I wanted to love this one so much. It was a super fast read. The twists just didn’t hit like they usually do in her books.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the ARC.

The Inmate is another great story full of twists from Freida McFadden. Revolving around young mum Brooke, whom returns to her hometown and dark past when her parents die. Taking up a nursing job in a local jail - there’s an inmate inside that knows Brooke intimately, and is responsible for him being there…

I loved all the twists as always in this book. It’s fun to play detective and try and work out who did what. There’s an element I worked out but not another which was good gratification of being right but also on not having it all worked out either! Read this in two sittings

Clearly I’m in the minority here but I thought the only good thing about this is it’s a quick read and it jumps into things right away. I’ll admit that the author made me want to find out what happened, sure, but I can’t get over the fact that none of it would have happened if Brooke wasn’t such a f**king idiot. Her decisions were totally out to lunch. I’m sorry, but would you really go back to your hometown where you were a murder survivor and were never really quite sure which of the boys did it? Would you really go back and work at the jail that the man who tried to murder you lives in? Would you really start dating the other man who may have tried to kill you? Would you ignore all the red flags? Would you return to a small town if you didn’t want your son’s father’s family to find out about him? Would you really let not get up to check and see if your car was gone? Would you really let the man who just got out of jail spend alone time with your son? She annoyed me the entire time and I couldn’t wait to get it over with. The epilogue was also unbelievable but I guess it was a decent twist. I don’t know; I don’t really get what the hype around Frieda McFadden is all about.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Such a great book! Freida does it again. I love how you truly don' t know what is going on with each character until the very end. Can't wait for more from her!

I loved this one!! Freida never disappoints and this book was no different. There were lots of twists and it’s a book I will remember for a long time!!

Ok, wow. Can we talk about how evil some of these characters are? Entirely evil, to the core? And the ending from the child's perspective gave me shivers (and maybe nightmares). I'm not sure why this book is being re-released, but it sure deserves the attention.

Freida McFadden books are my go to for audio books so it was a treat to read a text. I read this one is a day and was very invested. I don't always like a book about inmates/criminals but she made this one work for me. Brooke Sullivan is a nurse practitioner who moves back to her hometown for a job. Her best option is at a men's prison - and guess what - her high school boyfriend is an inmate. He was convicted for killing not just one person - but many people in the town. And Brooke's testimony is what landed him behind bars!

As with all McFadden books there are lots of twists and turns and you have to pay attentiion all the way to the last page to find oout how it ends!!Yes, it is a tad predictable and some parts are a little hard to believe - but as with all her others it was addicting!

Ooh loved this book from this fabulous author. Fab story about a nurse working in a secure unit where her ex boyfriend is currently serving time for a crime against her when they were teenagers. She has a son and has recently moved back to her hometown where all the memories come flooding back and she begins to challenge her recollection of the crime. Great characters, twisty, great story!

This was such a perfect escape, exactly what I needed. As always by Freida’s books, your expectations for a good gripping thriller are met, maybe even exceeded. I was hooked right from the start and my jaw hit the ground in the end. I swear she writes the most unexpected plot twists.
What I especially enjoyed was the past-present timeline and the great small town atmosphere. Who would have thought that I would enjoy a thriller that takes place most of the time in jail. That’s such an original idea.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Happy (day after) publication day! This was the first Freida McFadden book I've read and it was fine! I read it in one day so it kept me captivated but the story was incredibly convoluted and I need some basis in reality for my thrillers/mysteries to feel like they've hit the mark.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the arc!

Brooke is going to work at a maximum security prison. There is someone in there she does not want to see. Follow along and see how things shape up. A couple times I thought I had figured this one out but as usual, nope.. I loved the pace of this book and the twists. So good.

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.