the housemaid book review

Advertise Contact Privacy

Browse All Reviews

New Releases

List Reviews by Rating

List Reviews by Author

List Reviews by Title

the housemaid freida mcfadden book review plot summary synopsis recap discussion spoilers

The Housemaid (Review, Book Summary & Spoilers)

By freida mcfadden.

Book review, full book summary and synopsis for The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, a psychological thriller about a young woman who takes a job as a housekeeper for a wealthy couple.

In The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, Millie is a young and beautiful woman who applies and is offered a job as a live-in housekeeper for a wealthy couple, Nina and Andrew Winchester.

For Millie, who has a criminal record, a it's a fantastic job -- until it's not. Things go downhill quickly as Nina Winchester exhibits increasingly bizarre and frustrating behavior. Millie is also offered a room in the house in the attic ... that only locks from the outside.

In this fun and quick-paced psychological thriller, Millie wonders what type of people she's really working for...

(The Full Plot Summary is also available, below)

Full Plot Summary

The two-paragraph version: Millie is a young, beautiful ex-con who gets a job as a housekeeper for a wealthy couple, Nina and Andrew. Nina is temperamental and increasingly crazy, while Andrew is attractive and kind. Millie eventually sleeps with Andrew, and he kicks Nina out. We then learn that Nina hates Andrew and wanted to be free of him, which is why she hired Millie in the first place as a replacement. During their marriage, Andrew tortured Nina by locking her up in an attic room as "punishment" to correct various behaviors. He had her locked up in a psychiatric facility for 8 months as well. He used threats against her daughter to control her.

In present day, Andrew soon turns on Millie and wants to do the same (locking her up, torturing her) to her, but Millie finds some pepper spray in the attic room and attacks Andrew, locking him in the room and torturing him instead. We then learn that Millie went to jail for accidentally killing and attempted rapist and has a few other violent incidents in her past. Nina knew about it all along. She not only wanted Millie to be a replacement, she was also hoping Millie would kill Andrew. When he dies, Nina offers to take the blame for it, since it's what she wanted all along, she just didn't have it in her to kill him. But when the police detective comes to question her it turns out his daughter was Andrew's ex-fiance who was traumatized by him. The detective concludes the death was an accident. In the Epilogue, Millie interviews for a cleaning job but it becomes clear the woman really just wants Millie to kill her abusive husband. Millie takes the job.

In Part I , Millie is a beautiful, broke young woman who takes a job as a live-in housekeeper for a wealthy couple, Nina and Andrew Winchester . Millie doesn't tell them that she's been in jail for the last ten years, ever since she was 17. They put her up in a small room that was previously a closet so the door locks from the outside. Nina is temperamental and messy, and she has a daughter, Cecelia , 9. Nina often forgets or gets confused about instructions she's given or not given Millie, and Millie gets blamed for it. Nina has also gained weight over the years and everyone around her seems to agree that she's a little crazy. Her medicine cabinet is a mess of pills. Millie hears that Nina previously was admitted to a psychiatric facility after she drugged and attempted to drown Cecelia and then took pills to try to kill herself, too.

Meanwhile, Andrew is handsome, successful and understanding. Millie and Andrew slowly grow closer. When Nina and Andrew go to a fertility doctor and learn that Nina can't have any more children, Andrew is heartbroken. One night when Nina is away, Andrew and Millie sleep together. Before long, they get in a fight and Andrew kicks Nina out. Soon, Andrew fires Enzo, the landscaper. Andrew thinks the guy is an asshole, and Nina was the one who kept him around since he was the "best". Before Enzo leaves, he warns Millie that she is in danger and should leave. Shortly after, Millie gets a phone call telling her to stay away from Andrew. That night, she goes to bed, but wakes up to find that she's locked in her room.

Part II opens with Nina being glad to be free to Andrew. The narrative switches to Nina's point of view as she recounts her history with him and her plan to be free of her sadistic evil husband. Nina was once a English Ph.D. student, but she dropped out when she got pregnant and took a job as a receptionist at the company that Andrew runs. He took an interest in her and after a short courtship they were married. Three months in, he locks her in the closet in the attic for two days as punishment for letting her roots show and looking sloppy. When he lets her out, he explains that he's going to put her back in there if she misbehaves.

