This is my second time reading this book, and it's just as good as the first time. As always, Freida delivers a heart stopping, hair raising, twisted plot. Full of plot twists that you will NOT see coming, this book will have you on the edge of your seat and unable to put this book down.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

Summary of the plot:

Nora Davis is a surgeon who lives alone by herself and has sworn off relationships. Why? Because her father is a serial killer, and she was the one who helped put him away when she was a child. Her father would lock women up in his basement and kill them. His signature move was cutting off their hands. The locked basement always smelled like lavender, a scent that Nora is triggered by every time she smells it. One day, the dead bodies of patients that she served start to pop up--with their hands cut off. Naturally, the police think it's her due to her association with her father. So Nora tries to figure out who is framing her and why.

Thoughts on the book:

I enjoyed how the book flipped between Nora's current life trying to figure out who the serial killer is and Nora's past where she discovers her father's murderous secret. I think the chapters in the past could have used more pages. For example, I wish we got a scene where Nora calls the police to report her father or a scene where Nora goes down into the basement again. But I do like how the past chapters build up Nora's character because she tries very hard to not be like her father, even though she thinks that she has his murderous traits.

The plot twist... Man, I did not enjoy it. If you hate the "surprise, you have a sibling" trope (like me), don't read this book. In hindsight, I can see how the author planted seeds early on that would explain the whole "surprise sibling" thing. However, I didn't quite enjoy it. The surprise sibling claims that they were saved in the womb after their mom committed suicide at like five months into the pregnancy. Is that... possible? (Also, did the mom know what the dad was doing in the basement? I don't think it was clear.) Either way, I don't really think the sibling had a good enough motive to become a serial killer and frame Nora for the murders.

Overall, this was a quick and easy read. There were times that I felt a little on edge. For example: Nora has a habit of saying "Honey, I'm home" when she gets home even though she lives alone. I was waiting for someone to say something back. I just wish we got a little bit more about the father and how it all went down the drain for him.

Such a good book - I flew through it in a few hours because I couldn't put it down. It's Freida McFadden at her creepiest and my favorite of her so far. Definitely will be recommending it!

How come I hadn’t read this book before? Yeah, okay, I know, there are way too many books out there (and I want to read them all), but there is only one me living my life and I don’t have a time machine. Yet. So, I haven’t read EVERYTHING.
This one is not a brand new one – it was self-published by Freida a while ago, and now Sourcebooks are taking over, and it is being re-released. There is a new cover, maybe some minor edits (or so I have heard), but the story is the same one that was published previously.
Either way, it is almost here. The new version of this book.
If you know Freida’s books and enjoy them, and haven’t read this one yet, then I’m telling you that you should read it. It will not disappoint.
It is entertaining, it is twisty, it is engrossing. And, it has a happy ending. A thriller filled with crazies and with a happy ending. It is slightly graphic, and there are some details that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Like, you WILL look suspiciously at anything that smells like lavender, guaranteed.

Originally published in 2021, The Locked Door is being released with Poisoned Pen Press on 3rd October 2023, and I was lucky enough to receive an arc of this edition via NetGalley.
I've had my eye on Freida McFadden for a while and have several of her books downloaded from KU, her books are always highly recommended to me.
Whilst reading The Locked Door, the suspense that has been created in the writing is very immersive. I really felt the paranoia of the main character, Nora. It is very creepy and because of the short chapters, it feels very fast-paced which has your heart racing.
The twists in this book, wow! I can tell this is the appeal for this author's work. I completely didn't see the ending coming.
However, I think my main problem with The Locked Door is there were many plot holes and loose threads that left a lot of questions unanswered. I think the book needed more development and could have been a higher page count to fully tie up the story.
I think if you're the type of reader to read a book in one sitting, this thriller is definitely for you. I enjoyed my time reading this book and I'm looking forward to reading The Housemaid duology soon, which will be my next read of Freida McFadden.
⭐⭐⭐ 3/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Freida McFadden for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

Review posted to Goodreads and will be rated on Threads and Instagram Stories. Review to be posted on Amazon and Waterstones on publication date.

6/10 - Definitely not my favorite Freida McFadden book, but it was still a fast paced psychological thriller. I didn’t form a liking or bond to the main character, but the ending did come as a surprise. Definitely positive and negatives with this book, but I would ultimately recommend some of her other books over this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve been a fan since The Housemaid and my expectations keep getting higher with every book I read. I will say, The Housemaid is still my favorite BUT this one was a really fun ride! I read it in one sitting, a page turner for sure! One of the things I love about her books are the twists and my goodness, did they deliver! If you’re looking for a fun and fast paced thriller-this is your book! Enjoy :)

As always Frieda never disappoints. A real page turner from the start. I stayed up all night to finish this.

