Top 15 Freida McFadden Thrillers For Book Club

Best Freida McFadden Thrillers for Your Book Club

If your book club loves fast-paced psychological thrillers with shocking twists, then discuss these Freida McFadden thrillers. I love reading Freida McFadden books. Her novels have jaw-dropping endings, unreliable narrators, and mind-bending plots. Some of these books are really engaging thriller audiobooks too. Some of these thrillers are so good that I finished reading them in a day. Because of all this, I also think her books are great for book club discussions. So check out this list of the 15 best thriller books by Freida McFadden! I’ve included a summary of each book and a few book club discussion questions. You can also check out my post on 51 Really Good Book Club Questions for Any Book, for general question prompts.

Also check out more posts for your book club

• 10 Addictive Psychological Thrillers Every Freida McFadden Fan Needs
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• 17 Thriller That Will Give Your The Best Hangover
• 17 Best Mystery & Thriller Books of 2024

Best Freida McFadden Thrillers For Book Club

1. The Housemaid

When Millie takes a job working for the wealthy Winchester family, she sees it as a fresh start. The house is stunning, her duties are simple, and the family seems picture-perfect.

But cracks quickly begin to show. Nina Winchester, the lady of the house, creates messes just to watch Millie clean them. She tells strange lies about her daughter. Meanwhile, Andrew, Nina’s husband, seems trapped in his own home, his pain reflected in his haunted eyes.

As Millie becomes more entangled in the Winchesters’ twisted world, she makes one small mistake trying on one of Nina’s luxurious white dresses. That’s when everything changes.

But what the Winchesters don’t know is that Millie has her own secrets and they might just make her more dangerous than they ever imagined.

The Housemaid is a jaw-dropping thriller for your psychological thriller book club. Also read 29 Book Club Questions For The Housemaid by Freida McFadden.

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. Millie seems like a victim at first—did your opinion of her change by the end?

2. Discuss the creepy, trapped feeling in the story?

3. Did you trust Andrew? When did your opinion of him start to change?

4. What do you think the book is saying about power dynamics in relationships?

5. The ending has a major twist—did you see it coming, or were you completely shocked?

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2. The Housemaid’s Secret

When Millie is hired to clean the stunning penthouse of Douglas and Wendy Garrick, she knows it’s a rare opportunity. The job is too good to question. All she has to do is stay quiet and do her work. But something feels off. She never sees Mrs. Garrick. She only hears muffled cries from behind a locked bedroom door. And when she does laundry, there are small bloodstains on Wendy’s white nightgowns. The Housemaid’s Secret is another unputdownable book for your book club members.

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. Is Millie protecting others because she feels it’s right, wants revenge, or has a different reason?

2. What were your first impressions of Douglas Garrick?

3. What do you think is really happening behind that locked bedroom door? Did you have any early guesses?

4. How does this book compare to The Housemaid?

5. Would you have handled the situation the same way as Millie, or would you have done something differently?

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3. Never Lie

Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan think they’ve found the perfect house an isolated estate once owned by the mysterious Dr. Adrienne Hale. But when a blizzard traps them inside, their simple house-hunting trip soon becomes something much more dangerous.

While searching for a way to pass the time, Tricia comes across a hidden room filled with Dr. Hale’s patient tapes. Soon, she discovers enough clues that could explain what really happened to the missing psychiatrist.

Never Lie is perfect for fans of locked-room mysteries. Your book club members will love the unreliable narrators that keep you second-guessing until the very last page. Also read 44 Book Club Questions For Never Lie by Freida McFadden

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. If you found hidden tapes from a missing psychiatrist, would you listen out of curiosity, or would you leave them alone?

2. Do you think Tricia was right to keep listening to the tapes?

3. What do you think is more terrifying, the mystery on the tapes or the idea that someone dangerous might be inside the house?

4.  Discuss the setting of the book ?

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4. The Coworker

Dawn Schiff is awkward, keeps to herself, and follows a rigid daily routine always at her desk by 8:45 a.m. sharp. So when she doesn’t show up one morning, her popular, coworker Natalie Farrell is surprised. Then comes the anonymous phone call that changes everything.

