One of the literary world’s most successful psychological thriller authors has stepped out of the shadows, revealing her true identity as a local physician specializing in brain disorders.
Sara Cohen, a doctor living and working in the Boston area, confirmed this week that she is the woman behind the global bestseller The Housemaid and dozens of other titles written under the pseudonym Freida McFadden.
The revelation, first reported by USA Today and Patch, ends years of speculation within "BookTok" and literary circles regarding the true identity of the author. Despite her massive success—including a major film adaptation of The Housemaid starring Sydney Sweeney—Cohen had successfully managed to maintain a double life for over a decade.
The Reason for Secrecy
Cohen began her writing career in 2013, self-publishing her first works while practicing medicine full-time. She adopted the pen name Freida McFadden as a medical "insider" joke; the name was inspired by the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA), a registry used by medical students to find residency programs.
"My whole goal was to keep it a secret until I was [ready to] step back from my doctor job," Cohen told USA Today. "I didn't want it to be like everyone I work with suddenly knew and it compromised my ability to do my job."
She explained that her colleagues at the hospital eventually discovered the secret but were "really nice about it" and helped maintain her anonymity for years.
Stepping Away from the Hospital
The decision to reveal her identity comes as Cohen shifts her focus toward her literary career. In late 2023, she stepped back from full-time medical practice and now only sees patients once or twice a month, according to Wide Open Country.
"I'm at a point in my career when I'm tired of this being a secret," Cohen said in her announcement. "I'm tired of people debating if I'm a real person or if I'm three men. I am a real person and I have a real identity and I don't have anything to hide."
Future as McFadden
Despite the reveal, Cohen plans to continue publishing her novels under the Freida McFadden name. Her upcoming book, Dear Debbie, is set for release later this year, and a sequel to the film version of The Housemaid is currently in development at Lionsgate.
"Even though the name will be a surprise, nothing else will," Cohen told Reality Tea. "I've always been genuine with my readers."
