The Coworker by Freida McFadden – Complete Book Guide

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Quick Facts

Short Summary

Natalie Farrell, top sales rep at the supplement company Vixed, reports her coworker Dawn Schiff missing after Dawn fails to appear at work and a cryptic “Help me” phone call is traced to her desk. When Dawn’s body is discovered, evidence – a bloody ceramic turtle, fake emails, and Natalie’s fingerprints at the crime scene – points to Natalie. The detective learns that Natalie bullied Dawn and had an affair with their married boss, Seth. But the truth is darker: Dawn faked her own death with the help of Caleb, Natalie’s boyfriend, who is actually Mia Hodge’s brother. Mia was Natalie’s childhood friend with cerebral palsy; a cruel Valentine’s Day prank by Natalie led to Mia’s suicide. Dawn (who is secretly Amelia, another friend of Mia) and Caleb framed Natalie for murder as revenge. In the end, Dawn murders Tara, a former accomplice of Natalie, and later nearly drowns herself to cement the frame, but Natalie stops her. The two women form a mutual blackmail pact, keeping each other’s secrets.

Full Summary

The novel opens with a prologue: Dawn Schiff emails her boss Seth Hoffman requesting an urgent meeting about a “matter of great importance.” Seth casually agrees to meet at 2 p.m. the next day. Dawn’s meticulous, anxious tone sets the stage for the mystery.