Nina soon wakes up groggy and sees her infant daughter Cecelia in the bathtub with the water on. Panicked, Nina realizes she's been drugged and struggled to get to Cecelia. The police show up, having been called by Andrew, and reach the conclusion that Nina drugged Cecelia to try to drown her and then took pills to kill herself. Nina is sent to a psychiatric facility for the next eight months where they convince her that her sadistic experience with Andrew is merely a delusion. Nina eventually believes it and is let out, but Andrew soon locks her in the attic bedroom again.

He continues this "punishment" every other month or so for whatever perceived misbehavior. He threatens to hurt Cecelia or have Cecelia taken away and her re-admitted to psychiatric care if she doesn't comply. He also tells all of her friends that she suffers from delusions, and he lets Nina know that if anything happens to him, his lawyer had been instructed to tell the police that she's been threatening him. This goes on for seven years. Andrew soon starts wanting another baby since Cecelia is getting older, and he knows that when Cecelia becomes more independent it will be easier to control Nina by threatening to hurt another child.

With Enzo's help to arrange passports and new identities, Nina makes an attempt to flee with Cecelia, but Andrew finds out and stops it. Finally, Nina resorts to finding someone young and beautiful to tempt Andrew into taking her place. Nina finds Millie and hires her. Nina tells herself that Millie will be okay and can leave because she doesn't have a child to use to control her like Nina does. Nina knows she needs to make Millie dislike her so that Millie will be willing to sleep with her husband, and Nina creates a situation (the Broadway show) where it can happen. Sure enough, Andrew picks Millie, and Nina is finally free. Enzo, however, reminds Nina that they just can't leave Millie with Andrew because it isn't right.

In Part III , Andrew explains to Millie that she's been locked in the room because she's being punished and he subjects her to mild torture before he lets her out. When he finally does, Millie attacks him with some pepper spray that she found in the room. She then turns the tables on Andrew and locks him inside, forcing him to perform tasks like demanding that he remove his own teeth with pliers, and refusing to let him out. (We learn that Millie went to prison for accidentally killing a guy in boarding school who was attempting to rape a friend of hers.)

It turns out that Nina was the one who hid the pepper spray in the room for her to find. Nina knew about Millie's incarceration -- as well as various other violent incidents in Millie's past. Nina wasn't just hoping Millie would replace her, she was also hoping Millie would kill Andrew.

Enzo convinces Nina that she needs to go save Millie because Millie hasn't left the house in days. When Nina arrives, she finds Millie there with Andrew's dead body. Millie is upset, knowing she'll go to jail, but Nina offers to take the blame since this was always her intention. She hoped Millie would do it because she didn't have it in her. She says she can attribute it to her mental health issues and go back to the psychiatric facility, and they'll say Millie was given the week off and wasn't even there.

When the police arrive, Nina sticks to that story. The detective questions her, then he admits that his daughter knew Andrew. She was his ex-fiance, Kathleen Connors , and he traumatized her. The detective concludes that Andrew's death was an accident. Later, at Andrew's wake, Nina meets Andrew's parents and is surprised to hear that his mother Evelyn is very tough on Andrew, even in death. She approves of what she assumes was Nina teaching Andrew a lesson.

In the Epilogue, Millie is interviewing for a different cleaning job when she notices the woman has a bruise on her. The woman says that Nina recommended her as someone who could help her. Millie understands her perfectly (the woman wants her to murder her abusive husband), and she accepts the job.

For more detail, see the full Chapter-by-Chapter Summary .

If this summary was useful to you, please consider supporting this site by leaving a tip ( $2 , $3 , or $5 ) or joining the Patreon !

Book Review

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is a page-turner that I’ve seen around for a while now, but I didn’t take much of an interest in at the time. I wasn’t particularly drawn in by the cover and wasn’t familiar with the author.

But, I read her newly released psychological thriller, The Teacher , recently, and I liked it enough that it made me curious about The Housemaid which other people seemed to like.

