The Coworker

The Coworker was my third Freida McFadden read, and honestly, I still had no idea who she was at this point or what I was getting into. I stumbled across this book at Barnes & Noble—it was just sitting on a random table—and the title instantly grabbed me. I mean, let’s be real: we all have thoughts about our coworkers, and if one suddenly went missing, wouldn’t we be a little curious? Even for a thriller, that premise felt surprisingly relatable, so I gave it a shot. The story follows Dawn, a socially awkward but routine-driven woman who works in accounting. One day, she doesn’t show up to work—and Natalie, the company’s star sales rep, becomes entangled in the mystery. As the plot unravels, so do layers of secrets, lies, and misdirection. I had no idea where this book was going, and every time I thought I cracked the twist, I was wrong. That unpredictability kept me hooked. Now, yes—there are a lot of turtle references. I know that annoyed some readers, but personally? I love turtles. I even have a decent collection of turtle knickknacks, so I found Dawn’s obsession oddly endearing. Dang turtles. What I really loved is that McFadden’s writing is sharp, fast, and to the point. She doesn’t waste your time—and somehow still delivers all the suspense and surprises you want from a good thriller. This book made me an instant fan, and I’ve already added more of her titles to my reading list.

2.5 stars. I don’t think there has ever been a book where I guessed every single twist and realization, until this one. I gave this book three stars, because it’s Freida McFadden. I didn’t hate this book, I was just bored.

I might end up bringing it down to a two star, depending on how it marinates with me over time.

Such a fast read, I was hooked right away!

The book club gave this an average rating of 7 , with a couple of 8’s. It brought up some interesting conversations about bullying and points of views. One of our experienced fiction readers did not think this was Frieda’s McFaddens best book but still was able to give it a 7. The book is themed in Boston. Good read.w

I enjoyed this book. I didn't spot the twist entirely which was fun. The ending is not satisfying but I'm okay with that.