Looking for an unforgettable collection of books you’ll devour if you liked The Housemaid by Freida McFadden? As an award-winning author and veteran blogger, I’ve spent over a decade analyzing and recommending fast-paced, twisty novels for my fellow bookworms, and you’ll find detailed reviews of more than a dozen favorites in the roundup below.
What all of the books in this list share is mystery. One or more characters has a secret or is an outright liar. Love has gone astray, or maybe, it has been discovered—but at a cost. I’m confident that you’ll find something new to love here.
Junior Missing by Khristina Chess
why it’s like The Housemaid
Psychological manipulation, dark romance
What It’s about
A seductive and chilling thriller about a runaway teen, drawn into an intoxicating relationship with an older man who takes her in—and won’t let her go!
Why I Love It - Book Review
“He kissed me again and again, and I began bargaining once more with the wind. I vowed to do better and try harder to keep this Quentin who loved me and kept me safe. The Quentin who I loved. Who loved me. Who didn’t treat me badly. Sex was the one place where he was always himself. His very best self. “― Khristina Chess from Junior Missing
Wow! Readers who love the intense chemistry and unsettling seduction of a dark romance like The Housemaid won’t be able to put Junior Missing down. What makes Junior Missing so special is the slow-boil depiction of how Grace’s forbidden attraction turns into a trap set by an older man who takes her in—and won’t let her go!
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.
No one knows about Quentin Brock—the musician she met online. He’s charming, funny, and perfect.
Until he isn’t. Until she’s trapped in another state with no way out.
She doesn’t even have shoes.
If you devoured The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, I recommend this mesmerizing, authentic novel that depicts how someone can so easily be manipulated and hurt in a toxic relationship. Junior Missing will stay with you after the final page. Worth the read!
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
why it’s like The Housemaid
Thrilling plot with fabulous twist
What It’s about
A psychological thriller about a female con artist hired to infiltrate a businessman’s life, only to find her carefully-constructed lies unraveling.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“You can tell a lot about a person by the way they act when they are left waiting too long.”― Ashley Elston from First Lie Wins
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston is one of those psychological thriller / mystery books that grabs you from the beginning and never lets go.
Evie Porter is a free agent who handles various “jobs” for a mysterious Mr. Smith. She’s good at her job. In fact, she’s so good that she doesn’t trust Mr. Smith and sets safety nets around her to make sure that when she’s double-crossed (not if, she knows it’s coming), she’ll be ready.
About halfway through the book, I was certain that I'd figured out who the mysterious "Mr. Smith" was--but I was wrong! The ending had a great twist and surprise. After a modest start to the narrative, I had to sit down and read the rest of the book in a single afternoon. I loved the premise, the mystery, and the conflict. I can see why people loved this one. Excellent read!
If you liked The Housemaid and want another twisty mystery, I think you’ll really enjoy First Lie Wins. Happy reading!
Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
why it’s like The Housemaid
Psychological thriller with a twist
What It’s about
A realtor is abducted and held captive for more than a year.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“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
A dark, absorbing, and page-turning thriller! This is one of those novels 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.
Chevy Stevens' debut novel is outstanding! Fans of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden will love this. If you missed this one, it's a great vacation beach read. Just be careful going anywhere alone...
Verity by Colleen Hoover
why it’s like The Housemaid
A psychological thriller with an unexpected conclusion
What It’s about
A struggling writer takes an unusual job and discovers disturbing information that puts her in danger.
Why I Love It - Book Review
"Some families are lucky enough to never experience a single tragedy. But then there are those families that see to have tragedies waiting on the back burner. What can go wrong, goes wrong. And then gets worse."—Colleen Hoover, quote from Verity
Colleen Hoover is a mega bestselling author of both adult and young adult fiction. Verity is my personal favorite. The hot (hot, hot) romance was definitely a big part of the appeal, but the spicy sex wasn’t the only part. This is more than a romance novel. I loved the twisty, dark, and disorienting plot that kept me guessing until the very end. In this novel, the characters aren’t who they seem to be, and that multi-dimensional layer was the aspect that made Verity so wonderful for me.