The Housemaid is an extremely fast read, partially because the book itself is on the shorter side and also because the chapters are short and to the point. So, this would be a great book to read if you’re trying to dig yourself out of a reading slump. The plot is uncomplicated, but has enough drama and twists to keep things interesting.

The setup is standard mystery-thriller fare. Millie, our protagonist, is young, beautiful, broke and has secrets to hide. She takes a job as a housekeeper for a wealthy couple whose marriage, she soon discovers, is a little rocky. The husband is pretty hot, and the wife is pretty nuts.

You can probably make some guesses about how the story progresses and a lot of those guesses would be right — but don’t worry, The Housemaid has some surprises in store.

I felt similarly about The Housemaid as I did about The Teacher. They’re both fairly generic genre novels, but they both get the job done and scratch that itch if that’s what you’re looking for. Of the two, The Housemaid is the quicker read. They’re both probably somewhat forgettable, but I think The Housemaid has a more memorable ending, in my opinion anyway. I’d say it’s probably the one I’d recommend to people, but if you like these types of books, you could probably read both.

I should mention that I loved the Epilogue for the Housemaid. I’m obviously not going to say more and ruin it for everyone else, but yeah, it brought a smile to my face.

Read it or Skip it?

So, should you read it? I mean, it goes by so quickly, I’d say why not? The Housemaid is a solid, very quick genre novel with a couple of fun twists. It flew by for me.

See The Housemaid on Amazon.

The Housemaid Audiobook

Narrator : Lauryn Allman Length : 9 hours 41 minutes

Hear a sample of The Housemaid audiobook on Libro.fm.

Ending & Explanations

See the Questions, Ending & Explanations for The Housemaid

Book Excerpt

Read the first pages of The Housemaid

Share your thoughts Cancel reply

At first, I sort of fell in love with Millie getting dealt a raw hand from Sister Fate and was pleased when she had a stroke of good luck. But, there was a small part in Chapter 19, when they had the refrigerator drama and she stepped on a piece of glass, that I slowly fell away. The next day, she forgets the drama until an image of Nina with blood on her dress comes to mind. Really? The glass in her foot is so soon forgotten.

By the time the tickets for the show were purchased, I’d concluded the ending. I haven’t read about it yet, but I’m no longer a fan of Millie, and consider her the not-so-smart girl from the wrong side of the tracks.

Having grown up on the questionable side of town myself, I’ve come to realize that by the time you reach adulthood, either you’re destined to die in the gutter or you figure out Life’s Big Con and get on with it. See ya, Millie!

Jen Ryland Reviews

Find books. Read books. Talk books.

Review With Spoilers of The Housemaid

12.10.2023 by Jen Ryland // Leave a Comment

I read The Housemaid back in the spring and have been meaning to review it. Now that book two in the series has won Goodreads’ 2023 Best Mysteries and Thrillers award and there is a book three in the works, I thought I’d compile opinions on the books and share my thoughts. First off, here’s my Review with Spoilers of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden.

Cover of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden on a dark blue background

Written and edited by Jen Ryland . Last updated on:

This review will contain:

A brief plot summary of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
My analysis of the overall reception of the book
My opinion on The Housemaid and whether YOU will like it
Spoilers for the ending of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Review of The Housemaid With Spoilers

Cover of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden has a blue background with a large keyhole. A woman's brown eyes is peering through the keyhole.

Published in 2022 by Bookoture and Grand Central Publishing

I read this book in May 2023

It was selected as a candidate for Best Mystery and Thriller of 2022 on Goodreads.

Plot Summary for The Housemaid

Former convict Wilhelmina “Millie” spent the last ten years in prison for murder. Now released, she’s trying to find a job … any job. She’s a little surprised to be offered a live-in housekeeper position by the Winchesters: Nina, her husband Andrew, and their daughter, Cecelia.

Right off, the Winchester’s gardener warns her that she’s in danger. But how and from whom? As Millie learns more about this couple, she realizes that the truth of the situation is hard to come by.

Reception for Freida McFadden overall and for the Housemaid

Photo of copies of The Housemaid and The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden on a black background with a key.

