The Housemaid Books
The Housemaid (2022)
Why we love it:
- A highly addictive read that lives up to the hype.
- A book filled with tension, intriguing characters and plenty of unexpected turns.
The Housemaid may well be Freida McFadden's most well-known book. And there's a reason for that: she crafted a beautiful cat-and-mouse psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked. The novel follows Millie, a released convict trying to rebuild her life. She's hired by the Winchesters to clean and look after their beautiful house. The only problem is that the Winchesters aren't what they seem. As you can tell from the setup, it is an unbelievably twisty read that will have you gripped.
Housemaids Secret (2023)
Why we love it:
- It's everything you'd expect from a Freida McFadden book, with a plot that moves at breakneck speeds and plenty of twists and turns.
- A slightly tone and feel to this than the first in the series.
The Housemaid's Secret follows Millie as she continues her life as a maid, trying to make ends meet. She accepts a job from Douglas Garrick on the condition that she doesn't have to tend to his sick and frail wife. Everything you love about the first book in this series is present in the second - the fast-paced plot, expected and unexpected twists and turns, and satisfying ending - but with a slightly lighter tone than the first. Which might make it an easier entry point for some people.
Jane Mcgill Books
Devil Wears Scrubs (2013)
Why we love it:
- A light, fast-paced read.
- The book shifts tones brilliantly throughout. Often within just a couple of pages.
Not all Freida McFadden's books are thrillers. The Devil Wears Scrubs is a short comedy that follows a group of medical interns who work under a particularly mean senior resident. The book is told through the eyes of Dr Jane McGill, a 25-year-old medical intern, as she and her colleagues navigate the emotionally and physically gruelling world of learning to be a doctor. As much as that sounds like it could be quite dour, this book is anything but that. It's a light, fast-paced, fun read with plenty of laughs.
The Devil You Know (2017)
Why we love it:
- A delightfully wry and funny book that explores some complex themes.
- A flawed lead character that is very relatable.
The Devil You Know follows Dr Jane McGill as she encounters an old flame, Dr Ryan Reilly. Despite having a family, a loving husband and a satisfying career, she struggles with the temptation to rekindle the romance with the mysterious Dr Ryan. The blends themes around temptation, the choices you make and their consequences with a delightfully wry writing style making it a really fun and easy read to consume.
Prescription Murder Books
Suicide Med (2014)
Why we love it:
- It's a nail-biting thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
- It is a great depiction of med school life with characters that we love.
Southside Medical School has a reputation, but not a good one. The intense school and high workload could be the culprit of its mental health scandals, but when a murder-suicide takes place, rumours suggest otherwise. This thriller novel is the perfect continuation of Freida McFadden's collections. With twists and turns and a murder mystery, this read is ideal for those who love all of the above.
Brain Damage (2016)
Why we love it:
- A really fun twist on the "Who Done It" novel.
- Interweaving timelines so you feel like you're piecing it together with the main protagonist.
Brain Damage is a slight twist on the classic "Who Done It". There isn't a murder in the first chapter or a reliable protagonist working through every detail. Instead, it follows Charly, a successful dermatologist, who loses her memory after a bullet rips into the right side of a skull. She can't shake the accident or the feeling that there is more to it than meets the eye and sets about trying to discover the identity of who shot her. What makes this really clever is the interweaving timelines, which means that you, as the reader, are piecing the night together at the same time she is. Throw in some of Freida McFaddens's signature dark humour, and you will find one of her most underrated books.
Standalone Novels
Baby City (2015)
Why we love it:
- A fun, light read with a lead character you'll want to be friends with.
- It perfectly combines humour with the odd harrowing moment, giving you a feel for the emotional journey that people who work in maternity wards go through on a daily basis.
Baby City is co-written with Kelley Stoddard and follows Emily McCoy, a third-year resident in a maternity ward in New York. It focuses on her days dealing with maternity patients and all the trials and tribulations that come with that. It doesn't have the same twists and turns as her thrillers, but it is a really fun book showcasing McFadden's humour and ability to craft relatable characters that feel like people you know.
The Perfect Son (2020)
Why we love it:
- A compelling, dark thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat.
- There are plenty of unexpected twists, as well as the odd expected one thrown in there as a decoy.
The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden follows the story of a mother who is desperate for a perfect son and becomes entangled in a web of deception, secrets, and unforeseen consequences. Readers are kept on the edge of their seats as the narrative delves into the characters' twisted motivations and the dark underbelly of familial expectations. The Perfect Son has all the hallmarks of the best Freida McFadden books -skilful storytelling and suspenseful twists - making it a must-read for anyone looking to explore her back catalogue.
