The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is arguably one of the most viral thrillers of the last few years. McFadden’s top bestseller, this cat-and-mouse domestic thriller is everything you want in a bingeable book: it’s fast-paced, keeps you guessing, and the twists continue to the last page.

As someone who reads 200+ books a year, most of which are thrillers, one of the questions I get asked most is for a list of books that are like The Housemaid. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m picky and my standards are high; reading so many thrillers, it becomes easy to guess the ending and see twists coming, so it takes a lot to wow me like The Housemaid did. Below, I’m sharing a list of psychological, domestic thrillers that are like The Housemaid that you’re sure to love.

books like the housemaid

the perfect marriage by jeneva rose

Probably the most often recommended book when it comes to books like The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage is sharp, twisty, and features strong characterization. The first time I read it, I was fully engrossed and could not get enough, but when my cousin said she hated it, I had to go back and re-read to see what I thought, and once the shock wore off, I can see why she (and others) don’t love it. That said, it’s the perfect mix of the psychological and domestic elements you get with McFadden thrillers like The Housemaid. It’s layered and complex, but not hard to follow, and there’s enough substance to give you lots to talk about at book club or with a friend over coffee.

the swimmer by loreth anne white

If you want a thriller that is captivating and suspenseful without being too dark, The Swimmer is so good and way too underrated, in my opinion. It’s set in the gloomy Pacific Northwest, which always gives me cozy vibes (even in the middle of summer), so it’s perfect for a weekend read. Stylistically, I’d compare it more to The Girl on the Train than The Housemaid, but it has the twists and turns that Housemaid fans will love. It’s believable yet not predictable with interesting characters, making it a domestic thriller that’s easy and fun to read.

my husband’s wife by alice feeney

The newest release on this list (February 2026) My Husband’s Wife is my top recommendation for those who want non-stop twists. There are so many in this book that I felt like I had reader whiplash, especially since the POV changes frequently. As such, it’s better to read this in longer stretches rather than a chapter before bed each night to avoid getting confused. Slightly more confusing than clever, but it’s one of those thrillers that once you get to the end, you want to go back and re-read it to see everything come together with more perspective. It also makes for a great book club selection, with quite a few topics to discuss.

a beautiful couple by leslie wolfe

Truly unputdownable, A Beautiful Couple knocks it out of the park in every aspect: fast pacing, layered characters, strong supporting characters, tons of twists, and a story that you enjoy from start to finish. The page count is longer than you get with The Housemaid or most McFadden books at 372 pages, but it doesn’t feel tedious as you’re reading it; I didn’t see the first or last “big” twists coming, so it starts and ends strong, too. I will say, the husband is so unlikeable that your annoyance at him takes you out of the book a little, but not so much that you want to quit reading it. Don’t skip this one!

engaged to a serial killer by steena holmes

If you’re all about an unreliable narrator, Engaged to a Serial Killer is the pick for you. I haven’t seen the premise for a thriller like this before, and it’s unique in that it leans on characterization more than action. Every character seemed unreliable and shady; you wanted to root for the protagonist but couldn’t fully trust her based on her past and I like that the author pushed you to question why you didn’t trust her. Some details were gruesome, but I thought it was overall less chilling than other thrillers (yet more than The Housemaid). If I had to compare it to a TV show, I would say it read more like Law & Order than Criminal Minds because it was a little more passive in writing style, but still engaging. The middle is slightly repetitive, but still held my attention and I hope go to back and re-read it again at some point.

the wife between us by greer hendricks and sarah pekkanen

A longer thriller at just over 350 pages, The Wife Between Us has a slower pace than The Housemaid but it’s still entertaining. It’s eerie yet engrossing, and if you also loved The Girl on The Train, you’ll enjoy this book. The tension builds steadily throughout, but the plot feels a little familiar if you’ve read a lot of thrillers. I personally expected more from the final twist, but it’s a true cat-and-mouse thriller that engages the reader from start to finish.

the perfect family by anya mora

Don’t judge this book by its cover; it makes it look like it’s going to be cheesy, but I really enjoyed The Perfect Family and aspects of it surprised me. This is a true page-turner with a fast pace and single POV, but it doesn’t lack substance. The author excelled at characterization; I felt a connection to Bets and her death was harder to accept as the story continued. I also thought the dual timeline was well-done and added to the story without making it harder to follow. As the title suggests, this focuses on a family rather than just a couple, so it’s a refreshing break from all of cheating storylines that sometimes come with domestic thrillers. One of my favorite books of 2025, I highly recommend it.

his first wife by jack dane

I didn’t totally love His First Wife, but it has a high average on both Amazon and GoodReads so I think I’m an outlier in my opinion. I found it to be slightly predictable and a little too dramatic, but I also read a lot of thrillers so it’s more of a “me” problem than a reflection on this author. Overall, it’s an entertaining, twisty psychological domestic thriller that leads you one way, only to pull the rug out and make you question everything. If you like to come up with theories as you read, this is worth checking out.

the housekeeper by natalie barelli

The subject matter (and title) might make The Housekeeper too similar to The Housemaid for some, but it’s a great cat-and-mouse thriller that I liked more than I thought I would. The main character was grating at times, but it didn’t prevent me from enjoying the book. With a single POV and singular timeline, it’s an ideal read for those who want a straightforward thriller. It also has a complete ending, so I recommend it if you aren’t a fan of the ambiguous endings you get with some thrillers. No spoilers, but I was surprised that this had a little more substance and heart than I expected. I could see others finding it cheesy, though.

verity by colleen hoover

Another viral book with a cult-like following, Verity is packed with twists until the very last page and characters you’re not sure about trusting. One thing to note: McFadden is no stranger to psychological darkness, but prefers to keep her books PG-rated. Verity, on the other hand, has lots of spice and is more graphic, so it’s not for everyone. A crazy ride from start to finish, I could not put this down and stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it.

Searching for more bingeable thrillers? Check out my post, Thrillers To Get You out of a Slump.