Skip to main content

Member Reviews

I binged this one in just over a day. It was just what I needed to get me out of a major book hangover-induced reading slump.  Here we have a serial killer in the family and a daughter who may or may not be an unreliable narrator.  Is she? Isn’t she?  You’ll have to read it to find out for yourself. 
 
I really enjoyed this one.  It’s a bingeworthy psychological thriller you can finish in a weekend. 

My thanks to @poisonedpenpress and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?

I love a good thriller that I can't predict the ending. Was it her, was it Brady, was it Phillip? I didn't see the twist happening at the end. I loved the flashbacks to when she was 11. Not only did the author make the writing realistic to an 11 year old, it also added to the thought that it could have been her. Was she evil like her father? She knew what was happening in the basement. Did she help? I also loved the epilogue. Sometimes I feel like the epilogue isn't necessary, but this one helped complete the story.

Was this review helpful?

Ok soooooo.....where do I begin???? wow....just when I figured it out I really didn't!!!! Trust me you will never guess!!!! This book!!! Totally not the person I expected! One of the best Freida books yet!!!!

Was this review helpful?

Wow! I could NOT put this book down! While reading about Nora's story, it definitely kept me on my toes. From the secrets about her family to the plot twist towards the end of the book, I was NOT expecting that! This is definitely on my list for favorite psychological thrillers for sure. I would definitely recommend it if you like fast-paced mysteries and psychological thrillers! Cannot wait for Freida's next book! I would like to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC of The Locked Door by Freida McFadden!

Was this review helpful?

Freida McFadden never disappoints and this book is no exception. A good murder mystery with twists. I enjoy the medical theme as well. I thought I had it figured out but I didn't! Easy to read, not too many characters and only two time lines.
I listened to the audio book and my main issue is that I really don't enjoy listening to Shaina Summerville narrate, especially her male voices.

Was this review helpful?

Fantastic, fast-paced story about Nora’s life as the child of a serial killer. Nora’s life is lonely but safe, until a series of murders with a similar MO to her dad’s killings start up and her life begins to unravel…

Was this review helpful?

The prologue is crazy, in and of itself. This is crazy. Every bit of it. Nora just keeps saying some weird stuff that makes me think some things. 👀 But then theres like things with other characters that I think it could be them. Idk, this is crazy. I have no idea who could be murdering these women. So i finished.. Wow. I loved this. I couldn't stop reading. I love true crime stuff so this really had me hooked from the beginning. But let's talk about that ending. I did NOT expect that. That was absolutely insane. I'm so happy it wasn't the people I thought it was though. Like you'd never expect who it actually was. This was the second McFadden book I've read and wow, so good.

Was this review helpful?

Read this if you like:
serial killers
MC with medical profession
locked rooms
chapters ending with cliffhangers
single POV + 2 timelines
mind blowing plot twists

After reading The coworker I was a bit discouraged to read something else by this author, but I couldn’t resist the blurb. And as I’ve said in my previous review from McFadden: don’t decide to read a book because you see it everywhere, read it because the blurb convinces you to read it.

I am so happy that I read this book, because for me this book is without a doubt worth five stars (and I really needed to read an AMAZING book after I’ve read mostly meh books the last weeks), this one definitely got me back into my reading vibe.

It’s everything you would expect from a psychological thriller: grips you from the start, makes you suspicious about everyone and everything, has a good amount of tension, fast paced, short chapters and a lot of cliffhangers!! I really couldn’t stop reading and needed to know how the story would end. And gosh, that plot twist at the end: ‘wtf” worthy and perfect!! I couldn't predict or foresee that outcome, which only makes me love this book more because it gave me some jaw dropping moments.

I can’t say a lot more without spoiling anything, just go read this book if you like a faced past thriller with unpredictable twists.

Thank you @netgalley & @poisonedpenpress for this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

This book was wild. Freida always gets me. You have your theories and nope you’re wrong or you might figure out one details and then bam, there are several twists on top! Love her books. Fast paced and keeps you intrigued/guessing!

Was this review helpful?

The Locked Door is a fast paced, psychological thriller. Nora as the first person narrator is at times irritating through her actions and thought process. I enjoyed the big reveal, but did not fully enjoy the process of getting there. In my opinion, Freida has written far better books than this one.

Was this review helpful?

I love Freida and this book did not disappoint. The psychological part of all her thrillers is what draws me to her as a reader. There will never be a Frieda book I don’t read.

Was this review helpful?

This book had me hooked from the beginning, like all the Freida McFadden books do. The story is about Nora, when she was 11 years old her father was arrested . He was the notorious serial killer known as the Handyman. As an adult she became a surgeon, everything changes for her when two of her patients die similarly to how her father did his killings. She becomes a suspect because of her past and now she must figure out a way to clear her name. Someone is trying to blame her for it all.

