This is actually my first Frieda McFadden book and it's not that bad. The mystery hooks you but I found trouble connecting with the main character because of the naive decisions she made along the way.

Some of Freida McFadden’s books are hits, and some just don’t land for me and unfortunately, this one fell flat.

I’m not a fan of female characters who are weak, clueless, or constantly relying on a man to validate them—and that’s exactly how Brooke felt. The plot itself was pretty far-fetched. She testified that her boyfriend, Shane, murdered her friends and tried to kill her... while pregnant with his child. Then, ten years later, she moves back to town and takes a job at the prison where he’s locked up? Seriously?

Brooke reconnects with an old friend, Tim, and they start dating—while Shane insists Tim is the real killer. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot at Brooke’s choices. I know McFadden is known for big twists, but this one wasn't worth the read. Only read this book if you are a Freida McFadden die hard fan.

What the flying heck?! I knew this book was going to be trippy but the twists and turns?! And MORE TWISTS?! I’m gonna need a week or two to recover from this one for sure.

I love Freida McFadden's books! I have yet to find one that I have gave less than 4 stars! Her writing is so fun and just easy to read! the perfect popcorn thriller that also make great pallet cleansers if you have read a rather heavy book prior.
I didn't exactly care for the ending of this one, but I had a lot of fun during!

My favorite Freida so far. It had some parts that were a bit predictable but overall a solid 4.5 stars.

Brooke Sullivan lands her dream-ish nursing gig at a max-security prison… but surprise! She’s tied to Shane, her ex-high-school-jock-turned-serial-killer. Talk about awkward coffee conversations. The tension? Electric. Every scene is soaked in dread—hovering cell blocks, shady inmate whispers, Brooke’s moral compass spinning like a broken record. When Shane gets involved, the plot kicks into paranoia overdrive.

But let’s dive into the messy bits: pacing’s a wildcard. One chapter had me racing through, heart pounding; the next I was eyeballing dust on the ceiling, waiting for things to pop off. Brooke’s “naive but strong nurse” arc teetered between rebel and rabbit-in-headlights—sometimes I wanted her to step up, other times I wanted to shake her. And a few characters vanish like ghosts mid-shift—come back, I forgot who you were!

**Verdict:** A tense, tangled psychological thriller built for binge sessions—perfect for those who love claustrophobic atmospheres, brain-bending twists, and messy guilt trips. Just be cool with tempo stops, some disappearances, and a heroine whose spine flexes in weird places. Still, I was hooked—had to know if Brooke could dance with her demons or got locked in with them.

As usual, a gripping thriller by Freida McFadden. I always enjoy the plot twists and trying to guess the ending.

This was the 1st Frieda McFadden book ive read and will definitely not be my last! Just when you think you have an idea of the outcome, there are 25 more pages of twists and turns left. My jaw is still on the floor. Will definitely be recommending this book to anyone who will listen

This book has so many mixed reviews so I was glad to read it and find out for myself how it was. First off, its Frieda and she has millions of followers and even people who dont follow her, attempt her books because of how much she is loved. Anything by her is fast paced and exciting, which i love and I honestly thoroughly enjoyed The Inmate. I read for enjoyment and to take my mind off of the world. I dont read looking for plot holes and contradictions or any other negative thing to rip an author apart. If you read this one without thinking too much into it, it truly is an interestong story with alot of twists! I had whiplash many times thinking I had it all figured out, and even the very ending was completely unexpected! As a mom of a teenage boy, the last sentence really hit home for me and made it all worth it! I will keep reading more by Frieda and love her personality and connection with her readers, she is like no other author!

Thank you netgalley for this book. This is my favorite Freida McFadden so far.
I liked the plot of the book. I can’t believe I was doubting myself at every turn. After every page I was suspecting a new person and then convincing myself it’s not them 😂😂
This book took a little turn and I was here for the ride. I liked the writing style and the story kept me hooked.

Thanks Netgalley for an ARC.
Loved this thriller. Freida McFadden has proven once again.
Its fast paced and on the grip till the very end

I was really disappointed by The Inmate. The premise had potential, but the execution just didn’t deliver. The ending was incredibly predictable—I guessed the antagonist almost right away, which made the “twist” fall flat. The main character’s decisions were frustrating throughout; she constantly risked her job and personal safety in ways that didn’t feel realistic or justified. Instead of rooting for her, I found myself questioning her logic at every turn. This book just didn’t work for me. Authors need to prioritize making the main character likeable, unless there's a deeper reason to the contrary (like in the fourth Hunger Games book) but that wasn't the case here.

Fast-paced and full of jaw-dropping moments, The Inmate was exactly the kind of psychological thriller I love. Freida McFadden masterfully blends suspense with emotional depth, and I found myself questioning everyone’s motives until the very end. The prison setting added such a chilling atmosphere. Gripping and addictive!

DNF at 36%

I want to start my review by saying that Freida McFadden is one of my favorite authors and Ward D is one of my favorite thriller of all times. But I have to say I was very dissapointed in this one. Even though my last one by her was a two star—One by One. I still liked that one so much more.

To be honest the book started out well, I even got goosebumps and was very excited to continue and find out more about the past and everything that happened but everything just shifted the moment she started treating Shane after a fight...