Another quick, twisty psych thriller by Freida McFadden! Lots of fun and readable in a day! I think this book must be a re-release, first published in 2021, and set to be published again Oct. 2023.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was an interesting read! I enjoyed the dual timeline aspect to gather more background on the main character. The way the story is told, has you second guessing Nora herself. I enjoyed this book, but felt it was a little bit slow at the beginning.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for e-ARC of the book.

Nora Davis is now a successful surgeon but no-one knows that she ran away from her past as a daughter of the notorious serial killer. Suddenly a couple of her patients are murdered in her dad's unique manner and Nora starts to suspect someone is trying to set her up. Will Nora be able to preserve her reputation or will past catch with her.

Freida McFadden surprised me again. I love that every book is different and twists are not disappointing me. At the beginning I was a little bit scared to read about serial killer but it wasn't as bloody as I was afraid. It is a fast and easy read. I kept guessing who was to blame almost till the end.

She has done it again! Never a full read with Freida McFadden. I always think I know, but she managers to throw a twist like no other. Cannot wait to read her next one after the sample of The Teacher I also got to read. Every thriller/mystery lover needs these books!

Seriously such a good and thrilling story! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and couldn't get enough of all the twists and turns. Freida McFadden is the queen of suspense thrillers and this one is another hit. It had a lot of great true crime vibes and every time I thought I figured it out something would happen and flip everything around again. A quick read that I literally couldn't put down!

Somehow Freida keeps surprising me! I read a lot and usually by the time I get to the third or fourth novel of an author I can predict what is going to happen. This is not the case with Freida’s books. If you like psychological thrillers you like this book. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC,

will I binge all of freida's books in a single month? it's a high possibility since I keep FLYING through her backlist and loving every single one!!! she has not let me down yet 🤌🏼

THE LOCKED DOOR was 100% a psychological thriller with a serial killer family element - reminding me a lot of A FLICKER IN THE DARK. since being totally caught off guard with the plot twists in that one, I was able to guess most of the twists in this one - but the ending still totally got me!!! 🤯🤯🤯

I love how binge-worthy freida's books are, and this one was no exception! I found myself rooting for the good guys, the bad guys, and even the side characters. I loved the balance between MC nora and her partner rowan (who had me thinking and crying over throne of glass once again LOL 🥹) - and how he really looked out for her during her recovery I loved it so much 🤠

ALSO, can we talk about the way freida fooled me with the twists again? PLS I was once again screaming at 2am 😰😰😰

I read this one thanks to netgalley and poisoned press in exchange for an honest review, and I loved every second of it!

rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: napa valley merlot

I read this in one day I could not put it down. It was exciting and I loved Nora as the main protagonist. I took a star off because I guessed the ending I found it became slightly predictable towards the end but still really fun, intriguing and definitely worth a read.

As I started reading The Closed Door, it sounded so familiar but Netgalley shows it doesn’t release until later 2023. I went on amazon and In actually it released in 2021 and I’ve already read this book. I really enjoy Freida McFadden’s novels, so I encourage anyone interested to read this book.

This book was fast paced, as all of her books that I've read so far. Nora's father is a serial killer who has been locked away for years. She has made a good life for herself and she has problems trying to forget her past and not allow it to affect her adult life but she is always thinking about the heinous things her father did to young girls in their locked basement when she was a child. She's made herself a safe, if not boring life, as a surgeon. Once two girls turn up dead, in the fashion that her father preferred during his crime spree and the eyes of the police turn to her. What's she going to do as they start questioning her about things that hit to close to home for her bad memories. Is she a bad person like her father? I kept thinking I knew who the copycat murderer was, but then it just seemed to easy and as usual McFadden throws in some twists and turns near the end that make you rethink all that you've already read.

What what what! It will keep you guessing to the end! You will not want it to end. Do yourself a favor and jump right in! You won’t be disappointed. A must read. Freida McFadden has done it again.
Thanks Netgalley & Poisoned Pen Press for this advanced copy.

This book had me second guessing a lot. I thought I had the ending pinned, then in true Freida fashion, I was totally wrong.

I did love how the story unfolded. The characters interacted with such a good story line, it made it had to put down!