Last Updated Date: January 16, 2026
As an award-winning author and longtime blogger for over 10 years, I’ve personally read and analyzed the best novels on my bookshelves that answer this question. While many lists only suggest popular bestsellers, I’ve curated this eclectic mix of books because they because they mirror the jaw-dropping endings and dark obsession themes in The Housemaid by Freida McFadden.
At a Glance:
The Hidden Gem: Junior Missing by Khristina Chess
The Terrifying Debut: Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
The #1 New York Times Bestseller: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
#1 - Junior Missing by Khristina Chess: A Sexy Underrated Masterpiece
Why Junior Missing Is the Best Choice for The Housemaid Fans Seeking a Seductive Beach Read
Fans of Frieda McFadden’s sizzling dark obsession themes will recognize the same intoxicating tension in this thriller. The kidnapping aspect in Junior Missing mirrors the chilling plot that made The Housemaid a bestseller.
One-sentence summary for Junior Missing by Khristina Chess: A runaway teen is drawn into an intoxicating relationship with an older man who takes her in—and won’t let her go!
The Taste Test
“He called me the most willing kidnapping victim in history. I’d invited him to my house, he’d said. I’d climbed into the car. I’d packed a bag. And a parakeet.” ― Khristina Chess from Junior Missing
My Verdict: Why Junior Missing’s Themes of Toxic Relationships and Domestic Abuse Make This a Chilling Thriller
This intense, thought-provoking, and morally-complex novel depicts how someone can be so easily manipulated and hurt in a toxic relationship. What makes Junior Missing so special is the slow-boil depiction of how Grace’s forbidden attraction turns into a trap.
The story starts as sixteen-year-old Grace Keegan, darling of the child pageant world with a bright future, is missing. At first, police assume she ran away. But when they find her abandoned phone along the highway, the truth becomes far more terrifying.
Readers who love novels with intense chemistry and unsettling seduction won’t be able to put this novel down. Khristina chess is a powerful and fresh voice in fiction today.
What Other Readers Are Saying
“I actually found myself, on my feet and pacing as I reached the conclusion.” ― Mamadukes, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Junior Missing is 5/5 stars based on its outstanding pacing and atmospheric tension.
#2 - Still Missing by Chevy Stevens: A Sleeper Hit
How the Jaw-Dropping Twist in Still Missing Appeals to The Housemaid Fans
Bookworms who loved the page-turning thriller aspects of Freida McFadden’s bestseller must read this outstanding and terrifying debut novel by Chevy Stevens.
One-sentence summary for Still Missing by Chevy Stevens: A realtor is abducted and held captive for more than a year—but escape isn’t the end.
The Taste Test
“That’s where you come in, Doc. You have to help me get rid of this obsession that I’m still not safe. That someone or something is out to get me.” ― Chevy Stevens from Still Missing
Why I’m Still Thinking about the Mind-Bending Ending of Stevens’ Bestseller
This is one of those books that takes off with a bang and keeps on giving. A man grabs a real-estate agent from a house that she's showing, drugs her, and imprisons her in a remote cabin. He's a crazy man with all kinds of rules. After nearly a year of suffering in his hands, she escapes.
But that's not the end.
She attempts to return to her life, but she can't shake the feeling that something is off. That she is still in danger. She works with a cop to try to identify the man who took her and learn whether or not he acted alone.
What Other Readers Are Saying
I feel so guilty for liking such a dark thriller, but it was so good!! ― Cara, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Still Missing is 5/5 stars based on its “totally out of left field” ending.
#3 - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins: The Best “Unreliable Narrator” You Haven’t Read Yet
Why this Roller Coaster Plot with Unreliable Narrators delivers the same “What Did I Just Read?” Vibe as The Housemaid
Released in 2015, this older bestseller has everything you want in a psychological thriller like The Housemaid.
One-sentence summary for The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins: An alcoholic divorcee becomes obsessed with a couple and becomes entangled in an investigation.
The Taste Test
“There’s nothing so painful, so corrosive, as suspicion.” ― Paula Hawkins from The Girl on the Train
My Expert Take: Why the Twisty Plot Left Me Dizzy
The Girl on the Train has unreliable narrators as well as a twisty and confusing plot that will keep you guessing until the very end. Things definitely aren’t what they seem to be. The mystery keeps the pages turning.
What, exactly, did Rachel see that day on the train?
Reading this book, I was all over the place with my feelings about it, and that was a good thing—exactly what I was looking for!
What Other Readers Are Saying
This is a fast read because you get very wrapped up in the story and characters and most will have trouble putting it down. ― Suzzie, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for The Girl on the Train is 4/5 stars based on its twisty plot and unreliable narrators.
#4 - Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell: A Bestselling Psychological Mystery
Why Then She Was Gone Delivers the Same Dark and Unexpected Twist as The Housemaid
Like Frieda McFadden’s The Housemaid, the deeply unsettling ending of this novel was not predictable, and the path to reach the conclusion was not straight.
One-sentence summary for Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell: A gut-wrenching and unpredictable novel about a missing girl, a desperate mother, and the bizarre lengths people will go for the people they love.
