There’s something rather addictive about a Freida McFadden book, isn’t there? You pick one up thinking you’ll read a couple of chapters before bed, and suddenly it’s gone midnight, you’re suspicious of absolutely everyone and you’re convincing yourself that another twenty pages won’t hurt.
Whether you started with The Housemaid, couldn’t put down Never Lie or found yourself questioning everything while reading The Teacher, there’s a good chance you’ve already started wondering what to read next.
The trouble is that once you get used to those short chapters, suspicious characters and twists that turn everything upside down, an ordinary thriller doesn’t always quite satisfy the craving.
Fortunately, there are plenty of other authors writing the sort of psychological suspense that keeps you guessing. Some specialise in seemingly perfect marriages with disturbing secrets, others create unreliable narrators who make you question everything you’ve read, and a few are particularly good at delivering those endings that make you want to go straight back to the beginning.
If you’re looking for books like Freida McFadden’s, these are 15 psychological thrillers worth adding to your reading list. I’ve kept the descriptions spoiler-free because, with this genre, discovering what happens is half the fun.
1. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
Best for fans of: The Housemaid
Jack and Grace appear to have the perfect marriage. He’s handsome, successful and charming, while she’s beautiful and devoted to him. They’re the sort of couple everyone admires, although there’s something slightly strange about how Grace never seems to do anything without her husband.
As the story unfolds, that apparently perfect relationship becomes increasingly disturbing.
If you enjoyed the uncomfortable atmosphere of The Housemaid, where you’re never entirely sure what’s happening behind the doors of a beautiful home, Behind Closed Doors is an excellent choice.
B.A. Paris creates a wonderfully claustrophobic atmosphere, and the tension comes from gradually understanding just how much danger someone might be in.
It’s particularly appealing if you enjoy domestic thrillers where appearances are deceptive and the people who seem most respectable may have the darkest secrets.
2. Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
Best for fans of: Never Lie
Adam and Amelia Wright head to Scotland for a weekend away, hoping that some time together might help their troubled marriage.
Their destination is a remote, converted chapel, and the setting quickly becomes rather unsettling. Add in secrets, resentment and the feeling that neither person is being completely honest, and you’ve got the ingredients for a brilliant psychological thriller.
Alice Feeney is especially good at making readers question what they’re being told. Just when you think you’ve worked out what’s happening, another piece of information changes your understanding of the story.
If you loved the isolated setting and growing sense of unease in Never Lie, this is one I’d put near the top of your list.
It’s also a good choice if you particularly enjoy books with unreliable narrators.
3. None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
Best for fans of: The Teacher and Never Lie
Podcaster Alix Summers meets Josie Fair, a woman who happens to share her birthday, and what begins as an unusual encounter gradually turns into something much more complicated.
Josie wants to tell her story, and Alix finds herself drawn into a world of troubling relationships, family secrets and increasingly uncomfortable revelations.
The clever thing about None of This Is True is how it makes you question whose version of events you should believe.
Lisa Jewell takes her time developing the characters, but there’s always a sense that something isn’t quite right. It’s disturbing in places, with some particularly uncomfortable subject matter, so this isn’t necessarily one for readers who prefer lighter mysteries.
However, if you enjoy psychological thrillers that get under your skin and leave you thinking about them afterwards, it’s definitely worth considering.
4. The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
Best for fans of: The Housemaid’s Secret
Anne and Marco attend a dinner party at their neighbours’ house, leaving their baby asleep at home next door. They’re checking on her regularly, but when they return, she’s disappeared.
What follows is a tense domestic thriller involving a missing child, family relationships, secrets and plenty of suspicion.
Shari Lapena has a real talent for creating stories where everyone seems to be hiding something, and The Couple Next Door is a particularly good example.
The chapters move quickly, the mystery develops at a satisfying pace and there are enough revelations to keep you changing your mind about the characters.
