Catch Up on the Catalog™ Freida McFadden

16 of the author's bestselling twisty psychological thrillers

Fun fact!

The wildly popular author known as Freida McFadden is also a physician who specializes in brain injuries. And her name isn't really Freida McFadden! She uses a pen name to protect the privacy of her patients. As a doctor who also writes popular mysteries and crime fiction, she joins a select group of authors, including Arthur Conan Doyle, Josephine Bell, Kwei Quartey, Lydia Kang, Daniel Kalla, Tess Gerritsen, Robin Cook, and Michael Crichton.

Despite holding down her day job, McFadden is amazingly prolific. In just a little over a decade—since her 2013 self-published first novel—she has churned out nearly 30 books, mostly psychological thrillers. Considering her expertise, it's perhaps not surprising that many of her plots and storylines involve medical or cognitive issues. If you haven't had the chance to become a McFan (as her ardent admirers call themselves), here's your chance with our essential Freida McFadden reading list.

2018

The Surrogate Mother

Abby wants a baby more than anything. But after years of failed infertility treatments and adoption attempts, she's starting to give up hope. But then her personal assistant, Monica, offers to be her surrogate. But Monica isn't who she says she is. And she'll stop at nothing to get what she wants.

2019

The Perfect Son

Erika has always sensed that something isn't quite right with her smart and charming teenage son. When a high school girl disappears from their quiet neighborhood, the police suspect Liam. Erika wants to believe he's innocent, but as the evidence mounts, she can't deny her own instincts.

2020

One By One

Claire needs this trip! One week with friends at a luxurious wilderness resort. A break from work and childrearing. A chance to fix her marriage. Then on a lonely dirt road, Claire's minivan breaks down and the group must continue on foot through the dark woods. It only gets worse from there. Much worse.

2021

The Locked Door

While eleven-year-old Nora Davis was upstairs doing homework, she had no idea her father was killing women in the basement. Decades later, her father in prison, Nora is a successful surgeon who keeps her past private. But when one of her patients is murdered in her infamous father's style, Nora falls under suspicion.

Do Not Disturb

After committing an unthinkable crime, Quinn Alexander is on the run. But when a storm forces her off the road, Quinn must take refuge at the broken-down, remote Baxter Motel where the kindly owner is happy to offer her a cheap room for the night. But, the Baxter Motel isn't the quiet, safe haven it seemed to be.

2022

The Housemaid

Millie is a young woman with a shadowy past who gets a job as a live-in housemaid for a wealthy family. But things get dicey as Millie uncovers dark secrets within this seemingly perfect home. A film adaptation starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried comes to theaters Dec. 19.

The Inmate

The guiltiest people aren't always the ones behind bars. As a new nurse practitioner at a maximum-security prison, Brooke Sullivan learns three rules: Treat prisoners with respect. Never reveal personal information. And don't befriend the inmates. But Brooke has already broken all of these rules.

Never Lie

Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan think they've found their dream house, a remote manor that belonged to Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished mysteriously. But when a violent storm traps them at the estate, the house begins to lose its appeal as they uncover sinister clues about Dr. Hale's disappearance.

2023

Ward D

Amy never wanted to spend the night on Ward D. Now she might not make it out alive. As a medical student, she's required to experience in the hospital's mental health unit. All she has to do is get through the night shift. But as the hours tick by, Amy grows increasingly convinced that something terrible is happening.

2024

The Teacher

Each day, with a kiss from her husband Nate, Eve heads off to teach math at the local high school. Caseham High is still reeling from last year's scandal involving a student-teacher affair, with student Addie at its center. But Eve knows there is far more to these ugly rumors than meets the eye.

The Boyfriend

Like most women in New York, Sydney has had terrible luck in dating—until now. Her new boyfriend ticks all the boxes. But a string of murders perpetrated by a mystery man who dates his victims before killing them has her wondering if her perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems.

2025

The Tenant

Fired abruptly from his job as VP of marketing, Blake Porter is hard-pressed to make mortgage payments on the brownstone he shares with his fiancée. Enter the beautiful, charming Whitney looking to rent a room. She's exactly what Blake's looking for. Or is she? Because something isn't quite right.

The Intruder

Casey's cabin isn't built for the hurricane that's raging. But Casey's more worried about the girl standing out in the storm. She's young. She's alone. And she's covered in blood. The girl won't explain where she came from, or loosen her grip on the knife in her hand. This girl has a dark secret. One she'll kill to keep.

Preorders for 2026!

McFans rejoice! Whether brand-new titles or e-book exclusives finally coming to print, McFadden already has several books slated for publication in the upcoming year. Here are the titles available for preorder.

Dear Debbie (Jan. 27)

For years, Debbie has counseled New England wives in her popular advice column. But now her own life is spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something is happening with her teenage daughters. Her husband is keeping secrets. And Debbie's done being the bigger person. It's time to take her own advice.

Want to Know a Secret? (Mar. 3)

Influencer and baking sensation April Masterson knows the secret to the perfect gooey brownies. Or how to make key lime squares that will melt in your mouth. But offline, April has some other secrets. Secrets she'd rather you didn't know. Originally published in 2021, this novel is getting a fresh reprint.

Dead Med (July 28)

Originally titled Suicide Med, this 2014 novel was one of McFadden's first. When Heather McKinley dreamed of becoming a doctor, she didn't expect the grueling path ahead. And she certainly didn't anticipate that her medical school would be nicknamed Dead Med due to its tragically high rate of student overdoses.

McFadden's work is compulsively readable and filled with shocking twists and turns. Part of what makes her stories so exciting is provocative themes and plot elements. If you have any concerns about triggers, the author provides a complete list of content warnings on her website, so be sure to take a look if you don’t mind some spoilers.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon