I can’t be the only one who has been bombarded with clips from The Housemaid. I feel as though I have practically watched the entire movie at this stage.

So of course, when I saw it was available as an Audiobook through my library, I just had to give the book a try. Because after listening to four Bridgerton books, back-to-back, I needed a change of pace.

And this book absolutely hooked me. It’s a fast-paced, psychological thriller that (spoilers incoming) makes you understand how an abusive husband with resources can so easily trap his victim, torment her until she breaks down and then flip the narrative to make himself the victim, and her the tormentor.

Just as men used to be able to lock up their wives with claims of hysteria, a monster with the right resources can send his victim to psychiatric facilities to keep her obedient.

At first glance, it’s easy to assume Nina Winchester is the tormentor and Andrew Winchester is the one trapped. How can you not sympathise with Andrew when you witness Nina’s outbursts and instability?

But the closer you look, the more you realise the real monster, is the one driving his wife to the madhouse.

Anyone Can Be Abused But There Are Definitely Vulnerable Groups

There are so many misconceptions about what a victim of abuse looks like. What an abuser looks like. But the truth is: anyone from a poor, high school dropout to a wealthy and influential person can be both an abuser or a victim.

This is not the type of crime you can often see clearly. The happiest relationships, on the outside, can be the deadliest in reality.

But here’s the thing about monsters.

Most want an easy target.

Abusers will often pick a victim who would have no way of escaping. Whether by making their victim physically and financially dependent on them or by choosing a victim without external support through friends and family.

And it’s this reason that often makes survivors of domestic violence, especially in childhood, more susceptible to being preyed on.

Nothing the victim could ever do justifies the abuse. Abusers are pathetic individuals, looking for a power trip. And you don’t achieve a power trip by targeting someone who could live without you. You do this by first making the victim entirely dependent on you.

Making them believe you love them most, or even that you’re the only one to truly love them unconditionally. And once the victim is trapped in the abuser’s spell, they slowly begin to reveal their true colours.

Andrew Winchester is a perfect example.

On the surface, he is a kind and loveable man. He’s handsome and well liked. Who could ever believe he could be an abuser? So he chooses victims who could not escape him.

Nina was a single mother, working a minimum wage job with dead parents. He love bombed her until she was fully reliant on him. Then he trapped her. And when it became apparent she would leave, he framed her for attempted murder and made her out to be unstable and delusional.

And he passed this story on to every one she could ever connect with. Thereby making it near impossible for her to be believed.

And Milly was a disowned ex con with no career prospects and no friends. He could easily get her sent back to prison. And no one would ever believe her over him.

This perfectly captures how a victim feels while trapped in the abuse cycle. There is no rhyme or reason. You cannot behave your way out of being abused. What often determines whether you get abused is the abuser’s conviction they’ll get away with it.

Victims are targeted based on vulnerability, not behaviour or actions.

The Build Up Was Flawless

I have no complaints against this book. It kept me absolutely hooked from the first page. The buildup was expertly done.

Despite knowing most of the story, it made me understand why Milly would assume Nina’s the aggressor and Andrew the victim.

Everything from her desperation to her growing feelings were perfectly laid out.

And though I always knew who the real villain was, I also couldn’t blame Milly for not seeing it. And having the first half of the book be from her perspective, only to switch to Nina for the reveal was immaculate.

It made me feel the impact of the story.

I was truly inside Milly’s head to begin with. And once the door to her cage closed, I finally saw all the pieces she couldn’t.

And the ending was gorgeous. Though it was hard to hear, it was a beautiful moment of karmic justice.

And the twist at the end really left me reeling.

Final Thoughts

I genuinely enjoyed the book. It exposed the complexity of abuse while still satisfying the reader’s desire for a happy ending.

I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. And I’d love to know what you all think.