Sara Cohen Freida McFadden attending the 2026 Time100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 23, 2026 in New York City. Earlier that month, she revealed her real identity as Sara Cohen, a New York City-based neurosurgeon. (more) Freida McFadden American novelist and physician Also known as: Sara Cohen Written by Laura Payne Laura Payne is a freelance writer whose work covers many topics. She is a former Wayne State University linguistics instructor. Laura Payne Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated June 3, 2026 •History Freida McFadden (born May 1, 1980, Manhattan, New York, U.S.) American psychological thriller novelist who is also a practicing physician specializing in brain disorders and injuries. She disclosed her real name as Sara Cohen in April 2026; Freida McFadden is a pseudonym she had adopted to keep her career as an author distinct from her interactions with her patients. She is best known for her 2022 novel The Housemaid, which sold over 6.5 million copies...

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