#the housemaid’s secret

[kermitkarmz]

The Housemaid:

Millie is sleeping in her car, and has been for a month now. She applies for a job for the Winchester’s as a house maid. She is still on probation since she was released from prison not too long ago. Surely, her background check will ruin this opportunity for her. Although, it’s what Nina was looking for all along. She struck gold, and Nina’s plan was about to be in motion. Millie should’ve saw the signs when she was shown her new room- the small attic with a cot, mini fridge filled with 3 small bottles of water, the wall with nail markings all down it, and the tiny window that is painted shut. Last, but not least, the most important small detail.. the door locks from the outside.

The Housemaid’s Secret:

Millie and Enzo are the best team. Millie always fights for women who are being abused by their husbands. Enzo always knows a guy to handle the finer details. That is until Enzo has to go back to Italy and take care of his mother who just had a stroke. Millie is alone and as confident as ever. Trouble always seems to find her because her reputation is dangerous. If you’re a woman in desperate need of being saved, Millie will find a way. But is the wife truly in trouble this time? Wendy, who is married to Douglas, has more money than she could’ve hoped for by marrying this man. Wendy believes she’s a master manipulator. It worked on her husband. She thought she could change the flaws she feels he has. Once she realizes she can’t change him, and another hopeless guy comes into play for her, she puts Millie to the test. Her plan was going perfectly until Millie outsmarts her. She should’ve took it serious when she heard Millie’s reputation is dangerous. Now all that is left is a confession note, crimson red water, and Digoxin. 💊

[myhikari21things]

Read of The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden (2023) (307pgs)

[now-reading]

The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden, narrated by Lauryn Allman ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I finished listening to The Housemaid’s Secret on September 1, 2024 and I absolutely LOVED it!

The Housemaid’s Secret is a novel about a housemaid that has a reputation for helping women escape their troubled marriages. She starts working for a wealthy family but starts to realize that they aren’t the perfect couple, but actually quite dangerous. Full of twists and turns, she must protect herself from these people and uncover the truth.

While listening to this book, I really appreciated how the point of view switches from the main character, Millie, and the woman she works for, Wendy. Towards the end of the book, I loved listening to Wendy’s perspective through the twists. This book was similar to the first in the series so some of the plot twists weren’t exactly twisty but the other events made up for it.

Overall, I loved this book. I wish i could listen to it again for the first time! It was such an easy and engaging listen. And I loved how the narrator gave each character a different voice. I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

[wookborm]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Part ✌🏾 of The Housemaid…this book in my opinion wasn’t as good as the first but it was still a great read. The ending was a good surprise. I for sure will be checking out her other books after this.

[pearlypinkies]

Book review: The housemaid's secret

 The Housemaid's Secret- by Freida McFadden

This review will be spoiler free and is divided into sections of overall storytelling, my thoughts, and do I recommend it?

Storytelling

The book starts with the POV of someone who is about to get murdered which did garner my attention. It is followed by a description of a mundane job with a family which felt like a totally unnecessary filler. After that starts the actual storyline where Millie, our protagonist from the previous book is now working with another family as a housemaid where the wife suspiciously remains mostly sick and locked in her room. The constant clues she finds in the house which suggests something sinister is happening behind closed doors fiddles with your imagination.  It starts off very promising and makes you want to read more. It did have unnecessary romance, the majority of which contributes nothing to the story. Some characters felt out of  place but the overall experience makes up for it.

My thoughts

A true-crime episode is what I would call it. The build up is absolutely amazing with good pacing and variation, it gets your hopes high. The odd things Millie notices in the house, a black mazda following her, the disturbing dynamic of the family, sets the atmosphere.

However, the revelation is a big turn-off. It looks like a youtube episode of a crime show we have watched over and over again, typical. But luckily the last part was the saving grace for me. It was intense and filled with "what's next" moments. Some scenes involving the police and the investigation felt very interesting to read. Overall, I think it did keep up with the legacy of "The housemaid"  because some scenes left a profound impact which mostly overshadowed the lack of depth in the plot. Before ending the book the author leaves a question in our minds as food for thought which leads to nowhere as seen in the sequel.

Do I recommend it?

If you have nothing better to do and have a day's worth of time then yes you should read this. If you do, I would suggest skipping most of the monologues and unnecessary relationship drama and focus on the overall story. Read my next blog for review of the sequel "The housemaid is watching".

[azazel-dreams]

The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden

Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[vole-mon-amour]

I'm so annoyed with Wendy. She dislikes the way Douglas dresses, the way he acts, the things he loves (she hates that he's a geek and loves Marvel). Like???

I understand that she's after the money, but ohhh my god. Leave the man alone. If he's not the abuser, then he deserves better than you.

Oh, and she doesn't like that he's fat. I think the abuser in this relationship might be Wendy, not Douglas.

Upd: "He doesn't want to be the man I want him to be. He only wants to be himself." Oh yes, the worst crime ever.

Wendy is awful.

[pixie-of-south]

Devoured the first two books of a Housemaid series in a single sitting, only to be hit with the brutal reality—the last book is yet to be published. The agony of waiting is unbearable.

[andreai04]

“I’ve already been a prisoner once—I won’t let it happen again. No way.”

