A Intrusa

by Freida McFadden, Irinêo Baptista Netto (Translator)

Casey se prepara para enfrentar sozinha uma violenta tempestade em sua casa isolada no meio do nada quando, de repente, escuta um barulho no quintal. Lá fora, uma menina coberta de sangue e com um canivete na mão. A intrusa é mais um thriller de tirar o fôlego de Freida McFadden, autora dos best-sellers A empregada e Nunca minta, que explora até onde alguém pode ir para se salvar.

Casey vive isolada em uma casa no meio do mato. O vizinho mais próximo mora a quase um quilômetro de distância, então, quando uma tempestade desaba, ela está sozinha. Ou deveria estar — ela pode jurar ter visto um rosto na janela.

Através da chuva, ela vê uma luz acesa no depósito no quintal. O problema? Lá não tem eletricidade. Casey então toma uma decisão que vai mudar o rumo de sua noite, talvez até de sua sai no meio do temporal para descobrir o que — ou quem — está à espreita.

A intrusa é uma menina. Coberta de sangue e segurando um canivete na mão direita, ela parece ter saído de um filme de terror. E quando Casey, contra todo e qualquer bom senso, decide convidar essa estranha para entrar em sua casa, a mulher não sabe no que que está se metendo.

As duas guardam um segredo. E uma delas está disposta a matar para que ele não seja revelado.

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Book Club

307 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 7, 2025

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

[Clace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.00!

I still don't know what to rate it 🧍 I'm split between 2.5 or 3.5, so I'm just putting three as the placeholder, and the rating may change by the end of the review 😭

SPOILERS!?!

I firmly believe that if I had different expectations for this book, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. The story's narration felt very different from Freida's other works, and to be honest, I liked this change, and I enjoyed it. However, this made the thrilling aspect of this book diluted. I also do not like the past and present switch, but here I enjoyed it a lot because Freida managed it well for some part. I was invested in both the stories and both the narratives, while different from each other, were written well in comparison to each other, and I honestly thought that she couldn't do it. It did still have her bingeable book style, like yk that crack induced words that she puts that makes you fly through, yeah....that is what happened here....But I also did listen to the audiobook (that is how I survive some of her books and curate some enjoyment out of them), and I think the praise should go to the narrators as well because I was captivated by their style of narration.

I do believe this book should just be marketed as psychological fiction rather than a thriller 😭 like, sure, it had some thrilling aspects, more so towards the start, but I feel like it was a more character-focused book and her dealing with her domestic problems, and WHILE it was written well, that is not what I showed up here for. The past chapters worked better for me because they were more enticing and gripping than the present chapters. At the beginning, I found the starting chapters to be strong and thought that they were heading in the perfect thrilling direction, but then it felt like Freida herself was lost because the story was going nowhere, and by the time it did reach somewhere, I was bored out of my mind. However, the past perspectives were much more entertaining to read. Seeing how Ella had to survive her narcissistic, abusive mother was very heartbreaking to read, and her relationship with Anton and his little brother, I also did understand the breakdown between the past and the present because of the kid that appears, and how similar Ella's story is to hers but it really did feel like a slog to get through the present perspectives.

We are met with Casey/Ella in a secluded cabin in the woods, with a storm hitting, and that was the perfect setting for a thriller, even though we didn't get like the thrilling vibe I wanted. I was sure the plot twist would make it work, but the plot twists in this book were so meh?? I only liked one that was near the very end, but except for that, all of the others were pretty dull. I see that she is changing her formula, and it is somewhat working.

Casey/Ella, her as Ella in her past, I did feel very bad for her, and the way her character was written made me all the intended emotions. I liked her arc a lot, and that is what kept me going through the entire story, as Casey, though kind of pissed me off. I feel like I can see the intentions of her actions because of her past actions, but if a kid acted like that in front of me, they would be slapped and kicked out, respectfully. Anton and his brother, his brother was a pookie, Anton 😔😔 he lived a miserable life with an undiagnosed condition, so it made me feel really bad for him and how his story unraveled.

