Freida McFadden
American writer and physician (born 1980)

Freida McFadden (born May 1, 1980) is an American thriller author and practicing physician specializing in brain injury.

Early life and education

McFadden grew up in midtown Manhattan, with one sibling. Her parents, who later divorced, both worked in the medical field. Her father was a psychiatrist, and her mother was a podiatrist. From an early age, McFadden expressed an interest in becoming a physician. She attended a highly competitive New York City high school, where she has, later, reflected on the academic rigor as formative to her work ethic[1].

McFadden went on to study mathematics at Harvard University. Later, she attended medical school, pursuing a career in medicine, while continuing to write fiction and submit manuscripts to publishers and literary agents. During this period, she balanced her academic training with creative writing, developing material that would, later, inform her early published work.

After completing her medical training, McFadden began self-publishing fiction. Her first novel, The Devil Wears Scrubs (2013), drew heavily on her experiences as a medical intern and was based, in part, on observations from clinical training. The novel marked the beginning of her writing career and established her interest in blending medical settings with narrative fiction.[2][3]

Personal life

McFadden lives outside Boston, in a centuries old home overlooking the water. She resides with her husband, along with their two children and cat.[2][4]

McFadden has stated that her background as a physician has influenced her writing, particularly in her ability to depict medical scenarios accurately. She has also explained that maintaining a stable medical career earlier in her writing life gave her financial security and allowed her to invest in marketing her books. As her author career expanded, she reduced her clinical work and now practices medicine only part time, 1–2 days a week. Growing up in New York City, McFadden has noted that the city frequently serves as a setting for her novels. [4]

Her 2022 book The Housemaid was an international bestseller,[5] and was adapted for Lionsgate, with Rebecca Sonnenshine writing the screenplay, and Hidden Pictures' Todd Lieberman and Alex Young producing.[6][7] It is directed by Paul Feig, and the cast includes Sydney Sweeney as Millie, Amanda Seyfried as Nina, Brandon Sklenar as Andrew, Michele Morrone as Enzo. Filming began in January 2025, and it was released on December 19, 2025.[8][9]

Works

Series

Dr. Jane McGill series

  1. The Devil Wears Scrubs (December 15, 2013)
  2. The Devil You Know (May 28, 2017)

Prescription: Murder series

  1. Suicide Med (July 4, 2014)
  2. Dead Med (June 27, 2024; revised version of Suicide Med)
  3. Brain Damage (April 30, 2016)

The Housemaid series

  1. The Housemaid (April 26, 2022)
  2. The Housemaid's Secret (February 20, 2023)[10]
  3. The Housemaid Is Watching (June 11, 2024)
  4. The Housemaid's Wedding (short story, November 22, 2024)

Standalone

  • Baby City (April 25, 2015; co-written with Kelley Stoddard)
  • The Surrogate Mother (October 10, 2018)
  • The Ex (February 18, 2019)
  • The Perfect Son (October 8, 2019)
  • The Wife Upstairs (March 23, 2020)
  • One By One (July 13, 2020)
  • Want to Know a Secret? (January 5, 2021)
  • The Locked Door (June 1, 2021)
  • Do Not Disturb (September 7, 2021)
  • Do You Remember? (January 10, 2022)
  • The Inmate (June 13, 2022)
  • Never Lie (September 19, 2022)
  • Ward D (May 8, 2023)
  • The Co-Worker (August 29, 2023)
  • The Teacher (February 6, 2024)
  • The Boyfriend (October 1, 2024)
  • The Crash (January 28, 2025)
  • The Tenant (May 6, 2025)
  • The Intruder (October 7, 2025)
  • Dear Debbie (January 27, 2026)

Novellas

  • The Gift (December 4, 2022)
  • The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie: A Satire (August 12, 2024)
  • Death Row (June 1, 2025)

Edited anthologies

  • 11 out of 10 (2015)

In 2024, Suicide Med was re-released as Dead Med. On Goodreads, Freida stated that "it is the same book revised with a different title. I put a note saying so at the top and bottom of the Amazon blurb."[11]

Awards

References

  1. ^ Pavia, Will (2025-03-12). "Meet 'Freida McFadden', the doctor hiding her secret life as a bestselling author". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
  2. ^ a b Alter, Alexandra (22 June 2024). "How a Boston Physician Conquered the Thriller Genre". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  3. ^ Krug, Nora. "Freida McFadden Didn’t Mean to Become a Best-Selling Novelist." The Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2024.
  4. ^ a b "About | Author Freida McFadden". www.freidamcfadden.com. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
  5. ^ "Freida McFadden Books in Order". Booktorium. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Morrison, Lisa. "Freida McFadden’s ‘The Housemaid’ Movie: Casting, Release Date." The Boston Globe, 1 Jan. 2025.
  8. ^ Nelson, Elise; Stopper, Jessica (2024-10-09). "'The Housemaid' Movie Cast and Everything We Know: Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried Set to Star". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  9. ^ "Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried's 'The Housemaid' Lands December 2025 Release". IMDb. December 19, 2024.
  10. ^ Review, Thriller Book (December 7, 2024). "The Housemaid's Secret Summary & Review: A Thrilling Revenge". Thriller Book Review. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  11. ^ "Comments for Shell's review of Dead Med". Goodreads. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  12. ^ "Past Nominees and Winners – International Thriller Writers". Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  13. ^ "Best Mystery & Thriller 2023 — Gooodreads Choice Awards". Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  • Author's website
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