THIS book moved up to my top Freida reads! It is sooooo good! I was able to finish this book by only reading on my lunch hour and work breaks and zipppped through it! It pulled me in from the very beginning and the characters are so well built it made me love/hate them so hard! This book had me questioning myself and coming up with all sorts of theories.. and I was off by a long shot! I was able to read this as an ARC and I’d read this all over again. I loved it so much I went and purchased the older version before it becomes a collectors item and cannnnot wait to order the new version!

This was such a good thriller and the plot was solid. I had a great time and the twists were well made.
The ending made the book even better.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and author for the free copy of this book!

This was my first Freida McFadden novel and certainly not my last. The Locked Door follows Nora Davis who has built a successful life as a surgeon, despite her childhood trauma from being the daughter of a serial killer. As she has built her life, nobody knows the truth of who she really is.

Soon, one of her younger female patients has been murdered with the same M.O as her father. Police soon start to suspect that Nora is the one behind these murders. However, Nora knows that she’s not a killer, she saves people’s lives. Nora starts to suspect everyone close to her as she tries to prove she’s innocent.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The novel was action-packed, a fast read, had twists and turns, and was suspenseful. I also enjoyed the epilogue at the end of the novel, really left for a mind-blowing ending. A massive thank you to Freida McFadden, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I'm new to the mystery/thriller genre. This is only my fourth or fifth title. But Freida McFadden is a new go-to author.

I don't want to give any spoilers. Many people have now read and reviewed this book. So I won't go much into the details of the plot. I will stick to what I did and didn't like about the book.

This story was very engaging and well-paced. For me this was a page-turner. She's a very skilled writer. All of the characters were likable and, importantly, believable. We get enough characterization, and not too much.

Actually that's a good way to describe the entire book: she gives you enough information and not too much. It keeps things from getting bogged down, while giving you just the right flow. She's excellent at adding intrigue and suspense, without really making you feel pranked, only a very little bit.

There is a trope that I think is expected in this genre, that thing where the hero is strapped to the buzzsaw and the villain explains the whole plot just before the hero busts in and saves the day. I find that a bit corny, but again, I think it's pretty much expected in this genre.

I like it that McFadden is a trained physician. So there's some verisimilitude in the medical writing.

There are certain things that may not be 100% logical, but I didn't notice those until hindsight. The story itself, and the way things worked among the characters, kept me engaged throughout.

Let's be clear: this isn't meant to be the Great American Novel. And bless her for not trying to do-all and be-all. Just do what you're doing, while you're doing it. And that's quite effective. She's just telling an engaging story, a workable mystery where people are quirky and full of self-doubts. It's not as wowie-zowie as A Tidy Ending by Joanna Cannon, but then I think few books are.

So I call it a very solid 4-star read. I look forward to another Freida McFadden for a rainy day.

I almost stopped reading this a couple chapters in because I was worried it was going to be too graphic/violent/scary for me. Boy am I glad I kept going!!! There was a point where it almost felt like a Hitchcock movie- so many twists and possibilities. You think you have figured it all out and then that theory crumbles and you are back to square one. I did not see the end coming at all. That’s what makes a great mystery! This was so good!!!

This was my first book where the main plot was mystery/thriller and I was not disappointed! The epilogue really made the book.

I can’t really think of a reason why I gave this 4 and not 5 stars, it just wasn’t amazing, but, like I said, I haven’t read a mystery book before this one so I don’t really have anything to compare it too. Would recommend this book though! Was definitely not expecting that ending!

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and author for the free copy of this book!

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance copy of The Locked Door by Freida McFadden in exchange of an honest review.

"Prepare to be enthralled by the mesmerizing world of 'The Locked Door' by Freida McFadden. This gripping psychological thriller delivers all the elements that make this genre so captivating. From the enigmatic character of Nora, a successful surgeon with a dark past, to the chilling connection between a series of murders and her incarcerated father, the story weaves a web of intrigue that keeps you guessing until the very end. McFadden's masterful storytelling and unexpected twists make this an unputdownable read. With each page turn, I was consumed by the suspense and desperate to unravel the mystery. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers filled with tension, suspense, and a mind-bending conclusion, do not miss 'The Locked Door'!"

Overall, a fun, fast-paced thriller. The pacing and plot are gripping, as is typical of McFadden's books – I read the whole thing in
one day. It was un-put-downable. In true McFadden style, it kept me guessing who the murderer was til the final reveal, and the twisty ending is so out there that it's barely plausible, but it all works and I can't wait to read more books by her!

