If you’re a TikTok user, chances are you’ve stumbled upon the wonderful world of BookTok; a corner of the internet where creators share their book recommendations, dreamcast, and more.
One author who dominates BookTok is Freida McFadden, a thriller author who also works as a physician and specializes in brain injury. Readers who prefer gripping, unputdownable fiction books often turn to McFadden for their thriller fix, and it’s easy to see why. With an extensive catalog of books that include plenty of shocking twists and too-close-to-home horrors, McFadden has earned her title of BookTok royalty.
“[BookTok has] been amazing,” she told shereads in a September 2023 interview. “I wish I could say I was instrumental in making this happen, but it was all luck—writing a book that resonated with the right people. As for me, I sort of know how to use TikTok. I know how to log in.”
Freida McFadden books, ranked
From The Housemaid to The Inmate, read on for our ranking of the best Freida McFadden books.
Suicide Med
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. Suicide Med focuses on a medical school with a dark “curse”—each year, one student takes their own life. However, the most recent death is in fact a murder-suicide, and the shiny new anatomy professor is the suspect.
The Surrogate Mother
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. Independently published in 2014, Suicide Med is one of McFadden’s lowest-rating books on Goodreads, with readers calling out the “strange” plot. Plus, at over 500 pages long, it’s one of the heftier McFadden reads.
The Coworker
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. The Coworker is a psychological thriller that takes place in an office setting. The book follows Dawn, a reclusive worker who becomes the main suspect after her popular colleague goes missing.
Some readers note that not much really happens to justify the book’s length, which comes in at almost 400 pages. In 2023, The Coworker was nominated for the Goodreads Best Mystery & Thriller award—which was won by another title in McFadden’s works.
Brain Damage
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. Brain Damage is the story of a woman whose life is changed when she is shot in the head. Following her journey through rebab, she starts to piece together the events of that fateful night. Although McFadden was able to use her expertise in the medical field for this book, there aren’t a lot of shocking twists that will wow.
The Ex
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. The Ex is the tale of a new couple and a jealous ex-girlfriend. The timeline can be a little confusing, which can be frustrating when trying to fully understand the plot—you may find yourself having to reread previous chapters. It received a rating of 3.95 out of 5 on Goodreads, which is on the lower end of the scale for McFadden.
Do You Remember?
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. In Do You Remember?, the main character wakes up with no memory of the past seven years. She has forgotten her family, her friends, and herself. But why? It’s an interesting plot, but some of the dialogue is too similar throughout the book, which makes it less enjoyable.
The Teacher
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. The Teacher is a story of secrets and revenge as a student-teacher affair rocks the local high school. Released in February 2024, The Teacher is one of McFadden’s most recent novels. The characters are well developed and you’ll find yourself rooting for—or against—them as the book goes on.
One by One
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. One by One is a story of survival after Claire and her friends’ minivan breaks down in a remote location while driving on their vacation rental. First published in July 2020, the book was rereleased in April 2024 with amended content. There are some twisty moments, but the unbelievable plot let it down for some readers.
The Perfect Son
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. The Perfect Son follows Erika Cass, a suburban mom with the perfect family life. That is, until a high school student goes missing and Erika’s son is the last person to see her before her disappearance. There are some shocking twists throughout, but the ending fell flat for some readers.
The Wife Upstairs
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. The Wife Upstairs centers around Victoria Barnett whose life changes in an instant after being involved in a terrible accident. It’s full of twists and turns, but the overall premise is a pretty close match to Verity by Colleen Hoover. The two are often compared with each other, but it’s worth reading them both to see the similarities and differences.
Want to Know a Secret?
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. Want to Know a Secret? follows April, a YouTube sensation known for her much-loved baking videos. Online, she lives the perfect life, but away from the cameras, she holds many secrets. The plot for this book is similar to the 2018 movie, A Simple Favor, starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick. Overall, it’s an atmospheric read that centers around affluent women.
The Inmate
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. The Inmate is the story of Brooke, a new employee at a maximum security prison. But she’s hiding a big secret—her close connection to the prison’s most dangerous criminal. A gripping read, it’s full of jaw-dropping plot twists that you never saw coming. However, some of the plot is a little farfetched, so take it with a pinch of salt.
Do Not Disturb
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. Do Not Disturb is a unique novel that follows a convicted criminal on the run. However, turning herself in may be the safest option as she stumbles upon the horrors of the motel that she thought would be her safe haven.
Never Lie
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. Never Lie sees a newlywed couple trapped in a remote manor, and dark secrets are uncovered as they wait to be released. While BookTok has mixed reviews of Never Lie, the 2022 release has an average rating of 4.10 out of 5 on Goodreads, making it one of McFadden’s most popular books.
Ward D
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. Ward D follows medical student Amy, who spends the night in a locked psychiatric ward. The story is told in a dual timeline, which is one of McFadden’s usual writing styles. The twists and turns keep coming in Ward D, making it a book that you’re likely to read in a single sitting.
The Locked Door
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. The Locked Door is a fan-favorite for good reason. The book follows Nora, whose father murdered women in the basement. Now, Nora is a surgeon and her father is in prison. But, when Nora’s patients begin to be murdered in the same way her father killed his victims decades earlier, who is behind it? With plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments and a shocking ending, The Locked Door is the crème de la crème of psychological thrillers.
The Housemaid Series
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freida McFadden. Coming out on top is The Housemaid series, which consists of three books: The Housemaid, published in August 2022; The Housemaid’s Secret, published in July 2023; and The Housemaid Is Watching, published in June 2024.
The great thing about The Housemaid series is that the trilogy is interlinked with the same characters, but the novels can also be read as standalone books while still making sense and without spoilers.
In April 2023, Deadline announced that the upcoming movie adaptation of the first book in the series, The Housemaid, will be penned by two-time Emmy nominee Rebecca Sonnenshine. The movie will be produced by Hidden Pictures’ Todd Lieberman and Alex Young.
The first book in the series follows a struggling young woman, Millie, who seemingly turns her life around when she is employed as a housemaid for a wealthy family. The second book continues the story of Millie, and the third book follows on years later. A great introduction to McFadden’s work, The Housemaid series is a must-read for thriller fans.
