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⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4/5
"Don't go in the guest bedroom."
That's the first thing Millie's new employer tells her.
Naturally, that's exactly where the story ends up.
The Housemaid's Secret audiobook picks up Millie's story after the events of The Housemaid, and if you thought her first job was messy, wait until you meet the Garricks.
Listen to it if: you loved the first book and want more of Millie's sharp instincts and messy luck.
Skip it if: you haven't read The Housemaid yet, since this one leans on what you already know about Millie.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | The Housemaid's Secret |
| Author | Freida McFadden |
| Narrator(s) (audiobook) | Lauryn Allman |
| Series | The Housemaid, Book 2 |
| Genre | Psychological Thriller |
| Subgenre | Domestic suspense, unreliable narrator |
| Audiobook length | 9 hrs 44 mins (unabridged) |
| First published | 2023 |
| Publisher | Bookouture |
Millie's trying to keep her head down. After everything that happened with the Winchesters, you'd think she'd be a little more careful about who she works for.
Enter Douglas Garrick, a successful tech businessman with a stunning penthouse apartment and, apparently, a wife nobody's allowed to meet. He tells Millie his wife is very ill. Says it kindly enough. But there's a shadow that crosses his face every time the guest bedroom comes up, and Millie's not exactly the type to let a locked door and a mysterious illness go unquestioned.
Then she starts noticing things while doing laundry. Blood, faint but unmistakable, around the collar of Wendy Garrick's nightgowns. Crying, late at night, coming from behind that door she's been told to avoid. Millie needs this job. She needs the money and the roof over her head more than she needs answers. But the longer she stays quiet, the harder it gets to ignore what might be happening just down the hall.
Millie is still the same sharp, guarded narrator from the first book, but there's more weight on her here. She's not just protecting a secret anymore. She's actively deciding how far she's willing to go to protect someone else's.
Douglas Garrick is the real puzzle of this book. He's charming in a way that feels calculated, the kind of charm that makes you want to trust him and immediately distrust that instinct at the same time. Wendy exists almost entirely offstage for a good chunk of the story, which is honestly part of what makes her so unsettling. You're piecing together who she is through blood-stained laundry and muffled crying, the same way Millie is.
What makes this dynamic work is that nobody in this house is fully who they present themselves to be, Millie included. She's hiding things too, and that shared instinct to conceal is what keeps the tension humming under every interaction.
Following a character across two books instead of starting fresh each time changes the reading experience in a good way. You already trust Millie's read on people from book one, so when her instincts start firing here, you're right there with her. The shift from the Winchesters' suburban house to a Manhattan penthouse also gives this one a different flavor. Wealth still hides ugly things, but the isolation feels different at height than it did behind a picket fence.
The honest criticism, and this shows up in reader reviews pretty consistently: this book leans harder into pulpy, over-the-top territory than the first one did. A few plot turns ask you to suspend a fair amount of disbelief, and if grounded realism is what you're after, some of the choices here might feel like a stretch. It's a fast, fun ride. Just don't expect it to hold up under too much scrutiny.
Lauryn Allman returns to narrate, and that continuity matters a lot for a sequel like this. Millie's voice already feels familiar from the first book, and Allman keeps that consistency while giving the new cast, especially Douglas, their own distinct texture. Her pacing suits the format well, quick enough to keep the tension moving, without rushing past the quieter, more unsettling moments.
Is The Housemaid's Secret audiobook worth it if you've already read the physical book? Honestly, if you're a fan of the series, hearing Allman's take on these characters again adds something. It's less about discovering new plot and more about experiencing the same twisty ride with a different kind of immersion. At just under 10 hours, the audiobook length is easy to knock out over a weekend or a handful of longer commutes.
Good fit if you:
Maybe not for you if:
Q: Is The Housemaid's Secret audiobook worth listening to?
A: If you enjoyed the first Housemaid book, yes. It keeps the fast pacing and twisty plotting fans expect, with Lauryn Allman's narration carrying the same energy from book one.
Q: How long is The Housemaid's Secret audiobook?
A: It runs 9 hours and 44 minutes, unabridged.
Q: Who narrates The Housemaid's Secret audiobook?
A: Lauryn Allman narrates, returning from the first Housemaid audiobook.
Q: Do I need to read The Housemaid before this one?
A: It helps a lot. While the central mystery is self-contained, Millie's backstory and the weight of her past carry over directly from the first book.
Q: How can I listen to The Housemaid's Secret audiobook for free?
A: New listeners may be able to get started through a free trial or promotional offer, depending on current eligibility. The free-trial link below lets you check the latest offer and listening options. You can also see whether your local library provides the audiobook through services such as Libby or OverDrive.
Q: Is The Housemaid's Secret as good as the first book?
A: Readers were divided on whether its bigger twists improved on the first book, with some enjoying the heightened suspense and others finding the plot more far-fetched.
The Housemaid's Secret doesn't reinvent what made the first book work. It just turns the dial up. Millie's still sharp, still hiding things, still ending up in situations that would make most people run the other direction. The Garrick penthouse gives McFadden a new playground for secrets, and honestly, the blood-on-the-nightgown detail alone is enough to keep you listening past your stop. It's not a subtle book. It's not trying to be.
If you've already fallen for Millie, this is a satisfying continuation, twists and all.
