“I believe that any human being is capable of terrible things if you push them hard enough.”
Freida McFadden has become one of the most popular psychological thriller authors, infamous for her gripping, twist-filled novels. If you’re the sort of reader who loves unpredictable plots, unreliable narrators and shocking endings, her books are absolute must-reads. But, with so many thrilling options, where do you begin? Today at What We Reading, we’re pulling together the best Freida McFadden books, including fan favourites like The Housemaid, The Locked Door and Never Lie. Whether you’re new to her novels or a longtime fan looking for your next page-turner, this guide will help you find her most unputdownable reads. Freida McFadden’s books are packed with suspense, dark secrets and jaw-dropping twists, so keep reading and discover which ones deserve a spot on your TBR!
The Housemaid (The Housemaid #1) (2022)
Kicking off our list of the best Freida McFadden books is arguably her most successful release to date, The Housemaid series. Beginning with The Housemaid, one of the bestselling thriller books from 2022, Millie Calloway is a recent ex-convict who takes a job as a live-in housekeeper for the affluent Winchester family. Every day she cleans the family home from top to bottom, collects the daughter from school and cooks a delicious meal for their dinner before heading upstairs to her lonely room on the top floor.
However, after trying on one of Nina Winchester’s pristine white dresses, Millie begins to discover that things within the Winchester house aren’t quite what they seem. But, there are plenty of secrets from Millie’s past that the family equally aren’t aware of. They don’t know who she is. Or what she is capable of. Consisting of four novels at the time of writing, The Housemaid is a popular thriller series all about power, deception and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets.
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The Locked Door (2021)
While eleven-year-old Nora Davis was doing her homework in her bedroom, she had no idea her father was killing women in their basement. That is until the police arrive at her front door. Decades on, Nora’s father is spending the remainder of his life behind bars, whereas Nora has become a successful surgeon with a quiet, solitary existence. No one knows she is the daughter of one of the country’s most infamous serial killers.
Then Nora learns that one of her young female patients has been murdered. In the exact same horrifying manner that her father used to kill his victims. Someone knows exactly who Nora is. And somebody wants her to take the wrap for his heinous crime. Nora isn’t a killer like her father, the police can’t put anything on her. As long as they don’t go searching in her basement.
The Crash (2025)
Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone and desperate to put the mess that her life has become firmly behind her. Planning on staying with her brother until she can plan her next move, she begins driving, unaware that she is driving straight into a blizzard.
Stranded in rural Maine with a dead car and a broken ankle, Tegan begins to dread that she’s made a grave mistake. Mercifully, a couple rescue her and offer her a room in their cosy cabin until the worst of the weather clears. Only something isn’t right about the pair. Tegan believed she was waiting out the storm but soon realises that she is in terrible danger inside this apparent safe haven. The couple aren’t who they say they are, and remaining in their company could prove to be a deadly error for both Tegan and her unborn child. One of the most gripping and gut-wrenching 2025 thriller books, The Crash is a story of motherhood, survival and twisted expectations.
Check Out The Best New Thriller Books From 2025
Never Lie (2022)
2022’s Never Lie introduces readers to newlyweds Ethan and Tricia, who stumble upon the grand remote estate that once belonged to the infamous Dr Adrienne Hale, a psychiatrist who disappeared four years ago, while searching for their forever home. There, a violent storm traps them inside the manor. With nothing to do to keep herself entertained, Tricia discovers a secret room. A room that contains audio transcripts of every single patient Dr Hale ever worked with.
As Tricia listens to the cassette tapes, she learns about the terrifying chain of events that led up to Dr Hale’s mysterious disappearance. Tricia plays the tapes one after the other late into the night, uncovering more and more of the web of lies surrounding the psychiatrist. But it is only with the final cassette that Tricia finally reveals the entire harrowing truth in one of the most pulsating Freida McFadden books, Never Lie.
Check Out Our Never Lie Book Review
The Surrogate Mother (2018)
Another one of the books that helped put Freida McFadden on the map as one of the best thriller authors in the world, The Surrogate Mother is the story of Abby, a woman who wants a baby more than anything. Yet, after years of failed infertility treatments and adoptions that have fallen through, it appears that her only dream in the world isn’t part of her future.
