The Housemaid

This book is so intriguing. The plot twist had my mouth wide open. I was hooked immediately!!! Wanted to read before watching the movie.

Nina Winchester’s elegant home hides dangerous secrets, and when a young woman takes a job as the housemaid, she discovers just how twisted the family truly is. Every day brings small deceptions, subtle power plays, and the constant question: who’s really in control? This book had been sitting on my TBR for far too long, but with the movie out, I finally picked it up and I wasn’t disappointed. As expected from Freida McFadden, it’s full of suspense, tension, and twists that keep you turning pages. I guessed the big twist, but the journey to get there was gripping and thoroughly enjoyable. A must-read for fans of domestic suspense and psychological thrillers.

This was probably the quickest I’ve ever read a book. I’m usually the type who takes a couple of months—sometimes more—before finally turning that last page. But this one had me hooked from the start. I finished it in just two weeks, and honestly, I couldn’t put it down. Every chapter ends in a way that practically forces you to keep going. It’s that perfect blend of tension and curiosity that makes you say, “Okay, just one more,” until suddenly it’s midnight and you’re still reading. And the ending? Let’s just say it had me immediately ordering the next book in the series. If you’re looking for a story that pulls you in and refuses to let go, this one absolutely delivers.

For many years, I read nothing but non-fiction. I wanted to learn something. Something that I could apply to my life, that would improve it, make it better. Knowledge that would transform my personality. Transform me into a happier person. I wasn't interested in just more distraction. Lately, though, I've opened my mind to venture into works of fiction. In my search to find the right book, I noticed that this author had many six-digit, positive reviews. This one, The Housemaid, had the highest review count. I purchased the paperback copy. I know that this may seem strange to some, but there is just this sense of satisfaction when you see a book on your shelves, that you began and finished. I really enjoyed this story. It seemed plausible. Something that could really happen. I loved that in the beginning; I fell under the impression that a certain character was the flawed one, the dysfunctional one, the one who was bat crazy. She made me angry, because in real life, there are certainly people like that. Then, as the story progressed, I realized that this person, whom I thought was loco, was really highly intelligent. She had masterminded the entire tangle. There is a little bit of romance, also, that had me rooting for the two people who were attracted to each other. I truly enjoyed the twists and turns, and being surprised when things turned out to be the opposite of what I was led to believe. The ending was satisfying, and I enjoyed the book so much that I immediately ordered another from this author. I also enjoyed that one so much that I finished it in three sitting. Two with The Housemaid. I highly recommend any book that this author has written. She certainly rekindled my love of reading!

So many plot twists. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Didn’t know what was coming next. Great read

Im giving this one 4.5 stars but rounding down. I absolutely love Freida books and this one was no different. She always keeps me on my toes and thinking that everyone is a suspect. I really liked seeing things from both Nina and Millies POV. It was very well written and flowed really nicely. A lot of thriller books dont give the “twist” until toward the end but I was hooked the whole time and liked how some things were revealed about halfway through. Definitely a good read and we also went and saw the movie which I think was done so well! The casting was great and it kept a lot of the important aspects in there as well. Will definitely be reading the other books in the series!

Absolutely loved this book with the twists and thrill! It's engaging, but tame. It doesn't go into explicit detail in scenes I personally don't want to know details about. Overall,l I really enjoyed it!

Millie has just gotten out of a long prison stint in her late 20s and has gotten fired from her first post penitentiary job. She's living out of her car and if she doesn't find another job, she might violate her parole and end up behind bars again. That's when she finds out about a job as a housemaid in a rich gated home in New York that is going to pay well and also be a live in position. If she can get it, it will solve her money and housing problems in one go! So she purposefully pads a fake resume hoping her employer won't make a background check. Her interviewer, Nina Winchester, is very professional and a perfectionist. She will be doing cleaning and some cooking for Nina, her husband Andrew, and their young daughter, Cecilia, who seems as creepy as one of the undead twins from The Shining. Things start to go south a bit when Millie is shown to where she will be staying, a tiny attic room with a cot, and small porthole window that doesn't open. It is only lit by two loosely hanging light bulbs. Something that begins to ring alarm bells in Millie's head is that the attic room locks from the OUTSIDE and she notices what could be scratch marks on the inside of the door like someone had desperately tried to free themselves..... Add to that the hot ripped Italian landscaper that works for the Winchesters, who can hardly speak English, warns Millie that she is in danger..... But Millie doesn't really have a choice in her mind. She can handle anything except going back to prison. All the danger signs probably have some other explanation right? RIGHT? Millie gets the job and so the story begins...starting with psychotic behavior exhibited by Nina. The writing of this book, at least Part 1, just from a technical aspect, is not very good. Everything in the first part is on the surface. Nobody really has an inner life. The characters are about as shallow as you can get. The cliches fall like daggers from the sky. When Millie uses the word "dreamy" to describe Andrew you know as a male exactly who this book is aimed at. Millie is constantly a horn dog and commenting how ripped and sexy the landscaper, Enzo, and Nina's husband are. The whole time you are reading Part 1, you are thinking "Is Millie really this DUMB?". I did not like her. She reminded me of heroines from early 80s slasher movies like Halloween or Friday the 13th. Ok, you put a machete through Jason's shoulder, but you're going to leave him there, not sure if he is dead, WITH the machete??? You shot him five times. Please just go up and shoot him in the head. Don't drop the gun and run away!!! It is in Part 2 that the book turns around with a point of view change. Without giving anything away Nina and Millie finally become real living breathing people. And the reader is the richer for it. So if you are reading Part 1 and thinking the writing is bad, the characters are bad, start Part 2 before putting it down. It was like Frieda flipped a switch and what was dim and dark about the characters becomes light and revelatory and you get caught up in the whys and eureka moments of all that has come before. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series. I read this one on kindle and most of McFadden's books on Amazon go for about $5 so it doesn't cost that much for a great read! I read the book a week before going to see this movie on opening day last Thursday so I will also be posting a movie review soon.