What a ride. For starters, McFadden has such a fantastic writing style. Simple, easy to read, but packed with so many details.
For the first half of the book I was so sure I knew what was going on, but the roller-coaster that comes in the last 50 pages is incredible.

The Inmate is one of those books that leaves you thinking, Long after you turn the final page.
This was my first book from Freida McFadden, I can't wait to catch up on her whole catalogue!

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Mystery/ thriller📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A captivating thriller that had me second guessing myself

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Shocking plot twists
Alternating timelines
Bingeable reads
Fast paces suspenses
Popcorn thrillers

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Rollercoaster of a story
The epilogue

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Oblivious/ naïve FMC

Frieda McFadden writes quick and fun twisty thrillers and this one was no different. I had suspicions of some of the twists but I didn’t quite work it all out. I love when a book makes a twisty choice I didn’t figure out. Brooke hasn’t been back to her home town in 10 years but when her parents die in a car accident she decides to move herself and her 10 year old son back into her childhood home. Despite applying for every job she could and being a nurse practitioner the only job she gets is working in the maximum security men’s prison about an hour away. The only problem is her high school boyfriend who she hasn’t seen since he tried to kill her is still incarcerated there and would technically be one of her patients. Going home is always hard and reconnecting with an old friend and her ex-boyfriend makes Brooke think about the past and if she can truly believe what she thinks happens.

3.5 ⭐️

As much as I love Freida, this book was mid for me. I did how ever enjoy reading it never knowing what thought to trust when I think I figured it all out, and in typical fashion I’m always wrong!

Decent storyline, amazing twist!

Another fast paced story by McFadden that is impossible to put down. Brooke is a nurse practitioner who gets a job at a maximum security prison so she can see her former boyfriend who is there after committing several murders. After getting close to her former boyfriend again after treating him several times in the prison clinic, she realizes that she may have been wrong about what happened. Excellent mystery with a twist that is unexpected.

This book blew my mind! It follows a single mom going into her new job as a prison nurse and things aren’t as they seem. She is in her old town where she grew up in her old house & things start unraveling back to a tragic night of who did it. This story kept me on my toes and had me second guessing everything I read it in one sitting and absolutely loved every minute! If you love Frieda McFadden this one doesn’t disappoint

I have read many of Freida McFaddens books. The Inmate was not her best work. I enjoyed the multiple timelines but felt that the story was very predictable. It is a fast, easy read, but a little boring. 2.5 stars..

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review!

Wow. Going in to this with some Freida books read under my belt, I knew that I loved her writing and the way she always adds such a great twist (or twists) that I never see coming! Nobody does a good twisty book like Freida and I was not disappointed with this one! It was truly one of the most insane books I've read yet. I thought I could predict what was happening but NOPE!!! This one was definitely a 5 star read for me.

Going through the story through Brooke's eyes and seeing how the past chapters were interwoven throughout the story was brilliant. I really enjoyed seeing the build up of her past and I was making predictions along the way. It felt like a scary movie was playing in my head. The only slightly frustrating thing for me through this read was that each time Brooke made a decision I was questioning it and also wanting to have her make a different choice at points when she seemed to be getting herself in to traps.. Shane was so interesting that is all I will say.

Definitely recommend this book! I find that it is one of my favorite Freida plots. The ending really gave me whiplash in the best way.

This had to be one of my favorite Freida's! The story is twisted and the ending will leave your jaw in the floor! I was not expecting that!! Fast and easy read. The characters are fun and you'll find yourself rooting for the main character. Plot centered but plenty of character development. I read this in a day. Highly recommend if you're looking for a fun thriller.

I LOVED this book. I read it in two day because I couldn’t put it down I can’t wait for the next Freida book!

This book was INSANE! The twist at the end of every Freida book blows my mind. I was so confused throughout the whole book trying to figure out what happened. That was crazy. I heavily suggest reading it if you haven’t already. 10/10 she did it again!
Im at the point where I want Josh to have his own book because that epilogue had me screaming.

I have read almost all of Freida's books and this one is definitely a favorite!! I kept going back and forth on how I thought it was going to end... Twist after twist after twist! So good!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for this advance copy. I loved this book! I just read it in a day, so it's so good. If you are looking for a book to inmerse you as much as you forget about the outside world, this is it!