I think I've pretty much talked about everything. Freida trying something new was a nice surprise, and I would have loved it if she had added more of the thrill factor because it really would've pushed the rating to a 4, and also I would love it if she didn't drag the story in the sense where nothing is going on at times, like keep the story moving, please.

Overall, a somewhat nice attempt!
__
idk if I'm being generous or harsh, but I'll sleep on this rating and process my thoughts because this one is hard to rate. rtc
__
Time to find out 🤸
__
Is this what Stockholm Syndrome feels like?!?

[desiree(finally back) · Rating 3 out of 5]

→ possible spoilers ahead ↓

Okay, I’ll admit it, I gave up on this one the first time I tried it. The opening chapters didn’t grab me; they were slow, repetitive, and honestly, a little boring. But when I picked it up again for a second try, I ended up finishing it in one sitting, so clearly it did get better. It was kind of like a rollercoaster: moments that completely pulled me in, followed by stretches that lost my attention again.

I think my biggest issue was expectations. The blurb made it sound like a fast-paced, twisty thriller — something dark and edge-of-your-seat intense. What I actually got was more of a psychological drama, heavy on emotional trauma and heartbreaking childhood themes. It wasn’t the thriller I expected, but once I adjusted my mindset, I found myself appreciating it for what it was. Painful, sad, and raw at times, it had an emotional depth that worked for me.

The past and present timelines worked really well. Usually this is hit or miss for me, but here I was invested in both sides of the story. The way they came together in the end was satisfying and well done. That said, there were moments when the plot felt stagnant, and some repetition made the pacing uneven.

The twists, however, were predictable. I guessed every single one, which dulled the impact. The reveals were fine but not shocking — more of a quiet “oh, okay” than a jaw-drop moment. Still, the emotional payoff kept me reading.

Character-wise, I had a love/hate relationship with Casey/Ella. I adored her as Ella, complex, sympathetic, and easy to root for, but as Casey, not so much.
And Anton and his brother? Yeah… they broke my heart. 😭.

Overall, this one felt a bit different from Freida’s usual style, in a good way, though it’s not without its flaws. And as always, I’ll keep reading her books because she always leaves me curious for the next one.

Side note: I wish she’d cut back on repeating certain words or phrases. It sometimes feels like filler and can pull you out of the story, but that’s a minor complaint in an otherwise engaging read.

All in all, not my favorite but definitely not a waste of time. More of an emotional, psychological journey than a thriller, but once you settle into it, it’s worth finishing.

↓
↓
↓

me: “i can’t take another one.”
also me: preorders immediately while side-eyeing the author..💀✨

[manas (NEW YEAR) · Rating 1 out of 5]

i infinity promise the spoiled pumpkins were the best characters.

[Meagan✨]

I KNOW SHE EFFING LYING!!!! DOES SHE SLEEP?!?!?

[ashlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wouldn’t be a Freida McFadden book if one of the characters didn’t have domestic issues or a peanut for a brain. Like girl, what are we doing here? Common sense doesn’t exist.

Because let me tell you right now if a creepy girl covered in blood was on my property I sure as shit wouldn’t let her INSIDE MY HOUSE, I’d be locking doors, calling 911, and moving states. Casey, on the other hand, said “come on in! want some cookies?” like it was a bake sale.

Narration wise, this one felt different from her usual style (in a good way), but somewhere along the way it started dragging its feet.

Final thoughts: justice for Anton, ptsd with rotting pumpkins and if I ever hear the phrase “iNfiNiTy PrOmiSe” again, I’m throwing the book out the window.

[shanayaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

the devil works hard but freida works harder.

