Top 10 Ranked Freida McFadden Books

Written by Graeme

Freida McFadden is one of the most popular and biggest psychological thrillers out there.

She primarily writes standalone novels, although she is also famous for The Housemaid series, which saw the first book adapted into a movie, with a sequel forthcoming.

The multiple award-winning author has also topped the New York Times #1 Fiction Best Seller list multiple times.

If you’ve heard of Freida and want to read her books but aren’t sure where to get started, then have no fear – I am a big fan of Freida McFadden, an even bigger fan of psychological thrillers, and I have read all of her books.

I’m not a ‘Freida zealot’. I’ve rated many of her books 8, 9, and even 10 out of 10; however, I have also rated some 3, 2, and even 1 out of 10 (The Inmate, before you ask).

So I can give you my honest review of the top 10 Freida McFadden books, based on my own opinion. I will give you a brief description of each book, then share my personal thoughts and why it is one of my top-rated Freida books.

And don’t worry – this is spoiler-free and updated regularly. Last updated: April 10th, 2026, after reading her latest release, The Dinner Party.

#10: Death Row

A woman on death row for killing her husband is thrown into chaos when she spots him alive just days before her execution.

A short story, and part of the Alibi’s collection multi-author series. It’s only 74 pages, but it was a novella that had me hooked and really made me think. One of those that really sticks with you, which is very impressive considering its length.

#9: The Surrogate Mother

After years of heartbreak trying to have a child, a woman’s hope for motherhood takes a dark turn when her surrogate is revealed to be hiding a dangerous secret.

One of her earlier works. It felt rough in spots and had some misplaced humour throughout. It also relied heavily on a naive protagonist. Despite that, I read it in two sittings and really enjoyed it. Great character writing, depth and story. Freida really made you feel for the protagonist emotionally.

#8: The Intruder

A woman riding out a hurricane in her remote cabin finds a blood-covered girl outside, and the stranger’s arrival quickly turns a bad night into something far more dangerous.

I enjoyed this one a lot. There was only a small cast of characters in it, yet she still managed to surprise me with the twists.

#7:The Teacher

A high school teacher becomes drawn into the secrets surrounding a student at the centre of a scandal that may be far more complicated than it seems.

This one went at a very fast pace, and I couldn’t put it down. It was a bit far-fetched at times, but it had a few unexpected twists that really took me by surprise.

#6:Do You Remember

A woman who loses years of memories after an accident begins to question her life when she gets a message warning her not to trust the man who says he is her husband.

The second Freida book I read. I’m always a sucker for thrillers about memory loss or amnesia. It started slowly, but I was hooked after a few chapters. It’s a great concept with the woman waking up every day not remembering the past ten years.M

#5:The Tenant

After losing his job and taking in a seemingly perfect tenant, a man begins to fear that something is very wrong inside his own home. The neighbours treat him differently; a strange smell never leaves the house. And someone may know his darkest secrets.

I went into this one with low expectations, as the three prior novels Freida had released before this one, I rated quite low. I was close to removing her from my ‘blindly buy’ list – but she pulled me back in with this winner of a book. The characters were great, and it was full of twist after twist after twist, keeping me guessing the whole way through. Notably, it was her first time writing from a male POV, and as a male myself, I was very impressed with that.

#4: The Locked Door

A surgeon with a dark family past is forced back into it when a murder mirrors the crimes her serial killer father committed years earlier.

I still remember when I read this. I started it on a two-hour train ride. I read it the entire train ride, in the Uber from the train station to my house, then I brewed a big pot of tea and drank that while munching on some digestives, and read the remainder. Funny how you associate memories like that with books, isn’t it? Another one where I never saw the twist coming at all.

#3:The Housemaid’s Secret

When a housemaid begins to suspect a woman is being kept hidden behind a locked door, she becomes determined to find out what is really going on.

The sequel to ‘The Housemaid’, which would have been #11 on this list. I was extremely impressed with this one as Freida had always stuck to standalone novels. This was a step into the unknown for her and it was excellent – she was able to add onto the character development from the first novel, and this was the one that convinced me she can pull off the ‘Gone Girl’ twists like Gillian Flynn. An incredible achievement by Freida (although I rated ‘The Housemaid is Watching’ quite low!)

#2: One By One

A getaway with friends and her husband turns deadly when the group gets lost in the woods, and one woman begins to fear the real danger may be someone among them.

One of the best books Freida has ever written. The premise is set up by an anonymous narrator who is part of the trip but states, ‘Only One Of Us Will Return Alive’. I read this entire book in one sitting. If you’re looking for a Freida book to start, I’d strongly consider this one.

#1: Never Lie

Trapped in a remote manor during a snowstorm, a newlywed woman uncovers secret recordings tied to a psychiatrist’s disappearance years earlier.

This was the first Freida book I read – so it’s possible that is a factor in my rating. However, I read it in February 2023, and I can still remember the entire story and everything related to it. That says a lot. The twists hooked me, the storyline engaged me, I loved the characters and the setting – who doesn’t love a remote house – and it is still my top-ranked Freida novel after all these years.

Check out our list of Freida McFadden Books in Order and pick up one of the above books today.

What about you? What are your top 5-ranked Freida McFadden novels? Or what’s the best Freida book you have read? Let me know in the comments.