After reading the book, I'm just thankful that I read it through netgalley. What astounds me though is that the book has numerous positive reviews!!
It was really, REALLY, mediocre. That's it.
I can't wrap my head around how this book specifically is popular. I haven't read other books by the author to know if her other work is the same, but this one was extremely subpar.
First of all, the book doesn't have a concrete plot. There are people dying, and the main character is a serial killer's daughter. These are the main points we are working with. However, there was no storyline. It felt like reading about the day to day life of the MC, when suddenly killings start to happen.
Secondly, an unreliable narrative is great in thrillers. However, in the end, you need to give the truth. I finished the book, and, for the life of me, can't understand whether the MC was a psychopath, or not. The author made it super vague to the point you don't actually grasp what happened, and what didn't.
Also, the writing style was rather weak. I like simple writing, and actually prefer it to a wordy, complex one. In the book's case, it was too basic. Some parts felt like each sentence was detached from the next.
Lastly, I really hated the ending. I'd not even call what happened in the end plot twists. They were just the author's last try for shock value.
Don't recommend it at all.
*I received a free copy of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

As the daughter of an infamous serial killer, Nora Nierling may have changed her surname in order to leave her past behind, but her past has other plans.

Now a doctor, and very much a loner, she finds herself unexpectedly in the spotlight after a couple of her past patients are found dead using her father's signature techniques. Since Nora's father is still in prison, this has to be a copycat - unless, as the police believe, it is Nora herself.

I had already read several of McFadden's thrillers before she really hit the big time, so to speak. I always found her books entertaining, though her no-frills writing style and the requirement for a suspension of disbelief wrt most of the endings of her stories meant that I was quite excited at the prospect of reading a story from her that sounded like a more mature version of her creative capacities.

As an additional draw, this book has a killer premise (pun intended). And while this trope has been done before, I was hopeful that McFadden would be able to make it her own. In the end, the book was a mixed bag for me.

The flashbacks indicate that Nora either picked up certain things from daddy, or had certain intrinsic tendencies. How she became a doctor is not too strange an idea when you think about the possible interest a serial killer's daughter might have in anatomy, but it is a little puzzling in terms of the spirit of the Hippocratic oath.

The elements of the human psyche that explain the chemistry of co-dependent relationships - plus the whole "nature and nurture" debate - play a part in explaining the underlying factors that lend plausibility to the story.

But there were a number of flaws evident here. Nora was not a sympathetic character, even when you wanted to feel positively inclined towards her because of her traumatic childhood. It would have also provided a more interesting contrast with her father had she herself been more likeable.

The short chapters worked well, and the plot was quite suspenseful. However, the foreshadowing left something to be desired. Twists work best when there are subtle hints as to what might happen. When they come out of left field, not so much...

The Locked Door has a solid premise but was not well executed. It is fast paced, a quick read, and held my attention. I did not connect with any of the characters.

I received a copy of this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up.
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I’m a pretty normal fan of Freida’s books but this one may be tied for my first place read by her.
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The Locked Door is about Nora- an established surgeon but also the daughter of a serial killer who killed over twenty women. Nora’s recent patients have been found killed in a very similar fashion as her father’s victims. Is Nora taking after her father or is she being framed by someone else?
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Honestly I know I say this every time but I realllllly was not expecting that twist ending at all. My jaw dropped and I was shocked. The story really kept you on your toes the whole way through.
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A must read if you love Freida McFadden’s books but also if you like psychological thrillers. This one is for you!
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Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was okay. It kept my interest, it was a fast read, and the main character was interesting. I just don’t think there was anything about it that made it memorable or different from other thrillers.
This book was okay. It kept my interest, it was a fast read, and the main character was interesting. I just don’t think there was anything about it that made it memorable or different from other thrillers.

Nora Davis is doing her best to distance herself from her past, growing up with a serial killer father. She has worked to build her career as a surgeon under a different name and make sure no one finds out who she really is.

I love the way Freida McFadden writes thrillers. She does a great job keeping her books fast paced, suspenseful, and mysterious. Every book I’ve read of hers has been impossible to put down and this book was no exception. I’ve read lots of thrillers, so generally the twists aren’t a huge surprise to me, but in this case I definitely did not figure out the killer.

I didn’t love the wrap up / big reveal. I thought the ending was a little contrived. I also thought some of the loose ends weren’t really tied up so I had a bunch of questions about why certain characters did certain things, but I won’t go into detail because of spoilers. I just thought there were some plot holes that didn’t make sense. Overall, though this book was good. It kept me engrossed and I binged it all in a day!

Another well written book by Freida! Fast and easy read with page turning chapters! It has a couple twists and leaves you suspecting until the reveal. Perfect book for fall time when you want to get cozy with a blanket and read a thriller.

I cannot say enough positive praise for Frieda! I’ve lost count on how many of her books I’ve read, but she still manages to make me think I know what’s going to happen, then completely flips it around! The Locked Door was no exception and I was hooked!

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!