Part One: Disappearance and Suspicion
Chapter 1: Natalie arrives at work and notices Dawn is not at her desk – a break in her unvarying routine. Natalie discovers a small turtle figurine on her desk with a dark red, metallic-smelling stain. She answers Dawn’s ringing phone and hears a woman whisper “Help me.” She reports the call to Seth, who dismisses her concerns.
Chapter 2: Natalie observes Seth’s missing wedding ring and photo, hinting at his affair.
Chapter 3 (flashback, nine months earlier): Dawn emails her friend Mia about her first day at Vixed. She compares herself to a turtle needing a shell. She meets Natalie, who is friendly.
Chapter 4 (present): Natalie takes a sales call, receives another blocked call during a podcast interview, and reveals the charity 5K honors her childhood friend Amelia, who died of cerebral palsy.
Chapter 5: Natalie drives to Dawn’s house after Seth refuses to act. She finds an unlocked back door, an overturned ottoman, broken glass, and a bookshelf of turtle figurines with one missing. She screams at something on the carpet – a pool of blood.
Chapter 6 (flashback): Dawn decorates her cubicle with turtle figurines and an iris plant. Natalie and Kim join her for lunch; Dawn shares turtle facts.
Chapter 7: Natalie calls 911. Detective Santoro arrives. He questions Natalie, who lies that she was with boyfriend Caleb all night, convincing Caleb to corroborate.
Chapter 8 (flashback): Dawn buys a turtle figurine for Natalie; Natalie receives it without thanks. Dawn lectures Natalie on marriage statistics, and Natalie dismisses her.
Chapter 9: Natalie returns home to find her front door unlocked and receives a silent blocked call – similar to threats she endured months ago.
Chapter 10: At work, Natalie throws away the turtle figurine. Kim updates her about the 5K. Seth summons Natalie.
Chapter 11: Seth, disheveled, apologizes for dismissing her. He reveals Detective Santoro wants to interview everyone, specifically Natalie. Seth admits his separation from his wife.
Chapter 12 (flashback): Dawn presents expense data showing client lunches are not cost-effective; Natalie argues they are necessary. Dawn writes to Mia about her lonely home.
Chapter 13: Detective Santoro interviews Natalie in the conference room. She provides a false alibi.
Chapter 14: Santoro confronts Natalie with her fingerprints on knives and a wine glass at Dawn’s house. He shows a photo of the missing turtle figurine and mentions Dawn’s email.
Chapter 15 (flashback): Dawn finds her turtle mug shattered in the break room; Natalie suggests she was careless.
Chapter 16: After her interview, Natalie watches Santoro question Caleb, who lies to maintain the alibi. Their relationship feels strained.
Chapter 17: Natalie receives another blocked call at home. News reports that police have a person of interest – likely her. She impulsively texts someone to come over.
Chapter 18 (flashback): Dawn finds Seth’s wife Melinda leaving a threatening note on Natalie’s desk. Natalie threatens Dawn into silence; Dawn accidentally breaks a turtle figurine. Dawn realizes Natalie and Seth are having an affair.
Chapter 19: Seth arrives at Natalie’s house; they have a passionate encounter. He says he separated from Melinda partly because of his feelings for Natalie.
Chapter 20 (flashback): Emails show Natalie and Kim mocking Dawn’s virginity. A customer, Zelda Morris, complains about side effects from Collahealth.
Chapter 21: Santoro confronts Natalie outside her home, revealing that coworkers accused her of bullying Dawn and that Dawn wrote about Natalie’s affair in emails. He tells her Dawn’s body was found that morning.
Chapter 22: Santoro confirms Dawn was beaten to death with a blunt object. He requests to search Natalie’s home; she refuses.
Chapter 23 (flashback): Dawn writes about being gaslit by Natalie and Seth – Natalie rescheduled meetings to make Dawn appear late.
Chapter 24: Natalie finds the turtle figurine back on her desk. A customer, Dave Fulton, accuses her of lying.
Chapter 25: Natalie blackmails Kim to stop telling the detective about bullying, threatening to reveal a secret from Kim’s bachelorette party.
Chapter 26: Natalie and Caleb reconcile after he apologizes for his anger. She hides the fact that she slept with Seth.
Chapter 27 (flashback): Dawn bakes turtle-shaped cupcakes for Kim’s bridal shower; Natalie throws them in the trash and excludes Dawn from the party.
Chapter 28: A radio host cancels an interview because #VixedBullies trends; public suspicion mounts against Natalie.
Chapter 29: Seth takes Natalie’s phone to calm her; she rejects his advances, reaffirming her commitment to Caleb.
Chapter 30 (flashback): Dawn’s mother demands money; Dawn refuses. Dawn researches body language tips to befriend Natalie.
Chapter 31: Natalie watches news of Dawn’s murder details. She finds a ceramic turtle covered in blood in her laundry hamper.
Chapter 32: Natalie realizes the turtle is the murder weapon, planted to frame her. Police arrive.
Chapter 33 (flashback): Dawn tries to befriend Natalie using tips; Natalie screams at her never to touch her.
Chapter 34: Santoro questions Natalie about an email Dawn sent regarding missing company money. Natalie denies meeting her.
Chapter 35: Natalie smashes the ceramic turtle and throws the shards into Wollaston Beach.
Chapter 36 (flashback): Dawn’s cubicle is vandalized: her plant and turtles destroyed. She finds the missing ketchup bottle in Natalie’s trash and confronts Seth about the affair.
Chapter 37: Natalie asks IT to trace blocked calls; the turtle figurine reappears on her desk.
Chapter 38 (flashback): Dawn discovers embezzled money tied to Natalie’s sales. She hesitates to report it, hoping to befriend Natalie. Mia urges her to go to Seth.
Chapter 39: Seth accuses Natalie of embezzlement based on Dawn’s email. He suspends her.
Chapter 40: Natalie blackmails Kim to attend the 5K.
Chapter 41: Caleb admits he told Santoro the truth about the alibi. Police arrive with a search warrant.
Chapter 42: Police search Natalie’s house. Santoro shares a bullying story. Natalie refuses a lawyer, insisting she is innocent.
Chapter 43 (flashback): Dawn and Natalie meet after work to discuss the missing money. They plan to meet at Dawn’s house at 10 p.m.
Chapter 44: At the charity 5K, Natalie uses Greg’s tracking app to trace a blocked call to a Rhode Island motel. Santoro arrests her for Dawn’s murder.
Chapter 45: Dawn watches Natalie’s arrest from a motel room. Caleb arrives at her door.
Chapter 46: Dawn and Caleb celebrate. Dawn reveals she called Natalie to trace the call. They plan to relocate.
Chapter 47 (flashback): Dawn (real name Amelia) recalls her friendship with Mia, a girl with cerebral palsy. Natalie’s cruel Valentine’s Day prank led to Mia’s suicide. Caleb is Mia’s brother.
Chapter 48: Natalie’s court-appointed lawyer, Archie Ferguson, reveals DNA confirms the dead body is not Dawn Schiff. The case remains strong.
Chapter 49: Dawn and Caleb have sex; Dawn admits she pushed Caleb to date Natalie to frame her. They planted fake emails and the turtle.
Chapter 50: Natalie suffers in jail. Her cellmate steals her blanket.
Chapter 51: Dawn learns police have confirmed the body is not hers. She decides she must die to ensure Natalie is convicted.
Chapter 52: Natalie’s parents refuse to pay bail; her mother references the childhood bullying incident that drove Amelia to suicide.
Chapter 53: Dawn considers suicide, believing her death will cement the frame.
Chapter 54: Seth posts bail. Natalie learns that Dawn recommended Caleb for his job. She suspects Caleb is the killer.
Chapter 55: Natalie and Seth drive to the motel Caleb claimed to have stayed at. The clerk says a woman matching Dawn was with him.
Chapter 56: Caleb admits he planted evidence and that Dawn is alive. He begs Natalie to help find Dawn, who plans to drown herself.
Chapter 57: The three search for Dawn. Natalie deduces Dawn will need a weight – cinderblocks at a construction site near Wollaston Beach.
Chapter 58: Dawn ties a cinderblock to her ankle on a pier. Natalie arrives and pleads with her not to jump. Dawn attacks Natalie with the cinderblock; Natalie uses mace. They sit together on the pier.
Chapter 59: Natalie texts Seth and Caleb. They reunite. Seth reveals the dead body is identified as Tara Wilkes. Natalie realizes Dawn murdered Tara for revenge.
Epilogue: One year later, Dawn and Caleb complete the 5K; he proposes. Natalie continues embezzling from the charity and has manipulated Seth into divorcing Melinda. The two women maintain a mutual blackmail agreement: Natalie keeps Dawn’s murder of Tara secret, and Dawn hides Natalie’s embezzlement. Tara’s murder remains unsolved.
Afterword: Author Freida McFadden thanks readers, asks for reviews, and promotes her newsletter and next book, Ward D.

