Millie and Enzo’s journey takes a chilling turn as they move into their dream suburban home, only to find that the idyllic neighborhood harbors dark secrets that threaten to unravel their newfound happiness in the latest spine-tingling new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden.
Picking up more than a decade after the events of The House Maid’s Secret (2023), Millie Calloway—a former convicted felon turned housemaid driven by a relentless pursuit of justice and a natural talent for correcting injustices–is now happily married to Enzo. Together, the couple has two kids, Ada and Nico, and are ready to live out their own fairytale ending. But for Millie, whose days moonlighting as a badass vigilante “housemaid” are long behind her, that happily-ever-after ending will have to wait a bit.
A beautiful home on Long Island, with a loving husband and children running about. That is the life Millie always dreamed of. She never thought, though, that her dream would come true, which is why moving day is so sweet, as Millie and Enzo begin moving possessions into their just-purchased home that’s nestled quietly on a private cul-de-sac, with only a handful of other homes flanking it on either side. There’s the “giant front lawn and the even more giant back lawn,” the living room that’s so spacious it can fit “multiple pieces of furniture,” and the gorgeous picture windows that allow for plenty of sunlight. Both Millie (who is now a social worker, determined to help people still) and Enzo, each knee-deep into their new careers, are a little worried about their mortgage payments but thrilled to have purchased their dream home for below the asking price. (“I love that it’s mine,” Millie tells the reader. “Well, okay, thirty years of mortgage payments, and then it will all be mine.“) Not long after the move-in commences, one of their new neighbors, Suzette Lowell, walks over to greet them.
From the start, Suzette, who lives right next door to Millie, dampens the excitement. Not only is she a vibe killer, Suzette is downright rude, offering backhanded comments about their beautiful “little” and “rustic” home, which, of course, sits next to her own much larger house. There are some initial red flags, of course, like the fact that Mrs. Lowell is a real estate agent but wasn’t involved in the sale of the house next to her own. Millie wonders if that’s an indicator that the previous homeowners didn’t get along with Suzette. Then again, between incorrectly congratulating Millie on being pregnant (she’s not) and hitting on Enzo, it’s not hard to wonder why one wouldn’t desire a friendship with Suzette Lowell. Even so, Millie attempts to make friends and even accepts a dinner invite at the Lowell’s home, where she meets the couple’s maid.
More red flags start waving.
The Lowell’s maid keeps looking at Millie as if she sees right through her current, friendly, law-abiding exterior and knows who she used to be. That’s unsettling. So, too, is the shadowy figure across the street watching them. But the real concern comes when Millie meets someone else who wastes no time telling her to “be careful of your neighbors.” Just as you’d expect, it doesn’t take long for someone to turn up dead. And Millie—covered in blood and standing over the body—knows she’s about to become the prime suspect unless she can find and unmask the real killer before everything she’s ever wanted, all that she loves most and has worked so hard to get, is taken from her once and for all.
Once again, McFadden’s skillful storytelling keeps readers on the edge of their seats as Millie navigates the unsettling dynamics of her new community. From the unlikable Mrs. Lowell to other intrusive neighbors, every character is expertly crafted to heighten the suspense and keep readers guessing from beginning to end. At one point, the tension builds to near-uncomfortable levels as McFadden, a master at unraveling layers of deception and intrigue, mixes richly drawn characters with an immersive setting. It’s a familiar experience that helped launch the first two books to the top of every bestseller list there is. Given the success of the series, there was never any doubt about whether or not Millie’s story would continue beyond the second book. Still, it wouldn’t have been wrong to wonder how exactly McFadden planned to keep things fresh after delivering two blockbusters that have gone positively mainstream while becoming a prominent part of pop culture today. Without giving anything away, Mcfadded does treat readers to yet another jaw-dropping, breathtaking twist that most will never see coming. But the real magic continues to lie with the franchise’s beloved hero. Millie’s latest adventure is not only heart-pounding and riveting, but on a much deeper level, it’s also a poignant exploration of family, trust, and the lengths we’ll go to protect the ones we love. You might think you know how this one will end, but trust me . . . you don’t.
Whether you’re a longtime fan of the Housemaid series or diving in for the first time, this book is sure to leave you breathless. So buckle up, grab a copy, and get ready for a wild ride through the dark underbelly of suburbia. Freida McFadden has done it again, delivering a must-read thriller that will haunt you long after you’ve turned the final page.
Book Details
Author: Freida McFadden
Series: The Housemaid #3
Pages: 400 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 1464223815
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Release Date: June 11, 2024
Praised as “One of the hardest working, most thoughtful, and fairest reviewers out there” by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Ryan Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). Steck also works full-time as a freelance editor and is building a growing community on Twitch. His debut thriller, FIELDS OF FIRE, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr says “will leave you speechless and begging for more,” is now available. His second novel, LETHAL RANGE, is also in bookstores, and his third book, OUT FOR BLOOD, comes out on June 4th. For more information, be sure to follow him on Twitter and Facebook. To interact with other readers and talk about your favorite books and authors, join The Real Book Spy’s Discord server.