The Housemaid Is Watching

I love all of Freida McFadden’s books. The housemaid books are the right amount of suspense and thrill. Keeps you on the edge of your seat and you can’t put the book down. I recommend this book to my friends.

There’s a line in the book, told with a wink, about how a third novel in a series is never as good as the first two. Not true in this case. This was just as good as the other Housemaid novels. For background on Millie and Enzo, it definitely helps if you’ve read the first two novels. This one is set a decade later, in which Millie has 2 children, and is no longer a Housemaid. She’s a social worker, which - though maybe a bit unrealistic given her prior years in prison- is a perfect job based on her willingness to help other women in need. The first half of the book is somehow both fast-paced, and also a slowish burn. I felt there was some repetitiveness in Millie’s thoughts about Enzo’s secrets, especially his possible infidelity. It’s exciting to read, but just when you think the plot’s going to really move, the author pulls back, and it only inches forward. Normally building this type of suspense is great, but I think the author did it a few too many times. The other thing I found a bit puzzling was the hesitation between Millie and Enzo to communicate with each other about what they were separately doing. If you’ve read the other 2 books you know that, both separately and together, Millie and Enzo have done a number of criminal things (even though they were done to protect themselves, or others). Their unwillingness to truthfully communicate - mostly from Enzo’s side - after having gone through so much together, felt a little out of character. Those two areas are why I gave this book a 4 instead of a 5. Otherwise, this book was terrific. An attentive reader might guess some things, but would be unlikely to figure it all out. As the book progresses, the pages fly by. You can’t stop reading. Millie is, and always has been, a very likable and sympathetic character. Enzo is more of a mystery, but also very likable (and apparently VERY hot, which contributes to driving the plot). And Millie’s 2 very different children, Nico and Ada, are written realistically, with the mix of doubt and happiness that children aged 11 and 9 normally have. If you’ve read and liked the previous Housemaid books, you’ll like this one. If you haven’t, go back to read the first 2, and then come back to this one.

SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW If you make it that far in the book, that seems to be some foreshadowing that this one is not on par with the rest of the series or McFadden's other books. I usually enjoy her books as a fast, entertaining read with 2 (or more!) sides to every story and an interesting twist at the end that at least I don't often see coming. This book was slower getting started and never really gained speed. There was a LOT left unexplained and at the end, even the plot twist was a big "ummm, what??" moment. So we are to believe Nico was horribly traumatized because he had to play with toys in a room? So traumatized that he started beating up other kids, flushing pet insects, not eating and acting up? I thought maybe this was not so stated pedophelia but TBH, the vagueness took away from the credibility. And he’s so traumatized that his sister felt compelled to stab the person doing this? And then other references (ok, maybe 2) to what a horrible person Jonathan was but no previous evidence? The no details about the other kid who went missing 3 years ago but nothing until all of a sudden there’s a boy in the neighborhood? The weird Martha stuff all throughout... The weird 11 year old boys stuff in Ada's part? There really were far too many odd little tangents that didn’t line up, make sense, or get resolved. I dunno, this one just didn't work for me. I finished it but it all left me scratching my head because it just didn't make much sense.

Let me just start with: THIS BOOK. Wow. The Housemaid Is Watching grabbed me from the start and didn’t let go until the final twist—and even then, I’m still thinking about it. From the very beginning, I was suspicious of everyone: Enzo being way too friendly with the new maid and acting shady, Suzette constantly stirring drama, and Scarlett who had me screaming “kill her already” more than once. I had feelings about these people—and let me tell you, some of those feelings were very justified. Millie’s role in the household really shifted throughout the story. She started off just trying to live a peaceful life with her family, but jealousy, protectiveness, and straight-up survival mode kicked in quick. Her instincts were going off like sirens, and mine were too. The secret room reveal? Jaw. On. The. Floor. I KNEW something bigger was going on. And Ada? My heart broke for her more with each chapter. Speaking of Ada—when that final reveal came? That she stabbed Jonathan because he was a child abuser?? That scene hit like a freight train. I was shocked, emotional, and furious all at once. And just when I thought I had it figured out, BAM—Martha the housemaid swoops in and finishes the job. Talk about an unexpected hero. I was not ready for sweet little Martha to go full avenging angel with the knife slice, but I was clapping when it happened. Freida McFadden absolutely knows how to keep a reader on edge. Every chapter had a hint, an Easter egg, or some little line that made you pause and wonder if it would come back later—and it usually did. The pacing was fast and the suspense just kept building. Every time I thought I had a handle on things, another twist hit. I loved how the kids, Ada and Niko, were woven into the mystery—especially their reaction to Scarlett and their own hidden trauma. And let’s not forget Janice the nosy neighbor! I didn’t pay her much attention at first, but she ended up playing a huge role too. No one in this book was just a background character. In the end, I was rooting for Millie, Enzo, Ada, and Niko to get their peace—and they did. It wasn’t pretty getting there, but justice was served, secrets were unearthed, and I closed the book feeling totally satisfied. Highly recommend this to anyone who loves domestic thrillers, unreliable characters, twisty secrets, and a woman who finally says enough is enough.

I love her books, but this series was awesome. It's such an easy-to-read book and series. I would definetly recommend.

Such a good book, a great serie!

読みやすくて面白い小説。英語の表現も平易、スラスラと読めます。 人間心理については、国が違っても共通な部分を感じます。

Mrs. Lowell, Millie’s new neighbor, warmly welcomes her and her family to the quiet cul-de-sac. But when she sees her husband, Enzo, her expression changes. When she settles to her family home things start happening. The Lowells’ maid makes her skin crawl, and she sees a mysterious figure lurking nearby. A woman from the house opposite advises her to be careful with neighbors. Suddenly, her once peaceful suburban street becomes the most dangerous place she has ever known and she begins to think perhaps she should not have moved there. Some secrets are revealed and conflicts arise as she struggles to save her family. Millie and Enzo, my favorite quirky characters, are back. Millie is a multi-dimensional anti-heroine with questionable morality, and Enzo is her perfect counterpart. Their children introduce new facets that are refreshing and the story is quite suspenseful with a murder mystery element that I did not foresee – pure Freida! The time shift to 11 years ago was perfect and the new neighbors are very much creepy. Although the pacing slows down in the first half, the latter part of the show is very stimulating. Just seeing old characters and how they interact with each other was the highlight of the episode. I am so sad that this series is over! Freida McFadden did a particularly great job with the ending as she gave the audience both a desire for more and a sense of contentment with the binge-worthy finale to The Housemaid series. Read it if you like ✔️ Mysterious neighbours ✔️ Suburban secrets ✔️ Watcher is the shadow ✔️ Psychological twist ✔️ Family under threat Happy reading!

Well I really did enjoy reading this book even though I found it was quite repetitive with descriptions and explaining. Millie was annoying in this book, I found her behaviour and attitude didn't go with the woman who used to rescue battered women. She was whiny and a pushover and as a social worker she clearly needs more training, cause how can you misread those red flags. The book was a good read I was kept on my seat I figured out one off at the twists but didn't see that Epilogue (no spoilers). Solid 3.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐ Millie as a character was a let down and so was Enzo who I liked in book 2. Certain plot points could've been fleshed out and I found the ending was rushed, everything was too connected and the chapters with Ada I didn't feel like I was reading an 11 year old kid. I won't even address the parenting skills of Enzo and Millie 🙄🗡 Millie hasn't grown as a character after all she's been through she just turned into an insecure woman with no backbone, I was expecting so much more from this book but it clearly ran out of momentum.