Main Characters

• Natalie Farrell – Top sales rep at Vixed. She bullied Dawn and Amelia in the past. After Dawn’s disappearance, she becomes the prime suspect. She is manipulative, adulterous, and eventually enters a blackmail pact with Dawn.
• Dawn Schiff (real name Amelia) – Awkward, turtle-obsessed accountant. She fakes her death and frames Natalie for murder to avenge her best friend Mia (Amelia Hodge), who committed suicide after Natalie’s bullying. She murders Tara Wilkes to solidify the frame.
• Seth Hoffman – Natalie’s married boss. He has an affair with Natalie and later accuses her of embezzlement. He eventually divorces Melinda and supports Natalie.
• Caleb McCullough – Mia’s half-brother. He pretends to date Natalie to help Dawn frame her. He loves Dawn and proposes in the epilogue.
• Detective Santoro – Investigates Dawn’s disappearance. He becomes suspicious of Natalie from the start.
• Kim Healey – Natalie’s coworker. She tells the detective about bullying but is blackmailed by Natalie.
• Amelia (Mia) Hodge – Natalie’s childhood friend with cerebral palsy. She died by suicide after Natalie’s cruel prank. Her memory drives Dawn’s revenge.
• Tara Wilkes – High school friend of Natalie who helped write the fake Valentine’s notes. She is murdered by Dawn.
• Melinda Hoffman – Seth’s wife, who leaves threatening notes for Natalie. She divorces Seth after Natalie exposes the affair.

For detailed profiles, see the character pages, Dawn Schiff, Seth Hoffman, Caleb McCullough, Detective Santoro, and Kim Healey.

