THE LOCKED DOOR 🔪
By Freida McFadden

Nora's father is a serial killer known as The Handyman-- who cuts off the hands of young, dark-haired, blue eyed women. As a child she was told to stay out of the basement... As an adult, Nora becomes a surgeon and wants to move on, but then women from her practice are being murdered in the same manner. Is it a copycat?

I've read a couple of Frieda's books and I'll admit, she knows how to hook you and deliver a twist.
This time was a little different. I was confused by the MC's arc here-- I still have (unanswered) questions.
As with any of her books, though, I can't say much-- no spoilers!

I was here for the premise, I enjoyed the ride, but didn't care for the twist.

That's all I'll say-- you be the judge!

The Locked Door, Freida McFadden
THANK YOU Netgalley for this early copy. I am honored to having been selected.
Nora, a successful surgeon, has everything she wants out of life…if only she could leave the past in the past!! Growing up she discovered that her father was killing young girls in their neighborhood. Now serving 30 life sentences, how could all of this be happening again, when more girls go missing all these years later? Is this a copycat murderer? Or is he still up to his same old tricks, somehow from jail?
The book alternates between past and present. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, the entire time. On one page I would think I had it all figured out, only to turn to the next page and think something totally different. And just when I thought I had it figured out, I was not expecting that ending at all!!!!
A great, fun thriller for sure! I really enjoyed this! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this one! This author is churns our reliable page turners, but some of them fall a little flat for me. Not this one! I couldn’t put it down AND I didn’t guess the twist. That’s always a win for me!!! Don’t miss this one!

Nora is the daughter of a serial killer. As a surgeon, she saves people instead of killing them. She did everything she could to get away from who she was. But the past is catching with her.

I enjoyed this well enough. It was a quick read. I don't think it'll be a memorable story, but it was fun while it lasted.

Bummed Out 😞 that I didn’t love this one.

Nora doesn’t know what exactly is going on in her basement but she does know her dad’s building skills are not it. As usual with Frieda’s book we get two suspects at the end and flip back and forth between who did it, which did have me surprised at who Nora suspected.

I did not like the repeated introduction of the characters. Like I get it, you met Mr. Smith at the grocery store (for example).

Thank you so much Net Galley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Freida McFadden for giving me the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.

Yet another one by Freida I COULD NOT PUT DOWN! The only thing you can expect from this author is that you will not ever see that twist coming. Loved the characters, backstory was amazing and those twists!!! On a quest to read everything by the woman. Thanks to net galley for the copy!

Overall I enjoyed this book and was a surprised by the twist at the end. It was fast paced and I do enjoy quick chapters. I liked the past timeline and how we were able to learn more about Nora’s past but I do feel some things were left unanswered. However I would still recommend this book.

I'm sold. I'm boarding the McFadden hype-train. SHE KEEPS KILLING EVERY DAMN BOOK! (Pun intended hehe.)

This fucker had me hooked from start to finish. I could not put it down. I would literally wake up at 4am just to pee, but then decide 'LET'S READ A CHAPTER BEFORE I GO BACK TO SLEEP'. It was another masterpiece.

What is behind the locked door in her parents basement? Is it really her fathers workshop or something more sinister? This tale follows Dr. Davis as she tries to forget her past and her father who is behind bars. A truly amazing story! Frieda McFadden has done it again!

This is the second time I have read this book and it was just as good as the first time. I have really fallen in love with this author. The story was good and kept you on your toes. The ending even the second time reading it still caught me off guard.

Fast paced psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages to see what happens next. A solid 4 star read!

This book! It really had me shook the whole time! Very fast pace and didn’t expect the twist! Wonderful job Frieda McFadden!

This book was well written and did have a decent twist at the end, however I didn’t find it as thrilling and attention grabbing as I have found other Freida novels. It definitely could have used some more excitement and build up to a fairly anticlimactic ending.

Now this is what I want in a thriller - the rerelease of McFadden’s The Locked Door kept me on the edge of my seat, absolutely sucked me in and had me second guessing all my thoughts. Plus it was the perfect true crime esque thriller, always my fave!

Twenty-six years ago, both of Nora’s parents were arrested - her dad for being the serial killer (the Handyman) and torturing girls in their basement and her mom for maybe keeping his secrets. Since then, Nora has changed her last name, become a surgeon, and generally built a good life, albeit a lonely one. But now, female patients of Nora’s are showing up murdered and missing their hands - her dad’s MO. And it seems like someone is trying to frame her for it. Nora is left to try to figure out who is murdering women and what it has to do with her and her father. And trying to figure out who she can possibly trust.

This book had a building terror that is so key in a good thriller. I’m a guesser by nature, so I like to try to figure out what is going on, but McFadden and Nora kept me on the edge of my seat. The book also time jumps back to Nora’s childhood around the time her dad was caught which helped tell her full story. I absolutely loved this thriller, and you should grab it when it is re-released on 10/3!

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author for a copy of this book to read and review!

🤯 Mind. Blown. I don’t know how she does it … but Freida knocks my socks off every time with all her twistiness! I was pretty confident that I knew what was going on … and feeling a bit disappointed that I had figured it out so easily (insert smug smile here) but then Freida did her thing and hit me with a reveal that I really didn’t see coming. Duh.

Unputdownable ... I binged this one in less than a day! A super quick read ... this creepy little thriller will keep you glued to it's pages! It's also set up nicely for a sequel … hmmmm?? Yes, please Freida!!! Do it!

A spooky season must read! I have been a Freida fan for a couple of years now and she does not disappoint!
Her twists at the end are always shocking! I always love a good serial killer book! If you know someone that has a locked door, maybe you should find out what is going on in there? Ha! #NetGalley

I thoroughly enjoyed this book for many reasons! First, I loved the short, quick chapters. Secondly, I loved the fast pacing of this story. Third, I loved the character development of each of the characters, and I especially loved that of Nora.

I read a lot of thrillers and suspense stories, and this one definitely kept me on my toes. I feel that the storyline was different, and I appreciated that it wasn’t similar to the majority of the thrillers that I’ve been reading lately. The only thing I would have liked more of is to learn of Nora’s childhood. I have too many questions about Nora’s childhood that I needed answers to. I felt that part was cut too short (too many unanswered questions and scenarios).

I highly recommend reading The Locked Door. I’m also glad that I took a chance on reading this book, and I will be reading more from Freida McFadden going forward!

Having read multiple Freida McFadden books I was expecting a more impactful dramatic climactic experience. Realizing who was in fact responsible for the recent murders that mirrored her fathers MO was crazy. It was brilliant how the writing style led me to believe Nora was responsible while “black out drunk on old fashions”. Overall good read, I would recommend.

A twisty thriller that will keep you engaged! Short chapters kept the pace going nicely and I didn't see the ending coming. Docking one star because I think the backstory of Nora's childhood could have been more developed. This is a great thriller to kick off spooky season when it publishes on October 3, 2023.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second Freida McFadden book that I am reading and I was so engrossed in this book. It is well written and the plot keeps you guessing till the very end. I was so surprised - definitely wasn't expecting that ending! McFadden for sure has become my favourite author and my go-to author when I definitely need a good book. She knows how to capture her readers. Definitely recommend.