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Freida McFadden

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Freida McFadden
Born
Sara Cohen

(1980-05-01) May 1, 1980 (age 46)
New York City, U.S.
EducationHarvard University
Stony Brook University
OccupationAuthor
Writing career
Pen nameFreida McFadden
Years active2013–present
Genres
  • Psychological thriller
  • domestic thriller
  • mystery
Notable workThe Housemaid (2022)
Websitefreidamcfadden.com

Sara Cohen (born May 1, 1980), known by her pen name Freida McFadden, is an American author.[1] She is known for her psychological thriller novels. Since her debut in 2013, she has published 30 novels. The Housemaid (2022) became an international bestseller and was adapted into a 2025 feature film starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney.

Early life and education

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Sara Cohen was born on May 1, 1980, in New York City and grew up in midtown Manhattan. Her father was a psychiatrist and her mother was a podiatrist; they later divorced. She has one younger brother.[2][3] She attended a competitive New York City high school.[4]

Cohen went on to study mathematics at Harvard University.[2] Later, she attended medical school at Stony Brook University.[5] She pursued a career in medicine, while continuing to write fiction and submit manuscripts to publishers and literary agents.[6]

Career

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After completing her medical training, she began self-publishing fiction under the pseudonym Freida McFadden. Her first novel, The Devil Wears Scrubs (2013), drew heavily on her experiences as a medical intern and was based, in part, on her observations from clinical training.[2][7]

Her 2022 book The Housemaid was an international bestseller,[8] and was adapted for Lionsgate Studios with Rebecca Sonnenshine writing the screenplay and Hidden Pictures' Todd Lieberman and Alex Young producing.[9][10] It is directed by Paul Feig, and the cast includes Sydney Sweeney as Millie, Amanda Seyfried as Nina, Brandon Sklenar as Andrew, and Michele Morrone as Enzo. Filming began in January 2025, and it was released on December 19, 2025.[11][12] The film earned almost $400 million at the box office, becoming the highest grossing film of Feig's career in its original run.[12]

McFadden's audience extends beyond the anglosphere. Her success in France, for example, has been described as "dazzling"[13] and a "tidal wave".[14] Eight of the fifteen bestselling books in that country during 2025 were by McFadden, whose cumulative French sales reached 6.453 million units by the end of the same year.[15] Two more McFadden novels were released in French translation in early 2026, bringing the total to ten, with others announced.[16]

In 2026, Time named McFadden one of the 100 most influential people of the year.[17]

Reception

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In its review of Ward D, Kirkus Reviews called the novel "a superior work in the hospital ward horror genre," praising McFadden's control of tension and stating that she doles out revelations "with such an expert hand that readers [...] may end up wondering who they themselves can trust."[18] Reviewing The Intruder, Kirkus described the trademark formula that established McFadden's work, noting that she "lures readers in using a seemingly straightforward thriller premise before diving headfirst into a series of progressively seismic (and increasingly insane) twists."[19]

Writer Sophia Mendonça argued that McFadden's greatest asset lies primarily in her architectural construction of suspense. According to Mendonça, McFadden is able to create shocking central plot twists that force the reader to reevaluate every previous page. Mendonça also points out that the surface of frantic suspense serves as a vehicle for McFadden to insert discussions about intimate partner violence, social class, and the stigmatization of mental illness.[20]

In a review published on BookTrib, analyst Philip Zozzaro called the psychological thriller Dear Debbie as a "sinister delight" and "fiendishly clever," highlighting the character arc of the protagonist, who goes from a quiet advice columnist and mother to a "calculated avenger." Zozzaro praised the author for creating a "complex and clever antihero who possesses a fierce charisma." He underlines how McFadden manipulates the perceptions that other characters and the reader themselves have of the protagonist. Zozzaro compared her work to that of established authors in the suspense genre, such as Gillian Flynn and Alice Feeney.[21]

Personal life

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Cohen lives outside Boston with her husband, two children, and cat.[2]

Works

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Series

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Dr. Jane McGill series

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# Title Released Ref.
1 The Devil Wears Scrubs August 23, 2013 [22]
2 The Devil You Know May 28, 2017 [23]

