The Housemaid

The Housemaid is a novel by McFadden published in 2022. A 2023 sequel is planned, as set up in the Epilogue of The Housemaid. The sequel is set in a similar context and has recurring characters: Millie, one of the central characters of The Housemaid, is working in another wealthy household where the husband appears to be physically abusing the wife. The Housemaid and its sequel are among the numerous psychological thrillers that McFadden, a practicing physician, has penned.

The thriller, as a genre of fiction, features a central conflict that arises from something suspicious or mysterious, usually a crime, disappearance, or even supernatural occurrence, depending on the sub-genre. The resolution of this conflict drives the pacing and direction of the plot. Thus, the narrative is characteristically suspenseful, and the characters’ motivations are usually rooted in negative emotions such as fear, paranoia, or a desire for vengeance. The Housemaid features all of these elements, and the central conflict arises from the body found in the house, an incident introduced in the Prologue. The resolution of this mystery, in tandem with the motivations behind the different characters’ actions, is revealed over the course of the book.