The Housemaid by Freda McFadden

I have been hearing about this author for a couple of years now just never got around to reading her.  I did read one short story and it was okay but the meat to the story just wasn’t there.

The Housemaid is definitely a promising story that deals with Millie the new maid and nanny. She is a former convicted criminal who spent time in jail.

it also deals with Nina and her husband Andrew  who are now the employeesnod Millie.   The husband in the outside feels like a good person.  The problem is the wife Nina who is high strung loves to order people around and seems to not take into consideration anyone elses feelings.

Nina acts like the overbearing mother to Millie.  No guests without permission and needs notice, must stay in her own space if she does.  It feels like she is separating Millie from making friends and keeping her in isolation so that she only has Nina to be around.

Cecilia is the daughter of Nina and Andrew we have seen a lot from her in the first part of the book but you feel that she is going to be trouble. With a mother like Nina can’t say that you don’t see that she will get worse especially as to how her mother acts.  The only thing so far I can see is how spoiled she is and that the parents won’t do anything about it.

There is so much gas lighting in this book that Nina uses it so much as a weapon against everyone and anyone.  She feels very evil and if she can’t have something or do something then noone should.  Very cruel and she seems to not even care about her own husband.  It is all about her and how she can turn things in her favour.

I found the second part more difficult as I don’t often like the switching of views in this type of book.  I think while it is good it is also hard as I prefer not to really see the other perspective as it feels like cheating since you understand too much

The book while good was not spectacular and I am unconvinced if I should continue with the series