I don't like saying that I hate a character but I hated Brooke so much, she was just so dumb and unlikable in my opinion. The way she haven't told her ten year old son about the truth of his father and didn't told the father either, even in those circumstances are just so wrong. And the fact that the kid got bullied because he didn't have a father are just so unrealistic. I lost my father when I was eight years old.
And the way she treated Shane and how wrongfully she sent him to prison. Also that she didn't told Tim about her son's age is just infuriating honestly. I couldn't keep reading this without getting so angry at her. I put it down twice because I was so annoyed by the decisions she made. The second time I realized I don't want to keep reading it, I have way better titles on my TBR to just keep torturing myself with Brooke's character and naivety.

Loved Shane though, he's an amazing and misunderstood character, I rooted for him the entire time.

Also looked up the truth of what actually happened and it's literally the stupidest twist ever. It was so unbelievable I had to read multiple spoiler reviews to actually believe it.

If you loved this book, because I know so many people enjoyed it I'm very happy for you but this unfortunately wasn't for me.

A Riveting Thriller That Keeps You on the Edge of Your Seat!
As a new nurse practitioner at a maximum-security prison, Brooke Sullivan is thrust into a world where danger lurks around every corner. Freida McFadden masterfully weaves a gripping tale of suspense, secrets, and forbidden connections.
The three rules Brooke must follow seem simple enough: treat all prisoners with respect, never reveal personal information, and never become too friendly with the inmates. But when she discovers her intimate connection to Shane Nelson one of the penitentiary’s most notorious and dangerous inmates everything changes. Shane, once her high school sweetheart and star quarterback, is now serving a life sentence for grisly murders. Brooke’s testimony put him behind bars, but he knows her secret, and revenge simmers in his eyes.
McFadden’s writing is taut and evocative, drawing readers into the prison’s dark corridors and the tangled web of Brooke’s past. The suspense builds relentlessly, leaving you breathless as secrets unravel and loyalties are tested. The characters are vividly drawn, each with their own hidden agendas and vulnerabilities.
“The Inmate” is a rollercoaster ride of emotions, with twists that will leave you gasping. McFadden’s skillful pacing and intricate plot make this psychological thriller a must-read. Prepare to lose sleep you won’t be able to put it down!
Highly recommended for fans of suspense, mystery, and psychological thrillers. Grab your copy and buckle up for an adrenaline-fueled journey through the prison gates.
Pub date 3/5/2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this one more than I thought I would. Freida is the queen of quick popcorn thrillers with unbelievable twists. Can't wait for her next book!

This book sounded interesting but ultimately it did not do it for me. I didn't really love the writing or any of the characters. It was entertaining enough, but I think there are better books out there. Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this one! The setting is what made me really interested in picking this one up. This is my first McFadden book and I am interested in reading more from her!

The Inmate by Freida McFadden is a psychological thriller about a woman, her son, and two men from her past.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Eleven years ago, a party went badly wrong.  Brooke Sullivan's boyfriend,  Shane Nelson, ended up being accused of murder due to the testimony of Brooke and her best (and oldest) friend, Tim Reese.  In addition to other deaths, Shane had stabbed Tim, and tried to strangle Brooke.

But now, Brooke has returned to her childhood home when her estranged parents die in a car crash.  She needs a new home for her son Josh and herself, and she inherited the house.  So she hires a babysitter, and gets a nursing job at the maximum-security prison.  It was the only job she could find.

Unfortunately, Shane Nelson is behind those bars, and it isn't long before they encounter one another.  Shane is still insisting on his innocence.  Since Brooke didn't actually see who tried to strangle her, she starts to believe him.  But he is still blaming Tim.

Meanwhile, she has been re-united with her old friend Tim, and they are getting close.  She hasn't told him about seeing Shane.




My Opinions:
Brooke was an idiot.  She was like one of those girls from a horror film that you are yelling at not to go back into the house.  I understand, that for the story, she was allowed to work in the prison (although in reality I tend to doubt this would have been allowed).  My bigger problem is that she just wasn't equipped emotionally or mentally to work in a prison environment.  The very first day she let personal information slip to an inmate.  That didn't stop happening.  Then there were the lies and secrets she kept.  And overall, she was just too gullible. Everyone manipulated her.  Like I said, idiot. 

So the book looked at childhood friendships and teenage boyfriends  First loves.  It also looked at secrets, lies, murder, obsession and manipulation.  It looked at nurture vs nature, and what a mother would do for her son.  And vice versa.

The plot.  While the premise was good (if a little unbelievable), the direction the plot went was just very predictable.  Well, until close to the end.  The twist in the second last chapter was definitely a surprise.   The last chapter with Tim was almost scary.  And although The Epilogue with Josh was not a real surprise (even if not feasible),  it was really good.

Overall, as much as I didn't like the traits of the main character, and felt a few aspects were a little unbelievable the book did have some interesting twists.  Yes, I had to remember it was fiction, but the book also left me thinking about what was going to happen in Brooke's life as time goes on.  And I am still thinking about it....which just had me raise my star rating to a 4.

I remember finishing the book in a little over 1 day because I was sucked in and I needed to know the ending. It wasn't the twistiest book but it kept my attention throughout the entire book. I needed to know how it would end.

I couldn’t figure out what was going to happen next or the ending.

I’ve enjoyed all the books that I’ve read by Freida and this is no exception