This study guide was created using the following version of this book: McFadden, Freida. The Housemaid. Grand Central Publishing, 2022.

The Housemaid is a novel about Millie, a formerly incarcerated young woman who is looking for a job as a housemaid. Millie interviews with Nina Winchester about a live-in maid position and is surprised when she gets the job. Nina is friendly and helpful when Millie first moves in, but that soon changes. Nina contradicts things Nina has previously told Millie. Sometimes Nina neglects to tell Millie something important, such as Nina’s daughter Cecelia being allergic to peanut butter. Then, Nina claims that she did tell Millie. Millie is frustrated and begins to suspect that Nina may be suffering from some type of mental illness.

Millie learns that Nina was previously hospitalized in a mental institution after trying to kill herself and Cecelia when Cecelia was a baby. Andrew, Nina’s husband, shows Millie kindness and tries to play peacemaker between Nina and Millie.

As Nina’s erratic behavior escalates, Millie and Andrew grow closer. Millie and Andrew begin an affair. After Nina learns about the affair, Nina tells Andrew that Millie was previously in prison. When Andrew and Nina have a fight, Andrew tells Nina that he has feelings for Millie and he wants a divorce. Andrew and Millie spend the night together after Nina leaves, and Millie wakes up locked in the attic.

Nina reveals that she hired Millie as a plan to free herself and Cecelia from Andrew’s abusive control. During Nina’s marriage to Andrew, Nina was locked repeatedly in the attic and subjected to torture and coercive control. Nina enlists the landscaper Enzo in her plan to get away from Andrew. Nina knows that Millie went to prison for murder. She has set up Millie to kill Andrew.

After Nina is out of the house, Andrew subjects Millie to his torture as punishment. While Millie is locked in the attic, Millie comes up with a plan to escape Andrew’s control. Millie refuses to be a prisoner again. When Andrew opens the attic door, Millie sprays Andrew with pepper spray and locks Andrew in the attic. While Andrew is locked away, Millie researches how long Andrew can survive without water.

Enzo convinces Nina to check on Millie. While Enzo was happy to help Nina, Enzo does not think it is right to have Millie suffer the same tortures Nina did. Nina arrives at the house and discovers Andrew’s dead body. Nina feels guilty about leaving Millie to deal with Andrew. Nina tells Millie that she will call the police and take responsibility for what happened.

After Andrew’s funeral, Nina learns that Andrew learned his forms of punishment from his mother Evelyn. Evelyn supports what happened to Andrew. The police do not treat Andrew’s death as suspicious after the investigating detective turns out to be the father of a woman to whom Andrew was previously engaged.

As Millie moves on from the Winchester family, Millie interviews for another housemaid position. Millie learns that Nina recommended her to a friend who has an abusive husband and needs Millie’s help.