Freida can do no wrong in my eyes, The Inmate is now in my top 3 books of hers. This book was so fast paced and gripping from start to finish. I literally devoured it in one sitting and not to mention all the twists that kept me guessing and I still got it wrong! I was questioning who I could trust the whole way through! I would definitely recommend this one especially if you are in a bit of a slump.

Thank you so much NetGalley, the publisher and Freida for the copy! Can't wait to dive into my next Freida thriller.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6152864254?book_show_action=false

Unfortunately this book was extremely underwhelming. When I started this book I was under the impression it was going to be a good thriller, while it was anything but. It was extremely boring, the twists had no effect and I kept telling myself it would get better. It never did. I'm giving it two stars because it's well written but that's all there is to it.

Wow! This story kept me going right up until the end! Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, Freida McFadden flips everything upside down! Definitely didn’t see the last couple twists coming! 4.5 stars!

4.25!!

McFadden can literally hook me into any thriller she writes. Although the MC was a little annoying at times — I mean all thrillers must have an unreliable narrator right? — the writing was so well paced that it didn’t ever irk me for too long.

I kept jumping back and forth on who I though the murderer was (I’ll blame Brooke here again not my lack of detective skills lol), and the last 10% was…OMG. Many twists especially that last part…. Just completely SHOOKED and honestly a big part of the extra .25 points.

Brooke is actually a little stupid and honestly thought she was above the rules a little too much. Like girl, you’re working at a high security prison and you’re not gonna follow the rules around not sharing personal details about yourself to your patients??? Dumb.

***spoilers beyond this point***

THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING!

Okay, that last chapter really bumped up my rating for this book. That’s full circle moment 👏🏼 👏🏼 honestly I was thinking there’s no way that luck was on their side and fate just happened to get Shane, but I still wasn’t expecting it to be Josh!

I thought the other nurse (Brooke’s boss) would have a bigger role in this — especially after Brooke had compared her to her mother. Also Margie??? Damn, that got me I was not suspecting her at all. If anything, I thought the guard was more likely to be in cahoots with the killer or was the killer himself.

Also you’d think Brooke would believe in herself more after have slept with Tim recently since she kept repeating that she was “familiar with the body that was on top of her.” I get why you’d start questioning yourself after 11 years, but this dude you’re not blaming has been your boyfriend for the past 2 months. I feel like that’s got to count for something and if it was him, it’s trigger some kind of memory? But I get it..it’s been a few years and his body has changed but just wish Brooke had more faith in herself!

Last thought — if Margie sold Tim the necklace that last summer, then would he have recognized Margie the first time he saw her in Brooke’s house? Or are we supposed to assume that Margie looked different then?

Brooke is back to her hometown after being away for 10 years; a tragic night where 3 couples got together and only 3 people survived, including Brooke. She believed it was her boyfriend Brandon who was the one responsible for the murders and the one who attempted to strangle her with her own necklace, he conviction sent him to prison.

Now that she is back, she gets a job as the nurse practitioner at the very hospital the Brandon is serving his sentence; and at home she has her son who was conceived on that exact night 10 years ago.

A friend from the past comes back to Brookes life and she begins dating him. Brooke begins to wonder if her testimony was correct. She never saw the murderer. Was it really Brandon? Or could it have been Tim?

You think you have it figured out but then in true McFadden style you're wrong!

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and amazing author for my arc!

Well, I never saw that coming! I love a good twist, but I live for the unexpected twists. Chapter after chapter brought new revelations, some were easy to figure out, but most were not.

Brooke is a nurse practitioner working in a maximum security prison, the same prison her ex-boyfriend is serving a life sentence in for attempting to murder her. When she finally comes face to face with Shane, he seems different, subdued, maybe even innocent?

There were many things going on in this story, and it definitely hooked me quickly, but I didn’t find it as good as her other books. For this reason, I give it 3 stars. Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

The Inmate by Freida McFadden kept my mind so engrossed I practically flew through the pages, hungry for the ending. It ticks all the bone-chilling thriller boxes, and then some. The tension is delicious!

Brooke and her son have recently moved from an apartment to a house in Raker. Brooke starts her new job as a nurse practitioner at a maximum security prison for men. She tries to convince herself that everything will be ok as long as she doesn't encounter one prisoner in particular. Shane, her high school sweetheart, is dangerous and Brooke had a hand in imprisoning him. But she can't avoid him. Prisoners get sick and injured. Who can she trust? Criminals aren't the only ones with something to hide.

Throughout the novel Brooke makes naive decisions and goes against her better judgement. But I won't hold it against her...the plot, atmosphere and tension are so good!

You cannot throw a brick without hitting a twist, right up to the clever epilogue. Just when I thought it was all wrapped up, more layers of secrets were revealed. This short novel is a powerhouse of drama and suspense. If you're seeking a breathless rollercoaster ride, this is for you.

