The Crash by Freida McFadden Book Review

Title: The Crash
Author: Freida McFadden
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (Exclusive B&N edition/Hardcover)
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Domestic Suspense
Year of Publication: 2025
Date of Publication: January 28, 2025
Pages: 384
ISBN‑10: 1464227322
ISBN‑13: 978‑1464227325

Our Rating of This Book

**Summary of The Crash by Freida McFadden**

The Crash follows a woman named Tegan Werner. At the start of the book, Tegan is eight months pregnant and is in the process of signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), with the father of her unborn baby. Under the terms of the agreement, she is expected to agree to never disclose paternity in return for a large sum of money. Tegan has been working closely with a lawyer who represents her baby’s father and everything appeared to be be going as best as they could, given the circumstances.

But when something goes wrong during the NDA signing process, Tegan becomes agitated and afterwards, she is invited by her brother to come and stay with him in Maine. With the reality that her financial situation will not be improving and the fear of what her memories have triggered, Tegan agrees to and stay with her brother. But when she crashes her car during a blizzard and suffers a broken ankle, her situation worsens. Shortly after the crash, with the roads closed, she is offered shelter by a seemingly kind couple who live in a remote cabin.

Tegan soon realizes that her refuge may be a nightmare. The rest of the story centers around her maternal instincts to survive in an isolated environment. The book is a psychological thriller filled with suspense, secrets, and the quest for survival.

Main Plot & Characters

Tegan Werner: She is a 23 year old woman. Tegan is 35 weeks pregnant and is the main character in this story.
Polly Thompson: She is a former nurse who, along with her husband, shelters Tegan during the storm. She also becomes central to this story.
Hank Thompson: He is Polly’s husband. Hank is physically imposing and extremely protective of Polly. He initially rescues Tegan from the car accident.
Dennis Werner: He is Tegan’s brother and works at a ski slope named Snow Mountain as an instructor.
Simon Lamar: He is the father of Tegan’s unborn baby. Simon works for a television network.
Jackson Bruckner: He is a lawyer who represents Simon Lamar in the negotiations for the NDA.
Officer Malloy: He is a police officer investigating the disappearance of Tegan after the crash.
“Little Tuna”: Tegan nicknames her unborn baby little Tuna because of her cravings while pregnant.
Sadie Hambly & Mitch Hambly: Sadie is a 7 year old girl who is a neighbor girl to Polly and Hank. Her father Mitch is an alcoholic who is also abusive.

The Crash by Freida McFadden Audio Book Review

Writing Style

Freida McFadden tells the story using a first-person narration style. The story is told mostly from Tegan’s perspective especially in the first part of the book. The second part of book includes the perspective of Polly and there is a portion towards the end of the book from Hank’s point of view.

We previously read The Tenant and even though some people do not agree, we found it to be a five star book and when compared to The Crash, this one does not quite rise to the standard set in The Tenant. There were some believability issues from the start with the obvious one being a 35 weeks pregnant woman jumping in a car and running into a blizzard. While it is not impossible, it seems rather unlikely. Then there was the issue of not making a big deal after getting to the hospital, not screaming at the top of her lungs that she was kidnapped, and Hank and Polly remaining in the same house afterwards was a bit of a stretch for us.

Again, if you are familiar with Freida McFadden’s writing and twists, then you may also find some of the plot somewhat predictable, which is not necessarily a bad thing since the author has a signature style and that in itself is hard to achieve.

**Final Thoughts on The Crash by Freida McFadden**

The Crash is a very quick read with only 384 pages and the book itself is fast-paced. It is the kind of psychological suspense that Freida McFadden is known for. While the setup asks readers to suspend some disbelief, especially regarding Tegan’s choices and the aftermath of her ordeal, the narrative still manages to keep you engaged. If you’re drawn to stories where the walls slowly close in, both literally and emotionally, then you will enjoy The Crash.

Memorable Quotes

“We have an expensive hospital bed paid for by insurance in the basement, and that’s where you want to spend the night. Trust me.”—Polly
“Polly, she stabbed you with a fork today. She’s not giving you her baby.”—Hank
“He’s the murder you and dump your body in the swamp type.”—Tegan’s reflections

Book Rating

Characters ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Plot ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Writing ★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)

Book Cover ★★★★⯪ (4.5/5)

Audiobook ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Overall ★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)

Have you read The Crash by Freida McFadden? What are your thoughts on this book?

Authors

Ufuoma Akpotaire

Ufuoma Akpotaire is a passionate book, movie and music reviewer with a love for travel and culture. She combines her enthusiasm for storytelling with her experience exploring new places and stories. Through her reviews, she celebrates creativity and inspires readers to appreciate the connections between books, movies, music, travel, and global cultures.
Nathaniel Adebayo

Nathaniel is a Media Content Specialist at Verayea, where he specializes in curating content and gathering data for the company’s extensive book library. He is also dedicated to writing insightful reviews, offering thoughtful perspectives on a range of media. His work ensures that Verayea’s library is comprehensive, well-organized, and informative, providing valuable resources for its audience.