Soon Natalie realizes Dawn wasn’t just the office outcast, she was being watched, manipulated, and targeted. Someone wanted Dawn gone. Someone hated her enough to kill. The Coworker is a dark thriller that will have your book club second-guessing every character’s intentions. Also read 29 The Coworker Freida by McFadden Book Club Questions and Snack Ideas.

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. How does the workplace make Dawn feel like an outsider? Was she really misunderstood?

2. Did you believe Natalie’s story, or did she seem untrustworthy?

3. How does bullying affect the story? What happens because of workplace cruelty?

4. Did you notice any clues about the big twist, or was the ending a surprise?

5. How does The Coworker show the difference between how people see themselves and how others see them?

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5. The Inmate

Brooke Sullivan starts a new job as a nurse practitioner in a men’s maximum-security prison. She’s given three rules: respect the prisoners, keep her personal life private, and never get too close.

But she’s already broken them, because one inmate, Shane Nelson, knows her. He was her high school boyfriend, but now he’s in prison for murder. And Brooke is the one who put him there.

As Shane plays mind games, Brooke starts to doubt everything. Did she make a mistake? Is the real killer still out there? Or is Shane just manipulating her again?

The Inmate is a must-read thriller that will keep your book club debating many themes.

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. Did you believe Shane was innocent?

2. How does the prison setting make the story more intense?

3. Brooke feels guilty about the past. Did this affect her choices?

4. What did you think of the final twist? Did it change how you saw the characters?

5. How does the story show power and control in relationships?

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6. The Teacher

Eve has a perfect life. She has a loving husband and enjoys her job as a math teacher at the local school. However, one problem haunts her, a past scandal at Caseham High involving student Addie still lingers.

Everyone believes Addie is a liar and troublemaker, but she has secrets no one knows, secrets she’ll do anything to protect.

The Teacher is my favorite thriller book. I highly recommend it for your book club! The twists will shock you, and trust me, all the members won’t stop talking about it. Also read 43 The Teacher by Freida McFadden Book Club Questions.

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. Eve seems to have a normal life, but did you ever feel like something was off about her?

2. Addie is labeled as a liar and manipulator, do you think she was misunderstood?

3. What do you think about school scandal ?

5. Discuss the theme of dynamics between students and teachers, and how rumors can shape reputations?

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7. The Boyfriend

Sydney Shaw is done with bad dates, liars, cheapskates, and men who can’t stop talking about their mothers. So when she meets the perfect guy, it feels like a dream come true. He’s charming, handsome, and a successful doctor. What could possibly go wrong? Then, a brutal murder shakes the city the latest in a series of women killed by a mystery man who dates his victims before he strikes.

Sydney knows she should feel safe. After all, her boyfriend is everything she’s ever wanted. But something doesn’t feel right.

As Sydney starts digging for answers, she realizes someone is watching her every move.

your book club will love The Boyfriend, it’s packed with incredible surprises and intriguing characters. Also check out 35 Book Club Questions For The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden.

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. Sydney falls for her boyfriend, do you think she missed any red flags, or were they hard to see?

2. Discuss the theme of obsession in the book.

3. Did you guess who the killer was?

4. How does this book show the risks of modern dating?

5. If you were Sydney, what would you have done differently?

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8. Ward D 

Medical student Amy Brenner has been dreading her overnight shift on Ward D, the locked psychiatric unit of the hospital. She’s been avoiding this rotation for a reason a secret from her past that no one can ever know.

But as the night progresses, something feels off. Patients and staff start disappearing without a trace. Someone—or something—is inside Ward D, and no one is safe. If your book club friends love a claustrophobic, mind-bending mystery, Ward D is a great thriller book.

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. Discuss the charter of Amy Brenner.

