This post was originally published on Audible.com
From churning out wickedly addictive thrillers at an impressive clip to finally revealing her real name, the incomparable Freida McFadden has been making headlines while spending a lot of time on bestseller lists.
It’s certainly not every day that a thriller author explodes onto the scene and sells millions of books in the US and abroad, all while keeping their identity a secret. McFadden’s success even led to the rumor that she was three men, which she described to Jenna Bush Hager as being “sort of a compliment.”
Which begs the question: Who is this writer, and is she as mysterious as her plots? More importantly for fans of twisty thrillers, where do you start with her audiobooks?
First, who is Freida McFadden?
Freida McFadden’s publishing career is what many writers dream of, but writing fiction was something she did as a hobby. As the daughter of a podiatrist and a psychiatrist, she majored in mathematics at Harvard, graduated from medical school, and became a physician in Boston, where she specializes in brain disorders.
While she self-published her first novel, The Devil Wears Scrubs, in 2013, it wasn’t until she started publishing twisty domestic thrillers like 2018’sThe Surrogate Mother and its follow-up, The Ex, that the stars began to align for a second career.
It wasn’t long after that Bookouture, a British digital publisher, came knocking to buy one of her books. That was The Housemaid, which went on to sell millions of copies and eventually led to McFadden signing with an agent. A film adaptation of the novel premiered in theaters in December 2025.
Through all the press, attention, and popularity—including outside the US—McFadden kept her pseudonym, wearing a wig and glasses to keep her medical career and family life separate from her identity as a novelist.
That was until 2026, when she told USA Today, "I'm at a point in my career when I'm tired of this being a secret. I'm tired of people debating if I'm a real person or if I'm three men.” She revealed that her name is Sara Cohen, though she really does wear glasses and prefers the wig over styling her hair.
Where she got her pseudonym
According to The Guardian, “‘Freida’ is inspired by the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database, a registry of medical placements.”
Fun things to know about Freida McFadden
As discussed with Reader’s Digest:
Her inspiration books are Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.
She listens to audiobooks and enjoys funny mystery books, like Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto.
She reads beyond the crime genre: “But my favorite genre right now is historical fiction. I’m a little burned out on thrillers!”
How Freida McFadden writes so many books
In an interview with E! News, McFadden explained, “I don't like to do things halfway. I'm not the kind of person who can write a few hours a day and just be done with it. I completely immerse myself, and I don't stop, ignore everything from life until I'm done.”
Where to start with Freida McFadden’s audiobooks
The sequel film adaptation of The Housemaid is set to premiere in 2027, and her latest novel, The Witch, is set for release this fall. But if you’re looking for where to start with Freida McFadden’s already extensive catalog, you have a few different options for fun entryways. Get ready for an abundance of twists and all the thrills!
Start with an adapted trilogy
The Housemaid is McFadden’s highest-rated book on Audible and Goodreads. It also has a film adaptation that you can stream, which was directed by Paul Feig and stars Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney. Whether you prefer to watch an adaptation before the book or vice versa, you’re in for a fun and twisty psychological ride. Millie Calloway is the live-in maid for the wealthy Winchester family, a step up from living in her car, but all might not be as it appears in her new employer’s home…
Lauryn Allman, who is no stranger to lending her voice to thrillers (The Dead Husband Cookbook), also narrates the other two audiobooks in this series for an added bonus of great consistency.
The Housemaid’s Secret is the sequel to The Housemaid, and has an upcoming film adaptation set to premiere in 2027. Paul Feig is returning as director, along with stars Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney. And Kirsten Dunst has joined the franchise. How soon is too soon to buy tickets?
Millie Calloway is once again the first-person narrator, this time working as a part-time cleaner for a new family as she goes to college. Here’s the opening line: “Tonight, I will be murdered.” Yikes!
The Housemaid Is Watching is the third audiobook in the series, which adds narrator Ina Marie Smith for an exciting dual narration with Lauryn Allman. Millie Calloway has left her life working as a maid behind and is now settling into her new family life and home. But neighbors have warnings, and maybe Millie’s perfect new neighborhood isn’t so perfect.
Start with one of McFadden’s highest-rated domestic thrillers on Audible
Dear Debbie shares its impressive 4.6-star rating on Audible with The Housemaid and The Housemaid’s Secret. A big part of that exceptional rating is certainly for the three Audible Hall of Fame narrators: Julia Whelan (Gone Girl, People We Meet on Vacation), January LaVoy (Listen for the Lie, The Final Target), and Scott Brick (The Hunt for Red October, The Devil in the White City).
