The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars 

Duration: 09:46:00
Published: January 2022

I snagged a copy of The Housemaid during on of Audible's annual 2-for-1 sales (along with The Guncle by Steven Rowley, but I haven't gotten to that one yet.). Because my work book club had chosen it for our monthly selection and I have a 50-mile commute to work, the Audible sale came in handy. A couple of coworkers had mentioned that the book was good ... but, oh boy, was it unputdownable good! 

The story centers around Millie, a young down-on-her luck ex-con living in her car, who takes a job as a housemaid and nanny for a family that, at the outset, seem too good to be true. As the story evolves, she finds that Nina, the woman of the house, seems to have some mental health issues. (As I was reading, I thought she might be suffering from biopolar personality disorder.) Her young daughter, Cecelia appears to still be struggling with her terrible twos several years late. And Nina's poor husband, Andrew resembles the perfect victim. However, all things aren't as a they seem and a mid-book plot twist flips the story on its head, propelling the reader to a captivating, albeit disturbing, conclusion. 

The author did a great job of creating a suspenseful tone that has the reader questioning the narration. The emotions evoked grip the reader into making an investment to finish the story. I enjoyed McFadden's writing style and the fast-paced nature of this mystery thriller. I wouldn't classify it as scary, but it is definitely creepy. 

There is a second and third book in the series, The Housemaid's Secret and The Housemaid is Watching, that I have yet to read. I'm not a fan of series as I like reading different types of books by a variety of authors, but if the second two are anything like the first, hold on to your seats! 

Recommendation: This was a fun listen, and I suspect reading an e-copy or hard copy would be just as compelling. Book club choice for the win with this one. Highly recommend for a fall, spooky story. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.