The Housemaid's Secret - Freida McFadden

 ⭐⭐⭐

The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden is an entertaining yet flawed sequel that fails to match the brilliance of the first book. Continuing the story of Millie the housemaid, this book finds her taking a job cleaning for the wealthy Garricks in their New York City penthouse. However, the reclusive Mrs. Garrick seldom leaves her room, raising Millie's suspicions. 

This fast-paced psychological thriller initially hooks readers in with the mystery surrounding the Garricks. However, the first half feels slow with minimal plot development. Millie's repetitive thought patterns also become grating after a while. The prose lacks nuance, and the storyline grows predictable despite a few twists.

That said, the shocking twist halfway through the book makes for a gripping turn of events. Seeing things unfold later from a sociopathic perspective adds intrigue. Some of the final revelations also take readers by surprise. Ultimately, these second half twists feel clever but require too much suspension of disbelief.

In the end, while The Housemaid's Secret works fine as popcorn entertainment, the story stretches credulity a bit too far. And with no memorable characters or profound ideas to contemplate, the book fails to leave a lasting impression. Fans of domestic thrillers may have some fun thanks to the fast pacing. But readers who prefer psychological depth and plausibility may end up disappointed.

I would give this sequel 3 out of 5 stars as it falls short of being a skilfully crafted thriller. The repetitive writing style, shallow characterisations, and improbable plot diminish its impact. Still, it serves its purpose as a diversionary read. Those new to Freida McFadden's work would be better off starting with the superior first novel, The Housemaid.