Freida McFadden started as a self-published Amazon author in 2013. Ten years later, she has an avid fanbase, is a TikTok favorite, and her most recent books have been traditionally published.

As with many thrillers and mysteries, opinion on her books has been divided. Readers who love fast-paced twisty thrillers generally adore McFadden’s books . Those who prefer stories with more character development and believability aren’t as enthusiastic.

Fans of The Housemaid rave about:

The Housemaid’s fast pace
The book is a “quick and easy read”
The lack of “fluff”
The snappy voice and dialogue

Critics of The Housemaid complain about:

The lack of believability and character motivation
The absence of “fluff” i.e. world-building and character development
The similarities between McFadden’s books AND the similarity of some of her plots to other popular books. It’s an interesting observation. I’d have to do a whole separate post on this but will just point out that a) many authors write similar books and b) concepts, titles, and plots of books can’t be copyrighted and c) many popular thrillers (and romances) have very similar plot lines.

My Take on All Freida McFadden Books

All the Freida McFadden books I have tried have been great audiobooks.

I have HUGE issues with listening comprehension. My mind wanders. I forget everything I heard.

So I struggle with audiobooks and I think the directness and lack of “fluff” make McFadden’s books perfect to listen to. For me.

My Opinion of The Housemaid

While I can appreciate a “quick and fast read” I tend to prefer written books that have more atmosphere and psychological depth. So The Housemaid isn’t my ideal book … BUT:

The Housemaid is a modern gothic, a subgenre I really enjoy.

I was genuinely surprised by the twist and, as I read SO many mysteries and thrillers, I can be hard to surprise.

If you have NOT read the Housemaid and don’t want spoilers, come back to this post when you’re ready.

Spoilers for The Housemaid and The Ending Explained

What is the ending of the housemaid.

Millie’s employee, Nina Winchester, is being physically and psychologically abused by her husband Andrew, which includes being locked in the attic room that Nina assigns to Millie.
Nina gaslights Millie and acts erratically.
Millie sympathizes with Andrew and the two begin a secret affair. Nina discovers their affair and Andrew tells her their marriage is over. Nina leaves, taking her daughter with her.
Suddenly, Millie finds herself Andrew’s new victim , locked in the attic room and forced to perform bizarre acts, like pulling out her own hair.
The twist: Nina, helped by landscaper Enzo, hired Millie as a way to free herself from Andrew. Nina pushed them together and it worked: Andrew dumped her to focus on poor Millie.
Millie manages to pepper spray Andrew (with pepper spray that Nina thoughtfully hid in the room) and lock Andrew in the attic room. She forces him to perform bizarre acts, like pulling out his own teeth.
Andrew dies in the room.
Nina, alerted by Enzo, shows up and offers to take the fall for Andrew’s death . Fortunately, the police officer sent to the scene has a daughter who dated Andrew and knows he’s abusive. So the police agree to ignore the fact that Andrew inexplicably died and has missing teeth. (Yes, this is extremely unlikely but ok!)
At Andrew’s funeral, Millie learns that Andrew’s mother used to pull out his teeth. (What? More on that below.)
Nina gets Millie a new job with another abused wife.

What are readers’ questions About the Housemaid?

Why was millie in prison.

She was sent to a therapeutic boarding school, where she tried to save a female classmate who was being attacked by a guy. She hit him over the head to save the girl, but apparently went a little overboard. She had a record, so she pled guilty to manslaughter.

Why would Andrew, an abusive husband, allow his wife to hire Millie?

This doesn’t seem that odd to me. Yes, many abusers isolate their victims, but Nina has a child and it seems like Andrew would like a lot of attention.

Why the coincidence of the pulled out teeth?

Did Millie know that Andrew’s mother used to pull out his teeth? If Andrew mentioned this, I missed it. I agree that the coinicdence was pretty random. Millie just happened to find pliers in the garage and think of pulling out Andrew’s teeth?

If Enzo witnessed Andrew’s abuse of Nina, why didn’t he do anything?

It’s all a bit hazy. Enzo’s sister was married to an abusive man and Enzo assaulted the guy and then fled the country. So he is possibly being sought by Italian police and is in the US illegally.

