In a Nutshell: A bit farfetched but it still provided me with almost everything I look for in a thriller.

Story:
Millie has just been hired as the housemaid to rich Nina Winchester.
Millie is hiding a secret from Nina in order to get the job as she is desperate. She decides to become the perfect housemaid so that she can earn her way out of her maniacal employer’s clutches.
Nina seems to be delusional, even crazy at times. She loves her husband and her daughter Cece but for some reason, can’t stand Millie.
Andrew, Nina’s husband, is the perfect guy, too good to be true. He empathises with Millie’s plight but can he go against his own wife?
Someone has ended up dead in the prologue of the novel. Is it one of these three? Or was one of them the murderer? What happened in the Winchester household after the new maid was appointed?
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of two of the main characters.

Where the book worked for me:
😍 If you know your domestic thrillers, you'll know that the above character analysis will change over the course of the novel. The characters were unbelievable at times. In spite of this, I enjoyed their idiosyncrasies. A thriller can’t be twisty without characters who generate mixed feelings in you. It’s boring to have thrillers with clearly delineated good or bad characters. The characters in this book will test your loyalties towards them.
😍 The prologue is great. It created the right amount of suspense without revealing too much.
😍 The first person works well in this story. While there is a little rambling (one can't escape that entirely in first person povs, unfortunately), it reveals the thoughts and intentions of the characters well and also creates a nice mystery about the speaker of the prologue.
😍 I was impressed by how the author could take such a typical plotline and develop it into a captivating story. Right from the prologue till the end, I couldn’t keep the book aside. This, despite the fact that the story was disturbing, creepy, weird, even OTT.
😍 There are some interesting twists along the way. Though any regular thriller reader would be easily able to spot most of those, they were still penned in a way that I enjoyed them.
😍 I completed this 330+ pager within a day. I love books that surprise me with their pace.
😍 There is a dark humour underlying Millie’s narration, I liked those random funny moments even when the proceedings were not hilarious at all.
😍 The ending is excellent. While not completely unexpected (and also not completely realistic), it still offers the perfect finish to this plot.
😍 There was no alcoholic in this domestic thriller. Thank you for not using that trope, dear author. I am so fed up of reading thrillers with unreliable narrators who can’t control their addition to booze.

Where the book could have worked better for me:
😑 I couldn’t connect with the portrayal of Nina’s daughter, 9 year old Cece, who doesn’t behave her age. To portray her as creepy might help initially but it was an underutilised track ultimately.
😑 The blurb doesn’t do justice to the book and totally misrepresents it. It also contains minor spoilers. Thankfully, I read the blurb only after completing the book.
😑 As in every contemporary domestic thriller, there were some farfetched plot points that would NEVER occur in real life. A couple of these are left unexplained.
😑 There are also a few convenient coincidences. (Then again, these are found in almost every thriller, which is why I don’t read much of this genre.)

All in all, this was my first book by this author but I don’t think it will be my last. Despite the minor shortcomings, this book kept me largely satisfied. Since I am not an avid contemporary thriller reader, I cannot tell you if the plot is similar to any of the other recent domestic thrillers in the market. But I know that I was quite happy with it. Definitely recommended if you are looking for an entertaining commercial thriller.

4.25 stars.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Housemaid”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Review: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The housemaid was a solid 5 star read for me, it was my first Freida McFadden book but will definitely not be my last.

The book is written from two main character perspectives, first from Millie, a young woman recently released from prison, desperate for a job who becomes “The Housemaid” and then Nina the wife, mother and strange personality that Millie works for.

The author has written this so cleverly that the story flips and everything you thought you knew gets turned on it’s head through many twists and turns. The only negative was that the ending felt a little rushed but that still didn’t take away from what a great book this is.

If you like a twisty psychological thriller then you can’t go wrong with this. If you enjoyed Verity by Colleen Hoover I think you will enjoy this.

Thanks NetGalley and Bookoture for the ARC.

First of all, how cool is this cover!?

This was another fast paced and twisty read from Freida McFadden! I was hooked from page one and had a hard time putting this book down because I was dying to know how it was going to end!

Freida McFadden quickly became an auto buy author for me and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Millie Calloway, fresh out of prison, lands a job as a live-in maid working for the well-off Winchester family, Nina, her husband Andrew and their daughter, Cecelia. Millie is glad she will no longer have to use her car as her home but it's not long before she realises that the Winchesters aren't all they appear to be...

I have read one of Freida McFadden's tales before (The Ex) so I figured that The Housemaid would be something special; it was! The author's character development is amazing and her straightforward writing style suits me. Exactly the right amount of suspense kept the story interesting so I felt that I needed to read just one more chapter. The curveballs and the unexpected ending are the icing on the cake. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I absolutely loved this crazy book. Seriously, the twists in this one completely took me by surprise! These kind of thrillers are my absolute favorite, Ones that keep you up so late because you gotta know what happens next!

