princessdana36 's review for:

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

3.5

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book gave me a full blown anxiety attack. There were so many twists, turns, and unreliable narrators that I couldn't keep track (well, I could, but I just didn't want to! Whom can you trust in a book like this!) Gone Girl has nothing on this book. Sure, Gone Girl was better written, but this book elicited more visceral reactions than Gone Girl. I haven't even compared anything to that book since all psychological dramas/thrillers started comparing themselves to Gone Girl. I think the writing has to be improved. It needed some polish and another pass through with an editor, but the imagery was solid. Some of the phrasing was a little unprofessional, but it painted a vivid picture. All in all, not a pleasant book, but a readable one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Torture, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting

Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Toxic friendship