Freida McFadden never fails to intrigue and entertain. The Housemaid’s Secret is just as fantastic if not better than the first book. Freida is a master of twists! This follow-up is suspenseful, diabolical, shocking, and full of twists! We catch up with Millie several years after the events in The Housemaid. Reading the first book helps you to know some of the characters a little more & you’ll understand some of the references in this sequel, however, it isn’t required. You can read this as a stand-alone as well. If you enjoyed the first book, you’re in for a treat with The Housemaid’s Secret!

The “Housemaid’s Secret” did NOT disappoint!! I loved the first book in this series (The Housemaid) but this one was even better. It was gripping, shocking, charming and the twists-OMG they were crazy!! I re-read “The Housemaid” to refresh my memory so I was ready for this book but it wasn’t necessary. This book could read as a stand-alone. It does tell details from the first book but you wouldn’t feel lost if you read this first. “The Housemaid’s Secret”had me from the first page and I didn’t want to put it down. I’m so excited that Freida continued Millie’s story….I hope there will be more to come because I will be there for it!! Who knew being a housemaid could be so exciting??!! READ THIS BOOK!

The Housemaid’s Secret is the follow up to The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden, and boy, was it worth the wait! You would think being a housemaid would be a safe bet. The most you have to worry about would be what brand of polish to use? Or what’s the best product to get stains out? Unfortunately for Millie, there’s something far more sinister at play in her new cleaning job! One thing I absolutely love about Freida McFadden’s writing is the way she draws you with a chilling opening chapter full of promise and keeps you firmly in her clutches until the very last riveting page.

Millie is back doing what she does best, cleaning houses for the rich and privileged Wendy and Douglas Gerrick. They live in a penthouse in Manhattan, but from the start, something seems off. And that’s all I’m going to say about the plot: the less you know, the more thrilling the ride. Millie isn’t the most reliable of narrators, so the reader is never sure if her vivid imagination is jumping to conclusions or things really are as they seem. This undoubtedly adds to the tension.

I loved how the author injects some dark humour into the plot, it gives a real sense of Millie’s quirky personality. I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy this book as much as the first but I did, it’s entertaining, perfectly pitched and with the authors trademark ‘you never see coming’ twists it’s nigh on impossible to second guess which direction the  plot is heading which is always a plus in my book.  The Housemaids Secret is a really entertaining, addictive read it’s one of those gem of a book that begs to be read in one hugely deliciously satisfying sitting. Highly recommended

I have to say I was hooked from the very first page. I also read the Housemaid recently and both books have been equally as good as each other. It's one of those I'll read just one more page and before you know it you've been reading for another hour. Cracking story with plenty of twists

Wow, this book was good. I read the Housemaid and while I thought it was good I did think it was a lot like Verity. This book I thought was done so well. Parts of the story I just didn't feel were necessary but it didn't take me away from it. I loved all the twists and turns in this book. Honestly I thought i had it figured out towards the end but boy was I wrong. I found the writing to be so addicting. I literally finished this book in less than a day because I couldn't put it down.

Freida never disappoints! The Housemaid is my favorite book by her, and The Housemaid’s Secret exceeded my expectations!

We get to learn what Millie has been up to since The Housemaid. Working for a rich spoiled mother, Millie is fired after the baby she is caring for calls her Mama. With a prison record and no money, Millie accepts a position working for the rich Doug Garrick, taking care of his ailing wife who never leaves her room. She is given strict instructions not to disturb Mrs. Garrick. If you know Millie from The Housemaid, she never leaves well enough alone. In typical Freida fashion, you are not sure where the story is going, you think you know, but you never do! The story is filled with plenty of WTF moments with the authors dark sense of humor sprinkled throughout, and as always, she ends with an EPIC epilogue!

I cannot wait until this book is released into the wild, because it is surely to become number one very quickly! Make sure to get your pre-order in, clear your day, and settle in, because you will not be able to put this book down!

Once again, thank you to Freida McFadden for your trust in me, and for always giving me early access to your books in advance of the publication date! I will always be grateful! And many thanks to Bookouture for the widget!

