La femme de ménage Series: Complete Reading Order [2025]

If you’ve ever picked up a psychological thriller and found yourself turning pages faster than you can process, you know the pull of a tightly wound mystery. Freida McFadden’s Housemaid series—known in French as La femme de ménage—has drawn millions of readers into its web of domestic suspense across four books published between 2022 and 2024. This guide walks through every installment, the right reading order, where the French translations fit, and what’s still up in the air.

Books in series: 4 (3 novels + 1 novella) ·
Author: Freida McFadden ·
First book published: 2022 (English), 2023 (French) ·
Average Goodreads rating: 4.2/5

What are the four books in the Housemaid (La femme de ménage) series?

The Housemaid (Book 1)

Millie Calloway, a domestic worker with a troubled past, takes a job cleaning for a wealthy family and quickly realizes nothing is as it seems. The book was published in English in 2022 and in French as La femme de ménage in 2023 (Penguin Random House (publisher)).

The Housemaid’s Secret (Book 2)

The sequel continues Millie’s story as she takes on a new cleaning position—and uncovers more secrets. Published in 2023 (Penguin Random House (publisher)).

The Housemaid Is Watching (Book 3)

The third major novel, released in 2024, brings the main trilogy to a close (Penguin Random House (publisher)).

The Housemaid’s Wedding (Novella)

A shorter entry published in 2024, titled La femme de ménage se marie in French (Goodreads (reader platform)). It’s often bundled with certain editions of the main novels.

The pattern: The series grows from a contained domestic thriller into a broader franchise, with each book adding layers to Millie’s world.

What is the correct reading order of the Housemaid series?

Order of the main trilogy

The standard publication order—The Housemaid, The Housemaid’s Secret, then The Housemaid Is Watching—preserves the psychological continuity and avoids major spoilers (FictionDB (reading-order database)).

Where to include the novella

The novella The Housemaid’s Wedding was published after the third novel and is best read last. One French reading-order guide warns that jumping ahead can reveal plot twists too early (Booketic (reading-order guide)).

Why this matters: McFadden builds suspense on knowledge from previous books; skipping the novella or reading out of sequence risks deflating the payoff.

Is there a movie adaptation of La femme de ménage?

Movie status

As of 2025, no official film adaptation has been announced. There is no confirmed production deal or release date (Book Series in Order (series guide)).

Cast rumors

No casting has been reported. Fan speculation circulates online, but nothing is official.

The catch: Despite the series’ popularity, the film rights remain unconfirmed—leaving readers with only the page for now.

Where can I buy the Kindle version of La femme de ménage?

Amazon Kindle store

The English editions are widely available on Amazon Kindle (Amazon France (retailer)). The French edition La femme de ménage is also listed on Amazon France, though the URL suggests the listing uses the English title.

Other e-book retailers

E-book editions can be found on Kobo, Google Play Books, and Apple Books, though specific availability varies by region.

The trade-off: Amazon offers the widest selection, but French readers may need to search under the English title to find listings for the translation.

What is the English title of La femme de ménage?

Original English title

The English title is The Housemaid—the series is published under that name by Penguin Random House (Penguin Random House (publisher)).

Translation differences

The French localization La femme de ménage uses a literal translation (“the cleaning woman”) and covers the first novel only. Later entries may have different French titles: La femme de ménage se marie for the novella (Booketic (reading-order guide)).

The implication: French readers searching for “La femme de ménage” will only find the first book; the sequels are often listed under their English titles on French platforms.

Series Publication Timeline

• April 2022: The Housemaid published in English (Penguin Random House (publisher))
• 2023: French translation published as La femme de ménage (Booketic (reading-order guide))
• August 2023: The Housemaid’s Secret published in English (Penguin Random House (publisher))
• 2024: The Housemaid Is Watching published in English (Penguin Random House (publisher))
• 2024: The Housemaid’s Wedding novella published (Goodreads (reader platform))

“A domestic worker with a troubled past finds herself entangled in a dangerous web of secrets and lies.”

— Penguin Random House, publisher’s description of The Housemaid (source)

“Reading out of order can reveal plot twists too early.”

— Booketic, French reading-order guide (source)

“The Housemaid Is Watching continues the thrilling story of Millie Calloway.”

— Penguin Random House, publisher’s synopsis (source)

For readers looking to experience the twists in the right order, following the publication sequence is the safest bet. French readers should seek out the J’ai Lu editions for the full La femme de ménage experience, but be aware that sequels may only appear under their English titles on digital storefronts. The choice is clear: read in order, or risk spoiling the suspense.

Frequently asked questions