The Ex (2020)
Why we love it:
- A brilliant portrayal of human relationships.
- Beautifully navigates the intricacies of heartbreak, revenge and bonds formed in the wake of a shattered relationship.
The Ex by Freida McFadden is a compelling exploration of the aftermath of failed relationships, unveiling the complexities of love and loss, following the lives of three women who find themselves intertwined by their connections to a charismatic yet enigmatic man. As secrets unravel and emotions run high, McFadden navigates the intricacies of heartbreak, revenge, and the unexpected bonds formed in the wake of shattered relationships. The Ex is a brilliant portrayal of human relationships and is well worth your time.
The Surrogate Mother (2020)
Why we love it:
- It is a gripping novel with an even more epic ending.
- A thrilling look into complicated family dynamics.
The Surrogate Mother intricately weaves a tale of love, betrayal, and the complexities of motherhood. The story revolves around surrogate motherhood, Kate, delving into her emotional journey as she navigates a web of familial expectations, secrets, and unexpected connections. You'll be sure to love this next thrilling instalment from Freida McFadden for its compelling look into complicated family dynamics.
The Wife Upstairs (2020)
Why we love it:
- A quick, fast-paced thriller that you can easily consume over a weekend.
The Wife Upstairs unfolds in a wealthy Alabama community, where Jane, a dog walker, becomes entangled in the lives of the affluent and secretive Rochester family. The story takes unexpected turns as romance, secrets, and lies intertwine. If you've loved McFaddens thrillers so far, then you'll be sure to love this one just as much, if not more!
One By One (2020)
Why we love it:
- A really quick thriller that doesn't ask too much from you.
- Interweaving chapters add a sense of mystery to the book.
One by One follows Claire Matchett as she takes a long-overdue vacation. She dreams of hikes, hot tubs, and rekindling her relationship with her husband, but it doesn't quite work out like that as her minivan breaks down on a lonely dirt road. As they look to get help, each member of their party is struck down one by one. At just 295 pages long, this is a really quick thriller that doesn't ask a huge amount from you.
Want To Know A Secret (2021)
Why we love it:
- A clever switch of narratives three-quarters of the way through the book keeps you on the edge of your seat.
- Pretty unbelievable in parts, but in the best kind of way.
Want to Know a Secret? Is a psychological thriller that follows April, an influencer on YouTube. From the outside, it looks like she has a perfect life - a nice house, a cute son and a loving husband. Except it's not as it seems, and April has a lot of secrets. Secrets that could destroy her. Secrets that someone else seems to know. It's another fun thriller that, for the first three-quarters of the book, is told from April's point of view before there is a switch and more details are revealed, leaving your mind doing mental gymnastics wondering who, what, where and how all over again.
The Locked Door (2021)
Why we love it:
- A slow build-up with a great pay-off at the end.
- It has one of the all-time great twists that you won't see coming.
How many surgeons do you know who are related to a notorious serial killer? Well, you can add Nora, the main protagonist in this book, to that list. The story alternates between her present-day life and her childhood; with each switch, you learn more about her. Aside from the twists, which are always on point, this book is brilliant at slowly pulling you into Nora's backstory as you try to unpick it.
Do Not Disturb (2021)
Why we love it:
- A Hitchcock-style popcorn thriller.
- The underlying creepiness and suspense keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.
Do Not Disturb follows Quinn, who's on the run after murdering her abusive husband. She's forced off the road by an unexpected snowstorm and has to take refuge in an isolated motel. It's a plot device that's been used before, and this book isn't ashamed of that. It's a Hitchcock-style popcorn thriller where there is always an underlying sense of uneasiness as the suspense builds before the final big twist is revealed. It's a formula that's worked before, and it's worked again in this book by Freida McFadden.
Do You Remember (2022)
Why we love it:
- An easy read-in-a-day thriller that moves along at a brisk pace.
- A great plot device that allows for plenty of twists.
Tess Strebel is engaged to Harry. She wakes after celebrating their engagement, but something doesn't feel quite right. She's in a home that isn't hers, lying next to a complete stranger who claims to be her husband. It's a great setup for a thriller that leaves plenty of room for drama, and Freida McFadden takes full advantage as the main character tries to piece together what's happened and the fragments of her memory. This book isn't groundbreaking or even one of her best, but it is an enjoyable read-in-a-day thriller that moves along at a brisk pace.
The Inmate (2022)
Why we love it:
- A well-constructed thriller that moves along at a good pace.
