3.75
This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions. First it was thrilling, annoyance then thrilling,annoyance, relief and finally shock😂
I was really enjoying it but some parts annoyed me because of a certain characters stupidity.
If ignored that would've been 4/4.25.
But omg this is the first book after awhile that I finished in one settingg. So definitely recommend it! Very thrilling and page turning.

R E V I E W 🫶🏼

📚 The Inmate
📝 Freida McFadden

𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4)
𝙶𝙴𝙽𝚁𝙴: Psychological Thriller
𝚂𝙿𝙸𝙲𝙴: N/A

✨ This was an ARC gifted to me by Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. The following review is my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions. ✨

𝙼𝚈 𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙷𝚃𝚂 💭
McFadden is an expert at writing endings that I can never, ever guess. The first book I read by her was Never Lie, which gave me quite the shock – but this one even more so. The writing style was typical Freida, blunt, to the point and easy to read. While I realize her style may be polarizing, I quite enjoy it for psychological thrillers. This book was a solid, typical 3-3.5 stars for me through the entire first 80%, however the ending and its complete lack of predictability knocked it up to 4 stars. It’s not often that I can’t somewhat predict a thriller’s ending anymore! Here’s a breakdown of what I loved and what held it back from being a 5-star read for me:
❤️ 𝙸 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴𝙳:
- Unpredictable ending
- Easy to read writing style
- Fast paced read
- Unique plot

💔 𝙸 𝙳𝙸𝙳𝙽’𝚃 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴 :
- Lack of romantic chemistry
- Pretty unrealistic
- MC lacks depth

𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝙸𝙵 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙻𝙸𝙺𝙴 ⤵️
shocking endings, spine-tingling epilogues, dual-timelines, who do I trust?, fast-paced thrillers, minimal gore
Huge thanks to the publisher for my free copy of this book!

This was ok. I enjoyed the first part of it more then the 2nd half. I liked the flashbacks more than the main storyline. I think the problem for me was the main character seem absolutely oblivious to what was going on around her. She just refused to listen to anything anyone was telling her, and because of that ended up in the situation she was in. Like I said I was intrigued at first then just disappointed. Both twists were predictable and the ending wasn't all that exciting or intense. The big climax was over and done with in a page or two. The inmate was a fast read but not all that exciting.

I LOVE Freida McFadden's books!!!!!

"The Inmate" by Freida McFadden is a thriller that dives deep into the complexities of guilt, relationships, and the blurred lines between right and wrong. Set within the confines of a maximum-security prison, the novel introduces us to Brooke Sullivan, a nurse practitioner tasked with adhering to strict rules as she navigates her new environment.

McFadden's narrative immediately captivates readers as we learn of Brooke's connection to Shane Nelson, one of the prison's most notorious inmates. The tension escalates as we discover that Shane is not just any inmate; he is Brooke's high school sweetheart, convicted of heinous crimes that have left an indelible mark on both their lives. The author skillfully unveils Brooke's internal struggle, torn between her professional duties and her lingering emotions for Shane.

The strength of "The Inmate" lies in its well-crafted characters and the intricate dynamics between them. Brooke is a compelling protagonist, flawed yet relatable, as she grapples with the consequences of her past decisions. Shane, on the other hand, is a chilling figure, shrouded in mystery and unpredictable in his actions. McFadden masterfully navigates their complex relationship, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as secrets unravel and loyalties are tested.

Furthermore, McFadden's prose is sharp and atmospheric, immersing readers in the bleak and claustrophobic world of the prison. The pacing is relentless, with each chapter unveiling new twists and revelations that propel the narrative forward. As the tension mounts, the author raises thought-provoking questions about guilt and justice, challenging readers to reconsider their perceptions of morality and redemption.

While "The Inmate" is undeniably a thrilling read, it also offers depth and nuance that elevate it above typical genre fare. McFadden's exploration of themes such as forgiveness and the nature of evil adds layers of complexity to the story, leaving a lasting impact on the reader long after the final page is turned.

Well, that last pov was unexpected, my jaw dropped for a whole minute! Freida McFadden never disappointed me!😭🤍

The story follows "Brooke" who got a job as a nurse in a maximum security prison and we know in the first chapter that her ex-boyfriend is an inmate there because he tried to kill her!
It was gripping and intense read that navigates some harsh realities of prison life and the emotional depth of the story is truly compelling. I was dispersed and couldn't determine who was innocent and who's not. That's why it was a thought-provoking and powerful read that will stay in my mind forever.🤍🤍🤍

Freida McFadden, the mastermind behind gripping thrillers like "The Housemaid" and "The Coworker," delivers another heart-pounding tale in "The Inmate." This twisty thriller follows nurse practitioner Brooke Sullivan as she navigates the treacherous world of a maximum-security prison, where the lines between guilt and innocence blur.

Tasked with treating prisoners while adhering to strict rules, Brooke harbors a dangerous secret: her intimate connection to Shane Nelson, a notorious inmate serving a life sentence for gruesome murders. As Brooke grapples with her past and the repercussions of her testimony that put Shane behind bars, she finds herself entangled in a web of deceit and danger.

"The Inmate" is a propulsive and mind-bending thriller that challenges readers to redefine guilt and confront the consequences of their actions. With McFadden's signature twists and turns, this novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Prepare to be gripped by this thrilling exploration of justice, loyalty, and the price of secrets.

