Wow! The Housemaid's Secret, a follow up to The Housemaid, was one heck of a ride. Freida McFadden is quickly becoming one of my go to authors. I love the twists and turns she writes- both those that I saw coming and especially the ones that blew my mind! I feel like McFadden has the art of writing characters that you love to hate down to perfection! Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 stars.

This is book 2 in the series. You could read this book without reading the first one. However, it did help to understand the story.

I did read The Housemaid when it first came out and I loved it. I didn't need to re-read that one before reading The Housemaid's Secret. The only character that carried over from book 1 to book 2 was Millie.

Just like the first book, the first half was told from Millie's POV. The second half in this book was told from Wendy's POV. The final part of the book surprised me. But, the rest of the book wasn't shocking. It was fairly similiar to the first book. I still thoroughly enjoyed it!

It was such an easy fast read. You can easily finish this book in a day.

(i'm posting the same review to IG later this week)

Millie from THE HOUSEMAID is back and cleaning for a new wealthy couple, the Garricks who live in a super swanky penthouse in Manhattan.

Wendy Garrick, the reclusive wife, bears visible bruises. Her husband forbids Millie from entering the room to clean, saying his wife is sick and needs to rest. Millie’s persistence leads her to uncover a bathroom smeared with blood. When Millie gets Wendy to open the door, she sets off a thrilling and twisty set of events that will keep you reading until the end.

McFadden’s expertise in the psychological thriller genre is clear in this gripping and disturbing tale of domestic abuse and betrayal and where nothing appears to be as it is.

The novel is both entertaining and witty, despite dealing with a somber topic. The characters are well-developed and engaging, making it a highly recommended read.

In a Nutshell: The good news is that this is just like ‘The Housemaid.’ The bad news is that this is just like ‘The Housemaid.’ A fun thriller, as long as you don’t overanalyse it. Better if you read the series in order.

Story Synopsis:
Millie is back, still working as a maid, and still struggling for finances. She is in a steady relationship with Brock, a lawyer who doesn’t know anything about her past. Not that she loves Brock, but as Enzo isn’t around, he will do.
After Millie loses her current job, she gets a call from Douglas Garrick, a wealthy tech specialist. He wants Millie to clean and cook, but on one condition|: she is NOT to interact with his wife Wendy, who is ill. As Millie is desperate for a job, she agrees. However, things are, but obviously, not as declared, and Millie finds herself in a quandary; risk her job by helping Wendy, or go against her values by ignoring what’s happening?
The book comes to us in the first person perspective of two of the characters, one being Millie.

This sequel doesn't exactly continue from the end of the first novel, but provides enough of context to help us bridge to the events of this book. Though this can work as a standalone, I recommend you read the series in order, because Millie’s personality is much better explored in the first book.

Since I complain about Bookouture blurbs quite often (Sorry, Bookouture! I still love you though!), I think I should also give them credit when they nail the task. The blurb of this book is spot on, revealing just as much as needed and creating enough interest without spoiling the fun or misleading. Good job!


On the pro side, the story has every positive element that was present in the earlier book:
👉 Quick-paced writing.
👉 A storyline that keeps you invested even when you know what’s to come (or so you think.)
👉 An intriguing prologue.
👉 Characters who say one thing and do something else.
👉 Twists – some foreseeable, some out of the blue.
👉 Some funny moments, courtesy Millie’s snide remarks in her first person pov.
👉 An ending that works well for the story.

On the flip side,
⚠ The pattern of the book is exactly the same as the first book. (And many other thrillers.) So the minute the prologue began, I knew it was not narrated by whom we would assume it to be. The appearance of the second character’s pov created a huge déjà vu moment, as I knew it would contradict everything Millie had told us so far. I was still interested in the proceedings; it is just that instead of enjoying the story as a fresh tale, I found myself playing detective and figuring out the twists based on the similarity to the first book.
⚠ Millie didn’t endear herself to me this time around. Her attitude towards Brock was quite irksome, and her thoughts very repetitive. While she shows her true spirit by the end, I wish it had been more evident throughout.
⚠ The writing is also somewhat basic, though, to be honest, I don’t read a thriller for its prose. But the overdose of foreshadowing and the back-and-forth rambling by Millie were somewhat disappointing.

