My first Freida McFadden and I am a fan now. The way she built the story and the last half of the book with climax was totally gripping and unpredictable, exactly how a thriller should be. While in the beginning, I found all bits of the puzzle too fitting together and thought this would be a usual story which has good narration but no nail biting moments. But I was proved utterly wrong. I loved the twist that came at the end when the antagonist was revealed and was blown over by their wickedness. I love these kind of thrillers that are built over a period of time since there are too many people under suspicion that fuel your imagination all through. Really loved reading this one.

Frieda McFadden's books are popcorn thrillers. Easy to read, tons of twists, and quick. While I don't love them, they are enjoyable enough to be a palate cleanser in between other bigger or harder to read books. Kinda formulaic in the way that you know you are going to have multiple twists, the person you think it is is never the person that it ends up being, and it jumps back and forth in time.

The Inmate was another one of the popcorn thrillers. 11 years earlier a girl, Brooke, was attacked at a party where 3 other people died. After accusing her boyfriend and sending him to prison, she stays away from the town until she makes the decision to move back into her parents house when they pass 10 years later. She goes to work in the prison as a nurse and meets up with an inmate, her ex boyfriend that she put in prison. As she navigates moving back into her old town and in a sense, her old life, things become more complicated as another woman is murdered. The story jumps back and forth from the present to the party in the past when her whole world changed. Did she put the right person in prison?

Some people absolutely love McFadden's books, whereas I am someone who can take them or leave them. Enjoyable enough to read, but not something I would necessarily seek out. Good books for people just getting into the thriller genre or who want something to get themselves back into reading.

Brooke used to grow up in Raker and now she's back to Raker with her son. Desperate for a job, Brooke accepted a one year contract job at maximum security prison for men. No befriending any inmates is one of the top rule, but Brooke actually knows someone there, serving a life sentence without any parole, and Brooke was the one put him there. It's Shane Nelson, her highschool sweetheart.
Eleven years ago, six teenagers had a sleep over at Shane's house, but the night turned into an unforgettable nightmare. A few of them were murdered that night.
With Brooke seeing Shane and Tim in her childhood town, it opens her memory to that horrible night and she starts questioning herself if she put the right person into the prison.

Definitely a page turner popcorn thriller from Freida. And I shall always remind myself that that there's always illogical things within popcorn thriller 😆

Freida McFadden creates such a freaky, edge of your seat thriller that takes me to the point of nausea, in a good way! This one was no exception. I enjoyed reading this but the physical side effects it gave me, I was glad when I finished it!

The Inmate by Freida McFadden was full of twists and turns. I was captivated throughout the story and the ending was a definite surprise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

My Amazon account got hacked so I signed it of all devices which included my kindle. When I got back on I could not open this title (which sucks bc I was literally about to start when this happened) and now it’s archived so I can’t send a new copy to my kindle. Sad for me

This is my fourth Freida book, and I have liked all the others I've read, but this one just didn't click for me. I feel like the MFC was unbearable and the plot was incredibly predictable, even the epilogue that was supposed to blow my mind.

Thank you Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Freida McFadden for the eArc of the Inmate.

I am fairly new to Freida's writing and her books and the few I have read have been good. I did however feel that this one missed the mark a little but not sure why. The characters in the book were well fleshed out and mostly likeable in some way or another, Its always good to have a mix of characters, some unreliable, unlikeable, so it was inclusive in the mix of personalities. I really like Freida's writing style, the pacing is always good as this one is medium paced with a few ebbs to then gather pace again. The pay off was good, but I felt a little far fetched. Even though its fiction and you're allowed any ending you like. It just didn't gel for me personally.

Its a 3.25 for me, however, Ill still be reading her books in the future.

I’ve read several books by this author but this one was a miss. The premise was decent but the reveal of what actually happened was extremely far fetched and missed the mark for me. I’ll likely read more by the author, however bc her books are easy popcorn thrillers for me to read between other books.

Freida McFadden’s “The Inmate” is an electrifying and masterfully crafted psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. McFadden’s ability to weave a suspenseful and multi-layered narrative is truly impressive, making this novel a standout in the genre.

The story centers around a former nurse who takes a job at a prison, only to find herself entangled in a web of danger and intrigue. McFadden’s protagonist is a compelling character, whose strength and vulnerability make her both relatable and admirable. As she navigates the perilous environment of the prison, the tension is palpable, and McFadden expertly builds suspense with every chapter.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its richly developed characters. McFadden excels in creating complex, flawed individuals whose motivations and actions drive the story forward. The interactions between the protagonist and the inmates are fraught with tension and ambiguity, adding layers of psychological depth to the plot.

The pacing of “The Inmate” is impeccable, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. McFadden’s writing is crisp and evocative, painting vivid scenes that immerse the reader in the grim and unsettling world of the prison. The atmospheric setting adds to the overall sense of dread and urgency, making the novel impossible to put down.

