Author: Freida McFadden
Title: The Housemaid
Genre: Mystery
Publication Date: January 1st, 2022
Number of Pages: 336 pages
Geographical Setting: United States
Time Period: Present Day
Series: The Housemaid #1
Summary:
Millie Calloway, a former incarcerated woman, is homeless and jobless. Luckily she has been chosen to interview for the wealthy Winchesters for a live-in nanny position. When she gets the news that she has been chosen for the job she is in disbelief. On her first day she meets her new employer Nina, the friendly and helpful wife of Andrew Winchester, Cecilia, their daughter, and Enzo the groundskeeper. At first everything goes well for Millie, sure their have been some misunderstandings about Cecelia’s alleged peanut allergy, Nina potentially having some mental illness, and her relationship with Andrew moving into new and dangerous territory. However, when things start to feel like things are finally looking up for Millie, everything takes a turn. No one is who they seem, no one can be trusted, and Millie must do everything she can to get out of that house. Alive.
Subject Headings
Family
Detective and mystery fiction
Spouses
Children
Family secrets
Appeal:
Tone: The book takes a suspenseful and tense tone from the beginning with a bit of pessimism from the main character, Millie.
Characterization:
Millie Calloway is a former incarcerated woman who is trying to find a new life for herself. She wants to find a job and a place to live so that she doesn’t continue to violate parol. She is hardworking and determined to make a better life for herself and away from her past.
Nina Winchester is the wife of Andrew Winchester who seems to have mental health issues along with a vendetta against Millie despite her being the one to hire her.
Andrew Winchester is kind and friendly to Millie and seems to be thankful for the help she provides to the house and his and Nina’s daughter.
Cecelia Winchester is the daughter of Nina and Andrew and acts like the stereotypical rich girl who complains, screams, and lies to get what she wants.
Enzo is the strange and silent groundskeeper who keeps staring at Millie and keeps trying to secretly warn her about something she doesn’t understand.
Setting: The United States, city and state unknown.
Pacing: A fast-paced and suspenseful narrative.
Short Review: I LOVED this book. I have been recommending it to everyone I work with and am so excited to read the rest of the series when I have time. I would give this book a 4.75/5
Read-Alikes:
Rose, J. (2020). The Perfect Marriage. Bloodhound Books.
Sanders, N. (2023). Don’t Let Her Stay. Independently Published.
Hoover, C. (2021). Verity. Grand Central Publishing.
Hello Emilia!
ReplyDeleteThis type of book seems to be VERY popular right now, at least at my library. It is certainly a mystery, but these popular mysteries also have a thrilling or suspenseful edge to them, making the race to the finish absolutely pulse-pounding as the reader searches for answers. I have read Verity and thought it also had a sense of urgency and thrill about it that traditional mysteries often lack. I wonder if this will eventually develop into a completely new genre. I have this on my TBR as well. It sounds very similar to Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak, which also has a twinge of the supernatural to it, if that's your thing.
Hi Emilia! I like that you used this book for your annotation. I have not yet read this one, but I have it sitting on my shelf waiting for me! I have heard only great things about it.
ReplyDeleteI also have heard a lot of great things about The Perfect Marriage. The two books being similar makes me excited because I have been wanting to get around to them for quite a while now. Hopefully this gives me the push! Great post!