All in all, this is still gripping enough to provide an entertaining ride. I liked the first book much better as it had plenty of dark undertones. This one offers standard fare in comparison.

I finally have the chance to use a phrase so many of my reviewer-friends do: it’s a popcorn thriller! Treat it as such than as a literary classic. As long as you read it with your logical side kept aside, you can have fun with it.

3.5 stars, rounding up as it allowed me to complete it within a day.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Housemaid's Secret”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Thank You Bookouture and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Housemaid" was my very first Freida book that I read last year and couldn't put it down. I loved it! I was beyond excited to see that she was coming out with "The Housemaid's Secret" and requested it right away!
Let me tell you...this book was so ridiculously twisty and the ending--mind blown! Freida McFadden, your writing is incredible! This was utter perfection---super addicting, well-developed characters, and definitely lived up to the hype!
If you've read "The Housemaid," this is a must read sequel!

The perfect sequel to The Housemaid! I loved diving back in to Millie’s world. As usual, Freida McFadden writes addicting, short chapters where once you start, you can’t stop. The fast paced NYC setting, fancy high rise apartments, sketchy characters, oh and then a murder??? Sign me up. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Extremely binge worthy and packed with jolting twists!

Thanks Netgalley, Bookouture for the ARC and also a spot on the book tour! I was over the moon when I got invited to read it!

Freida McFadden has presented us a fitting sequel to the explosive predecessor, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘥.

🤐No synopsis! Best to dive in blind.

Freida is undoubtedly the “Maestro of Twists”. She incorporates them in her plots so effortlessly, that you are hit with them smack on your face when you are totally unprepared!😵

What’s more, she obviously has more in her quiver of arrows, 🎯as they simply keep coming at you relentlessly one after the other, giving you no chance of recovery, let alone breathe.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗱’𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 is no different in that aspect. It’s what we can say, a perfect “locked-room” mystery thriller (yes! I prefer to call it that, even though this is a psychological thriller 😉)quite literally in this case.

A guest-bedroom that must never be opened at her new employer’s palatial pent house, is just the can of worms that Millie is about to open. Honest and righteous, she just can’t help but get herself into trouble.

The first half is slow burn, as Millie gets into a rhythm with her job at the Garrick’s. The fun begins by about mid-way, when the aforementioned jack-in-the-boxes pop up, causing our jaws to drop open and stomachs to turn, unable to digest the shock. 😵‍💫😱

The short chapters end with just right punchy cue, picking up the pace and intensity with each one, making it all too engrossing and unputdownable.

The ending ensues chaos & drama and Millie has to take matters into her own hands like always, albeit a bit carefully this time.

This thriller has it all – heavy subject matter, a perfect boyfriend whom you can’t trust, dark secrets, a creepy stalker and a too good to be true kind of household.

If you love psychological thrillers, then you shouldn’t miss The Housemaid series!

I rated The Housemaid five stars! Five. Stars. So you’ll forgive me for saying wtf was this?

This was a mess. Too chaotic. The writing
felt so different. Millie was annoying, stupid,
so not like the first book. I skimmed the last
40% and was able to understand just fine.
Too much filler/unnecessary inner
monologues. Wow what a disappointment. I would read the first book and only the first. This went off on a tangent and while the story itself was entertaining, it felt like it took so long to get there. A few little twists thrown in were decent but it felt too late given it took forever and a day to get there.

The twist…I mean what else can a person say? Freida is such an amazing, talented writer. I wasn’t sure how this book could top The Housemaid but she done it! Great read for 2023! Can’t wait for more!

