The Intruder by Freida McFadden
This book grabbed me by the throat, shook me violently, and then tucked me into bed like nothing happened.
The Intruder is gripping, twisted, enticing, jaw dropping, and yes, semi predictable in true Freida fashion. And before anyone panics. Predictable does not mean bad. It means familiar. Like slipping into a dark, uncomfortable sweater you already know is going to itch but you wear it anyway because the chaos is worth it.
This was a fast read. Blink and you are halfway through. I could not put it down. The pacing is sharp, the tension never lets up, and the storm soaked cabin setting does a lot of heavy lifting in the best way. Every creak, every knock, every glance feels suspicious. I was side eyeing everyone. Especially Lee. Page one alarm bells. Full sirens. No notes.
And yet. Freida being Freida. Nothing is quite what it seems.
The point of view twist? Fantastic. Completely blindsided me. I love when a book pulls the rug out from under you and then politely hands you the rug afterward like, here you go, sorry about that. Casey was the perfect unreliable but somehow reliable narrator. You believe her. You doubt her. You trust her just long enough to regret it.
The Lee twist was predictable but also not. Which is honestly peak Freida. You see the shape of it coming, but not the way it lands. It was executed perfectly for this story.
The characters were deliciously messy. Ella especially wrecked me. Growing up with a chaotic hoarder mother, trying to claw her way out of that life, carrying so much quiet damage. And just when you think you understand her, another layer peels back. There is a calm menace in her voice that made certain lines hit way harder than expected.
“If I mess with somebody, it’s only because they deserve it.”
Ma’am. I would like to exit the cabin immediately.
The ending left me feeling both fulfilled and unsettled. Wrapped up, but not comfortable. Satisfied, but still chewing on it. The moral ambiguity. The unanswered questions. The way it ties everything together with a neat little bow that somehow still feels sharp around the edges. Loved it.
This is classic Freida unease. The kind that sits in your stomach and doesn’t leave quietly.
Five stars for a fast, twisty, unhinged thriller that plays with your expectations, messes with your trust, and reminds you why letting strangers in is a terrible idea.
xoxo
