The Inmate is the delightfully fun, easy reading entertainment that I adore from Freida McFadden, and this served up exactly what I was hoping for when I dove in headfirst to this twisty drama.

I really thoroughly enjoyed reading this one - a woman returns home a decade after a deadly massacre left her nearly dead, and putting her boyfriend behind bars for the crime - now has her confronting her past and the lingering doubts about what really happened that brutal and deadly night and the haunting question of if she helped convict the wrong man.

A plot built with perfect pacing, messy and complicated characters who are all just a tiny bit untrustworthy, and deliciously twisty reveals makes for spring reading that hits all the notes and leaves you satisfied. I can say that in all my guessing about the twists, I got exactly none right and that makes for the kind of thriller that is must-have reading in my books.

No spoilers, but go into this one ready to have some fun, and ready to relax into an easy story that will keep you glued to the page from start to rollercoaster finish.

Many thanks to the publisher for my copy!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6315877334


I did not like the main character, her actions on so many levels did not come across as very intelligent. The first twist was interesting, the 2nd one was unnecessary. And it is amazing how people tend to just believe and like the main character when she is the most twisted character in the story.

** I received this as an arc through NetGalley, all of the opinions following are my own, and I have not been paid for my opinion.**

In "The Inmate," nurse practitioner Brooke Sullivan navigates the delicate balance of her professional duties and a secret connection to Shane Nelson, a dangerous inmate and her former high school sweetheart. Despite strict rules against personal involvement with prisoners, Brooke finds herself entangled in a complex web of loyalty, guilt, and the haunting memories of her past. As she grapples with the consequences of her actions and Shane's unwavering presence, Brooke must confront the truth that some bonds can never be broken, even behind bars.

Ratings:
1. **Plot and Storytelling:** 5/5 I was captivated by the plot of this book; it was incredibly intense. The twists kept me on the edge of my seat, and some parts felt chillingly realistic.

2. **Characterization:** 5/5 The characters in this book felt exceptionally authentic and well-developed. Their personalities were believable, and I appreciated how my perception of them evolved as the story progressed.

3. **Writing Style:** 5/5 I found Miss McFadden's writing to be gripping, fast-paced, and thoroughly enjoyable.

4. **Originality:** 4/5 This book offered a fresh perspective on the murder mystery genre. I liked that it didn't solely focus on the dynamics within the prison but explored a broader mystery.

5. **Emotional Impact and Resolution:** 5/5 This book elicited a range of emotions from disbelief to fear and concern for the characters. It had me completely hooked. The ending was immensely satisfying and tied up the story beautifully.

Overall rating: 4.8/5

Yes, I would consider buying a print copy of this book. However, since it's available on Kindle Unlimited, I suggest reading it there. I found it quite enjoyable and believe it's a great representation of Miss McFadden's writing.

If you enjoyed this book, I recommend you read some of Freida McFadden‘s other books, such as Never Lie or The Housemaid. you might also want to check out The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, or for a more domestic thriller, The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose.

This book was utter chaos!

Brooke Sullivan gets hired on as a nurse practitioner at a high-security male prison back in her hometown where her past comes back to haunt her. She also knows that a big part of her traumatic past lies within the prison itself - her high school boyfriend who's been in jail for the past 10 years.

I kept thinking I knew exactly what was going down and then BAM another twist I never saw coming. Although the chain of events throughout the novel seem highly unrealistic and I wanted to shake Brooke for acting so DUMB - this story was quick paced and utterly addicting ! Love love loved the epilogue! Perfect way to tie things off.

This was actually my very first thriller by McFadden , the only other two books of hers that I've read are two of her medical humour/romance novels. I definitely have some catching up to do cause I have almost all of her books on my TBR.

Oh and wow! Another Freida McFadden book that I could not put down! She is quickly becoming one of my favorite suspense authors! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 ⭐
ARC REVIEW!!! what a complete and utter mindf*ck!! this book had me thinking all sorts of things throughout and for sure caught me off guard with the twist! i loved this story line and thought it was super interesting! i couldn't stop reading!

also, the epilogue was f*cking crazy! i kind of had a feeling that would happen, but still threw me for a huge loop! and i can't believe that the book just ended that way!! like i need more after the ending!!! i wish there was a sequel to this book because i needed to read it yesterday...

thank you to Freida McFadden and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

I read The Inmate in one sitting because it's the kind of book that easily catches your attention! I wanted to get to the end to know what happened! However, I will admit that I was a little bit disappointed when the plot twist was revealed, as I had guessed the plot twist in the beginning of the book. Despite having guessed it, I will say that there were a few moments that I questioned myself because of the author's writing and the unreliability of the main character (which I loved).

I loved this book. A Freida McFadden classic with all the suspense and twists. Plus the way the author always end on a cliffhanger. An absolute favourite. I've read about all of Freida McFadden books and I'll always recommend them. Thank you, Netgalley for giving me this book.

