"The Locked Door" by Freida McFadden is a spine-tingling thriller that'll keep you guessing. With secrets lurking behind those locked doors, the story delivers a creepy punch. Nora's twisted family history adds a wicked twist to the plot. The suspense will grab you, but make sure you're ready for what's lurking in the basement! Four stars for the thrill, chills, and the locked-up suspense! 🚪💀🔑🌟

Book Review | The Locked Door 🔒

Twenty-six years ago:
11-year-old Nora Nierling is a young girl living in Oregon with her loving family. Her father, a respectable man named Aaron Nierling, was known for his stable occupation and being a committed father and husband.
Nora often reflected on her dad’s workshop. He spent most of his time there, yet he never seemed to come up with a finished product. The workshop is always locked, and weird noises can be heard. Sometimes, Nora thinks she hears screams... but that's wild… right? Her father also loves lavender, as the basement workshop door can always smell its overpowering smell. It's not covering anything up...

The present:
Aaron Nierling was apprehended in his residence in Oregon following an anonymous tip, leading to a shocking revelation: the remains of thirty young girls. Nierling acquired the eerie nickname "the handyman" due to his unsettling modus operandi that involved dismembering his victims' hands. He was promptly handed a life sentence in prison.
Nora has changed her last name and is employed at a medical facility alongside an ambitious colleague, with the aspiration of attaining the status of a surgeon. She has embraced a lifestyle of solitude, dedicating herself entirely to her professional responsibilities, avoiding any form of closeness or connection with others, determined not to pass her genetics and create another monster like her father.

Nora is determined to move on from her past, but the past has different intentions. An unexpected visit from a law enforcement officer disrupts her supposedly tranquil existence. Her patients are being targeted and killed in a manner that disturbingly resembles her father's gruesome acts. Due to her connections to the victims, Nora becomes the primary suspect. She soon realizes that she is being constantly monitored, with incriminating evidence left in her home, potentially framing her as a murderer. As her father remains incarcerated, the pressing question emerges: who is this imitator following in her father's horrifying footsteps? Nora must locate this copycat killer before she is convicted for the murders she did not commit. Or did she? Here is a fun little twist: Nora displays some psychopathic tendencies.

This was my very first Frieda McFadden novel, and it will not be my last. This was a fun and very fast read. It’s probably one of my fastest reads yet. It would have been a one-sitting read if I didn’t have two young, crazy kiddos. I highly recommend this psychological thriller.

This was my first McFadden novel and probably my last. The first half of this book <i>dragged</i> and I almost stopped reading. There were so many flashbacks to the main character’s time in school and how she had no friends except for Marjorie. I thought that was going to come full circle at some point, but when it was brought up later it wasn’t really eventful. Also, there were soooo many excerpts detailing how she feeds the stray cat that comes to her back door, what her favorite drink is, etc. which were so boring.

I felt like the main character lacked common sense…she’s this brilliant surgeon but then can’t be bothered to put in a security system when she first gets the idea someone is following her. The twist at the end was decent but predictable. I will absolutely forget about this book in a couple of days.

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Every single time I finish reading a McFadden book, I tell myself “I need to take a break and stop reading her for awhile,” and I always end up reading another book and rating it as average or worse.

McFadden has a talent for writing EXTREMELY fast paced, easily digestible plots. McFadden also has a talent for botching up the plot twists and climaxes to the point where I’m actively eye rolling at the pages…

I had gotten this ARC on netgalley before I realized that I owned the copy self-published. I’m curious as to whether she changed anything about the ending or the story itself in the new edition. (Will look into this and update)

The Locked Door was an easy read, I finished it within 24 hours and now I’m just ready for the next book. Nothing extraordinary to say about this book unfortunately

4.5/5
I really liked this book.
The twists and turns didn’t stop!
Freida McFadden never disappoints.

The characters were so interesting and I found Nora to be such a great character. I rooted for her the whole time.

