The Locked Door by Freida McFadden is a quick read with a lot of potential but falls short in execution. The pacing is fast, which keeps things moving, but the writing feels rushed and at times, clunky. While the twists and turns of the plot kept me intrigued, the characters felt flat, and the dialogue often lacked depth. It’s a decent thriller for those looking for a page-turner, but the lack of polish in the writing held it back from being truly great. Overall, an entertaining but forgettable read. 3 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC copy!

An easy to read thriller. I don't often appreciate thrillers in my recent reading journey as I often guess the twist. I did not guess the twist this time but I also wasn't overly surprised by it. I haven't read any other books by this author but I would definitely be interested in trying another as a beachy easy to read type book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

This book has been on my shelf forever! I finally picked it up and I’m glad I did. I’d say this is more of a slower burn than her other stuff but it worked well for this story. I usually don’t like a slow burn, but it suited this story well and the pacing picks up toward the end.

Of course, as with all Freida McFadden’s books you won’t know for sure who you should trust.

One thing that I thought was weird is the surgeons having a bet between each other to see who can do more surgeries…talk about unethical. I just thought that was the weirdest thing.

I liked how Nora’s patients in her practice would come in complaining…giving us even more suspects to choose from.

The sneaky needle scene that comes full circle was a fun piece of the story. Yaaaas do your thing girl!

I think this would make a cool duology after how everything wrapped up.

I absolutely recommend checking this one out.

Frieda McFadden writes in a way that makes reading fun and easy. You will fly through this book easily and enjoy the story of Dr.Claire who has a family with a dark past. As she tries to move on and make a new name and future for herself, her past is uncovered and threatens to take away her positive reputation.

Claire’s father was arrested for a series of murders that took the city by storm. Someone is back at it again trying to pin a murder on Claire. This book takes you through her journey of trying to clear her name and get her life back.

The book is easy to read as Claire is a seemingly likable person and you want to root for her. If you love family drama and dark secrets that come to light, you will love this book!

This one was a bit slower than her other thrillers I’ve read. The twist didn’t blow me away either. It’s my least favorite that I’ve read from her, but I’ll still pick up her next book because they’re usually pretty bingeable and entertaining.

This book was amazing. Just had you guessing the whole time and the twists are just so unexpected. I highly recommend.

Thank You NetGalley for this free eARC.

Nora David thought she had a normal family. She attended school, did family activities, and thought it was the norm for everyone's basement door to be locked where her dad had his workshop. Until one day, she discovered her father was a serial killer and is sent to live with her grandmother. Her grandmother forbade her from ever seeing her father in prison. Her father wrote her often, but Nora ignored them. She be came a respected surgeon and made sure no one knew about her father. A young female patient of Nora's is found murder. She soon learns that it was in the same style her father used. Someone knows who she is and is trying to frame her.

Freida McFadden is one of my favorite authors so I was excited to read this book. I loved that it had short chapters and interesting characters. It was a twisty psychological thriller. This book felt a little flat for me and was a bit blah. I don't feel like it was her best book written and I think her other books are better. I still plan on reading more of her titles.

This one was fine for me. Freida McFadden is so hit or miss for me - but no matter what I can always count on the fact that I will be reading a book that I fly through with some fun twists and turns.

Entertaining and a quick read - perfect for a palette cleanser between some heavier books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you ever just need a fun, fast-paced thriller, Freida McFadden will deliver. Her books are twisty and fun and the endings I’ve read so far are satisfying. This one was, too. I appreciated how the main character, Nora, is a surgeon who is trying to live her life after a very tragic, scary childhood. Her father was pretty messed up. I didn’t figure out the ending and by half way through the book, really wanted to know what was going on!

I try to like McFadden's books but they are always predictable when you get to 50% and the narrative feels too simple and forced

This book is as creepy as creepy can get. The way I felt weird and suspicious throughout reading it tells a lot about it, I do not generally read thrillers but the ones like these are hard to put down. The main character did not feel reliable at all and the twists just kept coming.