If the thing you love most about Freida McFadden is how easy it is to read another chapter, this is a strong choice.
5. The Last Mrs Parrish by Liv Constantine
Best for fans of: The Housemaid
Amber Patterson is tired of her ordinary life and wants something much more glamorous. When she sets her sights on wealthy Daphne Parrish and her seemingly perfect family, she begins working her way into their world.
But getting close to the Parrishes may not be quite as straightforward as Amber imagines.
This is one of those deliciously entertaining domestic thrillers where wealth, jealousy, ambition and manipulation all play a part.
If you enjoyed the class differences and complicated household dynamics in The Housemaid, you’ll probably find plenty to like here.
The story is full of characters who aren’t necessarily easy to admire, but that’s part of the appeal. Sometimes the most entertaining psychological thrillers are the ones where you don’t particularly trust or like anyone.
6. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Best for fans of: Never Lie
Alicia Berenson appears to have a successful life as an artist, but everything changes when her husband is murdered and she stops speaking.
Psychotherapist Theo Faber becomes fascinated by her case and is determined to discover what really happened.
Unlike some of the faster domestic thrillers on this list, The Silent Patient has more of a psychological mystery at its centre. There’s a strong emphasis on understanding the characters and uncovering the truth behind Alicia’s silence.
If you enjoy the mystery-solving side of Freida McFadden’s books, particularly the feeling that one important detail is being kept from you, this is an excellent choice.
It’s also the sort of book that’s difficult to discuss with someone who’s read it without accidentally giving something away!
7. The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
Best for fans of: The Housemaid’s Secret
Sarah Morgan is a successful criminal defence lawyer whose husband, Adam, is accused of murdering his mistress.
Despite the obvious complications, Sarah takes on his defence, and the resulting story is full of questions about loyalty, deception and how well we ever really know the person we’re married to.
This is a particularly good option if you enjoy fast-paced thrillers involving marriages that are much less perfect than they appear.
There are plenty of secrets, shifting suspicions and dramatic developments, making it an entertaining choice when you want something that moves along quickly.
If you prefer realistic police procedurals, some of the twists might require a little suspension of disbelief, but if you’re reading for the drama and surprises, that’s unlikely to bother you too much.
8. Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
Best for fans of: The Locked Door
When women and a young girl disappear from the same neighbourhood, the community is left with questions that remain unanswered for years.
The story moves between different characters and timelines, gradually revealing what happened and how the disappearances may be connected.
Mary Kubica is particularly good at making ordinary settings feel threatening, and Local Woman Missing has that unsettling quality that makes you wonder what secrets might be hiding behind familiar front doors.
If you enjoyed the darker mysteries in Freida McFadden’s books, this one is worth adding to your list.
It does deal with some difficult subjects, including violence and harm involving children, so it’s worth being aware of that before reading.
9. The Only One Left by Riley Sager
Best for fans of: Never Lie
In 1983, home-health aide Kit McDeere takes a job caring for Lenora Hope, an elderly woman who has spent decades under suspicion of murdering her family.
Lenora lives in an imposing mansion overlooking the sea, and although she can no longer speak, she may finally be ready to reveal what happened.
This is a brilliant choice if you loved the creepy house and mysterious past in Never Lie.
There’s something wonderfully atmospheric about a huge old property filled with secrets, particularly when the person who might know the truth can’t easily explain it.
Riley Sager leans a little more towards gothic suspense than Freida McFadden, but the twists and the sense of danger should appeal to many of the same readers.
10. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Best for fans of: The Housemaid
At first, The Wife Between Us appears to be a story about a jealous ex-wife and the younger woman preparing to marry her former husband.
However, this is exactly the sort of book where making assumptions about the characters is a dangerous idea.
The authors play with perspective, relationships and the information readers are given, creating a story that constantly challenges your interpretation of events.
If you enjoy Freida McFadden’s habit of making you think you’ve understood a situation before revealing that there’s much more to it, this should be right up your street.
