The Inmate
4⭐️

If life didn’t keep interrupting my reading time, I probably would have finished this in 1-2 sittings. I liked that the past and present narration showed the growth in MC Brooke. The past narration definitely sounded like a high school and the present sounded more mature. The past storyline had teenage-horror-slasher vibes, but not in a gruesome way. I had to laugh every time any character would bring up a point and Brooke would instantly think “really good point” 😂 Pretty sure we could tell Brooke anything and she would throw out any previous thoughts on the matter. Great quick read with suspense and thrills throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley, Freida McFadden, and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this ARC. This review is being shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date 05 Mar 2024

Brooke returns back to her hometown after being gone for ten years and takes a position at the local prison. One of the inmates, Shane Nelson, is someone she knows very well and was the reason why she left all those years before. With her moving back all of the memories of her life here before come rushing back. However, everything Brooke thought she knew is turned upside down as details from the night that sealed Shane Nelsons fate come forward.

I thought I knew…I read this entire book thinking I knew. I did not. I was so wrong. Frieda is a great story teller and always gives readers multiple twists along the way. Both of the plot twists at the end absolutely threw me. I don’t know if I will be picking my jaw up off the floor anytime soon. The characters were written perfectly for this story, I was captivated from beginning until the end. This is in the Top 3 Frieda McFadden books for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I quickly knew after reading The Housemaid that Freida McFadden would be my new go-to for a twisted psychological thriller. The Inmate truly delivered on a book that is fast-paced, mind-bending, and overall just a good read. I was constantly second guessing myself and would not have been able to guess that ending from a mile away. So good!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Brooke finds herself back in her hometown after her parents are killed in a car accident and she’s left her parents home in the will. She hasn’t been back to Raker since she was forced out of town by her parents to hide her pregnancy. She accepts a job as the nurse onsite at Rakers penitentiary but of course that’s where her ex boyfriend currently is, serving a life sentence for trying to kill her.

You meet all 5 main characters immediately. Brooke, the main character and mom to Josh. Shane, the handsome high school football star, who is currently in jail for murder. Tim, the sweet neighbor who clearly had a crush on Brooke but doesn’t exactly fit in… And Chelsea, the best friend to Brooke through grade school.
You go back and forth through time reliving the events of the murders and through Brooke’s current life. At times I kept thinking… so what?!? There was a big plot development and then something big happened and we just moved on. Nothing was really discussed about it again. “These kids were murdered, I went to court, he went to jail, that’s it.” And then the final twist from @fmcfaddenauthor comes and you’re just left sucking your breath in.

Thank you so much @netgalley for my ARC, make sure you check this out tomorrow when it launches!

The Inmate starts with a promising premise, a woman take a job at a prison where her ex is an inmate; however, the main character is so unbelievably naïve and impressionable. I could not believe how easily she was persuaded and manipulated for a 28 year old. While there were a couple twists toward the end, one of which was pretty surprising, the story overall was predictable. This was a fast read, but I was let down based on what I was initially expecting. (3.25/5)

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Wow the creepy vibes were intense with this one. Maybe a little too intense. I could feel my anxiety spiking. It held my attention the entire time and finished it in almost one sitting. Kept me questing the entire time and my allegiance to any of the main characters wavered throughout the entire thing. Just when I thought I figured out the twist something else would happen and change my mind but the entire time nothing ever really fit and I knew something big was coming and boy did it. Not my favorite of hers because it was just too creepy. I didn’t know who to trust throughout and at multiple points I began second guessing the FMC. It lived up to her usually style of writing and kept me entertained.

Fast paced as usual. Not my favorite Frieda book. But it was okay, just fine. The “twist” was underwhelming for sure.

The twist got me good. I was second guessing who the culprit was every chance I got. Brookes history was intriguing.
All the clues that lead to the reveal made sense. And I can’t believe this only took place in one night.

It’s not often that I read thrillers, but I loved the housemaid so I am honored to have had the chance to read this in advance.

Special thank you to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for this opportunity🖤


What a ride this book was. I was on the edge of my seat and trying to wrap my head around what was happening all through out. Freida knows how to write suspense in such a way that you are feeling like you’re in a mindf*ck and just when you think you have it figured out, you absolutely do not.

This was captivating, full of suspense, and a roller coaster. The epilogue will BLOW. YOUR. MIND!🤯🤯

The Inmate had me second guessing EVERYTHING. Every time I thought I knew who I could trust it was then flipped upside down. This book gave me Prison Break vibes- minus the plot of actual prison break? Haha.

I found the FMC to be very naive and she trusted everyone a bit too eagerly. I think she should've stayed away from everyone involved in murders that happened in the past.

I don't think she should've brought the Dad back to the house so quickly after he got out of jail- regardless of her ideas on if he committed the crimes or not. Thats not the situation that he should've been meeting his son. She SHOULD NOT have gone back to that murder house..

I found this book incredibly interesting and I couldn't put it down! I needed to know exactly what was going to happen- and that happens in just about every Frieda McFadden book I've read. They're. Utterly. Addicting. You definetyl need to read this book!!!

I've read several books by Freida McFadden and enjoyed them all. She knows what her readers want in a book and gives it to them every time. Her books are not for intellectual progression, they are mystery/ thrillers and entertaining. The main character in this one, Brooke Sullivan, makes some decisions that may not be the smartest, but she manages to get herself into deep water without a life preserver on a regular basis. Every couple of chapters has a twist or two and the clues do not travel a straight line to the killer, but not many could figure out who the killer was before the reveal.

My first Freida McFadden book…I know…where have I been?! 😱

You follow Brooke who has just landed a job at a maximum security prison as a nurse practitioner. Although she can’t shake her past, especially as her ex boyfriend, Shane, is an inmate at the prison and he’s there because of her testimony.