As the title implies, Dear Debbie is about an advice columnist. But this is a thriller, so rather than doling out sweet advice, this advice columnist suddenly finds her life falling apart and thinks that maybe the best action to take is revenge. What could go wrong?
Start with McFadden’s third-highest-rated thriller on Goodreads
Never Lie, a remote mystery set in a manor during a blizzard, has a 4.08-star rating on Goodreads. It’s narrated by Leslie Howard—whose voice you may know from Grady Hendrix’s Witchcraft for Wayward Girls and the Audible exclusive series The Destin Diaries—and centers on the unsolved case of a missing psychiatrist.
Start with McFadden’s first published thriller
In The Surrogate Mother, Abby’s dream of becoming a mother is finally going to be realized after losing hope with fertility treatments and adoptions that never worked out. Monica, her personal assistant, has offered to carry Abby’s child. What a gift! Or is it? Maybe Abby should have vetted Monica better before she let her carry her child…
If you love Alyson Krawchuk’s narration, you’ll want to add to your queue three more McFadden thrillers also narrated by Krawchuk: Want to Know a Secret?, One by One, and The Coworker.
Start with nominees for the Goodreads Choice Awards
In 2024, two of McFadden’s novels were nominated for the Readers’ Favorite Mystery & Thriller category.
Let’s start with The Boyfriend, a dual narration production: Seasoned fantasy listeners will be thrilled that Robb Moreira, who stars in dramatized adaptations from Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas, is paired with Victoria Connolly, who narrated McFadden’s first self-published novel, The Devil Wears Scrubs. In The Boyfriend, a psychological thriller with McFadden’s signature shock ending, Sydney Shaw is certain she’s finally found the perfect man. But does she suddenly have a stalker? And should she be worried that an active serial killer is picking his victims by dating them first? All important questions to have answers to.
The Teacher is another great choice for fans of dual narrations. Leslie Howard, the narrator of McFadden’s Never Lie, along with voice actor, narrator, and puppeteer Danny Montooth, bring to life this twisty, shocking tale about married teachers whose lives may not be what they seem.
In what had to be some kind of record, Freida McFadden had three of her titles nominated for the Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller in 2025.
With The Tenant, the awesome dual-narrator train continues! This time, we have narrator and actress Christine Lakin (Al Lamberty from Step by Step—‘90s kids know!) alongside award-winning audiobook narrator Will Damron (The Last Party). Without giving away any spoilers, The Tenant is for fans of a high body count and a lot of plot twists!
The Intruder: Imagine being in an isolated cabin awaiting a storm. You’re safe and you have no neighbors around for miles. Then suddenly you spot a light on in your shed. But that can’t possibly be what you see? Should you go investigate? This atmospheric, dark, psychological thriller is expertly brought to life by three narrators: Award-winning narrator Joe Hempel, award-winning narrator Patricia Santomasso, and improv and sketch comedy narrator Tina Wolstencroft.
The Crash is for fans of Stephen King’s Misery. While eight months pregnant, 23-year-old Tegan ends up getting into a car accident during a blizzard. Thankfully, she’s rescued by Hank, who finds her and takes her home to his wife Polly. At first, it seems good that Polly is a nurse and can care for Tegan, except Tegan isn’t getting good vibes…
Even more audiobooks to know!
If you love multicast audiobooks that include actors you’ve seen on TV, film, and theater, The Divorce is an absolute must-listen. As the title implies, a couple is getting a divorce, but in McFadden fashion, it’s going to be a twisty and brutal ride. Lending their voices to the no-longer-happy couple, and the new girlfriend, are aforementioned actors January LaVoy, Marin Ireland, and Edoardo Ballerini.
This year has been a big one for McFadden fans. First, they got to start the year by inhaling Dear Debbie. Then they got to welcome summer with the release of The Divorce. Now, for fall, fans are not only getting another new release from McFadden, but it’s perfectly themed for the season.
In The Witch, Julia Barlow’s life requires major life decisions after she loses her apartment and job. Enter her family’s 17th-century estate in rural Massachusetts. Also, enter the start of some delicious gothic vibes, and the possibility of a haunting. Julia is up to go care for her grandmother and escape her crumbling life, but the question is: Is an old estate where a woman was executed for witchcraft really the best place to start a cozy new life? Of course not! Julia is going to start experiencing some spooky things on that estate because it’s time to reckon with history and a family hiding secrets.
Jamie Canavés is a Book Riot contributing editor who is always up for chatting about books and any form of entertainment.
