The Housemaid’s Watching: A Twisty Finale… But Not the Strongest One

By Cecilia Belmontes

Millie’s Back! And So Is the Drama! (Kind Of)

Let’s talk about the final book in The Housemaid series: The Housemaid’s Watching. After the craziness of The Housemaid and The Housemaid’s Secret, I was excited to see how Freida McFadden would wrap things up. Like, REALLY EXCITED! And while this book did deliver a few major twists (especially in part two)… I have to admit, it didn’t fully hit the way I hoped it would. (Bummer)

This one had some good buildup, but also a lot of what felt like dead ends. There were moments where I was like, “Yes, Millie’s onto something!” and then… nothing. Just fizzled out or didn’t lead anywhere. Still, it was interesting to see the story come full circle, especially when we got to hear from her daughter’s point of view (which was WILD, by the way!).

What Worked

The twisty second half: Part two definitely brought the drama. Seeing things unfold from the daughter’s perspective? Game changer.

The classic McFadden twist: Even when you think you know what’s happening, she always throws in something to make you question everything.

The way it all ties together: I appreciated that this book made an effort to wrap up storylines from the entire series. You do get closure… kind of.

What Could’ve Been Better

Too many dead ends: There were a lot of red herrings that didn’t really go anywhere. It felt like Millie was chasing shadows at times, and I was left wondering what the point of some clues or moments even were.

The suspense didn’t last: It didn’t get really good until part two, which made the first half feel slower than usual for a McFadden book.

My Reactions

First half: “Okay… where is this going?”

Second half: “Wait, WHAT did she just say!?”

When the daughter’s POV kicked in: mind blown

Final twist: “No way. She didn’t kill him after all!?”

Never a dull moment with Millie, even if this one had a slower start. There were still a lot of those classic “What just happened?!” moments I’ve come to expect from this series.

Spoiler Zone: The Twist That Changed Everything

Stop here if you haven’t read the book yet! Spoilers ahead!

The big twist? Millie didn’t kill Jonathan Lowell like we were led to believe. She injured him, sure, but the real killer was someone else entirely. That reveal shook me, especially after thinking the whole time she was covering up a murder. And honestly, reading her daughter’s side of the story made everything even crazier. The things she figured out and what Millie did to protect her definitely made me look at the story differently. Still, part of me was left wondering: Will the truth actually come out? Or will it stay buried?

Final Thoughts & Rating

To me, this wasn’t the strongest book in the series. I totally get that McFadden needed to bring the series to a close, and I’m glad she did, but it just didn’t give me the same thrill as the first book. That said, I’m still glad I read it. The whole Housemaid series is a ride, and Freida McFadden always knows how to pull you in with those sharp twists and fast pacing. I’m giving The Housemaid’s Watching a 5/10. Not my favorite of the bunch, but still worth reading if you’ve made it this far. And let’s be honest, if Freida ever drops another story in this universe, I’ll be the first to grab it!

Let’s Chat

Have you read The Housemaid’s Watching yet?Was it the ending you were hoping for?Which book in the series was your favorite?

Let me know in the comments and drop your fave Freida McFadden books too. I’m always looking for my next read!