The Housemaid

Before she takes the job and at the very beginning of her employment with the Winchesters, there are several warning signs that Millie does notice, but chooses to look past.  Why doesn’t Millie get out of this situation? 

Do you read many thrillers? If not, does this novel make you want to read more?  If so, how does this novel compare to other thrillers you’ve read?

Did you see the midpoint plot twist - revealed when the point of view shifted to Nina - coming? If so, what clues did you notice in Part 1 of the novel that alerted you to the possible twist?

What about the ending reveal of Andrew’s mother’s abuse of her son - did you anticipate that plot development?  How, if it all, did it change your perception of Andrew?  

While Nina was (intentionally, as it turns out) terrible to Millie, do you think this justifies Millie starting an affair with Andrew? Why or why not? 

Nina was certainly in a desperate situation, but do you think she was justified in recruiting Millie and setting her up like she did?  How did the midpoint twist change your perception of Nina? 

Nina could have let Millie take the fall for Andrew’s death but she chose to cover for her (after much prompting from Enzo to check in).  Did this further change your view of Nina?  Is Nina ultimately a good or bad person?

Nina thought she’d go to jail, but she lucked out that Detective Connors, who investigated Andrew’s death, was the father of Andrew’s former fianceé Kathleen and chose to help cover up the crime. Did you like this coincidence or did it seem too convenient or contrived for you? 

If the police and coroner hadn’t helped cover up the murder and Millie or Nina had gone to trial for Andrew’s death, would you - if you were a member of the jury - have acquitted or convicted them?

Millie has a strong sense of justice and what’s right and wrong.  But she is also extremely violent.  Did you like her character?  Why or why not?

Andrew was undeniably a terrible person, but he also died a particularly gruesome death.  Do you think he deserved what he got?

We got to hear from Millie and Nina’s points of view.  Would you have wanted to hear from Andrew’s point of view? Why or why not?

Millie frequently protests that the bad things that happen to her (that is, the violence she inflicts on others, that then creates negative consequences for her) aren’t her fault.  Do you think Millie was just often in the wrong place at the wrong time, or do you think she has a psychological disorder?

The character of Enzo is a bit of a cypher in the first part of the novel, but turns out to be deeply involved in Nina’s scheme to escape Andrew’s clutches.  What did you think of Enzo’s character?  

The epilogue implies that Nina sends another abused wife to Millie, presumably for Millie to punish her husband.  Millie says, “I understand why Nina recommended me so highly to this woman. She knows me.  Maybe even better than I know myself.”  Do you think that’s true?  Do you think it’s fair to Millie for Nina to put her in another situation with domestic violence? 

McFadden has written a sequel featuring Millie working for a different family (The Housemaid’s Secret).  Will you be reading it?  Why or why not?