Millie is looking for a fresh start after getting out of prison. She just got fired from her recent job, so she's living in her car. She applies for a Housemaid position at the Winchester residence. A beautiful huge house. Nina Winchester hires her. Once she starts here, Nina becomes so nasty….and seems to hate Millie right off the bat. But the reason Nina treats her this way is NOT what you'd think!! I do not want to say any more as I feel going in blind is best. That's what I did. But seriously, I thought this one was so suspenseful and awesome!!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

I binged read this book and all I can say is wow 🤯 Freida McFadden does it again with another page turning, unable to put down, plot twisting fantastic read! Highly recommended ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“If I leave this house, it will be in handcuffs. I should have run for it while I had the chance. Now my shot is gone.” - Prologue.

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Housemaid’ by Freida McFadden in exchange for an honest review.

Right from the above opening lines I was hooked.
This is one of those domestic noirs/psychological thrillers that I feel is best read ‘cold’, so just the barest of details.

After the Prologue we go back three months earlier.
The housemaid of the title is Millie, who has applied for the position of live-in housekeeper for the wealthy Nina and Andrew Winchester. Millie is on parole and really needs this job. No further details though as might be expected from this type of thriller and the Prologue’s teaser, things get quite complicated.

Most of the novel focuses upon the dynamic between these three adults, though there is also the Winchester’s spoiled nine-year-old daughter, Cecelia, to add to Millie’s torments. At her first meeting with ‘CeCe’ she thinks “I’d say there’s at least a twenty-five percent chance she’s going to murder me in my sleep if I get this job. But I still want it.”

Overall, one of the best, twisty, unputdownable psychological thrillers that I have read for a while. After such a positive experience, I plan to check out Freida McFadden’s earlier novels as well as look out for her future projects.

Millie is down on her luck and in need of a job. After spending some time in prison, she hopes to find something soon because sleeping in her car is getting old.

She interviews with Nina Winchester in her spectacular home for a position as live-in maid. In addition, she will be doing some childcare for Nina’s 9-year-old daughter, Cecelia. Nina is married to Andrew who is quite easy on the eyes.

Nina soon learns that Nina can go from very sweet to an evil witch in a matter of minutes so she’s on edge to try and keep the woman happy. Cecelia is a lot like her mother and a total brat. Ah, but Andrew is a true gentleman and always kind.

Nina lives in an attic room with a connecting bathroom. It’s small and cramped but it beats sleeping in her car.

Millie soon learns that Nina has had some serious mental problems in the past so she gears herself up to handle the woman's mood swings. When she sees Nina act up, she really feels sorry for the handsome Andrew. So, when Andrew throws Nina out of the house, Millie sees her chance to step in and replace her. What a wonderful thing, right?

There were a couple of times that I thought this plot was rather corny until I got further into the book. This story plays out to be really tense and unexpected. I liked the book and I hope others will as well.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Millie is an ex-convict who is just fired from her job and is living in her car. She tries her best to find a job, so when she is contacted by Nina to be a housemaid and nanny to her daughter she is thrilled and does not want to mess it up.

Millie comes across as an unreliable narrator as the first half of the book is told from her point of view. I liked being in Millie's head and found her inner monologue endearing. I initially disliked Nina but after the second half we get to know her point of view and reasons behind her actions.

I haven't read any book by Freida McFadden but I can see why she is such a popular thriller writer. I could not turn the pages fast enough.The twists kept coming and I thought I knew how this would end but no. She just threw another curveball with an unexpected ending.

This reminded me of What Lies Between us by John Marrs where everything is not as it seems. Overall a masterfully crafted thriller. Simply Brilliant!! I will be checking her previous books and looking out for any new releases by her.

Thank you @netgalley @bookoutoure for the eARC.

It's been a very long time since I was completely pulled into a novel and I loved every minute of it.

Millie needs a fresh start - she's got some baggage (she's a newly-released convict) and getting a job as a housekeeper is sort of her big chance at moving out of her car and actually having room and board. But as soon as she moves in with a wealthy family, things seem...off. Before she knows it, Millie is in the middle of some major weirdness. From an unbalanced wife and bratty child to a seemingly broken-hearted husband, Millie is going to have to figure out what's happening before it's too late.

This is a whirlwind of a story and you're going to love every minute of it!!

Read this if...you like thrillers that feature the gaslighting trope.

Having a criminal record makes finding a job difficult and Millie is desperate for work. She can’t believe her luck when she is offered the live-in housemaid position in a wealthy family’s home. The mistress of the house, Nina, is very demanding and especially cruel to Millie, constantly talking down to her and creating unnecessary jobs for her to do. There are rumors that Nina is mentally unwell. If Millie didn’t need this job so badly, she would have walked away the first day. Nina’s husband is also a constant victim of his wife’s unpredictable mood swings and Millie can’t help herself from falling for him. Of all the mistakes Millie has made, this one might turn out to be the deadliest.