It’s a particularly good choice for readers who love discussing theories as they go along.
11. The Doctor’s Wife by Daniel Hurst
Best for fans of: The Housemaid’s Secret
Fern knows that her husband, Dr Drew Devlin, isn’t being entirely honest with her. Their marriage is far from perfect, and when they move to a small village in Scotland, the secrets between them become increasingly difficult to ignore.
Daniel Hurst writes the sort of domestic thrillers that are very easy to get through quickly, with short chapters and plenty of dramatic developments.
If you enjoy Freida McFadden because her books are so readable, rather than because you want a particularly literary or complicated thriller, Hurst is an author worth exploring.
The Doctor’s Wife is also the beginning of a series, which is handy if you find yourself wanting more after finishing the first book.
12. Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
Best for fans of: Never Lie and The Teacher
Amber Reynolds is in a coma. She can hear what’s happening around her, but she can’t move or communicate, and she doesn’t remember exactly how she ended up in hospital.
The story moves between her present situation, the days leading up to her accident and events from her childhood.
As the title suggests, you probably shouldn’t believe everything you’re told.
This is one of the strongest choices on the list for readers who enjoy unreliable narrators and complicated psychological puzzles.
Alice Feeney is very good at controlling what readers know, and Sometimes I Lie is the sort of thriller where you’ll probably find yourself reconsidering earlier chapters as new information emerges.
13. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Best for fans of: The Housemaid and Never Lie
When Libby Jones inherits a large house in Chelsea, it seems like an extraordinary stroke of luck.
However, the property has a disturbing history involving a family, some unexpected visitors and events that took place many years earlier.
As the story moves between different perspectives, the secrets surrounding the house begin to emerge.
If you love thrillers involving strange family relationships, hidden histories and houses that seem to hold the answers to everything, The Family Upstairs is a great choice.
It’s a little more layered than some of Freida McFadden’s books, but the mystery is fascinating, and there’s a constant feeling that something deeply unpleasant happened behind those walls.
14. The Arrangement by Kiersten Modglin
Best for fans of: The Housemaid’s Secret
Ainsley and Peter Greenburg’s marriage is in trouble, and they decide to try an unusual arrangement in the hope of saving their relationship.
Unfortunately, their attempt to change the rules of their marriage creates a whole new set of problems.
Kiersten Modglin is an author I’d recommend looking into if you’re particularly fond of quick, twisty domestic thrillers.
The Arrangement has the sort of dramatic premise that makes you curious almost immediately, and the relationship at its centre offers plenty of opportunities for deception and unexpected developments.
If you’ve been working your way through Freida McFadden’s back catalogue and want another author with a similarly addictive approach to storytelling, Modglin is worth trying.
15. The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas
Best for fans of: The Inmate and The Housemaid’s Secret
Tasha and her husband go away for a holiday, leaving their children with Tasha’s sister Alice and her husband.
While they’re away, Alice and her husband are attacked. Alice is seriously injured, and her husband is killed.
Then Tasha receives a message suggesting that she may have been the intended target.
Claire Douglas is particularly good at writing mysteries involving families, relationships and secrets that have been buried for years.
The Wrong Sister is an excellent choice if you enjoy stories where the central mystery keeps changing as more information comes to light.
It’s also worth exploring Douglas’s other books if you prefer psychological thrillers with British settings and characters.
Which books are most like Freida McFadden?
It really depends on what you enjoy most about her writing.
Some readers love the shocking twists, while others prefer the sinister houses, unreliable narrators or complicated relationships. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s how I’d narrow things down.
| If you loved… | Try reading… |
|---|---|
| The Housemaid | Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris |
| Never Lie | Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney |
| The Teacher | None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell |
| The Housemaid’s Secret | The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena |
| The Locked Door | Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica |
| Big, unexpected twists | The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen |
| Short, addictive chapters | The Doctor’s Wife by Daniel Hurst |
| Creepy houses and old secrets | The Only One Left by Riley Sager |
Authors like Freida McFadden worth exploring
If you’ve read most of Freida McFadden’s books and want another author whose back catalogue you can work through, I’d particularly recommend Alice Feeney, B.A. Paris, Shari Lapena, Daniel Hurst and Kiersten Modglin.
