Honestly, at first-- this book felt different than other Frieda books I've read before and I wasn't sure if I was going to dig it...

But dang was I wrong. I was LITERALLY stress reading at times because I NEEDED to know what happened. There was one particular chapter that was a flashback to Nora's childhood that had me particularly nervous.

The Locked Door is dark, violent, and a little gorey. If that bothers you, maybe avoid-- but if you love a good nail biter (it kind of gave me "Silence of the Lambs" vibes a little bit at times)-- HIGHLY recommend it. You won't be able to put it down!

Thank you netgalley for a copy of "The Locked Door" so I could leave my honest review!

Freida has done it again. Y'all know I'm am avid Freida-Readah! I just love how her books always keep you guessing. Out of the theories I had for this one, I NEVER expected the twist. Time and time again, Freida has impressed me with her short, quick, and engaging chapters. This one is in heavy competition with The Housemaid books as my favorite Freida book yet. Thank you so much Freida for bringing another amazing story to life and a big thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this re-release! The Locked Door will re-released through Poisoned Pen Press on October 3rd. If you haven't gotten your hands on it yet, I highly recommend it! It's gonna be available on Kindle Unlimited as well as currently up for pre-order.

Freida at her best! Loved this book. Could finish this in two sittings in spite of my busy schedule. Didn't see that twist coming! Can't wait to read more from Freida.

Freida McFadden writes great thrillers, This is no exception. This follows Nora, a general surgeon, daughter of a notorious serial killer. When a string of murders along the same lines of her fathers happens, people start asking questions... A fast thrilling read.

The Locked Door by Frieda McFadden

My rating:
3.5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Nora’s father is a serial killer. 26 years later, now that her father is in prison, Nora can live a normal life as a surgeon. But when women in the area are being killed, is there a copy cat on the loose?

This was my third book by Frieda and I definitely enjoy her writing style! While I enjoyed this one, it wasn’t my favorite of hers. I figured out the twist based on the bones of this one being a little similar to other plots I have read.

With that, the twist wasn’t super shocking in this one and I figured it out about halfway through.

Some of the things the main character did was so frustrating for me it was hard for me to root for her.

Overall this was a quick fun read, but it was a little bit anticlimactic compared to her others I have read!

Thanks netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the copy! This is released on October 3rd, so add to your TBR now!

NetGalley Review — my rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

“The Locked Door” by Freida McFadden is a solid mystery! Really fast-paced with an excellent premise.

Dr. Nora Davis is a general surgeon living a quiet life with a big secret — her dad is the infamous “Handyman” serial killer who murdered 18+ women and kept their hands as souvenirs. Now her patients fitting the same type as her dad’s victims are coming up dead and the police are asking questions.

This thriller is set to be published in October 3! Scoop it up for spooky szn! It’s a good one!

Big thanks to @poisonedpenpress for the ARC!

#netgalley #freidamcfadden #thelockeddoor #arc #poisonedpenpress

Nora is the daughter of a serial killer. She has worked her whole life not to be like her father. Now a surgeon her life is turned upside down when a copycat is killing her patients. This was a quick read that kept you guessing.

4⭐️

oh my god this was SO GOOD!! freida never fails when it comes to thrillers i will eat them up every time. it was such a fast read and i couldn’t put it down from the beginning! what i liked about this book was it wasn’t entirely predictable… just a little bit 🥴 but that’s normally how freida writes the book was phenomenal in its plot and characters. i was so hungry for a good thriller and of course this ATE.

this book follows nora, a general surgeon and daughter of a serial killer. nora’s life is thrown for a loop when she’s being accused of the murder of 2 women, both previous patients of hers. nora maneuvers her life after changing her name and now the sudden build up of evidence pointing to her as the killer.

thank you netgalley poisoned pen press, and freida mcfadden for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! <3

The Locked Door is a gripping thriller that is non stop page turning from both start to finish. The thought of a locked-room mystery is shown with skill, and the suspense is maintained throughout. The pacing is excellent, with well-timed twists that keeps you guessing.

