15 Books That Freida McFadden Has Rated 5 Stars

This article may contain spoilers.

If there's one thing Freida McFadden knows, it's great literature. As the talented woman behind the gripping thriller book series "The Housemaid", she's more than earned her title as one of the most popular authors of the modern day. You only need to see how many novels she landed on Goodreads' top 15 most read books of 2026 (so far) list to get an idea of her huge success. But this literary star is as keen on reading others' dark and gripping stories as she is writing her own, and her Goodreads read page confirms it. McFadden has logged more than 200 reads on the book review site at the time of writing — and she certainly hasn't been afraid to dish out some five-star ratings. 

"Reading is one of my absolute favorite activities, and I've always got a book (or Kindle) in my hands!" McFadden told Page Six. "If a book is popular, I will read it just to see what the fuss is all about... and often, the fuss is very much deserved!" she added. McFadden's bookshelf is skewed towards mystery thrillers, which makes sense considering McFadden's best books (so far) according to reviewers are some of the most popular mystery/thrillers on the market. We've also noticed she's a fan of books with strong female protagonists, and there's even a little romance thrown in. If that sounds like your bag, then pick up these 15 books McFadden has rated five stars on Goodreads.

Jenna Moquin's "Stalks" is the first in her two book (at the time of writing) "Stalks" collection. It introduces us to Elizabeth (aka Liz), who seemingly has it all with her new fiancée, Jared. But when the two get lost and are taken in by a strange couple, they realize they've found themselves in for more than they bargained for. The young lovers end up fighting for their lives after Liz stumbles upon a dangerous secret that puts her and Jared in serious danger.

"It drew me in from the first page, and I couldn't stop reading!" Freida McFadden wrote of the suspense-filled fiction book in her Goodreads review. "Anyone looking for a thriller with lots of twists and turns and compelling characters will love this book! Highly recommend!!!" she added. Another Goodreads user echoed McFadden's thoughts on the twisty tale, writing in a four-star review, "This was a fast-paced, easy read that also held a lot of suspense and dread."

Freida McFadden is clearly a fan of Jenna Moquin's "Stalks" books. She also gave "Followed," the follow-up to "Stalks," five stars. Protagonist Liz is back after changing her name and location following her terrifying ordeal in the first book. But her new life as a introverted nomad isn't enough to keep her safe from her past. She finds out there's a serial killer on the loose, and all his victims share eerie similarities — they're just like her. Knowing the evil-doer could well be someone she thought she'd long escaped, Liz can't help but wonder if she's next.

"This is such a great follow up to 'Stalks,' which I also loved!" McFadden wrote in her Goodreads review. "Super unputdownable with a shocking twist!" she added. McFadden wasn't the only one hooked on "Followed"'s dark twists and turns though. "'Followed' was one of those thrillers that hooked me right away and kept me guessing until the very end," another Goodreads user stated.

In the very Freida McFadden-esque "Don't Believe Her" by Nicola Sanders, we get a glimpse into Ellie's life. Carla, Ellie's childhood best friend and the sister of her fiancé, lets her friends and family know she's finally coming home after running away as a teenager and cutting herself off. But, when Ellie tried to re-bond with the woman she was once so close to, she grows increasingly wary of the person that's just walked through the door. Though Ellie's family and friends refuse to entertain her suspicions, Ellie soon makes a shocking discovery that all but confirms 'Carla' isn't who she says she is.

"I basically devoured the whole thing in a day, and the twists really surprised me! Might be my new favorite of her books!" McFadden gushed on Goodreads of the mystery thriller. Another reviewer also shared praise for the novel's rollercoaster storyline, writing, "This was a wild, twisted, unpredictable ride!"

"It Should Have Been You" by Andrea Mara is another mystery thriller recommended by Freida McFadden. In Mara's novel, Susan accidentally posts less-than-positive gossip about her neighbors in a local group chat. Though initially, Susan is convinced her faux pas will simply blow over, it doesn't take long for her to change her mind. She becomes highly suspicious of those around her after a woman is murdered across town at the house where the neighbors were . Maybe it was just a coincidence, or maybe Susan has unleashed a beast she can't now put back in its cage.

McFadden left a short review of the book alongside her five-star rating, writing, "Loved it! Full of suspense and cliffhangers!" In a more detailed review, another Goodreads reviewer wrote of the dark novel, "Phenomenal! So multilayered, twisty, cliffhangers on every chapter kept me LOCKED IN. Unputdownable, diabolical, dark, entertaining, and such a wild ride. WOW!"

"That's Not My Name" by Megan Lally is not only a thriller/mystery book to add to your TBR list if you love Freida McFadden, it's also loved by the author herself. We meet a teenager on the side of the road who has no idea how she got there. A man claiming to be her dad arrives to take her away and tells her that her name is Mary. At the same time though, a major search is going on not far away for someone called Lola, who disappeared into the night after a fight with her boyfriend. Are the two events unrelated? Or is something more sinister and mysterious going on?

