Freida McFadden

One thing you know when picking up a new book by this author is that you are in for some seriously twisted storytelling. This was no exception. I’m trained now to think of the most outlandish direction this could go in and follow her down that path.

The psychological thriller is told first from the point of view of April, a wife and mother, who has a baking show where she shares the secrets to her delicious desserts. She has some good friends in the neighborhood but things suddenly take a turn when she starts receiving threatening text messages from an unknown number. Now, her old friends seem to be shunning her and making horrible accusations.

Then, a point of view shift to one of the women, Julie, who was April’s best friend. She tells a completely different story to the version we heard from April. Let the drama begin.

Out of nowhere, a totally crazy epilogue that left me shaking my head.

Reader beware — this is exactly what you will expect from Freida McFadden and at the very least, you will be entertained.

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book and thought the narrator did a decent job of reading the story but sometimes hard to be sure who was speaking since so many females in the novel.… (mere)

The Housemaid is one of the best thrillers I've ever read (listened to).

Millie is an ex-con, living in her car, looking for work. With her criminal record, she is extremely surprised to be hired as a live-in housekeeper by Nina, who is married to the extremely rich, handsome and powerful Andrew Winchester. Nina is kind, generous, and warm, and welcomes Millie to the household in such a way that Millie begins to think that her problems are over. She is so very wrong. Nina is not sane and treats Millie horribly, Nina's young daughter treats Millie terribly, and only Andrew, the dashing husband, gives her any backing at all. Millie doesn't quit. She needs this job.

This is a dark tale, one which really shook me. There is rampant domestic violence, which triggered some of my own memories, and I would guess that victims of domestic crimes might want to give this book a miss.

The final twist at the end of the book made me feel like I had been punched in the stomach. I congratulate Ms. McFadden on her ability to shock.

Lots of well-developed characters and an unusual story line made this book a winner for me. I've already downloaded another of Ms. McFadden's novels onto my e-reader.… (mere)

This was another decent Freida book. Typical popcorn thriller. This was a bit predictable. The husband seemed a little too perfect. I did like the twist at the end that the son may also have killed a girl. Like he learned from his dad not to shit where you eat and kill girls that aren't close. I assumed throughout the book that it wasn't him that took Olivia. I feel like the end happened quick, where bam, in a minute, Jason the father was killed. It was good for what it was, a quick popcorn thriller that's easy to read!!… (mere)