If Enzo knew that Andrew was dangerous, why didn’t he keep a closer eye on Millie?

He just gave Millie vague warnings. He’d agreed to help Nina. When he hadn’t seen Millie for days, he did alert Nina.

Is The Housemaid a retelling (or inspired by) The Last Mrs. Parrish (2017)?

I have not read The Last Mrs. Parrish so can’t weigh in on any possible similarities between the two. But there are a lot of similar books out there and most Gothic fiction does share common elements. Tell me what you think in the comments!

Did you love The Housemaid, or was it not for you? Leave all comments below, and feel free to leave spoiler questions and comments!

Be sure to check out my post on The Housemaid Book Two which answers these questions and more!

The Housemaid vs. The Housemaid Two : which is better?
Is Millie in the Housemaid Two?

And you can also check out my Audiobook Review of The Coworker!

About Jen Ryland

Over 12 years of book blogging and reviewing, I have read over 1500 books. A fair and honest reviewer who loves book discussions, I'm here to help you find a book you'll love to read AND give you a place to talk about it and ask questions. Find me on Instagram and Pinterest as @jenryland!

Privacy Policy

Find my privacy policy here.

The Housemaid: An absolutely addictive psychological thriller with a... › Customer reviews

Customer reviews.

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

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Top positive review

Top critical review

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later., from the united states, there was a problem loading comments right now. please try again later..

← Previous page
Next page →
Amazon Newsletter
About Amazon
Accessibility
Sustainability
Press Center
Investor Relations
Amazon Devices
Amazon Science
Sell on Amazon
Sell apps on Amazon
Supply to Amazon
Protect & Build Your Brand
Become an Affiliate
Become a Delivery Driver
Start a Package Delivery Business
Advertise Your Products
Self-Publish with Us
Become an Amazon Hub Partner
› See More Ways to Make Money
Amazon Visa
Amazon Store Card
Amazon Secured Card
Amazon Business Card
Shop with Points
Credit Card Marketplace
Reload Your Balance
Amazon Currency Converter
Your Account
Your Orders
Shipping Rates & Policies
Amazon Prime
Returns & Replacements
Manage Your Content and Devices
Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
Conditions of Use
Privacy Notice
Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
Your Ads Privacy Choices

Laurie Is Reading

A Book Blog Covering a Variety of Genres

Review: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

A few months ago, The Housemaid by Freida McFadden popped up on all Dutch social media platforms I’m using. The book was recently translated and it received glowing reviews. However, I wasn’t interested at first since I’m not the biggest fan of thrillers lately and especially not psychological thrillers. Somehow, it kept demanding my attention. Finally, I caved and bought myself a copy of the book which I read pretty soon. Did I find it as addictive as other people state it is?

Book cover for The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Title: The Housemaid
Author: Freida McFadden
Series: The Housemaid #1
Publish date: August 23, 2022
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 9781538742570
Number of pages: 325
Genre: Thriller

“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…

This story is centered around Millie who has applied for a housemaid’s job at the Winchester house. Nina, Andrew and their daughter are in desperate need of a maid. Everything seems fine at first, but soon strange things happen. Nina acts odd and Andrew seems to be a broken man. However, Millie has much darker secrets of her own, ones she hope will never find a way out…

As a reader, we don’t know Millie’s secrets either, but we have to find out eventually. We will, but that takes up a good chunk of the book. Also, Nina acting weird seemed to be resolved quite quickly, but nothing turns out the way they seem. However, I wasn’t connecting to any of the characters. Of course I wanted to know about Millie’s past and what was going on with the Winchester family, but overall I think my expectations of this thriller were too high. I just didn’t feel it.

The writing was good. The chapters are mostly short which makes it easy to turn just another page and read some more. However, they are meant to build up tension which I didn’t feel overall. It was not intriguing.

