The story starts off with a punch. Straight off, we are told that twenty-six years ago, a man named Aaron Nierling was arrested from his Oregon home for the murder of thirty victims. He was a regular kind of guy, with a steady job, a woodworking hobby, a good husband, and a father to Nora. ⁣⁣
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One day, however, the police show up at their door after having received an anonymous tip, and find a dead girl in the basement. He admits to the killings of a total of thirty women over a period of two decades.⁣⁣
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Because his signature was to cut off the hands of his victims, he earned the moniker ‘The Handyman’. He was sentenced to multiple life sentences without any possibility of parole when Nora was just eleven years old, and she hasn’t seen him or spoken to him since then.⁣⁣
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Nora’s mother was arrested too, for aiding and abetting, and she committed suicide while in police custody, while Nora was raised by her maternal grandmother. ⁣⁣
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In the present day, Nora is a surgeon and has her own practice. She has changed her last name to Davis, and has tried her best to completely erase her past. However, she cannot completely leave it behind, and so she has nothing in her life apart from her work. She has stayed far from friendships and relationships, and doesn’t let anyone into her life or her home. ⁣⁣
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One day, however, her peace is shattered when a patient of hers ends up murdered, and her hands are cut off, just like her father used to do. The police start interrogating her, because of who her father is, and she is incredulous that they think that she could be involved. ⁣⁣
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Then another patient of hers is murdered. Very soon it becomes apparent that these murders are personal because of the victims’ links to her as their surgeon.⁣⁣
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Then someone starts leaving evidence of the murders at her house and in her car, but she can’t tell anyone about it, because she believes that it would make HER look guilty. She knows that her father is in jail, but then who is the copycat killer, and why are they committing these murders and trying to frame her? ⁣⁣
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The main two suspects are Brady, her love interest, who was her boyfriend in the past, and who showed up back in her life at around the same time that the murders started taking place, and Philip, her partner at her medical practice. She has to find out who it is before the next murder is committed, and she’s afraid the next victim might be Harper, her receptionist, who is the same age and appearance as the other victims, and is also closely associated with Nora. ⁣⁣
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The book is fast-paced, an drew me in immediately. No beating around the bush; you read the first sentence, and you’re already in the story, no descriptions, no slow build-up, just…BOOM!⁣⁣
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The chapters are short and pack a punch, maintaining the pace throughout. Did I see the final twist? No, I did not, to be honest. Did I find it entirely believable? Nah. Did I find it just the slightest bit contrived? Yes. A person showing up at just the right moment to save the day at the end. Yup. That belongs in a Hollywood film. However, that doesn’t make it any less entertaining or enjoyable. ⁣⁣
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The character of Nora is of a cold, distant person, who is a product of her past. She is an accomplished surgeon, but she has never moved past the fact of who her father is. Even though she is completely innocent, she behaves in a very paranoid manner at times and reaches illogical conclusions because of that, and does some completely bonker-ish things, such as throw murder evidence in a trash bin (?!)⁣⁣
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Having said all that, I would still recommend it to readers of mysteries/thrillers as it is quick-paced, absorbing, and easy to read (no complicated multiple timelines to keep track of). You may think you have figured it out once or twice during the story, but trust me, you would be wrong. ⁣⁣
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Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

NEW FAV BOOK ! 4.5🌟

Would you believe me if I say that I was intrigued from the prologue! ⬇️
“He is a narcissist and a psychopath, who likely killed at least thirty women without a trace of remorse. He is insane. He is a monster. He is also my father.”

I was in a huge reading slump but " THE LOCKED DOOR" was the reason I'm out from it.

This is my first book by Freida McFadden and absolutely not the last.
Not all authors can write thrillers with that quality!😋

I want to speak out loud and admire every thing about this book but I don't want to reveal spoilers.

I'm fascinated by the writing style, the characters, how I was on my edge, the plotttt and EVERY SINGLE DETAIL.😭💗

At the beginning the story was giving me "mouse k-drama" vibes and I liked that.

"Nora" made me afraid, confused and Sympathized for her.
From my point of view her parents were the reason why she thought and tried to be evil. She is the output of whatever they persuaded her with, even if that was unintentionally.

I was terrified of LOCKED DOORS long ago but now I'm traumatized.🫡

Thank you Netgalley and the author for providing me with this ARC.

Another great psychological thriller by Frieda McFadden. I found the characters likeable, and the story engaging. I kept picking it up just wanting to know where this was going, and I still didn’t see the twist coming !
Easy, quick, enjoyable book for the thriller lover!

Wow! Freida McFadden's books are always worth a read and this one did not disappoint me. Mystery meets Serial Killer-vibe: this book will have you hooked within the first chapter. I really recommend giving this one a shot!

The more novels I read by Freida, the more I fall in love with her writing style and plotlines. Halfway through this book, I thought I had figured it all out. I thought that I'd be disappointed by the end. Boy, was I wrong. It has just the right amount of suspense, the characters are well developed and that twist at the end!! *chef's kiss*

Nora Davis is a surgeon trying desperately to escape the shadow of her father's murderous past, but when the police knock on her door and suspect her of murdering two young women who were on her operating table, her past seems to come crashing down on her.

I generally enjoy Freida's books, they're a fun read that holds your attention and has an interesting twist. While this isn't my favourite of her books, it's a solid read that keeps you interested and wanting to read more!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book. This author did it again! I was hooked from the beginning. The way I questioned the main character. I always felt like I knew her so well, but not at all. I am not disappointed at all by the twists and turns. Great overall book and solid read.

