The Housemaid / The Housemaid's Secret

The Housemaid #1-2

by Freida McFadden

The Housemaid

“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…

The Housemaid's Secret

“Don’t go in the guest bedroom.” A shadow falls on Douglas Garrick’s face as he touches the door with his fingertips. “My wife... she’s very ill.” As he continues showing me their incredible penthouse apartment, I have a terrible feeling about the woman behind closed doors. But I can’t risk losing this job—not if I want to keep my darkest secret safe...

It’s hard to find an employer who doesn’t ask too many questions about my past. So I thank my lucky stars that the Garricks miraculously give me a job, cleaning their stunning penthouse with views across the city and preparing fancy meals in their shiny kitchen. I can work here for a while, stay quiet until I get what I want.

It’s almost perfect. But I still haven’t met Mrs Garrick, or seen inside the guest bedroom. I’m sure I hear her crying. I notice spots of blood around the neck of her white nightgowns when I’m doing laundry. And one day I can’t help but knock on the door. When it gently swings open, what I see inside changes everything...

That’s when I make a promise. After all, I’ve done this before. I can protect Mrs. Garrick while keeping my own secrets locked up safe.

Douglas Garrick has done wrong. He is going to pay. It’s simply a question of how far I’m willing to go...

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction

688 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2023

About the author

#1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and possessed cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

Note that I am maxed out on friends, so I apologize in advance that I can't friend anyone back!

Reviews

[tyzyfoneautorka · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow, podobała mi się bardziej, niż pierwsza część, a ta już była świetna. Ciekawe, co będzie w trzeciej

[Melanie Creech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread the house made for a second time since the movie comes out soon and it still didn’t disappoint even though I knew what was gonna happen. It was still quick easy read again and helped me remember all the details.

[Laurel-Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

“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…

My Thoughts: The journey with The Housemaid kept me turning pages rapidly. Back and forth we go, trying to figure out the secrets that will keep the characters on their toes.

I thought my favorite was Millie, but then the story flips and we learn more about Nina. Nothing is quite what it seems.

Will Nina turn out to be a character we enjoy, too?

By the end, all is sorted. 5 stars.

[Ellin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book that I read in oro valley. They were fun and went quickly. Again another twist of people pretending and doing evil, yet it is written in such a way that you are believing everything until it unravels at the end.
Wife appeared to be being beaten and starved by the rich husband and the maid, millie wanted to help her. She was treated oddly by the husband with super specific grocery requests, cleaning and staying away from Wendy, his wife.
All is well in the end after Millie thinks she has killed the husband. Wendy had another man, her lover, step in and act as her husband and makeup was the trick to show she was beaten.

[Hema Segaran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely, one of the best psychological thrillers ever. I love how interesting each character is. Once you feel like you know a character, BOOM something unexpected happens. I couldn’t put the book down. I cannot wait for book 3 to be released! I have already pre-ordered it and ordered 4 more of her books all in the same category of psychological thrillers. Frieda is absolutely my favorite authors this year! Bravo! 10/10 recommendations from me.

[Shandi Mosley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally. If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. It is SO good. Not what you expect to happen at all. It has so many twists and turns. You’ll be on the edge of your seat reading it and you won’t be able to put it down!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! Great book. Being a housemaid isn't an easy task but working with someone who seems to have a dual personality makes it even more difficult. All seems perfect for a while until things start to sour drastically. McFadden always keeps you guessing and always a great ending.

[Mary Kamrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both books are so intriguing that I did not want to stop reading until the end. The third book in the series looks equally as interesting. Freida McFadden always writes books that draw the reader in immediately.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the 1st book took me 2 business days to read. It’s good but I wouldn’t say it’s great, out of this world. I will admit it definitely threw me off guard when I got to Nina’s Part 2. I did enjoy it.

Will I continue the series? -No.

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books were fabulous!! I was hooked right from the start of the first book! As soon as I was finished with that one I went right into the 2nd book. I would highly recommend reading this book series!!

[Betsy Suits · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a fun modern mystery with a twist, this is it! The story is told by a young New Yorker who works for a crazy rich family and I mean crazy! It's entertaining and the will keep you turning the pages. It would make a good movie.

[Dani T · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GOOD I LOVE THRILLERS

[Aubrey Bowser · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn’t bad just not a lot.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series. I read it so quick because I couldn't put it down!!!

[Yamilet G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a good one with a plot twist.

[Addiii · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVED this book. You never really knew what was about to happen. My jaw-dropped in so many parts of it It was crazy. Absolutely awesome!!!

[Sophia Mains · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. I like Millie. Wish the story line was a bit more complex but good.

[lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love me some Housemaid and Freida!

[Sarah Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freida McFadden really outdid herself writing these books. I honestly wish I could read these books for the first time again.

[Bhumika Tandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am obsessed with Millie's dangerous encounters :D
Can't wait for release of the 3rd book !

[Nichole Maehrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

You think you know…..but in all reality you don’t. The way I thought I knew what was going to come next and it happened completely opposite.

[Kelly Latta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved these books! Great twists and turns

[Marieke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prenant jusqu'à la dernière page.

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the first one for sure, second was ok ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌸

[Chyns Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant books.
Worth the read. Read both whilst on holiday

[Karrie Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy summer beach reads. Predictable but great when you just want something easy and fun to read. If you e read #1 then be prepared for #2 to feel much like a repeat of the first. Summer 2024

[Haley McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love every ridiculous moment of these books. I re-read them before I read the new one and I'm so glad I did. These books are just fun and entertaining reads

[ziyuan ʚɞ Reads Dark Smut. · Rating 5 out of 5]

MIND BLOWN‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️🥸🥸🥸🥸

[Tina Swiger gump · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo good

[theresa renee elliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got sucked into the story and thought I had it figured out, until the end.