Wow this was crazy.
I am not gonna lie, at the start I wasn't very hooked but damn, when I got to the middle I couldn't stop
I loved this! The end left me a little bit stunned tho lol
You will think it's one and almost at the end of the book you will think it's another one and then it is a whole different thing
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Freida McFadden and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me an ARC of this amazing book. All opinions are my own

Brooke is a nurse practitioner at a men's maximum security prison. She has just moved back to her hometown after her parents death, a place she hasn't stepped foot in, in 10 years. Told in past and present POVs, Brooke shares her story of the night that changed her life ten years ago, when her friends were murdered at her high school sweetheart's farmhouse. Brooke's testimony put her then boyfriend, Shane Nelson, in prison for the rest of his life and now she is working at the prison where he is being kept. Being back in her hometown, having to treat the man who killed her friends and tried to kill her; brings up some memories from that night, but did Brooke get the killer wrong?

Review:
Freida is the queen of bingeworthy quick popcorn thrillers and this was just that! From the very first page, I was sucked in and did not want to put the book down. My mind was racing the entire time and during the duration of the book, I probably had 10 different suspects. BUT somehow, they were all wrong. And that epilogue!!!! WOW! Did not expect that at all.
Congratulations to Freida on the publication of The Inmate with Poisoned Pen Press!! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you are just starting to get into the Thriller/ Mystery genre, The Inmate is the perfect place to start. It has a small cast, was easy to read, and was fairly fast-paced. However, I think such a focused story made it easy for the reader to see where this was going. The motive was the only missing piece I was missing, but even after the reveal I still had a lot of questions that were left unanswered, or perhaps the answers provided were just unfulfilling? I definitely liked the final chapter, I think that added a nice twist to the end of the story and gave it A LOT of extra points compared it if it was not there, but it was still a pretty average read. Enjoyable, but unfortunately forgettable.

I love a good thriller and this book certainly had all the bits that make a good one. There was a wonderful twist I didn't foresee that had me gasping out loud. There were moments that felt like watching a bad horror movie and you know the character is doing something stupid that is the worst decision. Overall, it's a great diverting beach read!

I’ve gotta give one thing to Freida McFadden: you’ll never be able to guess her plottwists.
However that also leaves you with the problem of her opening plots, twisting them and never closing the original ones properly. Why was Brooke warned that Tim isn’t as nice as he looks? Why would Tim think it’s a good idea to regift Brooke the necklace?
And above all, the final plottwist?? Unless youre about to make Josh into Shane 2.0 and go down the it’s in his genes route, why would a ten year old go this far?

The Inmate is one of these novels that you have to go into expecting the wildest turns to happen while in no way wanting to be able to solve the mystery yourself,

A solid thriller, I definitely enjoyed the housemaid more by this author which is why I wanted to try another. As an avid thriller reader the TWO major twists were amazing and I didn’t see either one coming. The last 10% of the book just captured you in and the epilogue was amazing.

This book was just a good fast paced thriller. I can’t believe it’s as hyped as it is though. I enjoyed it, but it’s not something that will haunt me at night

Brooke is hired to work at a prison and if she wasn't so desperate, she wouldn't take the job give that her ex is there. Because of her.

Freida Mcfadden NEVER fails.
I was going to give more to this book because I honestly found it the most out of her style that I've ever read, but I read the book so quickly that sometimes I had to go back just to see if I hadn't skipped parts?? But not in a good way? It's not that I think the story was missing parts (or maybe it was. For example, the novel: I found it all super rushed. But I guess men are all gaslighting, right), it reads so well that there were times I didn't even notice the time passing and I couldn't believe it was already on page 200.

I've been reading reviews saying that the epilogue wasn't accurate but I don't think we read the same epilogue. I found it super interesting, especially the last sentence because it draws a parallel with his father.

The Inmate tells the story of Brooke Sullivan, a newly appointed nurse practitioner at a men’s maximum-security prison. Brooke has recently returned to where she grew up, following the death of her parents; but she comes face to face with her high school sweetheart, who is an inmate. It was Brooke's testimony that put Shane in prison for a series of grisly murders, and he hasn't forgotten that.

I did enjoy this book, but it didn't grip me as much as some of Freida's other books. I didn't overly like Brooke's character and felt that she made some exceptionally silly decisions throughout.

That said, it was still enjoyable to read, I just wasn't quite as invested as I like to be.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

Okay, this was so confusion and twisted that I liked it very much. The last 50 pages were enough to make the reading experience worthwhile. I would have appreciated some clarifications like why did Brooke take that job, why she trusts those men with her kid and few others. On the whole, it was a good read.

A nurse practitioner goes to work at a prison where her ex boyfriend is incarcerated. This sounds like a bad idea and it is. A buildup of sexual tension and suspense about what happened eleven years earlier vs today is presented in alternating chapters. This was a satisfying page turner until the last third of the story when the plot went a little crazy to tie up loose ends. the ending goes back on track as read in one sitting fast fiction. There were a couple of clever twists that I didn't see coming. Other than an overwrought resolution, this was a good read.


Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC!!

Freida definitely lived up to her legacy of writing a book you couldn’t put down. I did really like the storyline. Slightly disappointed in the final twist and ending, but overall a quick and good read!

Warning: Once you start this book you won’t want to put it down. In The Inmate, Brooke, a new nurse at a maximum security prison, knows a secret: Her testimony put one of the most dangerous prisoners behind bars years ago. As she grapples with her current life circumstances, hoping to avoid said prisoner, they meet and soon Brooke wonders if she was wrong all along. Your head will hurt (in a good way) after all the twists and turns the book takes.

Another amazing thriller from McFadden. This one had me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. I live For a good plot twist, and let’s be honest … Freida knows how to write a plot twist. I dont Think you can be prepared for the twists in this one: my jaw may still be sitting on the floor. It was an amazing thriller and I couldnt Put it down! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read it!