Serial Killer tropes explored from a different angle - that of the killer's daughter, Nora, living in the aftermath of her father's crimes. It held up its end of the deal by maintaining the mystery, pacing and page turnery nature of a thriller, but also threw in some bonus moments of real substance and opportunities for reflection.

This book has everything you'd expect from a standard serial killer thriller - a killer with a weird nickname and signature killing style, increasing body count, a possible copycat killer, escalating twists and surprising outcomes. What set it apart from similar books was the exploration of Nora's victimhood. A major focus was showing how she too was a victim of her dad's crimes, and how that impacted her life and self-perception as an adult.

As events unfold, Nora often finds herself wondering if she truly is a good person and how far the apple really does fall from the tree. As the reader, my own beliefs on the nature vs nurture debate really influenced how I felt about Nora in different situations, and how I expected the novel to resolve.

I wouldn't call this profound by any means, it was still mostly just a mildly bonkers good time. However, it is nice when you can read something for fun that also engages your brain a little. Overall, this exceeded my expectations and I'd be curious to pick up more books by this author in the future.

Definitely didn’t see that plot coming 0.0

The Locked Door is about a female surgeon called Nora who’s father is a serial killer. When Nora was just a little girl, her father had killed over 30 women in their home basement. The door to this basement was always locked and Nora nor her mother were not allowed to come downstairs, until one day the door was unlocked.

Nora has grown up to become a fantastic and successful surgeon, but she cannot let go of her past. Which isn’t a surprise when your dad is a serial killer. She tried to leave her old life behind and changed her last name. Nobody needs to know that she is the daughter of someone who slaughtered all these women all these years ago.

But when new bodies are found, Nora is freaking out again. These aren’t some random victims, they were her patients.

What I liked most about this book were the throwbacks. You mostly read it from Nora’s perspective and present day, but these throwbacks to when she was a kid were really bringing the story and her background to life.

The chapters were easy to read, short and gripping. And let me tell you that every time I thought I made a connection or figured out the plot, I was wrong.

What I do not like is the amount of questions I still have. Yes the ending was not something I saw coming, but I did roll my eyes as I thought it was very basic.

While reading the flashbacks, you read that Nora was very psycho just like her father. Running around in the forest “playing” Hunt & Prey. Taking a KNIFE with you? KILLING ANIMALS? And not freaking out when she walked into the unlocked basement of her father and seeing what she saw? How is she now a “normal” surgeon? Therapy? Didn’t get to read about any of that in the book so who knows? But I don’t think she got therapy as she had monologues with herself all the time thinking about her past, her father, and the “what ifs” etc.

I also didn’t understand what the lover of H. had to do with any of it. It just didn’t make sense to me.

I was hooked the minute I read that when eleven year old Nora was up in her room doing homework, her father was killing in the basement. Twenty -six years later and there is a copy cat killer . Nora is drawn back into that life and it seems someone is trying to frame her. A twisty thriller that got me snared in its trap.
A million thanks to Netgalley for this advanced reading copy and the chance to read Freida McFadden's new thriller.

Freida McFadden does a great job at writing slump-busting suspense thrillers. They are super quick reads, with interesting plots to keep the reader engaged. This one was no different. I think one of her tricks is writing in first person POV, because you have a main character/narrator who is anxious and just go-go-go with her thoughts and actions. Anyway, this one was good. I think the ending was a little silly, but I would've been disappointed had I been able to guess it. I think for people who read lots of books like these, it was a good, quick read, but nothing overly exciting because the ending was something mostly unguessable (which could be a good or bad thing, depending on who you ask).

Freida McFadden doesn't disappoint in her newest novel, The Locked Door. As the daughter of a notorious serial killer, it's no wonder Nora leaves her past, changes her name, and starts a new life.

While we get a little insight into her steady life as a doctor, things take a turn for the worse when her patients start being murdered- in the same trademark way as her father killed his victims.

With a Poe-esq unstable narrator and an unlikely cast of supporting characters, you have no doubt that Nora is losing her mind and turning out just like her father.

Who is the killer? Why would Nora do these things? The Locked Door will keep you guessing until the final pages!

Growing up a serial killer's daughter has Nora running from her past. She has become a top general surgeon, under her new name Nora Davis, in a hospital where no one knows her past.

Friend McFadden is an auto read for me after "The Housemaid". She has the ability to keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more, more, more. This book was definitely like that, however, it didn't have quite the quality "The Housemaid" has. This book seemed to have a rushed ending. The details and leading up were perfect. No dull moments, but all the perfect details. The ending was very "- and this is who did it. The End". I personally like more fire, more thrill with the ending. I want fireworks and a grand finale and this book didn't do that for me.

