Freida McFadden


Freida McFadden 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.
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, 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.

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.
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.

Popular works

Her 2022 book The Housemaid was an international bestseller, and was adapted for Lionsgate, with Rebecca Sonnenshine writing the screenplay, and Hidden Pictures' Todd Lieberman and Alex Young producing. 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. The film hit $300 million at the box office to become the top-grossing film of Feig's career in its original run.

Works

Series

''Dr. Jane McGill'' series

  1. The Devil Wears Scrubs
  2. ''The Devil You Know''

    ''Prescription: Murder'' series

  3. Suicide Med
  4. Dead Med
  5. ''Brain Damage''

    ''The Housemaid'' series

  6. The Housemaid
  7. The Housemaid's Secret
  8. The Housemaid Is Watching
  9. ''The Housemaid's Wedding''

    Standalone

  • Baby City
  • The Surrogate Mother
  • The Ex
  • The Perfect Son
  • The Wife Upstairs
  • One By One
  • Want to Know a Secret?
  • The Locked Door
  • Do Not Disturb
  • Do You Remember?
  • The Inmate
  • Never Lie
  • Ward D
  • The Co-Worker
  • The Teacher
  • The Boyfriend
  • The Crash
  • The Tenant
  • The Intruder
  • Dear Debbie
  • ''The Divorce''

    Novellas

  • The Gift
  • The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie: A Satire
  • ''Death Row''

    Edited anthologies

  • 11 out of 10
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."

Awards