Audiobook Review: The Intruder by Freida McFadden
The Intruder
Author: Freida McFadden
Narrators:
Patricia Santomasso
Tina Wolstencroft
Jo Hempel
Published: October 7, 2025
Audiobook: 8 hours 19 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: October 15-19, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 3 stars
Book Description:
Who knows what the storm will blow in…
Casey’s cabin in the wilderness is not built for a hurricane. Her roof shakes, the lights flicker, and the tree outside her front door sways ominously in the wind. But she’s a lot more worried about the girl she discovers lurking outside her kitchen window.
She’s young. She’s alone. And she’s covered in blood.
The girl won’t explain where she came from or loosen her grip on the knife in her right hand. And when Casey makes a disturbing discovery in the middle of the night, things take a turn for the worse.
The girl has a dark secret. One she’ll kill to keep. And if Casey gets too close to the truth, she may not live to see the morning.
Jessica’s Review:
Freida, it really is time to take a break! Her last couple of books have just been average for me. I know she has her legion on superfans who finish her books the day it is released and must have her next book now even though the release is still months away. And they have ‘read all her books and don’t know what to do now’.
The Intruder is a darker novel that deals with child abuse and extreme hoarding. It also has an extreme YA feel, but that is because we are dealing with the past childhood of Casey and Ella is a teenager. Yes it will have that YA feel, which McFadden had to have taken from her teenage daughter.
The premise was intriguing for me but the delivery and ‘big twist’ just didn’t work. McFadden’s next book comes out the end of January 2026 and I am just thinking that it won’t be what I want it to be. I will listen to it at some point, but won’t be in a hurry for it.
Again, Freida: Take a much-needed break! Your legion of superfans will still be there, hungry for more.
Advanced Audiobook Review: The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens
The Hitchhikers
Author: Chevy Stevens
Narrators:
Lindsey Dorcus
Moniqua Plante
To Be Published: October 7, 2025
Audiobook: 12 hours 6 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: September 7-13, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
The open road beckons.
A chance for them to reconnect.
Then they make a fatal mistake.
It’s the summer of 1976 and Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV, hoping to heal their broken hearts after a devastating tragedy.
They’ve planned the trip perfectly, taken care of every detail. Then they meet two young hitchhikers down on their luck and offer them a ride. But Simon and Jenny aren’t what they seem. They’ve left a trail of blood, destruction, and madness behind them.
Now Alice and Tom are trapped, prisoners in a deadly game, with nowhere to turn. As the tension builds, the lines blur, and the question becomes, in whose heart does evil truly lie? What secrets are Jenny and Simon hiding? And who will live another day?
Jessica’s Review:
It’s been four years since Chevy Stevens’ last novel, so I was excited to receive an advanced audio copy from the publisher via NetGalley!
A novel like this can only take place in the past (circa 1976 in Canada) now that cellphones have everything on them, which includes social media, notifications on what is going on in the world, and even just to call 911! The past for The Hitchhikers is in 1976 and our couple Alice and Tom were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, with good intentions. Our “Bonnie and Clyde” are Jenny and Simon and they are leaving destruction wherever they go.
I wasn’t sure how this one was going to end, and Stevens kept me on this RV roller coaster ride the entire time! Who is going to be injured or killed by our villains next and will Tom and Alice survive? What is going to be the ‘big twist?’ The Hitchhikers is a dark and tense thriller that I enjoyed.
The ending went in a ‘happily ever after’ direction and that didn’t work for me. I like my thrillers dark, and the endings don’t have to be positive. I’m not used to this with Stevens, though I see why she did write the ending in the way that she did.
The narrators are Lindsey Dorcus and Moniqua Plante, and both ladies brought their narration on! They really enhanced the characters of Alice and Jenny.
If you are a Stevens fan, then go read or listen to The Hitchhikers when it comes out on October 7th.
Many thanks to the publisher for granting me an advanced copy to listen to and review!
Pre-Order Links:
**I just love the UK cover!**
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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Audiobook Review: The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden
The Surrogate Mother
Author: Freida McFadden
Narrator: Alyson Krawchuk
Published: October 10, 2018; **Being re-published August 19, 2025**
Audiobook: 7 hours 46 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: August 14-16, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Abby wants a baby more than anything.
But after years of failed infertility treatments and adoptions that have fallen through, it seems like motherhood is not in her future. That is, until her personal assistant Monica makes a generous offer that will make all of Abby’s dreams come true.
Or all of her nightmares.
Because it turns out Monica isn’t who she says she is. The woman now carrying Abby’s child has dark, twisted secrets.
And she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
Jessica’s Review:
This is another audiobook I got through in just a few days! But Freida McFadden will do that to you: Once you start you really can’t stop! I am slowly going though her backlog of self-published novels which are being edited again and republished by her new publisher. I listened to the older version before the re-release.
Surrogacy is used a lot in thrillers, and I would recommend for anyone with pregnancy related issues/fears or someone going through IVF/adoption/surrogacy, be advised to skip this one, as it could be triggering.
Alyson Krawchuk is the narrator and she did a great job with her narration. She is another narrator I look for with audiobooks!
The Surrogate Mother is a bit farfetched, but was a fun read for me. I enjoy guessing what will happen with McFadden’s novels knowing that I will be wrong, and I was yet again with this one! Maybe one day I will figure one of her novels out… Or maybe not!
Purchase Links:
**The re-release is tomorrow, August 19, 2025**
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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