I loved this thriller! I didn’t have high expectations because I’ve read so many books about maids that they all seem to blend together eventually. That wasn’t the case with this one though! The storyline completely surprised me and I did not see the twists coming. My only complaint was that the ending felt a little too rushed and was somewhat difficult to believe. It was still satisfying, but after getting so invested in the drama, I wanted it to last longer than it did. But overall, this was a fast-paced, twisty thriller that I enjoyed!

A big thanks to Netgalley, the author, and Bookouture for a digital ARC and an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden, review

“If I leave this house, it will be in handcuffs,” is the bang-up lead-in to this twisty domestic thriller.

Told from the POVs of Nina—rich, spoiled housewife—and her new maid, Millie—homeless, just released from prison and badly in need of a job—the story builds slowly through the exaggerated dustups of employer and employee. Millie is beautiful, Nina is jealous, and Andrew, Nina’s wealthy husband is guileless and gorgeous. But all is not as it appears, everyone has secrets, there are revelations of past misdeeds, and Enzo the gardener is hovering on the sidelines with his ominous warnings to Millie.

The characters in this book are mostly unlikeable, for various reasons, but the writing is solid and the plot is immersive, imbued with a terrific “what happens next” vibe.

I recommend this novel to readers who like domestic suspense with multiple twists and a clever ending to top it off!

Thank you to Bookoutre and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Millie is an ex-con living out of her car and desperate for a new job. When the glamorous Nina Winchester offers her a position as live-in housemaid despite her past, Millie jumps at the opportunity. The pay is good, the house is beautiful, and the husband is hot, so when rumors start swirling about Nina’s mental health and things start to go sideways in the house, Millie puts up with it. But as things continue to spiral out of control, Millie realizes she could be in danger… then again, the Winchesters have no idea what *she* is capable of, do they?

I really enjoyed this book! From the funny/strange things that Nina does to Millie (like gifting her old clothes and then accusing her of stealing them) to the twist in the middle (that you might see coming) and the second little twist at the very end (!) this book is an entertaining, must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

`A wild ride.... Great, fast-paced thriller! I definitely thought that I had it figured out. I really enjoyed this one!

An absolutely addictive psychological thriller with a jaw dropping twist. This is the tag line for this book and it is 100% correct.
I devoured this boo in two days. And need more.
This is my first book by this author and I absolutely loved it. There was a few moments that I did not like the main character. But in the end I was able to understand her character better.

I cant wait to read more of this author and hopefully she writes a sequel to this one.
It doesn't end on a cliff hanger, just leaves you wanting more.

Mille can't stand one more day living out of her car, so she jumps at the offer to become the Winchester's maid. Their house is beautiful, Nina seems okay, and her husband Andrew is spectacularly handsome. Not that Mille is looking!

Mille doesn't even mind the hard cot in the tiny, stuffy attic room that she's given. And she's okay cleaning up Nina's messes. She can ignore how rude their daughter Cecelia is to her. But when Nina starts blaming Mille for every little thing that goes wrong, she starts to believe the rumors about Nina - and that maybe she is in danger.

Mille is right about the danger. But she has no idea what the real danger is.

The story is told in three separate points of view, and soon the reader has an idea of what's going on in the Winchester house. The question is, can Mille get out in time?

This was a thoroughly creative story and I love where McFadden took us! Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance reader's copy.

Thanks netgalley for this great book, I really enjoyed it and never guessed the ending of this story.
Millie went to work for Nina as a house maid, Nina was very. Nasty to her for no reason. But. Millie needed this job so she put up with being treated badly.
That was until she fell in love with Nina’s husband, and then everything changed.
Millie’s room in the house was in the attic, with a door knob that kept sticking, so Millie thought.
Until she saw the scratches made by finger nails on the door, she knew that something was not quite right in this house.
I never guessed the ending, read this book very quickly and loved it
Look forward to reading another book by this author,

This was an unputdownable, five star read for me! Told from two different points of view, which I happen to love.
There is Millie the housemaid, and Nina the wife/ homeowner. We meet Millie who is interviewing for a live-in housemaid position. She is captivating from the very start. You can´t help but love her quirks, from trying on her boss ´ clothing to telling strange lies. She inherently dreams of living the life in which she works. There is also the inevitable spoiled daughter, and not surprisingly the handsome as ever husband.
Without giving up any spoilers, there were so many twists and turns and I was left wondering who and what will happen next. It starts off hot, with a WHOA moment, and the suspense continues throughout. A fantastic psychological thriller!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Freida McFadden and Bookouture for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! The twists and turns just kept coming. What a page turning book. I could put it down because I had to know what twist was coming next. I never expected any of it. The character development was amazing and how each character flowed into the plot of the story. Millie was such a trooper throughout all of the harassment given. Definitely a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read and would recommend highly!

This book blew my mind. The author does a really good job of writing both Nina and Millie. Readers are led to believe Nina is one way until the section here they understand from her perspective. I was clueless as to who was really evil in the book.
It kept me on my toes and it’s a terrific thriller!