Finding a good thriller can be tough, especially if you are able to predict the plot twists before they even happen. Thrillers are especially great around October; however, they can be a year-round indulgence. Finding a good author is a trip, so look no further than bestselling author Freida McFadden.
Freida McFadden is known for her suspenseful thrillers, some of which are being turned into movies. Her books feature thrilling twists and turns that keep you on your toes. Although I will say, while I thoroughly enjoyed a majority of her books, I could see some of the twists coming from a mile away.
That aside, her books are perfect for curling up in your blankets and spiraling when the unexpected plot twist happens. So, who is Freida McFadden and what makes her books so enticing?
A few fun facts
Now, I’m not going to get into a super long biography about McFadden. However, she does have a few fun facts about her that make her a more interesting author. Like, for example, Freida McFadden isn’t her real name. It’s actually her pen name. In fact, alongside being an author, she’s a physician specializing in brain surgery. How cool is that!
McFadden has had a lot of successful books (she has 60 books on Goodreads!). Her book, The Housemaid, is even being turned into a movie starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. While books turned into movies often flop or don’t live up to the expectations of the reader, I have a feeling that McFadden won’t let us down.
Her main genre is psychological thrillers, making her books perfect for October and Halloween vibes. The twist is always the opposite of what you’re thinking, and the buildup is full of suspense, though McFadden occasionally sprinkles in some comedy to lighten the mood. And she does so in good taste, so it doesn’t take away from the thriller aspect.
What puts the thrill in thriller?
What makes a thriller a thriller? Is it the plot, the setting, the wording, or characters? I believe it’s all of the above. For starters, you can’t create a cohesive story with a strong plot but weak characters. All the factors of a story work together to create a wonderful book. It’s the same across all genres, especially thrillers.
A thriller, or horror story, relies heavily on the plot, setting, characters, and wording. If you have a chilling setting, mysterious characters, and a plot that’s like a rollercoaster, you’re off to a great start. However, if you don’t use the right words, your thriller will fall short.
Words in a story help build the atmosphere. A thriller doesn’t use words that evoke light, happy feelings. Rather, they use dark and moody words to create an atmosphere that sets readers on edge. Additionally, the word choice sets up the twist at the end. How you describe your characters and setting offers misleading clues that will have readers gasping out loud when the twist hits.
These books are sure to thrill you!
Let me preface by saying that the following books are my personal favorite Freida McFadden books. These books have shaken me to my core, so I wanted to share them, especially during the fall. There are so many good thrillers out there, but I’m giving you a list of books from one author who has proven to be pretty successful!
The thing I like most about McFadden’s books is that they contain plausible, real-world scenarios. The main takeaway is that you can never truly know someone. But enough talking, let’s get to the recs!
Never Lie
Tricia and Ethan are newlyweds looking for the perfect house. As they’re checking out a seemingly perfect mansion that used to belong to a psychiatrist, they get trapped by a snowstorm. Suddenly, the perfect house doesn’t seem so perfect anymore. As she explores, Tricia discovers a room full of tapes from different sessions with the psychiatrist. As she gets deeper into the tapes, a terrible truth unfolds.
This was the second book I’ve ever read by Freida McFadden, and I was shocked at the twist. The story takes you in a completely different direction than expected! It made for a truly mind-boggling read, and I highly recommend checking it out.
Plus, the book will almost certainly send chills down your spine, as it features a creepy setting, rollercoaster plot, and writing that cultivates a thrilling ambiance. The characters are intriguing and mysterious, and the buildup to the twist is fantastic. Overall, it’s a solid thriller, especially if it’s your first Freida McFadden book.
Do Not Disturb
Quinn just murdered her husband and is now on the run when she spots a conspicuous motel off the road, run by a cute guy named Nick. As she settles in and plans her next move, she learns of the motel’s dark, mysterious past. She soon realizes that Nick’s sick and fragile wife is watching her, and suddenly the motel doesn’t seem so safe. Will she survive the night and find freedom from her crime?
I loved this book. I thought I had the twist figured out, but boy, was I wrong. The tiny details were misleading, some even irrelevant. McFadden included the tiny things to throw you off the scent—truly genius writing. If you think you know what’s going on, think again!
There were so many interesting characters and backstories to distract you. Each character had their own nuanced personality. If I learned one thing from this book, it’s that you never know what’s going on in someone’s mind or how they truly feel about you.
The Housemaid
Freshly out of jail, Millie is looking for a new start, and she seems to find it cleaning the Winchesters’ magnificent house. However, suspicious events begin to unfold, and Millie finds herself among dangerous people. Will Millie be able to begin again, or will she become the monster people think she is?
This is one of those books where you can kind of figure out what’s going on. However, the buildup and climax more than compensate. This book is the first in a series, and it’s also getting a movie (which I mentioned earlier). If you can look past the semi-predictable ending, it’s a really good book. Of course, it’s not totally predictable; the ending still had unexpected features; but I could see a few of the twists coming.
That aside, the writing is excellent. There is a little bit of humor sprinkled in, but it only enhances the suspense. And while the setting may not be as eerie as the last two, it is still an important part of the story. You also feel the desperation of the main character, considering she is willing to stay in a potentially dangerous environment to avoid jail. It’s a great read that will hopefully translate into a great movie.
The Tenant
Recently fired from his high-paying job, Blake and his fiancée, Krista, need to find a tenant to make ends meet. Then they meet Whitney, a perfect option who is young, pretty, and willing to pay the rent. However, as time goes on, things start to go wrong for Blake. His house smells like death, he hears strange noises, and soon people know his darkest secrets. Will he uncover the culprit before it’s too late?
This is another one of the semi-predictable books; however, it’s still great. While I had a small idea of what was going on, the manner and motive surprised me. Additionally, some of the details were extremely misleading, so I second-guessed myself the entire time I was reading. That type of misdirection is what I enjoy most in thrillers, since it means the author is doing their job.
I loved trying to deduce the motive in this book. Sometimes it seemed like there was no motive, and the culprit was performing those actions for the hell of it. I mean, you don’t always need a motive. I was honestly impressed with how creative some of the events were. However, they still contained an element of realness.
The Boyfriend
Sydney has terrible luck with men (don’t we all). Until she meets Mr. Dreamboat. He is perfect in every way: polite, a gentleman, and a doctor. What could go wrong? But when a string of murders occurs, Sydney starts to feel on edge. It seems that the killer dates his victims before killing them. Could Sidney be next, or will she uncover the truth before she’s murdered?
This was the first book I read by Freida McFadden. I was hooked from the start. I had no idea what was happening, even though I thought I had the ending sorted out. The book sheds light on the difference between love and obsession, and I definitely recommend checking it out.
The thing I loved most about this book was that McFadden mixes the past with the present to give you clues about what’s happening. Suffice to say, I still couldn’t figure it out; but after reading it again, I finally put the pieces together. But in terms of a thriller, it adds another level of eerie backstory and creepy confusion. You could say it was a thrilling read!
So, there you have it, a few recs for your next thrilling read! Of course, Freida McFadden has many other great books that I highly recommend you check out. Now that you have four new books to try, grab some tea, a blanket, and get cozy! I wonder which one will send the most chills down your spine…
