Title: THE HOUSEMAID IS WATCHING
Author: Freida McFadden
ISBN: 9781464221132
Publisher: Poison Pen Press
Pages: 383
Source: Private Copy
“You must be our new neighbors!” Mrs. Lowell gushes and waves across the picket fence. I clutch my daughter’s hand and smile back: but the second Mrs. Lowell sees my husband a strange expression crosses her face. In that moment I make a promise. We finally have a family home. My past is far, far behind us. And I’ll do anything to keep it that way…
I used to clean other people’s houses—now, I can’t believe this home is actually mine. The charming kitchen, the quiet cul-de-sac, the huge yard where my kids can play. My husband and I saved for years to give our children the life they deserve.
Even though I’m wary of our new neighbor Mrs. Lowell, when she invites us over for dinner it’s our chance to make friends. Her maid opens the door wearing a white apron, her hair in a tight bun. I know exactly what it’s like to be in her shoes.
But her cold stare gives me chills…
The Lowells’ maid isn’t the only strange thing on our street. I’m sure I see a shadowy figure watching us. My husband leaves the house late at night. And when I meet a woman who lives across the way, her words chill me to the bone: Be careful of your neighbours.
Did I make a terrible mistake moving my family here?
I thought I’d left my darkest secrets behind. But could this quiet suburban street be the most dangerous place of all?
Official Summary
29 August 2024
Freida McFadden has once again delivered a gripping psychological thriller in *The Housemaid is Watching*. The story immediately pulls you into the seemingly idyllic life of a family who has finally achieved their dream of homeownership, only to discover that their new neighbourhood harbours unsettling secrets.
The tension begins with the protagonist’s wariness with her new neighbour, Mrs Lowell, and it escalates as she notices strange behaviours and an eerie maid whose cold demeanour sends shivers down your spine. The sense of unease is palpable, and McFadden expertly builds suspense with every turn of the page. The protagonist’s fear is contagious; as she becomes more paranoid about the people around her, you find yourself questioning everyone’s motives.
One of the most compelling aspects of this book is how McFadden taps into the fear of the unknown—the unsettling realization that what seems perfect on the surface often hides something sinister. The protagonist’s past hinted at throughout the story, adds layers to her paranoia and creates a constant sense of dread.
As the story unfolds, the shadowy figure watching the family and the mysterious behaviour of the husband creates a complex web of intrigue that keeps you guessing until the very end. McFadden’s writing is crisp and precise, making it impossible to put the book down.
However, what I found most intriguing was the exploration of the theme of appearances versus reality. The protagonist’s journey from being a maid to becoming a homeowner is supposed to represent progress, yet it becomes clear that no amount of material success can shield you from the dangers that lurk behind closed doors.
*The Housemaid is Watching* is full of brilliant suspense and psychological tension. If you enjoy thrillers that keep you on edge with a creeping sense of dread, this book is a must-read. Freida McFadden proves once again that she knows how to craft a story that will haunt you long after you’ve turned the last page.
Also by Freida McFadden
THE HOUSEMAID
“Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own…
Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.
I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.
I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.
But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.
They don’t know what I’m capable of…
THE HOUSEMAID’S SECRET
As he continues showing me their incredible penthouse apartment, I have a terrible feeling about the woman behind closed doors. But I can’t risk losing this job – not if I want to keep my darkest secret safe . . .
It’s hard to find an employer who doesn’t ask too many questions about my past. So I thank my lucky stars that the Garricks miraculously give me a job, cleaning their stunning penthouse with views across the city and preparing fancy meals in their shiny kitchen. I can work here for a while, stay quiet until I get what I want. It’s almost perfect. But I still haven’t met Mrs Garrick, or seen inside the guest bedroom. I’m sure I hear her crying. I notice spots of blood around the neck of her white nightgowns when I’m doing laundry. And one day I can’t help but knock on the door. When it gently swings open, what I see inside changes everything…
That’s when I make a promise. After all, I’ve done this before. I can protect Mrs Garrick while keeping my own secrets locked up safe. Douglas Garrick has done wrong. He is going to pay. It’s simply a question of how far I’m willing to go…
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
#1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practising physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humour novels. She lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.
The Housemaid series has been brilliant. I enjoyed every minute spent reading it, and now that I’ve finished all the books, I’m a little sad to say goodbye to Millie. Have you read the series? Which book was your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!
As always, thank you so much for visiting the blog—your support means the world to me. Until next time, happy reading!