After I read The Housemaid, which I absolutely loved, I knew I had to read The Housemaid's Secret. Once again, Freida McFadden's excellent writing style comes through perfectly. She does a fantastic job at keeping you engaged and laying out a fun thriller. Unfortunately, though, I found this sequel did not live up to the hype of The Housemaid. I saw a lot of twists coming and it was not as intriguing as the first. But, that being said, The Housemaid's Secret was still entertaining and I would recommend this thriller to my friends.

Millie finds a new housemaid’s job at the famous Douglas Garricks. But something is strange about him and his wife supposedly sick. What's going on in this penthouse and behind the close door?
I loved this book so much from the beginning because of the twists and the twits’s twists. We think we know everything and yet we are surprised on every page till the end.

In this second book about Millie, the housemaid, we become reacquainted with her. She is working again but when the child she looks after calls her Mama, she is instantly fired. Millie goes on to become a maid for a wealthy couple, Wendy and Douglas. Wendy appears to be in a frightening and abusive relationship with Douglas and once again tries to help her get away. Without spoilers I cannot really say more about this book. However what I can say is that it was fantastic and I literally could not put it down and read it in one sitting! A definite read for anyone who enjoyed the first book

This definitely holds up to the first in the series! FYI this is a completely new story with completely new characters, so it can be read as a standalone - it just keeps similar themes to the first Housemaid novel. this was very quick and bingeable, i read the whole thing in an evening because I needed to find out what was going on! you don’t go into Mcfadden’s books expecting literary masterpieces but they’re definitely fun popcorn thrillers with good twists.

This was an entertaining sequel to Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid. I enjoyed revisiting the characters from the first book, but this book could also be read as a standalone book. This was a fast read that kept me engaged the whole time.

Despite Millie’s clouded past, I found her very likable. I do wish that we had a little bit more of the backstory from the first book because I had some difficulty remembering some of the details, but it was not essential to the story.

There are a few notable Freida-like twists in this book. I truly enjoyed the very end of the book. That was a big surprise to me.

Overall, The Housemaid’s Secret is another solid book from a fantastic writer.

Working for Amber is a great gig, until her daughter calls Millie Mama that is. After being fired once again, Millie needs to find a job so she can complete her education, and afford to keep her apartment. It’s been years since she helped out Nina, but she doesn’t do that anymore. When she gets a call from Mr. Garrick, the job seems too good to be true. There is only one rule. Don’t go in the guest room or bother his wife, she is ill. After overhearing fights, and hearing Mrs. Garrick crying on the other side of the door, Millie knows something is going on and she needs to do something.

Holy crap y’all. I loved the first book in this series, I never dreamed the second would be even better! I started this one when I got into bed on a Saturday night and flew through 77% before my eyes finally called it quits. If they wouldn’t have I for sure would have finished this book before falling asleep. Much like the first book, nothing is as it seems, and the twists are insane. These, my friends, are the kind of thrillers I need in my life! I am officially obsessed and need another book in this series ASAP. If you haven’t read the first one yet, what are you waiting for?

Wild Ride as Usual from McFadden.
I only found this author a few months ago and Man oh Man am I glad I did.
Her books are Shorter and so fast paced.

This was a follow-up to The Housemaid and whoo I did not know I needed this book. But I really enjoyed it.

I read The Housemaid at the end of 2022 and I absolutely loved it so I was delighted to have the opportunity to read the sequel. The Housemaid's Secret is every bit as thrilling, entertaining and difficult to put down.

I enjoyed being back with Millie. Although she has a colourful past, she is a character I warmed to easily and I really rooted for her in her various jobs. A large part of the story is told from Millie's point of view and it was great to get under her skin and peel back her many layers.

Freida McFadden's plotting skills are absolutely immense. She has worked every single element of the plot out so carefully and it's a joy to read as it all comes together. I had to pick my jaw off the floor several times!

The ending of The Housemaid's Secret is particularly tense and I was on the edge of my seat as everything came to a head.

I don't know if there is a sequel planned, but I definitely would love to meet up with Millie again

The burning question I asked myself while reading this book is why have I never read a book from this author before?

Millie, the main character is a housemate who is trying to forge out a new life for herself and leave her past behind.

When she is offered a job working for billionaire Douglas Garrick she is drawn into web of deceit and danger.