Prescription: Murder series

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# Title Initial Release Re-Released Ref.
1 Dead Med July 4, 2014* June 1, 2027 [24]
2 Brain Damage April 30, 2016 August 18, 2026 [25][26]

*Originally published under the title Suicide Med; later revised and re-released as Dead Med on June 27, 2024.[27] The re-release date listed in the table refers to its later traditional publication by Poisoned Pen Press.[24]

The Housemaid series

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# Title Released Ref.
1 The Housemaid April 26, 2022 [28]
2 The Housemaid's Secret February 20, 2023 [29]
3 The Housemaid Is Watching June 11, 2024 [30]

Standalone

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Title Initial Release* Re-Released Ref.
Baby City (co-written with Kelley Stoddard) April 25, 2015 [31]
The Surrogate Mother October 10, 2018 August 19, 2025 [32][33]
The Ex February 18, 2019 [34]
The Perfect Son October 8, 2019 August 6, 2024 [35][36]
The Wife Upstairs March 23, 2020 [37]
One by One July 13, 2020 April 2, 2024 [38][39]
Want to Know a Secret? January 5, 2021 March 3, 2026 [40][41]
The Locked Door June 1, 2021 October 3, 2023 [42][43]
Do Not Disturb September 7, 2021 July 1, 2025 [44]
Do You Remember? January 10, 2022 [45]
The Inmate June 13, 2022 March 5, 2024 [46]
Never Lie September 19, 2022 December 5, 2023 [47]
Ward D May 8, 2023 March 4, 2025 [48]
The Coworker August 29, 2023 [49]
The Teacher February 6, 2024 [50]
The Boyfriend October 1, 2024 [51]
The Crash January 28, 2025 [52]
The Tenant May 6, 2025 [53]
The Intruder October 7, 2025 [54]
Dear Debbie January 27, 2026 [55]
The Divorce May 29, 2026 [56]
The Witch October 6, 2026 [57]

*Initial release dates refer to initial self-publication by McFadden via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. Re-release dates indicate subsequent traditional publication through Poisoned Pen Press. Titles first published from late 2023 onwards were issued directly through traditional publishing and therefore do not have separate re-release dates.

Novellas

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Title Released Ref.
The Gift: A Short Story December 4, 2022 [58]
The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie: A Satirical Novella August 12, 2024 [59]
The Housemaid’s Wedding November 22, 2024
Death Row June 1, 2025 [60]
The Dinner Party: A Pick Your Poison Adventure April 1, 2026 [12]

Edited anthologies

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Title Released Ref.
11 out of 10: A Collection of Humorous Medical Short Stories September 30, 2015