Major Themes

• Revenge – Dawn orchestrates an elaborate frame-up to punish Natalie for causing Mia’s death. Her revenge includes faking her own murder and killing Tara.
• Workplace Bullying – Natalie and Kim subject Dawn to ridicule, exclusion, and property destruction. The bullying escalates from jokes to vandalism and gaslighting.
• Deception and Framing – Dawn plants false evidence (bloody turtle, forged emails, fake alibi) to implicate Natalie. Natalie also lies to the police and manipulates her friends.
• Guilt and Remorse – Natalie organizes a charity 5K in Mia’s memory, but her guilt is hollow – she continues embezzling and bullying. Dawn feels no remorse for her crimes.
• Friendship and Betrayal – Dawn’s only true friend is Mia, whose death she avenges. Natalie betrays everyone around her. The epilogue shows a fragile truce built on mistrust.

Explore the revenge theme, workplace bullying, deception and framing, guilt and remorse, and friendship and betrayal.

Key Symbols

• Turtle Figurines – Dawn’s collection represents her vulnerability and need for protection. The shattered figurine in her cubicle symbolizes the destruction of her safety.
• Ceramic Turtle (Murder Weapon) – Dawn uses a large ceramic turtle to beat Tara Wilkes to death, then plants it in Natalie’s hamper to frame her.
• The Charity 5K Race – Natalie uses the race to cover her embezzlement and manage her guilt. In the epilogue, it continues as a front for her crimes.
• Blocked Phone Calls – Anonymous calls torment Natalie throughout the novel, symbolizing her paranoia and Dawn’s psychological manipulation.

For more symbolism, see the turtle figurines page, ceramic turtle, charity 5K race, and blocked phone calls.

Ending Explained

The epilogue shows both protagonists unreformed. Dawn completes the 5K with Caleb, who proposes. Natalie has manipulated Seth into divorcing Melinda and continues embezzling from the charity. Dawn and Natalie strike a mutual blackmail agreement: Natalie keeps Dawn’s murder of Tara Wilkes secret, and Dawn hides Natalie’s embezzlement. Tara’s murder remains unsolved. The ending underscores that neither woman has changed; their dark secrets bind them together. For a deeper analysis, read the ending explained page.

Chapter-by-Chapter Table

For detailed summaries of each chapter, visit the chapter summaries page (link to Ch.1; all 65 chapters are linked similarly).

Common Questions and Answers

1. Who is the killer in The Coworker?
   Dawn Schiff (real name Amelia) murders Tara Wilkes to cement the frame against Natalie. Dawn also plans to drown herself to ensure a murder conviction.

2. Why does Dawn frame Natalie?
   Dawn seeks revenge for the childhood bullying that led to her best friend Mia Hodge’s suicide. Natalie’s Valentine’s Day prank publicly humiliated Mia, who had cerebral palsy; Mia died two days later.

3. Is Natalie actually guilty of bullying?
   Yes. The novel shows Natalie mocking Dawn, excluding her from parties, vandalizing her property, and gaslighting her. Natalie also bullied Amelia in high school.

4. Who is Caleb’s real connection to Dawn?
   Caleb is Mia Hodge’s half-brother. He loved Dawn even before the frame-up and agreed to date Natalie to help execute the plan.

5. Does Dawn die at the end?
   No. She nearly drowns herself but is stopped by Natalie. In the epilogue, she is alive, engaged to Caleb, and participating in the 5K.

6. What is the significance of the turtles?
   Turtles symbolize Dawn’s vulnerability and desire for a protective shell. The ceramic turtle used as a murder weapon is a twisted version of that symbol.

7. How does the novel end?
   Dawn and Natalie form a mutual blackmail agreement: Dawn keeps quiet about Natalie’s embezzlement, and Natalie stays silent about Dawn’s murder of Tara. Tara’s death remains unsolved.

8. Is there a sequel?
   The afterword introduces an excerpt from Ward D, a separate novel. No direct sequel has been announced.

For more questions, see the questions and answers page.

Test Your Knowledge

Take the The Coworker quiz to check your understanding of the plot, characters, and themes. Or try the essay prompts for deeper analysis.