Freida McFadden Reading Order: Where to Start with The Housemaid Author

Freida McFadden has become the go-to name for fast, twisty psychological thrillers — the kind you finish in a single sitting and immediately want to discuss. Here is where to start.

Start with The Housemaid

The Housemaid is the book that made her a household name, and it now anchors a series:

1. The Housemaid
2. The Housemaid’s Secret
3. The Housemaid Is Watching

Begin here. The first book’s mid-point twist is the perfect introduction to McFadden’s signature trick of pulling the rug out from under you.

Best standalones

McFadden has a deep backlist of standalone thrillers — The Inmate, The Coworker, Ward D, The Teacher and more. They share the same propulsive, short-chapter style, so once you are hooked you have plenty to binge.

Why she works

Short chapters, unreliable narrators, and at least one twist you will not see coming. McFadden is the definition of an airport-and-beach thriller writer — and that is exactly why readers love her.

More twisty reads

See our list of the best psychological thriller authors and the best domestic thrillers for your next fix.