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| Categories | Thrillers & Suspense |
| Author | Freida McFadden |
| Publisher | Poisoned Pen Press (October 3, 2023) |
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 320 pages |
| Item Weight | 9.6 ounces |
| Dimensions |
5 x 0.8 x 8 inches |
I. Book introduction
The Locked Door is a psychological thriller written by American novelist and physician Freida McFadden. The novel is narrated by surgeon Nora Davis (born Nora Nierling), whose father Aaron Nierling was a notorious serial killer when she was 11. Now an adult, Nora is horrified when a patient is killed following her father’s pattern, and must work to uncover the truth. Major themes in the novel include the lasting effects of trauma, the debate about the relationship between nature and nurture, and the difficulties of separating personal and professional identities.
A twisty psychological thriller from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Housemaid and The Coworker!
Some doors are locked for a reason…
While eleven-year-old Nora Davis was up in her bedroom doing homework, she had no idea her father was killing women in the basement.
Until the day the police arrived at their front door.
Decades later, Nora’s father is spending his life behind bars, and Nora is a successful surgeon with a quiet, solitary existence. Nobody knows about her past, and she’ll do anything to keep it that way.
Then one of her young female patients is murdered, killed in the same unique and horrific manner that her father used to kill his victims.
Somebody knows who Nora is. Somebody wants her to take the fall for this unthinkable crime. But she’s not like her father. The police can’t pin anything on her. As long as they don’t look in her basement…
From New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a riveting psychological thriller about guilt, secrets, and whether it’s possible to outrun what’s in our blood.
About Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden is the pen name of an American thriller author and practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. Freida’s work has been selected as one of Amazon Editors’ best books of the year, she is the winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for best paperback, and she is a Goodreads Choice Award winner. Her novels have been translated into 40 languages.
From New York City, McFadden attended Harvard University as an undergraduate. She practices medicine in the Boston area. McFadden self-published her first book through Amazon KDP in 2013. Her 2022 book The Housemaid was an international bestseller. A movie adaptation of the book is set to be adapted for Lionsgate with Rebecca Sonnenshine to pen the screenplay, and Hidden Pictures’ Todd Lieberman and Alex Young to produce.
Freida McFadden lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.
II. Reviewer: The Locked Door
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1. BENEDICTA reviews for The Locked Door
4.5⭐️ my personal fix 💉
wow this was enjoyable! I’m all reviewed out 😭 BUT I want to say I never saw any of the twists coming and this one kept me at the edge of my seat for the entire ride!
I watched a Freida McFadden video interview with John Marrs where they did a 60 seconds challenge. He asked her if she ever got arrested what would her friends think they got her in prison for, she said vehicular manslaughter and they both couldn’t stop laughing 🤭 they were so cute lol (this has nothing to do with this book- maybe, I just wanted to share that bit of info)
2. MEREDITH reviews for The Locked Door
The Locked Door is a compulsively readable psychological thriller about a prominent surgeon who happens to be the daughter of a notorious serial killer. When her patients start dying, she becomes a suspect. Is she her father’s daughter, or is there more going on than meets the eye?
Narrated by Nora, I was drawn into her story immediately. She is cold and not wholly likable, but something about her made me want to know more. She has a strong voice, and there are some layers to her character.
The timeline alternates between the present and Nora’s childhood. Both timelines are crucial to understanding not only Nora’s background but also to understand her personality.
The chapters are short. There are a lot of red herrings, and I was invested in finding out what is going on with Nora. The tension and suspense develop as Nora’s story progresses, and I was thrown by the twist.
On the downside, there is some repetition and some plot/character development needed.
As a seasoned thriller reader, I thought I knew where this book was headed. I was so happy that I was wrong. This was my first book by McFadden, and I can understand why she is so popular. I look forward to reading more books by her in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Poisonwood Press.
3. KAY OLIVER reviews for The Locked Door
Freida freaking rocked my socks off with this book. This is definitely her best writing yet. I loved getting to know Dr. Nora and her complex back story. I want MORE of Dr. Nora! There were some excellent red herrings in this story that kept me guessing until the very end when the twist stunned me. I read this book in one night! The whole thing! I couldn’t put it down.
