Best-selling The Housemaid author Freida McFadden reveals true identity

A longstanding publishing enigma has been resolved as the globally renowned author known to readers as Freida McFadden unveils her real name, Sara Cohen. McFadden has become a prominent figure in recent years through her gripping thrillers, with “The Housemaid” standing out as a major hit. Though she has always acknowledged the use of a pseudonym, her true identity remained hidden until now.

McFadden, who has authored 29 novels, topped the bestseller charts in 2025 with three titles, including “The Housemaid,” which was first published in 2022 and adapted into a film starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. Her success in the UK saw her become the second-highest-selling author of the year, with 2.6 million books sold, trailing only Julia Donaldson’s “The Gruffalo” in overall sales. She has now scaled back her medical career, working only once or twice a month as a neurologist in Boston.

Cohen adopted the pen name Freida as a nod to her medical background, referencing the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database. She began writing under this alias after self-publishing “The Devil Wears Scrubs” in 2013, a semi-autobiographical account of her time as a resident doctor. The pseudonym allowed her to maintain a separation between her professional life and her literary work, a strategy she maintained until her recent decision to reveal her identity.

“I’m tired of people debating if I’m a real person or three men,” she said in an interview with USA Today. “I don’t have anything to hide.” Her career as a doctor, specializing in brain disorders, was initially overshadowed by her writing, prompting her to keep the dual identity private. “At work, I want to be a doctor,” she explained, fearing patients might feel uneasy about being treated by a best-selling thriller writer.

The revelation came after a colleague recognized her in a Freida-themed photo, sparking a shift in her public persona. “The cat is out of the bag,” she remarked, though she appreciated the respectful handling of her privacy. She also shared her experience of balancing both roles, stating, “I was completely overwhelmed from trying to do both.” Her decision to step away from the medical field in 2023 made it easier to disclose her true name.

Despite the disclosure, Cohen still cherishes her pen name for her readers. “Even though the name will be a surprise, nothing else will,” she noted, emphasizing her authenticity. She continues to engage with fans, even as she adopts a new approach to public appearances, such as wearing a wig due to her unfamiliarity with styling her hair. “I’ve always been genuine with my readers,” she said, ensuring the essence of her work remains unchanged.