At least, that is until her personal assistant, Monica, presents an offer that finally promises to make all her dreams come true. Or all her nightmares. Because it is soon revealed that Monica isn’t who she says she is. The woman who is now carrying Abby’s child holds a number of dark, twisted secrets. And she will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Another one of Freida McFadden’s books that explores dark secrets and the challenges of motherhood, The Surrogate Mother showed exactly how the American physician perfected the art of addictive thriller writing.
The Coworker (2023)
Everyone at Vixed, the nutritional supplement company, knows that Dawn Schiff is odd. She works as an accountant for the company but never says the right thing, doesn’t have any friends but is always present at her desk at exactly 8:45 every morning. Naturally, when Dawn doesn’t show up at the office one day, her coworker, Natalie Farrell, is surprised. Which is when she receives a disturbing anonymous phone call that changes everything.
It turns out that Dawn wasn’t just an awkward outsider, she was being targeted by someone close. And now Natalie is irrevocably tied to her in a dangerous game of cat and mouse that leaves her grappling with who the real victim is. Regardless, someone hated Dawn Schiff. Enough to kill. One of the bestselling thriller books from 2023, The Coworker is a dark and twisted exploration of the ways in which the past can echo through the present – with dire consequences.
The Wife Upstairs (2020)
Victoria Barnett seems to have it all. A great career. A handsome and caring husband. A beautiful home in the suburbs, and a concrete plan to fill it full of children in the future. Then she’s caught in a terrible accident, one that leaves her without the ability to walk, and everything falls apart in an instant.
Confined to the top floor of her house with round-the-clock help, she can’t feed or dress herself. She can’t even speak. Sylvia Robinson is hired by Victoria’s husband to help look after her. But, it is soon revealed that Victoria might not be as impaired as Sylvia initially thought. There’s a dark story that Victoria is desperately trying to tell if only she could find the words. Fortunately, Sylvia soon happens upon Victoria’s diary tucked away in a drawer. And what is inside is truly shocking.
The Boyfriend (2024)
Nominated for Reader’s Favourite Mystery & Thriller in the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards, The Boyfriend is another of the best Freida McFadden books about obsession and what we’re prepared to do for love. Sydney Shaw, like every other woman in NYC, has awful luck in the dating world. But, after a slew of terrible dates, she finally believes she has struck gold with her new boyfriend. He’s handsome, and charming, and works as a doctor at a local hospital.
But then a grizzly murder of a young woman – the latest in a series of deaths across the coast – confounds the police. The prime suspect? An enigmatic man who dates his victims before he kills them. Sydney should feel safe. Yet, there’s something about her new boyfriend that she isn’t able to shake. Something that suggests the man of her dreams might not be all he seems. Because someone is watching her every move and, if she doesn’t get to the truth, she may just find herself in the crosshairs as the killer’s next victim.
The Inmate (2022)
As the new nurse practitioner at a men’s maximum-security prison, Brooke Sullivan is told she has just three rules to follow: treat all prisoners with respect, never reveal any personal information, and never become too friendly with any of the inmates.
What no one working at the prison realises is that Brooke has already broken one of those rules. No one knows about the intimate connection between her and Shane Nelson, one of the most notorious and dangerous inmates at the penitentiary. And they certainly aren’t aware of how Shane was once Brooke’s high school sweetheart – a promising quarterback who is now serving a life sentence on the back of Brooke’s testimony against him. But Shane knows all this. And he will never forget.
The Teacher (2024)
Eve has a good life. She wakes up every morning, receives a kiss from her husband, Nate, and sets off for her job as a maths teacher at a local high school. Everything is as it should be. Yet, last year, Caseham High was rocked by the shocking scandal involving a student-teacher affair, with student Addie, right at the heart of it.
Eve knows there is far more to these ugly rumours than what meets the eye. Addie can’t be trusted. She lies, hurts people, and revels in destroying their lives. But, no one knows the real Addie behind the rumours. Nobody knows the secrets that could destroy her, or how willing she is to do anything to keep those secrets quiet. One of the best Freida McFadden books and one of the most successful 2024 thrillers, The Teacher is another New York Times bestseller about twisting secrets and long-awaited revenge.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
