Book Review: The Intruder by Freida McFadden

Author: Freida McFadden (author of The Housemaid series among others)

Pages: 279

Published: Oct 2025

My Rating: 3.5/5

Buy it at Amazon here

Book cover front

Blurb

Who knows what the storm will blow in…

Casey's cabin in the wilderness is not built for a hurricane. Her roof shakes, the lights flicker, and the tree outside her front door sways ominously in the wind. But she's a lot more worried about the girl she discovers lurking outside her kitchen window.

She’s young. She’s alone. And she’s covered in blood.

The girl won't explain where she came from or loosen her grip on the knife in her right hand. And when Casey makes a disturbing discovery in the middle of the night, things take a turn for the worse.

The girl has a dark secret. One she’ll kill to keep. And if Casey gets too close to the truth, she may not live to see the morning.

In this taut, deadly tale of survival and desperation, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden explores how far one girl will go to save herself.

My Thoughts 

This was a tricky one. After all the hype for Freida, I guess it can add pressure and make someone have high expectations from all their works! I say tricky because while I loved reading this story, it also didn’t make me go “oooohhh wow”. I’m thinking I probably won’t have a lot to share on this one but you never know with me. Let’s dig in! 

Writing: Very good! The language is clear, easy to read, easy to relate and get inside characters’ heads, clever choice of tone for different characters, and you are never bored. So that’s a big plus and the biggest reason this story feels elevated. 

Another thing I noticed is also a bit of flatness - while there are character POV switches, it doesn’t get confusing (although I realized why towards the end of the book). Usually with multiple timelines and POVs thrillers tend to make me go back and forth between the pages (no thanks to my postpartum brain), but this one was “easy” enough! A characteristic of this author’s writing style is the unreliable narration which always makes me wonder what in the world is happening and whether I should believe anything at face value or not.

Plot and storyline: The story follows present-day Casey, and the young girl she finds outside her cabin covered in blood, along with her closest neighbour Lee. Equally significant, if not more, is the story of young Ella along with her family and friends. Closer towards the end things start to reveal themselves, some expected but some shocking. I admit, the twist WAS surprising and changed everything as we had learned to understand, and it did surprise me, but it was also the only “thrilling” thing that happened. The rest of the story and events are engaging and keep you hooked, but for a thriller it reads at a steady pace and is overall “soft”. It’s not super complex, but packed with tension and can get addictive! 

Themes: The book explores sensitive themes - childhood abuse, power and control, in a multi-layered fashion. Things are not exactly “shocking” but definitely disturbing. We never know who is in control, really, or how power dynamics may shift quickly. It also explores paranoia, impact of past events on your future, trust (you never know who’s on your side or why). 

Overall, the plot made sense, kept me engaged and kept wanting to know more, so it is a book I would recommend (along with some trigger warnings), to anyone looking for a hooking, thrilling mystery. This book did not put me off Freida McFadden, so I’m on the lookout for her next one! 

Book Review: Too Old for This by Samantha Downing

Author: Samantha Downing

Published: Aug 2025

Pages: 385

My rating: 4.5/5! 

Find it at: Amazon

Book Blurb:

A retired serial killer’s quiet life is upended by an unexpected visitor. To protect her secret, there’s only one option left—what’s another murder? From bestselling author Samantha Downing.

Lottie Jones thought her crimes were behind her.

Decades earlier, she changed her identity and tucked herself away in a small town. Her most exciting nights are the weekly bingo games at the local church and gossiping with her friends. 

When investigative journalist Plum Dixon shows up on her doorstep asking questions about Lottie’s past and specifically her involvement with numerous unsolved cases, well, Lottie just can’t have that.

But getting away with murder is hard enough when you’re young. And when Lottie receives another annoying knock on the door, she realizes this crime might just be the death of her…

My Thoughts

The title and cover sold this to me - a woman criminal who’s in retirement, her past is murky and unclear, when someone starts digging and threatens exposure, she has no choice but to go into survival mode. What’s not intriguing about this? I’m so glad we made this our book pick of the month in our local book club - this was not only a very interesting and unique read, but also quite funny. It’s not every thriller you feel like you want to protect the criminal and do not wish them get caught. 🫠

Writing style: 10/10! It’s engaging, keeps you hooked, neither too heavy nor boring. Most importantly, readers are able to connect with the most unrelatable character- the perpetrator! The monologue and narration is witty and enjoyable. There was never a dull moment. While the story itself moves between the present and has slow reveals about Lottie’s past, it is integrated into the narrative and does not feel like there’s a lot of back and forth that can get confusing. This is a book anyone can enjoy over a weekend, but will stay in your mind for a very long time. Loved it! 