To be quite honest, the plot was not intriguing for most part. The book is devided into three parts: one centered around Millie, one around Nina and the final one alternates between Millie and Nina. The first part about Millie was outright boring. I couldn’t get into the book and actually doubted whether to DNF it. I’m glad I pushed through, because the second part was much better. It’s centered around Nina and there several twists make their way into the plot. They can be interesting and they somewhat are. However, the book lost me already. The third and final part was wrapped up way too quickly and therefore was not intriguing anymore. It felt to me that the story needed to be wrapped up and that the final part was thrown to do just that. This is the part where Millie’s past got revealed, but that was done quickly as well.

Unfortunately, I found the Housemaid by Freida McFadden not as addictive as the blurbs claims this thriller to be. The first part was really boring and dragging and the third part was qrapped up way to quickly. The second part was the most interesting, but to be fair this book already lost my interest. The writing style is easy and accessible though, with short chapters. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel any tension and urgency in this book. I’m not sure whether I will pick up the sequel, maybe once in a lifetime.

Published by Laurie

View all posts by Laurie

Book Review: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

The housemaid (book 1), goodreads choice award – nominee for best mystery & thriller (2022).

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is a fast-paced dark thriller full of secrets and deception.

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

This book is part of My Fall 2023 Reading List .

My Overview

Millie, recently released from ten years in prison, is unemployed and living out of her car. When Nina Winchester offers to hire her as a housemaid, Millie can’t believe her luck. A job at the Winchester home will provide what she needs: money and a place to live at! From the beginning, there are plenty of red flags for Millie, including the gardener warning her of danger. Millie even knows she’ll have to sleep in a tiny attic room that only locks from the outside, but chooses to focus on the big picture … housing and employment. She’s even willing to put up with Nina’s unstable behavior and her daughter’s brattiness. Fortunately, Andrew Winchester (Nina’s husband) is kind to her.

The story is divided into three parts. Part 1 sets the scene at the Winchester home and introduces the main characters: Millie, Nina, and Andrew. I enjoyed the set-up of the plot, and Nina’s observations and humor. Part 2 begins with a big twist I didn’t expect. As the story unfolds it quickly becomes OTT and less believable. By Part 3, the story basically goes off the rails.

Overall, this is a high-paced thriller where no character can be trusted and suspension of disbelief is needed. Based on all the hype, I had high expectations for this book. Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver on the hype for me. The story is so crazy, though, that it makes this an unputdownable book. Even as I watched the story go off the rails, I couldn’t look away 🫣.

My Recommendation

Although I wasn’t thrilled (😉) by the story, I know that my opinion is part of a minority. Also, keep in mind this is my first book by this author. If you haven’t read this book yet, you should probably give it a try. I read the Kindle edition and tried the audiobook also; either is fine.

Have you read this book?

Book Review: Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens

Book Review: The Suite Spot by Trish Doller

Book Review: It’s a Date (Again) by Jeneva Rose

Book Review: THE HOUSEMAID by Freida McFadden

THE HOUSEMAID

Author : Freida McFadden Year : 2022 Edition : 2022 Paperback Pages : 325 Genre : Thriller Additional info : #1 in The Housemaid series

“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 Winchester’s beautiful house top to bottom. I pick up 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 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…

Why I chose to read this book I love thrillers, and this one seemed so full of secrets. I was excited to get a glimpse into wealthy folk’s lives through the eyes of their housemaid. I just knew it would be juicy and salacious!

Thoughts & Opinions

The Housemaid was a fun read! Full of suspense, twists and turns. Very easy to read and entertaining. Millie, the protagonist, finds herself in a very difficult situation; she has a boss from hell. And because of her past, it’s almost impossible for her to find a job so she has to keep this one. There are so many instances where her boss, Nina, demonstrates how unhinged and psychotic she is but Millie is desperate and this job is the best alternative for her. Nina lies, omits important details, and makes Millie look like a fool and incompetent in front of others. I was so enraged by her actions! Her daughter, a majorly spoiled brat, doesn’t fall far from the tree. She is rude, impolite, undisciplined and obviously mimics her mother’s behavior with “the help”. Makes you wonder why Andrew, Nina’s perfect husband, stays with her.

Although Millie needs this job, sometimes what the heart wants is stronger than common sense and she starts to play a dangerous game with Andrew, fully knowing Nina could go nuclear.

The switch in POV from Millie to Nina is enlightening and shocking.

