When Nora Davis was eleven-year-old she discovered that her father was killing women in the basement. She turned him in to the police, he and her mom were arrested, and she was sent to live with her grandmother. Her father became infamously known as "The Handyman", since he severed the hands of his victims. Decades later, Nora's father is serving a life sentence in prison with no chance for parole, and Nora is a successful surgeon with a quiet, solitary existence. She changed her last name so that no one will know her father was a notorious serial killer, and she will do everything in her power to keep it that way. Then one of her young female patients is murdered. In the same unique and horrific manner that her father used to kill his victims. Somebody knows who Nora is, and wants her to take the fall for this unthinkable crime. But she's not a killer like her father. The police can't pin anything on her. As long as they don't look in her basement.

This dark & twisty thriller kept me guessing until almost the very end. I think I suspected everyone in the book of being the copycat killer, even Nora. I had a dozen different theories, and they were all wrong. I did feel like Nora was a little bit one-dimensional, so I had trouble connecting with her, but that was my only complaint. I wish she had had more personality, or felt more real, but she was described by her parents as being strange as a child, so maybe she was on the spectrum? That could account for the flatness of some of her answers. When things start happening - letters from her father shoved under her door at home, cars following her, the girl getting murdered in the same fashion as the ones her father murdered, Nora starts spiraling, and you don't know if you are dealing with an unreliable narrator or what. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, then you should definitely check this one out.

Nora Davis escaped her past after her father was convicted of killing over 30 women when she was 11. Now a successful surgeon, Nora’s once quiet, comfortable life is thrown into chaos when two of her patients are found dead. Both women were killed with the infamous signature that her father used in his murders. Police suspect Nora, Nora is terrified somebody has figured out who she is and is trying to pin these copy cat killings on her.

The Locked Door was suspenseful and thrilling, as are most of McFaddens books. I did not predict this ending at all, and loved the breadcrumb trail that was left for the reader throughout the book. While I enjoyed this read, it was not the most amazing book I have ever read. I found myself annoyed with Nora many times throughout the book, like, you really just DIDN’T recognize your college boyfriend at all? Overall, the chapters were short, the book was fast paced, and I felt the suspense throughout the book.

Thank you Netgalley and poisoned pen press for access to this book. This book has been out since 2021 but I do recommend that you read it if you enjoy Freida McFadden!

A thriller about never escaping one's past, _The Locked Door_ will keep you hooked through the very end. Nora Davis is a successful surgeon with a horrific secret--her father is an infamous serial killer. When her patients become victims, killed in the same way her father took lives, her world comes crashing down. It's up to Nora to stop the copycat killer before it's too late.

Well I definitely was not expecting that 😳 Freida McFadden writes some creepy, messed up thrillers and I am here for it 👏🏼 This is the third book of hers I’ve read so far and it certainly won’t be my last! Grab this one now if you want an audiobook that is a quick listen and seriously twisted! 🙌🏼

I didn't know what I expected when I read the title, but a serial killer was far from it! The premise of this storyline was so unexpected and quite frankly, pretty creepy.

However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and that it was a single POV with a dual timeline. It really kept me guessing on if Nora was actually anything like her father. I especially enjoyed that the author threw Brady in the mix as a way to throw you off your guess of who the killer actually is.

I definitely didn't even suspect who the real killer was because I was so focused on the other possible suspects. So when the twist happened, I actually was truly shocked and really enjoyed it! Definitely would recommend this book to others who want a quick read!

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Press and author Freida McFadden for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

what i love about @fmcfaddenauthor books is how you as a reader are kept off guard the entire book - unsure who's the victim, and who's the villain. there are no clear-cut answers, and while we may get a resolution or two, there's always at least ONE question hanging out there, a "what might happen next".

in #thelockeddoor, we feel for nora as she navigates life through the tight boundaries she's set for herself, staying away from people and places and things who could represent a threat to her hard-won anonymity. but, DID she become a surgeon because she likes cutting human flesh?

the story keeps the pages turning quickly, and the ending was a huge surprise to me. excellent, highly recommend.

p.s. thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

Nora has tried to escape her past of being the daughter of a notorious serial killer. She is a surgeon now and focuses on helping people. However, when two of her patients die similar to her dad's MO, she becomes the main suspect. Someone is clearly targeting her, and she must find out who it is before she is arrested.

This one was really engaging! McFadden's writing is so easy to digest, and she does a great job at creating suspense. I did think the whodunit was a little predictable, but maybe that is just me as I do read a lot of thrillers. I'd definitely recommend this if you need an easy to read, suspenseful book!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Freida writes the kind of books that you can’t put down. The stories that are easy to read and suck you into them to the point you forget to eat, can’t sleep, and cannot function until it’s finished. Forever a McFadden fan!!

Nora is the daughter of the “Handyman” serial killer, but she is living her life in anonymity after being adopted by her grandmother and moving out of state and changing her name. She now works as a surgeon and just trying to get by like everyone else. It’s been 26 years since she turned her father in and he got 18 life sentences. Then, 2 of her patients die in the same manner as her father’s killings and the police come knocking on her door. How did they track her down? She starts to investigate the copycat murders on her own as well so she can clear her name but can she, in fact, clear her name?
Many of the childhood flashbacks alluded to Nora having similar tendencies as her father and even the fact that she worked as a surgeon when her dad was known for cutting the hands off his victims (thus the nickname) and yet when she reconciled with her college sweetheart, she acts like he’s the one who has something to hide.
Classic popcorn thriller that I was able to read in one sitting.
Thanks to Hollywood Upstairs Press and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WOW. WOW WOW WOW. i thought the housemaid was good and then i read THIS. a million times better than the housemaid and an even bigger fucking plot twist. my mind was scrambling the entirety of the story and i wasn’t sure what the fuck was going on. seriously, this book was FANTASTIC. in my top 5 books of the year.

idk if its just me but frieda mcfadden is just the thriller genre's version of colleen hoover...take that how u wish

This was so good!