- A book that throws up plenty of surprises.
A maximum security prison. Someone starting a new job. A job at the prison where her attempted murderer and father of her son resides. This isn't a book that is grounded in reality, but sometimes we don't want that. Sometimes, we want fun fluff that is so well executed that we throw any and all logic out the window and go along for the ride. And this book is precisely that. It's a well-constructed thriller that moves along at a gallop and throws up enough surprises to keep you hooked.
Never Lie (2022)
Why we love it:
- A really fun plot device that keeps the book moving along at a good pace.
- A jaw-dropping twist that you won't see coming.
What a ride Never Lie is! It follows Tricia and Ethan, newlyweds searching for the house of their dreams. They find what they think is their perfect house in an old manor house that was previously owned by a psychologist who mysteriously disappeared. As they visit, they get trapped in a blizzard and discover the tapes of all the psychiatrist's previous patients. That's the brilliance of this book. It's a simple but effective plot device that allows for plenty of creepy moments and twists and turns while never losing any pace.
Ward D (2023)
Why we love it:
- A solid thriller with plenty of suspenseful thrills.
- Alternating timelines that reveal a little more with each chapter.
Ward D follows medical student Amy Brenner, who is spending the night on a locked psychiatric ward. As each minute passes, she becomes more and more convinced that something is wrong and everyone in the unit is in danger. In Ward D, Freida McFadden uses alternating timelines, using the past and present to reveal a little more and move the plot along nicely. This book doesn't have the usual wild reveal that other books in her back catalogue do, but it's a solid thriller with plenty of suspenseful thrills.
The Coworker (2023)
Why we love it:
- A fast-paced cat-and-mouse thriller.
- It doesn't sacrifice character development for plot and has some really sweet moments throughout.
The Coworker is a classic Freida McFadden book. It has a flawed main character, a plot that rattles along like an express train and twists so big they'll leave your head spinning. The book follows Natalie Farrell, the popular sales rep everyone loves, who notices that Dawn, the slightly awkward accountant, is missing. She gets a phone call to find out that Dawn isn't so awkward because she's somewhat odd, but because she's being targeted by someone close. Suddenly, their fates are intertwined. The Coworker is, at its heart, a cat-and-mouse thriller, but it doesn't prioritise plot over character development and leaves a little room for some sweeter moments. And it's all the better for it.
The Teacher (2024)
Why we love it:
- Has one of Freida McFadden's best final twists.
- It pushes the boundaries of disbelief a bit but is a really enjoyable read despite that.
Being a teacher isn't the most exciting of roles. But when rumours of a student-teacher affair have rocked it - it's pretty exciting. The accuser is assigned to her and her husband's class, and all sorts of doubts creep into Eve's mind. This book is a wild ride, with the second half pushing the boundaries a little. But despite the occasional "no way" moment, it's always a really fun read, and if you're willing to suspend your disbelief in parts, it's a great way to spend the weekend.
Short Stories / Novellas
The Gift (2022)
Why we love it:
- A white-knuckle ride of a thriller that moves along at a rollercoaster-like pace.
- A perfect alternative to schmaltzy Christmas books.
The Gift is a short story by Freida McFadden that is set at Christmas. At only 53 pages long, it packs a lot of plot into such a small package. It's set in a diner with Bessie and Stella, who are about to close up for the night, until they realise that a strange woman in the corner has yet to be served. Things unfold from there in this darkly delicious Christmas thriller. With it being a short story, it moves things along at a fair pace and feels sort of like a rollercoaster with you white-knuckling it as you turn each page.
Anthologies
11 out of 10: A Collection Of Humorous Medical Short Stories (2015)
Why we love it:
- Cover-to-cover laughs.
- Something a little bit different from her other books and a bit of a palate cleanser if you love her writing style but don't fancy reading a thriller.
Freida McFadden is obviously the queen of popcorn thrillers, but she's also really good at writing comedy as well. In "11 out of 10: A Collection of Humourous Medical Stories", she pulls together some of the funniest stories from medical practitioners. Some are totally true, and some are a little exaggerated for comedic effect. If you love Freida McFadden's wry sense of humour and writing style but don't fancy reading another thriller, then this book is the perfect palate cleanser.
Enjoy!
There you have it—all of Freida McFadden's outstanding novels in one place. If you're not already a fan, these reads are sure to have you hooked from the beginning to the end.
For more author guides, look no further than our latest blog, Rebecca Yarros Books In Order or What Order To Read Tahereh Mafi Books.
