Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden

 Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden-274 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/4

Quinn Alexander has committed an unthinkable crime.

To avoid spending her life in prison, Quinn makes a run for it. She leaves behind her home, her job, and her family. She grabs her passport and heads for the northern border before the police can discover what she’s done.

But when an unexpected snowstorm forces her off the road, Quinn must take refuge at the broken-down, isolated Baxter Motel. The handsome and kindly owner, Nick Baxter, is only too happy to offer her a cheap room for the night.

Unfortunately, the Baxter Motel isn’t the quiet, safe haven it seemed to be. The motel has a dark and disturbing past. And in the dilapidated house across the way, the silhouette of Nick's ailing wife is always at the window. Always watching.

In the morning, Quinn must leave the motel. She'll pack up her belongings and get back on the road to freedom.

But first, she must survive the night.

Do Not Disturb is a Hitchcock-style psychological thriller that will keep you tearing through the pages until you reach the shocking conclusion!

Thoughts: I liked this one, but not quite as much as others I've read by McFadden. I saw some of the twists coming, but I didn't see the biggest one, which was pretty shocking (but made sense looking back). Freida McFadden has emerged as one of my favorite mystery/thriller authors.

The Divorce by Freida McFadden

 The Divorce by Freida McFadden-354 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What is a happily ever after really worth?

Naomi was living the quintessential love story. Boy meets girl. They fall in love, get married, buy a dream house, start a family…

Then―he kicks her out, hires the city’s best divorce lawyers, drains their accounts, and takes up with a 20-something.

It’s a brutal end to the story. Naomi should accept defeat: move into a dingy apartment, get back into the workforce, and piece together the shattered remains of her life.

Except, why should she?

Instead, Naomi fixates on her husband’s new girlfriend. What begins as cynical curiosity soon twists into obsession―and then into something far darker. As Naomi uncovers secrets she never imagined, she realizes her own life may be in danger.

But if it keeps her perfect family intact, isn’t it worth it?

Thoughts: This is right up there with The Intruder for me. I really liked this one. I saw some of the twists coming, but not all of them. McFadden is so good at leading the reader in one direction, but then going 180 degrees in the other direction and throwing readers off. McFadden's books are fast paced and so readable. I don't usually want to put them down and The Divorce was no different. 

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

Dear Debbie - 336 pages

Freida McFadden

Summary (From Goodreads)

Sometimes, enough is enough…

Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.

Or at least, she did.

These days, Debbie’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie’s done being the bigger person. She’s done being reasonable and practical. It’s time to take her own advice.

And now it’s time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.

Review

This is only my second time reading a book by Freida McFadden (after reading The Tenant for the Anything Goes Book Club), and I'm glad I did.  I liked this one significantly more.  Although some of the plot points are rather convenient, if you like suspense and you're looking for a good revenge fantasy, this is a solid choice.  

The Dinner Party: A Pick Your Poison Adventure by Freida McFadden

 

The Dinner Party: A Pick Your Poison Adventure by Freida McFadden - 196 pages

You're broke. You have no way to pay your rent and you're about to be evicted.

Fortunately, your friend has offered you a job working as a waitress at a dinner party... at an isolated mansion way out on Peyton's Peak. The money will be enough to cover two months' rent and get you back on your feet. It's a golden opportunity that will solve all your problems.

But the whole thing sounds really sketchy. The money is great, but there's got to be some sort of awful catch. You should probably turn it down.

Right???

As it turns out, the choice is yours. YOU get to decide if you want to go to the creepy dinner party or stay home and read a book. YOU can decide if you want to pick up the disheveled hitchhiker on the side of the highway. YOU can choose to go left or right at the fork in the road. For once, the decision is entirely in your hands.

So what are you going to do?????

This was ok, I DO like the choose your own adventure. I liked the part with the Yeti especially, but I liked choosing all the ways to go to see what happened.  

Never Lie by Freida McFadden

 Never Lie by Freida McFadden-296 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis: Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are searching for the house of their dreams.

But when they visit the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished without a trace four years earlier, a violent winter storm traps them at the estate… with no chance of escape until the blizzard comes to an end.