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC, 10 years after Brooke was nearly murdered she’s back in her hometown working in the prison her attacker is housed in. This book flips between the present and the night 10 years ago that Brooke was attacked. Can your memory play tricks on you in the moment you nearly die? What really happened that night and can anyone around Brook be trusted? This was a great who done it that kept me engaged and couldn’t wait to see how this all unfolded! Great twists!

Brooke Sullivan is a new nurse practitioner at a maximum security prison, trying to keep secret that the boyfriend (Shane) who tried to kill her ten years ago is an inmate there for life. He also doesn’t know he’s the father of her ten year old son. Past and present timelines weave the story forward where we discover what happened in a farmhouse many years ago. Brooke and Shane interact in the present whenever he is in a prison fight. Brooke’s neighbor Tim was also involved at the farmhouse and now is a love interest for Brooke. Rounding out the characters are her young son and the elderly babysitter. Shane still claims his innocence and blames Tim. Brooke is easily swayed back and forth, and she is a frustrating main character. Still there are many twists and turns and red herrings in this fun and entertaining book. I continue to read and enjoy Freida McFadden books! With thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. My opinions are my own. Susanh_bookreviews

So I am a Freida fanatic! But no lie its not just because of that that I absolutely loved this book. It has all of the FM markers of the good twists and the great concept. The characters all leave you wondering because it's a FM book. It was just great.

This one was full of twists and turns!! It was so engaging throughout and I absolutely did not guess the full twist. Also that epilogue had me!

If its Freida McFadden, then its a yes! I discovered this author last year, and I am totally enjoying her books. It is well written and with perfect twists! This book left me sitting on the edge of my seat

Thank you NetGalley and Poisened Pen Press for a Copy of The Inmate in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read The Inmate as I've read a few of McFadden's books before and was always blown away by the twists (coming from someone who can generally guess the ending of most thrillers). Unfortunately, The Inmates conclusion just did not have the oomph I have grown to expect from the queen of twisty twists.

As always, fast paced and easy to read. I throughly enjoyed the book, it was intense and I did enjoy the time jumps.

I gave The Inmate three stars mainly due to the ending (except for the Epilogue...wow) and some key aspects of the book were unbelievable and felt a little more research could have gone into it.

Aside from that, I will continue to read McFadden's books, I'm a sucker for a good thriller.

I'm aware that Freida McFadden is a very popular psychological thriller author, but somehow I had never actually picked up one of her books before. It seemed like a sign that just when I promised to myself to change this in 2024, an ARC of previously published The Inmate popped up on Netgalley. Of course I couldn't resist this opportunity, and especially since I always love a good thriller with a prison angle... And I definitely understand why so many people seem to enjoy her books now!

The Inmate uses a dual timeline structure, where we switch between the present and eleven years earlier when the murders happened. As often with dual timeline structures, I did prefer one over the other, as the flashbacks just had a bit too much teenage drama for me. That said, once Brooke and the rest are at the farmhouse, things get intense enough to keep your attention. The present timeline is mainly your typical psychological thriller with a main character with unreliable narrator vibes... The last especially once she starts questioning her own memories. It was this present timeline that kept me on my toes, as I was fully invested in discovering the whole truth about both past and present events.

This story is definitely more character driven, and the main characters are all flawed. I had mixed feelings about Brooke, who could behave in an incredibly stupid way in parts... But I can't deny that the manipulation, gaslighting and building up of doubt and confusion are really well done. This is one of those stories that makes you think you have everything figured out, only to drop a plot twist bomb on you that makes you question everything... Not every twist is completely credible, but it does make for a very engaging story. And that ending! I definitely didn't see that last chapter coming, and it was a great way to end things on a high note.

I'm keeping this review short to avoid possible spoilers, because The Inmate will have so much more impact if you go in blind. While this story is mainly a character driven psychological thriller, there are also plenty of moments of tension and things can get pretty graphic especially in the flashbacks. I enjoyed the prison scenes, and I loved how this book made me doubt everything I thought was a given fact. Recommended if you enjoy the genre! I will definitely be diving into Freida McFadden's backlist ASAP.