And when Millie first steps into that place, even being a maid in that household seems like a dream came true. But too soon it gets painfully clear everyone in that house are somewhat broken in one way of another. Maybe I’m just getting rusty. But, even though I caught pretty early on a general direction the story was heading and even though the storyline was something you could already see many times in psychological thrillers, there was still enough twists and revelations I didn’t see coming, and I couldn’t be any happier about it!

‘The Housemaid’ Movie Adapted By Rebecca - Deadline

The more we learn about the two women, the more their inner worlds become nuanced, and the more difficult it becomes to accurately determine who’s really good and bad between the two of them. They both have their reasons for doing what they do, as well as their fare share of skeletons buried in their personal graveyards. Funnily enough, it almost seems like the more they clash against each other, the more their similarities become unveiled. Still broke and homeless, Millie is not exactly in a position to quit. And with her growing attraction to Nina’s handsome husband Andrew, she’s not even sure she’d wanted to. The Howard family all have their own if not somewhat warped personalities. Alex in particular and you feel early on that this is someone who is dangerous and things can’t possibly end well where he is concerned. Mrs Huxley, the house keeper, is also someone who creeped me out. In some ways she is your stereotypical house keeper that you come across in the sense that she is extremely strict with a no nonsense attitude that comes across as very unfeeling. It just added to the already tense atmosphere of the story. Out of the whole thing, I only didn’t like a few tiny details that felt over the top and one smaller part of the resolution. But considering how much I enjoyed the rest, I accepted it gladly. Though he might be relegated to more of a secondary role with no chapters dedicated to him, Andrew Winchester still remains an integral piece of the puzzle, and his presence in the story is often used to maximum effect. As a matter of fact, I’d say he too is a main character, adding another layer of complexity to the dynamics between the inhabitants of the house.But Ruby receives a box on her first day at work. A mysterious box wrapped in red ribbon and white paper that reveals a grotesque scene of her as a doll lying in a pool of blood at the foot of the stairs.

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden | Waterstones

After being abandoned as a child by her mother, Ruby (the author doesn’t mention her name much and I really needed to know) decides to interview for a job as a housemaid at the last place her mother worked.

As Nina ups the ante in an attempt to drive Millie into total despair and insanity, the latter isn’t ready to go down without a fight. As a matter of fact, she has a bit of a trump card up her sleeve, one she was hoping never to reveal again. The Winchesters don’t truly know who she is or what she’s capable of, and she’s about to show them how deep her claws can really cut. The Complex Rivalries of The Housemaid Plus that prologue featuring a police investigation that clearly suggests a dead body has been found. But she soon realizes she's made a mistake. The strict housekeeper, Mrs Huxley, watches her every move, emerging from the shadows when least expected. Lord Howard’s son, Alex, takes an interest in her, and as a former addict, she finds herself drawn to him. There’s a general atmosphere of unease at Highwood Hall, from the narrow tunnels laced throughout the sprawling house, to the abandoned north wing, rumored to be haunted. It’s easy to imagine the secrets hidden within these walls, like the secrets she holds close. Ghost is another word for maid. No matter how close you believe you are to your family, one day you will mean nothing to them. With the heavy emphasis placed by the author on the psychological aspect of this novel, you might assume there would be little room left to make a thriller out of it. However, Freida McFadden manages to challenge expectations, making The Housemaid one of the more agitated and nail-biting thrillers I’ve had the pleasure of reading recently.

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden | Bookclubs

I will also try to get the audio copies of them. I listened to The Housemaid on audio (narrated by Lauryn Allman), and in my humble opinion – that’s the way to go about it. I’m sure my enjoyment just wouldn’t be the same if I’ve read it physically. This story morphed into a spinetingling The Most Dangerous Game style cat and mouse game, and I was living for it! It was completely unexpected, creepy and satisfying. The stately home plays a big part in this story. The images were so vivid in my head as the author really brings it to life. You’ve got to love a house with a history and we keep learning more about what dark secrets it holds. With it being an old house, there are also lots of secret passageways which gave the whole feel of the story an even more edgier feel.

Diaries & Calendars

Our proximity to our neighbours make us certain we can ascertain whether or not they are committing some terrible crimes within the confines of their own homes. While most of us might indeed be law-abiding citizens, there are numerous enough cases throughout history of people turning their houses into dens of evil that we must admit one thing: we don’t truly know what our neighbours are up to. In Freida McFadden‘s latest psychological thriller, The Housemaid, we land into such a dwelling, perfectly normal on the outside, but hiding terrible secrets within.

The Housemaid Series by Freida McFadden - Goodreads

But then I saw the ARC of her newest book, The Housemaid, and it seemed like just the kind of thriller I usually prefer – chill and intriguing, dramatic and surprising. Just something you can relax and have fun with without overthinking everything. A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden in exchange for an honest review. What It Is About Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own. Highwood Hall is a huge mansion lived in by the Howard’s. Lord Bertie is the Patriarch of the family, his mother in law Margot and two children, the creepy Alex and the somewhat strange Lottie. Ruby interviews with the formidable housekeeper Mrs Huxley and moves in ready to work the next day.

Christmas Cards & Gift Wrap

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew's handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it's hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina's life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband. Every day I clean the Winchesters' beautiful house from top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor. I think it’s fair to say the bulk of the novel focuses on the relationships between these three people, highly dysfunctional and tormented in their own ways. At times humorous and at other times quite dreadful and worrying, the interactions they have with each other are what moves the story forward and, personally-speaking, I never got tired of witnessing them. House of Twists and Bends I don’t love going up there. I don’t have any crazy phobias about attics, but the staircase leading up there is kind of creepy. It’s dark, and the stairs creak with every step. As I follow Andy up the staircase, I stay close to him.