It’s a short and fast read. It keeps you on your toes. Definitely one of my favorite thrillers.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The Locked Door by Freida McFadden is about Nora Davis the daughter of a notorious serial killer. No one knows this fact though as she intends to keep it that way. However when one of her patients is found dead in the same manner her father killed, she is the first suspect on the list.
No surprise to me I loved this thriller! Since Freida McFadden is my favorite thriller author, this book is just another one on my list of first to recommend! Just when you think you have figured out what happened the twists come in and turn the world upside down. The tension builds and I could not put this book down!
The main character, Nora, the notorious serial killers daughter is struggling with how much she is like her father and her fear of turning into him. When the police come knocking at her door she doesn't know how to prove that just because she is different that doesn't mean that she is like her father. She grows in her confidence of who she is throughout the novel in a way that you are routing for her.
I loved this thriller and could not stop reading! It captivated my attention and I would recommend this book to any thriller reader! I can't wait for Freida McFadden's next one!

Wow, This domestic thriller was a page-turner. I could not put this book down. I really enjoyed this one, and did not see the twist coming. I had so many theories about how the book would end, but I was so wrong. This would be a good read for spooky season.

This book follows Nora Davis, a successful surgeon, who is trying to put her family's dark secret behind her. Nora's father is prison for murder. He was know as "the handyman" serial killer. Nora is nothing like her father. There have recently been a couple murders on the news, and Nora is worried someone is trying to send her a message or frame her for these murders. Will she get to the bottom of whose been killing all of these innocent women?

Read if you like:
-Unreliable narrators
-Slasher movies
-Multiple twists
-Domestic thrillers

This was a fun read and I definately reccomend! Thank you Poisned Pen Press and Sourcebooks for the e-arc!

📚Book 248 of 2023📚

Freida McFadden is a true genius of suspense!! This book sucked me in from page one. I didn’t see the twist coming! And just when I think everything is resolved, BAM! This is a home run!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Publication Date- 10/3/23

🔑🔑🔑🔑🔑

Freida can do no wrong for me ! This is my 10th Freida book I’ve read , so you’d think I’d be on to her by now and able to figure out a little something that’s going on , but yet again … I thought I knew but NOPE !!

I loved this one !!! Nora drives me crazy sometimes and towards the end I was yelling at my book for her to NOT go down there , and called her stupid a couple times but that’s normal behaviour for me towards the end of a Fredia book. I was so on edge towards the end , I almost didn’t want to know because I was too scared 🤣

I loved the switching back and forth between timelines , and learning a little about Nora’s childhood !

“Some doors are locked for a reason…..” …… and it’s better you just keep it that way. Even if the door happens to be unlocked … it’s best you just up and leave and NOT go down there to find out 😂😂
I didn’t trust anyone , not even the cat 😂

I’d also love a sequel to this one ! K thanks bye!!

IG review will be up soon! @books_andmakeup

First of all, THANK YOU SO MUCH to Freida, Poisoned Pen, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this digital review copy. Fully understanding this title was already released and available other ways, to have the opportunity to read an advance copy of the newly published version meant a lot to me, especially because of Freida’s sheer popularity so I NEVER get selected for ARCs of new Freida books which is ways such a bummer!

While this isn’t one of my top all-time Freida favorites, it was still a great, well-written story that I got quickly invested in and it had a plot twist that I never saw coming. This one is a little slower burn than the usual from Freida, but I did feel like that was necessary given the plot and amount of backstory for it to work. I’m a sucker for serial killer fiction and daughter of a serial killer plots and this one was still unique from the rest!

I’m not entirely sure if Freida’s books are legitimately shorter or if I just absolutely devour them but I swear she’s the only author that I can ALWAYS without fail read every book in a single day.

A page-turner thriller! My first McFadden books were The Housemaid and The Housemaid's Secret, and I wanted to go back to an earlier one and see how this compared. I probably liked the series a bit more, but this was still a 5 for me. If I'm judging her against her other two books, it's more like a rounded up 4.5, but compared to other books, it's a 5.

Her protagonist is sympathetic and nuanced, and it's clear that McFadden is in her element in a hospital setting, which made it realistic. The twist was great. I never saw it coming. One thing I missed was her signature dry humor. Well worth a read. Great book!

Requested this one forgetting I already it! However nothing to reread for finer details right??! I loved it more my second time through.

I absolutely love Frieda McFadden’s books! This one definitely grabbed me at the beginning and held on for a little while.

Nora is a surgeon who tries very hard to hide a family secret - she’s the daughter of a serial killer. Some time after her father’s conviction a few of her patients turn up murdered. Does the apple fall far from the tree?