[loveliveforward]

April Reads

Here are ratings of all the books I read in April: The Very Nice Box – Laura Blackett & Eve Gleichman ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I had a hard time rating this because this book was very slow, but I surprisingly enjoyed it! I think there was supposed to be a deeper meaning behind everything, but the overall story was easy to follow and fun to read. This is a good palette cleanser after a few intense books! The…

[nyelaexe]

you ever read something in a book that pisses you off so bad you have to physically walk away from it

[wttnblog]

Review: "The Housemaid" is a Thriller That's Worth the Hype

I tend to be wary of literary successes on social media. I try to find out if there’s something fishy going on, and in most cases, I admit I don’t even bother reading them. Many of the hyped books I read in the past had some cliché or another that I disliked, so I’ve found my apprehensions mostly proven correct. However, The Housemaid by Freida McFadden was an exception. I like thrillers and…

[the-inkwell-variable]

THE HOUSEMAID'S SECRET by FRIEDA MCFADDEN

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…

RATING :: 4 / 5

Review under the cut! 🚨 Beware SPOILERS! 🚨

Please remember that these are only my opinions. Read the book yourself - your mileage may vary. 💜

🚨 TRIGGER WARNINGS - violence, murder, blackmail, forced drugging, kidnapping, gaslighting, psychological torture, physical torture, graphic depictions of violence🚨

This is the second book in the Housemaid series. I read this immediately upon finishing The Housemaid - I couldn't help it, I was hooked! It wasn't quite as good as The Housemaid - still excellent though!

A word to the wise - do not read this review if you haven't yet read The Housemaid. It contains spoilers for The Housemaid, and I really don't want to spoil such a good book for you. Go read that first - trust me, it's worth it.

It's been several years since the events of the Winchester house. Millie has her own apartment now, she's going to college to be a social worker, and she's dating a sexy hot-shot lawyer named Brock. Problem is, she just lost another job - for a really, really silly reason - and doesn't have enough money in her bank account to cover next month's rent. She needs to get another job, and fast.

Lucky for her, she gets a call from Douglas Garrick, the CEO of Coinstock, asking her to interview for the position of part-time housekeeper. He hires her on the spot and gives her pretty basic instructions - follow the grocery list to a T, keep the already pristine house spotless, and don't bother his wife. She's sickly, you see, and sleeps in the guest room for privacy. Let her rest.

It's not hard to follow the instructions - in fact, this is the easiest gig she's ever done. But Millie can't stop thinking about Wendy Garrick. She can't resist knocking on the guest room door one day, just to check if Wendy's doing okay, and what she sees inside sets her on a path to save another housewife, no matter the cost.

This book follows the same pacing and style of the first. It's almost formulaic in a way. The tension ramps up slowly, with little problems getting bigger and harder to solve on nearly every page. Of course, since you've read The Housemaid, you kind of know what to expect, so you're already scanning every line for foreshadowing, any little clue that will tell you the truth before the big reveal. I was so proud when I figured out what was going on! Take that, McFadden - I've beaten your game!

And then something happened that [the reader] did not expect...

Once again, there's only a little spice, and it's entirely fade to black. Don't go into this expecting sexy romps with sexy husbands, because you're not going to get it.

The tension stays ramped up for the entire book, especially since you're expecting there to be a big world-changing twist right around the corner, but it manages to escalate even further until you, like me, will be on the edge of your seats.

There is a side-plot that felt...lacking. Millie is dating a young lawyer named Brock. He's madly in love with her, constantly asking her to move in with him and suggesting that she should meet his parents. There are clearly wedding bells in the forefront of his mind. Millie, however, is unsure. She should be happy to be dating someone that will skyrocket her from 'broke as hell' to 'comfortably middle class', but she just...can't get into him. Especially since she has to hide her sketchy past, afraid that he'll leave her on the spot if he finds out her truth. I tried to care about this side plot, I really did. It was nice for Millie to have someone at her side, supporting her. But I just feel like this side plot was contrived so Millie would have a lawyer in her speed dial. Maybe it should have been handled differently - maybe it should have been cut out entirely. I'm not sure. All I know is, this side plot left me tired and itching to get back to the real story.

Just like the first, this is not a lighthearted book. I've listed the content warnings above - this is certainly a Dead Dove: Do Not Eat situation. Check the warnings before you read and decide for yourself if you're in a good place to read this book. DNF as soon as you stop having a good time. Your health and safety come first.

But if you're in the mood for a tense story with twists the side of the Titanic and danger around every corner? This is definitely worth a read. Two thumbs, way, way up. I might not read it again soon, but I'm definitely coming back someday.

Thanks for reading my book review! Remember, this review is just my opinion. I (almost) always recommend you read the book yourself and see if you like it!

HAVE A BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR ME? SHOOT ME AN ASK!

[nataliesbookshelf]

The Housemaid Series: Is It That Good?

(Spoilers Ahead!) The Housemaid series built up quite the storm, making the author—Freida McFadden—a now fairly famous writer in the thriller/mystery genre. With good reason! I read the whole series incredibly quickly (finishing each book within a day), and they were so captivating in a way I’ve never experienced before. I usually read books within the fantasy genre, so this was my very first…

[graciesbow]

To anyone who reads the housemaid books and is kept up with the news of the movie, does this new cover look like Sydneys eye to you? I think it'd be pretty cool if it was I just noticed it when I got my package today

[c2e1-book]

Uncover the Dark Secrets in "The Housemaid's Secret 2" – A Thrilling Sequel Download For Free

If you love suspense and intrigue, The Housemaid's Secret 2 is the audiobook for you. This gripping sequel takes listeners deeper into a world of lies, secrets, and shocking twists. With every chapter, you'll be pulled into a dark, mysterious story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover the truth.

Why You Should Listen: The Housemaid's Secret 2 builds on the tension and drama of the first book, delivering an even more thrilling and intense experience. As new secrets are revealed, the stakes get higher, and the twists keep coming. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers, this audiobook offers a chilling narrative that will stay with you long after it's over.

Get It for Free:For a limited time, The Housemaid's Secret 2 is available on Amazon Audible for 0.00$. Don’t miss out on this free opportunity to dive into this heart-pounding mystery! Get it here.