If you’re looking for authors like Freida McFadden that you’ll want to binge, pick this one up.
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
why it’s like The Housemaid
Psychological mystery with dark, unexpected twist
What It’s about
A wildly unpredictable novel about a missing girl, a desperate mother, and the bizarre lengths people will go for the people they love.
Why I Love It - Book Review
"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, quote from Then She Was Gone
This is an unputdownable novel. In fact, I was about 20 pages in when I realized I was going too fast and maybe, like the missing girl Ellie, I was overlooking important clues, so I went back and read from the beginning again.
I had to know what happened to Ellie, and then, bit by bit, new mysteries began to emerge. New 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 not predictable to me, and the path to reach the conclusion was not straight. I definitely loved this novel and want to read more of Lisa Jewell. Fans of The Housemaid will agree that this is a thrilling, twisty read.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
why it’s like the housemaid
Mystery and danger
What it’s about
Set in New England in 1789, not long after the American Revolution, a midwife challenges men in the community about a murder in the community.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“It’s an unimaginative accusation and one that I am frankly tired of hearing. Witchcraft. As though there is no other explanation for a woman who excels at her work.”― Ariel Lawhon from The Frozen River
What a wonderful book! Historical fiction isn't my usual genre, but the cover and the accolades for "The Frozen River" made me give it a try.
On a high level, this mystery is about a midwife named Martha Ballard. The body of an accused rapist is found frozen in the river, and after examination, Martha says that the victim was murdered. She becomes a key witness in a trial for the woman who was raped because she treated the woman's wounds after the assault. The other accused man is a judge.
This novel has many layers. Beyond the mystery, there is the social commentary on women, family, sexual assault, and society during early days of America in New England. Paul Revere is mentioned as a friend of the family. The author depicts a rich setting of cold winter, warm homes and hearts, young love and pre-marital relationships, and the early court system. I couldn't put it down.
I will definitely read other novels by Ariel Lawhon! If you loved The Housemaid, I’m confident that you will devour The Frozen River.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
why it’s like the housemaid
Mystery and danger
What it’s about
Set in New England in 1789, not long after the American Revolution, a midwife challenges men in the community about a murder in the community.
Why I Love It - Book Review
The Girl on the Train is definitely one of the books you’ll devour if you liked The Housemaid. It has unreliable narrators, as well as a twisty and confusing plot that will keep you guessing. Things definitely aren’t what they seem to be. The mystery keeps the pages turning. What, exactly, did Rachel see that day?
This book was a total roller coaster. I was all over the place with my feelings about it, and that was a good thing.
Pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
why it’s like the housemaid
More liars keeping dark secrets
What it’s about
A psychological thriller about a wife's disappearance, which exposes the secrets of her marriage and spirals into an unexpected twist of manipulation, media spectacle, and revenge.
Why I Love It - Book Review
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. But is he really the killer?
Fans of The Housemaid will love the page-turning plot with shocking revelations and love that turned sour. Characters aren’t who they seem to be in this one, either. Everyone poses and lies.
But do they kill?
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
why it’s like the housemaid
Psychological, thrilling plot with jaw-dropping twist
What it’s about
A famous painter accused of murdering her husband quits talking--but why?
Why I Love It - Book Review
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides is one of those novels that refuses to be set aside. These days, it's rare that I spend a weekend with my nose in a book, but I did with The Silent Patient.
The premise is simple enough: a woman killed her husband and is now in a mental institution. She refuses to speak. The protagonist is a therapist who wants to help her regain her voice.
Will he? What will she tell him? The therapist is one part detective, one part analyst, and one part guy with his own demons to overcome. His journey to understand what happened to Alicia that night leads to a jaw-dropping twist.
