Bookouture snaps up ‘incredible’ sequel to McFadden’s The Housemaid 

Bookouture has snapped up the sequel to Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid, which told the story of a desperate woman taking a job working for a wealthy family who aren’t all they seem.

Associate publisher Ellen Gleeson acquired the sequel in a deal for all world languages, including audio and film and TV rights, direct from the author, for publication in March 2023. Film rights to The Housemaid recently went in a four-way auction to producer Todd Leiberman at Hidden Pictures in a partnership with Lionsgate. Bookouture’s rights team, headed by Richard King, have sold foreign rights to the book in 22 languages.

A mass market paperback of The Housemaid is coming up from Little, Brown’s Sphere imprint in December 2022 and both it and the sequel will be published in trade paperback by Grand Central Publishing in the US.

McFadden, who has self-published 13 psychological thrillers including The Locked Door, said: “I’m so excited to tell the next chapter of Millie’s story. I think this sequel will stay true to the original, and I hope readers love it as much as I do.”

Gleeson commented: “Working on The Housemaid with Freida has been an absolute thrill. Following the protagonist Millie several years after the events of The Housemaid, the sequel will throw her into another seemingly perfect family home – but dangerous, dark secrets are waiting. 

“It’s packed with Freida’s trademarks: totally compelling characters, all with something to hide; twist after twist after twist; and her dark sense of humour. I know Freida’s legion of fans will be just as excited as I am to get their hands on this incredible read.”