Storyline and plot: So unique, underrated and a completely different perspective to what we’re used to in the world of thrillers. You’re not creeped out by this 70 something old lady swinging hammers around and cleaning up messes like you wouldn’t believe. Instead you’re intrigued, praying she gets away with it, even feeling pity for her old age, deteriorating house, loneliness from family, and everything in between. How often does that even happen??? Never in my years of reading thrillers, I can tell you that. Sure, there were some plot holes and stuff made to seem easier than it really could be, but it’s easily overlooked because the book is just so fun. 

Characterization: Nearly perfect! There aren’t a lot many characters in this one. The story mainly revolves around Lottie, with other characters more so the supporting ones, even the detective from 40 years ago who always knew she was guilty and got away with murder. All her current friends from church, her son and his soon-to-be-bride, the journalist, the cops and everyone in between- all relatable and playing their roles without overthrowing the spotlight from the main character, the anti-heroine Lottie Jones. More than anything, Lottie is hilarious and weirdly relatable. She had made me more aware of old people and I can now definitely look at them with a lot mote grace, respect and uncertainty about what they could have been up to in their past (or if they have just buried a body last week!). Goodness! 

Themes: The biggest one is obviously ageing, and also how it defines identity. Identity is not something we can simply outgrow due to age. The book explores the idea of changing and adapting with age, challenging stereotypes in a light-hearted way. Can you really escape your past? Actions lead to consequences, some time or the other. 

Another that stood out was reliability. Lottie is amazing but she’s old, her body and mind is constantly at odds with what she feels she should be able to do, and sometimes she is forced to admit that she is not the same. Sometimes she forgets and makes mistakes. This played with my mind in the way I perceived the story, sometimes stopping to assess if what she says/does is reliable or not. 

Then, as with any crime, there’s morality and self-justification, and even control and survival. If Lottie didn’t try to control the narrative she would probably be toast. Survival instincts led her to questionable actions, and we often find Lottie justifying those actions. 

Overall Verdict: Most definitely recommend to everyone! I think this is a thriller all kinds of readers can enjoy. It is not heavy or confusing, yet engaging and twisted enough to keep you happy. 😊 

If you’re interested, get a copy from Amazon! Samantha Downing has other bestselling books including My Lovely Wife. 

Book Review: Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

Title: Don't Let Him In

Author: Lisa Jewell

Published: Jun 2025, 361 pages

Buy it on Amazon here

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Book Type: Slow burn psychological thriller - lower on the shock value, more on creepy vibes

Recommended for: Mystery and suspense readers, thriller lovers, anyone wanting to experiment with psychological thrillers that don't give you heart attacks (but might give you anxiety, so.)

Book Blurb:

Three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.

He’s the perfect man. It’s a perfect lie.

Nina Swann is intrigued when she received a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of her late husband, who is looking to connect after her husband’s unexpected death. Nick is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…

Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband, Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn’t right.

Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.

My Thoughts:

I’m still in my thriller era and binge reading crazy mysteries, so when I saw this Lisa Jewell mystery highlighted on the library shelf, I basically picked it up without reading the blurb because popular authors are popular for a reason, right? This one was entertaining with lovely, respectable writing, and I enjoyed reading this while I was able to take out a chunk of time and get through it all together. This is important, because if you read it in fragments and with gaps and have a fragile memory like mine, it may feel a bit frustrating due to the multiple POVs spanning different years. The frequency of the switches takes time to get used to, and in the beginning made it really hard to connect, feeling like nothing serious or mysterious is actually happening even though you’re already half way through the book. 