[Alyssa Nieves · Rating 1 out of 5]

Freida, quality over quantity. I’m not thrilled, I’m tired. 🫩

[Larissa Cambusano · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I loved this…. alas, we don’t always get what we wish for

[Sydney Books]

I don't think I've ever been so conflicted about what to rate a book

[Nikos Drosinos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freida, honey, please take a break - He said while adding it to his TBR 🤣

___________________

4⭐️–What in the children’s social services was THAT?! 😳 Someone please make a safeguarding referral! 🫣

This book was darkkkk and sad, definitely one of Freida’s grimmer ones, but as always, it was fast-paced, addictive, and the perfect cure for a reading slump. 📚💥 Please check trigger warning as this book can be distressing to many people 🫂

I wasn’t shocked-shocked by the twists (Freida’s trained us too well at this point 👀), but she still manages to pull the rug from under you when you least expect it. The reveals didn’t hit quite as hard as some of her previous books, but honestly? This still felt like one of her stronger recent releases. 💪

There’s just something about Freida’s writing that feels like coming home, I love her chaotic, twisty, slightly concerning style … I just feel safe when I read her books 🖤🏡 So yeah, it’s not perfect, but I’ll happily overrate it because Freida is my comfort author of chaos. 😌✨

[Abbie Konnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

[Laura Lovesreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

You’re almost there Freida… ALMOST

Ms. Freida rent is always due McFadden is back just in time for Spooky Season with her new release The Intruder.

In this book we are following Casey, who lives in a secluded cabin and a hurricane is about to hit and her dingy cabin is not fit for survival. Well forget that because she has bigger troubles, because when she looks outside her window late at night she sees a young girl covered in blood holding a knife. Who is this girl? what does she want? Casey about to find out this girl secrets and in the words of Ode Mae Brown “Molly, you in danger girl”

OK...

So, when the book first started I was eating it up! The vibes were there, it was creepy seclusion with two odd men who were giving me the heebie-jeebies, and I said YES my girl is back!
We then get introduced to the young girl and I must say Freida does a good job writing in the narrative of a young girl. It was giving juvenile, young minded and very lost and I think she emulated that character well…

UNTIL…

The story kept going and going (to almost nowhere it felt like) but it wasn’t thrilling per se. It was sad and heartbreaking to read about ‘Ella’s’ childhood and dealing with a narcissistic compulsive hoarder mother, but in the back of my mind I was wondering how does all this play into the present?

If you are Freida fanatic you already know she specializes in her formula of trying to make you look left when she is steering right and by now with the 15+ books I have read of hers its hard for me to switch off and try not to work out that she is obviously misleading me. So yes I did guess 90% of the twists and that’s not even the issue. The problem was the twists were just subpar.

The twists and tricks didn’t win me over in this book, but what did was the writing. I really enjoyed it! She wasn’t overplaying and drowning us with repeated words. Yes there was a few “tell vs show” , but overall, I really enjoyed her writing and storytelling in this one.

Now bear in mind I did listen to the audio, and I think the narrators did a great job conveying the emotions of the characters and that’s what kept me listening.

The chapters are short; the story was engaging enough and there was about two OMG, WTF moments. But overall, it was just an ok read. As per usual Freida’s books are easy to binge in a day or listen too while running errands and doing household chores and you won’t get confused or lost while doing so.

Again, writing was good. I would love for her to switch it up in future releases and change her formula as that would most likely give us a delightful fright! 😁







-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
OK Ms. McFadden!
I am ready for you!
Lets see if The Intruder will deliver!
💜🤍💜❤️

[Casey Reads 🌸 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hard book to rate because I both hated it and enjoyed it at the same time. Very mixed feelings about this one.

For me, the suspense wasn’t really there and a lot of the twists and turns felt extremely predictable besides one. It also felt pretty outrageous to me, so I think that is one reason why I didn’t feel much suspense. Regardless, for some reason, I still couldn’t stop reading it. It still drew me in to the plot line and I absolutely had to know how it ended.

I don’t think this is her best work, but it also wasn’t unreadable. It was interesting but ridiculous. I wonder how many other people will have trouble rating this and have similar mixed feelings.

