CATEGORIES: BOOK BLOG POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, MYSTERY/THRILLER
ABOUT THE BOOK
AUTHOR: FREIDA MCFADDEN
GENRES: THRILLER
PUBLISHER: BOOKOUTURE
PUBLISHING DATE: APRIL 26, 2022
FORMAT: KINDLE
PAGE COUNT: 338 PAGES
GOODREADS summary
My Thoughts:
The Housemaid had been creating a buzz in Facebook book blogging groups, so I decided to see what all the fuss was about.
In this gripping domestic thriller, we are introduced to Millie, a young woman looking to turn her life around after a stint in prison. She finds herself at rock bottom – fired from her old job, living out of her car, and struggling to secure employment. With the clock ticking on her parole requirements, Millie must find an address and a job quickly.
Millie’s luck takes a turn when she receives a call from Nina Winchester, a wealthy housewife in search of a live-in housemaid. It seems like a dream come true for Millie, as she suddenly has both a place to stay and a job on the same day.
However, her excitement fades when she sees her living quarters: a small room in the attic with no windows and scratches on the door. For someone who had spent years in a cell, this is far from ideal. Nevertheless, Millie pushes through and vows to be the best housemaid she can be, determined not to squander this opportunity.
"As I shut the door, I notice marks in the wood. Long thin lines running down the length of the door at about the level of my shoulder. I run my fingers over the indentations. They almost seem like… Scratches. Like somebody was scraping at the door. Trying to get out."
As the chapters unfold, Millie’s hope dwindles, thanks to the increasingly bizarre behavior of Nina and her daughter, Cecelia. Nina becomes more unhinged by the day, leaving messes for Millie to clean up, sabotaging her tasks, gaslighting her, and humiliating her whenever possible.
Every now and then, though, Nina shows glimpses of warmth, leaving Millie utterly confused. Cecelia, on the other hand, treats Millie with utter disrespect, considering her nothing more than dirt beneath her nails.
While it may be relatable to some readers to have worked for someone on a power trip, aiming to humiliate their employee at every turn, Millie’s experience with Nina borders on the unbelievable. However, given the context of her parole and limited employment options, this infuriating scenario rings true.
In contrast, the character of Nina’s husband, Andrew, seems completely unrealistic. Andrew fails to come across as a fully fleshed-out character, and his actions and motivations remain questionable throughout the story.
Freida McFadden skillfully creates an aura of suspense right from the start, leaving readers with countless unanswered questions. What did Millie do to end up in prison? Will she eventually snap and kill Nina? And why does the gardener seem so fearful of his employers?
Is Nina more than just an eccentric and demanding boss? Is there something else going on with her?"
Despite the suspense that kept me engaged, I grew somewhat bored with the repetitive abuse inflicted by Nina, and I was frustrated by Millie’s poor decision-making towards the end of the story. Her character seemed impulsive and failed to think through her choices, perhaps due to her difficult upbringing, yet this aspect did not resonate with me.
As for the ending, I have mixed feelings. Some parts were shockingly satisfying, but the cliffhanger felt overly dramatic and unrealistic. Overall, I found this book enjoyable in a dark, Cinderella-esque manner, and I hope that the sequel, “The Housemaid’s Secret,” will provide a more satisfying conclusion.
If you have read this title, feel free to leave your thoughts in the reply box below. If you are in the mood for more thrillers, check out my book recommendations by clicking here.
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