Freida McFadden NEVER lets me down! Another fast paced thriller to keep me on the edge of my seat. So many twists and turns - you think you know where the story is leading and when you are nice and comfortable -it takes you in a different direction! Loved this book. Her writing style is definitely my happy place. 😊

★ 3.5 stars

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

McFadden writes a gripping psychological thriller, focusing on Brooke Sullivan, a nurse at men's maximum-security prison. What Brooke failed to disclose when applying for the job, is that her ex childhood sweetheart, Shane Nelson is serving a lifelong sentence at the prison and she is responsible for his conviction. The story is told in dual timelines, flashing back to the night of the murders and the current tense.

This book is riddled with red flags, but the one thing about Freida's books is, the twist is never the obvious choice. The red herrings made me second guess myself constantly and while I did predict part of the story, the epilogue had my jaw on the floor. I did not see that coming at all.

The only reason my rating isn't higher is because I didn't care for the FMC. She consistently made terrible decisions and was delusional. Every time she was told not to do something or given a warning, she did the opposite. Especially when something suspicious would happen, her inner monologue justifying it was senseless.

I understand the nature of thrillers, but it's just frustrating when the female lead is portrayed as daft. I found myself yelling at various points based on some of her decisions. Sometimes I found her decisions humorous (like her lack of self awareness when the murders were taking place) but overall, she just got on my nerves.

Despite this, I was invested in the story and it was a fun, fast pace read. I devoured this in two sittings and struggled to put it down. The last 10 chapters especially, made my head spin. I will definitely be continuing with her other books as she writes twists like no other!

10 years ago, Brooke and her friends were having an intimate party that ended with 3 murders and 3 survivors. Brooke not only lost her virginity, but also lost her boyfriend who she testified against in court for the murders. Her parents move her away from her hometown of Raker and life then went on.

10 years later, Brooke returns to Raker with her son after the death of her parents. She falls back into her old routine by meeting up with her neighbor Tim, who was also a survivor of that deadly party. He is nice to her and her son, but is it for a reason? She hires a babysitter that treats her son like her own child while Brooke is at work as a Nurse Practitioner at the same prison where her boyfriend is incarcerated. When bad things start happening, like prison fights including her ex and Tim being suspicious, Brooke begins to wonder if she got the events of that fateful party misconstrued. Did she get the wrong guy locked up with her testimony?

With more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, The Inmate shows Freida McFadden's style of writing that makes you question your instincts at times. You think you have figured something out only to have your mind completely blown. This book was hard to put down and the epilogue was as sweet tie-in to show the love of a boy for his mother.

Thanks to #NetGalley, #HollywoodUpstairsPress, and #FreidaMcFadden for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for early access to the new cover of this book in exchange for my honest review!
4.5 stars
I read this book last year and it was my 2nd Freida McFadden book and this one definitely left me speechless. I couldn’t stop talking about this book and I couldn’t stop recommending it to anyone who was in the market for a good mystery/thriller.
Freida has the magic touch of plot twists. Every chapter had believing someone new was the real culprit!

No one does a thriller with a surprise twist quite like Freida McFadden, just when you think you have the book figured out another twist comes. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and eager to find out how it ends. This was a one sitting read for me.

This is a really hard review to write because I loved 80% of this book. I mean I devoured it. Yes, there were ridiculous parts, and yes, Brooke made some very questionable choices, but I loved it. I could look past all that, but the ending was just so silly. It made me question why I was reading the book. There were also some weird holes/questions I was left with. I still gave this book 3 stars because it grabbed my attention and I did enjoy most of it.

As usual, Freida’s book The Inmate doesn’t disappoint! It’s a quick paced read where we follow our protagonist into her new job as a correctional facility nurse where she learns that man she dated years ago, that she testified of him attempting to kill her, serves his sentence. Theres twists and turns within the story as we’re learning the facts about the night it happened and when she has interactions with him at the jail. Theres moments I didn’t even trust my own judgement on who the guilty party was in this book. So good!

𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 :
Years after a horrible tragedy changed the trajectory of Brooke Sullivan's life, she finds herself back in the town she never thought she would come back to. What's worse, she's assigned to the same prison where someone she knows very well, is held captive. And now she must learn to ✨ survive.

𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 :
📖 The circumstances leading upto the whole situation seemed a little forced. Working at the same jail, going to the same school, etc, it feels a bit too convenient when it happens multiple times.
📖 Not enough attention was paid to the sandalwood scent being discovered on Tim. And Brooke immediately making out with him after that was rather odd at best. In general, I did not like Brooke's characterization much, there seemed to be a plethora of oddities in the way her opinions swayed at every chance.
📖 Shane seemed to be released too soon. The judicial nuances throughout the book seemed a bit off, with tremendously circumstantial evidences being deemed conclusive for convicting/arresting the men as and when her confession changed.
📖 The plot twist with Margie tied the story together. It got better from that point, and coupled with the ending note from the child, the book managed to leave an impactful effect even through the minor hiccups.
📖 It's an easy-to-read thriller that you can bring with you on travels, perfect to get you out of reading slumps.

This book has me on the edge on my seat. Freida is always a must read for me. All her books are amazing. It’s a fast paced book. I finished it in one sitting. Filled with plot twists til the very end!! Highly recommend it!!

This was my first Freida McFadden book and I had a great time with it. Can't wait to read more. The premise was intriguing and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this.

3.5 Stars

we follow brooke, who becomes an NP at a prison. the same prison where her high school sweetheart is serving out his sentence, and brooke was the one who put him there. she recently moved back to her old town and is reconnecting with people from her past. soon she is doubting how things played out all those years ago.

the ending had a lot of twists that it took me a bit to process. it was a bit much? but brooke… wow I just found her insufferable. the whole book I was just not vibing with her and felt the writing was just not good. this one was hyped up to me by a coworker but just fell totally flat

thanks to netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review

I always love the thrill & twist & turns of McFadden books. I was 2nd guessing everything too - who do you trust?
As usual, I have questions.
SPOILER:

How did Tim not realize what was in his basement???? That part sort of was like COME ON.
But I usually have one or two COME ON moments with McFadden books - still enjoy them though

I love Freida McFadden and her writing especially with the twists that I never see coming. This book was no exception, throughout the whole book I was trying to figure things out and self doubting thinking I was wrong and at the end I was 😂 I didn’t expect the ending what so ever and the epilogue!! Oh my god

I mean perfection on a page, need I say more. Every word was just perfection, the twists were incredible and once again left me reeling. I loved it

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC of ‘The Inmate’ by Freida McFadden.

I mean Freida McFadden wrote this. That’s all I need to say that should convince you to read it. Had me hooked from the first page. Just read it!

Brooke Sullivan returns to her hometown 10-years after surviving a murder attempt. Working in the local penitentiary, she encounters her high school sweetheart, Shane Nelson, the man her testimony convicted. Did she get the wrong man? What really happened that night? How will Brooke be able to move forward?

The Inmate was my first Freida McFadden novel but I see why she’s so popular. This thriller is a fast-paced, effortless read. Highly recommend to fans of whodunnits with twisty-turvey endings.

This sucks you in like all Frieda Mcfadden books do. I read it in one sitting! I love that you can’t guess the ending, although I’d say it was a bit of a cop out. But overall I really liked it and I couldn’t put it down

Freida McFadden writing is entertaining and thoughtful and she nails this genre so well. There were points in the book that I was frustrated with Brooke's character but if anything I give Freida the credit for writing characters in a way that can do this to you. The plot was interesting with the setting - a fun one. I recommend reading this in a dimly lit room to add to the element of suspense this book brings.

I am so glad to have found Frieda's books. I always enjoy reading them and recommend them to friends especially if you want something that you can get sucked into.

BIG thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. Appreciate it! ♥‿♥

This was twisty to the very end. This author always delivers an entertaining thriller. This book had dual timelines.

Freida McFadden gives us another good thriller! You know what it’s about and you think you know what will happen, but don’t stop reading!
Thank you to Freida McFadden, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC. My review is all my own.