The main synopsis is, Nora was 11 years old when her father was arrested and she is now the daughter of the serial killer "The Handyman". As a girl she always wondered why her dad kept the door to his workshop locked and when she found out there was not going back. Still haunted by her past as a successful doctor, Nora is trying to leave the past behind but when the police begin to question her about patients being murdered in a similar fashion to how her father killed his victims it is hard to stay hidden.

This was such a gripping thriller and my first Freida book! I’m so grateful to have been able to read before it was released, truly amazing. Easy 5 stars.

I ended up giving this 3 stars rounded up, so really this is a 2.5 based on the anti-climatic ending and unanswered questions.

Nora is the daughter of a serial killer. Now, a doctor, she's trying to live a normal life, until one of her patients die in the same fashion as her father's killings. Seems like someone has got the drop on Nora, and she starts to investigate who is behind the copycat killings, and why!?? This story is told in a series of flashbacks and current POVs.

I was drawn to this book by the high ratings and the description. Serial killer's daughter!? Say less. When I finished the book, I was disappointed. Many of the flashbacks alluded to Nora being just like daddy dearest; a sicko with a penchant to kill. She's killing animals and diabolically lured a "friend" into the forest to hunt like prey... but then she becomes a fairly normal doctor with no serial killer tendencies? Nah. Was it therapy? I need to know how she went from hunting girls for funsies/scaring the shit out of everyone to a doctor, responsible for SAVING lives. Also, the big reveal was a major f***ing eyeroll (MFE) for me. I don't understand what the culprit's lover had to gain from assisting in the crimes? Like it would take a lot of convincing to get me involved in some shit just for YOUR personal revenge... Hard pass, friendo.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: Interesting premise. Chilling flashbacks.

Cons: No explanation how she went from budding serial killer to normal-ish doctor.

A thrilling book that keeps you turning the pages until the shocking ending. Full of twists and turns. This is a must read!!

I am a huge Freida McFadden fan. This one of hers has similar vibes/really similar story line to A Flicker in the Dark (which I also loved. If you've read AFITD you may have trouble keeping the storyline's details separate and it can get a little confusing of which is which). I thought that I had the mystery figured out until the end when it wasn't even anything I had thought of. I loved getting to know the characters and their development. The chapters switch between past and present. Really enjoyed and feel like it hits a lot of the things that I love about a good thriller. Couldn't figure out who I could trust the whole book. Storyline of murder and emotional abuse- nothing too gruesome or graphic though. If you love a good thriller or watching an episode of Criminal Minds then I would recommend!

You cannot go wrong with picking up a Freida McFadden book! This one was incredible just like all her others.

Nora was 11 years old when her father was arrested and she is now the daughter of the notorious serial killer "The Handyman". As a girl she always wondered why her dad kept the door to his workshop locked and when she found out there was not going back. Still haunted by her past as a successful doctor, Nora is trying to leave the past behind but when the police begin to question her about patients being murdered in a similar fashion to how her father killed his victims it is hard to stay hidden.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the amazing author for my ARC!

The Locked Door by Freida McFadden is a typical McFadden book. It's a gripping thriller that keeps you turning pages from start to finish, while also leaving a feeling of wanting a bit more. The premise of a locked-room mystery is executed with skill, and the suspense is maintained throughout. The pacing is excellent, with well-timed twists that keeps you guessing.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own unique quirks and motivations. The protagonist's journey from uncertainty to determination was a highlight and I found myself rooting for her. McFadden's ability to create believable and flawed characters is commendable.

The setting an isolated mansion with a dark history adds a layer of atmosphere to the story. The eerie and claustrophobic environment enhances the overall tension and sense of impending danger. Despite this minor critique, this is undeniably an engaging thriller that keeps you guessing. Typically McFadden fashion, the writing is crisp and engaging, making it a quick and enjoyable read.

