Millie Calloway is desperate for a job, and her criminal background makes it nearly impossible to find one that pays well enough to ensure she doesn’t have to stay another night in her car. Lucky for her, she eventually receives the opportunity to be a housemaid for a wealthy family–but at what cost?

Packed with shocking twists, The Housemaid is a psychological thriller that explores deception, power, and the terrifying truth that sometimes even the most perfect home can hide the darkest secrets.

Plot Summary

*SPOILER ALERT*

Millie Calloway is desperate for a fresh start after her release from prison. When she lands a live-in housekeeping job with the wealthy Winchester family, it feels like a second chance. But from the moment she steps into their luxurious home, something feels off.

Nina Winchester, her new employer, is erratic–charming one moment, cruel the next. She blames Millie for small mistakes, fabricates problems, and seems determined to make her life miserable. In contrast, Nina’s husband, Andrew, is warm, understanding, and easy to talk to. As tensions in the household escalate, Millie can’t help but be drawn to him.

When Nina is abruptly removed from the picture, allowing Millie to grow closer to Andrew, she starts to believe she might finally have found stability. But that illusion shatters when she wakes up locked inside the tiny attic bedroom–one that only locks from the outside. Suddenly, she realizes she’s not the first woman to fall into this trap… and if she’s not careful, she won’t be the last.

Why I Picked Up the Book

I’ll admit, I probably wouldn’t have picked this one up if it wasn’t for my church book club, but I had heard a lot of great things about it. I’m also a sucker for thrillers, so I couldn’t not read it, right?

Why I Set the Book Down

I never set the book down. In fact, I finished it within a day because I was just that invested! My only gripe is that the writing in a couple of places was repetitive, and the main character made some pretty unreasonable choices, but I can easily look past that–at least this time. (If you’re familiar with this author, you know what I mean.)

Why I Picked the Book Back Up

It wasn’t predictable. I tried to guess where the book would take me, but the twist definitely got the upper hand! And speaking of the twist: Once it was revealed, it was really hard to put the book down. Although the plot became slightly complex toward the end, it still made for an easy, quick read.

Final Thoughts

I already purchased my copy of the next two books in the series to see where it goes from here, and I recommend you do too!*

*Update: I finished the next two books in the series (The Housemaid’s Secret + The Housemaid is Watching), and the verdict is… I actually didn’t like them as much. In fact, I feel like they’re unnecessary sequels. There’s also a short story (The Housemaid’s Wedding) meant to take place between the second and third books, but I didn’t go out of my way to pick it up.