What to Read Next if You Loved the Housemaid Trilogy

16 more twisty psychological thrillers

Freida McFadden's The Housemaid trilogy has been flying off the shelves since the first book came out in 2022. And with the release of The Housemaid's Secret (2023) and The Housemaid is Watching (2024), its popularity shows no sign of slowing. Now that a film version of The Housemaid is in the works, this trend is likely to continue.

Over the past eleven years Freida McFadden—a pen name—has published 23 books. With more than six millions copies in circulation, she has dominated bestseller lists beating out such household names as James Patterson, David Baldacci, and John Grisham. McFadden's readers call themselves "McFans" and, even with her blistering publication schedule, they can't get enough.

Amidst all of this, McFadden has maintained her career as a practicing physician specializing in brain injury. This explains the well-researched medical elements in many of her plots and it is why, in protection of her patients, the author has kept her true identity a secret. She lives in the Boston area with her husband, two teenage children, and a cat. Read on for eight more of McFadden's captivating thrillers plus eight of the author's own favorite reads.

McFan favorites

If you're a fan of The Housemaid series, here are eight more of McFadden's twisty psychological thrillers.

The Boyfriend (Comes out Oct. 1)
Sydney has had terrible luck in dating—until now. Her new boyfriend is perfect. But a string of murders perpetrated by a mystery man who dates his victims before killing them has her wondering if her perfect man is a little too perfect.

The Perfect Son
Erika has always sensed that something isn't quite right with her smart and charming teenage son. When a girl disappears from their quiet neighborhood, the police suspect Liam. And Erika can't help but wonder if they're right.

Never Lie
Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan think they've found their dream house in a remote manor that belonged to a renowned psychiatrist who vanished mysteriously. But when a storm traps them there, the house begins to lose its appeal.

The Inmate
As a new nurse practitioner at a maximum-security prison, Brooke Sullivan learns three rules: Treat prisoners with respect. Never reveal personal information. And don't befriend the inmates. But Brooke has already broken all of these rules.

The Locked Door
Decades after her serial killer father was sentenced to life in prison, Nora is a successful surgeon and keeps her past a secret. When one of her patients is murdered in a way that resembles her father's style, Nora falls under suspicion.

One By One
Claire needs this trip. A week with friends at a luxurious hotel in the woods, away from the pressures of work and raising children. But then her minivan breaks down leaving the group desperately lost . . . and getting struck down one by one. 

The Teacher
Married couple Eve and Nate both teach at the local high school, which is still reeling from a recent student-teacher affair. People say that Addie, the student at the center of the scandal, can't be trusted. But nobody knows the real Addie.

The Coworker
When awkward outsider Dawn fails to appear at work one morning, one thing becomes terribly clear: somebody hated Dawn. Enough to kill. Now her popular coworker, Natalie, finds herself caught in a twisted game of cat and mouse.

McFadden favorites

On her website, the author shares a list of her favorite recent thrillers by other authors. Here is a sampling from that list.

The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion
After seeing a mysterious little girl washing dishes late at night in her neighbor's kitchen, Sharon is concerned. When calling social services doesn't prompt swift action, Sharon and former foster child Niki decide to investigate on their own.

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
After the shock of learning her husband is a serial killer, Gwen establishes a new home and identity. But just as she's starting to feel at ease in her new life, a body turns up and threatening letters start arriving from an all-too-familiar address.

Dear Wife by Kimberly Belle
For nearly a year, Beth has been planning her escape—a new look, a new name, and a new city. A couple hundred miles away, Jeffrey returns home to find his wife, Sabine, is missing. Where is Sabine? And who is Beth?

The Perfect Family by Shalini Boland
Gemma panics when her six-year-old daughter disappears one morning as she's getting ready for work. When her mother-in-law finds the girl wandering nearby, a relieved Gemma thinks the nightmare is over. But it's only beginning.

Look Closer by David Ellis
Simon and Vicky couldn't seem more normal. He's a respected law professor; she, an advocate for domestic violence victims. But one thing's for sure: nothing is what it seems. The pair are far from normal, and one of them just may be a killer.

What Lies Between Us by John Marrs
Every other night, Maggie and Nina have dinner together. When they're finished, Nina helps Maggie back to her room in the attic, and into the heavy chain that keeps her there. They say every house has its secrets and this one is no different.

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
Mallory Quinn is fresh out of rehab when she gets a job babysitting five-year-old Teddy. She loves the job, but when Teddy starts drawing disturbing images, Mallory begins to wonder if these are glimpses of a long-unsolved murder.

No Exit by Taylor Adams
A young woman driving through a blizzard gets stranded at a remote rest stop with four strangers. When she discovers a captive little girl locked up in the van of one of her fellow travelers, the stakes rise dramatically.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon