This book has some surprising twists and turns that will keep you guessing throughout. I had to keep reading to the end to find out the end of the plot.

This is my second title from Freida McFadden and I really enjoyed it! The story follows Brooke as she returns to her hometown to work in the local penitentiary. Unbeknownst to the prison, Brooke used to date an inmate, Shane Nelson, and testified against him which led to his incarceration. The story is suspenseful and the story ends with a major plot twist. This was a fast and propulsive read for me. I will definitely be reading more from McFadden.

I was thrilled to receive a copy of Freida McFadden's The Inmate, only to realize a few chapters in that I had already read it. But no matter, this author is so good you will not mind enjoying her twisty, clever narratives over and over again.

Brooke has returned with her son to live in her hometown and has taken a job as a nurse practitioner in a maximum security prison for men. It seems an odd choice, until Brooke reveals that she knows one of the inmates quite well. In fact, she might even be the person responsible for his incarceration. The unsettling atmosphere of the prison seeps into your bones from the very start, and serves to create a near palpable, delicious tension.

I love a Freida McFadden novel and this one was no different, even the second time around. If you have not yet read this brilliant author, add all of her books to your TBR immediately.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC.

✨ARC Review (Re-Release through a Publisher)✨

Brooke Sullivan is a new nurse practitioner at a men’s maximum security prison. She has three very simple rules to follow:
1. Treat all prisoners with respect
2. Never reveal any personal information
3. Never EVER become too friendly with the inmates
The only problem is….Brooke is a rule breaker. She has a connection to a very dangerous inmate, Shane Nelson, her high school sweetheart. Brooke’s testimony is the reason he is sitting in prison, and he knows it.

I am a sucker for a Frieda McFadden book, however, this one unfortunately falls into my “not favorites” of hers. I actually stayed hooked throughout, and the chapters moved quickly. McFadden slowly drops in one suspecting person after another making you question the morality of several characters. I constantly needed to know what was happening next. The ending is what dampened things for me. The twists got to be a bit incredulous, and an element to the twists felt very on point with a popular horror movie. The epilogue was twisty enough that it made things slightly more redeemable, but not enough to change my rating.

All in all, if you are a fan of Frieda McFadden’s books, give it a shot, as it seems lots of us have varying opinions on her books, and I love that aspect. I do enjoy reading her work, and some I absolutely love, and others not so much, but that’s ok. Not every book is for everyone.

What’s On The Pages:
-nurse practitioner at a prison
-shifting timelines
-a male best friend since they were kids
-a male high school love interest now incarcerated
-who’s good and who’s bad?
-who’s lying?

✨Rating✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

A special thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC! The Poisoned Pen Press version of The Inmate is out March 5th! (This is a previous title by the author picked up by this publisher)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I did not anticipate that ending! Wow! Freida McFadden really knows how to write a gripping thriller and has become an absolute favorite of mine. This book had me guessing throughout the book, just like all of Freida’s books have thus far. I really look forward to reading more of her books.

The story was really engaging. Absolutely loved it. The FMC Brooke did annoy me at times because her decisions just didn't appear to align with how she got to where she ended up in her life. I absolutely loved the ending and it couldn't have been delivered any better. I will absolutely be reading more of her books!

Freida’s books never cease to amaze me! The details on everything, I can complete image every scene in the book. And omg!! The twist and turns that the inmate had me in were insane. The storyline was amazing, we have all being a Brooke at some point in our lives. Wanting to believe our first true love is the best and we probably misjudge the situation. Even though on some level we always know the truth….but that ending!!! Ahhhhhhhh! Cheers to many more Freida Books!

As a devoted fan of Freida McFadden with a collection of her books, diving into "The Inmate" was an anticipated delight, and it certainly lived up to expectations!

The atmospheric portrayal of the prison setting, uniquely eerie in a captivating way, reflected Freida's signature style of keeping readers on their toes with constant guessing and a cascade of unexpected twists.

The evolution of Shane and Brooke's relationship, from high school sweethearts to the revelation of his imprisonment for a murder committed at the end of their high school journey, added a compelling dynamic to the narrative and something I couldn't wait to unfold

The conclusion, unexpected and jaw-dropping, caught me by surprise, especially in the final chapters. The skillful execution of the ending elevated the overall reading experience.

In the grand scheme of Freida McFadden's impressive body of work, "The Inmate" easily secures a place among my favorites. This book, with its atmospheric tension and intricate plot, reaffirms why I'm a devoted fan of Freida's storytelling prowess.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy of this book.

I rated this 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

This year I've finally started reading Freida McFadden's novels, and I've been enjoying every minute of them. The Inmate was no exception! Brooke and her son, Josh, move back to her hometown after she gets a job as a nurse practitioner at the local penitentiary. The same penitentiary where Shane Nelson is housed...the man she accused of murdering her friends 10 years prior, and he was sentenced to life in prison.