—————
Pre-read: The main character stole my name! 👻

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ★

HOW DOES SHE KEEP DOING THIS?! 🤯

In The Intruder, Casey’s quiet life in her cabin is interrupted by a violent storm and the appearance of a young girl outside, alone, bloody, and clutching a knife. As the night unfolds, strange things start to happen, and Casey begins to wonder who the girl really is and what she might be hiding. 🔪

There is no way Freida McFadden just did that again. I was 100% sure I had everything figured out the whole time, and then BOOM, my mind was blown… like three times in 50 pages. 💥💥💥

This story felt a little slower than most of her books and slightly darker. Don’t get me wrong, I was still flying through the pages, but I felt that she really built up the story before any type of shocking reveal that she is known for.

Up until 60–70%, I felt like this book was alright. There wasn’t anything I fully disliked or loved, but the ending tied it together perfectly. I ended up really caring about the characters and liked that everything didn’t end as I expected.

My only real complaint is how convenient certain parts felt. This definitely falls more on the “personal favorite” side of my 5 star ratings rather than me saying it is the perfect book, so I bumped it up anyway.

This is my 13th book by Freida McFadden, and it will obviously not be my last. I know it’s a popular opinion to think her books are not well written, and I’ve even agreed at times in the past, like with The Crash earlier this year. But this is the type of story/twists I keep coming back for.

I recommend this even if you have been hearing mixed reviews. I think it may surprise you in the end. 🚬

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I wasn’t born a McFadden fangirl — I was raised into one over the last ten years! Ever since I picked up my first Freida McFadden book, I’ve been devouring everything she writes in one long sitting until I can’t feel my legs and end up calling my husband to carry me to the restroom — that’s the level of dedication we’re talking about here! Her books are fast-paced, jaw-dropping, wildly entertaining, and devilishly twisty.

But Intruder? This one hit differently. It might just be one of McFadden’s most sentimental, emotionally charged works to date. Usually, after finishing one of her thrillers, I either scream into the void or let out a villainous laugh to celebrate that final, delicious twist. But this time — oh, this time — when I read the epilogue, I genuinely wanted to cry. It wasn’t just a twist; it was a punch to the heart. I felt wrecked, raw, and unexpectedly moved.

Now, before I accidentally spill more spoilers, let me give you a quick taste of what’s waiting inside. Intruder starts off like a perfect locked-room mystery: a storm raging outside, a cabin in the woods, the electricity flickering out, and isolation closing in. Enter Casey — a 35-year-old ex-teacher recently fired for reasons unknown. She’s hiding out in solitude, licking her wounds, while trying to dodge her overly flirtatious, over-50 landlord who’d rather make moves on her than fix the leaking roof. Her neighbor, Lee, seems nice enough, but something about him feels… off. When both men offer her shelter from the storm, Casey politely refuses, convinced she’s safer alone.

Then — bam! — a pale face flashes in her window. At first, she thinks she’s imagining things… until she hears noises from her shed. When she investigates, she finds a blood-soaked thirteen-year-old girl clutching a knife and a bag that’s also dripping with blood. You’d think Casey would scream, lock the doors, and wait for the landline to start working again so she could call for help. But nope — in true McFadden style, she does the unthinkable. She lets the girl inside. She gives her a bath, fresh clothes, food, even her own bedroom.

Big mistake? Oh, absolutely. Because this mysterious girl has a secret that will shake Casey’s entire world to the core.

Want to know what happens next? Do yourself a favor — grab a copy of Intruder, cancel your plans, silence your phone, wrap yourself in a cozy blanket, and prepare for a binge-read that will have your heart pounding and your mind spinning. This one will haunt you long after you’ve turned the last page — and it’s absolutely worth every second!

Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:

medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter

[veerali · Rating 1 out of 5]

frieda wtf.