4. RACHEL HANES reviews for The Locked Door
I thoroughly enjoyed this book for many reasons! First, I loved the short, quick chapters. Secondly, I loved the fast pacing of this story. Third, I loved the character development of each of the characters, and I especially loved that of Nora.
I read a lot of thrillers and suspense stories, and this one definitely kept me on my toes. I feel that the storyline was different, and I appreciated that it wasn’t similar to the majority of the thrillers that I’ve been reading lately. The only thing I would have liked more of is to learn of Nora’s childhood. I have too many questions about Nora’s childhood that I needed answers to. I felt that part was cut too short (too many unanswered questions and scenarios).
I highly recommend reading The Locked Door. I’m also glad that I took a chance on reading this book, and I will be reading more from Freida McFadden going forward!
5. NOELIA reviews for The Locked Door
Easy read, short chapters. But wanted more
I absolutely loved “The Locked Door” by Frieda McFadden! This book kept me hooked from start to finish. While some readers have criticized it for being repetitive or lacking in character development for Nora, I completely disagree. Every detail, no matter how small, plays a crucial role in the narrative. Even something as so small, like how Nora likes to drink her coffee provides a deeper understanding of her character. These small details give insight into her personality and hint at her similarities with her father, a notorious serial killer.
I found Nora to be a fascinating character. Yes, she was cold and distant, and she didn’t show a lot of emotions, but this portrayal was intentional and effective. It highlighted her potential psychopathic traits while distinguishing her from her father. The questioning around whether she is like her father or not added a thrilling layer to the story.
The alternating timelines between the present and the past were nice to read , offering a view of Nora’s character and her relationship with her father before his capture. However, I do wish there was more exploration of Nora’s childhood. There were some gaps that left me wanting more about her early years.
My one thing was that it felt like it ended too abruptly. Yes, we all want a happy ending, but we are reading about possible suspects and everything that has happened so far and BAM. We get our answer so quickly. Too quickly. That whole scene doesn’t last long and left me wanting more.
Overall, this book is an easy read with short chapters that make it hard to put down. If you’re looking for an engaging and enjoyable read with a plot twist at the end, I highly recommend “The Locked Door.”
6. DEANNA reviews for The Locked Door
when you think you have it figured out…you don’t
Nora Davis is not who she pretends to be. The daughter of a famous murderer. When Nora’s female patients start turning up dead she is accused because of her connection to her father. I went through many rounds of ohhh maybe it is this person to maybe she did do it to oh wow did not expect that at all.
7. MEAGS reviews for The Locked Door
Was sure I knew who the bad guy was. Yet again I was taken on a ride to a surprising ending.
The main character Nora has a secret. She isn’t who everyone thinks she is. When strange things from her past start affecting her present, she needs to figure things out quickly or she might not have a future.
8. SHANNON M reviews for The Locked Door
Sometimes I just want to read “trash”, especially when I’m in the middle of a very long, very complex, novel. There is good trash and there is bad trash. This one was “good trash.” Plus it was free for Amazon Prime customers.
I read it in a few hours. Another one to add to my “guilty pleasures” shelf.
I was hooked by the book description: Nora is a successful surgeon. She is also the daughter of a notorious serial killer, who has been locked in prison for 26 years. Suddenly, two of her former patients are murdered in the same unique way that her father used to kill his victims. A copycat killer.
The story moves at a breakneck speed, and the killer’s identity isn’t revealed until near the end. Furthermore, I didn’t guess this identity—didn’t even have this person among my possible suspects.
It is best not to examine this story too logically because when looked at rationally, there are several obvious gaps for someone who has knowledge about psychological behaviours and motivations. It is best just to go with the flow, and enjoy this chaotic and implausible tale.
9. MATT reviews for The Locked Door
I was reasonably surprised with this one! It was able to keep me engaged the entire time, and I didn’t see the plot twist coming 🫣
Standard Freida writing, there wasn’t anything special or different in this book like I felt there was with Never Lie, it was just a really easy read that didn’t waffle on for too long like some of her other books do. I felt this one was straight to the point and of course there were some standard Freida-isms throughout. (I’m talking about the “but he wouldn’t want to hurt me… would he?” that appears in every book LOL).
