This book definitely kept me on edge. Right when I thought I figured something out, I had something else to string together, messing up my first theory. The chapters were pretty short, which helped me keep my focus! I didn't feel like I knew Nora how I was supposed to. I think that's how it's supposed to be, though, which is genius. In the book, Nora is closed off and has walls up around her life to protect her past. The author had made sure we saw how everyone else saw her. I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a very well-put-together book. Definitely recommend!

A gripping novel with ratcheting tension as FMC becomes increasingly suspicious of people around her. Who is planting evidence to frame her? Who can she trust? I can't imagine being a child of a serial killer! The guilt of being related to a monster. The worry that people would find out. The concern about passing those traits onto any children you might bear. This story incorporates all these issues with realism.

This is my first book by this author. I would definitely read more by her!

Another great read by Frieda. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for another ARC!

This book is about Nora, a general surgeon with a past she would rather forget. Her father was a serial killer and her mother killed herself after her father was caught. 26 years later, with a new last name on a new city, Nora has moved past her childhood. But suddenly, two of her patients are murdered under the same M.O her father used. Now suddenly Nora is a suspect and has no clue who is killing her patients.

Frieda books are always fast paced, easy to read, and twisty. A solid 4 stars that I finished in one sitting!

This book is about a daughter of a serial killer. One day things are fine and dandy for Nora. The next day everything is changing. Her view on life and what she deemed was normal for her routines. Suddenly an old fling falls back into her life and things start to shift! With some flashbacks to her childhood, you build an idea of who Nora is and how she became who she is now.
So many great twists and turns. Some you can see and the bam! You're not guessing that one!

I love Frieda’s writing style but this one felt a bit repetitive. While it isn’t my favorite of hers I would still recommend it for a good quick read. I enjoyed the ending reveal

I've read the book before this new publisher and I just wanted to give it a second chance but for some reason, i just couldn't get into it again. I really tried to love it but it just wasn't as good as everyone keeps saying it is. I didn't like the ending, it wasn't NOT predictable, it just felt too cheap for me. I hate books that end like that. Truly, it doesn't make sense to me. And maybe it was the way the Arc is, but I didn't like the format or layout of the book on Kindle. It didn't seem like there were any clear indications on when a new paragraph started or ended. It all was written like a big poem. I even tried to change the layout on my kindle cause maybe I messed it up, but nope, that's how the arc was. I have the book a 2.5/5 stars

Wow Frieda McFadden does it again! This may be my favorite book of hers! It had so many twists and turns and at some point I thought each and every one of the characters was guilty and was completely blown away by the ending! This book is a must read!

I loved this book, like I love all of Freida's books. Lots of twists and turns. Its about a girl who grows up with a dad who's a serial killer, and she becomes a successful surgeon. I'm glad Freida added a little romance in this book. 4.5/5

I originally read this a couple years ago and decided to reread it. This book is full of twists and turns and was even better the second time. Freida McFadden is one of my favorite authors. I absolutely enjoyed this book.

I have read several of Frieda McFaddens books and this is competing for a top spot. I was on edge the entire time and had no idea who to trust or what was actually going to happen. I don’t want to provide any spoilers but you will not be disappointed in this selection!

Thank you NetGalley!

This was the story of Nora who had a serial killer for a father. She changed her name, shut her dad out of her life and became a successful surgeon.
Only things start going wrong when an old friend comes back into her life. Girls start getting murdered in the same MO as her incarcerated father.
This book kept me on my toes and the edge of my seat. I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong. I really enjoyed this book!

The book was pretty good and had new twists that haven't been played out in the genre. Some of the descriptors didn't make sense (why were we told the size of one guy's bed 2-3x?). Not my favorite from the author, but glad I got a chance to read it!

Nora is a talented surgeon and has a medical practice with a long time friend and fellow doctor, Philip. Nora is the daughter of the infamous serial killer, The Handyman. She has since changed her name so she can live her life without being connected to this monster. It’s not easy erasing him from her life as she was knowledgeable of his evildoings when she was a little girl. She is still haunted by them and it’s a constant struggle to escape the tormenting thoughts in her head.

Deciding not to get married or have children in fear of giving birth to someone genetically related to her father she stays away from men. However, she meets an old friend, Grady, and begins to see him off and on. We follow Nora through a series of events that she must fight through and make good decisions every step of the way.

I read this book in just a few sittings. The book refers to the past off and on and gives flashbacks from Nora’s childhood. The chapters are not too long, which I like. The book could have been a few chapters shorter but the content in those chapters did hold some excitement. The characters were interesting and the conclusion was not expected! A very entertaining read and I am looking forward to The Housemaid is Watching in 2024 which is the third book in The Housemaid series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of this book.