Going into The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden, I thought it was going to be a continuation of The Housemaid and just pick up where that left off. While it is a continuation in a sense, it has some time between where that book ended and is really just another book with our lovely Millie. I wasn't sure I was going to like this at first, but I shouldn't have worried because I ended up loving it just as much! There were so many twists that the reader gets hit with and I loved every single one. I didn't see them coming either and once again the pacing throughout was on point.

As with the last book, the audiobook is narrated by Lauryn Allman and once again she killed it. Though Millie is the main viewpoint, we do end up having another as well and the way Allman can change her voice to fit a character is just flawless. It felt like I had switched to an entirely different narrator, and it is not often this happens! I highly recommend the audio but reading it would be just as good. I do recommend reading The Housemaid first since this is a sequel, and it will make more sense if you do. McFadden is one of my favorite authors after only reading a couple of her books, and if you love twists, she is going to give them to you!

The Housemaid's Secret is the sequel to Freida McFadden's book The Housemaid. It picks up a couple of years after the first book. While it can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the first one to get the full history.

This book started out a little slow for me. The main character, Millie, is struggling...putting herself through college and really needing good source of income. So, she gets a job doing what she's familiar with, housecleaning.

The first half of this book dragged on. Millie was annoying, and I didn't like her boyfriend. However, I am so glad I stuck with it. At the 45-50% mark the book takes a turn and the next thing l knew I was at 90%. Seriously, the second half is that exciting.

The best part of the book is the surprise factor. The creative mind of the author is amazing! This is a great book that'll keep you on your toes!

The perfect home has one rule...don’t look behind closed doors...

So I was totally blown away by the first book "The Housemaid" and, being one of my reading highlights of the year, I was excited to discover that a sequel was coming...ready to blow our minds once again! But how could it possibly outdo the first one? They never can...or can they? So what did I think of THE HOUSEMAID'S SECRET? Did it live up to the hype? Was it even better than the first? Let's just say that if you thought the first one good then be prepared for another addictive page-turning read.

Millie Calloway is back once again as the housemaid. In the years since she left the Winchesters (in the previous book...and yes, I needed a recap), she and former landscape gardener for the couple, Enzo, have kept themselves busy helping women leave abusive or unsafe marriages...for the greater good. But then Enzo returned to Italy and his dying mother, who then kept lingering, leaving both frustrated and angered Millie moving on with her life.

Putting her old life behind her, Millie is taking college classes part time to become a social worker to help women in a more "legal" and traditional way. She is also dating successful lawyer Brock (Broccoli...lol) who loves her but Millie just can't seem to let herself be with him. She isn't sure why...maybe it's because he doesn't know everything there is to know about her...and if he did then maybe he wouldn't love her anymore and she would lose him. And Millie doesn't want to lose him. Brock is comfortable. Brock is safe. Brock is what she needs in her life...doesn't she?

Despite her now comfortable life with Brock, Millie still needs her own space...meaning she still has her own apartment and therefore she needs work to pay for it. Recently fired from her housemaid/babysitting job because the spoilt little rich girl's 9 month old toddler daughter spent so much time in Millie's company, because her own mother spent most of her time palming her off to her, that the poor little tyke thought Millie WAS her mother and thus threw her arms towards her declaring "Mama!" right in front of her own mother who was less than pleased. Convinced that Millie had told her little princess that she was "mama", the woman fired Millie who thus found herself jobless.

And then she receives a call from wealthy tech genius, Douglas Garrick. He is looking for a housemaid to cook, clean and do some basic laundry for them a couple of times a week int heir penthouse apartment for an eye-watering hourly rate that Millie cannot pass up. He has only one rule. Not to enter the guest room or bother his ill wife.

But when Millie hears Wendy Garrick crying in the guest room, she can't help but want to do something. She knows Wendy is ill and needs her rest but Millie is curious as to why she is so upset. She knocks. The crying stops. But Millie won't be swayed. She soon convinces Wendy to open the door. And what she sees changes everything...