“The Inmate” is a gripping and thought-provoking thriller that explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the human capacity for resilience. Freida McFadden has delivered a page-turner that is as intellectually stimulating as it is thrilling. This book is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense and anyone looking for a novel that will keep them hooked from the first page to the last.

Freida McFadden does it again!!

When Brooke's parents die, she decides to move back to her hometown with her 10 year old son. She gets a job as a nurse practitioner at the men's maximum security prison about an hour away. It was the only job she could find, and it just so happens to house Shane, a man she put in there for trying to kill her almost 11 years ago who was also her boyfriend. To add more layers to the trauma, she got pregnant with her son the night she was almost killed.

As she settles into her routine, there are other run-ins with her past. She bumps into her childhood best friend, Tim, who also survived that night. He has always had feelings for her, and he convinces her to explore those feelings as they get reacquainted. But can she really trust him? There is a nagging feeling that she might have put the wrong guy behind bars.

As she navigates her new life, Brooke has to figure out who she can trust, what the truth is from the past, and most importantly, protect her son at all costs. The twists in this book were so good. You think you are being set up for one path, just to get thrown off that path and onto a new one. The end was shocking and so good. McFadden does a fantastic job of layering in twist after twist, keeping readers in suspense. I had a really hard time putting this down once I started which seems to be a theme every time I pick up one of her books.

Loved this one! So many twists and turns all along the way - kept me guess the entire time. Never would have suspected the end. The building suspense the entire time and constant guessing had me interested from start to end.

So, here's the thing. I keep requesting books by McFadden, and while they are quick reads I never am fully satisfied. I am not sure what the issue is. The storylines are good enough but I think the writing just doesn't grab me like I want it to.

I devoured The Inmate by Freida McFadden in one sitting, unable to tear myself away from the dark and twisted world of a maximum-security prison. The author's masterful storytelling weaves a complex web of intrigue, as the protagonist's journey into the depths of human depravity reveals the shocking secrets behind the prison's walls. With its gripping plot, memorable characters, and thought-provoking themes, this psychological thriller is a must-read for fans of Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins. Be prepared for a sleepless night as you're drawn into the claustrophobic world of The Inmate, where the lines between good and evil are blurred and the consequences are devastating.

I know Freida McFadden is super popular, but this is my first foray into her writing. She did not disappoint! This is exactly how I like my thrillers to be: fast-paced, dark, and with some serious twists and turns. This was definitely a bit silly in some places (like no background check on someone working in a prison with an inmate that she's connected to), but I did not expect the ending at all. There were some elements that also felt repetitive, but I didn't mind since each chapter seemed to fly by. And like most books within this genre, the main character made some seriously questionable choices, but I will definitely read more of her writing for sure!

yet again Frieda McFadden has given us a cracking book, love the prison aspect of this book I don't think I've ever read one set around a prison.
Great writing as always, great story line that had you gripped from the beginning. I don't think you should pass this one up. Go read it!!
Twists are her best thing and it doesn't stop in this book!

4.5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and Freida McFadden for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is a psychological thriller that follows two timelines. One is present time and the other is roughly 10 years earlier.

Our main character starts working at a men's maximum security prison as a nurse practitioner. The only problem is her high school ex-boyfriend is in there for life for multiple murders, and Brooke helped put him there.

I was gripped from the very first chapter. I couldn't put it down. There were so many twists throughout. I thought I knew what was going to happen, but I was wrong every time.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to read an unputdownable thriller. With this being my second Freida McFadden book that I have absolutely loved, she has become one of my new favorite authors. I can't wait to pick up more books by her.

This is the 4th Freida McFadden book I've read and she is fastly becoming a top 10 author. I liked this book, didn't love it but was definitely readable. Tells the story of Brooke, a nurse practitioner who gets a job on a prison where her once boyfriend is serving time for a crime she was witness too when they were all young . Bit did he do it? I found it a bit far fetched tbh, which spilt it for me as the storyline wouldn't happen in real life. I know it's a novel but when things are a bit daft, it stops me loving them. Still an enjoyable read though, just not one of my faves.

From time to time I like to leave my Romance bubble and embark on a thriller journey, ideally a one that will keep me guessing until the end. This is my first Freida's book, and honestly I will be coming back for more!

This was an exciting, entertaining and addicting journey! It is told in dual timeline, alternating between the past (11 years ago) and the present. I enjoyed the pace and the twists and turns, and this story kept me captivated until the end. And that ending?? 😱😱😱 The epilogue?? Shocking! Unexpected! Left be gasping and saying WTF.

I had a bit of a hard time connecting to Brooke and sometimes I just wanted to shake her to come to her senses, but honestly this is something I can overlook, because the story itself was a wild ride and no matter how hard my brain worked – and worked it did, – it honestly gave me what I always look for in a good thriller: it gave me tension, it gave me suspense, it kept the wheels in my brain working hard, so it's a win for me!

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!

Freida McFadden is the queen of twists! What a wild ride! Not my favorite book by her but it definitely did not disappoint.