Review of The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden. The housemaid is the first book in a series of three. The first was published in 2022. It is described as a psychological thriller and is a New York Times & Wall Street Journal bestseller. I was a bit slow on the uptake with this series and recently saw a post on Facebook looking for book recommendations. The housemaid was on that list and lots of people had recommended it. I went straight to audible and added it to my wish list ready for my next credit day.
Reviews describe it as addictive, a wild ride with plenty of twists and turns.
“What do you like to read?”
“Books.”
“What kind of books?”
“The kind with words.”
What is The Housemaid about?
At the beginning of The Housemaid we are introduced to Millie, the story is told from her point of view. She begins a new job with the Winchester family as, surprisingly enough, their maid. They live in an immaculate house and Millie is responsible for keeping it clean, looking after the Winchester daughter and cooking the family meals. Each evening she returns to her tiny room in the attic. Reminded of her past, Millie begins to struggle with her new job and the home she is living in. Nina Winchester seems intent to make her life difficult, and Millie begins to feel sorry for the handsome Mr Winchester.
Millie begins to feel envious of Nina’s perfect life, and she gets caught trying on one of her immaculate white dresses one day. Millie finds herself locked in her attic room, with the door locked from the outside! Nobody is listening to her calls for help. However, the Winchesters don’t know who she is, her past or what she is capable of.
Is it worth my time?
As a busy Mum, one thing you definitely need to know, is whether The Housemaid is worth your time. If you like thrillers, then this one is definitely worth it. I found myself staying up late at night to listen to just one more chapter. When the reviews said it was addictive, they were not lying.
If like me you listen to your books on Audible then you may not get on with the narrator. I didn’t mind the heavy Bronx accent most of the time, as I felt it helped add to the character, but could appreciate it may not be for everybody.
What did I like about The Housemaid?
I loved all the twists and turns in this book, it really did keep me guessing throughout. There was NO WAY I would have predicted the ending. This is what makes it such a great thriller in my opinion. I warmed to the main character Millie, felt frustrated alongside her at times, and wanted the best for her. The book is well written, and was easy to follow along with.
If you get the chance to read or listen to this then you should, you won’t be disappointed. It was one of the most enjoyable books I have listened to. I can’t wait to make a start on book 2 & 3!
I hope you enjoyed my review of The Housemaid. Let me know if you have any suggestions for what to listen to next. Want to read more book reviews? You can find all my reviews here.
Sophie x
