Then again, plenty of men are idiots
Ever finished a book that left you picking your jaw up off the floor? That’s exactly what happened with Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid – a thriller that hits different from the very first page.
If you’re still reeling from Colleen Hoover’s Verity, buckle up because this one’s going to take you on an equally wild ride through the seemingly perfect halls of the Winchester family mansion.
The Housemaid review will contain spoilers. So if you haven’t read it yet go and read this psychological thriller.
The Housemaid Summary
The story is narrated in the first person from Millie’s perspective. Millie is a young woman who has just been released from prison. She’s living in her car and struggling until she gets the chance to work as a housemaid for the Winchester family.
I found it easy to get lost in Millie’s world because I was reading in a quiet, upper-class area not far from the city. There were, however, warning signs as soon as Millie got her job. No one can get into her attic room from the outside because the door is locked and the window is painted shut.
This was a clear sign that something was wrong. Still, McFadden does a great job of showing Millie’s reasons, showing how desperate she is to hold on to this rare job chance, even though she has a criminal record.
At first, everything seemed normal while Millie worked for the Winchesters. But things changed when Nina Winchester’s behaviour began to fall apart. One scene that stood out was when Nina accused Millie of giving her daughter peanut butter, even though the child is allergic.
In another important event, Nina threw a party in the kitchen and made Millie clean it up all day. Millie became more worried when she noticed that her bedroom door was locking itself in the middle of the night. Although most of us would probably run at that point, Millie’s decision to stay adds to the story’s suspense.
Around the 40-50% mark, the pacing picked up, introducing Enzo, the neighborhood landscaper, who seemed to hold important information for Millie but could only speak Italian, creating a frustrating language barrier.
The story got more complicated as Enzo tried to warn Millie and neighbourhood rumours spread about the Winchester family’s past. There were both loving and tense times in Millie’s relationship with Andrew Winchester, which gave the story more depth. McFadden did a great job creating sympathy for Andrew’s character despite his flaws, making the final twist even more impactful.
The Housemaid Book Reviews
Even though it’s about 250 to 300 pages long (I read the eBook version, so I don’t remember the exact count), the story moves at a fast pace. McFadden avoids extra details, keeping the plot engaging and full of suspense.
The book’s pacing, clever plot twists, and the dual viewpoints of Millie and Nina keep readers hooked. I couldn’t foresee the twists or the ending, which made it very satisfying.
Lesson from this book is not to judge people solely by appearances. The Winchesters appeared to have everything: wealth, a big house, and a beautiful family. But Millie’s experience exposed the darker reality behind closed doors.
Although thrillers and murder mysteries are my favorite genres, I found The Housemaid to be a thriller best suited for those who don’t typically read thrillers. It was fine—the characters, writing, and plot were all good. I also appreciated the manageable number of characters and how easy they were to follow. A highlight was the shift in perspective from Millie to Nina about three-fourths into the book. This change was refreshing and helped rejuvenate the story for me. However, I found the writing somewhat repetitive and amateurish at times.
Books Like The Housemaid | 5 Gripping Psychological Thrillers You Can’t Put Down
- “The Woman in the Window” by A.J. Finn: An agoraphobic woman believes she’s witnessed a crime, uncovering dark secrets in her own life.
- “The Couple Next Door” by Shari Lapena: A missing child reveals hidden motives and buried secrets between neighbors.
- “Behind Closed Doors” by B.A. Paris: A seemingly perfect couple conceals a chilling secret behind closed doors.
- “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins: An unreliable narrator uncovers hidden lives and a disturbing disappearance.
- “Lock Every Door” by Riley Sager: A young woman’s job in a luxurious apartment reveals the building’s sinister history.
Freida Mcfadden: About the author
Freida McFadden wears two impressive hats – she’s both a practicing physician specializing in brain injury and a wildly successful author. Since publishing her first book in 2013, she has become a powerhouse in the thriller genre, with her books topping charts from The New York Times to Amazon.
Her breakthrough novel “The Housemaid” was such a hit that it’s now being turned into a movie by Lionsgate. McFadden lives near Boston with her family and their cat in an old, creaky house by the ocean – a fitting home for someone who writes such gripping thrillers.
Author: Freida McFadden
Date Published: April 26, 2022
Pages: 329 pages, ebook
Goodreads Rating: 4.3/5
The Housemaid—Spoilers and Ending explained
The story takes a dark turn when we learn what’s really going on in the Winchester house. It turns out Nina isn’t just a nervous wreck like everyone thinks – she’s actually trapped in an abusive marriage. Andrew, who seems like the perfect husband to outsiders, has been secretly controlling and hurting Nina for years, making her doubt her own sanity while keeping up his Mr. Nice Guy act to everyone else.
Everything comes to a head when Millie finally sees through Andrew’s act and realizes how dangerous he really is. Instead of walking away, she decides to help Nina escape. The two women team up, turning from enemies into allies, and work together to expose Andrew’s true nature. It’s pretty satisfying to watch them finally stand up to him and take back control of their lives after everything he put them through.
I’m John Stauffer, a Harvard professor and book lover. Here at John Stauffer Books, I share my thoughts on the books I read through honest reviews and recommendations. I cover everything from well-known classics to lesser-known works that deserve more attention.
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