I was not expecting that twist at the end, Freida keeps you guessing on who the culprit is back-to-back.

This book was such an great read. Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

McFadden has done it again! The Locked Door is a page-turner. So much so my family had cook their own dinner last night because I was binge reading. They'll survive, lol.
This gripping story is a about a surgeon, Nora Davis (aka Nora Nierling). Despite her success in life her family secret came back to haunt her. Being the daughter of a serial killer currently serving eighteen consecutive life sentences it was bound to happen. Nora's father, also known as the "Handyman" hit a town in Oregon by storm. Seventeen victims were found in his basement. He is connected to at least ten other murders, but no forensic evidence has ever been found. Nora never told anyone who her father was. She was in the profession of saving lives not taking them. Strange things start occurring though, and soon enough she was suspect for three of her patient's murders. All fingers start pointing in her direction and Dective Barber was determined to get justice for the victims. So, was Nora following in her father's footsteps, or was she being framed?
Freida McFadden had some twists in this story that caught me by surprise. All my guesses were wrong trying to figure out who was killing all these patients. I love a challenging thriller, and the author succeeded with that with The Locked Door. McFadden seems to never disappoint I just want to thank NetGalley and Poisened Pen Press for this opportunity to review this book.

Was this review helpful?

Honestly, at first-- this book felt different than other Frieda books I've read before and I wasn't sure if I was going to dig it...

But dang was I wrong. I was LITERALLY stress reading at times because I NEEDED to know what happened. There was one particular chapter that was a flashback to Nora's childhood that had me particularly nervous.

The Locked Door is dark, violent, and a little gorey. If that bothers you, maybe avoid-- but if you love a good nail biter (it kind of gave me "Silence of the Lambs" vibes a little bit at times)-- HIGHLY recommend it. You won't be able to put it down!

Thank you netgalley for a copy of "The Locked Door" so I could leave my honest review!

Was this review helpful?

Freida has done it again. Y'all know I'm am avid Freida-Readah! I just love how her books always keep you guessing. Out of the theories I had for this one, I NEVER expected the twist. Time and time again, Freida has impressed me with her short, quick, and engaging chapters. This one is in heavy competition with The Housemaid books as my favorite Freida book yet. Thank you so much Freida for bringing another amazing story to life and a big thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this re-release! The Locked Door will re-released through Poisoned Pen Press on October 3rd. If you haven't gotten your hands on it yet, I highly recommend it! It's gonna be available on Kindle Unlimited as well as currently up for pre-order.

Was this review helpful?

Freida at her best! Loved this book. Could finish this in two sittings in spite of my busy schedule. Didn't see that twist coming! Can't wait to read more from Freida.

Was this review helpful?

Freida McFadden writes great thrillers, This is no exception. This follows Nora, a general surgeon, daughter of a notorious serial killer. When a string of murders along the same lines of her fathers happens, people start asking questions... A fast thrilling read.

Was this review helpful?

The Locked Door by Frieda McFadden

My rating:
3.5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Nora’s father is a serial killer. 26 years later, now that her father is in prison, Nora can live a normal life as a surgeon. But when women in the area are being killed, is there a copy cat on the loose?

This was my third book by Frieda and I definitely enjoy her writing style! While I enjoyed this one, it wasn’t my favorite of hers. I figured out the twist based on the bones of this one being a little similar to other plots I have read.

With that, the twist wasn’t super shocking in this one and I figured it out about halfway through.

Some of the things the main character did was so frustrating for me it was hard for me to root for her.

Overall this was a quick fun read, but it was a little bit anticlimactic compared to her others I have read!

Thanks netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the copy! This is released on October 3rd, so add to your TBR now!

Was this review helpful?

NetGalley Review — my rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

“The Locked Door” by Freida McFadden is a solid mystery! Really fast-paced with an excellent premise.

Dr. Nora Davis is a general surgeon living a quiet life with a big secret — her dad is the infamous “Handyman” serial killer who murdered 18+ women and kept their hands as souvenirs. Now her patients fitting the same type as her dad’s victims are coming up dead and the police are asking questions.

This thriller is set to be published in October 3! Scoop it up for spooky szn! It’s a good one!

Big thanks to @poisonedpenpress for the ARC!

#netgalley #freidamcfadden #thelockeddoor #arc #poisonedpenpress

Was this review helpful?

Nora is the daughter of a serial killer. She has worked her whole life not to be like her father. Now a surgeon her life is turned upside down when a copycat is killing her patients. This was a quick read that kept you guessing.

Was this review helpful?