If I’m honest it’s probably 3.5 stars but I’ve given 4 cause I don’t have much to fault here. I really enjoyed it.
I recommend this book but only if you’ve read some of Freida’s other absolute bangers.
10. JAMES reviews for The Locked Door
Definitely my new favorite author – wow, Freida McFadden totally draws you in with a clever plot, over-the-top suspense, and easy/smooth writing. The Locked Door covers the range of surgeon’s vengeance, a serial killer’s insanity, family drama, and a page-turning guess at whether our narrator is possibly lying. Highly recommended!
III. The Locked Door Quotes
The best book quotes from The Locked Door by Freida McFadden
“Dad always says that if you’re going to do something wrong, at least be smart enough not to let anybody see you do it.”
“He is exceptionally charismatic and charming—at least, when he wants to be. He is a narcissist and a psychopath, who likely killed at least thirty women without a trace of remorse. He is insane. He is a monster. He is also my father.”
“This cat is not my cat. It is a stray cat. I should probably call an animal shelter or something, but instead, I bought a crate of cat food. And now, apparently, I’m feeding the cat.”
“I don’t have time to be a murder suspect.”
“If she were pretty, she could get away with more. But she’s not.”
“The news notes that the Handyman has been in prison for twenty-six years, and will continue to be imprisoned until the day he dies. Whoever killed these women is a copycat.”
“Lying gets easier every time.”
“Did you know plants have sex? And believe it or not, it’s super boring. Not fun at all. Nobody would read plant erotica.”
“I’m usually the only one driving on these back roads at this hour. Usually, it’s just me and the stars. And maybe the moon, depending on the time of the month.”
“I need some food to soak up the whiskey. And then maybe another whiskey to soak up the food.”
“sexual harassment,”
“I don’t want to know what my father would do. And I certainly don’t want to do the same thing he would do. After all, he’s the one spending eighteen life sentences in prison right now. Not exactly something I want to strive for.”
“Blue eyes and dark hair. I can’t help but think that it’s the same combination my own father found especially alluring. The girl they found in our home, Mandy Johansson, had blue eyes and dark hair. So did almost all of his victims.”
“It’s sort of like that serial killer a while back, right?” he says. “Aaron Nierling. They called him the Handyman.”
“It’s like I can sense the laundry in there, taunting me. Put me away, Nora. That’s not strange, is it? Doesn’t everyone’s laundry talk to them?”
“I’m always working. And I’m not very nice. I used to do some terrible things when I was younger. I don’t anymore though. At least, I don’t think I do. But you never know. You’re probably safer being somewhere else—anywhere else.”
“I grab my phone from the pocket of my scrubs. I scroll through my contacts, which are almost entirely work colleagues. The hospital, the office, all the doctors that I trade call with. How did my life get to the point where I have zero friends? It didn’t used to be that way. Or maybe it was. Maybe I’ve always been this way.”
“And why is he bartending? The guy has a bachelor’s degree in computer science.”
“Isn’t it bad enough that you’ve gotten fat like a house? Are you trying for a building?”
“Whoever is doing this knows who I am.”
“Honey, I’m home!” I call out. It’s funny because, you know, I live alone.”
“But my fingerprints in her house? How could that have happened?”
“No good could come out of talking to the devil.”
“And as they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
“I hate it when there’s a load of laundry sitting in the dryer. It’s like I can sense the laundry in there, taunting me. Put me away, Nora. That’s not strange, is it? Doesn’t everyone’s laundry talk to them?”
“He’s nobody’s father,” she said. “That man is the devil. And no good could come out of talking to the devil.”
“My father is an incredibly dangerous man, who has done unspeakable things. He has committed evil, terrible acts, without even the slightest twinge of remorse. He’s the sort of man you wouldn’t want to run into in a dark alley. Or the street. Or anywhere. And as they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
“police discovered the remains of twenty-five-year-old Mandy Johansson behind the locked door of Aaron Nierling’s basement workshop.”
“Nierling plea-bargained to escape the death penalty and is currently serving eighteen consecutive life sentences in a maximum-security penitentiary. His wife was also charged with accessory to murder, but she killed herself in prison, prior to standing trial.”
Excerpted from The Locked Door by Freida McFadden
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