[brittany:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Do you believe that bad people get what’s coming to them?……”🔥🏡🍑🪰🎃

Okay so The Intruder by Freida McFadden had me pacing the room, heart racing, and clutching my Kindle like it owed me money 😭

The setting?? A dilapidated cabin in the middle of the woods 🪵 during a full-blown storm ⛈️ like we’re already off to a spooky start. But what makes it even creepier is the fact that there’s a woman living alone in that cabin… and then a bloody young girl shows up at the door 🩸 and you invite her in??? Oh it’s about to go down 😵‍💫🥲

This story unfolds in a past/present POV and both characters have super traumatic backgrounds so definitely check your trigger warnings!! Going into it blind is honestly the best way. Don’t overthink it, just enjoy the eerie vibes and let the story take you for a ride. I had a GOOD time with this one 🖤

Of course the pacing was fast 🔥 the chapters ended on just the right moments to make me keep turning the page like an addict 😩 I had my usual little theories while reading and BABY I was WRONG lol. The twist?? Solid!! Is it her best twist?? Nah. But was it still giving?? Yes. It tied everything together in a satisfying way and made me want to go back and re-read to catch what I missed 👀

Also can we talk about how unsettling creepy kids are 😭 something about younger children or teens in horror just sends chills down my spine!!! They always know something you don’t and I don’t trust it 👁️

This one feels different for Freida… darker, more psychological, and more atmospheric. She was for sure channeling her inner Stephen King with this one and I loved that. Perfectly timed for spooky season — it drops October 7, 2025 so mark your calendars. 🕷️

🕸️ Cabin in the woods
🩸 Mysterious bloody girl
👁️ Creepy kids
🧠 Trauma + secrets
📖 Past/Present POV
🔥 Fast pacing
🌀 Psychological suspense
🫣 Trust NO ONE

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!!! This book releases 10/7/25 and all thoughts are my own!!!!

[cora]

i just know her hand is cramping

[Salma [Comment restriction] · Rating 2 out of 5]

⤿ rating: 2 stars
⤿ age: 16+
⤿ spice: none

══⋆⋅☆⋅⋆══╡ Overview: ╞══⋆⋅☆⋅⋆══

Okay, first of all, when did I get so smart at predicting plot twists? As much as I love it, I hate it because it ruins the experience for me. I guess this is what happens when you read too many Freida books. The issue I have with authors releasing too many books at once—whether it’s Freida or Ali—is that they start to focus on quantity rather than quality. I was almost able to predict every plot twist there is. Don’t get me wrong, this book was enjoyable. However, the predictable plot twists ruined it for me. The plot twists are almost similar in a lot of her books—it felt like she ran out of plot twists to write.

Also, I’ve gotten used to Freida’s writing by now to know that this one is no different—extremely cringy. There are so many phrases in her books that have me grimacing. The way she describes women is quite bothersome. I get that descriptions in thrillers are supposed to be like that, but, like, it doesn’t need to happen in ALL of her books. Not just descriptions of women, but literally anything in general. On the other hand, her chapters are short—so that’s a bonus for me.

══⋆⋅☆⋅⋆══╡ Characters: ╞══⋆⋅☆⋅⋆══

‎જ⁀➴ Casey: I surprisingly liked an FMC written by Freida? Well, that’s a first. Her story made me feel for her, and I understood her intentions.

જ⁀➴ Anton: I could never like him. I did kind of ship him and Ella—but that doesn’t sway me from the fact that he is a bully and an abuser. That doesn’t sit right with me.

જ⁀➴ Lee: On the other hand, I loved Lee—another first. To love an MMC written by Freida. I didn’t trust him at first; however, he was very kind and gentle towards Casey and his niece.

જ⁀➴ Eleanor: This girl give me the creeps.

── .✦ 𝓕𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼: Overall, this was—sadly—very predictable for me.

୨୧ ──────── ୨୧ ──────── ୨୧

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺ Pre-read: ༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Buddy reading with Miray so that we can bitch in our reviews if we end up hating this.

Freida's books are either a hit or a miss for me. I only read them cause they're short and have good plot twists—they're great for a reading goal!

[vanessa ⋆.☕︎ [semiᝰia] · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2 stars.
Okay, this book completely blindsided me, and not in a good way. I went in with such high expectations, thinking I was getting a tight, intense thriller, but that vibe disappeared barely halfway into the early chapters. I kept switching between the audiobook and the physical copy because, at first, it seemed intriguing… but somewhere along the way, all that intrigue slipped right through my fingers.