What I fault in this book however is the two POVs weren’t distinct enough in terms of vocabulary and personality. Nina and Mille come from very different backgrounds yet they express themselves the same way. It’s like it was narrated by the same character. For me, it took away from the experience of having two POVs.

Check out my other thriller reviews:

American Dirt

Crimson Summer

Danger in Numbers

Gray Mountain

Please Join Us

The Night Shift

The Paris Apartment

When No One is Watching

Discussion Points

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think?
Did you figure out the twist before the switch in POV?
I’d love to discuss this book with you in the comments below, looking forward to reading you!
Which book should I review next?

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden book review

I picked up The Housemaid because it was dirt cheap on Amazon – I’m talking £2.50 for a brand-new copy of the paperback. After finishing The Return of the King, I thought I’d pick something up a little lighter that didn’t require quite as much time and effort to read/listen to. Enter The Handmaid .

Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any products via the links below, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate links do not affect my final opinion of the products.

However, little did I know that this would be one of the most gripping and enthralling thrillers I’d read for a very long time. I was expecting it to be a fairly weak reading experience but an easy story to consume and though the latter may be true, it most certainly was not a weak thriller.

The story covers the tale of Millie, our protagonist housemaid who starts work at a posh house after recently being released from prison. She’s hoping to keep her past from her new employer and earn enough money to move out of living in her car and start a real life for herself. However, her boss, Nina Winchester is incredibly odd and begins to behave eratically convincing Millie something else must be going on it in this family. But then everything flips on its head!

The Housemaid plot – 4.5/5

I must admit, whenever I start reading a book, I’m always looking and waiting for the moment when it’s going to suddenly get good. However, from the very early pages, this book had the perfect plot and chapter endings to keep me engrossed throughout. It starts off with a lot of intrigue as Nina’s odd personality begins to come out with some wild accusations of Millie and as the reader it really grabs you in.

There is a massive turn in the middle of the book which I honestly didn’t see coming which is a real testament to the way that McFadden has not only written the book but also written these characters. It’s a twist that if any of your interest has waned will draw you right back in again.

People often describe books as “unputdownable” and I rarely use this term as my ADD means I can easily drop an activity and go and do other things. However, The Housemaid is one of those books where I genuinely wanted to read as much of it as possible in one sitting each time I could. And again, I usually struggle to read when anything else is going on but it’s easy writing and my desire to know what was coming next had me engrossed.

The Housmaid characters – 4.25/5

Often in thrillers, the characters suffer with little personality as the plot is the main focus for the author. Often, to be able to pull off the twists and the sweeping chapters and plotline, the main character just has to go through the motions, causing a rather underwhelming character. However, in The Housemaid , Millie is a perfectly likeable main character with genuine motivations and personality traits.

The real star of the show is Nina though. McFadden has portrayed her personality perfectly (meaning more the further you read) as this woman who has become so comfortable in this perfect “housewife” life that she’s begun to become slightly mad.

As a reader, you begin to grow a real dislike for her and other characters who later are introduced too. Those you’re supposed to like, you like and those you are supposed to despise, you despise.

The Housemaid final rating – 4.5/5

I was a huge fan of The Housemaid and everybody I’ve spoken to about it online was also. Not only does it hit all the perfect notes required of a thriller but it has a a genuinely shocking twist that you won’t see coming along with some truly detestable characters. It’s clever and, not avoiding the cliche term at all, truly unputdownable. If you’re looking for a genuinely gripping new read that could very well surprise you with how much you enjoy it, The Housemaid would be right near the top of my recommendations list at the moment.

Buy The Housemaid here.

6 thoughts on “ The Housemaid by Freida McFadden book review ”

Awesome review, Luke. I got my daughter hooked on her books, lol! Have a lovely weekend!

Sorry about the writing mistake, I’m half blind.

I’ll definitely have to pick up some more of her books!

I was looking for a book to take on holiday with me next week and I think I just found it. Thanks for this excellent and informative review!

Good to hear! Enjoy Martin!

