Book Review: The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden

“Beauty is less easily perceived when it’s in an unassuming setting.”

― Freida McFadden, The Housemaid's Secret

Freida McFadden is a bestselling novelist and medical doctor who wrote the thriller The Housemaid's Secret.  After The Housemaid (2022), this book is the second in a series of books with a housemaid as the main character.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

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...

My reaction to this novel...

I finished reading this book pretty quickly. To be fair, I really liked the first book, so I was wondering how the author would make this second installment exciting. Usually, with sequels, it's hard to keep the readers hooked because they already have an idea of where the story is going. But I can say this one is different, and I really admire the author for that.

Honestly, before I even reached halfway through the book, I was already getting an idea of how the story was going. Things were happening so fast and since I was only in the middle, I thought there might be something more, and I was really catching on to the story. But even though I figured out the plot, I was still shocked. There were so many twists in the story that would really amaze readers who love psychological thrillers. I really enjoyed it because the approach here is different. I don't want to be a spoiler, so I can't mention specifics, but there are a lot of twists that made me happy because this is exactly what I look for in thriller novels. Something that isn't boring to read and will surprise you with the direction of the story even when you kind of know how it's going to go.

I also felt frustrated with the antagonist; I won't reveal who they are because I don't want to be a spoiler. However, for me, their tactics are quite irritating. It’s a good thing that this was their fate because they thought it would be that easy. I also felt pity for the protagonist because, to me, she doesn't deserve that, even though she has been imprisoned before. At least she uncovered the truth. This makes me wonder how Book 3 will be. I'm excited about it, but I prefer not to read it immediately, as I might suddenly spoil the story for myself. Therefore, I will take my time to better appreciate the progression of the story in this book.

In my opinion, I highly recommend this book; however, it is essential to have read the first book to fully understand this sequel. If you are fond of psychological thriller novels, you will truly enjoy this one, as it is well-crafted and will certainly provoke thoughtful contemplation in the reader while reading.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5)