“He has no idea this is just the beginning.”
If you’ve already raced through The Housemaid and found yourself desperate for more twists, secrets, and jaw-dropping reveals, you’re not alone. Freida McFadden’s Housemaid series has become a standout in the world of psychological and domestic thrillers, hooking readers with its fast pace, shocking turns, and unforgettable characters. With multiple books following Millie’s story, it’s no surprise that many readers are left wondering how to read all the Housemaid books in order. Whether you’re new to the series thanks to its huge online buzz or revisiting the books after finishing the latest instalment, reading them in the right order is key to fully appreciating how the story unfolds. Whilst each book delivers its own tense, unputdownable plot, they’re best enjoyed sequentially to avoid spoilers and catch crucial character developments. Join us at What We Reading as we run you through the Housemaid reading order!
The Housemaid Books In Order
- The Housemaid (2022) – The Housemaid #1
- The Housemaid’s Secret (2023) – The Housemaid #2
- The Housemaid’s Wedding (2024) – The Housemaid #2.5
- The Housemaid Is Watching (2024) – The Housemaid #3
The Housemaid (2022)
In The Housemaid we are introduced to Millie Calloway, a woman with a troubled past who is desperate for a clean slate in her life. She thinks she happens upon just this when she’s offered a live-in housekeeping job for the affluent Winchester family. Nina Winchester is beautiful, volatile, and unpredictable. Her husband, Andrew, is charming but distant. Their house is impeccable, save for the locked door to the attic where Millie is told she will be sleeping.
As Millie settles into her role, strange incidents begin occurring around the house. Nina’s behaviour becomes more erratic, secrets are spread throughout the house, and soon Millie starts suspecting that nothing about the Winchesters – or her role – is as it seems. But Millie also has secrets of her own. Soon, the power dynamics inside the house slowly begin to shift.
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The Housemaid’s Secret (2023)
The Housemaid’s Secret follows Millie Calloway as she lands a new housekeeping job with the wealthy Garrick family, whilst trying to build a fresh life after her previous setbacks. Initially grateful for the opportunity to work for the billionaire Douglas Garrick – who insists his wife Wendy is unwell and must remain isolated – Millie soon starts to notice disturbing signs: strange noises behind a locked door, unexplained bloodstains, and Wendy’s fearful behaviour.
Driven by her trademark instinct and compassion, Millie’s curiosity leads her to discover the dark truth that Wendy isn’t ill – she’s trapped. As Mille tries to help her, the Garrick household’s secrets spiral into deception, betrayal, and explosive twists. Millie’s efforts to free Wendy plunge her into peril, testing her courage and forcing her to reckon with the shocking revelations about the Garricks’ facades, where nothing is as perfect as it first appears.
The Housemaid’s Wedding (2024)
The Housemaid’s Wedding is a winter-themed, suspenseful interlude in Freida McFadden’s Housemaid series that charts Millie’s wedding day to her partner, Enzo. What was meant to be the happiest day of her life soon turns tense and threatening when Millie starts receiving ominous phone calls from someone who claims they want her dead before she can say “I do.”
As Millie continues to prepare for her ceremony, she finds herself battling fear and paranoia that someone from her past may be watching and waiting to strike. Amidst the carnage, unexpected allies emerge, and Millie faces the tension between love and danger head-on, helping to make this snappy short story a gripping and emotionally-charged bridge between the second and third entries in the series.
The Housemaid Is Watching (2024)
The Housemaid is Watching picks up years after the earlier books in The Housemaid series, with Millie and husband Enzo settled into what looks like the perfect white-picket suburban life. But the quiet dream of peaceful living and friendly neighbours is soon shattered as Millie begins to notice unsettling behaviour around them – from an overly-interested neighbour and her eerie housemaid, to strange noises and hidden corners inside their own abode.
When a shocking murder occurs nearby, and suspicion firmly plants itself on Enzo, Millie’s worst fears about their new life and quiet, protected world begin to unravel. As secrets emerge and trust erodes, Millie is forced to confront chilling truths about those around her. Like the other Housemaid books, The Housemaid Is Watching is packed with tension, bewildering neighbours, and dark suburban secrets.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