The Taste Test
"If she could rewind the timeline, untwist it and roll it back the other way like a ball of wool, she'd see the knots in the yarn, the warning signs. Looking at it backward it was obvious all along. But back then, when she knew nothing about anything, she had not seen it coming. She had walked straight into it with her eyes open." ― Lisa Jewell from Then She Was Gone
My Authentic Review: Why Jewell’s Bestseller Is Unputdownable
I was about 20 pages into the story when I realized I was reading much too fast and maybe, like the missing girl Ellie, I was overlooking important clues, so I returned to page one and started again.
I had to know what happened to Ellie. with each chapter, new mysteries began to emerge. Fresh horrors. The more I learned about Ellie and Noelle, the worse things became. The whole story became very... weird. Scary!
The relationship between Ellie’s mom and the American writer, Floyd, is where things take a turn. Floyd has a daughter who looks just like Ellie. I mean, how weird is that?
The ending was totally not predictable to me, and the path to reach the conclusion was not straight.
What Other Readers Are Saying
“This turned out to be quite a stunner. I’ve read lots of psychological thrillers and this one caught me off guard.“ ― Holly, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Then She Was Gone is 5/5 stars based on its weird and twisted storytelling.
#5 - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: An Older Thriller That Still Delights
How Gone Girl Delivers Sympathetic But Unreliable Narrators Like Those in The Housemaid
One-sentence summary for Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: A wife’s disappearance exposes the secrets of her marriage, which spirals into an unexpected labyrinth of manipulation, media spectacle, and revenge.
The Taste Test
“Friends see most of each other’s flaws. Spouses see every awful last bit.” ― Gillian Flynn from Gone Girl
My Expert Take: Why Flynn’s Storytelling Reminds Me of The Housemaid
It’s hard to say much about this one without revealing spoilers. A man’s wife disappears, and he’s the main suspect—perhaps with good reason. Love has turned sour.
But is he really the killer?
This page-turning story includes shocking revelations by characters who aren’t who they are pretending to be. Everyone poses and lies.
What Other Readers Are Saying
“Wow. Just... That was an absolute roller coaster.” ― Kate, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Gone Girl is 5/5 stars based on its outstanding use of unreliable protagonists who lie.
#6 - Drowning Instinct by Ilsa Bick: An Overlooked Masterclass in Sizzling Relationships
Why Drowning Instinct Echoes the Complex Romance and Psychological Tension in The Housemaid
This undiscovered treasure portrays a complex romance like that found in The Housemaid—but on a different level!
One-sentence summary for Drowning Instinct by Ilsa Bick: A darkly compelling story about a teen who participates in an inappropriate relationship with her teacher.
The Taste Test
“This is a fairy tale with teeth and claws.” ― Ilsa Bick from Drowning Instinct
My Expert Verdict: Why Drowning Instinct Is a Must-Read for Anyone Craving a Five-Star Twist
I didn't know what to expect when a friend loaned this book to me, but wow! The way the author wove the "drowning instinct" theme throughout the story was really well done, and I loved the complexity of the characters and the plot twists. The pacing kept getting more intense and compelling as I read further.
This book was addictive.
What Other Readers Are Saying
“These are very nuanced characters who don't always behave the way you think they would/should.” ― Karen, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Drowning Instinct is 5/5 stars based on its forbidden romance and psychological tension.
#7 - Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: A Cinematic Mystery
How Where the Crawdads Sing Delivers A Sympathetic But Unreliable Protagonist Like Those in The Housemaid
One-sentence summary for Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: A hypnotic coming-of-age mystery about an abandoned child and a murdered boy.
The Taste Test
“Unworthy boys make a lot of noise.” ― Delia Owens from Where the Crawdads Sing
My Verdict: Why Owens’ Themes about Love, Nature, and Dark Secrets Resonate
This novel is beautiful, thrilling, sad, surprising, and engrossing. Kya Clark is a resilient child who is abandoned by her mother at six. Her alcoholic father is barely a parent, and he soon leaves her as well. Somehow, she finds a way to survive on her own, even thrive, despite an aching loneliness.
But a beautiful young girl who lives in solitude in the woods is destined for danger. And heartbreak.
The mystery surrounding the death of Chase Andrews is the inciting incident of the novel, and it's soon clear that he was not such a swell guy. Foul play is suspected. Is Kya a murder? Or someone else?
There's plenty to love here, and the pages definitely turned quickly for me.
What Other Readers Are Saying
“I can’t get over how perfect this book is. The writing grabbed me from literally the first page and kept me entranced.” ― Liz, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Where the Crawdads Sing is 5/5 stars based on its page-turning intensity.
Other Books You’ll Devour If You Liked The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
My quick picks for other great novels in this category include:
Layla by Colleen Hoover - A unique premise: a romantic suspense novel that includes a love triangle with a ghost!
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston - A mind-bending popcorn thriller with a jaw-dropping twist
Never Lie by Frieda McFadden - Newlyweds trapped in a snowstorm inside the abandoned home of a missing psychiatrist discover hidden tapes that expose murder and deception.
The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve - A slowly unraveling mystery that just keeps going…
Verity by Colleen Hoover - A psychological thriller with a mind-bending conclusion
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides - A famous painter accused of murdering her husband quits talking--but why?
Goodreads offers a very complete book list: Readers who enjoyed The Housemaid.
You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads.
About the Author: Khristina Chess
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Her novel about eating disorders, Hollow Beauty, was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, dystopian, and adventure.
