The Housemaid's Secret
What it's about
"Don't go in the guest bedroom," Douglas Garrick warns as he shows Millie around his luxurious penthouse. His wife, he says, is very ill. Millie badly needs a job with an employer who won't ask about her past, so she takes it. But she soon suspects that the woman behind the closed door is in danger, and Millie has never been able to walk away from someone who needs help.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Goodreads Choice Award for mystery and thriller and has spent more than 80 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. Freida McFadden's twists have made her one of the most-read thriller writers today.
You'll love it if you liked
The Silent Patient, Gone Girl or Verity
Good to know
It's the second Housemaid novel; read The Housemaid first to avoid spoilers. It's short and fast, built for one or two sittings.
Quick answers
Is The Housemaid's Secret worth reading?
Yes. It won the Goodreads Choice Award for mystery and thriller and has spent more than 80 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #304 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 81.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Housemaid's Secret about?
"Don't go in the guest bedroom," Douglas Garrick warns as he shows Millie around his luxurious penthouse. His wife, he says, is very ill. Millie badly needs a job with an employer who won't ask about her past, so she takes it. But she soon suspects that the woman behind the closed door is in danger, and Millie has never been able to walk away from someone who needs help.
How long does it take to read The Housemaid's Secret?
About 6 hours (227 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Housemaid's Secret won?
Goodreads Choice (mystery thriller) winner (2023).
What should I read after The Housemaid's Secret?
If you liked it, try The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn or Verity by Colleen Hoover.
By the numbers
- Readers64 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller76 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz84 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Goodreads Choice (mystery thriller) winner (2023). 82 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2024.
Where it ranks
- #24 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #55 of the 481 new books we rank
- #304 of the 2,819 books we rank
Won
- Goodreads Choice (mystery thriller) winner (2023)
Bestseller
- 82 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2024
Reads as
Gripping, Moving
More by Freida McFadden
The Housemaid
The Boyfriend
The TenantIf you like this, read next
The Correspondent
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
Remarkably Bright Creatures
The Tainted Cup
The Frozen River
The Will of the Many