Loved the suspense! So far my fave of the four, with a good plot, a little bit of gore and a really good plot twist. I didn't predict this ending at all and really captivated me. There was a fair bit of character growth throughout the story and polished off nicely. I was a bit skeptical how this one would end (I really thought she was somehow killing people subconsciously 😅) but it turned out well.

Freida McFadden is a go-to for suspenseful, quick reads that keep readers on their toes. I did figure out who the "villain" (other than Nora's father) was, but there were several twists that still created a satisfying surprise ending. It was nice to have at least one truly sympathetic, likable character in the book. As always, McFadden's dark humor was completely entertaining. This is a good fit for readers who may be fascinated by real-life serial killers as well as those who enjoy a little abnormal psychology here and there.

The Locked Door was a quick read that was full of twists that I didn’t see coming. Freida had me believing I had it all figured out multiple times, but I was proven wrong over and over. I was not a huge fan of the last book I read from this author, but I’m glad I gave this one a shot!

Book Review: The Locked Door by Freida McFadden

The Locked Door by Freida McFadden is a gripping psychological thriller that dives deep into the dark side of family secrets and inherited trauma. McFadden, known for her taut suspense and unexpected twists, delivers a chilling story filled with tension and dread, making it difficult to put down from the very first page.

The protagonist, Dr. Nora Davis, is a skilled surgeon hiding a dark past—her father was an infamous serial killer who committed horrific crimes in their family home. Nora has spent her adult life distancing herself from this legacy, burying her traumatic childhood and keeping her history a secret. However, when a string of murders begins to mirror her father’s grisly methods, Nora becomes the prime suspect. Haunted by the past and desperate to clear her name, she must confront the secrets she thought she’d left behind.

McFadden’s writing style is sharp and immersive, with short, punchy chapters that keep the reader hooked and the pace relentlessly fast. She expertly weaves flashbacks to Nora’s childhood, revealing disturbing glimpses of her father’s crimes and the traumatic impact on Nora’s psyche. This gradual unfolding of her background builds suspense while adding layers to Nora’s character, making her both intriguing and sympathetic.

The twists in The Locked Door are cleverly crafted. Just when you think you’ve pieced everything together, McFadden throws in a surprise that takes the story in a different direction. She plays with the theme of nature vs. nurture, raising questions about whether Nora can ever escape her father’s influence and whether evil tendencies can be passed down. The atmosphere is tense, and the mystery surrounding the copycat murders keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

While the novel primarily focuses on suspense, McFadden also gives us a look into Nora’s isolation and the toll her father’s crimes have taken on her sense of self and her relationships. This emotional depth adds a layer of poignancy to an otherwise dark story, making Nora’s struggle feel raw and real.

Verdict: The Locked Door is a masterfully crafted thriller that will appeal to fans of dark, psychological suspense. Freida McFadden has created a haunting story full of twists, chilling flashbacks, and a protagonist grappling with the shadows of her past. With its gripping pace and relentless tension, this book is a must-read for thriller lovers looking for a story that will keep them on edge until the final, shocking revelation.

This book was so interesting. Freida is such a popcorn thriller writer. Much of the book, I was rolling my eyes at how cringey it was. But there was also a lot of the time that I was super invested in the plot and who was responsible for the killings. I wish that Frieda would try to write slightly more sophisticated. It, at times, felt like a high schooler’s writing. I could completely predict the next line at times due to the corny dialogue.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

This was a fast-paced psychological thriller that will get you hooked with its dark and twisted plot. The story revolves around Dr. Nora Davis, whose chilling family secret resurfaces after years of being locked away. With all the unpredictable twists that Frieda is typicallt known for, the ending will leave you breathless!

You can't go wrong with Freida McFadden! Her books are entertaining and always have a twist you will never see coming. You'll think you have it figured out and then by the end you're shocked that it was the person you never even suspected. The Locked Door follows Nora whose father is a convicted serial killer. Nora has started over with a new name (and is a respected surgeon. When her patients start being murdered as her father used to kill his victims, Nora can't figure out what is going on. Is her father somehow out of prison without her knowledge? Is this a copycat? Read to find out the truth. You won't be disappointed.

A good premise. I enjoy books that have flashbacks along the way to help untangle the truth. As always, a quick paced enjoyable thriller.

Thank you for my e arc!