I genuinely thought we were dealing with an intruder situation, like some dangerous man hunting down the FMC while she pieces together clues to survive. But no. Absolutely not. Instead, the big reveal is that the “threat” is a teenage girl. A teenage girl. I just sat there staring at my screen in shock, wondering how we went from suspenseful thriller setup to that twist. It threw me off so much that I couldn’t take the story seriously afterward.

The consequences of skipping the blurb… trust me, I know them way too well. But like, it’s a thriller?? Aren’t we supposed to go in blind?? That’s literally half the fun! Except this time, it totally backfired because I walked in expecting danger, tension, and some masked intruder stalking the FMC… and instead, I got blindsided by that twist.

So honestly, yes, I didn’t read the blurb, but also?? A thriller should still thriller. Blind or not.

P.S. This review contains spoilers!
── .✦

Okay, let’s talk about the characters because wow, they were complicated in every possible way. Honestly, I liked that at first, especially the little girl. She was the only one who felt layered in a way that made sense. But the thing I will never understand is why the author decided to mirror the adult woman’s story with the child’s so closely that it all blurred together. It became confusing, disorienting, and honestly exhausting to read even worse to listen to. It wasn’t just messy… it was full-on chaos.

°˖➴Casey:

Casey, as an adult, had strength and resilience, especially compared to her younger self, and I wanted to feel for her. I really did. The parental abuse was heartbreaking, but for some reason it didn’t land emotionally the way it should’ve. It didn’t feel real. I couldn’t connect with her at all, and that’s a huge problem in a story centered on trauma. And I’m sorry… but how on earth is she not in jail after killing twice? Am I supposed to just clap and cheer for her survival? Be serious.

°˖➴Anton and his brother:

Now, Anton and his brother. The brother? A literal pain in the ass. Why would you want to marry a woman who has killed people, and THEN cover for her?? Am I supposed to find that romantic? Sweet? No. Absolutely not. That is not love; that is two unhinged people enabling each other’s insanity. The creep factor was off the charts, and it’s never leaving my brain.

Anton, though… somehow manages to be the softest one in this morally bankrupt cast. I know he’s not actually sweet, but argue with the wall, but compared to the rest, he feels like a breath of air. Those two stars? They’re for him and his daughter, because honestly, they’re the only ones who deserved anything good.

°˖➴The two Mothers:

And don’t even get me started on the mothers. These two had zero purpose besides being abusive monsters. Like, in what world does burning your child’s arm count as “parenting”? Who thinks of this and says, yes, this is character development? It’s sickening, and it added nothing to the story except shock value.

── .✦

This felt very much like, “Let’s make everyone suffer and turn every single character into a full-blown psychopath,” and I was honestly lost the entire time. The only functioning brain cell in the whole book was mine, and thank god for that because none of them were using theirs.

And seriously… where was the “thriller” part? Because if your idea of suspense is tossing a 13-year-old covered in blood into the plot and calling it horror, then please, go get your head checked. I wasn’t scared; I just wanted to offer them all a warm drink and ask what on earth was going on.

I WAS SO CONFUSED THE WHOLE TIME. I was actually willing to give this a 3.5 at one point, trying to be fair, trying to convince myself it still had potential… but then the ending came along and absolutely shattered the entire story. Like, WHY? WHY WOULD YOU PUT ME THROUGH THAT?

── .✦

Okay, now let’s talk about that ending, the one that made my entire brain flash ERROR in every cell of my body. Because what the hell was that supposed to be? I’m not even asking for a happy ending or a tragic ending; I’m asking for any ending that shows effort. Instead, the book basically said, “You know what? I’m exhausted. Goodnight.”

That’s literally how it felt.

I wanted to SEE what happened next. I wanted answers. I wanted closure. If you expect me to be satisfied with a vague “Casey and Anton's brother lived happily ever after,” then no, because I swear I would personally step inside that story and kill them both myself. I wouldn’t even stutter. There is no way I’m letting that slide.