It starts very well, someone dying and another unrelated mysterious man appearing out of nowhere, seemingly perfect, saying all the right things, knowing exactly what you want and bringing those to you. As a reader, you instantly know something is amiss, heightened by the mistrust one character develops and starts to investigate. The story then reads slow, going back and forth in different timelines and POVs, unrolling the weird history and sequence of events that seem widely unrelated but come together in the end. The “shock” or the mystery itself is not as alarming- it’s actually quite obvious right from the beginning, the story unfolding slowly with additions to the initial crime, adding depth and intensity gradually. 

I definitely felt it was a slow burn kind of story, peppered with moments where I felt frustration from the absolute ridiculous manner the women/victims allowed this person into their lives and let him upend it, but I realized that was the point. These things happen, women become vulnerable and someone with enough brains and proclivity for selfishness can ruin it all with no remorse. The idea of a perfect husband and perfect life is so sought-after that nothing else seems to matter, red flags are missed, and women end up diminishing themselves to get that perfectly curated life. Despite the slowness and the frustrations, the book reads very well, I have to applaud the writing style. It is immaculate! It is what takes a normal story to a bestseller level - it makes you keep reading despite what you feel about the story, even making one feel sorry/pity for the criminal. And THAT, I attribute solely to good, strong writing. 

The ending was indeed satisfying, the meaning clear, and the story felt well-rounded. The characters also were well-developed, from the now dead Paddy Swan, his wife Nina, their daughter Ash, the mysterious too-perfect Nick Radcliffe, and even the series of other women in Nick/whatever-his-name-is’ life. The things people do may feel frustrating, especially when Nick shows all the red flags but I suppose it is what it is. As mentioned before, it is a reflection of reality and the way vulnerable people (and even not so much, as in the case of Martha), can be easily swayed with mere promises and appearances. The themes of hidden identities, trust and deception shine all through this book. 

I would definitely recommend this one to fans of good writing, thrillers and psychological suspense! 

PS - Check out my review of The Family Upstairs, the first Lisa Jewell mystery I read.

Book Review: You'll Never Know by Caleb Stephens

Author: Caleb Stephens
Published: Nov 2025
Pages: 345
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Find it on Amazon here. 

Blurb: 

They took his wife. They took his unborn child. He only has hours to find them … or they’re dead.

Grant Wilson has never been happier. He has a wife he loves, a home in the country, and a brand-new baby on the way. But all of that shatters when two masked men abduct his wife, Avery, in broad daylight.

The instructions Grant receives are If he wants Avery back, he must solve a series of riddles that arrive one after another—and the clock is ticking.

With every piece of the puzzle more outrageous and complex than the last, Grant knows he’s playing a dangerous game. But he’s determined to do whatever it takes to save Avery’s life … even if it kills him.

My Thoughts

You’ll Never Know is one of those books you want to read because its name keeps popping up everywhere and you just have to find out what it is. When it came up as an option for our book club’s pick for the month, I couldn’t resist! It’s a fast-paced, totally packed thriller but it wasn’t what I had expected. 

I would probably summarize it as a gripping, twisted story maybe held back by average writing, but also impossible to put down! 

Let me explain:
The story and plot is unique, complex, and well ideated but it did end up making me feel a lot of sadness with all the tragedy in it. At some point it felt like the extent of tragedies for different characters were overkill - but at the same time I have to appreciate the intricacies with which the story has been narrated, divided into different POVs, travelling back and forth in the past and present without confusing the reader too much. The descriptions, however, seemed to drag on here and there, making me gloss over entire paragraphs and speed-read to “get to the point”. That was one of the top irritants but not enough to make me abandon the book, because of the storyline. 

It is unique! We start with a happy couple expecting their first child when the wife Avery is kidnapped at gunpoint and the husband Grant is sent on a wild goose chase to get her back. BUT things start to not make sense very quickly, indicating there’s more to every action. The multiple POVs with each passing chapter, and even going back and forth in THREE different timelines, it feels like you have the first half the book overloaded with information you don’t know what to do with, and then it starts coming together in the second half. Become get this - the biggest twist, and what a reader would consider an “ending” happens in the middle of the story, and when you have half the book left you’ll be like, whoa what? 

