I am a huge Freida McFadden fan, so my review may seem biased… I LOVED this book. A choice setting to make the twists and turns even better. McFadden once again weaves this story so well that I couldn’t put it down.

Enjoyed it. There's so many twists and turns, I never knew who to believe. I changed my mind about the killer so many times. Who really killed everyone at the farmhouse and tried to strangle Brooke? Tim? Shane? Were they working together? I didn't think it some random stranger would be out in a storm and decide to randomly break into a house and start to kill everyone. After everyone found Brandon, I would have taken my chances in the rain. I'd rather be cold, wet and alive than stabbed to death. They should have also stuck together in the house. A killer can't take them all out at once. Wouldn't the police be able to figure stuff out from the crime scene? After the incident in Tim's wine cellar (basement), I thought everything was finally solved. I was completely wrong. Tim and Shane's actions made me question everything. Would Tim really give Brooke another snowflake necklace for birthday? He always seemed thoughtful. Why would he give her something to remind her of that horrible night and almost being choked to death? Unless he's the killer and taunting her!!!

Why did Brooke take the job at the prison? t was the worst thing for her. The scent of sandalwood and the snowflake necklace makes her sick but not Shane. She sent Shane to prison for trying to kill her. Raker Penitentiary would not win any awards for their health care treatment of prisoners. I know the men are in their for horrible crimes, but never having Lidocaine for stitches and ignoring bed sores on a paraplegic.

Didn't love the ending, although I was extremely surprised when the truth about everything was finally revealed. It seemed a bit rushed. With all the snow, would Brooke have been able to drive to the farmhouse? So much planning went into killing everyone at the farmhouse. The reason behind all the killings was crazy. I wished Brooke's parents would have talked to her about their fears and why they didn't want her to return home. Hopefully Josh never needs to protect his mom again. Knowing what he's capable of, he might be in a future book. If Josh had not been warned, something worse could have happened.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a good mystery/thriller that kept me guessing until the end. Enjoyed the story, writing style and characters. I liked how the book kept going back and forth between the events that happened ten years ago. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a little hard to get through because there was a lot of repetition within the chapters. It’s definitely a different writing style than that of the Housemaid series. Still really good but I slightly struggled through this novel.
I did like the flashbacks of the present to back then. The plot twists always get me and the last chapter was a total shocker!!

Honestly, I didn’t liked this book as much as I was expecting to. I was okay-ish I would say. Not a huge fan of female protagonist, she was quite naive. Plot was predictable for me. I don’t hate this book but I didn’t loved it either or maybe this book just wasn’t for me but someone else’s could like it!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Inmate by Frieda McFadden
I enjoyed this novel at the beginning, thought there was so much potential, it was a quick read, the story flowed well. I enjoyed the characters, although at times I found the main character made weird decisions or hadn't thought things through well. I liked the twists but then the ending wasn't what I had expected, it didn't leave me wowed. I found the writing was a little weak, didn't read like a mature novel, I expected more 🤷‍♀️
Most of the events just didn't feel realistic, like the 10 yr old sons actions, he's no better than his father.
I have loved the authors other novels, but this one lacked some depth

That was fun! As an occasional thriller reader I found it enjoyable. I was so eager to know what happens next, I couldn't put it down!

On the other hand, the main character was just too dumb to live. Maybe she really just should've died for her own good.

The overall plot wasn't that strong, but I had a good time regardless. But I see how advanced thriller enjoyers could find more issues with it.

"The Inmate" is a captivating suspense story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. With its intricate plot and unexpected twists, it delivers a rollercoaster of emotions that will leave readers shocked and in disbelief.

From the very first page, the author hooks the reader with a compelling narrative and well-developed characters. As the story unfolds, the tension steadily builds, fueled by a series of unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end.

What sets "The Inmate" apart is its ability to continually surprise the reader. Just when you think you have the plot figured out, another twist emerges, throwing everything into question and keeping you eagerly turning the pages to unravel the mystery.

The pacing is relentless, and the suspense never lets up, making it impossible to put down. Each chapter reveals new layers to the story, drawing the reader deeper into its web of intrigue and deception.

Overall, "The Inmate" is a must-read for fans of suspense fiction. With its gripping plot, well-drawn characters, and relentless twists, it's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

As a new nurse practitioner at a maximum-security prison, Brooke Sullivan is taught three crucial rules:
Treat all prisoners with respect.
Never reveal any personal information.
Never EVER become too friendly with the inmates.
But nobody knows that Brooke has already broken the rules. Nobody knows about her intimate connection to Shane Nelson, one of the penitentiary's most notorious and dangerous inmates. They certainly don't know that Shane was Brooke's high school sweetheart—the star quarterback, the golden boy who's serving a life sentence for a series of grisly murders. Or that Brooke's testimony was what put him there. But Shane knows. He knows more than anyone. And he will never forget! Wow! What a crazy twisted tale! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, serial killers, and some crazy twists and turns! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I’ve only read a couple of books by this author previously but this one is the best I’ve read so far tbh. It was pretty far fetched though but I still really enjoyed it and would recommend it. Managed to finish it in a day.

When I saw Freida McFadden’s name I knew I had to request this book. I actually have had it on my TBR list for a couple years so the re-release of the book under the Poison Pen Press gave me the push to move this up on my reading list.
Told in two alternating timelines (present and 11 years ago), this story is the gripping thriller I’ve come to expect from the author.
The characters are flawed but easy to love. Always a plus in my book. Of course it wouldn’t be a mystery/thriller if the FMC didn’t settle on at least 3 people being the murderer and then making awful decisions. I thought I had this book figured out but was suprised again by McFadden’s plot twist.
Grab this book and enjoy a nice spring read.
I received a ARC of this title.