Our main character and narrator is Nora Davis, a surgeon and daughter of an infamous serial killer. Nora's changed her last name and hidden her relationship to her father, and lives a peaceful if isolated life. But when her former patients start turning up dead, and their deaths are suspiciously similar to her incarcerated father's MO, Nora becomes the police's number one suspect.

There's not a whole lot of character development of our main character Nora, and it seems like everything we learn about her is really about her father. The twists require some suspension of disbelief, but it's a really fun read.

If you liked The Perfect Son by the same author, you'll like this one too.

( I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review)

Nora is a surgeon just trying to forget her past. 26 years after her serial killer father is arrested, a copy cat killer starts murdering Nora’s patients.

Frieda McFadden is hit or miss with me. The Locked Door was a hit. It kept me on my toes and trying to guess what would be next. A definite page turner and a must read for McFadden fans. The twist was unexpected, as per usual with great McFadden books.

Superb twisty thriller. This is the second book I have read by Frieda McFadden and I loved it. The lead character was a very interesting study, and the story line kept my interest all the way through. Can’t wait to read more books by this author. Highly recommended.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: October 3, 2023
Growing up, Nora Davis was always told not to go in the basement. Her father’s workshop, where he supposedly crafted furniture, was dangerous for a little girl. But Nora rarely saw any of the creations her father crafted there, and sometimes she would hear strange noises coming from behind the basement door. When she was eleven, Nora’s father was arrested for the kidnapping and murder of more than eighteen women and she was sent to live with her grandmother after her mother killed herself. Now, Nora has changed her name and is trying to live a quiet and unassuming life as a general surgeon. Until a police officer comes to visit her office and tells her that women once again are dying, in the exact same way that her father murdered women all those years ago. But Nora knows her father is in jail and it looks like this copycat wants to pin the murdered women on her. But Nora knows she isn’t like her father and she will do whatever it takes to prove it.
Freida McFadden is the author of more than twenty novels, including “The Housemaid”. Her newest, “The Locked Door” is a terrifying novel of growing up with a serial killer and I was SO on board with it!
Although Nora does not speak or visit with her father and has not done so since she went to live with her grandmother, she still suffers from the guilt of turning her father into the police, and lives in almost utter isolation, trying to keep her past a secret. She is the sole narrator of this novel and McFadden creates a character who generates sympathy, radiates bravery and intelligence, and builds a quick rapport with the reader. With such a tenuous and brutal past, Nora still manages to be the kind of character worth cheering for.
This is a psychological suspense novel, so there are suspects around every corner, with each twist adding more mystery to the plot. McFadden kept me guessing and although the ending was a trope that readers will have seen many times, it still provided a satisfying resolution. Each chapter had me on the edge of my seat, desperate for more, making “Door” a devilishly delicious page-turner. I loved learning about Nora and experiencing life through her eyes and, of course, I never turn down a book with a good serial killer (or two). I can’t wait to see what McFadden delivers next!

This is my second Freida McFadden book that I’ve read and it did not disappoint. I really enjoy the authors style of writing. Through the process of reading the book I felt like I was on a slow incline to when everything would unfold. I found myself thinking I had figured out the ending many times but to only to be surprised at the end it was not who I was expecting. I enjoy books that don’t make it obvious what is going to happen at the end early on in the story. I like being kept in the dark until the author lifts the veil from the readers eyes and goes TA DAH!

If you enjoy stories that have multiple suspects in or or have you feeling like you are on a rollercoaster trying to solve the end then this book and author is the one for you.

I have previously read this book and like all of Freida's books this one doesn't disappoint! She is probably one of my favorite writers!

I really enjoy Freida's writing. Her thrillers are fast paced and have you not wanting to put the book down from the minute you pick it up.

I rated this one 3.5 stars as while I enjoyed it, I don't think it particularly gave me anything new from a thriller and I found that the ending didn't shock me, although I didn't see it going that way.

The ending just fell a bit flat for me.

I'm still looking forward to reading more of Freida's books though and think she's one of my favourite thriller authors.

I loved this! It was hard to put down, and the whole time I felt like there was some secret being kept. I didn't figure out the ending at all, and the journey was fast paced with that nice unsettled feeling you want when reading a story like this. I'll definitely read another book by this author again.

