The Housemaid

"Welcome to the family," Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. 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...


Every day I clean the Winchesters' beautiful house 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 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.


I only try on one of Nina's pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it's like. But she soon finds out... and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it's far too late.


But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don't know who I really am.


They don't know what I'm capable of...

BUY THE BOOK

Published Aug 23, 2022

336 pages

Average rating: 7.96

11,642 RATINGS

|

Join a book club that is reading The Housemaid!

Sun City Book Queens

The Ultimate Soul Food! There’s nothing quite like the comfort and connection that come from great books.

Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *The Housemaid* by Freida McFadden is a gripping psychological thriller praised for its tense, claustrophobic atmosphere and sharp pacing....

ValerieRuiz
Apr 06, 2026
10/10 stars
Millie Calloway, recently released from prison and struggling to find employment, secures a position as a live-in housekeeper for the affluent Winchester family. Initially grateful for the opportunity, Millie soon discovers that Nina Winchester's erratic behavior and the family's hidden secrets make her position far more perilous than anticipated. As she becomes entangled in the chaos behind closed doors, Millie realizes that escaping this house might be far harder than getting in. I read this last year in January, right around the time Freida McFadden was everywhere. I had just finished The Coworker and was on a binge, diving into everything she’d written—and let me tell you, The Housemaid lived up to every bit of the hype. This book pulled me in fast. The tension, the secrets, the pacing—it all worked. I couldn’t stop flipping pages because I had to know what was really going on inside that house. And while I really enjoyed the twists and how it all came together, I’ve got to say… Nina Winchester? The worst. Seriously. So over-the-top annoying, so unhinged in a way that made me want to reach into the book and scream. She was the only part that made it a little tough to get through, but maybe that was the point—she's supposed to get under your skin. Despite that, it was a solid, fast-paced read with just the right amount of crazy. If you love thrillers with big secrets, jaw-dropping reveals, and a main character who’s way tougher than she seems—this one's for you.
MsCierra 💋
Feb 27, 2026
10/10 stars
I absolutely loved The Housemaid! The story had me hooked from start to finish so much suspense, secrets, and twists that kept me on edge. Alice Feeney’s storytelling is brilliant; the way she slowly reveals hidden motives and layers of the characters is masterful. I also loved the movie adaptation it brought the tension and drama to life perfectly. Honestly, I’d love to watch it again! This book and movie combo is a must for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers that are as thrilling on screen as they are on the page.
Lorisha
Feb 24, 2026
2/10 stars
The hype behind this book & the fact it's now a movie I expected so much more.
Stephanie Poirrier
Feb 12, 2026
10/10 stars
Loved this book.
Reader95
Jan 27, 2026
7/10 stars
I loved thjs book. It started off a little slow but it defintley picked up.

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.