Get ready for a wild ride with The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. Polished, wealthy Nina Winchester hires Millie to care for their opulent home and their nine-year-old daughter. Millie is only too thrilled to have the job as she's recently been fired from her waitressing position and has been living in her car. AND she's an ex-con. Millie served ten years in prison and is struggling to find work because of her record. The Winchesters must be desperate to find help. Indeed.
Nina begins to be unpredictable. Bizarre behavior such as throwing everything out of the fridge onto the floor, accusing Millie of throwing away her PTA notes and stealing her clothes (after Nina gave them to Millie) are only a few examples. Millie just wants to keep her head down and keep her job. Even the tiny attic room with a lumpy cot where Nina put her pales in comparison to sleeping in her car. Nina's gaslighting and cruel treatment of Millie, as well as her "spoiled brat" daughter Cecelia's behavior, contrasts with Nina's sweet and kind husband, Andrew. Soon Millie finds herself in a dangerous situation: she's yearning for handsome Andrew's less stressful company.
The Housemaid takes the willing suspension of disbelief to a level that's almost comical, but that's part of the fun. I love stories that challenge assumptions and offer surprises. This twisty story of revenge and comeuppance is an easy read and a page-turner. It also ends with a wonderful cliffhanger leading into the sequel. I give it five stars out of five.
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