The only thing we love more than a beach read romance is a chilling novel filled with twists and turns. If you haven’t heard of Freida McFadden’s books, buckle up—you’re in for a thrilling ride!
What Kind of Books Does Freida McFadden Write?
Freida McFadden is a practicing physician who somehow finds the time to pen bestselling psychological thrillers, many of which involve medical themes, in between studying brain disorders. Though she got her start as a self-published author, Freida McFadden’s books have since exploded in popularity, selling thousands and thousands of copies of both the standalones and series—you can even listen to them on audiobook!
Popular Tropes in Freida McFadden Books
Freida McFadden books almost all fall under the thriller categories of book genres, with many featuring tropes such as:
- Unreliable narrators
- Dual perspectives
- Blurred lines between truths and lies
- Medical backgrounds
- Untrustworthy romance
Other Authors Like Freida McFadden
Everyone has a favorite author, whether it’s Jane Austen or modern writers like Emily Henry. If you enjoyed reading any of the famously chilling books from these authors, you’re sure to like Freida McFadden’s books:
- Gillian Flynn
- Liane Moriarty
- Blake Crouch
- Ruth Ware
- Lisa Jewell
The Most Popular Freida McFadden Books
Whether you’re looking for the perfect standalone title to listen to on your favorite audiobook service or searching for an intriguing yet short series to get swept up in, McFadden has you covered. Read a blurb on each of Freida McFadden’s books to see what sparks your interest before buying a copy or listening to the audiobook:
The Housemaid
The Housemaid is the BookTok favorite of Freida McFadden’s books—in fact, it was recently announced that Sydney Sweeney will star in the movie adaptation. When Millie, a recent parolee in need of a job, accepts the live-in housemaid and nanny position for Nina and Andrew Winchester, she assumes the job will be a dream. However, as tensions grow between her and Nina and secrets begin to come out, things take a turn for the worse.
The Housemaid’s Secret
From the brilliant mind of Freida McFadden comes the second in the series, The Housemaid’s Secret. Millie Calloway is back again, this time as a housemaid for the Garricks, a well-known and wealthy family in Manhattan. She’s tasked with helping the wife, Wendy, with day-to-day tasks, as she’s supposedly ill and confined to the guest bedroom. But when she discovers the sinister truth, she’ll need to decide how far she’s willing to go to make things right.
The Housemaid is Watching
The most recent addition to the beloved Freida McFadden book series, The Housemaid is Watching is the perfect combination of old fan-favorite characters and a new twist on domestic thrillers. Taking place a little more than a decade after the events of the second book, Millie has moved on with a new house, a loving husband, two kids, and a stable job as a social worker. But as they befriend their new neighbor and meet the stoney-eyed maid, she has to ask herself: could their new suburban street be the most dangerous place of all?
Do You Need to Read The Housemaid Books in Order?
You don’t have to. Each book holds up as a standalone novel, but it’s recommended that you read the first book if you want the full effect of repeated characters and dramatic plot twists. If you only have space for one of these Freida McFadden books in your To Be Read pile, fans suggest the first in the series!
Suicide Med
Suicide Med (sometimes published under the name Dead Med) is her first stab at exploring the darker side of the medical world. As Michiko begins to research the mysterious history of suicides at her institution, especially the more recent arrival of the anatomy professor, Dr. Conlon, she must ask herself the question every first-year finds themselves pondering: who will be the next to die?
Brain Damage
With a career in dermatology, a spacious NYC apartment, and a handsome lawyer husband, the leading lady of Brain Damage, Dr. Charly McKenna, finally has it all. That is, until a bullet hits the right side of her skull, and she loses everything. As she recovers from brain surgery and begins to piece together the night of the incident, she must discover the assailant's identity … before he finishes the job!
The Perfect Son
The Perfect Son is McFadden’s first true psychological thriller. Erika Cass seems to have a perfect life until two detectives knock on her front door and ask if her son knows anything about the missing girl from their local high school—after all, he was the last to see her alive. Experience her paranoia page by page as the revelation hits that her child may not be the perfect son he portrays himself to be.
The Ex
Experience the breathless suspense Freida McFadden's books are known for in The Ex. Cassie thinks she’s found the perfect man. Joel is everything she’s been looking for in a guy—especially since she knows his perfect and beloved ex-girlfriend, Francesca, is out of the picture … but is she really?
The Surrogate Mother
Abby wants a baby more than anything in the whole world, but after years of failed adoptions and infertility treatments, it just doesn’t seem possible. When her personal assistant, Monica, offers to carry a baby for her, it feels like a dream—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. As secrets come to light, it’s clear that The Surrogate Mother will stop at nothing to get what she wants most.
The Wife Upstairs
In The Wife Upstairs, Victoria Barnett truly has it all: a great medical career, a loving husband, a beautiful suburban home, and plans for children—but it all comes crashing down when she’s in a terrible accident that leaves her unable to walk, speak, or do anything for herself. When Sylvia Robinson is hired to take care of her, she quickly learns nothing is as it seems—especially when she finds Victoria’s diary.
One By One
Claire Matchett has planned the trip of her dreams—and she desperately needs it to go well. But when her minivan breaks down on an isolated road with no cell reception, she and the group must walk the rest of the way to their luxurious hotel in the woods. Soon enough, they’re lost. Not to mention that they seem to be mysteriously disappearing as if someone is hunting them One by One.
