I haven't been surprised by a thriller in a long time, this was really good.

I don't remember reading a book with a similar plot to this one, it was unique. It was packed with a lot of plot twists, I kept changing my opinion on who the killer was which I loved lol.

The chapters from the past were my favorite because I thought I could figure out what was going on, but I couldn't. The last chapter shocked me though.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a kindle copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Freida McFadden, and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance (well kind of) copy of The Inmate in exchange for an honest review. I believe this is one of maybe 4 or 5 of McFaddens books that are getting a new look and reprinted by PPP. As always, The Inmate grips the reader right off the bat and doesnt let you go until your head stops spinning from the final twist. This story alternates between the present day and 10 years ago as we see Brooke trying to navigate her past with one of the inmates, Shane. Brooke is thrown for loop after loop as she tries to figure out if she testified against the wrong person. Youll be blown away by the ending. This one is out now and you need it on your bookshelf (I just bought my copy to add to my Frieda collection)!!

Woah!!!! I honestly could not put this book down and stayed up way too late to read The Inmate!
I really enjoyed Frieda's use of one chapter in the here and now and one in the past, it was like two stories being told at the same time from the same narrator. It was not at all confusing and one of the things that definitely kept me hooked! A couple of times throughout the book I thought I had worked out who the killer was, but I was only partially right and would never have guessed the motive. And just when you are getting to the end of the book and thinking ok, its all sorted I know exactly what happened and why there is one final twist and turn that will leave you going What The Actual..... !?!?!
This book has definitely left me wondering if certain things do run in families....
I enjoyed this book so much I have purchased one for my book shelf!

What a ride! I could not put this book down. Every time I thought I'd figured out the truth, bam, a new twist. 100% would recommend!

If you're in the mood for a murder mystery that feels like it's straight out of a suspenseful TV movie, then Freida McFadden's "The Inmate" might just be the book to curl up with. Think of it as the book version of that predictable yet entertaining Lifetime Network movie.

McFadden sets up a story with two clear paths, and you know the book will go one way or the other. But here's the kicker: just when you start to think, "I've got this figured out," McFadden throws in a curveball. This twist towards the end is what nudged my rating from 2.5 to a solid 3 out of 5 stars.

"The Inmate" is a fairly standard murder mystery with a unforeseen twist. It's not groundbreaking, but it does its job of keeping you entertained. For anyone looking for a reliable read with a touch of suspense, this book is a pretty good bet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this advanced readers copy in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my copy of The Inmate. 3.5 stars rounded down. This was an easy and fast-paced read that left a bit to be desired. The twists were good because I didn’t see them coming, but one was also a bit unrealistic. The main character, Brooke, was quite annoying and completely naive. Her naivety and terrible decisions took away from the story for me. Overall though, this was an enjoyable, page-turning thriller.

Honestly this was the most meh McFadden book I've read. I really wasn't into this and the ending didn't phase me at all in the way her others have. I wish I liked this more than I did because the concept was fascinating.

idk why they would give already published books as arcs. horrible main character btw. i really wanted this book turns out its already been out since 2020 im sorry but i feel betrayed

Freida McFadden's "The Inmate" is a chilling psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page. The main character, Brooke, is this seemingly normal nurse practitioner who lands a job at a creepy maximum-security prison. Big mistake, because guess who's one of the inmates? Yep, her high school boyfriend, Shane, the one who got accused of murder (thanks to her testimony, no less). McFadden does this amazing thing where she flips between the past and present, showing what happened back in high school and the messed-up situation Brooke's in now. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion – you know it's gonna be bad, but you can't look away. Brooke starts questioning EVERYTHING. Was Shane really guilty? Did she remember things wrong? Is he messing with her head from behind bars? If you're looking for a psychological thriller that will stay with you long after you finish it, grab "The Inmate."

Brooke is a nurse who gets a job at a men's penitentiary, where she breaks the rules. She gets too close to her patients and discloses personal details about herself which places herself and her son in danger. At the penitentiary is the man who tried to kill her eleven years ago. Could her past catch up with her and ruin her present? The author brings the message across of be careful who you trust. Brooke's character is a bit naive in the beginning but her love for her son reigns supreme and she does everything in her power to protect him. The author brings in a very sneaky twist to story that literally had me falling off my chair! Get this book! Truly an excellent, excellent thriller! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I liked this book and the characters. It held my interest all throught the book. But the plot twists at the end didn't hit me like they were intended

Frieda McFadden books are always a quick read! Always love her twists and turns in her thrillers. This book was a fun, quick read.