Freida McFadden can do no wrong. Once again, it’s a book that I couldn’t put down. It’s face paced full of twists and turns that keeps you invested from start to finish.

3.5 stars, rounding up to 4.

A classic thriller with a bunch of red herrings & a lot of predictable plot points, BUT I will say that I didn’t fully guess all aspects of the final twist(s?) & that’s why I’m rounding up to 4 stars. One thing that drove me INSANE while reading this though, was how dumb and naive Brooke, the protagonist, is. She just never picks up on obvious signs or things at all, which frustrated the hell out of me — but alas, she gets there eventually and kind of redeems herself at the end (emphasis on “kind of”). But a satisfying ending for sure; and ooooh what an interesting epilogue - very unexpected.

I can definitely say I power-read this book — I couldn’t put it down! Loved the way McFadden kept going between past and present in each chapter, with the former chapters being the “fateful night” that sets the rest of the story in motion. So the whole thing was very fast-paced in a good way - which I loved because I never got bored! This was my first McFadden read, so I’m excited to pick up some of her other popular books! Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow another brilliant book from this author. Great characters and full of twists and turns . I really did not expect this ending and was glad it wasn’t really long and drawn out like some endings are . I highly recommend this book . 5 stars from me

The Inmate follows Brooke, a nurse who returns to her hometown 11 years after nearly being murdered by her high school boyfriend. Unable to find other work, she lands herself a job at Raker prison, the same place her attempted murderer still resides after she helped to get him put away.

As she reconnects with people from the past and reflects on that awful night 11 years ago, more information is uncovered making her second guess her beliefs.

This was my first Freida McFadden book and I had very high expectations after hearing so many good things. While the chapters were short and easy to binge read, the plot still felt slow to me at times but not in a sinister, tension filled way. The twists at the end were good, and I was proud that I did guess some things correctly but others totally threw me!

The main twist actually had me laugh out loud and mutter "WTF" it was so unexpected and kind of unhinged. I definitely enjoyed the end and it did have me holding my breath at times there. I would definitely recommend to those that enjoy thriller books and that are looking for an easy read.

The Inmate is being reprinted on 5/3/24.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an eARC in return for an honest review.

A tight, suspenseful story that I think could be really popular for bookclubs. The author is having a moment of high popularity and did not disappoint with this newest release.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC to read and review.

Another amazing, addictive, entertaining, and hard to put down book. Freida McFadden is the queen of twists and turns! I found this book to be gripping from the very beginning! I couldn’t put the book down. I wanted to know what was going to happen.

The epilogue was mind blowing 🤯

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

My third Freida McFadden book and let me tell you it did not disappoint! I am about to go down a Freida McFadden era.
This book follows Brooke a nurse practitioner who got a job at the maximum-security prison where one of the inmates is her high school sweetheart Shane which she helped put in prison. This book had me literally on the edge of my seat, just when I thought I knew something it turned out I was wrong, and I was second guessing myself. The plot twist at the ending and epilogue was just wow, I did not expect it. Definitely would recommend this book.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #PoisonedPen for the opportunity to get an advanced reader copy of this book.

One of my favorite Freida McFadden books! She always knows how to keep you guessing and make your jaw drop. I couldn’t put this book down and the ending was so surprising!

Brooke is a nurse practitioner at a maximum security prison. What everyone else doesn’t know is she has a history with one of the inmates, Shane Nelson. Is Shane really guilty? What would he do to get revenge on the person who put him behind bars?

I did find the plot to be a bit predictable but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this nonetheless! I read this in one sitting, I could not put it down!

Great story line with more twists and turns than anyone could possibly expect and at the end, it is a complete surprise even though you know you should expect it.

Possibly one of the most ehhhh books I’ve read in a while. If the other books I’ve read this year hadn’t been so good, maybe my standards would have been lower but I was honestly kind of disappointed. I’ve heard so many good things about Freida, this book especially. It was a fun, easy read but I felt like there was something lacking. The twist at the end was really good, but I had to read 90% of the book before I got to that point. If you want a fast paced read that you’ll get through in a few hours, this is a great book. However if you’re looking for a more in depth storyline you won’t find it here.

Brooke is a nurse practitioner who has moved back to her home town. Here, she gets a job working in a maximum security prison where the person who tried to kill her 10 years ago is currently incarcerated. Brooke knows the rules. Don’t get to know the prisoners and don’t share any personal information with them. However, this becomes challenging when she encounters Shane, her ex-boyfriend and attempted murderer. Shane tells Brooke that she has it wrong. He did not try to kill her. Will Brooke be persuaded by Shane? Will she fall back into old habits and get close with Shane?

This book was my first book by Freida McFadden. I absolutely loved it. Just when I thought I had everything figured out… I didn’t. The twist at the end had me sitting on the edge of my seat. I could not get through this book fast enough.