As someone who has read every book written by Freida McFadden, I was a bit surprised by this one. It, unfortunately, was not one of my favorites but it was still a good read. I did understand the main character and why she was so fascinated with turtles. Had the main character been written any differently it would not have sold that aspect of her. Major props to Freida for this. Look forward to her next book. Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Freida McFadden for the advance reader copy of this in return for an honest review.

This was really more of a 3.5 than a 4 for me unfortunately.
I had really high hopes here, the cover is absolutely killer and I just finished Never Lie which was a 5 star for me, so I was really going into this thinking it would be another 5 star.

With previous books of hers I've demolished them in 24 hours or less, this one took like 4 days. This book is still really good but it was just a little more predictable and took a long while to build up.

I will say the ending was damn good, she has a thing for secrets and adding an additional extra cherry on top at the end.

4 ⭐️This thriller kept me on my toes the entire time through all its twist and turns in the story. I could not put it down! The complex personalities in this story are addictive. If you like a psychological cat and mouse type thriller then this would be a great book for you!

Thank you NetGalley, Source Books, and Poisoned Pen Press for the early eARC of The Coworker by Freida McFadden in exchange for my honest review.

In true Freida fashion, this was a great fast paced thriller that I couldn’t put down! Every time I thought I had it figured out, there was another twist. This was a quick and easy read that kept me guessing until the end!

Freida McFadden doesn't let us down and this is another book to add to her greatest hits list. The story is fast-paced and propulsive, and as her fans know, the McTwists are sprinkled throughout. The effortless storytelling is what makes this so readable and as we move along and uncover more secrets, the harder it becomes to put this down.
What a shocking finale and fans of her will devour this.

Omg this book was such a fast pace read from begining to end and which such twists. I legit thought I figured it out and Nope I was wrong!! My new favorite book of this author!

This is the first book of Freida’s that I’ve read which is additional to her Housemaid series. I adored those books so was keen to read some of her other thrillers.

This one took me a few chapters to get into at first I wasn’t sure why as it wasn’t the format, as I loved that, I was thinking maybe it was the extensive detail in the emails but I soon came to realise why and by this time I was hitting the quarter way mark and once I had that realisation, I was settled in.

I love the email format, I love how Dawn’s personality and quirks come through so brightly and understoanding her traits and how they made her who she is really adds a deeper level to the story. Her character is written so well, the person she is shines through McFadden’s writing especially with other character interactions with her.

There is also one other great character, you can understand their frustrations and the want to be successful, however you can’t help hate them regarding their part in the story. Don’t want to say too much or give spoilers.

What I really loved was the two timelines. You know you are reaching ‘the’ point as you read and as the two timelines interlink you realise how bloody good the book really is.

Everything is perfectly concluded and I loved the ending despite the anxiety I was feeling as I progressed through the book.

I did guess a couple of twists pretty early in the story but as I progressed I loved how it all came together. I just loved the book for the pure brilliance that it was and how the author orchestrated it.

Fabulous story and I’m really glad I stuck with it.

I have fallen down a Freida McFadden rabbit hole this year and wow what a wonderful trip it is. This is one of my new favorites by her (second only to Never Lie). This is a twisty book that makes you second-guess everything you thought you knew. It was unputdownable up until the very last page. You will finish this book and just stare at the ceiling thinking about it for a long time after.

In typical Freida fashion this kept me constantly guessing and unable to put this book down. Dawn is such a sweet though quirky person. She has never fit in anywhere, struggles to make friends, and is always the weird one. She never seems to have similar interests as others and lives by a strict never wavering schedule until one day she just disappears.

Natalie is the coworker that doesn’t necessarily befriend Dawn but she is friendly enough to her. Or is she? Nothing is what it seems and when blood is discovered I’m Dawn’s house craziness ensues. Who is responsible for her murder? You’ll never guess.

This is my 5th Freida McFadden book and probably my least favorite. I still really enjoyed it and loved the ending, it’s just not my favorite of hers but still enjoyable

This is my favorite Freida read so far! Enjoyable, quirky characters, with lots of twists and turns. Read it in 2 days, which was tough to do with a stubborn potty-training 2 year old. And I think turtles will always make me think of this book! lol. I will definitely recommend this book to family and friends as a quick, fun, easy read.

Another great book by Freida McFadden. This wasn't my favorite but I really enjoyed it. Never Lie will always be my number one :-)

The more I read of Freida McFadden the more I like her. Like Locked Door this one kept me guessing. The Coworker centers around Dawn Schiff-the oddball new hire who just can't seem to fit in, and Natalie the office "It" Girl who shares the cubicle right next to hers. Their fates are intertwined when Dawn goes missing and as her disappearance is investigated more and more about Natalie and Vixed (the workplace they share) starts to come to light. So, the downside to this book is that even though Dawn is an oddball, her actions make her not very likeable and Natalie is blatantly just not likeable by her attitude and actions so its hard to feel that satisfaction of the baddie getting their just desserts when the protagonist throws up huge red flags too. What does work well here is the perspectives of the characters being shared make it so you really can't guess whose version of events is the correct one, and that ups the intensity factor enough for it to be an enjoyable read. If fast-paced juicy thriller reads are your thing this is probably one you'll want to try.