McFadden enjoyed "That's Not My Name" as an audiobook and wrote in her Goodreads review, "It's not often that a book surprises me, but this one did just that! What a great, haunting thriller!" Another Goodreads reviewer highlighted that, despite fitting into McFadden's typical archetype, the book was totally different to other thrillers they'd read. "Realistically terrifying, so twisty, and so unique (but believable all at the same time)," they wrote.

"The Housewife" by Natalie Barelli also fits well with Freida McFadden's taste for mystery thrillers. Jodie lives in Beverly Hills with her rich husband, Dr. Roy Davies. On the surface, this housewife who loves the finer things has it all, but it doesn't take much digging to notice there are cracks in her relationship. The most glaring has of them? The lingering presence of Dr. Davies' late wife, Deborah. Tired of living in Deborah's shadow, inquisitive Jodie digs into her husband's previous marriage. She soon wishes she hadn't though after she discovers some dark, sad revelations about how Dr. Davies treated his first wife. Of course, Jodie has secrets of her own, and exposing her husband's role in Deborah's death could well leave both of them vulnerable. But she knows she needs to do something — before she meets a fate similar to Deborah's.

In McFadden's short and sweet Goodreads review, she wrote, "Fast paced thriller that is hard to put down!" Another five-star review from a fellow Goodreads user wrote, "Overall, it's tense, clever, and full of twists that keep you on your toes right to the end."

"Eyeland" by Jenna Moquin takes place on the picturesque tropical island of Eyeland (see what they did there?) that seems too good to be true. And it is. Jonas Myers is essentially kidnapped and taken to the island but, despite her attempts to find out why she's there and who took her, she's met with stonewall silence. Nevertheless, she remans determined to find out what's going on (including why everyone on the island seems controlled), but her quest for the truth leads her down a very dark path.

"Love this book! It reminded me of 'The Prisoner' and was so much fun to read," Freida McFadden wrote in her Goodreads review, seemingly referring to "The Prisoner" by B.A. Paris. Another Goodreads reviewer, who confirmed they picked up the thriller on McFadden's recommendation, wrote, "If you enjoy suspenseful reads with a strong sense of place and a quiet, creeping tension, 'Eyeland' is definitely one to add to your TBR."

In "Written Off" by Karen McQuestion, a famous author named Dana Broderick suddenly goes missing. The strange part is no one seems to care. Her disappearance is dubbed a publicity stunt and just another of Dana's self-indulgent actions and bids for attention. But Dana's best friend Courtney Hart isn't willing to give up on her. She knows something isn't right, and decides she's going to find Dana herself. But as she starts digging into this odd missing person case, she begins to realize why the world isn't willing to get in on the search.

Freida McFadden's Goodreads review read, "Such a fun book, and everything I've come to expect from McQuestion! This one is not to be missed!" Another reviewer, who also gave the suspenseful mystery thriller five stars, noted it wasn't the deepest or darkest thriller, but wrote, "Fast-paced, fun read!" They added, "This novel is quirky, quick, and pretty comical."

"Scandalous Women" by Gill Paul is a fictional story about iconic female authors Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann. It's set in the '60s and examines the backlash the duo received on both sides of the Atlantic for their steamy romance novels. They're introduced to one another by a green graduate named Nancy White, who just landed her first gig at a big city publishing house. The three women soon realize they all have more in common than they think as they take on a male dominated industry that tries to discourage women from indulging in their sensual sides.

In addition to giving the book five stars on Goodreads, Freida McFadden also listed the title as one of her favorites while speaking to Page Six. "As a female author who attempts to create crowd-pleasing, fun books, this novel felt like a must-read," she said. "[It] is equal parts heartwarming and empowering," McFadden added. In a Goodreads review, another reader praised the book for its strong female characters. "Weaving fact with fiction, Gill Paul has created an outstanding story which opens your eyes and mind to books considered controversial, the sexism in the book publishing industry back in the 60s and 70s, the power divide between men and women and much more," they wrote.

Freida McFadden also handed out five stars to Noelle W. Ihli's "Gray After Dark." In this mystery thriller based loosely on real life events, we meet Miley. She's down on her luck having worked her whole life to get to the Olympics, only to have a sudden accident dash her dreams. Instead of competing in front of the crowds, she takes a job at a remote guest lodge. But Miley's life goes from bad to worse when she's kidnapped and detained in a cabin. It will take every ounce of strength and mind games she can muster to escape, because if she doesn't get out, she knows her captor won't show her much mercy.