“The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions. Set in the backdrop of a wealthy suburban neighborhood, the story follows the life of Emma, a young and ambitious housemaid who finds herself entangled in a web of secrets and deceit. McFadden’s writing style is captivating, immersing readers in the vivid descriptions of the extravagant houses and the glamorous lifestyles of the characters. The character development is remarkable, particularly with Emma, as we witness her transformation from a naive and innocent young woman to a resilient and determined fighter. The author tackles important themes such as social class, power dynamics, and the price one is willing to pay for success. The suspenseful plot keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning each page to uncover the truth behind the dark secrets lurking behind closed doors. “The Housemaid” is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a thrilling and thought-provoking novel that delves deep into the complexities of human nature.

Your insightful review captures the essence of the books beautifully. Your attention to detail and thoughtful analysis truly enriches the conversation around it.

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden (2022): An Absolutely Thrilling Read

Benjamin Hughes

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is one of the chart buster bestselling novels of 2022 according to the Wall Street Journal.

Millie is making a clean break from her troubled history. Millie has responded to an ad for a housemaid posted by the Winchesters. Nina Winchester arranges to meet with Millie at her house.

She gives Millie a tour of the house and outlines Millie’s duties, which amount to light housekeeping and meal preparation. Nina takes Millie up to the attic and shows her the bedroom she’ll be sleeping in.

When Millie finally hears from Nina a few days later, she is overjoyed. She will begin her employment with the Winchesters the following Monday. The house is a shambles by the time Millie comes the following day.

Despite of being from medical background, Freida McFadden knows her subject really well and have complete command over how to present her characters in the most emphatic way.

The house looked spotless when Millie arrived for the interview, so she assumed she wouldn’t have to do any tidying up before her arrival.

Millie gradually finds out about Nina’s misdeeds as the days pass. Or, more accurately, she learns the hard way about Nina’s erratic emotions. Millie is picking up Nina’s daughter Cecelia from school, as requested by Nina.

Millie finds out Cece has extra classes and her friend’s mom would take her when she gets to school. While on the phone with Nina, Millie gets the response, “I never told you to pick Cece!”

So, what’s different now?

Millie soon finds herself the target of Nina’s erratic behavior. Millie is the victim of Nina’s gaslighting, and she is also falsely accused of something. Cecelia, Nina’s eight-year-old daughter, is also not a saint. Millie has been met with strong distaste from both of Millie’s parents.

Andrew, Nina’s husband, is the only one who has any idea what Millie is going through.

Millie finds out via Nina’s other pals that Nina was admitted to a mental institution. Even though Millie now understands why Nina is acting so irrationally, the fact that she is the recipient of Nina’s rage does not make her any happier.

Things are about to get much worse. Millie has to get out of the house as soon as possible. But… she can’t since her bedroom door doesn’t lock from the inside.

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve ever read, without a doubt. The plot twists and turns kept me reading until the very end. There are three acts to the story. The first section focuses on Millie and how she is treated while staying at the Winchester residence.

The second part is just… WOW!

That was a surprising turn of events. What the heck is going on, I thought. Don’t even get me started on how great the third part is!

I assumed The Housemaid would be “just another domestic suspense with a shocking ending” when I first started reading it. Oh, how wrong I was! Not just the climax, but nearly the entire novel is full of unexpected turns and shocking revelations.

Fast-paced, nerve-wracking, spine-chilling, twisted, and riveting best describe the novel, her latest psychological thriller.

This is a book you should read immediately.

If you like reading The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, find out her five must-read books here.

The Housemaid by Freida Mcfadden Buying Options:

Disclaimer: This blog post may contain affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, The Crimson Books may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

About the Author

Benjamin Hughes is a literary enthusiast with a lifelong passion for books. He has an extensive knowledge of classic literature and a profound interest in exploring the depths of philosophical and existential themes.

With his articulate writing style, he guides readers through complex narratives and leaves them with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the written word.

Forever Never by Lucy Score

Book Reviews

In a Badger Way (The Honey Badger Chronicles Book # 2)

Hot and Badgered (The Honey Badger Chronicles Book # 1)

One comment.

[…] (If you want to read a full review of The Housemaid, read it here.) […]