It’s a dual timeline between now and eleven years ago, so we see the story unfold and the events play out that landed Shane in prison in the first place and this flowed really well.

It kept me on the edge of my seat with every page I read and there were a few times throughout where I thought I’d cracked it but I was so wrong!! & that epilogue!! 😵😵😵

I can’t wait to read more by McFadden!

The Inmate, and let me tell you, it's a total gem! The plot twists are like a wild ride, and the ending is pure genius—caught me off guard in the best way possible. I practically shouted 'no way!' The way McFadden crafts the story, it's like she's whispering, 'Hold on, you're in for a wild journey.' If you're on the hunt for a book that delivers non-stop surprises, The Inmate is a must-add to your reading list

Freida can do no wrong in my eyes, The Inmate is now in my top 3 books of hers. This book was so fast paced and gripping from start to finish. I literally devoured it in one sitting and not to mention all the twists that kept me guessing and I still got it wrong! I was questioning who I could trust the whole way through! I would definitely recommend this one especially if you are in a bit of a slump.

Thank you so much NetGalley, the publisher and Freida for the copy! Can't wait to dive into my next Freida thriller.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6152864254?book_show_action=false

Unfortunately this book was extremely underwhelming. When I started this book I was under the impression it was going to be a good thriller, while it was anything but. It was extremely boring, the twists had no effect and I kept telling myself it would get better. It never did. I'm giving it two stars because it's well written but that's all there is to it.

Wow! This story kept me going right up until the end! Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, Freida McFadden flips everything upside down! Definitely didn’t see the last couple twists coming! 4.5 stars!

4.25!!

McFadden can literally hook me into any thriller she writes. Although the MC was a little annoying at times — I mean all thrillers must have an unreliable narrator right? — the writing was so well paced that it didn’t ever irk me for too long.

I kept jumping back and forth on who I though the murderer was (I’ll blame Brooke here again not my lack of detective skills lol), and the last 10% was…OMG. Many twists especially that last part…. Just completely SHOOKED and honestly a big part of the extra .25 points.

Brooke is actually a little stupid and honestly thought she was above the rules a little too much. Like girl, you’re working at a high security prison and you’re not gonna follow the rules around not sharing personal details about yourself to your patients??? Dumb.

***spoilers beyond this point***

THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING!

Okay, that last chapter really bumped up my rating for this book. That’s full circle moment 👏🏼 👏🏼 honestly I was thinking there’s no way that luck was on their side and fate just happened to get Shane, but I still wasn’t expecting it to be Josh!

I thought the other nurse (Brooke’s boss) would have a bigger role in this — especially after Brooke had compared her to her mother. Also Margie??? Damn, that got me I was not suspecting her at all. If anything, I thought the guard was more likely to be in cahoots with the killer or was the killer himself.

Also you’d think Brooke would believe in herself more after have slept with Tim recently since she kept repeating that she was “familiar with the body that was on top of her.” I get why you’d start questioning yourself after 11 years, but this dude you’re not blaming has been your boyfriend for the past 2 months. I feel like that’s got to count for something and if it was him, it’s trigger some kind of memory? But I get it..it’s been a few years and his body has changed but just wish Brooke had more faith in herself!

Last thought — if Margie sold Tim the necklace that last summer, then would he have recognized Margie the first time he saw her in Brooke’s house? Or are we supposed to assume that Margie looked different then?

Brooke is back to her hometown after being away for 10 years; a tragic night where 3 couples got together and only 3 people survived, including Brooke. She believed it was her boyfriend Brandon who was the one responsible for the murders and the one who attempted to strangle her with her own necklace, he conviction sent him to prison.

Now that she is back, she gets a job as the nurse practitioner at the very hospital the Brandon is serving his sentence; and at home she has her son who was conceived on that exact night 10 years ago.

A friend from the past comes back to Brookes life and she begins dating him. Brooke begins to wonder if her testimony was correct. She never saw the murderer. Was it really Brandon? Or could it have been Tim?

You think you have it figured out but then in true McFadden style you're wrong!

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and amazing author for my arc!

Well, I never saw that coming! I love a good twist, but I live for the unexpected twists. Chapter after chapter brought new revelations, some were easy to figure out, but most were not.

Brooke is a nurse practitioner working in a maximum security prison, the same prison her ex-boyfriend is serving a life sentence in for attempting to murder her. When she finally comes face to face with Shane, he seems different, subdued, maybe even innocent?

There were many things going on in this story, and it definitely hooked me quickly, but I didn’t find it as good as her other books. For this reason, I give it 3 stars. Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

The Inmate by Freida McFadden kept my mind so engrossed I practically flew through the pages, hungry for the ending. It ticks all the bone-chilling thriller boxes, and then some. The tension is delicious!

Brooke and her son have recently moved from an apartment to a house in Raker. Brooke starts her new job as a nurse practitioner at a maximum security prison for men. She tries to convince herself that everything will be ok as long as she doesn't encounter one prisoner in particular. Shane, her high school sweetheart, is dangerous and Brooke had a hand in imprisoning him. But she can't avoid him. Prisoners get sick and injured. Who can she trust? Criminals aren't the only ones with something to hide.

Throughout the novel Brooke makes naive decisions and goes against her better judgement. But I won't hold it against her...the plot, atmosphere and tension are so good!

You cannot throw a brick without hitting a twist, right up to the clever epilogue. Just when I thought it was all wrapped up, more layers of secrets were revealed. This short novel is a powerhouse of drama and suspense. If you're seeking a breathless rollercoaster ride, this is for you.

My sincere thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this engrossing novel.