My sincere thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this engrossing novel.

The inmate was a great Suspense/Thriller that kept me guessing from the beginning until the end. It had a lot of shocking surprise twist all throughout the book too. Personally I could not stop reading this book because I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next. I read this book in two days. This was my first book that I have ever read by Freida McFadden and I loved it. I am planning to read some more of her books. Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the opportunity to receive a ARC copy of this book to read and review.

@fmcfaddenauthor is easily one of my favorite authors. I have absolutely loved everything I’ve read by her. This was no different. It was a little slower than some of her other works but by no means dull. It was gripping and I was invested from the beginning. At the end the suspense gave me such anxiety! I could not put it down, the twists and turns just made it so good and OH. MY. GOD. that epilogue!!! HOLY.CRAP!!! CHILLING!!!

My adult kids are loving Frieda McFadden's books so I decided to try one out and I really enjoyed it! Psychological thrillers are not my normal read but it was fun to read something different and quick to get through! I totally enjoyed the mystery and the twists. I also listened to the audio book and feel like the narrator was perfect.

Now I 'm ready to read The Teacher and whatever else I can get my hands on by Freida!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 5 March 2024

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy.

This is my first Freida McFadden book, and I get why people call her work "popcorn thrillers." This is a good time that leads me straight through the story. It's got a couple parts where I was like what or how would that work. It's fast paced, enjoyable. Would I read more from the author? Yes, I would.

Rating: 4/5

What a gripping read. Brooke is a nurse practitioner, who has moved to a new town, Raker, to start her first day on the job at the men’s maximum-security prison. This wouldn’t have been her first choice of jobs…but it was all that was available and inside the prison lies the reason for her nightmares, her high school boyfriend Shane.

Even though Brooke frequently frustrated me with her naivety, the storyline kept me hooked. I kept trying to figure out who was guilty, and I changed my mind so many times. There were so many red herrings that I just couldn’t make up my mind. It took me a while to figure out who the villain was and the epilogue was just “chefs kiss” and something I didn’t see coming at all. The over all story is woven with suspense, unexpected twists and a lot of emotion, with well developed characters and a past/present timeline that will keep you engaged until the end.

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press, Freida McFadden & Net Galley for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book kept me on my toes with the many twists it has. I enjoyed the alternating chapters which showed the present and 12 years earlier. Definitely an attention grabbing book. I definitely did not see multiple twists coming. And the epilogue was a shock! I don’t know how Freida does it!
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am a huge Freida McFadden fan, and I have loved so many of her books. So I was excited to read this release.

The story follows Brooke who has just moved back to her hometown with her 10 year old son. She just got a new job as an NP at a maximum-security prison because she was desperate for work. This prison is also where her ex-boyfriend and father of her child is serving a life sentence all because of Brooke. This book has dual timeline POV- present and rewinding 11 years ago to the night when her and her best friend (Tim Reese) escaped a killer that they never saw but all clues point to it being Shane. Brooke testifies that shane killed 3 of her friends and he is sent to prison for life. Shane claims that he is innocent and the details from that night are fuzzy to Brooke. Who will Brooke trust? What actually happened 11 years ago?

This book is a mix of thriller, mystery, dark secrets, "who can I trust?" vibes.

This plot and story line are pretty farfetched, but if you can just go along with it its a wild ride.

Thank you to the publisher, Freida, and Net galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publish date: 3/5/24

👏👏👏👏
Ok what just happened ?? Well played Freida because I have been totally duped !

If you are looking for a binge able, gripping , shocking plot twist ending read , look no further as The Inmate hooked me , I was finished in less than 24 hours , wowza!!

The Inmate is such a easy fast paced read that totally tricked me many times, as I thought I had it figured out and then just kidding the author dangles another carrot and I defiantly went chasing and fell down that rabbit hole, only to get there to think I had it all figured out , and BOOM just kidding I am going to take you on another wild ride !

Without saying too much as I don't want my review to give away any spoilers , but we find ourselves with the story being narrated by Brooke and the story bounces back and forth between dual timelines with Brooke starting her new job as a nurse in a penitentiary. Brooke has recently moved back to her hometown and moved into her parents house with her 10 year old son Josh. When we bounce back to the past we learn that nearly 11 years ago Brooke was almost murdered that horrific night and was one of the lucky ones to escape or was she so lucky ? Now in present day working in the penitentiary she comes face to face .....with the man that tried to kill her !!!

This is my second McFadden book and I totally get the hype now around this author, Freida is a fantastic story teller and there is never any dull moments or "repetitiveness " in the chapters , her stories keep flowing and always stay with in context and very cinematic !

Thank you so much Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Freida McFadden for this free Readers Copy!!

The Inmate is a quick, suspenseful read. I have read several Freida McFadden books. I didn’t connect with this storyline, but will definitely read more books written by McFadden. The Housemaid has been my favorite.

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.