Cover Image: The Housemaid's Secret

The Housemaid's Secret

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Another brilliant book from Frieda McFadden, enjoyed this one as much as The Housemaid.
Millie spends her time as a housekeeper trying to help women in abusive relationships but the twist to this book is very clever an unexpected. A must read! Recommended to my friends they all enjoyed it too.

Thanks to Netgally, the author and Bookouture for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Last year I read The Housemaid and loved it. I didn't think this follow on could possibly be as good - how wrong could I be. The Housemaid's Secret works well as a standalone but reading the first book gives you an insight into Millie I highly recommend this entertaining thriller that you won’t want to put down!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

This is another fast paced read although not one of my favourites of McFadden, I still enjoyed it immensely. This author is the queen of this genre. Millie is trying to stay on the right side of the law, earning money as a cleaner while going through college. She hates her employer, believing him to be a serial wife abuser. The rich get away with everything. Dont they?

The twist is brilliant and well worth sticking with the book even if the first few chapters are a slower read than usual.

Was this review helpful?

Millie is keeping her past a secret. She starts a new cleaning job but soon fears that her employer is abusive towards his wife. Can she help Wendy to escape? And can she escape her own past?
The Housemaid's Secret is a psychological thriller set in America. This is the second book that I have read by Freida McFadden. The Housemaid had similar huge twists and you should definitely read it. However, the books work as completely separate stand alones.
Millie begins the book by losing her job. She struggles to find new work due to her criminal history so is grateful to find a well paid housekeeping position for a wealthy businessman and his reclusive wife. Milie soon discovers that Wendy is very unhappily married and vows to help her.
There are lots of little hints that Millie has major secrets in her past which allows us to make assumptions and be misdirected. I was rooting for Millie as she struggles to make her way in the world. She helps others who are vulnerable which makes her noble and easy to like. She herself is flawed and at risk due to her financial situation and she believes someone is following her.
Halfway through the book the perspective changes and we see Wendy's viewpoint. This provides a dramatic contrast and plenty of twists. The writing is atmospheric and tense as well as fast paced. I was completely immersed in this book and couldn't out it down: I just had to keep reading and find out what would happen to Millie and Wendy!
The Housemaid's Secret was a spectacular page turner!

Was this review helpful?

Ok Freida… I see you…. She just can’t disappoint, can she?

After LOVING The Housemaid, I was sooooo excited for this one to come out. I appreciate the ARC on NetGalley - so thank you!

Millie is back at it again, even though this one could be read as a standalone, I would 100% recommend reading the first one as it gives some backstory of who “Millie” is. The book opens up with a family that Millie is working for and as a reader, I thought it was going to be the family she is talking about from the description - WRONG! Millie has to find new work but apparently she has a reputation so getting a new job, was not hard. She starts working for the Garricks and falls back into the same “cleaner” job by helping the wife of Douglas Garrick. Without giving too much away —- this one is good! I would say that I don’t think I liked it as much as the first because I felt the ending wrapped up a little too well and I easily guessed what was going to happen, but it still does not take away from the fact that this one is a must-read. Overall solid 4 stars! Highly recommend!

Thank you Freida for not disappointing again!

Was this review helpful?

OMG ! OMG ! OMG ! OMG! This is the sequel to The Housemaid that was amazing all on it's own but now the sequel is out ! This book knocks it out of the park. I've read everything that Freida has written and let me tell you that you won't be disappointed.. The shocking twists and turns in this book will blow your mind.

Was this review helpful?

Honestly. You can’t go wrong with Freida McFadden. She knows how to write a twisted and fast paced thriller

This was a very gripping sequel to the housemaid and I was hooked from the start. I enjoyed the switch in POVs and the multiple twists.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆..
🗝️ The Housemaid
🗝️ Fast paced thrillers
🗝️ An MC to root for
🗝️ Multiple twists

Was this review helpful?

Having really enjoyed "The Housemaid", I was very exciting to read another Freida McFadden novel, but was left a little disappointed by this one, likely because I expected similar twists to the first story. I found Millie a little annoying, and felt sorry for her boyfriend being stung along.

It's a good thriller, but a little too predicable for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

She hears his wife's cries and never sees her leave the room, but why?
As Millie settles into her new role as The Garrick's housemaid, she grows increasingly suspicious of what's really happening in their luxurious penthouse. With views that span across the city, and having a shiny kitchen to prepare all their fancy meals in, it's almost the perfect job. But Millie can't help but wonder about the blood she sees on Mrs. Garrick's nightgowns, the crying she hears coming from her room, and why she's not allowed to ever knock on her door. One day, she can't help herself and what she sees when Mrs. Garrick lets her in, changes everything. How far is Millie willing to go to make Mr. Garrick pay for what he's done?
As soon as I finished The Housemaid, I immediately started this. I flew through this, not wanting to put it down for even a second. As always, Freida got me. Just when I thought I pieced everything together, she threw a wrench into it. I was shocked by the twists in this and loved how it came to an end. I was thrilled to see Lauryn Allman narrating this sequel after how great she did with the first, and she didn't disappoint! She really brings these stories to life. I'm really hoping there's going to be another addition to Millie's story, as I just can't get enough of it!
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The Housemaid’s Secret
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 2/20/23
Author: Frieda McFadden
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 318
GR: 4.38