── .✦

And just for the record, a thriller needs at least 400 pages to actually build tension, develop the plot, and make everything feel rich and layered. But this book? It felt rushed from start to finish. It didn’t fulfill anything. Why is it not even 300 pages? How are you supposed to deliver a complex thriller in that little space?

Okay. I’m done. I have nothing else to give.


>>> ──────── .✦

⋆✿˖☕︎⋆✿˖ Omg, I can’t believe I haven’t picked up an FM book in like six months?? That’s actually insane. But this one grabbed my attention right away. The story sounds so intriguing, and I’m dying to finally see what all the hype is about.
Not gonna lie. The mixed reviews have me terrified that it might disappoint, but I really do enjoy her writing style. The way she paints scenes and brings characters to life is something I’ve always loved, so I’m crossing my fingers that this one doesn’t let me down.<𝟑 .ᐟ

[Matt Ferenczy · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the worst books by Freida ever. The similarities between the two main characters are RIDICULOUSLY FUCKING TERRIBLE. Can anyone explain to me what the fuck she is writing lately? I'm a huge fan, but this is impossible; it's like a bad remake of The Housemaid/reboot but with a slight change of subject. The only good thing is that it's a page turner; I read it in two days. But girl, you need to think with your head, not with your money...

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This new McFadden book had a terrible start. The main character hell bent on not accepting help with her roof before a storm. Why oh why? I get she was independent and all that, but I at least would have swallowed my pride to ensure my safety. After that it was a little more palpable, but can’t say I love it. By now I’m pretty familiar with her twists, but I still didn’t see why we needed that loooooong backstory. It would actually have made more sense if it wasn’t for the twist. I also didn’t like the coincidence of a girl turning up with a very similar story to the main character. But yes, the novel was interesting enough.

[Joey R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars—I always have a hard time choosing a book to read after finishing one I loved. I thought I would choose a fast paced, mindless book in order to change things up a little bit— so who fits that role better than Freida McFadden. Although I’ve seen mixed reviews, the premise of “The Intruder” piqued my interest, so I decided to give it a try. I once again have to commend Ms. McFadden on her improvement in writing fictional dialogue. The improvement from her earlier books to now is noticeable and makes her books much easier to read and enjoy. Unfortunately, “The Intruder “ had some ridiculous plot issues which caused me to lose interest in the book and to eye-roll my way across the finish line. ‘The Intruder “ begins with Casey, a young woman living by herself in a very rural location, attempting to get her landlord to repair her roof in preparation for an approaching major storm. It is clear that Ms. McFadden is setting the reader up for one of her typical damsel in distress —no phone, no electricity, no way to leave story lines. When the storm hits Casey sees there is someone with a flashlight in her shed so (of course) she goes outside to explore. She finds a young teenage girl in the shed and despite numerous red flags (banners) she brings her into her home to stay the night. From here the book descends into chaos with characters whose life experiences can’t be believed, and coincidences that stack upon each other to the point where the so called twists and turns the book attempts to offer don’t pass the smell test. Throw in ridiculous occurrences such as a character who doesn’t remember seriously injuring a fellow classmate in 4th grade, an arson where a person is trapped upstairs and dies after piles of garbage are stacked on the staircase preventing her from escaping the fire (wouldn’t there be at least one window the person could escape from upstairs?), and a person who was still freshly bleeding after being severely stabbed 24 hours earlier being able to carry on an in-depth conversation with another person. These are just a few of the ridiculous things that stood out when I read the book. Please don’t get me started on how the book ended. Sometimes when I read a Freida McFadden book, I don’t think she spent a lot of time thinking through inconsistencies and coincidences that cause the entire book to collapse under the weight of its own stupidity. This is one of those books.

[Alya ( 20 comments restriction ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoughts
This was a fun decent read, the past and present timeline did kinda suck out the thriller aspect ( compared to Freida's other works ) I didn't have the "on edge of my seat" feeling while reading. With that being said it was definitely bingeable thanks to Freida's fast paced chapters. This book for me personally isn't a thriller read it felt or rather was more on the physiological side especially with all the family / domestic issues. Overall enjoyable

Plot Summary
As a hurricane batters her remote cabin, Casey discovers a young girl outside—alone, soaked, and covered in blood. The girl refuses to say what happened or release the knife in her hand. When Casey uncovers something unsettling later that night, she realizes the stranger is hiding a deadly secret—one that could cost Casey her life before morning.

