Tras la Puerta/ the Locked Door book cover

Tras la Puerta/ the Locked Door

Freida McFadden
3.98(692469 Reviews)

Overview of Tras la Puerta/ the Locked Door

Nora's father is a serial killer, but she's determined to escape his shadow. With 457,752 ratings and translations in 40+ languages, this self-published-turned-bestseller asks: can we truly lock away our darkest family secrets, or will they eventually find us?

Key Themes in Tras la Puerta/ the Locked Door

  • nature versus nurture
  • serial killer legacy
  • inherited psychopathy
  • hidden identity
  • childhood trauma recovery

Quotes from Tras la Puerta/ the Locked Door

  • I couldn't save them.

  • Blood will always tell in the end.

  • The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

  • Nora intends to crush Philip this year.

Characters in Tras la Puerta/ the Locked Door

  • Nora DavisA pediatric surgeon hiding her identity
  • Aaron NierlingA notorious serial killer known as The Handyman
  • Brady MitchellA bartender and Nora's former college boyfriend
  • Sarah NierlingAaron's wife and Nora's mother
  • Mandy JohanssonOne of Aaron Nierling's murder victims

About the Author

About the Author of Tras la Puerta/ the Locked Door

Freida McFadden is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Locked Door and a practicing physician specializing in brain injury. Born in 1980 in New York City, she attended Harvard University and now practices medicine in Boston while crafting psychological thrillers that have captivated millions worldwide.

Her medical expertise informs the psychological depth and tension in her novels, which explore themes of deception, secrets, and the dark side of human nature. McFadden's 2022 breakout, The Housemaid, became an international phenomenon and earned her the 2023 International Thriller Writers Award for Best Paperback Original Novel. A film adaptation starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried is scheduled for release in December 2025.

Her books have sold over 3.6 million copies in ebook and audio formats alone and have been translated into more than 45 languages, establishing her as one of the most widely read thriller authors today.

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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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