2. Would you have taken the overnight shift on Ward D?

3. Which was scarier to you—the locked psych ward itself or the people (or things) inside it?

4. Do you think Amy’s fear is justified?

5. The book explores fear and mental health, what theme stood out to you the most?

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9. One by One

Claire Matchett hoped a week in the woods would help repair her troubled marriage and give her a much-needed break from work and parenting. . But when her minivan breaks down on a remote dirt road and there’s no cell reception, the group is forced to trek through the woods to find their hotel.

At first, it’s just a frustrating detouruntil night falls and they realize they’re completely lost.

One by one, members of the group start to disappear. Is it a wild animal? Or is someone within their own group the real danger?

One by One is the kind of thriller that will have your book club talking about who you can trust, who will stab you in the back, and what real fear feels like.

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. At what point did you start suspecting that someone in the group might be behind the disappearances?

2. Did you sympathize with Claire, or did you question her choices throughout the story?

3. Discuss the setting of the book.

4. Did you predict the ending?

5. If you were in Claire’s situation, how would you have handled being lost in the woods with people you might not trust?

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10. The Perfect Son

For Erika Cass, life is picture-perfect until the night detectives knock on her door. A high school girl has vanished, and the last person to see her alive was Erika’s son, Liam.

At first, Erika wants to believe in her son’s innocence. But deep down, she has always sensed something unsettling about Liam. As the investigation unfolds, evidence begins stacking up against him.

As a mother, her instinct is to protect him at all costs. The Perfect Son is an emotionally gripping thriller that will keep your book club debating guilt, motherhood , and the limits of unconditional love.

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. At what point did you start to suspect whether Liam was guilty or innocent?

2. Discuss the theme of f parental instinct.

3. What would you have done in Erika’s position, would you protect your child at all costs or turn them in?

4. Were there clues throughout the book that hinted at the truth?

5. How does The Perfect Son compare to other thrillers that narrate the story of family secrets ?

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11. The Gift

Despite working two jobs, Stella Hansen can’t even afford a present for her husband on their first Christmas as a married couple. Desperate to make the holiday special, she stumbles into a mysterious pawn shop, where the storekeeper offers her an unusual trade.

Stella wants nothing more than to give her husband the perfect gift, soon, she realizes some gifts come at a terrible price. The Gift is a fast-paced, Christmas thriller for your reading group. If your members love a short book club read with good twists, this is the best choice.

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. Stella’s desperation leads her to make a risky decision. Do you think she had any other choices?

2. Did you trust the mysterious pawn shop owner?

3. Discuss the main themes of the book.

4. What is your opinion about the ending?

5. If you were in Stella’s position, would you have taken the deal?

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12. The Surrogate Mother

Abby wants nothing more than to be a mother. But after years of infertility treatments and failed adoptions, her dream feels impossible until her personal assistant, Monica, makes an incredible offer. Monica is willing to carry Abby’s baby, giving her the chance at the family she’s always longed for. It seems like the perfect solution. Until it isn’t.

Because Monica isn’t who she claims to be. She has secrets—dark, dangerous secrets. And soon, Abby realizes that the woman carrying her child may not be her savior… but her worst nightmare. If your book club likes thrillers with tension and an intense plot, The Surrogate Mother is a great book. It will get everyone talking about trust, desperation, and how far people will go to get what they want.

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. At what point did you start suspecting that Monica wasn’t who she claimed to be?

2. In what ways does Abby’s desperation push her to make certain decisions? Do you think she ignored warning signs?

3. Monica is manipulative but also a victim of her past. Did you ever feel sympathy for her?

4. How does this book describe the ethical and emotional complexities of surrogacy?

5. The ending has a major twist—did it change the way you felt about any of the characters?

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13. The Wife Upstairs

Victoria Barnett has the perfect life—a successful career, a loving husband, and a dream home in the suburbs. She’s ready to start a family, and everything seems to be falling into place. Until a terrible accident changes everything.

Now, Victoria is trapped inside her own home, unable to walk, speak, or care for herself. Her husband hires Sylvia Robinson as a live-in caregiver.