Alice Feeney is a great choice for readers who love complicated plots and unreliable narrators. Her books often demand a little more attention, but the payoff can be very satisfying.
B.A. Paris specialises in uncomfortable domestic situations, particularly relationships that seem perfectly ordinary to outsiders but are anything but.
Shari Lapena writes wonderfully readable mysteries involving families, neighbours and the secrets people keep from those closest to them.
Daniel Hurst and Kiersten Modglin are particularly worth considering if your favourite thing about Freida McFadden is her fast pacing. Their books often have dramatic premises, short chapters and plenty of surprises.
And if you’re happy with something a little darker or more character-driven, Lisa Jewell, Claire Douglas and Mary Kubica are all authors worth exploring.
What makes Freida McFadden books so addictive?
I think one of the biggest reasons readers enjoy Freida McFadden is that her books are so easy to keep reading.
The chapters tend to be short, there’s usually something suspicious happening from the beginning, and just as you think you’re getting close to understanding everything, another revelation makes you reconsider what you know.
Her books also often feature ordinary situations that become increasingly unsettling. A new job, a marriage, a house, a school or a seemingly respectable family might not sound particularly frightening, but in the right hands, those familiar settings can become incredibly sinister.
Of course, not everyone enjoys the same sort of thriller. Some readers prefer complicated plots and detailed character development, while others simply want a gripping story that keeps them entertained.
There’s room for both, and I think that’s why it’s worth exploring different authors rather than expecting every psychological thriller to feel exactly like a Freida McFadden novel.
Frequently asked questions
Who writes books similar to Freida McFadden?
Alice Feeney, B.A. Paris, Shari Lapena, Daniel Hurst, Kiersten Modglin, Jeneva Rose and Lisa Jewell are all worth trying. They write psychological or domestic thrillers featuring secrets, deception and unexpected revelations.
What should I read after The Housemaid?
I’d start with Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris or The Last Mrs Parrish by Liv Constantine. Both feature unsettling domestic relationships and characters who aren’t always what they seem.
Which books have the biggest plot twists?
If you enjoy books that make you question everything, try Rock Paper Scissors, Sometimes I Lie, The Wife Between Us or The Silent Patient. I’d avoid reading detailed reviews beforehand, as these are particularly easy books to spoil.
Are Freida McFadden books psychological thrillers?
Yes. Most of her best-known novels fall into the psychological thriller or domestic suspense genres, often featuring unreliable narrators, secrets, manipulation and unexpected twists.
What are some good British psychological thriller authors?
Alice Feeney, B.A. Paris, Claire Douglas, Daniel Hurst and Lisa Jewell are all excellent names to investigate if you’d like to explore more British thriller writers.
What should you read next?
If you’re struggling to choose just one book from this list, I’d start with Behind Closed Doors if you loved The Housemaid, or Rock Paper Scissors if Never Lie was your favourite.
Both capture that wonderfully unsettling feeling of knowing something isn’t quite right but not being able to work out exactly what it is.
If you’ve already read those, The Doctor’s Wife and The Arrangement are worth looking at, particularly if you enjoy the faster, more dramatic side of psychological thrillers.
The best thing about discovering a new thriller author is knowing you’ve potentially got a whole collection of books waiting for you. The worst thing, of course, is realising it’s nearly 2am and you’ve somehow convinced yourself that finishing the book is more important than getting a decent night’s sleep.
But that’s the trouble with a good psychological thriller, isn’t it?
Which Freida McFadden book is your favourite, and have you found another author who gives you that same can’t-put-it-down feeling?