Another big theme it is based on is tragedy. It’s certainly not for everyone, especially if things may be triggering for some. Deep loss, coming full circle, grief and acceptance are also themes the story is based on, other than morality, isolation, helplessness and guilt. This isn’t a comfortable read - it kind of sits heavy with you, knowing how the story of vastly different characters intertwined. How one small act or decision can set in motion a series of events that can permanently alter the course of life for multiple people. Then there’s also the message about how childhood experiences can affect behaviour and your entire life, basically. Other strong themes or ideas portrayed in the book are about desperation, control and power (you never really know who’s pulling the ropes), trust and betrayal (NO ONE can be trusted, no one is who they seem to be), and parenthood. 

Is there a crime one can commit and still be forgiven? Does an eye for an eye work where killing people is involved? What’s the justification for an act or crime? The story raises all these questions and makes the reader ponder - I wasn’t sure if they got my empathy or judgment. I’m still thinking about it, lol. 
The major twists and identity reveals start happening around the middle of the book, and the rest of the story explains how the first half happened. It’s very interesting from the perspective of narration. I haven’t really come across many books in this format, so kudos to the author for being imaginative, I suppose! 

Overall, I would say it’s maybe not the most polished book but worth reading for the thrill and experience, and I would recommend it as a one-time read for anyone looking to enjoy a book in the thriller/mystery/suspense genre. 

Review: The Housemaid (The Housemaid #1)

Author: Frieda McFadden

Published: April 2022

Publisher: Hachette (Grand Central Publishing)

Pages: 329

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars!

Find it at: Amazon

Frieda McFadden’s on a roll. This is her year for sure! I’m wondering how I have missed these books in the past couple years (New York Times Bestsellers???), only now realizing she’s having bestseller after bestseller and I had to find out why. Picking The Housemaid was only a matter of time, but when it became my local book club’s pick of the month I had no choice :P Also the movie adaptation came out in January so of course I had to read first. And boy did I read this fast! It was over in less than 24 hours and while this may not be a huge deal for someone who has nothing else to do, it was for me because I did it on a Sunday!!! A day when I had my toddler circling me all day and where was my nose buried? In this book, yes. Poor thing. My child, not the book. 

Let’s break it down into sensible, digestible pieces:

Overall theme: This book is about deception - nothing is what it appears to be. And it is also about power, control, and the liability of emotional baggage. 

Millie has a questionable past and she is shocked when she gets hired as a househelp for one of the families in a wealthy neighbourhood. Her employer Nina seems to have something sinister behind her behaviour and words. You know something is off about her but the author does a great job of making it really hard for the reader to figure it out. And then there were the other characters, Nina’s husband Andrew who is charming and too perfect, their daughter Cecelia giving off creepy vibes, and their gardener Enzo who only speaks Italian and doesn’t seem to understand English but spends a considerable amount of time tending to their lawns (to me Enzo had an important role and an air of mystery around him, but in the movie his role was so diminished it was disappointing - I guess most adaptations are). As Millie settles in her new home, she is convinced Andrew deserves better. Soon, things take a surprising turn until it becomes shocking altogether and bam! Plot twist with still a lot of pages to go. 

I do admire the author’s writing style - it keeps you engaged and motivated to keep going, yet it doesn’t make you fly through it. You want to read every word in case you miss something important. The characters are well developed, complete with their flaws and vulnerabilities. They’re relatable through the common themes of complex relationships, helplessness and anger. I did not particularly enjoy the overall theme, the message, the misogyny of it, but it is a well-written story and I am officially obligated to read her other books (especially the next in sequence The Housemaid's Secret). 

In terms of plot twists, loved them! You know something is coming but can’t quite figure it out until it happens. After you gasp and get over the sensations, you’re forced to rethink what you previously read to make sure it makes sense. Honestly, that’s the thing I live for. I want to be challenged, and the twists in this one excited me no end! There’s even a whole vibe to the book. You know how there are some stories (like She Didn’t See it Coming) that are considered “domestic thrillers”, that have a very small setting and everything happens in it? I kind of think of The Housemaid as similar - the vibe was small setting, limited characters, slightly isolating and claustrophobic. The power dynamics and how they shift as the story progresses is also a reason it kept me hooked and interested. I probably won’t go into too much detail about the ending - it kinda was expected but not in the way it happened! 

I’m impressed with the author for the writing and looking forward to reading more by her. Would most definitely recommend reading this one, and then watching the movie. :)