Want to Know a Secret?
Everyone has secrets—for instance, April Masterson, a renowned YouTube baker, knows exactly how to make perfectly gooey brownies or melt-in-your-mouth key lime squares. But offline, the secrets April is keeping hidden are much darker. Like where did her son go when he snuck out? What is her relationship with the local soccer coach? And most importantly, what’s buried in her backyard? Uncover the truth in Freida McFadden’s popular book, Want to Know a Secret?
The Locked Door
When Nora Davis was 11 years old, she had no idea her father was killing women in their basement. That is until the police arrived at their front door. Decades later, she’s become a successful surgeon while he spends his life behind bars. But when one of her female patients is murdered in a way that mimics the horrific manner of her father, it’s clear that someone knows—and even worse, they want her to take the fall! The Locked Door is an absolutely riveting Freida McFadden book about keeping secrets and familial patterns.
Do Not Disturb
Quinn Alexander is on the run, avoiding the consequences of committing an unthinkable crime. She leaves everything behind to head to the northern border, but when a snowstorm forces her off the road, she must hunker down at the isolated Baxter Motel. Luckily, the owner, Nick, is only too happy to help. But it’s quickly revealed that the motel is not the safe haven she thought it would be—especially when she spots the silhouette of Nick’s ailing wife watching from the window. Will she survive the night? Read Do Not Disturb to see.
Do You Remember?
In the Freida McFadden novel, Do You Remember?, Tess Strebel can’t recognize her own face, home, and, even scarier, the handsome stranger who claims to be her husband. After she reads a letter explaining the situation in her own handwriting, she’s forced to trust her more lucid self. But when a text pops up on her phone warning her not to trust the man who calls himself her husband, everything begins to fall apart.
The Inmate
In The Inmate, there are three rules the newest nurse practitioner, Brooke Sullivan, must learn: treat all prisoners with respect, never, under any circumstances, reveal personal information, and never ever become friends with the inmates. But no one knows that her high school sweetheart, Shane Nelson, is locked up there—or that it’s her testimony that caused the guilty conviction!
Never Lie
Never Lie is a heart-pounding domestic thriller with new secrets to unlock in every chapter. When newlyweds Tricia and Ethan stumble upon the supposed house of their dreams, they think they’ve won the lottery! But as a terrible winter storm traps them in the estate and there’s nothing to do but listen to an old collection of audio transcripts left behind by the last owner of the house (who just so happens to be a renowned psychiatrist who disappeared without a trace), Tricia begins to piece together the horrifying story—but will it be enough to save them from a similar fate?
Ward D
As a medical student, Amy is required to gain experience in Ward D, the hospital's mental health floor. However, as the hours go by on her first overnight shift, and patients and staff start disappearing, it becomes increasingly clear that something terrible has occurred. Will she confront her past and make it out to tell the tale? Or will covering Ward D be her last shift alive?
The Coworker
When Dawn, the company outsider, fails to show up at work one day, her coworker Natalie is shocked—even more so when she receives an unsettling anonymous phone call. Turns out, there’s more to the story than meets the eye. As Natalie finds herself caught in an inescapable game of cat and mouse, she must find her way out without becoming a victim herself. Freida McFadden’s book The Coworker explores the ways that the past can tragically affect the present—with potentially deadly consequences.
The Teacher
Eve thinks she has a good life working at the local high school with her husband Nate even though Caseham High is full of rumors about a student-teacher affair from the year prior. She, along with the rest of the school, doesn’t trust Addie, a junior and the center of the scandal, especially when it becomes clear just how much her husband is favoring the teen. The Teacher is written in alternating perspectives between Eve and Addie, so you’re never quite sure who to trust—all the way up to the epilogue!
The Boyfriend
The Boyfriend was one of the more recent Freida McFadden books—and it didn’t disappoint! Sydney Shaw has terrible luck with dating, and after years of flops, she’s finally hit the jackpot. This new boyfriend is completely perfect, from his looks to his job as a doctor at the local hospital. But when police announce the murder suspect responsible for a long string of mysterious murders may be dating his victims before he kills them, she can’t help but feel suspicious. Is this new boyfriend too good to be true?
The Crash
The Crash hits bookshelves next year on January 28th—and we couldn’t be more excited for this new Freida McFadden book! Tegan, an eight-month pregnant woman, is desperate to leave her old life behind, taking to the roads to escape to her brother's house while she has the chance. But what she doesn’t expect is a blizzard that will leave her stranded in Maine with a dead car, a broken ankle, and no one to turn to. When a couple with a vacant room rescues her, she has no choice but to accept their kind offer. As time goes on, she realizes something isn’t right—will she do what it takes to save herself and her child? Preorder it now, or contact us to support your local bookstore.
Freida’s McFadden Books That Aren’t Thrillers
If you like the sound of her style but don’t want to get freaked out reading a psychological thriller before bed, consider starting one of Freida McFadden’s funnier books as a beach read:
- The Devil Wears Scrubs: A Short Comedic Novel
- The Devil You Know
- Baby City
- 11 Out Of 10: A Collection of Humorous Medical Stories
- The Gift: A Short Story
Freida McFadden's books have a dedicated fanbase, and we can see why! If you’re searching for a suspense-filled thriller novel that will keep you guessing, you can choose any of her titles—they all fit the bill.