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: I ADORED the first book, The Housemaid. I am a TRUE McFadden fan and love everything she has written. The sequel really did the first book justice, just as secretive, just as betrayal written as the first, and overall a really good sequel. Sometimes the sequel, especially in movies, do not live up to expectations, not only does this live up, but it exceeds expectations, going in a slightly different, but same direction as the first book. Millie is back, still doing housekeeping, and still working for a wealthy couple with plenty of secrets. Millie discovers more than dirt when she finally meets Wendy.

The story is primarily narrated by Millie with some surprise other character narration, in their POV. Millie is shy, reserved, but fierce and loyal to a fault. Wendy is a character all on her own, I do not want to give to , much away, as to not spoil for readers. The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, secretive, contain a level of betrayal, and were very creatively developed. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, suspenseful, twisty, and just brilliant. McFadden does an amazing job at storytelling and weaves the twists in layered plots, they come when you least expect them and always pack a powerful punch.

I am a loyal fan of McFadden and will read anything she writes, sometimes even blindly. She is mainly self published through Amazon but has a few books with Bookouture. Any of her books are fantastically written and I would recommend all of them. If you loved the first one, you will definitely love this one. I cannot recommend enough, go pick up today!! McFadden also has a Facebook group and will personally respond to emails, which I love.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a chance to read and review this great book! This is book #2 and follows some of the same characters from book #1 including Millie. Millie is back and cleaning for a new wealthy couple,the Garricks in wealthy Manhattan. It appears to be perfect, not a speck of dust in sight. There is one room that she won't be cleaning though. Wendy Garrick is behind closed doors, recovering from an illness. Millie discovers more than she was prepared for and makes a swift decision regarding Wendy. I found this book to be captivating, well thought out, perfectly paced and tense.

Was this review helpful?

After recently finishing The Housemaid, I couldn’t wait to get started on this next book in the series… and I was not disappointed!!
This is yet another strong storyline with Millie at the centre of it, with plenty of twists and surprises along the way.
I love how this author drags you into the story and then completely blindsides you with how things develop.
Such a great writer of Physcological Thrillers and I can’t wait to see how this series develops in the future.
Another 5 stars for this author from me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Was this review helpful?

Some parts were a stretch of the imagination but it was a fun book. I loved the continuation of Millie's story. Super easy to read, easy to binge, short chapters, some throwbacks to the first book. Solid entertaining thriller!

Was this review helpful?

The Housemaid’s Secret is another amazing, gripping read by Freida McFadden. Millie was down on her luck after spending time in prison. Douglas Garrick lives in a fabulous penthouse apartment. His wife is ill and needs someone to help out with things around the apartment. Cleaning. Laundry. Dinners. What a perfect job that appeared to fall into Millie’s life or is it. After all, Mr Garrick seems like a very nice man. There were twist and turns and a totally surprise, unexpected ending. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Frieda McFadden for the ARC for my review.

Was this review helpful?

Great book with some great twists! Frieda once again did not disappoint! Millie continues to be a badass avenger. Hoping for a 3rd Housemaid with the power couple and new ally!

Was this review helpful?

This is how I like my thrillers! Of the popcorn variety. Pure entertainment the whole way through. This is the sequel to The Housemaid, so make sure you read that first.

In this follow up Millie is back as our MC. There’s mystery, suspense, tension, a fast pace and short chapters. Perfect setup! This sequel lives up to the first 🙌

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the gifted ebook!

Pub Date: 2/20/23 Available Now!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for both!

Was this review helpful?

Freida does not disappoint. The Housemaid’s Secret is an engaging read with a surprise ending you won’t see coming!

Was this review helpful?

All I can say is that Frieda McFadden is the thriller queen!! I loved this book!

I didn’t think I needed a sequel to The Housemaid, but thank God she created one!

Was this review helpful?

I loved The Housemaid last year and this was a strong follow up. A few years after the first book, Millie is cleaning for a new couple. The husband seems like a caring, kind man but he’s left Millie clear instructions not to speak to his wife who is on the second floor recovering from an illness. Millie learns more about her and again gets more involved than she should.
An exciting read and all the characters in this one. Although the first book was a tiny bit more exciting and unexpected, I still enjoyed this one just as much.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely adore Millie, I was so excited to see we are going to see more of her "career". Let me just say she is still up to "no" good. Millie takes a new job as the Garrick's housekeeper. Mrs. Garrick is locked in the guestroom because she is very ill. But Millie can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. When she finally see's the wife, all of her suspicions are true. What will she do about it?

Was this review helpful?