In McFadden's Goodreads review, she stated, "I enjoyed this book so much! I wanted to take a walk this morning but I COULD NOT leave my house until I finished it! It's dark and haunting, with a really satisfying ending." In another review from the site that gave the dark thriller four stars, a reader highlighted the novel's darkness. "If you enjoy books that read like Lifetime movies in novel form, you should definitely consider giving this one a read," they wrote.

"Finders Keepers" by Natalie Barelli examines the relationship between fictional author Emily and the inquisitive Rose. Emily is a bestselling author who crafted a supposedly fictional book that's seen major success. Only, Rose is convinced the book tells her life story, down to the most minute detail. To find out the truth, Rose pretends to be a fan looking for an assistant job to get closer to Emily in the hopes it will grant her insight into her mind and muses. But as Rose digs deeper, she uncovers some shocking truths about her own younger years.

"I enjoyed this book so much! I'm a huge Natalie Barelli fan and I couldn't wait to dive into her latest," Freida McFadden wrote on Goodreads. "Rose is a great flawed character, and my feelings about her changed so much through the book. I don't want to give anything away but I will just say that the twists are out of this world! You don't want to miss this one!" she added. Another reader shared in their review, "The story completely enthralled me. There were so many unexpected twists and turns! I didn't want to put the novel down! Highly recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers."

Colleen Hoover's "Woman Down" is another mystery thriller Freida McFadden couldn't get enough of. Our story begins with author Petra Rose being forced to take a step back from the spotlight amid intense backlash to her latest project. Petra knows she has one last chance to win the world back, so holes herself up in a cabin to write a novel she hopes will put her back in the public's good graces. Thankfully, after a visit from Detective Nathaniel Saint, Petra suddenly finds her writer's block is gone prompting her to craft a book that toes the line between reality and fantasy. But while she may well have a hit on her hands, the truth about how it came about could easily come back to bite her.

"Such a good book! My heart was pounding the whole time! A new favorite from Hoover!" McFadden wrote on Goodreads of the romantic thriller. "Typically you expect the twists to hit you at the end, but Colleen sprinkles little reveals at crucial points of the book that just keep you insanely hooked," another Goodreads review stated of the mystery/thriller books that made a splash in 2026. And there are plenty of other top books from Hoover to enjoy if you, like McFadden, love "Woman Down."

Psychological thriller "The Night Nanny" by Nelle Lamarr tells Ava's story as a new mom who agrees with her husband Ned's suggestion to hire a nanny. But Ava soon becomes suspicious of her new employee when she notices her whispering with her husband. Adding to Ava's deepening suspicions, she suddenly can't find her engagement ring, and the nanny starts making some wild accusations about her ability as a mom. To complicate things further, Ned isn't exactly rushing to Ava's defense. What, if anything, is going on between Ned and the nanny? Ava is determined to find out.

"I loved this thriller! Completely unputdownable with tons of twists and turns!" Freida McFadden wrote in her Goodreads review. Another reader praised the book's unexpected storyline and said, "This book is definitely WILD in terms of characters and drama, I will say I was very satisfied with the ending."

In the mystery thriller "Don't Let Him In" by Lisa Jewell, widow Nina Swann connects with her late husband's friend, Nick Radcliffe. A romantic connection soon blossoms, but Nina's daughter Ash is suspicious of his motives. To find out what he really wants with her mom, Ash decides to take a deep dive into his past, and what she finds is seriously harrowing. At the same time, Martha is dealing with a husband who's suddenly spending more time away from home. She knows him going missing for days at a time isn't just business, and these two stories cross paths for a seriously explosive conclusion.

On Goodreads, Freida McFadden wrote, "'Don't Let Him In' masterfully blurs the lines between truth and deception. The tension builds from page one, gripping you until the shocking conclusion!" Another shared the novel isn't a traditional thriller, but noted, "There is no real twist or turns in this book, but I was truly enthralled at the diabolical shambles of it all!" Despite McFadden's recommendation though, surprisingly, it doesn't rank amongst Jewel's best books according to Goodreads users.

"The Cemetery Spot" by Jenna Moquin is a mystery thriller packed with suspense. When April arrives at her sister Auggie's house, she doesn't expect to walk in on a crime scene. Auggie has killed her husband and needs April's help to bury the body. She agrees, but what the sisters don't know is that they've been watched — and their lies could all come crashing down around them. Before long, they're not only suspicious of everyone around them, but each other, which tests their seemingly unbreakable sisterly bond.

"'The Cemetery Spot' opens with a bang, and from there, it's nonstop twists and turns!" Freida McFadden wrote on Goodreads. "I couldn't put it down from the first page. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves unputdownable thrillers!" she added. In another five-star Goodreads review, a second impressed reader shared, "Lots of strange things happen, red herrings, and a few twists along the way really make this novel shine. Definitely a book you'll want to read and I highly recommend it."