A good book is one that grabs your attention from the very first page â thatâs when you know itâs worth continuing. I came across The Housemaid series by Freida McFadden quite randomly and was instantly drawn to its striking cover design, I do judge a book a lot from its cover though. The writing begins a bit slowly â as most of her books tend to â but once the plot picks up, it pulls you right along with it.
The Housemaid is a three part series and the first one is, hands down, my favorite cause that’s what made me continue. While the books arenât entirely connected and can easily be read as standalones, each book offers a fresh story with new layers of suspense, I’ll suggest reading them in order as it will help relate with the characters and the backstory.
The housemaid ( Book 1 )
Millie Calloway, the protagonist, is desperate for a job when she starts working for the Winchesters â a seemingly perfect family of three: Nina, Andrew, and their young daughter, Cecelia. They offer her a place to stay in their house, tucked away in a small attic room. Things seems normal at the beginning, but as Millie settles in, things start to take a darker, twisted turn. Still, Millie is no damsel in distress; sheâs not someone who endures quietly â she fights back in her own way. Told through two alternating perspectives, the story builds tension in a way that you can almost hear the suspenseful music playing in the background.
The Housemaid’s secret (Book 2)
Millie isnât working for the Winchesters anymore, but the secrets from that life still linger in the background. Now, she has her own apartment in a rough neighborhood and a somewhat stable life â even a boyfriend. Things seems somewhat normal. That is, until she starts working for another wealthy couple, the Garrick’s â Wendy and Douglas â in their luxurious penthouse apartment.
The only strange rule of working there is that the guest bedroom upstairs is always locked, and Millie is strictly forbidden to enter because Wendy, the wife, is supposedly ill and resting inside. But something about the situation and their behavior feels off. Millie canât shake the feeling that something isnât right behind the closed door â and sheâs determined to find out what it is.
The twist in the middle is interesting, something i couldn’t have guessed. Overall book is slow at the beginning some might find it difficult to keep going, it takes pace towards the end though. The ending was satisfying, even though I kind of saw the killer reveal coming.
The House Maid is watching (Book 03)
Millie seems to have it all now – a stable life, a loving husband, and two adorable kids and even a maid. Millie – who once worked as one, now has her own! Itâs a picture-perfect life, except for the couple next door. Just when she thinks she can finally breathe freely from her long-gone past, it kinda quietly lingers, watching. Honestly? I found myself getting so irritated with her husband. Just communicate – itâs not that hard. Half the tension in their relationship came from things left unsaid, and itâs frustrating to watch two adults tiptoe around problems that couldâve been solved with one honest conversation.
The plot felt a little vague in parts, leaving a few questions hanging. Still, the connection to the first book honestly made me grin â a bit nostalgic (youâll have to read it to know, no spoilers here!). The ending felt a bit rushed and couldâve been stronger. Itâs not the best in the series, but itâs far from the worst. Totally readable if you want to complete Millieâs story.
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Leisure & Life 