Editing Freida McFadden (section)

=== Writing Influences and Themes ===

McFadden's background in medicine directly influences her writing. She has stated that her medical training allows her to depict medical scenarios with accuracy and authenticity, adding credibility and specificity to her thrillers. Her experiences as a physician also inform her understanding of human psychology and behavior, elements central to her psychological thrillers.

Growing up in New York City has also shaped her work; she frequently uses the city and its surrounding areas as settings for her novels. Her stories typically explore themes of morality, the capacity for deception within families and relationships, and the question of what ordinary people are capable of when pushed to their limits. Her protagonists are often complex, morally ambiguous characters who engage readers in uncomfortable ethical questions.