I think one of the best parts of Freida's books are the characters...they are always kind of awful or annoying in some way, but to me that gives them depth. Brooke wasn't a bad person, but she was just very naive and I wanted to scream at her sometimes. The twists were also unexpected - I for sure thought I figured it out...but I was wrong. The story did lose me a bit after the twists were revealed and motives came to light...I just had a lot of feelings and thought they were kind of far-fetched/delusional/unbelievable...but then the Epilogue brought everything together. That last chapter just gave this book the perfect ending and made up for the things that kind of took me out of the story.

This was another very enjoyable addition to Freida's collection of twisty thrillers.

This psychological thriller is a binge-worthy read. Single mom Brooke is a Nurse Practitioner who has moved back to her hometown after the death of her parents, taking a job at the local men's penitentiary. [As a nurse myself, I always appreciate when medical professionals are depicted correctly--kudos all around.] Turns out Brooke has a mysterious past with one of the inmates. Obviously, this creates some turmoil. Without giving anything away, you can see a plot twist coming and then still end up surprised once the big reveal takes place. The premise of the story felt fresh and I enjoyed the back and forth of the present and the past. I'm a sucker for a dual timeline. Fans of this genre will NOT be disappointed.

Another great one from an auto-buy author for me! Some slightly predictable parts, but with an ending that shocked the hell out of me. As always, perfectly paced and fun to read!

Initially I felt the book was kind of slow and I felt like I was able to guess the twist. Boy was I wrong. The book started to pick up very quickly. I finished it in one day. The plot was great and the twists were just shocking. There were so many twists and turns I got whiplash. Great read!

Another typical book from Freida McFadden - except that none of her plots are typical! She hooks you immediately in The Inmate and keeps you wondering until the very end - literally. There is a bit of romance as Brooke rekindles a friendship from her childhood, but there is a twist with the romance as well. Hold on readers - this one is a rollercoaster! So far, this is my favorite McFadden book, but I still need to read a few more!

Wow! This is one that keeps you guessing until the very last page! Lots of action, intrigue, reflection, second-guessing…and evil! A quick page-turner that doesn’t let go until the frightening end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book was a very easy read for me. It was my first Freida McFadden book and it did not disappoint. Just when you think you know what will happen you realize how wrong you were. There one twist then in the epilogue you have a whole new twist to think about. I really like how the book ended with the son’s chapter. I am definitely excited to read more from Freida. I highly recommend this book.

This is my all time favorite! I didn’t think any would beat Never Lie but this one I seriously could not stop listening to. I was so hooked from the very beginning on the characters and the story. I did figure the twist but it was written so so well that it didn’t take away from the story at all. I highly recommend this specific Freida book for all thriller fans, it’s amazing and it’s definitely one that keeps you entertained!

I absolutely love this book!? Freida never, I mean never fails to disappoint. She has my hooked by the 1st chapters. She always has these twists in her books that totally has you saying omg I never would have guessed.. That was totally me with this book. I had it read with then days, If not work work I would have had it read sooner because I had to know what happened to the characters in the book.. This is a awesome read and you're missing out is you don't read this....

I consumed this book in one setting. I have no regrets in the fact that I ignored all my responsibilities to do so.

Another Freida McFadden Gem! I love the introductions to her stories; they always suck me right in. I like how Freida McFadden creates such different characters and how they all have different backgrounds and careers.

Anywho.... :)

This story follows Brooke, a NP who takes a job at a maximum-security prison, Raker Penitentiary.
The same prison her ex (Shane) is serving a life sentence at for MURDER!

Of course, Brooke can't let anyone know that.
She tries to abide by the rules.
She tries to hide the fact that she knows him.
She also tries to hide other things from him, one being very important.

But, good 'ol Shane boy has plans of his own.

This story takes you on a wild ride with one heck of a twist! Actually, two hecks of a twist! Hold on tight!

◄ Review ►
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Did I enjoy this book? Yes.
Do I already forget most of it? Yes.
Do I recommend it? Yes.
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This was a super quick read, finished in a couple hours. This author has a knack for writing intriguing plots that are fast paced and packed with mystery. It was easy to follow, given there are two timelines. Usually those can throw me, but it was done well and not confusing at all.
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Did some of the main character’s choices drive me crazy? Yes. She’s told on day 1 not to get personal with the inmates. And what does she do? Give one of them her life story. Just kidding, not really. But come on, lady! Go into it knowing it might be frustrating but the ending is worth it.
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This is one of those “goal books” I call it. Need help hitting your reading goal? Pick this one up. You can finish within a day and it’ll keep you entertained the whole way.

Absolutely loved this thriller. I couldn’t put it down and now I can’t sleep, thinking about it.

The way this book pulled me in is incredible. I was guessing this whole time who was the killer and I was sure it was Tim!!!!! The ending got me staring at the pages with my mouth open, unable to accept it. It was such a good plot twist and it was just brilliant.
I am truly speechless.

Thank you for letting me read a copy of this book.