Where to begin...? So Freida McFadden shocked me with "The Housemaid" with twist after twist but not so much with this one. I think maybe because having read the first one, or because I'm a seasoned psychological thriller reader, I've come to expect the unexpected and go where others fear to tread. I know what to look for, what to overlook and what to pick up along the way. There are clues peppered throughout if you see them and file them away for future reference. There is one little tidbit that is only there by a passing mention, so seemingly insignificant, that if not noticed you wouldn't even know it was there. It's things like that that can change an entire course of a story.

I didn't know what to expect when I started THE HOUSEMAID'S SECRET but I soon began to follow the trail of breadcrumbs and piece it all together long before anyone else did. I didn't see it all come together at once by any means. But little by little I did work it all out. There was one aspect I didn't foresee and that was a nice little surprise but the little twist at the end was already a given in my mind. But none of that ruined the thrill of the chase for me and I still thoroughly enjoyed this next chapter of Millie's life. I just found some of her decisions were a little irritating...but then what would I do in her situation? Maybe the same - who knows? OK, so some of the story was a little far-fetched but then so was the first book and it was still shockingly brilliant. And hey, it's fiction...that's what it is.

On the whole, I really enjoyed THE HOUSEMAID'S SECRET but I don't think it packed that same punch or had that same shocking impact as the first one. And it is incredibly difficult to replicate the brilliance of a book into another. McFadden certainly came close...but I couldn't be hoodwinked this time and therefore couldn't be shocked. I was still thoroughly enthralled in the story and it was just as addictive and compelling as the first...but it lacked that impact and was less disturbing that "The Housemaid" . I think that's where the impact really lay. Because that one truly was dark and disturbing...almost like an episode of "Criminal Minds". And this one just didn't have that.

But do not fear, THE HOUSEMAID'S SECRET is still an addictive and thrilling fast paced thrill-ride from start to finish and will certainly entertain thriller fans far and wide, if not keep them guessing.

I would like to thank #FreidaMcFadden, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheHousemaidsSecret in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Millie Calloway was hired as a housemaid for Douglas Garrick and he told her not to go into the guest bedroom as his wife was very ill. She can hear Mrs. Garrick crying and can see blood stains on the neck of her nightgown so she does knock on the bedroom door to make sure things are ok. But what she sees she knows Mrs. Garrick needs help getting away from her abusive husband. That's when all her problems begin. This is a very interesting mystery which I enjoyed reading. It has a cleverly plotted story that I had a hard time putting down. The characters were intricately believable as I read on in the plot. I loved the Epilogue of three months later when Millie gets her revenge. If you love crafty mysteries then you would love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy for an honest review. I look forward to my next Freida McFadden book.

⭐️ 4 ⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The Housemaid’s Secret is another well-written book from Freida McFadden with excellent characterisation.

I read The Housemaid and The Housemaid’s Secret back-to-back so I did notice how very similar the storylines were and I did guess the twists but I still thought it was an enjoyable read.

Freida does it again! I could not put this book down. I read until my eyes crossed. Freida is known for her crazy twist and just when you think you know what is going to on or who is who, BAM, something completely unexpected is thrown into the mix. This book is absolutely worth reading and is absolutely deserving of the 5 stars. Well done 👏

The Housemaid's Secret is the sequel to Freida McFadden's novel titled The Housemaid. This novel definitely did not disappoint and although this book is technically a sequel, it has been written in a manner that it could be read as a standalone. I do recommend reading the first one though so you can better enjoy this one. Much like her other novels, this one grabs your attention immediately and you don't want to put the book down until you've finished it. As a psychological thriller, you can count on this book to have some twists and turns that you may or may not figure out. I have read all of her thrillers and there was only one book of hers where I figured out all the twists. This says a lot about how great of an author Freida McFadden is. I highly recommend The Housemaid's Secret. If you love psychological thrillers, you are bound to love this. 5 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Freida McFadden for providing me with an advance copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

