You know that feeling when you finish a book and your heart is literally pounding against your ribs? That’s Freida McFadden for you. If you’ve spent any time on BookTok or scrolling through Amazon’s bestsellers, you’ve seen those creepy covers with the singular eye peeking through a keyhole. It’s iconic. But honestly, the order of the Housemaid books is where people start tripping up, especially because Millie’s life is such a chaotic, beautiful mess that it’s easy to get turned around.
Don't overthink it. There are three books. They follow a linear timeline. You can’t just jump into the third one and expect to understand why Millie is the way she is. She’s a character built on trauma, secrets, and a very specific set of skills that she definitely didn't learn in finishing school.
Stop Guessing: The Official Order of the Housemaid Books
If you want the short version, here it is: Start with The Housemaid. Then read The Housemaid's Secret. Finish with The Housemaid Is Watching.
That’s it.
But why does it matter? Because Freida McFadden is the queen of the "unreliable narrator" trope, but she’s also a master of long-term character growth. Millie Calloway starts as a woman with a criminal record just trying to find a room that isn't a literal attic. By the time you get to the third book, she's in a completely different stage of life. If you read them out of order, the spoilers will absolutely wreck the experience for you. Imagine finding out who lives and who dies before you even know why they’re fighting. It sucks.
1. The Housemaid (2022)
This is where the nightmare begins. We meet Millie. She’s desperate. She’s living out of her car. Then, she lands a job working for Nina Winchester. On paper, it looks perfect. Huge house, wealthy family, a chance to start over. But Nina is... well, Nina is a lot. She throws salt on the floor just to watch Millie clean it. She’s erratic. And Andrew, the husband? He seems like a saint.
Spoiler-free tip: Pay attention to the doors. In this book, the locks are on the outside for a reason. This first entry sets the tone for everything that follows in the order of the Housemaid books. It establishes the "Millie Justice" brand.
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2. The Housemaid’s Secret (2023)
Millie is back, but she’s moved on from the Winchesters. She’s still cleaning houses because, let’s be real, having a record makes it hard to land a corporate 9-to-5. She takes a job with Douglas Garrick. He’s tech-wealthy and weird. He tells her never to go into the guest room because his wife is "ill."
You know she’s going in that room. You know it.
What makes this second book vital is how it complicates Millie’s morality. She isn't just a victim anymore. She’s someone who steps into the fire to save others, even if it means getting burned. It’s darker than the first one. It feels more claustrophobic.
3. The Housemaid Is Watching (2024)
This is the "domestic bliss" chapter, or at least the attempt at it. Years have passed. Millie is married. She has kids. She’s no longer the one scrubbing the floors—she’s the homeowner. But the neighborhood is creepy. The neighbors are watching. And someone knows what she did in her past.
A lot of readers were split on this one because the pacing is different. It’s slower. It’s more of a "suburban noir" vibe. But if you've followed the order of the Housemaid books from the start, the payoff of seeing Millie as a mother trying to protect her own "housemaid" (ironic, right?) is actually pretty satisfying.
Why You Can't Read These as Standalones
Technically, you could pick up the second book and follow the plot. Freida is good at giving you enough context clues so you aren't totally lost. But you’d be robbing yourself.
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The emotional weight of Millie’s decisions in The Housemaid’s Secret depends entirely on you knowing what she went through in the attic at the Winchester house. Her fear of the police, her hesitation to trust men, and her weirdly specific cleaning habits all stem from the first book.
Also, the "Easter eggs." McFadden loves a good callback. There are tiny mentions of previous characters and plot twists that act like a reward for the loyal readers who stuck to the chronological order of the Housemaid books. If you skip around, those moments just feel like random filler. They aren't.
The "Millie Calloway" Evolution
Most people think these books are just about the twists. They aren't. They’re about Millie.
She is one of the most fascinating protagonists in modern thrillers because she isn't "good." She’s a survivor. In the first book, she’s reactive. She’s trying to stay afloat. By the second book, she’s proactive. She’s looking for trouble because she thinks she can handle it. By the third? She’s defensive.
Seeing that arc is why the chronological order of the Housemaid books is the only way to go. You see a woman go from being hunted to being the hunter, and finally, to being the protector. It’s a classic character arc wrapped in a very bloody, very messy bow.
Is There a Fourth Book?
As of early 2026, the trilogy feels fairly complete, but never say never with Freida. She’s incredibly prolific. She writes faster than most people read. While there hasn't been a formal announcement for "The Housemaid's Revenge" or whatever the next title might be, the fanbase is basically screaming for it. For now, stick to the three.
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Common Misconceptions About the Series
People often get confused because Freida McFadden has like, fifty other books. They see The Teacher or The Inmate and assume they’re part of the same universe.
They aren't.
While some fans have fun little theories about the books being connected (the "Freida-verse"), there is no actual crossover. You don't need to read The Coworker to understand the order of the Housemaid books. Keep your lanes clear. If it doesn't have "Housemaid" in the title, it’s a separate story.
Another big one: "The books are too predictable."
Okay, look. If you read 100 thrillers a year, you might spot the twist coming. But the fun of the Housemaid series isn't just the what, it’s the how. It’s the sheer audacity of the characters. Even if you guess the "who-dunit," you probably won't guess the "how-they-get-away-with-it."
How to Binge the Series Like a Pro
If you’re planning a weekend marathon, here’s how to do it without getting a "thriller headache":
- Audiobooks are your friend: Lauryn Allman narrates the first two, and she is Millie. Her voice captures that specific blend of sarcasm and terror perfectly.
- Don't read the blurbs for books 2 and 3: Seriously. Just buy them and dive in. The back-cover copy for sequels often contains minor spoilers for the previous books.
- Check the trigger warnings: These books deal with domestic abuse, incarceration, and some pretty heavy psychological manipulation. They’re fun, but they can be intense.
The Ultimate Reading Order Summary
- The Housemaid (Focus: The Attic)
- The Housemaid's Secret (Focus: The Guest Room)
- The Housemaid Is Watching (Focus: The Neighbors)
What to Read Next
Once you've finished the order of the Housemaid books, you’re going to have a massive book hangover. It’s inevitable. You’ll be looking for that same hit of adrenaline.
Check out The Ward by Freida if you want more of that "trapped in a creepy building" feeling. Or, if you want to venture away from McFadden but keep the vibe, The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine is basically the spiritual cousin to The Housemaid. It has that same "rich people are evil and the help knows everything" energy that we all crave.
Honestly, just stay in the Housemaid world as long as you can. It’s a wild ride, and once you start, you’ll be finished with all three before the week is over. Just... maybe lock your doors while you read. From the inside.
Actionable Next Steps for Readers
- Verify your editions: Make sure you aren't accidentally buying a summary or a "study guide." The real books are published by Bookouture or Poisoned Pen Press.
- Join the community: Head over to the "Freida McFadden Fans" groups on Facebook or Reddit. They are intense, but they have the best theories on what happened between the time jumps in the books.
- Start a "Freida Tracker": Since she releases books so frequently, use an app like Goodreads or StoryGraph to keep your "Read" list updated so you don't accidentally buy the same book with a different international cover.
- Plan your physical space: These are "one-sitting" books. Don't start The Housemaid at 10:00 PM on a work night unless you're prepared to be a zombie the next morning.