A toxic workplace thriller with a complex storyline that allows for interesting twists and turns. It is perfect for psychological thrillers and mystery readers. I could read this with fewer mentions of turtles and a better representation of autism. At times both female voices were interchangeable I wish they were more distinctive considering how different they should have been. I think that the author's fans won't be disappointed with this book. The author clearly has a recipe for success and me not liking it would affect or change anything.

thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

"The Coworker" by Freida McFadden is a book that firmly grasps your attention from the first page and refuses to let go until the very end. I had the pleasure of receiving this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for my review, and what an incredible reading experience it turned out to be.

McFadden's talent for storytelling shines brilliantly in this gripping thriller. The plot revolves around the complexities and underlying tensions of workplace relationships, turning an everyday setting into a backdrop for suspense and intrigue. The way McFadden builds the narrative, layering mystery upon mystery, is nothing short of masterful.

The characterization in "The Coworker" is exceptional. Each character is meticulously crafted with depth and realism, contributing to the overall immersive experience of the book. The protagonist, in particular, is a well-developed character whose journey is both compelling and relatable. McFadden has a unique gift for creating characters that resonate with readers, making their experiences and reactions genuinely impactful.

What sets this book apart is McFadden's ability to weave a complex web of plot twists and turns that keeps you guessing. Just when you think you have figured it all out, another curveball is thrown, making "The Coworker" a true page-turner. The suspense is maintained throughout the book, culminating in a satisfying and well-executed conclusion.

The writing style is engaging, with a perfect balance of description and dialogue, making the story both vivid and easy to follow. McFadden's attention to detail and the pacing of the narrative add to the overall effectiveness of the thriller genre, ensuring that there is never a dull moment.

In conclusion, "The Coworker" by Freida McFadden is a five-star read that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller. The book is an exhilarating journey through suspense, mystery, and the intricate dynamics of human relationships. McFadden has delivered a novel that is not only entertaining but also a remarkable example of skillful storytelling in the thriller genre.

My initial thoughts on The Coworker were mixed. I have heard that this author creates really unique thrillers but I've also heard that the books are boring and seem like the author is trying to get as many books published as possible. I think I fall into both categories to a point. I typically enjoy fast-paced thrillers and so I did think this would work for me.

Personally, I dislike this book. I think there are parts that the author does wonderfully but other parts that I disliked and felt were done poorly. The positives I would say is that the writing style is easy to get lost in and the characters are not one-dimensional. The negatives are that the twists were easy to spot, the plot was boring, and the ending was subpar.

The writing style is the best part of this book. It works well with the genre and makes it easy for the reader to forget that time is passing by until you look up and realize its been an hour or two that you've spent reading. I think it added to the story and helped it along when the plot was becoming boring. The characters are also not one-dimensional which I think is a problem that thrillers can have sometimes, especially if they are deemed "fast-paced." These characters are not great and are heavily flawed. I was not interested in any of them but they all had a well rounded characterization and fit stereotypes without only being held in them.

The twists I could see from the beginning. I wish they had been hidden better or had more easter eggs. The plot and twists were very linear and you could see what was coming. I feel that a thriller should not be easily solved even before you get to the halfway point. Characters felt too off and dialogue felt forced to the point you could see the plot unraveling. My least favorite parts were the reasonings and the ending. I think it wrapped up pretty quickly and was pretty boring as the plot was trying to make this a bigger explosion than it was.

I think this book would work for some readers who enjoy thrillers but don't care about knowing what is coming. I think for thriller readers who want harder to solve mysteries and twists then this isn't for you. I probably won't read from this author again because I think it would be unfair to their work since I disliked their style of plotting out a story.

I would like to thank the Publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Dawn is a little on the strange side (aren't all Dawn's a little weird? I know I am), but her coworkers can count on her reliability. That is until she doesn't show up for work one morning. One coworker in particular, Natalie, discovers that someone was following Dawn with dark intent. Freida McFadden is definitely one of my favorite authors of psychological suspense, but this one left me wanting. It started out in McFadden's usual intriguing manner, but the ending was a little predictable.

I love Freida McFadden books, however, this one was a bit drawn out IMO. It was a little bit predictable, but still a fun read.

Freida has done it again! Love the twist as well as the turtles! I really enjoyed this one. But I love all of her books. I would absolutely, and have recommended this to friends.

5 sinister stars for this gem of a thriller.

I almost put this one down after starting it over twice because I’ve just been in a more Christmas-book mood the last several weeks (through no fault of its own, this book isn’t a Christmas book at all and doesn’t claim to be!)

Once the story grabbed my attention, I was hooked and couldn’t to find out what was really going on between the two ill-fated coworkers to were bound together by more than just the place of their employment. Old grudges die hard, no pun intended for Dawn as she navigates neurodivergency and acts of revenge for an old friend.

The narration was super but I think I would have enjoyed this book equally even if I had read it in print. 5 stars.