Wow! Freida McFadden has written another book to add to my favorite list. From the beginning she easily pulls you into Millie's world and gets you interested in every aspect of Millie's life. I could envision every moment of this carefully woven story.
Millie is having a hard time finding a new job and she doesn't have much time left before she is broke. Her previous boyfriend, Enzo, left her for Italy and her currant boyfriend, Brock, is pressuring her to move in with him. Luckily, she finds a new family to clean for and is finally making ends meet so she doesn't have to move in with Brock. This new job holds some new hurdles but she will find a way to continue doing her work because she needs the money. Then she is betrayed by someone she thought she could trust and this betrayal throws her whole life into a tailspin. How will she survive?
This is a superbly written book with many twists and turns to keep the pages turning quickly. If you read the first book in the series, The Housemaid, then you already know Millie's background but if you haven't this book gives you all the details you need to know about her. I highly recommend reading the first book but this one can easily be read as a stand alone book.
I highly recommend this suspense filled book and guarantee you will not want to put it down once you start reading. I am extremely grateful to Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a digital copy of this fabulous book in exchange for an honest review.

Millie has a record so has to find work as she can as any background checks would reveal her past. She is working on being a social care worker along with any cleaning jobs she can get. Her last role ended when the little girl she looked after called her Mama rather than the mother due to the time she spent with her. She is now working as a cleaner/housekeeper for Mr Garrick whose wife is supposedly ill. All Millie sees of her are her eyes through a door which if she says anything gets firmly and quickly closed. What is the secret behind Mrs Wendy Garrick and why is there blood on her clothes? When Millie peeks inside something inside of her is called to action. What is going on and can Millie save not only herself but Wendy as well?

This is the second in the Housemaid series but stands alone , I hadn’t read the first. It's a book I raced through and thoroughly enjoyed. One where real life got in the way as I just wanted to keep reading as there’s a great tension and a series of unexpected twists and turns. My first read from this author and one I would happily read in the future. A cleverly thought out plot and good characters, I liked Millie but did wonder if she had her own agenda, something to read and find out. A book that didn't disappoint, just kept me awake to finish it! A great psychological thriller to keep the reader engrossed.
#blogtour

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THE HOUSEMAID’S SECRET was another great binge read to follow up book 1: The Housemaid. We follow Millie as she continues on her life path after her horrible experience in book one. For a large part of this book, she keeps referring to a secret she’s kept from her current boyfriend, and this teasing kept me turning the pages! I had to know details and by the last quarter I was reading so fast trying to see how it would all play out in the end. I didn’t find myself having to suspend reality *quite* as much as the first book, but it’s still necessary for full enjoyment here. Loved the twists and turns that kept me guessing, the short chapters, and the characters that varied on being likable or not. I definitely recommend picking this one up! Especially if you’ve read The Housemaid, you won’t be disappointed!

I love her writing style. Before I mention anything specific about this book, I think her books are so easy to read. Once you start reading, you are drawn into the story with an ease that keeps you reading. That is worth its weight in gold. It doesn’t matter the plot or the characters, I want to keep reading. I read this one in two sittings. And only stopped because I had dinner plans that I could not break.

Now onto the book. First I agree that this could be read as a standalone book. The story of Millie, Wendy and Douglas is complete. But I would be remiss to not mention that I think it adds to enjoyment having read book one first.

Now how to tell you about this one without spoiling anything. Like Freida is known for, this one is a twisty tale with many big and small twists that happen throughout the book. A few I did see coming, but not most of them. That easy writing style lulls you into the story. When I read a thriller especially when I am reading one that will be twisty, I am on high alert watching for everything little tell and suspecting everyone of being dishonest. And still Freida pulled the wool over my eyes. Kudos to her!

I like Millie, but that stems from The Housemaid. She is a strong willed, powerful woman. Even when she is being less than honorable, I root for her to come out on top. I can’t explain it as I’ve disliked other characters for less flaws.

I really suggest not knowing much about this or any of the author’s books before you read them if you like the element of surprise and don’t want to be tipped off. If you have not picked up one of her books, this one is a great one to start with, but you can’t go wrong with any of them. While I think the book is the whole package, the twists really push my enjoyment over the top. If you like thrillers that keep you guessing until the last page, you will love this book.