The Housemaid: An absolutely addictive psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist

Written by Freida McFadden

Narrated by Lauryn Allman

“Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own…

 

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

 

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

 

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

 

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

 

They don’t know what I’m capable of…

 

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried A No.1 New York Times bestseller A Sunday Times bestseller A USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller 5 million copies sold * 20-million-copy bestselling author

 

This unbelievably twisty read will have you glued to the pages late into the night. Anyone who loves The Girl on the Train won’t be able to put down The Housemaid!

 

Read what everyone’s saying about The Housemaid:

 

“I got severe whiplash from the twistiest turns… Every time I thought I had it figured out… WRONG!!!… I am still reeling… outstanding… If you love a top notch psychological thriller that will have you questioning your own sanity, then this 5 star read is for you.” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

“What a wild ride!!! Freida definitely delivered the best twisty ending… Gripping from start to finish… honestly, I just could not put it down… An absolutely mind-blowing shocker that kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat literally until the very end.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

“One wild ride!… So many twists and turns… I was hooked right away – I even read my Kindle while waiting in my kid’s school pick-up line so I wouldn’t have to put this book down!… addictive… pure perfection!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bookouture
• Release date: Jul 1, 2025
• ISBN: 9781803144399

Freida McFadden

#1 New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Sunday Times internationally bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury. Freida is the winner of both the International Thriller Writer Award for Best Paperback Original and the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Thriller. Her novels have been translated into more than thirty languages. Freida lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean.

Reviews for The Housemaid

[Henk Zeeman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The plot was far fetched amazing! Perhaps I was just ready to read this book. Nice to see that underdogs can become top dogs and find a gallant purpose in life, despite... all they were forced to go through by suffering misunderstandings.

[Brit Miller · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was my first Freida McFadden read and I couldn't stop! I knew there was a twist coming but I definitely didn't expect what came to be. I will be investing in everything McFadden now!

[brendasteele47 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I couldn’t imagine the unfolding twists in this great book. A must read

[todd paulsmeyer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Quite the ride. Great to have such a lovely heroine swist to the entire story. As a man who is NOT mean or degrading to women, and who suffers from the harm bad men do to women thru damaged relationships and the suffering it cause, it's great to read justice being done.

[Everleigh Ehlers · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Wasn’t on the edge of my seat. Predictable. I just wanted a little more

[Diana · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The storyline at first seems like the "typical" stories one hears on the billboards of rich man unwealthy housemaid dramas but oh is it so much more. Freida really keeps you engaged and reels you in. Love her work. Hope the movie is just as good.

[Erika S. · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book, the narration was great, but I did predict parts of the twist pretty early. There was also one plot hole that I feel like I couldn’t make sense of fully. It’s not really a spoiler so I’ll share here: who called the supermarket and told them that Millie was shoplifting? And who was in the car that Millie saw when she came out of the grocery store? Might not be super important to the story, but it was enough for me to notice and still want an explanation especially when we realize who the villain is.

[damarisgomez8 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

10/10 recommend! Jaw dropping story ! Definitely gets you sucked in!!!!!

[juli Laureiro · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow!! The twists, the turns! One of the Best!!! Great!

[Tom Houston · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Once I started The Housemaid, I could not stop. McFadden builds tension with precision and creates characters you love, hate, and constantly question. Every twist hit perfectly. A smart, suspenseful thriller, that absolutely earns its hype.

[breangel07 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Probably in my top five favorite book. Listening to it is even better than when I read it and I loved it then! I thought I’d listen to it before the movie is released. Made me so excited for December 19th!!

[Cristian Diaz Basualto · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

spectacular, amazing, great story, amazing ending, I guess she is my favorite writer now. Recommended for a great experience.

[richardupchurch73 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved both the female characters. I feel like it was really real written and it was not predictable. I think it's my favorite read of 2025.

[ajean190 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow. Wow wow wow. Amazing. Looking forward to the second book in the series! A must read if you enjoy thriller/mystery.

[danyelle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Yikes! This one keeps you on your toes! Enjoy the read!

[awesome.audean · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow. Just wow. You won't see what's coming. I absolutely loved this

[lazarvivian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautifully written narration expressive and fluid. Loved loved loved the book intriguing at every turn. Couldn’t put it down. A must read.

[Gabriella Cozma · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Easy to listen and follow, really good content and can’t wait to listen to all of the books

[April Hill · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This story was EXCEPTIONAL!!! I usually don’t leave book reviews but this right here!?! WOW!!! Why did I wait so long to read this? I truly hope the film(s) live up to the intensity of the book(s). Can we put this in the “Horror” genre? I think so! I was feeling claustrophobic during parts of this! AGAIN, THIS WAS EXCEPTIONAL! Book 2 of 3 here I come!

[shaunadr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love the twists in her books. Always fun to see what happens in the end.

[Raluca Vomir · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As always a good book, with a twist. Went smoothly, the narrator was great!

[Bill Hair · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

2.5 Stars for me.

I normally like FMs stories but this one was a struggle for me to listen to. The wife was way OTT, yet the husband gives it a pass. The young daughter was awful. The h deals with it because she is an ex-con.

Spoiler below. Do not read past this point if you do not want to know the ridiculous twist.
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Last chance.
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The husband was super-controlling and was abusive to the wife in the attic room.

The wife hired the housemaid to take the attic room and to get her hubby to believe she was crazy.

Hubby is locked in the attic until he dies and the Police, wink-wink, close the case as an accidental death. The wife and nanny live on without the evil hubby.

[contreras.susana · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Finished it in just a day, couldn’t put it down!

[kyokoyasui · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story is quite a page-turners. At first Nina seemed to be evil and Andy, good. Millie was a pathetic victim. But I was totally wrong. As the story goes, I guessed what will be happen. Even though the twists were clever and I enjoyed to the end. I would like to read the sequel.

[jawecas582 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

test testt es tte stt est te stte st test

[Anastasiia Nepomiluieva · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Narrative is good, but for the final twist is 3.5⭐️ only

[Robin Wiese · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! I almost stopped listening a few chapters in…so glad that I did not! Put me on the edge of my seat until the very end! Whew!

[David okigbo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a good book… 10/10 no notes except for that the writing was simple. But sometimes you just want to read something easy on the brain and still jaw dropping

[A Ze Z · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely loved the book.
Was hard to keep it down until the very end.
Loved the narration just as much

[Sharon Czudak · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I did enjoy it, quite intriguing. However once you've read a couple of this author's books you can always guess the twist unfortunately. And you always know there's going to be a psycho somewhere! But if it's your first by this author, you'll live it!