Frieda McFadden is quickly becoming a must read for me. With The Locked Door, she definitely did not disappoint. I was instantly hooked with this book. The main character was so closed off in the beginning. Following the book and finding out her story was great. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and definitely recommend it!

Thank you to Sourcebooks/poisoned pen press for this Digital Arc of The Locked Door!

Freida McFadden never disappoints and this book is no exception! I was gripped and could not put this book down. Freida is an auto buy author for me at this point.
Thank you again Sourcebooks!
Rozi

“But that other smell is even stronger—the one that smells like something is rotting. It smells awful. Like something died down here.”

This was truly another Frieda McFadden style book where I was left wondering WTF! I will say, it did feel very predictable. Around 40-50% I feel like I just knew what would happen and truthfully, that made me almost DNF it. However, once I hit the twist towards the last 30%, I could not put the book down. I needed answers, I needed to finish and I was definitely thrown off from my initial expectations. I like how there was the right amount of characters in the story to add mystery and potential suspects, but not enough to distract or get too confusing. The epilogue seemed kind of pointless, but other than that I really did enjoy the story! Since it felt super predictable and I had thoughts of DNFing, I gave it 4 stars. This truly was a “trust the process” book, and I’m glad I did!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫/5

As always McFadden starts her thriller off with a bang and hooks me in. Love the aspect of the FMC being a healthcare worker/doctor (& also a famous killers daughter). But huge ick when health care workers wear their scrubs OUTSIDE of work which Nora did the entire ass story… sorry not sorry.

So someone had once written in a review that McFaddens writing is very almost “dumbed down” and redundant (for lack of remembering the exact word used to describe it), with super short sentences that always reiterate what was JUST said. And normally that’s what I think makes her books so bingeable and easy to read (what makes them the perfect popcorn thriller). But I noticed it way more in this book and it bothered me just a tinge.

Besides that, and a low believability in some aspects of the book, I actually really enjoyed the ride this took me on. Like all of her other books, it was fast paced, had short chapters, left you on some serious cliff-hangers, and constantly steered you away from who the guilty party was.

It’s not my favorite of her work, but still a wild, bingeable, popcorn thriller that I enjoyed nonetheless!

Freida McFadden Keeps You Guessing Until the End--Guessing.…..

Book Information

The Locked Door by Freida McFadden is a 320-page mystery/thriller. It was initially published on June 1, 2021, and will be re-released on October 3, 2023. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.

Summary

Nora Davis, an eleven-year-old focused on her homework in her bedroom, had no inkling that her father was a serial killer conducting his sinister deeds in the basement. That all changed when the police arrived at their doorstep one fateful day. Decades later, Nora is a successful surgeon living a solitary life, determined to conceal her father's dark past.

However, her tranquility shatters when one of her young female patients is brutally murdered, mirroring her father's infamous methods. Someone knows Nora's secret and aims to frame her for the crime, though she's far from her father's sinister nature. The police have nothing on her, as long as they never venture into her basement.

My Thoughts

Freida McFadden's "The Locked Door" is a well-crafted mystery that perfectly aligns with her signature style. The book offers readers an easy and quick read, characterized by its simplicity.

What makes this mystery truly engaging is its ability to maintain your interest throughout. With an abundance of cliffhangers strategically placed throughout the story, you'll find yourself compelled to keep turning the pages. The short chapters and fast-paced narrative, combined with effective character development, ensure that the story remains engaging from start to finish.

One of the book's strengths lies in its skillful infusion of suspense into the underlying story, giving it the distinct flavor of a psychological thriller. The story is told in two different timelines. From the very beginning, "The Locked Door" hooks you in, inviting you to make guesses about the unfolding mystery.

However, while the novel keeps you guessing, it's not without its shortcomings. My most significant criticism pertains to the twist/reveal, which some readers may find essentially unknowable. Although it's almost always possible to make blind guesses in a mystery given the limited number of characters, the lack of logical clues to figure out the reveal in advance can be frustrating. It's as if the story builds up to a shocking twist, but without sufficient breadcrumbs for the reader to realistically anticipate it.

Recommendation

"The Locked Door" is a well-written mystery that adheres to Freida McFadden's established style. It offers a quick and engaging read, complete with suspense. Still, it falls short of providing enough clues to make the twist/reveal feel satisfyingly solvable for readers who enjoy piecing the puzzle together as they go along. Recommended.

Rating

3.5 Handyman Stars