I find stories by this author hard to put down! The characters are interesting and the pacing is quick! There is an eerie vibe throughout the story and so many red herrings. I didn’t even come close to guessing the plot twist. The final twist, though small, gave me chills 😳.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy in exchange for a review.

The Locked Door was a quick and interesting read. I did, however, feel that the book lacked character development and without this it took away from the 'whodunit' as without a proper fleshed out backstory, it's difficult to make judgement.

Although the book was fast paced and, for the most part, interesting, I was able to predict the plot. Which isn't uncommon for me with McFadden's books. Despite this, it was an enjoyable read.

I have read quite a few books by Freida McFadden and to be honest I am finding that I feel the storylines are just a little bland. I was drawn to this one because reading about the daughter of a serial killer sounded fascinating. And while I felt like there were parts of the book that kept me engaged the end totally blew it for me. Without giving away any spoilers there was a twist that I didn't feel really made complete sense.

It wasn't a bad book, just one that I thought would have a little more potential.

This was my first Freida McFadden novel, that i was graciously sent from the publisher to read and review. From the second I read what the book was about I knew I was going to love it, and I literally could NOT put this book down. All throughout the book I had suspicions of who I thought the killer was even right up until the last couple of chapter I thought I had pinned who the killer was but WOAH I wasn’t expecting that plot twist!!! Cant wait to read more of Freida’s books!!

The Locked Door by Freida McFadden

Genre: Suspenseful Thriller

Read this if you like:
Serial k!llers
Dual timelines
Eerie/creepy vibes


Phewwww! Looking for a fast-paced thriller with short chapters? Let me introduce you to Freida. Her books never fail to keep me guessing. Sis will throw a red herring in a heartbeat to throw you off track. From the beginning to the last chapter, you will be hooked and fly through this book.

The Locked Door almost felt like a guessing game for me as I followed Nora’s story especially because you can’t tell if she is a reliable narrator or not. The deeper I got, the more uneasy I felt. Everyone was a suspect and I went back and forth with myself the whole time. Then when I DID find out the killer, that person never even crossed my mind and looking back, maybe it should have…

I very much enjoyed this book! I loved the short, quick chapters and how quickly the novel catches your attention. I enjoyed the red herring characters and how I wasn't 100% sure that Nora wasn't the villain.

I read Freida McFadden's "The Housemaid" books in 4 hours (each) and in general, I read a lot of thrillers and suspense stories 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 and her relationship with her father that I needed answers to.

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! Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Locked Door is the latest psychological thriller by Freida McFadden and centres around Nora Davis, a successful surgeon with a tragic and murderous past. Her father, Aaron Nierling, is the notorious serial killer who kept his victims hidden in the family’s basement under his wife and young daughter’s feet. It has been 26 years since her father has been incarcerated but there have been two murders of Nora’s patients in eerily similar manner as her dad’s victims. Is it a copycat or is Aaron Nierling a puppet master from his prison cell?

What I liked about this book:
-fast paced, quick read
-short chapters
-the past and present timelines
-question raised if Nora is a reliable narrator which adds to the creepy story
-so many red herrings and twists that I couldn’t predict who was behind the murders
-questioning if Nora had the serial killer gene like her father
-the ending
-popcorn bingeable read

What I disliked about the book:
-although I enjoyed the ending I feel like it just needed a little bit more of a wrap up

My rating of the book: 4 ½ out of 5

My final takeaway: I enjoyed this fast, paced captivating read that kept me wanting more. If you enjoy twisty psychological thrillers where you don’t ‘know who did it’ then this book is for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC which will be published October 3, 2023.

What would you do if your dad was a notorious serial killer? Do you run and hide? Do you follow in his foot steps?

When women start dying in the same manner your father killed them... and they are his exact type... how do you prove it wasn't you? Especially when you know you might just have it in you.

This story provides twists and turns that make you second guess what you think you know. Another slam dunk from Freida McFadden.

Reading a book written by Freida McFadden is like an addiction, you just can't get enough of it. She plays mind games with you, as the reader, with cat and mouse games leading you down one pathway then twisting down another way. It is enough to give you whiplash, but it s also what makes this book so addictive. You will not be able to put it down.

Nora Davis is a successful surgeon with a hidden past. She is the daughter of a prolific serial killer who kept his victims in the basement of their family home right under his family's noses. He has been in prison for 26 years and will be there until he dies. So, when one of Nora's patients ends up dead in an eerily similar fashion to her father's victims, it was like de ja vu for Nora. Nora changed her name many years ago and no one should know her real identity, but apparently someone knows, and they intend to set her up.

This was a twisty thriller that kept me guessing and then guessing again. I suspected all sorts of horrible things as I read this book. Nora was weird. That much was obvious, but was she a killer? The twists and turns just kept coming until the ending was tied up with nice, neat, chilling bow that I never saw coming. Freida McFadden is a masterful manipulator in directing the reader in different directions by planting little seeds of doubt that will drive you mad as you try to solve the mystery. For those who love a good serial killer thriller, you will enjoy this one.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.