The Crash Paperback – January 28, 2025

This was classic Freida McFadden, fast-paced, slightly unhinged, and just what I needed to break a reading slump. While her thrillers tend to follow a familiar formula (which, let’s be honest, is part of the charm), The Crash brought enough tension, twists, and snowy isolation to keep me flipping pages.📚 Why It Worked for Me:🌀 Slump-Busting Suspense – Freida knows how to keep it moving. Even when I guessed a few of the twists, I didn’t mind. I was still totally entertained and creeped out the whole time.🐟 Tuna. Just… Tuna. IYKYK. That detail alone earned this book the .75 bump in rating.🪓 Giving Misery Vibes – Stranded? Isolated? Totally at the mercy of someone else? This gave Misery energy in all the right (wrong?) ways.💬 Final Take:Not the most unpredictable thriller, but it didn’t need to be. The Crash is a snowed-in, psychological spiral with just the right amount of absurdity. I appreciate McFadden’s ability to create page-turners that don’t take themselves too seriously but still stick the landing.

Freida McFadden’s latest novel, The Crash, centers around protagonist Tegan Werner, a young pregnant woman who, you guessed it, crashes her car during a blizzard while driving to see her brother. Pinned inside with a broken ankle, Tegan is rescued by a man named Hank who takes her to his rural home. There, she meets his wife, Polly, a former nurse eager to look after Tegan while they wait out the storm.But, like all of McFadden’s books, something isn’t right. Tegan needs to go to the hospital, and Polly promises she’ll take her after the storm, as soon as the roads clear. In the meantime, Tegan is trapped in a stranger’s basement, unable to walk and without a phone. It’s not long before she wonders if this couple has her best intentions in mind.While some readers have compared this book to an older, well-known story of an injured author trapped by a crazy fan, this not the case. This is its own story and is worth taking the time to read. It grabs your attention right from the beginning and draws you in further with each chapter. But that’s not to say it doesn’t have its challenges.For example, the pace is quick and easy, but the story itself unfolds slowly. This can be maddening for those of us who like to get to the action, especially when there’s so much inaction taking place. (i.e., If you’re one who likes to have that resolution right away, this may not be for you.) It also can be a bit repetitive, reminding us several times of characters’ attributes and situations. However, considering the lack of action taking place, these reminders keep our perspectives in line with those of the characters as well as with the plot.The book is presented with alternating points of view which gives us the opportunity to see a more holistic picture, but in this case, knowing more also adds to the tension. We primarily hear from Tegan and from Polly, who each make poor decisions mostly due to their own desperation to change their current situations.Through them, and through other characters, McFadden explores when actions truly are justified and when we’re simply making excuses to not do the right thing. We see this a lot in her books, and you may not be a fan of this one if you’re not comfortable in the gray area, as the lines of good and bad are often blurred.McFadden also examines our sense of judgement, especially when considering how Tegan and Polly often misjudge each other and others. This is a recurring theme we see throughout the book. Polly judges Tegan. Tegan judges Polly. They both assume things about Hank as well as other peripheral characters in the book. Only the reader knows, for most characters, who is correct or incorrect about whom. But even then, it’s hard not to have some sense of empathy, for the, um, “misguided” characters.This can be frustrating, especially with Polly’s conflict between what she wants and what she does, Hank’s inability or refusal to step up, and Tegan’s own collision between naivety and reality. Then there are the other characters, the ones we see before and after that crash. Unlike Polly and Tegan, we are given very little or just enough information about them. Nevertheless, it’s all critical so pay attention. While the book focuses on Tegan and Polly, the other characters, including her brother, the baby’s father and his associate are all very important.In classic McFadden style, there’s a twist at the end, actually there’s more than one twist, and I have mixed feelings about them. While you may predict one or two of them, I’m pretty sure one will catch you by surprise. It felt out of place because there were very few clues leading up to it, but at the same time it definitely gave me a shock, and who doesn’t love that?Overall, I enjoyed this book. While I couldn’t stand the tension or the inaccuracies of what each character thought about the other, I know that’s also what kept me emotionally invested and motivated to see the book through. I finished it feeling good but also as if I’ve compromised my own morals. There’s a guilt from that satisfaction, but it was worth it.

Doctor Freida has written another good read. A little predictable, but plenty of twists along the way. I wondered if Simon was Simon Legree. I've had a few broken bones along the way. Never a leg, but I had to wince every time I thought about taking off that boot. 🤐Thanks, Doc.

I’ve read a few books by Frieda McFadden, and while The Crash wasn’t my absolute favorite, it still delivered the kind of psychological suspense she’s known for.The story centers around Tegan, who’s eight months pregnant and dealing with far more than she bargained for. I’ll be honest—some of her choices had me stressed out early on! 😩 I found myself frustrated at times, mostly because things moved slowly for the majority of the book. The tension and pace don’t really pick up until near the end.That said, the twist when it comes is solid, and the final stretch definitely made the buildup worth it. If you like slow-burn thrillers with unreliable characters and creeping tension, you may enjoy this one. A solid 4 stars from me!

I ask all my friends to please pray for my beloved friend Pat Wagner, “Patsy/Jersey” forever to me, as she has suffered a severe non-recoverable stroke😭.My friend, whom I spoke with last night, will more than likely not wake up/survive. She will sooner than later be transferred to inpatient Hospice..Patsy was a campus bus driver at Montreat College and the students will be shocked and devastated. She loved every one of them and they loved her. Huge loss for the college and students 💔Patsy was a true servant to the poor, hungry, homeless, cold and in recovery. Anyone.Her Faith and Love for the Lord was reflected in her love and compassion for the suffering.We loved one another from the start, especially, since we’re both Bb’s (ball busters 😂) and became friends quickly. I was NY she was Jersey, we got one another!!Please pray for a gentle transition for my friend and strength for her Son, Russell and her two sisters 🙏🏻For my self I ask for prayers to stand by my Faith In acceptance of God’s will.I am heartbroken 💔💔💔From the heart ~ Yvonne

The Crash had me hooked from the very first page! Freida McFadden knows exactly how to reel you in and keep you on edge the entire time. The tension was intense, the characters were layered, and the twists? UNREAL. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, everything flipped in true Freida fashion. I’ve read all her books, and this one is definitely one of her most gripping and emotional stories. If you love thrillers that mess with your head and keep your heart racing, this is the one. She’s the queen of suspense!