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Book Details

📖 Title: The Housemaid’s Secret
✍️ Author: Freida McFadden
📅 Published: February 15, 2023
📚 Genre: Psychological Thriller, Suspense

🔎 Content Warning: This book contains themes of manipulation, psychological abuse, and dark family secrets.

My Thoughts on The Housemaid’s Secret

You know that feeling when you go into a sequel hoping it’ll blow your mind like the first book did, but instead, it just… keeps you entertained? That was me with The Housemaid’s Secret. Don’t get me wrong, I had fun with it, but it didn’t quite hit the same way The Housemaid did. Still, if you love psychological thrillers, this one delivers its fair share of tension and mystery.

The Setup: What’s Going On This Time?

Millie is back, and somehow, despite everything she’s been through, she lands yet another job as a live-in maid for the rich and powerful. This time, she’s working for the Garricks—Douglas, a wealthy, powerful man, and his wife, Wendy, who never leaves her locked bedroom.

Now, if I were Millie, I’d have some serious questions about this setup. But she needs the job, so she follows orders—until her gut tells her something is off. And when Millie follows her instincts, trouble isn’t far behind. The further she digs, the worse things get, and before she knows it, she’s in deep.

Sound familiar? It should. While the book keeps the tension high, some plot beats feel like déjà vu if you’ve read The Housemaid.

The Writing: Fast, Addictive, and Perfect for Late-Night Reading

Freida McFadden’s writing is like a bag of chips—you tell yourself you’ll stop after a few bites, but suddenly, the whole thing is gone.

• Short, punchy chapters that keep you flipping pages.
• Every chapter ends on a mini-cliffhanger, so good luck putting it down.
• The pacing is fast—no unnecessary fluff, just straight-up suspense.

It’s an easy, bingeable read, perfect for a weekend when you just want to be hooked into a story without overthinking.

The Characters: Familiar, But Still Engaging

Millie is still likable, still relatable, but this time, she feels more like things are happening to her rather than her driving the action. Douglas Garrick is the typical rich, controlling husband with something to hide, and Wendy? Well, let’s just say she’s got secrets of her own.

I liked them, but they weren’t quite as memorable as the characters in The Housemaid.

Twists: Predictable or Jaw-Dropping?

If you’ve read enough thrillers, you’ll probably see some twists coming. That doesn’t mean they aren’t fun! There were a few surprises that got me, but overall, the final reveal didn’t have the same punch as the first book. I still gasped—just not as loudly as I did with The Housemaid.

So, Should You Read It?

Absolutely—if you go in knowing that it’s a solid thriller, just not an extraordinary one. It’s like watching the sequel to a great movie: entertaining, suspenseful, but missing the wow factor of the first.

• If you loved The Housemaid, you’ll enjoy this—it’s just slightly less surprising.
• If you like fast-paced thrillers, this is a perfect binge read.
• If you’re looking for the best twist of the year, this might not be it.

What’s Next?

The final book in the series, The Housemaid is Watching, is already out, and I’ve got my copy ready to go. I’ll be posting my review soon!