But Sylvia quickly realizes something isn’t right. Victoria isn’t as helpless as she seems. Then Sylvia discovers Victoria’s hidden diary. What she reads inside changes everything. The Wife Upstairs is a dark psychological thriller that will leave your book club questioning everything.

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. At what point did you start suspecting that Victoria might not be as helpless as she seemed?

2. How does Victoria deal with her husband trying to take charge in their relationship?

3. What was your reaction to the diary entries?

4. What impact does isolation, both in a literal and emotional sense, have on the suspense in the book?

5. Were there any clues about the big twist that you picked up on early, or were you completely surprised?

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14. The Locked Door

When Nora Davis was eleven years old, she had no idea that her father was a serial killer, until the day police stormed their house and arrested him. While he’s now serving a life sentence, Nora has spent decades trying to build a quiet life as a successful surgeon. No one knows her past, and she intends to keep it that way.

But then, one of Nora’s young female patients is found murdered in the same gruesome manner as her father’s victims.

Is it a coincidence, or is someone trying to frame her?

As the evidence against her piles up, Nora knows she has to uncover the truth before the police turn their attention to her. But someone is watching her, someone who knows her past. The Locked Door is a gripping thriller with intense psychological battle, a chilling mystery, and shocking twists.

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. Do you believe Nora was ever at risk of becoming like her father, or was she truly different?

2. How do you think the book explore the theme of nature vs. nurture? Are people born evil, or do they become that way?

3. Who did you suspect as the killer?

4. How does Nora’s fear of being discovered affect her relationships ?

5. What would you have done if you were in Nora’s situation?

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15. The Crash

Eight months pregnant and completely alone, Tegan is desperate for a fresh start. She packs up and hits the road, planning to stay with her brother until she can figure out her next move. But a dangerous blizzard in rural Maine changes everything.

When her car crashes, leaving her stranded with a broken ankle, Tegan fears the worst until a kind couple rescues her and offers her shelter in their warm, remote cabin. Grateful and vulnerable, she has no choice but to accept.

But as time passes, the cabin begins to feel more like a trap than a safe haven. The couple’s kindness seems too perfect, their concern too intense Now, she must do whatever it takes to escape before it’s too late. The Crash has many claustrophobic tension, mental manipulation, and a fight for survival. If your book club is looking for a haunting thriller will leave you questions who to trust, this is the perfect choice. Also check out 41 Discussion-Worthy Questions For The Crash by Freida McFadden

Discussion-Worthy Book Club Questions

1. Did you trust the couple that rescued Tegan at first, or did you suspect something was wrong from the beginning?

2. How do you think the scene of isolation in the middle of a blizzard contribute the fear and tension in the story?

3. What role does Tegan’s pregnancy play in increasing the chances of her survival?

4. Were there any red flags that hinted at the truth before the big reveal?

5. If you were in Tegan’s situation, what would you have done differently to survive?

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Perfect Snacks for Your Freida McFadden Book Club

Here are a few snack ideas that I think your book club members would love while discussing Freida McFadden books.

Caramel Popcorn Twists – Popcorn is a light and easy snack. So I think they are perfect for munching while discussing all the shocking twists in Freida McFadden’s books.

Dark Chocolate – Just like her thrillers, dark chocolate has a rich and slightly bitter taste.

Cheese and Crackers – A simple yet classy snack that pairs well with deep discussions, in my opinion.

Fun Book Club Activity Ideas

• Who Said It? – Write down quotes from Freida McFadden’s books and have members guess which character said them. ( This is a really engaging one)
• Plot Twist Predictions – Before finishing the book, let members write down their predictions for the ending. ( To be honest I do that all the time)
• Murder Mystery Game – Use a simple murder mystery party kit to set the scene before diving into book discussion.( We used to do this a lot during Agatha Christie book club meeting)
• Twist Ending Rewrites – Have members rewrite the ending of the book with their own unexpected twist and share them. ( This is my favorite idea)

Final Thoughts

If your book club loves awesome twists, unreliable narrators, you can’t go wrong with Freida McFadden’s books. Let me know which book your members loved reading.