In search of a book to keep her entertained until the snow abates, Tricia happens upon a secret room. One that contains audio transcripts from every single patient Dr. Hale has ever interviewed. As Tricia listens to the cassette tapes, she learns about the terrifying chain of events leading up to Dr. Hale’s mysterious disappearance.

Tricia plays the tapes one by one, late into the night. With each one, another shocking piece of the puzzle falls into place, and Dr. Adrienne Hale’s web of lies slowly unravels.

And then Tricia reaches the final cassette.

The one that reveals the entire horrifying truth.

Thoughts: This one is a good read. I can't give it a full 5 stars because of a couple plot points, but it's still a good one. I guessed part of the plot twist, but was still surprised by some of it. I like the ending, but I'm not sure if the main characters get what they really deserve. 

The Tenant by Freida McFadden

 

The Tenant by Freida McFadden, 368 pages, ⭐⭐

Blake Porter is riding high, until he's not. Fired abruptly from his job as a VP of marketing and unable to make the mortgage payments on the new brownstone that he shares with his fiancee, he's desperate to make ends meet.

Enter Whitney. Beautiful, charming, down-to-earth, and looking for a room to rent. She's exactly what Blake's looking for. Or is she?

Because something isn't quite right. The neighbors start treating Blake differently. The smell of decay permeates his home, no matter how hard he scrubs. Strange noises jar him awake in the middle of the night. And soon Blake fears someone knows his darkest secrets...

Danger lives right at home, and by the time Blake realizes it, it'll be far too late. The trap is already set.

The Tenant by Freida McFadden

 The Tenant by Freida McFadden-356 pages

⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads Synopsis: There’s no place like home…

Blake Porter is riding high, until he's not. Fired abruptly from his job as a VP of marketing and unable to make the mortgage payments on the new brownstone that he shares with his fiancee, he's desperate to make ends meet.

Enter Whitney. Beautiful, charming, down-to-earth, and looking for a room to rent. She's exactly what Blake's looking for. Or is she?

Because something isn't quite right. The neighbors start treating Blake differently. The smell of decay permeates his home, no matter how hard he scrubs. Strange noises jar him awake in the middle of the night. And soon Blake fears someone knows his darkest secrets...

Danger lives right at home, and by the time Blake realizes it, it'll be far too late. The trap is already set.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden knocks at your door with a gripping story of revenge, privilege, and secrets turned sour…

Thoughts: Honestly, this is the seventh book I've read by McFadden and it's my least favorite so far. What I like about her books is that they usually have an anti-hero/anti-heroine protagonist. I like the morally grey. There isn't really much of that in this book. None of the main characters are likeable. The best part of the book is the ending, but the beginning and middle are merely okay by McFadden standards. That being said, it's a decent read. 

The Tenant by Freida McFadden

The Tenant - 368 pages

Freida McFadden

Summary (From Goodreads)

There’s no place like home…

Blake Porter is riding high, until he's not. Fired abruptly from his job as a VP of marketing and unable to make the mortgage payments on the new brownstone that he shares with his fiancee, he's desperate to make ends meet.

Enter Whitney. Beautiful, charming, down-to-earth, and looking for a room to rent. She's exactly what Blake's looking for. Or is she?

Because something isn't quite right. The neighbors start treating Blake differently. The smell of decay permeates his home, no matter how hard he scrubs. Strange noises jar him awake in the middle of the night. And soon Blake fears someone knows his darkest secrets...

Danger lives right at home, and by the time Blake realizes it, it'll be far too late. The trap is already set.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden knocks at your door with a gripping story of revenge, privilege, and secrets turned sour…

Review

This was my first time reading a book by this author.  From what I understand, choosing to focus on a male perspective in this book is outside the norm for her, and I think it served well to establish Blake as an unreliable narrator.  However, I'm not a big fan of the second part of the epilogue; I don't think it added much - if anything - to the story.  Given how it was executed, it felt more like an interesting idea than a twist that would actually provide the reader with an explanation or closure.  

The Crash by Freida McFadden

 The Crash by Freida McFadden-384 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The nightmare she’s running from is nothing compared to where she’s headed.

Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone, and desperately wants to put her crumbling life in the rearview mirror. So she hits the road, planning to stay with her brother until she can figure out her next move. But she doesn’t realize she’s heading straight into a blizzard.

She never arrives at her destination.

Stranded in rural Maine with a dead car and broken ankle, Tegan worries she’s made a terrible mistake. Then a miracle she is rescued by a couple who offers her a room in their warm cabin until the snow clears.

But something isn’t right. Tegan believed she was waiting out the storm, but as time ticks by, she comes to realize she is in grave danger. This safe haven isn’t what she thought it was, and staying here may have been her most deadly mistake yet.

And now she must do whatever it takes to save herself—and her unborn child.

A gut-wrenching story of motherhood, survival, and twisted expectations, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden delivers a snowbound thriller that will chill you to the bone.

Thoughts: I liked this one, but maybe not quite as much as some of the others I've read by McFadden. I liked the ending, especially. It's a satisfying wrap-up of the story. Some of the middle is a bit frustrating because of the characters and their motivations and decision-making. I found two of the characters to be pretty annoying at times. I would still recommend this to fans of thrillers and/or Freida McFadden. 

The Housemaid is Watching (The Housemaid, #3) by Freida McFadden

 The Housemaid is Watching (The Housemaid, #3) by Freida McFadden-383 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

“You must be our new neighbors!” Mrs. Lowell gushes and waves across the picket fence. I clutch my daughter’s hand and smile back: but the second Mrs. Lowell sees my husband a strange expression crosses her face. In that moment I make a promise. We finally have a family home. My past is far, far behind us. And I’ll do anything to keep it that way…

I used to clean other people’s houses—now, I can’t believe this home is actually mine. The charming kitchen, the quiet cul-de-sac, the huge yard where my kids can play. My husband and I saved for years to give our children the life they deserve.

Even though I’m wary of our new neighbor Mrs. Lowell, when she invites us over for dinner it’s our chance to make friends. Her maid opens the door wearing a white apron, her hair in a tight bun. I know exactly what it’s like to be in her shoes. But her cold stare gives me chills…

The Lowells’ maid isn’t the only strange thing on our street. I’m sure I see a shadowy figure watching us. My husband leaves the house late at night. And when I meet a woman who lives across the way, her words chill me to the bone: Be careful of your neighbors.

Did I make a terrible mistake moving my family here?

I thought I’d left my darkest secrets behind. But could this quiet suburban street be the most dangerous place of all?

From New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Freida McFadden comes the next installment of the unbelievably twisty, tension-packed and globally bestselling Housemaid series. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone read: and once you start, it will have you up all night racing through the pages until the final explosive twist.

Thoughts: The third installment is better than the second and maybe on par with the first. Millie isn't as personally involved in the plot this time, but her family still is very involved. I didn't like their new neighbors from the very beginning. I am liking Freida McFadden. Her plots are twisty and fast paced. The reader usually doesn't know the full story of what happened until the very end. If you like thrillers, then I would definitely recommend McFadden. 

The Housemaid's Secret (The Housemaid, #2) by Freida McFadden

 The Housemaid's Secret (The Housemaid, #2) by Freida McFadden-307 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

As he continues showing me their incredible penthouse apartment, I have a terrible feeling about the woman behind closed doors. But I can't risk losing this job – not if I want to keep my darkest secret safe . . .

It's hard to find an employer who doesn't ask too many questions about my past. So I thank my lucky stars that the Garricks miraculously give me a job, cleaning their stunning penthouse with views across the city and preparing fancy meals in their shiny kitchen. I can work here for a while, stay quiet until I get what I want. It's almost perfect. But I still haven't met Mrs Garrick, or seen inside the guest bedroom. I'm sure I hear her crying. I notice spots of blood around the neck of her white nightgowns when I'm doing laundry. And one day I can't help but knock on the door. When it gently swings open, what I see inside changes everything...

That's when I make a promise. After all, I've done this before. I can protect Mrs. Garrick while keeping my own secrets locked up safe. Douglas Garrick has done wrong. He is going to pay. It's simply a question of how far I'm willing to go...

Thoughts: I somewhat predicted some of the twists in this one, but still not all. McFadden is so good at being unpredictable with the twists and turns. I liked the first one in the series slightly more, but not by much. 

