This one was a bit slower than her other thrillers I’ve read. The twist didn’t blow me away either. It’s my least favorite that I’ve read from her, but I’ll still pick up her next book because they’re usually pretty bingeable and entertaining.

This book was amazing. Just had you guessing the whole time and the twists are just so unexpected. I highly recommend.

Thank You NetGalley for this free eARC.

Nora David thought she had a normal family. She attended school, did family activities, and thought it was the norm for everyone's basement door to be locked where her dad had his workshop. Until one day, she discovered her father was a serial killer and is sent to live with her grandmother. Her grandmother forbade her from ever seeing her father in prison. Her father wrote her often, but Nora ignored them. She be came a respected surgeon and made sure no one knew about her father. A young female patient of Nora's is found murder. She soon learns that it was in the same style her father used. Someone knows who she is and is trying to frame her.

Freida McFadden is one of my favorite authors so I was excited to read this book. I loved that it had short chapters and interesting characters. It was a twisty psychological thriller. This book felt a little flat for me and was a bit blah. I don't feel like it was her best book written and I think her other books are better. I still plan on reading more of her titles.

This one was fine for me. Freida McFadden is so hit or miss for me - but no matter what I can always count on the fact that I will be reading a book that I fly through with some fun twists and turns.

Entertaining and a quick read - perfect for a palette cleanser between some heavier books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you ever just need a fun, fast-paced thriller, Freida McFadden will deliver. Her books are twisty and fun and the endings I’ve read so far are satisfying. This one was, too. I appreciated how the main character, Nora, is a surgeon who is trying to live her life after a very tragic, scary childhood. Her father was pretty messed up. I didn’t figure out the ending and by half way through the book, really wanted to know what was going on!

This book is as creepy as creepy can get. The way I felt weird and suspicious throughout reading it tells a lot about it, I do not generally read thrillers but the ones like these are hard to put down. The main character did not feel reliable at all and the twists just kept coming.

Loved the suspense! So far my fave of the four, with a good plot, a little bit of gore and a really good plot twist. I didn't predict this ending at all and really captivated me. There was a fair bit of character growth throughout the story and polished off nicely. I was a bit skeptical how this one would end (I really thought she was somehow killing people subconsciously 😅) but it turned out well.

Freida McFadden is a go-to for suspenseful, quick reads that keep readers on their toes. I did figure out who the "villain" (other than Nora's father) was, but there were several twists that still created a satisfying surprise ending. It was nice to have at least one truly sympathetic, likable character in the book. As always, McFadden's dark humor was completely entertaining. This is a good fit for readers who may be fascinated by real-life serial killers as well as those who enjoy a little abnormal psychology here and there.

The Locked Door was a quick read that was full of twists that I didn’t see coming. Freida had me believing I had it all figured out multiple times, but I was proven wrong over and over. I was not a huge fan of the last book I read from this author, but I’m glad I gave this one a shot!

Book Review: The Locked Door by Freida McFadden

The Locked Door by Freida McFadden is a gripping psychological thriller that dives deep into the dark side of family secrets and inherited trauma. McFadden, known for her taut suspense and unexpected twists, delivers a chilling story filled with tension and dread, making it difficult to put down from the very first page.

The protagonist, Dr. Nora Davis, is a skilled surgeon hiding a dark past—her father was an infamous serial killer who committed horrific crimes in their family home. Nora has spent her adult life distancing herself from this legacy, burying her traumatic childhood and keeping her history a secret. However, when a string of murders begins to mirror her father’s grisly methods, Nora becomes the prime suspect. Haunted by the past and desperate to clear her name, she must confront the secrets she thought she’d left behind.

McFadden’s writing style is sharp and immersive, with short, punchy chapters that keep the reader hooked and the pace relentlessly fast. She expertly weaves flashbacks to Nora’s childhood, revealing disturbing glimpses of her father’s crimes and the traumatic impact on Nora’s psyche. This gradual unfolding of her background builds suspense while adding layers to Nora’s character, making her both intriguing and sympathetic.

The twists in The Locked Door are cleverly crafted. Just when you think you’ve pieced everything together, McFadden throws in a surprise that takes the story in a different direction. She plays with the theme of nature vs. nurture, raising questions about whether Nora can ever escape her father’s influence and whether evil tendencies can be passed down. The atmosphere is tense, and the mystery surrounding the copycat murders keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

While the novel primarily focuses on suspense, McFadden also gives us a look into Nora’s isolation and the toll her father’s crimes have taken on her sense of self and her relationships. This emotional depth adds a layer of poignancy to an otherwise dark story, making Nora’s struggle feel raw and real.

Verdict: The Locked Door is a masterfully crafted thriller that will appeal to fans of dark, psychological suspense. Freida McFadden has created a haunting story full of twists, chilling flashbacks, and a protagonist grappling with the shadows of her past. With its gripping pace and relentless tension, this book is a must-read for thriller lovers looking for a story that will keep them on edge until the final, shocking revelation.

This book was so interesting. Freida is such a popcorn thriller writer. Much of the book, I was rolling my eyes at how cringey it was. But there was also a lot of the time that I was super invested in the plot and who was responsible for the killings. I wish that Frieda would try to write slightly more sophisticated. It, at times, felt like a high schooler’s writing. I could completely predict the next line at times due to the corny dialogue.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

This was a fast-paced psychological thriller that will get you hooked with its dark and twisted plot. The story revolves around Dr. Nora Davis, whose chilling family secret resurfaces after years of being locked away. With all the unpredictable twists that Frieda is typicallt known for, the ending will leave you breathless!

You can't go wrong with Freida McFadden! Her books are entertaining and always have a twist you will never see coming. You'll think you have it figured out and then by the end you're shocked that it was the person you never even suspected. The Locked Door follows Nora whose father is a convicted serial killer. Nora has started over with a new name (and is a respected surgeon. When her patients start being murdered as her father used to kill his victims, Nora can't figure out what is going on. Is her father somehow out of prison without her knowledge? Is this a copycat? Read to find out the truth. You won't be disappointed.

A good premise. I enjoy books that have flashbacks along the way to help untangle the truth. As always, a quick paced enjoyable thriller.

Thank you for my e arc!

This wasn’t the best thriller. It had me questioning everyone, and I really thought the killer was the other doctor in her practice. I thought the ending was rushed and didn’t make sense to me. The long lost sister just wasn’t realistic.

This book gave me so many chills, and kept me guessing. Nora Davis (Nierling) grew up the child of a serial killer father who has been sentenced to 18 life sentences for his murders. Nora Davis is a successful surgeon, and has tried to put her inherited traits from her dad and traumatic childhood behind her; but then, two bodies of patients she's performed surgeries on turn up dead, in the same fashion that her father killed his victims. Detectives think Nora is following her father's serial killer footsteps. Nora discovers that some is out to get her and frame her, but who and why? The person out to frame her is someone Nora never expected. At the end, there's a family secret exposed that Nora didn't see coming. At the end, Nora does find her own slice of happiness. This is a classic thriller from Freida McFadden that will leave you captivated.

I enjoyed reading The Locked Door. When I started reading I was sure I had read this plot before. Some searching on Amazon tells me the book was published in 2021. I guess it must have been reworked and newly released. I liked the plot and characters. I liked Nora and sympathized with her over her past. I thought I knew the ending but of course I didn't remember the twist at the end. I'm giving it four stars because I'm sure I had read it before.

4.5 stars for this one! I love Freida books they always keep you guessing right until the last minute!

Intense, scary and fun!! I loved this book just as I do with every one of this author's titles. I can't wait to read the rest of her catalogue!