The Housemaid: An absolutely addictive psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist (The housemaid series, 1)

The pace in which the author introduces you to the Winchesters house and the characters in the story is clever. She leaves little nuggets of information about each character enough to make you think it could be a red flag. I especially liked how she neatly tied up all the little plots even the parts that appear just comments. Fascinating book with fantastic plot planning character building and psychological twists.

At its heart this is essentially a domestic suspense thriller about a live-in housemaid who discovers dark secrets about the wealthy family she works for. This book is a gripping page-turner with many twists and turns, told exclusively from the points of view of the two main characters, it is a typical example of a Freida McFadden psychological thriller. The story was a well paced, easy read and I found myself totally immersed in the plot, which I read over the course of 24 hours!!

Really enjoyed this read, hard to put down. Loving this series of books, captivating twists and turns keeping you eager to find out what happens.

Great novel I didn't want to put it down. Twists and turns kept me interested. Well thought out story to keep reading.

The book started off slow but then really picked up its pace and became so much better. The first part is told in a way that completely changes what you thought you knew about the story once you reach the second part. The first half/part of the book follows Millie the housemaid. You immediately feel for her when you learn about the situation she is currently in and why she takes the job of working for the Winchesters. You get to see from her perspective what life is like for Nina and Andrew Winchester. What their relationship is like with each other and Nina's daughter Cecelia. The type of friends they have. That being said, you instantly grow to dislike/hate Nina and like Andrew based on how differently they treat Millie. Once you get to the second part, however, things immediately flip, and you learn the truth about certain things. We see both Nina's and Andrew's true colours, and it paints them in a whole new different light. You suddenly start to care about Nina a lot when you learn about the predicament she's been in, and you suddenly just end up hating Andrew. So much! I seriously could not stand him at all(!). The twist in the second part may have been predictable, and I had my suspicions, but it still surprised me. Mainly because I wasn't expecting it to go in the direction I thought it was going to go. The last few chapters are intense. It will have your heart pumping. There are some dark turns, truths and outcomes I wasn't expecting, but also the aftermath of everything that happened was also just so satisfying. I will definitely be reading the next book after this one, and I will also be reading more Frieda McFadden books in the future. I also found out that the book is getting a movie adaptation with a trailer released the same day I finished the book. I'm definitely looking forward to it.

The breakout book that launched the literary career of gazillion-selling author Frieda McFadden, and it’s easy to see why this book was such a hit. The story grips the reader from the start with an intriguing set up, and then constantly cranks up the tension throughout. There is enough mystery to keep the reader guessing about the truth behind the characters, and we’re never entirely sure where the book is heading. There are plenty twists (some obvious, and some that you just won’t see coming). There are times when credibility is stretched to breaking point and the ending perhaps feels a bit rushed, but the writing is sharp and the story is well told. The inevitable Netflix adaptation is on its way and may or may not do the book justice. But either way, it’s unlikely to detract in any way from the book’s popularity. If you can over look the plot holes and paper-thin characterization, then this book is a compulsive read. However, in spite of its readability , it is also instantly forgettable.

The first part was too OTT, too convenient the trap she had got herself into, then all that swooning over the dreamy boss and Nina almost needed a black cloak and devils horns it was so overdone. Got better in the second half when we found out about Nina’s story but still very thriller by numbers. I like a revenge thriller though so I shall watch the film and hope it’s less pantomime in the acting out.

Amazing series. I love freida McFadden books. Keeps you guessing till the end, lots of twists and turns and I was not expecting the ending. Can't wait to read the rest of the series. They are part of 3 books set. Saw the movie which had some changes but the movie was also a very good watch and I really enjoyed it. Will be purchasing more books in future from Freida McFadden