The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1) by Freida McFadden

 The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1) by Freida McFadden-325 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of…

Thoughts: Another good Freida McFadden thriller. I somewhat guessed some of the twists, but it's still a good read and I definitely didn't see everything coming that happened.

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

 The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden-368 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it all: men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot.

Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet.

Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be the killer’s next victim...

Thoughts: I am starting to understand why so many are reading Freida McFadden. She writes thrillers with unexpected twists and she does it so well. This one did not disappoint. I thought I had it all figured out, but I was wrong. The perpetrator turned out to be someone I wasn't expecting. If you like twisty thrillers (think Ruth Ware and Alice Feeney), then you should definitely check out Freida McFadden's books. 

The Intruder by Freida McFadden

 The Intruder by Freida McFadden-288 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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.

Thoughts: I've been wanting to read a Freida McFadden book and I really liked this one. There's a twist in the middle of the book that I did not see coming and a twist at the end that I somewhat did see coming. I intend to read more Freida McFadden after liking this one so much. 

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

 

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden - 303 pages

Sometimes, enough is enough…

Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.

Or at least, she did.

These days, Debbie’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie’s done being the bigger person. She’s done being reasonable and practical. It’s time to take her own advice.

And now it’s time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.

This one is one of my favorites, it definitely gave me "Serial Mom" Dottie vibes and I loved it!  So very good.

The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden

 

The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden - 296 pages

Abby wants a baby more than anything.

But after years of failed infertility treatments and adoptions that have fallen through, it seems like motherhood is not in her future. That is, until her personal assistant Monica makes a generous offer that will make all of Abby's dreams come true.

Or all of her nightmares.

Because it turns out Monica isn't who she says she is. The woman now carrying Abby's child has dark, twisted secrets.

And she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

This was one of my least favorite of McFadden's books.  I am so done with the trope of "my husband is so sexy so he must be having an affair with this younger woman who looks like me but I won't say anything".  Give me a break.  The last 30 pages or so were pretty good though, so there's that.

The Ex by Freida McFadden

 

The Ex by Freida McFadden - 348 pages

Cassie thinks she has met the perfect man.

Joel is sweet, handsome, romantic, and best of all, he’s crazy about Cassie. She thinks she’s found the guy she’ll spend the rest of her life with. Have children with. Grow old with.

Yes, she knows about his perfect ex-girlfriend, Francesca. The beautiful, brilliant chef, beloved by all his friends. But she thinks Francesca is out of the picture. She thinks Francesca is gone for good.

Think again, Cassie.

I noticed right away the different narratives between "The Ex" and "The New Girl" chapters, which had me curious right away.  Yes, you find out later what that's all about.  This was a good book, I didn't want to put it down.  Another good McFadden twist, as always!

The Intruder by Freida McFadden

 

The Intruder by Freida McFadden - 296 pages

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 is 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.

This was a great story, I couldn't put this one down.  The author does a great job of making you feel bad for Ella and her home life.  This is a good, quick read.

Death Row by Freida McFadden

 

Death Row by Freida McFadden - 74 pages

With all hope of an appeal fading away, the fate of a condemned murderess takes a shocking turn in a breathtaking short story.

Talia Kemper is on death row for murdering her husband. She had an alibi and no known motive, yet Talia’s unwavering protestations of innocence have always been ignored. Then one day in the visiting area, she sees a recognizable stranger she’s certain is her husband. It turns out the man she’s been convicted of killing may not be dead after all. But as the days tick away toward Talia’s execution, what will it take for her to be believed?

Freida McFadden’s Death Row is part of Alibis, a collection of stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.

This is a great little novella; I found myself wanting more about Talia.  I really enjoyed this one and loved how she ended it.

Do You Remember? by Freida McFadden

Do You Remember? by Freida McFadden, 334 pages
 

From Caroline S on Goodreads: "The first half was really really good. I couldn’t put it down and I was thinking about it so much I couldn’t sleep. The second half was a dissapointment[sic]. The conclusion was really weak and stupid and it didn’t make a lot of sense? This book could be SOOO good, but no. It was a fast read though"