My one criticism lies in the resolution of certain plot points. While the ending is satisfying and ties up the main mystery nicely, I felt that a few loose ends were left untied. Some character motivations and backstories could have been explored in more depth to provide a deeper understanding of their actions.

Overall, this was a solid 4 star read for me and was a quick read.

I love McFadden's books and this one was a great thriller! Dr. Nora Davis is a renowned surgeon even as her father, Aaron is in prison serving a life sentence for horrific murders where he severed his women victims' hands before killing them--and saved them as "trophies" in his basement workshop. He writes to Nora weekly but she never even opens the letters. But now suspicion falls on her as there's a new murderer in town, and he's replicating Aaron's compulsion to sever the hands of the victims. And it seems someone is following Nora at the same time she runs into an old flame who's a bartender at the dive bar she frequents. Plenty of suspects, and plenty of victims. It's a race against time and time is always ticking!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Fast paced thriller. Quick, short chapters and written to the point. Really liked the twists and turns! This is my 2nd book by Freida McFadden and she delivers again!

Thanks for the free ACR from Netgalley.

Solid 4 star book. I read it in a day and enjoyed the storyline.

I read this book in one night and was not ready for it to finish. I was guessing until the very end and kept me invested until the last word. It was fast paced, had good buildup and well written characters. Truly a pageturner that I would recommend to everybody!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

Action-packed is one word I would say to sum this book up. In true Freida McFadden style she keeps the reader hooked from the very first page.

The story follows Dr Nora Davis an esteemed surgeon who has a secret she doesn't want anyone to discover...but the past always has a way of catching up to you. It flips between the past and the present when Nora first discovered her father was a serial killer. He was sent to jail and given 18 consecutive life sentences for the harrowing murders he committed. Her mother, charged as an accessory, committed suicide in jail before the trial took place.

Focusing back to the present where there is a copycat serial killer on the loose and all signs are pointing to Dr Davis as the number 1 suspect as the victims happen to be all her former patients. Coincidence or not?

Nora is desperately piecing together the crimes whilst trying to clear her name. The multiple suspects and questions into Nora's childhood behaviours really leave the reader guessing along the way. Is Nora being set up or as the saying goes the apple doesn't fall far from the tree?

I would highly recommend this book as the perfect thriller incorporating the right amount of tension and fear keeping the reader turning the pages desperately to find out what happens next.

Dr. Nora Davis has a secret, she's the daughter of Aaron Nierling, the infamous Handyman, a serial killer who's currently serving a life sentence in prison for the murders of thirty women.

Nora grew up to be a gorgeous woman and an excellent surgeon (I'm paraphrazing, but she basically said that herself), she's however very lonely and doesn't allow herself to get too close to anyone.

26 years after the arrest of Aaron Nierling, two young women are found dead. The modus operandi indicates that the murderer is trying to imitate the Handyman, and all the evidence seem to point to Nora. Did she inherit her father's serial killer genes or is someone trying to frame her for crimes she didn't commit ?

If, like me, you're on vacation and want an easy read just to pass the time, this might be the right kind of book for you. If you're looking for a great literary masterpiece, or just a good thriller, this might not do the job.

I wasn't a big fan of the writing. It seemed to me that the author was trying too hard (but ultimately failed) to convey a dark, suspensful atmosphere. How I see it, it was like watching a horror movie with obvious "fake" monsters, and very loud and dramatic music.
I know, this is a "thriller", but I didn't particularly like the way serial killers were depicted in this book ? I know it's the author's way of showing that they are narcissistic and delusional, but it was a bit ... cliché and maybe even glamorized in some way ?

Also, Nora was an extremely unlikeable character. I don't care if she killed people or not, her weird obsession with other women made me uncomfortable, and the way she treated men was so unpleasant - appalling even, that I found it impossible to root for her. I'm practically laughing now that I remember how she treated people, such a weirdo this one !

Thank you NetGalley for giving me access to this book in exchange of an honest review.