I do wish this one had less drawn out explanations but overall the read was a good one and I highly recommend!

I am a long time fan of Freida. I really thought she couldn't top The Housemaid's Secret (for me personally) but The Locked Door is my new favorite for sure. I loved the flashbacks, the subtle glimpses into Nora's childhood and who she had the potential to become versus who she chose to be. I really thought I had this one figured out, I knew who the copycat was, and I was just waiting for the plot to come together to confirm my suspicions. The final twist sent me for a loop! I didn't see that coming, but I loved that I was wrong! The epilogue was so sweet, and I loved that Nora got her happy ending and the closure she needed.

The Locked Door is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the dark and twisted secrets of a family haunted by a legacy of violence and murder. The story begins with eleven-year-old Nora Davis, unaware of the horrifying reality unfolding in her own home. While she innocently does her homework in her bedroom, her father is committing heinous acts of violence in the basement, leaving a trail of victims in his wake. The shocking revelation comes when the police arrive at their front door, and Nora's father is taken into custody, leaving a legacy of infamy.

Decades later, Nora has become a successful surgeon, leading a quiet and solitary life. She has concealed her father's dark past, determined to distance herself from the horrors of her childhood. However, her carefully constructed world begins to crumble when she discovers that one of her young female patients has been brutally murdered, mirroring the gruesome methods her father used to kill his victims.

Nora is plunged into a nightmare as she realizes that someone knows her true identity and intends to frame her for the unspeakable crime. The police are closing in, and the pressure mounts, but Nora is not a killer like her father. As long as they don't investigate her basement, she believes she can escape the shadow of her past.

The author skillfully crafts a tale of suspense and psychological tension, exploring the enduring trauma of a family marred by violence. The narrative weaves a web of secrets, deception, and paranoia as Nora fights to clear her name while hiding her darkest family secret.

It is a heart-pounding thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, with its chilling exploration of the impact of generational violence and the lengths one woman will go to protect her carefully guarded secrets. As the suspense intensifies and the truth threatens to unravel, readers will be captivated by the relentless pursuit of justice and the harrowing revelations that await in the darkest corners of Nora's past.

It is a riveting psychological thriller that showcases Freida McFadden's talent for crafting a suspenseful narrative filled with secrets, tension, and unexpected twists. It's a must-read for fans of the genre who crave a dark and enthralling story of family secrets and the lengths one woman will go to protect her hidden past.

Excellent book from start to finish! I would recommend reading this book during the day so you are not scared by sounds in the dark. I’ve read a few books by Freida McFadden and will definitely be reading more!

The locked door. By Freida McFadden. Published October 2023. Freida McFadden does it again. Nora is the daughter to a man who was a serial killer of dark haired , dark eyed women. With there hands cut off Now that she is a well known surgeon and two women come up dead with missing hands. Nora is the suspect

Nora is a skilled surgeon but no one knows her dark secret: her father is serial killer Aaron Nearling. He’s in prison for 18 life sentences, but women are disappearing again and ending up dead just how he killed them. The police come knocking on Nora’s door suspecting she’s taking up her fathers mantle and carrying on her legacy.

I’ve said it before, Freida never fails. She always keeps me guessing and I know not to try to figure out the twists or ending, because there will be 5 surprise twists I never saw coming.

Gosh I can’t believe how quickly I read this novel. It was a great read and I didn’t guess the twist at all. This was a first read for me of this author, but I’ll definitely read more. Although the characters didn’t come to life for me I did find the story really gripping. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this book.

Wow. Just wow. You can not go wrong with Freida McFadden! This book follows successful surgeon, Nora whose father is spending his life behind bars. Nobody knows her father was a notorious serial killer and she intends to keep it that way. But can she? Especially once she finds out not one, but two of her patients have been murdered in the same signature as her fathers victims. This book totally kept me hooked! If you want a fun thriller whodunnit, I definitely recommend this one!

Thank you author Freida McFadden and netgalley for this early release ARC copy in exchange for an honest review 🩶

This is another brilliant read by Freida McFadden. Having loved the housemaid series, I was really excited to read this book and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
Unique, well written and fast paced; it really is the perfect thriller.