7 Books Like The Housemaid That Could Be Your Next Obsession in 2026

If you tore through The Housemaid by Freida McFadden and found yourself saying, “I need another book like this immediately,” you are definitely not alone. Few psychological thrillers are as effective at creating that irresistible combination of secrets, deception, toxic relationships, unreliable characters, and shocking twists.

Below is a list of 7 books like The Housemaid that could be your next obsession in 2026.

1. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

Behind Closed Doors is an excellent choice for readers who loved the dark domestic suspense of The Housemaid. The story follows Jack and Grace, a seemingly perfect married couple whose beautiful life hides a terrifying secret. B.A. Paris gradually exposes the disturbing reality behind their relationship, creating a tense atmosphere built around control, manipulation, abuse, and deception. Like The Housemaid, the novel constantly makes us question appearances and wonder what is happening when nobody else is watching. The short chapters and escalating tension make it extremely difficult to put down. If you enjoy disturbing secrets behind respectable doors, this thriller belongs on your list.

2. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

The Silent Patient is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy psychological mysteries built around secrets and unanswered questions. Alicia Berenson appears to have a perfect life until she is accused of murdering her husband. After the crime, she stops speaking entirely. A psychotherapist becomes determined to discover why she refuses to talk and what really happened that night. Like The Housemaid, the novel encourages us to question everything we are told and look beyond appearances. Its combination of psychological suspense, unreliable perspectives, hidden motives, and shocking revelations makes it highly addictive. If you enjoy books that make you rethink earlier chapters, this is a strong recommendation.

3. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

The Wife Between Us is perfect for readers who enjoy psychological thrillers that deliberately challenge their assumptions. The story initially appears to revolve around a jealous ex-wife and her husband's younger fiancée, but that simple explanation quickly begins to unravel. Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen carefully manipulate perspective, revealing information that forces us to reconsider what we thought we understood. Themes of jealousy, marriage, obsession, betrayal, and perception run throughout the story. Much like The Housemaid, the book rewards readers who enjoy questioning every character and looking for hidden motives. Its biggest strength is the way it transforms our assumptions into part of the mystery.

4. Never Lie by Freida McFadden

If The Housemaid made you a fan of Freida McFadden, Never Lie should be one of your next reads. The story follows newlyweds Tricia and Ethan as they explore an isolated house that once belonged to a missing psychiatrist. Inside, Tricia discovers recordings of the doctor's therapy sessions, and listening to them gradually reveals unsettling secrets. McFadden combines mystery, isolation, deception, suspense, and psychological tension with her characteristic fast-paced storytelling. Every discovery creates another question, encouraging us to keep reading for just one more chapter. Like The Housemaid, the novel thrives on secrets and revelations that completely change how we view the story.

5. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

The Family Upstairs combines family secrets, mysterious inheritances, and a deeply unsettling house. Libby receives an unexpected inheritance on her twenty-fifth birthday: a beautiful London home. However, discovering its history reveals a disturbing story involving the wealthy family who once lived there. Lisa Jewell gradually exposes layers of secrets, manipulation, dysfunctional relationships, and deception, creating an atmosphere where almost nobody seems trustworthy. Fans of The Housemaid will appreciate the way an apparently desirable home becomes connected to something much darker. The multiple perspectives also allow the mystery to unfold from different angles, keeping us curious about what really happened inside the house.

6. The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

The Perfect Marriage combines marriage, infidelity, murder, and courtroom drama into an addictive psychological thriller. Sarah Morgan is a successful defense attorney whose husband, Adam, becomes the prime suspect after his mistress is found murdered. What initially looks like a straightforward criminal case soon becomes much more complicated. Jeneva Rose explores betrayal, ambition, manipulation, marriage, and deception, while encouraging readers to question what the characters are hiding. Fans of The Housemaid will appreciate the emphasis on relationships that appear different from what they really are. The novel also provides plenty of twists, making it a strong choice for readers who enjoy unpredictable domestic mysteries.

7. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train is a classic recommendation for anyone searching for a psychological thriller filled with unreliable characters and disturbing secrets. Rachel spends her daily train journeys observing a couple from a distance, imagining that their life is perfect. Then she witnesses something that changes everything. When a woman disappears, Rachel becomes involved in the mystery, but her unreliable memory makes it difficult to determine what she truly knows. Paula Hawkins explores obsession, addiction, relationships, memory, perception, and deception while gradually revealing the truth. Like The Housemaid, the novel keeps us questioning appearances and wondering which characters deserve our trust.

Conclusion

Finding a book that gives us the same feeling as The Housemaid can be surprisingly difficult. We want the suspense, but we also want the constant questions, the questionable characters, the hidden motives, and that irresistible feeling that something is not quite right.