Dear Debbie
- Judith D Collins
- Jan 27
- 6 min read
By: Frieda McFadden
Narrators: Julia Whelan, January LaVoy,
Scott Brick
Dreamscape Media
ISBN: 9781464249624
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: 01/27/2026
Format: Paperback & Audio
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC) (ALC)
A brand new twisted thriller that will have you cheering "good for her!" from the #1 New York Times bestselling and global sensation Freida McFadden, author of The Housemaid!
Sometimes, enough is enough…
Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.
Or at least, she did.
These days, Debbie's life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie's done being the bigger person. She's done being reasonable and practical. It's time to take her own advice.
And now it's time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.
From #1 New York Times and international bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a biting, subversive thriller about what happens when women finally choose to take justice into their own hands – with killer results.
My Review
In DEAR DEBBIE by the masterful 'queen of twists,' Freida McFadden, comes an intoxicatingly wicked tale of vengeance that unfolds through the life of an advice columnist. As her own world crumbles under the weight of betrayal from those she once trusted, she embarks on a dark journey that leads her to forsake her once-rational counsel.
Instead, she meticulously plots revenge against those who have wronged her and her family. This gripping psychological thriller is filled with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats, as the protagonist navigates the murky waters of justice and retribution, revealing the lengths one might go to reclaim their power and the refusal to be silenced.
The novel serves as a darkly humorous thriller where the advice columnist becomes the dispenser of her own brand of harsh, tech-fueled justice.
About...
Debbie Mullen appears to have a stable life as a housewife, a gardener, a mother of two teenage daughters, and a local newspaper advice columnist known as "Dear Debbie," offering practical tips to other New England wives.
Several crises hit Debbie in quick succession, as her life spirals out of control. Including losing her job for giving a reader radical advice to divorce her abusive husband, her husband being denied a promotion, one daughter facing blackmail over nude photos, and the other being cut from her sports team due to a chauvinistic coach.
Debbie is sharp and uses a tracking app and her sharp computer skills (she's a former MIT computer science major) to uncover secrets her husband, Cooper, has been keeping, including a potential affair.
Feeling ignored, belittled, and betrayed, Debbie decides "enough is enough" and stops being the "bigger person". She resolves to take her own, more unhinged "Dear Debbie" advice, seeking payback against the people in her life who deserve it most.
The main characters in Freida McFadden's Dear Debbie are primarily members of the Mullen family and the individuals in their suburban community to add layers and who Debbie targets for revenge.
Primary Characters
~Debbie Mullen: Main Character. Wife & Mother. Local Advice column called Dear Debbie.
~Cooper Mullen: Debbie's husband, an accountant who keeps secrets from his wife.
~Debbie's Teenage Daughters: Debbie and Cooper have two daughters in high school whose personal challenges (one facing blackmail, the other cut from her sports team) serve as a catalyst for Debbie's actions.
Secondary Characters and Targets
Debbie's Boss, Cooper's Boss, Daughter's Blackmailer/Boyfriend, Daughter's Coach, Book Club Attendees/Neighbors, An Old Enemy from College, and a Friend.
My thoughts...
Do not cross Debbie!
I absolutely adored DEAR DEBBIE! Once again, McFadden has solidified her status as the queen of thrills, delivering all the signature entertainment you come to expect from this best-selling author.
The revenge plot unfolds with a blend of dark humor and sharp wit, following Debbie's intricate journey as she masterfully orchestrates "karmic results" for those who have wronged her and her loved ones.
From her unscrupulous husband’s boss to the predatory educator and boyfriend who preys on her daughters, each encounter is laced with a cleverly twisted sense of comeuppance that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Freida McFadden's novels, including DEAR DEBBIE, often explore themes of psychological manipulation, betrayal, domestic abuse, and female empowerment and revenge. Her books are known for their fast pace, unreliable narrators, and unexpected plot twists.
The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives and excerpts from Debbie's advice column drafts, building tension and leading to a jaw-dropping conclusion where all the pieces of the puzzle fit together in a surprising, highly entertaining way.
Fed up with being wronged, Debbie decides to stop being the "bigger person" and takes matters into her own hands, using her forgotten tech skills for revenge.
Tailored for devoted fans of Freida McFadden, as well as those who are captivated by the intricate world of domestic suspense, DEAR DEBBIE masterfully weaves together themes of betrayal and retribution, showcasing a strong female protagonist who is fiercely determined to reclaim her narrative.
As the characters navigate treacherous emotional landscapes, readers are drawn into a thrilling exploration of vengeance and empowerment, making this story a must-read for anyone who revels in the art of psychological intrigue.
Themes...
~Revenge & Justice
~Secrets & Betrayal
~The Dark Side of Suburbia
~A Woman Pushing Her Breaking Point
The title's significance refers to the local newspaper advice column written by the protagonist, Debbie, and serves as the central framework for her transformation and revenge. Its significance is found in the following themes:
~Reclaiming Power
~The Facade of Suburbia
~Narrative Structure (unhinged drafts from Debbie’s advice column folder)
~A "Shout Out" to Silence
Freida McFadden has stated the title and character are a "shout out to the silence that so many women live in every day," representing a woman who has reached her breaking point and refuses to be "the bigger person" any longer.
The audiobook...
The audiobook was an extraordinary journey that transcended traditional storytelling. I had the joy of not only reading the book but also immersing myself in the audiobook, brought to life by a stellar cast of narrators—my absolute favorites, Julia Whelan, January LaVoy, and Scott Brick.
Each of them infused the narrative with their unique vocal talents, transforming the story into a dynamic experience rich with suspense and emotional intensity. Their distinct voices carried the weight of the characters' struggles and fears, immersing me fully in the plot's twists and turns. This epic auditory adventure left me captivated from start to finish, and I wholeheartedly recommend delving into the audiobook for an unforgettable listening experience! An impeccable pairing for the talented Freida McFadden.
Recs...
DEAR DEBBIE is for avid fans of the author, Freida McFadden, and those who enjoy domestic suspense novels frequently featuring female characters motivated by revenge and the desire to control their own narratives after betrayal.
~Victoria Helen Stone (Jane Doe)
~Kaira Rouda (Best Day Ever, The Next Wife, The Second Mrs. Strom)
~SA Cosby (King of Ashes).
~Liv Constantine (The Last Mrs Parrish)
~Alison Gaylin (The Collective)
~Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl)
~The Housemaid (Freida McFadden)
~Sally Hepworth
Special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for graciously sharing an advanced reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 27, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
Praise
"Debbie’s dark but consistent moral code makes her easy to root for...this darkly funny thriller will put a wicked smile on readers’ faces."
― Publishers Weekly
"An exciting yarn...McFadden is an expert at keeping the pages turning and misdirecting her audience, ensuring several surprises. The same readers who fell in love with Millie from McFadden's most popular outing, The Housemaid (2022), and its sequels will also be rooting for Debbie."
― Booklist, Starred Review
"Plucky, puckish Debbie is a nontraditional antihero for the ages...gleefully sadistic, gloriously gratifying revenge fiction."
― Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
#1 New York Times, Amazon Charts, USA Today, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Sunday Times, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author Freida McFadden is a physician who has penned multiple bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. Freida’s work has been selected as one of Amazon Editors’ best books of the year, she is the winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for best paperback, and she is a Goodreads Choice Award winner. Her novels have been translated into more than 45 languages.
Freida lives with her family and cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.
