Book Review: The Intruder by Freida McFadden

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5 stars)

Freida McFadden is back with another pulse-pounding thriller that proves why she’s become one of the biggest names in the genre. The Intruder is everything you’d expect from McFadden — fast-paced, tightly wound, and dripping with tension — but it also has an emotional undercurrent that lingers after the final page.

The story opens on a classic setup: a remote cabin, a raging storm, and a knock at the door. Casey, seeking solitude in the wilderness, suddenly finds herself face-to-face with a blood-covered girl clutching a knife. From there, the novel spirals into a storm of its own — a claustrophobic battle of trust, fear, and survival that unfolds over one long, harrowing night.

McFadden’s gift for pacing is on full display here. Each chapter ends with just enough of a cliffhanger to keep you saying, “Just one more.” The atmosphere is deliciously eerie — you can practically hear the wind howling through the trees and feel the chill of that cabin as the lights flicker. The setup may seem familiar (hello, storm + stranger trope), but McFadden twists it in unexpected ways that make it feel fresh.

Casey is a solid, sympathetic protagonist, though at times she teeters on the edge of frustration — making choices that had me mentally shouting, “Don’t open that door!” Still, her motives are believable, and her backstory adds depth to what could have been a straightforward survival tale. The mysterious girl, meanwhile, steals the spotlight. Her mix of innocence and menace keeps readers guessing right up until the final reveal.

Without spoiling anything, the last act packs the kind of gut-punch twist McFadden fans live for. While some threads wrap up a bit too neatly, the final chapters deliver enough shock and satisfaction to make up for it.

If you loved The Housemaid or The Coworker, you’ll find plenty to devour here — though The Intruder leans a little more toward psychological suspense than domestic noir. It’s less about who’s lying and more about who’s surviving.

Bottom line: The Intruder is a taut, lightning-fast thriller that grips you from page one and doesn’t let go until the storm has passed. Dark, cinematic, and just twisted enough, it’s another solid entry from Freida McFadden — perfect for a one-sitting weekend binge.

🕯️ Best read: On a rainy night, preferably when you’re not alone in a cabin in the woods.