That was a ride! Thank you to NetGalley, PoisonPen Press, and Freida McFadden for this ARC.

This is my second FM book, and I was definitely not disappointed. Brooke has been through a lot. Now she's a nurse practitioner working at a men's prison. There are rules to follow though- 1. Treat the prisoners humanely 2. Don't give out personal information 3. Don't get too friendly with the prisoners. Too bad for Brooke, she's already broken these rules on her first day. Her boss doesn't know that one of the inmates is the father of her ten year old son, or that he tried to murder her and Brooks testimony put him in jail

Ok the twists and red herrings in these books! Good grief. I was so sure I had called the twist! Of course my twist was a red herrings and the real twist was insane. No spoilers, but I will be thinking about that twist for a long time.

Omg! I have no words. Frieda McFadden You really got me this time. I didn’t see that ending coming. Josh killed his own father to protect his mom. I’m so speechless. I always thought Tim was the one who killed the three friends. This was a fast-paced thriller that had so many twists and turns.

I honestly can't wait for her next book!! Eek

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy of this book.

I literally just finished the book and rannnnn to come write this! Initially, I was going to give 3 stars, but admittedly, the ending really got me, so here I am with my 4.5 star review! ★★★★☆

First, here are my negative thoughts to get them out of the way..

1) In the nicest way, Brooke is an idiot lmao. I read reviews before reading and I have to agree with most readers when they say she is naive, which that might even be an understatement. At points, it was dreadful reading what she was thinking. I cannot say how many times I rolled my eyes at her or wanted to throw my kindle because she kept switching up who she thought she could trust, and I believe that was the point, but it got annoying after a while because it happened too often. She was also really cringey at times.

2) Some parts were really unbelievable. I won't give any spoilers, but really, how many people can be cycled through to take the blame???

3) The book was pretty slow for me up until literally the last hour of reading.

My positive thoughts for this book though? Holy shit. and I cannot stress enough, holy...SHIT.

The way Freida wrote Josh's character made me love him and want him as my own kid, and the relationship between Josh and Tim is literally the sweetest! Although, after a while, I was grossed out at Tim and Brooke because of...certain things and thoughts Brooke was having, but now I'm laughing about what I was thinking about Tim because I ended up being wrong in my opinion about him.

That last hour of the book...I couldn't read it fast enough. Mrs McFadden really let me think I had everything figured out, and then, plot twist after plot twist after plot twist. My god. and the epilogue????????? That's what got me the most. The very last sentence gave me full. body. chills.

This was my second Freida McFadden book and it certainly will not be my last. From the now two books I've read of hers, I can see why everybody loves her books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this advanced readers copy! I can't wait to go catch up on all the Freida McFadden books I haven't read yet!

This is quite a story. It alternates between the present and ten years ago. Brooke is a high school student, madly in “lope” with Shane, her high school boyfriend. One fateful night, tragedy befalls them along with four of their friends. Forward to the present, Brooke has relocated to her hometown with her son and she starts her new job as a nurse practitioner at the maximum security prison. There she comes face to face with the person who tried to kill her on that fateful night. As Brooke is dealing with seeing this person, she is also starting to question whether or not she testified against the right person. To complicate matters, she starts dating Tim, her friend from her youth who was with her on that fateful night. She also starts to question his sincerity. As the story unfolds, there are many twists and turns and the ending is wow!! This is one not to miss!! Enjoy!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc., for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Freida McFadden is one of my favorite authors and again she did not disappoint! I was hooked from page one and obsessively turned the pages until the very end! This story ramps up the suspense and the twists!! The Ending!! Highly recommend! I thank Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review this book!

⭐️rating: 3.5/5

Happy paperback pub day for The Inmate!

As with other Freida McFadden books I’ve read, The Inmate was a quick and entertaining read that I enjoyed. It was definitely an interesting story, and one that kept me guessing and wanting to find out the truth.

I enjoyed the dual timeline, jumping back and forth as we learn a little more each time. I had so many different guesses as I read and some were accurate, but I definitely didn’t expect the main twist. Unfortunately, the final twist and the ending wasn’t as shocking or satisfying as I hoped it’d be, so it bumped my rating just a little lower. And the FMC was starting to get on my nerves a little near the end.

But the epilogue…I knew it!!!

All in all, I enjoyed it! It was a fun and quick read, I just wish the ending was more satisfying. I loved the final line of the epilogue though!

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love Freida McFadden's books, she never disappoints! This story was fantastic & so twisty I didn't see the end coming at all!!!

Thank you Poison Pen Press and NetGalley for approving this book. Does the apple fall far from the tree? Is this a case of like father like son?? I loved the twisted story of Brooke who is a nurse practitioner at a maximum-security prison and the two men that have dominated her life you many years. She is too trusting and finds out the hard way that what you believe to be true often isn't. She's raised her son as a single mom and is responsible for her former boyfriend Shane being in that prison for trying to kill her. But he claims his innocence and she begins to believe him. As she begins a romance with Tim, someone she's known forever she believes him when he tells her she shouldn't trust the inmate as he's dangerous. When treating him in the prison infirmary he proclaims his innocence and causes her to rethink her testimony that sent him to prison in the first place. With many twists she finds out the hard way not to be so trusting. It was a good story with a great conclusion. I would recommend this book.

This is one of my top favourite Freida McFADDEN books, Compared to her other books the ending is a little more predictable, this doesn't take way from the story, as there are moments that you'll still not see coming. I loved the overall story and need more.

I swear, anything McFadden writes is gold. This was no different. It was a super easy read and I could not put it down for the life of me. And the last chapter has me SHOOK.

On a personal level I also really liked (though perhaps not the right word) of Brooke slowly forgiving Shane, and all the other feelings that came with it. I have never read anything with that happening, and it made me feel understood. And I really appreciate that.