With that exception, this was a great book! Thank you NetGalley and Frieda McFadden for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my full honest review!

Thank you netgalley and the publishers. Yes this book was great. I kept going back and forth between who the killer was to almost the very end I enjoyed that about the book it was a fast read which I feel like most of her books are that way. I've only read a few of her books so far and this is one of the ones I enjoy the most besides the housemaid .

4.5. I really liked one. It grips you from page one. Maybe don’t read it home alone…

Nora is a daughter of a serial killer. She’s tried to move on and distance herself. Similar murders are happening 26 years later…but victims are her patients. Strange things continue to happen, continuing to frame Nora. Who did it??

2.5 rounded up
Didn't like any of the characters so it tainted the story for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

4.5 stars. Freida McFadden is so good at creating suspenseful thrillers. The Locked Door keeps you guessing and second-guessing until the very end. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc. I’m looking forward to more McFadden novels in the future.

Another slam dunk for Freida McFadden! The Locked Door was a fast-paced thriller, that kept me reading into the early hours of the morning. The chapters were short, and the characters well developed. Freida proving once again that she is master of twists and turns.

Thank you, Freida McFadden, Poisoned Press Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

What a plot twist! I don't know where Freida comes up with all of these ideas, but I hope she never stops. Another great one!

The Locked Door
Thriller
Suspense
Mystery
Twisty

I really enjoyed this book! It was a fast paced thriller the kept me reading on! I liked the dual timeline and thought it meshed the story together well! This book kept me guessing up till the end and was full of twists! The ending caught me by surprise!
Thanks to Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for this Arc!

5/5 stars. I am obsessed. What a thriller this was. Horrifying, thrilling, gory, heart pounding, goosebumps, drama, a little romance. This one had it all. This is my favorite read of 2023 so far. 🤯 Similar to my last review, I don’t know how this is my first Freida McFadden novel I’ve read but now I need to read everything by her.

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter and I literally could not put it down. I especially love it more so that it’s a medical thriller because of my personal healthcare background. I dove head first into this and loved every single second. The characters, the growth, the pacing, the TWISTS. What’s behind the locked door you ask? Do yourself a favor and find out for yourself. Read this. 😍🚪

Huge huge thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and the author for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will stick with me for a very long time. 😳❤️

- Pub date: October 3, 2023 -

4.5 stars out of 5

Wow, this book was really good and filled with twists and turns. Freida McFadden has become a go to author for me. I found this book to be a real page turner and kept me guessing all throughout the book. I was not excepting the twist at the end of the book either. The duel point of view really tied up the past and the present and was done very well.

In The Locked Door we follow Nora who is a surgeon. Her father is a famous serial killer who was caught and put behind bars decades ago. Then 2 young women turned up dead the same way her father would kill his victims and it looks like someone is trying to frame Nora for the murders, but who? Or did Nora do it?

If you haven't read this book yet, put it on your list! I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Freida McFadden has become one of my go-to authors. Her books are page turners and always a good read. The Locked Door features Dr. Nora Davis, a California surgeon, and the daughter of a serial killer. There are lots of twists and turns. Recommend this fast paced book and all of McFadden’s books!

Do I want to avoid unfinished basements even more from now on? Yes!

This thriller kept me on my toes, I kept thinking I knew who did it, but nope! I enjoyed the short chapters, pacing and character development. I would have like to learn more about Nora's childhood.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another addictive read by McFadden!

I really liked how the main character, Nora, was a general surgeon and since McFadden is also a physician all the medical knowledge and jargon was accurate. It's a huge pet peeve of mine when a book either describes or portays anything medical inaccurately and I could easily tell this was writing by someone with a medical background. As always with her books, you never can guess how they are going to go or end and they make for quick, enjoyable reads.

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

The Locked Door centres around Nora whose father was a serial killer. Two women are found murdered in the same way as her father’s victims and someone is trying to frame her for the killings.

As usual for Freida McFadden books, this was extremely fast paced and very easy to get through in large chunks. In general I thought the mystery was interesting and there were so many plot twists which I didn’t see coming. I thought the dual timeline was done really well and both narratives were exciting and engaging to read about.

However I found that I didn’t connect with the characters at all and found myself not really caring what happened to them. There was a romance subplot which felt forced and I didn’t feel any chemistry between Nora and Brady.

Overall this was a fun, fast paced thriller however like the other Freida McFadden books I’ve read I didn’t enjoy the characters so the story lacked any depth.

I LOVED THIS!!!! It had the same feel of the other Freida McFadden books I’ve read, quick pace and short chapters (most of which ending on a cliffhanger making it so hard to put down!) I love how you end up questioning every character and that there’s always a little extra plot twist at the end because even if you have a vague idea of what’s going on that extra little twist always shocks me

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review