Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of psychological thrillers, and one of the most commercially successful thriller writers working today. A physician who specializes in treating traumatic brain injuries, McFadden began self-publishing in 2013 while still practicing medicine — initially writing medical thrillers drawn from her experiences as a doctor. Her breakout came in 2022 with The Housemaid, which became a global sensation, topping bestseller charts internationally and earning over one million Goodreads ratings. A film adaptation of The Housemaid was released in 2025 and grossed over $300 million worldwide. McFadden publishes multiple novels per year and has won the International Thriller Writers Award. She lives outside Boston and continues to practice medicine part-time. Her books are known for their breakneck pacing, unreliable narrators, and twists that consistently land in the final pages.
The Housemaid Series — Read in Order
1. The Housemaid (2022) — Millie Calloway takes a live-in housemaid position with the Winchester family. Her employer Nina is anxious and controlling. Her employer's husband Andrew is charming in ways that feel practiced. The twist ending reframes the entire novel. McFadden's breakout book and the best place to start. Buy on Amazon
2. The Housemaid's Secret (2023) — Millie returns in a new position with a new family hiding darker secrets than the Winchesters. Buy on Amazon
2.5. The Housemaid's Wedding (2024) — A novella. Buy on Amazon
3. The Housemaid Is Watching (2024) — #1 New York Times bestseller. The third full novel in the series. Buy on Amazon
Dr. Jane McGill Series — Read in Order
1. The Devil Wears Scrubs (2013) — McFadden's debut novel. New doctor Jane McGill navigates her first medical internship — sleepless nights, difficult patients, and a sadistic senior resident. Draws directly on McFadden's own medical training. Buy on Amazon
2. The Devil You Know (2017) — Jane returns in a follow-up medical thriller. Buy on Amazon
Prescription: Murder Series — Read in Order
1. Suicide Med (2014) — Also published as Dead Med. A medical student navigates a cutthroat program where students are dying under suspicious circumstances. Buy on Amazon
2. Brain Damage (2016) Buy on Amazon
Standalone Novels — By Publication Date
Baby City (2015) Buy on Amazon
The Surrogate Mother (2018) Buy on Amazon
The Ex (2019) Buy on Amazon
The Perfect Son (2019) Buy on Amazon
The Wife Upstairs (2020) Buy on Amazon
One By One (2020) — Strangers trapped and hunted one by one. Compared to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. Buy on Amazon
Want to Know a Secret? (2021) Buy on Amazon
The Locked Door (2021) — A surgeon is haunted by a terrifying night from her past when a new series of murders mirrors what happened years ago. One of McFadden's most praised standalones. Buy on Amazon
Do Not Disturb (2021) — A couple snowed in at an abandoned house with terrifying secrets. Viral on TikTok with over 200,000 Goodreads reviews. A Richard & Judy Book Club 2025 Summer Pick. Buy on Amazon
Do You Remember? (2022) Buy on Amazon
The Inmate (2022) Buy on Amazon
Never Lie (2022) — Two women, decades apart, connected by a series of therapy session tapes. One of McFadden's most popular standalones. Buy on Amazon
Ward D (2023) — A medical student required to complete a rotation on the hospital's mental health unit discovers something deeply wrong. Nominated for Goodreads Choice Award. Buy on Amazon
The Coworker (2023) — An awkward office worker goes missing and her colleague becomes entangled in the investigation. Goodreads Choice Award nominee. Buy on Amazon
The Teacher (2024) — Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Best Mystery and Thriller 2024. Buy on Amazon
The Boyfriend (2024) — #1 New York Times and USA Today bestseller. Sydney Shaw has terrible luck with dating. The man she meets is looking for the perfect victim. Buy on Amazon
The Crash (2025) — Goodreads Choice Award nominee 2025. Buy on Amazon
The Tenant (2025) — Goodreads Choice Award nominee 2025. Buy on Amazon
The Intruder (2025) — #1 USA Today bestseller and Amazon Editors' Best Books of 2025 selection. Goodreads Choice Award nominee 2025. Buy on Amazon
Dear Debbie (2026) — #1 New York Times and USA Today bestseller. Advice columnist Debbie Mullen has spent years helping women navigate difficult marriages — until she decides to take more direct action. Buy on Amazon
Where to Start with Freida McFadden
New to McFadden? Start with The Housemaid — it's her most celebrated novel, the best introduction to her formula of domestic power dynamics and twist endings, and the beginning of her most popular series. Read The Housemaid's Secret immediately after.
Prefer a standalone? Never Lie and The Locked Door are her most highly rated standalones. Do Not Disturb is the fan favourite for readers who want something claustrophobic and fast.
Want her medical thrillers? Start with The Devil Wears Scrubs — her debut and the book that established her voice before she moved into domestic suspense.
Looking for something to read after Freida McFadden? Browse our Books Like The Housemaid recommendations.