Whoa!!! Now I get the hype for this author!!!!
I was so incredibly invested with this story and I love how it went straight forward into the twists and mystery without bringing any extra unnecessary characters or situations!!!!!
I'll definitely read more by this author!!!! I don't want to miss any of her books!!!!

Thank you Freida McFadden, Poisoned Pen Press and netgalley for the arc 😍 I loved this book so much!!!!

Pretty good. A standard Freida McFadden book, so you know what to expect but it's still a really enjoyable mystery.

Another great work by Freida McFadden that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. This is not normally my genre but McFadden does it so well I just have to keep coming back for more. She truly knows how to pull a reader in for the ride of a lifetime and always keeps us coming back for more. I highly recommend this book!

This is now the eighth book I read by Freida McFadden and let me just say I am never as shocked reading mystery’s as I am with hers. This book started off pretty slow the first few chapters but eventually caught all my attention. I thought I had solved the mystery but just like all the others I hadn’t. I find with many mystery books that the killer never makes sense but with this one I didn’t see it coming and it still made sense. Definitely will continue reading more Freida McFadden.

The Locked Door, by Freida McFadden
Rating: 4/5
Published: 18th October (Tomorrow!)
What a thrilling ride! I devoured this book in two days, because I could not put it down. I loved trying to guess the twist, but it was impossible to foresee. Nora’s character is brilliant – she is both unsettling but strangely likeable, despite the reader never truly knowing if she can be trusted. McFadden weaves an intricate web, and I loved the little glimpses into Nora’s childhood. She is the daughter of the deranged serial killer, the Handyman, but it is suggested that Nora might have been actively involved in her father’s hideously violent crimes. You never truly know whether she was or not, which is part of the book’s charm. Despite her father being in prison, women are still going missing and all evidence points to her being responsible. She has a new life now, and does not want it ruined, but can she fight what’s in her blood?

This book is not good and unfortunately the audiobook is even worse. The plot is thin and convoluted. The narration on the audiobook had no nuance. At one time I had to check to see if it was at the wrong speed because it all felt like run-on sentences. Skip this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
I was super drawn to this book as I feel as if Freida has become such an iconic author, but unfortunately I just don't think I get on with her writing style. I was a bit let down as the plot seemed so good and promising. I found this quite predictable and I didn't like the protagonist which is a reoccurring feeling when reading Freida's novels.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this early!

I really enjoyed this book. It was the right amount of suspense and thrills without being drawn out.

I have read 4 novels by Freida McFadden now, and with each one I finish, I find myself more and more confused and let down. In fact, as I write this review, I can feel myself becoming more boggled by the impressively high rating this, and other, Freida McFadden books get.

I started with the Housmaids Secret, and while it was fairly straight forward, it was thoroughly fun and I enjoyed it start to finish. Then I read two more novels that were just so wildly chaotic with endings that made zero sense in any imaginable way. Then, today, The Locked Door. This was the most anti-climactic, dull, and hasty ending that she could have possibly come up with.

The book itself was fine. Nora was a bit one dimensional, though it felt like there was a serious failed effort to really invest in get character. Phillip had basically no role, was portrayed as kinda crappy, but was still far more likeable with way more personality. I also don’t get when authors really buy into the character doing everything you shouldn’t do when you’re being framed for a crime - Nora is a smart lady, who obviously wasn’t the killer… she does not need to be throwing out severed hands for the sake of creating drama in the plot.

The more I think about not just this book, but McFadden’s writing, the more I realize it doesn’t seem she knows how to effectively wrap up a book. Good endings should have foreshadowing and breadcrumbs that have the potential to lead the reader to the solution. You either want them to feel satisfied with the solve, or to be able to go back and appreciate what they missed to come to the right conclusion. The Locked Door, along with the other books I’ve read, went hard on the shock, at the expense of a legitimate plot.

Somehow, like a sucker for punishment, I’m sure I’ll read another one of her books. Despite this semi-scathing review, I did read this in one sitting and I will probably read another. I want to stop, I’m upset, but I can’t. Please don’t read this, or do, I honestly have no idea.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to review this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book is available now.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was immediately sucked in and finished it within a day. It’s a true page turner.

My only complaint is it’s unbelievable that the main character would see so many red flags yet not take action. If you can deal with that, it’s a thriller with a surprise ending!

It was the atmosphere of this one for me. Throughout the book there was a constant prickling feeling of someone watching, just out of sight. The coupled with the my ‘insert family member’ is a serial killer trope, and I was all in!

This is an exceptionally readable book, 100% a page turner. McFadden has a knack of making you think every character is the villain, even until the last page, because if you’ve read any Freida McFadden books, you’ll know there is always a last-minute twist that throws the reader for a loop.

I enjoyed the format of the book, alternating timeline between Nora’s past and present and felt these past chapters really fleshed out the character of Nora and were vital to understanding her motivations and actions throughout the book.

All in all a riveting story which has further cemented McFadden as an auto buy author.

Great book! As soon as I thought I figured out who the bad guy was there was another twist. The book kept me wanting more.

Crazy twists & turns! Was not expecting the ending at all. Nora Davis, surgeon and daughter of a serial killer leaves you begging for more….wanting another installment of the story. Will she continue to be the do-gooder of the family, or will she let her father influence her to walk down the wrong path? I’m a new McFadden for life!