Book Review: The Coworker By Freida McFadden

Freida McFadden is known for her twisty thrillers, and The Coworker definitely delivers on suspense and fast pacing. The story is about Natalie Farrell, an awkward and socially isolated woman who suddenly goes missing, and her coworker Dawn Schiff, who quickly becomes caught up in the mystery. The book has a lot of good moments and keeps you flipping pages, but in the end, it didn’t quite stick the landing for me.

It’s entertaining, but I couldn’t justify giving it more than 3 out of 5 stars.

Here’s a breakdown of what worked, what didn’t, and why I think the ending might leave you scratching your head.

The Story in a Nutshell

Natalie Farrell is not your average office worker. She’s autistic, super detail-oriented, and sticks to a rigid routine. Most of her coworkers find her odd and keep their distance, especially Dawn, who’s bubbly and well-liked but kind of shallow. One day, Natalie doesn’t show up for work—completely out of character for someone so reliable. Dawn, being the last person to see her, gets pulled into the search, but things start to unravel when secrets about both women come to light.

The book alternates between different timelines and perspectives, slowly piecing together what really happened to Natalie. It’s packed with tension, workplace drama, and plenty of twists along the way.

What Works Well

1. Fast-Paced and Addictive:

McFadden knows how to keep things moving. The short chapters and alternating perspectives make it easy to get sucked into the story. Even if some parts don’t totally add up, you’ll want to keep reading to see how it all unfolds.

2. Interesting Take on Autism:

Natalie’s autism is one of the more thoughtful aspects of the book. She’s portrayed as highly intelligent and meticulous but struggles with social cues and fitting in. While some parts of her characterization feel a little surface-level, it’s refreshing to see a neurodivergent character at the center of a thriller.

3. Relatable Office Drama:

The office setting is spot-on. The gossip, cliques, and judgmental coworkers all feel very real and add another layer of tension to the story. The way Natalie’s coworkers misunderstand and isolate her feels believable, and it gives you more insight into her character.

4. Themes About Judgment:

A big theme in the book is how we judge people based on surface impressions. Natalie comes across as “weird” to her coworkers, while Dawn seems friendly and normal. But as the story goes on, it becomes clear that there’s more to both of them than meets the eye.

What Doesn’t Work

1. Flat Characters (Besides Natalie):

Natalie is the most interesting character in the book, but everyone else feels kind of one-dimensional. Dawn, in particular, is a bit of a stereotype—the overly cheerful coworker with a dark side. Her personality and choices just didn’t feel complex enough to make me care about her much.

2. A Twist That Feels Too Much:

McFadden is known for big twists, but the one here—where it’s revealed that another coworker (who’s also Natalie’s secret boyfriend) is involved in her disappearance—feels a little ridiculous. Natalie, who has a hard time with social connections, suddenly having a secret relationship? It’s an interesting idea, but the book doesn’t really build up to it in a convincing way. It feels thrown in just for the shock factor.

3. Rushed Ending:

The ending is where the book stumbles the most. The big reveal about the boyfriend and Natalie’s disappearance feels rushed, like there wasn’t enough setup for it to land properly. It left me feeling more confused than satisfied. Dawn’s role in the ending also felt inconsistent, like the story didn’t really know what to do with her.

4. Overdone Tropes:

The socially awkward outsider versus the popular coworker is a trope we’ve seen before, and the book doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. It’s effective for driving the plot, but it also makes parts of the story feel predictable.

The Ending: A Bit of a Letdown

Without giving too much away, the ending revolves around Natalie’s secret relationship with another coworker, who turns out to be tied to her disappearance. It’s a twist that could’ve been really interesting, but it’s not developed enough to feel believable. Natalie’s autism is a key part of her character throughout the book, and it makes the idea of her maintaining a hidden romantic relationship kind of hard to buy.

The boyfriend’s motives and actions aren’t explored enough, so his role feels more like a quick way to tie up loose ends than a natural part of the story. And Dawn’s involvement in the resolution is also underwhelming—her character arc doesn’t go anywhere particularly satisfying.

Final Thoughts

The Coworker is a fun, quick read that touches on some interesting topics like neurodiversity and workplace dynamics. Natalie’s character is a highlight, and the mystery itself is gripping enough to keep you turning pages. But the shallow character development, predictable twists, and rushed ending hold it back from being a great thriller.

If you like fast-paced, light thrillers with plenty of twists, it’s worth a read. Just don’t expect it to blow your mind.