The Housemaid (Freida McFadden) - A twist you can see from a mile.

The first rule of a mystery novel is that you don't make any one character very likeable or clearly innocent. Coz whoever is the most likeable person in the plot is also always the most twisted one too. The Housemaid makes this rookie mistake. 

The Housemaid is about Millie, a convict out on parole trying to make something out of her life so she can stay out of prison. Clearly there aren't too many employment options available for someone like her, and she is trying to do the best she can. She applies for the position of a Housekeeper for the Winchester family (Andrew, Nina and little Cecelia), who live in a palatial house with grounds around that warrants employing a gardener/ handyman. To her surprise, she actually gets the job and comes to live with the family, where she is given a small room in the attic to live in that, wait for it, can be locked only from the outside. She tries to get into a routine and do a good job so she can keep the roof on her head and some money in her bank account, but soon finds that things are not what they seem and far from what she expected. Nina, her employer, is erratic and unpredictable, seems to be triggered by some things and has terrible mood swings - almost as if she has a personality disorder and is two people at the same time. The little girl Cecelia is a spoilt brat and runs to Mommy to snitch at every little thing. The only saving grace are the men - Andrew who is good looking, rich, kind, helpful and very difficult not to fall in love with. And then Enzo, the groundskeeper who speaks little English and seems to be trying to warn her from Day 1 to get away from this mansion. But Millie has little choice.

The story takes a dark twist midway and the picture perfect images of the characters crumble like a cookie. What was a story of mental illness and marital troubles takes a dark turn and becomes one of twisted fantasy due to childhood trauma, perverse violence and a hostage situation. Won't say anything more, lest it be a spoiler.

It is a good read but midway through the book, one can start suspecting and predicting the "jaw dropping twist" which the book cover kindly tells us to expect. For all the smarts Millie supposedly has, it is disappointing that she didn't pick up the signs from a mile off. This has all the makings of a movie - I expect the casting is already closed and the movie or web series will be announced soon.