Wendy, Douglas’s wife never leaves her room. This intrigues Millie and she cannot stop herself from trying to find out why? As the plot begins to reveal itself I was dumbfounded. The twists and turns in the storyline were amazing, and I was less guessing and second-guessing right to the end.

This book is one I wholeheartedly recommend. It’s kept me hooked and I found I had raced I through it enjoying every page.

I will definitely read more books by this author as her writing style and storytelling are first class. A book which is hard to forget as I’m still thinking about it even though I’ve finished it.

This book was definitely unputdownable!! I devoured this one and dare I say, I think it was better than the first! If you enjoyed The Housemaid this is a must read! So many twists and turns, right until the very end! If you haven’t read The Housemaid, read that one first then this one, it helps with the back story of the main character, Millie.

Thank you for the ARC on NetGalley, I truly enjoyed it!

Wow! I had read the Housemaid a few months ago and I was skeptical about how it could be beaten but Freida McFadden has done it again! An amazing book as a stand-alone or part of the series that still keeps you guessing even when you think you’ve figured it out!

I was absolutely blown away by The Housemaid. So, I was super excited to see The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden. A sequel to one of my favorite psych thriller novels of 2022?

YES PLEASE!

I am also extremely pleased to say that it does not disappoint. It’s just as good as the first book featuring Millie as the housemaid.

The author brilliantly plots the story so that you don’t have to have read the first book to enjoy this one. But you will be missing out if you don't grab it.

You’ll get more insight into Millie, which I think adds to the story. You’ll also be able to catch sly references to the original. One of them – regarding teeth – made me literally laugh out loud. IYKYK

As to The Housemaid’s Secret, Millie has left her past behind her, but has her past left her? Are some things just innate? It’s a thought-provoking question that the author explores with a deft touch.

I love how the author sets up her plots (at least in these two stories). Part I is from Millie’s perspective; Part II is from another character (no spoiler), giving more background. Part III brings the two together in what can only be described as a shocking and highly satisfying climax and resolution.

I don’t want to give anything away. As I often mention, some books are just meant to be read without anybody else’s opinions coloring them.

Even if you pay careful attention to every detail (which you should because there are many hints dropped), you’ll probably find yourself second-guessing what you think you know throughout the entire book.

For example, the prologue features an unknown person. I changed my mind at least four times about who the person was and who the person was afraid of. It was like a strange sort of mix and match in my mind.

That’s a complicated way to say that the author’s writing is so good that you will be kept guessing. The plot is extremely tight. It’s really everything you could want in a psych thriller.

If I keep going, I will give something away. Suffice it to say that The Housemaid’s Secret is already my favorite book of 2023. It’s going to be tough for any other one to beat it.

Unless it’s maybe another one from Freida McFadden!
This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from Bookouture.
For more reviews, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews.

Freida McFadden can really keep her readers on their toes! If you enjoyed the book The Housemaid, you will enjoy this one as well. They are different books, but also quite similar in composition and style.

I accidentally requested this book on NetGalley without realizing that it was a sequel. Three chapters in, I was enjoying the book, but felt like I was missing some context. At this point, I paused and devoured the first book in two days, which I gave me the context I needed. I restarted this book and was pleasantly surprised to discover that the storyline was NOT was I was expecting, given the setup at the end of the last book. I whipped through this one, not wanting to put it down.

The Housemaid's Secret is the sequel to The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden. I absolutely throughly enjoyed the first book in the series, though I rarely give 5 stars thought it was very deserving of a five star review. Though, the second book is another gripping psychological thriller it felt as this one struggle to find its ground in the first half of the book. Nevertheless, the book picks up its paced in the second half and becomes what we have learned to expect from this author, filled with twist and turns and a ravishing ending.

In the sequel, Millie returns and once again is struggling to make ends meet when she is offered a job working for a Billionaire CEO named Douglas Garrick. Soon after she starts to work for Mr. Garrick she becomes concerned that she rarely sees his wife leave her bedroom . When Millie finally sees his wife she is covered with bruises everywhere and is ghastly thin. Millie is persistent in wanting to help Wendy out of this horrific situation. In attempting to help a woman she believes is an danger from her husband, she ends up in an unfortunate predicament.

The book was an enjoyable read and only stuffers when compared with the the first in it's series.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for gifting me this ARC in return for an honest review.