My Bookstagram

[Holly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I really enjoy about Freida's books is that she never uses overly graphic scenes or anything too spicy. There are triggers, but she has a content warning list on her website that I like to check out.

Sometimes I just like a suspenseful popcorn thriller and she has delivered this time!

I love a setting with a decrepit cabin and isolated woods, so this gave me those creepy vibes like something could happen at any moment. Casey is living alone and a monster storm is coming. She also has a worn out roof, a no good landlord and a neighbor that tells her she needs to stay with him to be safe.

Who to trust? Hmmm, maybe nobody!

Thanks Kaceey for the recommendation! 🤗

If you're a Freida fan, you may also enjoy this one! It is also a nominee in the mystery/thriller this year.

[Tanu]

at this point it's a love hate relationship🫠

[molly lou · Rating 2 out of 5]

⁀➷ 2.5 stars ₊ ⊹

This is the third thriller I’ve ever read so I’m not claiming to be an expert on the genre by any means but there wasn’t really anything… thrilling. No spine tingles. This felt more like a psychological drama with heavy domestic themes. Which totally worked in its own right, but wasn’t what I was expecting.

Despite this, the mystery element was pretty compelling. The beginning didn’t fully grab me, but the more things ramped up, the more questions I had and the more gripped I got.

Another successful aspect was its alternating timelines. I can be a bit hard to please when it comes to dual narratives as I end up having a preference for one perspective over the other, but it actually worked well in this. The level of frustration over chapter cliffhangers was pretty perfect - not too many to thoroughly enrage me, but just enough to keep the ball rolling.

However, I was still never truly WOWED. The suspense and shock factor were too tame, and I’m not the biggest fan of how everything played out at the end. Freida’s attempts at making everything link together was at the expense of making sense. Overall not terrible but not particularly memorable either.

I’d recommend to those after a character-focused psychological fiction with emotional depth rather than a thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat. I wish I could have gone in with different expectations!

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

⁀➷ pre read ₊ ⊹
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ I’ve only read one Freida McFadden book before (Never Lie) and found it bingeable but thought the plot twist was underwhelming so I’m hoping the one in this is better. If all else fails at least it’ll be a quick, easy read🤞🏻.

[Renata Annese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who broke into Freida’s writing style and replaced it with this? 😬

Well, The Intruder certainly intruded… right into my patience. 🥴 It started strong: creepy cabin, mysterious tree, classic Freida setup. I was all in 👏… and then it dragged on like a bad dream you can’t wake up from. 🐌😴

By the halfway mark, I was begging for something to happen, a twist, a shock, even a mildly suspicious squirrel. 🐿️ Instead, I got a revolving door of names: Casey, Elizabeth, Ella, Chase, Anton, Brad, Lee, Rudy, Nell, Jolene… seriously, who invited the whole town? 📖🙃

Chapter 59 teased some excitement, but it fizzled out faster than a dollar store sparkler. 🎇 The plot moved slower than dial-up internet, and the ending? Predictable enough to make me sigh out loud.

It’s missing that classic Freida “wait - WHAT?!” punch. The twists? Missing in action. The pacing? Like watching paint dry… on a rainy day. 🎨☔️

It wasn’t bad, just very… ordinary. Predictable. Like diet soda when you wanted the real thing. 🥤

Still, if you’re new to Freida’s books, you might enjoy it more. For me, it was more of an okay read than a “McFadden masterpiece.” 🫠🤷‍♀️

[Karla Espinosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25!!

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I liked it. Interesting topics covered and our dear little Freida is starting to dabble a little more into the darker side of things (a little). The book made me guess and wonder but overall I felt the plot was a bit weak and didn't really punch me in the guts like I would want from a Freida book.