If you liked The Housemaid as much as I did, be sure to add this thriller into your shopping cart.
Drowning Instinct by Ilsa Bick
why it’s like the housemaid
Complex romantic relationships and psychological tension
What it’s about
A darkly compelling story about a teen who participates in an inappropriate relationship with her teacher.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“This is a fairy tale with teeth and claws.” ― Ilsa Bick from Drowning Instinct
And speaking of twisty thrillers with inappropriate relationships, how about Drowning Instinct, with a teen girl and her teacher?
I didn't know what to expect when a friend loaned this book to me, but wow! This book has layers. 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. Addictive.
I don’t want to give too much away. If you liked The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, just read it.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
why it’s like the housemaid
Unreliable narrators with dark secrets
What it’s about
A hypnotic coming-of-age mystery about an abandoned child and a murdered boy.
Why I Love It - Book Review
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. Kya’s character and voice is compelling. If you enjoyed The Housemaid, you won’t want to miss this coming-of-age mystery about love, nature, and the secrets people keep.
A Sorrow Called Sarah by Charlotte Roddy
why it’s like the housemaid
A psychhological thriller with an unexpected conclusion
What it’s about
A woman disappears, and her younger sister pursues the truth of what happened to her.
Why I Love It - Book Review
I couldn't put this twisty, psychological thriller down. I wanted to know what happened to Sarah. This question relentlessly drove the narrative as her younger sister chased one lead after another. To make matters worse, more girls who look like Sarah are ending up dead in Golden Gate Park, and the younger sister looks just like Sarah. Would she be next?
If you liked The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, you’ll find that A Sorrow Called Sarah delivers a similar wild ride and a totally unexpected ending. I was guessing until the final pages. I have mixed feelings about whether or not actually liked that ending, but I was definitely surprised.
Layla by Colleen Hoover
why it’s like the housemaid
Psychological manipulation and thriller
What it’s about
A romantic suspense novel that includes a love triangle with a ghost.
Why I Love It - Book Review
How do I categorize it? A ghost story? A love story? A psychological thriller? It's hard to put a label on it. What I know for sure is that I sat around all day and turned the pages until the end. I had to know. The twist was not as much of a surprise; I had an inkling about what was happening in the middle of the book. That didn't matter. How? Now what? There were so many pressing questions. Half the time, I wasn't sure I really trusted Leeds to be a reliable narrator.
Buy it. Read it. You won’t be sorry.
Never Lie by Freida McFadden
why it’s like the housemaid
Liars keeping dark secrets
What it’s about
Newlyweds trapped in a snowstorm inside the abandoned home of a missing psychiatrist discover hidden tapes that expose murder and deception.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I believe that any human being is capable of terrible things if you push them hard enough.” ― Freida McFadden from Never Lie
Okay, I would be remiss if I didn’t include some other Freida McFadden books in this list because (let’s face it), she’s prolific and wonderful. Every one of them has been totally unique, and Layla is no exception. If you loved The Housemaid, you must read it immediately.
Never Lie was my third Freida McFadden novel, and it didn't disappoint.
After a snowstorm traps newlyweds Tricia and Ethan in a deserted house, Tricia finds herself invested in the mystery surrounding the previous owner's disappearance.
The story is compelling, and I was surprised by the various plot twists. McFadden has a unique writing voice that makes her protagonists, whether the housemaid or Tricia, seem a little "off." The setting seemed a little contrived, but it didn't hurt the novel in the least. Yes, this is how all horror movies begin.
Bring it.
Fans of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden will love this one.
Other Books You’ll Devour If You Liked The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
If you are looking for other books like The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, Goodreads also offers a great book list: Readers who enjoyed The Housemaid. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads.
Author Bio
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Hollow Beauty, her book about eating disorders, was named a finalist in the Next Generation India Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, and adventure.
In a recent interview from her alma mater, she described how her experience in the creative writing program prepared her for success.
