden! I think I will start the second in this series next.