Nora Davis, a talented surgeon leading a quiet life, faces a shocking revelation when one of her young female patients is murdered. What's even more disturbing is the eerie resemblance to her father's past crimes, who, years ago, killed young women in their family basement. Nora had severed all ties with her serial killer father, changing her last name and living discreetly. However, someone has uncovered her true identity and seeks to frame her for the gruesome murder. Proving her innocence becomes a daunting task, especially if the police delve into Nora's past. I found "The Locked Door" by McFadden captivating. It held my interest, and I yearned to uncover more. McFadden adeptly portrays the inner turmoil and self-doubt that someone growing up with a narcissistic psychopath might experience.

Not my favourite of Freida's books but that's probably because some of her others are just outstanding!

Still a great fast paced thriller with plenty of twists to keep you guessing

I really enjoyed reading this book. I found it easy to read and it kept my attention throughout.
Nora is a remarkable general surgeon, flourishing in a shared private practice with her partner, Phillip. However, she has a secret. Her dad is an imprisoned, formerly notorious serial killer known as 'The Handyman' for the way he brutally killed women. Nora's life is going great until girls start going missing in a similar way to when her father was responsible. Who is responsible for these missing women? Is Nora more like her father than she originally thought? Read this book to find out.
I did not see the plot twist in this book coming. The entire time, I was convinced I knew who the killer was, even up until the moment the killer is revealed. Overall, I had fun reading this book. It kept my attention and surprised me. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars.

(This review is based on an uncorrected e-galley of this novel)

The Locked Door centers around a woman named Nora who's father was a serial killer when she was a tweenager. Nora had no idea her father was killing women in their basement (or did she......).

Decades later, after Nora's father has been arrested and is serving eighteen life sentences, Nora is a successful general surgeon living a solitary and calculated existence. She has worked hard to conceal the fact that her father was a serial killer, something she intends to keep secret.

However, one by one, Nora's female patients start to disappear. When they're found, they've been killed in the same horrific manner that her father used. Does someone know who she is? Is someone trying to frame her?

This novel reminded me a lot of A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham. I don't want to specify why in this review because it could be a spoiler for some readers. I haven't read any of McFadden's other novels yet, but after reading this novel, I definitely will. I finished this in a day and stayed up way too late finishing it (which isn't something I typically do). If you like thrillers with mostly closeted gore, this is definitely a must read.

📚Advance Book Review 📚

Title: The Locked Door by Freida Mcfadden
Publish date: October 3,2023

⛔️ might contain spoilers

Rating: 📖📖📖📖.5 (4.5/5)

📝 Nora Nierling or Dr. Davis, a surgeon trying to hide her past as the daughter of the serial killer “The Handyman”. Raised by this man who secretively works in the basement and later found out by Nora and tipped the police of his father’s crime. Nora now faces the same crime his father did..but is she the killer?

This book will get you hooked as you wanted to know who is the real culprit.Just unputdownable.It’s mind boggling and well executed. There is a mystery in every character that will make you doubt. The book might be about a crime but the author was able to tone down the gruesome parts that won’t grossed you out or feel icky about it. This book will make you really think, will excite you and will even make you doubt. The remaining .5 rating i didn’t give was for some of the scenes that i felt like were unanswered and how it was a slow start for me as i somehow got confused with the switching of the past and the current..it’s like there was no connection on the present why it suddenly flipped to the past..i might have expected a smooth transitioning

Thank you to Freida Mcfadden and to Poisoned pen press for giving me an advance digital copy


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Nora Davis has spent her entire teenage and adult life trying to hide from her father’s notoriety. Aaron Nierling, Nora’s father, was a serial killer who brutally murdered over 30 girls in the basement of her childhood home. When Nora’s patients start getting murdered in the same way as her father’s victims, Nora must confront her past.

I’m a huge Frieda McFadden fan and this did not disappoint! Kept me engaged the whole way through and I didn’t see the twists coming. Such a good story!

Nora is the daughter of a gruesome serial killer, who has been rightly imprisoned since she was a child. In attempts to rise above her situation, Nora has since become a surgeon. She thinks that the dark past of her father has been removed from her life. But when her patients start dying, she becomes a prime suspect in the case. Is her past really behind her?

Like the rest of Freida's books, The Locked Door is incredibly fast paced. You can engulf this whole novel in one setting. This novel is very plot-driven and will leave you guessing up until the very end! Freida builds up a creepy environment and leaves you wondering who can be trusted. I loved the interweaving of characters. There were just enough characters in this novel that made it hard to guess who the suspect was, but not too many that I had trouble keeping track of who was who.

My one critique for this novel is this: as a medical professional, 99% of what took place in the medical office and the privacy violations (HIPAA) among characters were a bit frustrating to me. I'm all for a good story, but I prefer when details such as these are accurate.

I will continue to be a fan of Freida McFadden's because her books are so easy to devour! If you're looking for a fast-paced, twisty turn-y psychological thriller that will keep you on your toes, pick this one up!

A huge thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this novel in exchange for my honest review.