The Inmate was a fast read for me. I wanted to find out who was bad and if anyone was good. The author sure had me fooled throughout. This thriller was in no way predictive, even though other reviewers beg to differ.
Brooke Sullivan, has returned to her childhood home with her fifth grade son after her parents both die in a car accident. Brooke has grown up a lot since leaving home. Moving from the busy city and cramped apartment in Queens to her large childhood home in a close knit community seems ideal. And… Josh can get away from the bullies that tormented him at his school in Queens. Brooke is a nurse practitioner, and quite a compassionate one, but she’s having trouble finding a job. It seems no clinic will give her a callback. Then 45 minutes away she lands a position in a men’s maximum security prison called Raker the same name as her hometown. Now here is where I begin to question Brooke’s smarts. Her ex-boyfriend, from her teen years, Shane Nelson, is incarcerated in that jail for life. Brooke’s testimony is what put him there. . 10 years ago she had relations with Shane and now eleven year old Josh is the result. His father Shane is in jail for life charged with multiple murders and Brooke’s attempted murder.

Shunned by her parents because she wouldn’t terminate the pregnancy, she is now creating a new life with her pride and joy, living in her childhood home and sleeping in the parents bedroom. She has never told Shane or anyone except her parents that she bore Shane’s child. After all this happened eleven years ago, when she young and stupid. Due to her judgement decisions, she hasn’t grown out of the stupid part.

The narrative moves from the past to the present adding to the drama of the mysteries surrounding Brooke and her friends. It was the 11 ago period when Tim and Chelsea, had a weekend planned at Shane’s house without any parents knowing. The weekend starts with six seventeen year olds, mixed with alcohol, where half of them end up dead.

After her bold move to Raker, She meets up with her best friend from years ago, Tim Reese. They’ve been friends since their diaper days. Tim gets along great with her son Josh, and soon Tim and Brooke start dating. But as she starts thinking about what happened that night and odd incidences in their renewed relationship occur, she starts doubting what really happened and who killed her friends so many years ago. Did she get it wrong? Could Shane be innocent? Poor girl is so dumb and confused and has no one to turn to.

Brooke also claims her snowflake necklace was the attempted murder weapon. I don’t own a necklace that wouldn’t break before it could strangle the life out of me. Now Mr. T’s necklace maybe. Still it’s a great read!

But wait until the epilogue which was a shocker! I highly recommend The Inmate and this author, Frieda McFadden

Another good thriller from Freida McFaddan. Full of twists that you don't see coming. And then she throws in a final twist in the Epilogue. I recommend this one if you're looking for a quick and entertaining read.. Four stars.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first Freida McFadden book and I think I am now a fan. I like a good psychological thriller when I can't figure out "who done it". I love books with a lot of twists and turns and this definitely had that. I did like the main character, Brooke, but I didn't like how back and forth she was. I thought I knew who the killer was and I guess was partially right but the ending was a total shocker.

"The Inmate” by Freida McFadden was another 5-star read by one of my favorite authors! Brooke Sullivan is struggling to find a job and settles for a position as a nurse practitioner at a maximum-security prison. Shortly after starting there, she treats Shane Nelson after he was attacked by his fellow inmates. Shane is not just any prisoner though; he's her ex-boyfriend from high school. He became her ex the night he tried to kill her. Will Shane try to finish what he started, or was she wrong about what really happened eleven years ago?

The story alternates between Brooke in the present day and eleven years ago. It introduces some twists along the way, some more surprising than others. I was completely caught off guard by the final surprise. Overall, it was a great story, and if you are a fan of Freida McFadden, then you have to read “The Inmate”.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press, Freida McFadden, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

The Inmate is a psychological thriller that is interesting. Brooke becomes a nurse practitioner at a prison. She has rules she is supposed to follow and no-one knows that she has already broken one. She and a hard core prisoner, Shane, have a long history together than includes a red hot romance. She doesn't tell anyone about it and wants it to stay a secret. The problem is that Shane is manipulative and controls her through the threat that he holds over her.

I mean it’s Freida need I say more????

I will say I am usually very good at figuring out a mystery before the end of the book and I was not able to piece it all together before I got there. So I tip my hat to you!!

The internal waffling between it was you, no it’s you that ruled my life while reading this was crazy!!!

All in all she’s got the magical formula of book sitting down to a science and I can’t wait to pick up another book by her!!

Thanks so much for the chance to read another McFadden book. I'll say this one was not my favorite, although there were several really great twists. The main female character drove me crazy in this one flipping back and forth. Overall it was decent and a fairly quick read. I wanted to get through to see how it ended. And even though I knew something was going to happen I didn't figure out exactly what the last twist was until the very end. I appreciated the opportunity to read this one as I do love this author.

Who would have guessed that the lives of a prisoner, a teacher/principal, and a nurse would be intertwined and how right and wrong our memories are! Such a great read!