The Intruder

Our Review

I picked up The Intruder expecting a solid thriller, and McFadden absolutely delivered. The setup is classic—a woman alone in an isolated cabin during a storm discovers a bloodied stranger at her window—but what makes this book work is how quickly the premise spirals into something far more complicated and morally murky. You think you know what's happening, and then the story pivots in ways that genuinely caught me off guard. The pacing is relentless; I found myself reading late into the night because I simply had to know what would happen next.

What impressed me most was how the book refuses to be simple. Yes, there's danger and suspense, but McFadden also explores the desperation and survival instincts that drive her characters. You'll find yourself questioning whose side you're actually on, which is exactly what a good thriller should do. The tension builds steadily rather than relying on cheap scares, and the atmosphere of the isolated cabin setting really enhances that claustrophobic feeling throughout.

That said, this isn't a book for readers who need their protagonists to be entirely likable or their resolutions neatly wrapped up. Some plot elements move very quickly, and if you're the type who needs extensive character backstory before you invest emotionally, you might find yourself wanting more depth in places. But if you love fast-paced domestic thrillers with genuine surprises and don't mind moral ambiguity, this is absolutely worth your time. It's the kind of book that makes you want to immediately discuss it with someone else who's read it.