5 Freida McFadden Books That Aren’t 'The Housemaid' (And You Should Read Immediately)

Let’s address the elephant in the psychological thriller room.

Yes, The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is wildly popular. Yes, it’s the book everyone recommends when you ask for a fast, twisty thriller. And yes, it deserves the hype. NO DOUBT. It had me up till 3 AM and I DEVOURED that book.

But if I have to see The Housemaid recommended one more time without acknowledging that Freida McFadden has written multiple other unhinged, binge-worthy thrillers, I might personally lose my mind.

So, if you’ve already read The Housemaid – or if you’re simply tired of pretending it’s the only book she’s ever written – this list is for you.

Five Freida McFadden books that are NOT The Housemaid

I highly recommend if you enjoy domestic thrillers, morally questionable characters, and plots that spiral out of control.

1. The Tenant by Freida McFadden

This book taps into a very specific fear: letting someone into your home and slowly realizing they are not who they said they were. Like majorly regretting the entire thing.

The tension builds quietly at first, then escalates until you’re questioning everyone’s motives – including the narrator’s.

Because what the fuck?

What works especially well here is Freida McFadden’s ability to turn something mundane into something threatening. Apartments, leases, roommates – things we consider normal – become pressure points. The paranoia was insane. Plus the way it touched many of my icks, smells being the most awful one. The rotting fruit – UGGGGGHHH.

This is the kind of psychological thriller you finish and then immediately rethink your own boundaries. And promise yourself never to rent to strangers.

2. The Crash by Freida McFadden

The Crash answers the question: What if one bad moment destroyed your sense of reality?

This book thrives on uncertainty. It’s fast-paced, twisty, and emotionally claustrophobic.

From the moment Tegan set out onto the road to visit Dennis, I was biting my nails. Because what pregnant woman in her right mind would do that?

And then there’s Polly. She straight up gave me creeps.

McFadden lets the discomfort simmer. You’re constantly trying to piece things together, only to realize you might be working with incomplete information.

It’s disorienting in a way that feels messy but still continues to hold your attention until you find out what happens in the end. And yes, it sticks the landing.

3. The Locked Door by Freida McFadden

If you like thrillers with a darker psychological edge, The Locked Door is where you should go next.

This book leans heavily into nature versus nurture, trauma, and inherited darkness. It explores what it means to live with a past that was never yours. Plus if you’re into the serial killer trope, pick this up now.

There’s a quiet menace throughout the story, the kind that creeps up on you rather. The suspense isn’t just about what will happen next; it’s about what has already happened and how deeply it has scarred everyone involved.

This is one of Freida McFadden’s more unsettling books, and that’s exactly why it works.

4. Never Lie by Freida McFadden

Never Lie is for readers who immensely enjoy being lied to.

I mean, an dead psychiatrist’s mansion in a secluded area? And then you get trapped there? And then you find a locked room full of the said psychiatrist’s session tapes? Well, fuck yeah I will read it.

This is a classic locked-room style psychological thriller, complete with secrets, unreliable narratives, and a growing sense that something is very wrong beneath the surface. The atmosphere is heavy, isolating, and tense in a way that makes you read faster just to escape the discomfort.

Every answer raises another question, and the truth never arrives without collateral damage.

It’s deeply satisfying if you like your thrillers neat but brutal.

5. The Teacher by Freida McFadden

Let me get this out first – I truly hate teachers who get involved with their students. Especially if they’re married. Something about it is truly abhorrent to me.

Which is why I wanted to kill Nate from the get-go.

What makes this book stand out is how easily it manipulates your sympathy. Just when you think you understand what’s going on, McFadden pulls the rug out from under you and forces you to reassess everything.

If you like thrillers that leave you unsettled long after the last page, this is a strong pick.

Final Thoughts

Freida McFadden’s strength lies in her consistency. You know what you’re getting: short chapters, fast pacing, domestic tension, and twists that make you audibly and physically react.

If you enjoyed The Housemaid, these five books are natural next reads.