Awards

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References

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  1. ↑ Mulroy, Clare (April 8, 2026). "'The Housemaid' author Freida McFadden reveals her real identity – Exclusive". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Alter, Alexandra (June 22, 2024). "How a Boston Physician Conquered the Thriller Genre". The New York Times. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  3. ↑ Coffey, Edey. "An Exclusive Interview With Freida McFadden: Author Of The Housemaid Novels". The Gloss. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  4. ↑ Pavia, Will (March 12, 2025). "Meet 'Freida McFadden', the doctor hiding her secret life as a bestselling author". The Times. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  5. ↑ Banik, Sinthya (April 9, 2026). "Meet Dr. Sara Cohen, the woman known to millions as the renowned author Freida McFadden for 23 years". PRIMETIMER. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  6. ↑ Pavia, Will (February 1, 2025). "Meet the Boston Brain Doctor Who Lives a Double Life as a Best-Selling Author". Journal of Medicine. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  7. ↑ Krug, Nora (October 24, 2024). "Freida McFadden didn't mean to become a best-selling novelist". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Freida McFadden Books in Order". Booktorium. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  9. ↑ Grobar, Matt (April 18, 2023). "'The Boys' Alum Rebecca Sonnenshine To Pen Adaptation Of Freida McFadden's Bestselling Psychological Thriller 'The Housemaid' For Lionsgate, Hidden Pictures". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  10. ↑ Daley, Lauren (January 1, 2025). "Boston-based physician Freida McFadden writes best-selling thrillers. And 'The Housemaid' movie is on the way". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  11. ↑ Nelson, Elise; Stopper, Jessica (October 9, 2024). "'The Housemaid' Movie Cast and Everything We Know: Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried Set to Star". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 McClintock, Pamela (January 26, 2026). "How Paul Feig's 'The Housemaid' Became a $300 Million Box Office Wonder When No One Was Looking". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  13. ↑ Juliette Baëza, "Comment expliquer le fulgurant succès populaire de la romancière Freida McFadden?", Slate, April 2, 2026. Accessed May 29, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Freida McFadden, un raz-de-marée sur les ventes en France et une nouvelle adaptation au cinéma", Le Figaro, January 7, 2026. Accessed May 29, 2026.
  15. ↑ Nicolas Gary, "Freida McFadden écrase le marché du livre en 2025 : les chiffres qui donnent le vertige", ActuaLitté, December 26, 2026. Accessed May 7, 2026
  16. ↑ Edistat statistiques de l'édition. Accessed May 29, 2026.
  17. ↑ James, E.L. (April 15, 2026). "Freida McFadden: The 100 Most Influential People of 2026". Time. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  18. ↑ "WARD D". Kirkus Reviews. December 13, 2024.
  19. ↑ "THE INTRUDER". Kirkus Reviews. August 2, 2025.
  20. ↑ Mendonça, Sophia (September 30, 2025). "Crítica: 'A Empregada' (2022), de Freida McFadden". O Mundo Autista (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  21. ↑ Zozzaro, Philip (January 27, 2026). "Freida McFadden's 'Dear Debbie' Is a Sinister Delight". BookTrib. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  22. ↑ "The Devil Wears Scrubs by Freida McFadden". The Poisoned Pen. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  23. ↑ "The Devil You Know". Author Freida McFadden. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  24. 1 2 "Dead Med by Freida McFadden". The Poisoned Pen. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Brain Damage". Author Freida McFadden. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Brain Damage 9781464249617". Sourcebooks. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Dead Med". Author Freida McFadden. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  28. ↑ "The Housemaid". Bookouture. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  29. ↑ "The Housemaid's Secret". Bookouture. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  30. ↑ "The Housemaid Is Watching". Bookouture. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Baby City". Author Freida McFadden. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  32. ↑ "The Surrogate Mother". Author Freida McFadden. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  33. ↑ "The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden". The Poisoned Pen. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  34. ↑ "The Ex". Author Freida McFadden. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  35. ↑ "The Perfect Son". Author Freida McFadden. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  36. ↑ "The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden". The Poisoned Pen. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  37. ↑ "The Wife Upstairs". Author Freida McFadden. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  38. ↑ "One by One". Author Freida McFadden. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  39. ↑ "One by One by Freida McFadden". The Poisoned Pen. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Want to Know a Secret?". Author Freida McFadden. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Want to Know a Secret? by Freida McFadden". The Poisoned Pen. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  42. ↑ "The Locked Door". Author Freida McFadden. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  43. ↑ "The Locked Door by Freida McFadden". The Poisoned Pen. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Do Not Disturb | Psychological Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Do You Remember? | Psychological Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  46. ↑ "The Inmate | Psychological Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Never Lie | Psychological Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Ward D | Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  49. ↑ "The Coworker | Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  50. ↑ "The Teacher | Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  51. ↑ "The Boyfriend | Psychological Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  52. ↑ "The Crash | Psychological Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  53. ↑ "The Tenant | Psychological Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  54. ↑ "The Intruder | Psychological Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  55. ↑ "Dear Debbie | Psychological Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  56. ↑ "The Divorce | Psychological Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  57. ↑ "The Witch | Psychological Thriller | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  58. ↑ "The Gift | Short Story | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  59. ↑ "The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie | Satirical Novella | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  60. ↑ "Death Row | Alibis Collection | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  61. ↑ "Past Nominees and Winners". International Thriller Writers. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  62. ↑ "Best Mystery & Thriller 2023". Goodreads Choice Awards. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
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