I thoroughly enjoyed the intricate plot of this story, where twists unfolded seamlessly, keeping me engaged from start to finish. The way everything was wrapped up at the end added a satisfying touch, leaving no loose ends. The narrative skillfully delivered surprises, creating a compelling experience.

While the character's frequent changes of mind may have felt a bit unrealistic, it's a testament to the complexity of human emotions and decisions. Perhaps, without firsthand experience, it's challenging to fully understand the nuances of such changes. Nonetheless, this aspect added a layer of unpredictability to the storyline.

In conclusion, the story's well-crafted twists and resolution make it a captivating read, even if some character choices seem perplexing. It's a testament to the author's ability to keep the audience guessing and engaged throughout the narrative.

I love Freida McFadden books. They are all just so reliable. You know you are going to get a good read when her name is on the cover. The Inmate was no different. Told in both past and present points of view, the Inmate takes the reader on an exciting journey with a surprise ending.

This is my absolute favourite Freida book to date! I can't even express the amount of whiplash this book gave me (in the best way)
I was not expecting the ending AT ALL
Freida always delivers however this was sooo much better than I expected.

It just motivates me even more to get through her whole back list!
I can't wait to see what else she can write with that creative mind of hers.

I always think I know where Freida McFadden is going with her twists and am always surprised still. I caught along with this one a little better than some of her other books. Didn't guess all of it but got some of it!
I like reading her books and just going along for the ride because it will never be what it seems. She does a great job of making you think one way the whole time to just play with your mind. However, Brooke was not my favorite character, she frustrated me throughout the book many times.
I will still keep reading McFadden books, they are easily entertaining and quick reads.

"The Inmate" by Freida McFadden totally sucked me in right from the get-go! I love Freida's books and have never been able to guess the twist in any of them, including The Inmate. Mystery, romance, and suspense? Yep, it had it all. Overall, "The Inmate" is a must-read if you're into stories that mess with your head and make you feel all sorts of emotions. Freida McFadden, you nailed it! 5 stars for sure!

Thank you to the publisher for the copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. From 17% in I knew I was not going to enjoy this book. I had already started putting the pieces of the plot twist together. Although there were still some surprises left (only one) it wasn’t enough to make me feel like this was a mystery/thriller. The writing felt very amateurish and undeveloped. Definitely in the style of telling the reader instead of showing the reader. I’m not going to be recommending this book to anyone and will probably skip any books by this author in the future.

The Inmate by Freida McFadden
Pub date with Poisoned Pen Press
is Mar 5, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
McFadden knows how to keep you turning those pages. The story is always interesting and the characters in this one are completely cringey like many of her other novels. I find the lead character so gullible and flat out stupid, I actually wanted her to fail. The twist is what made the book though for me. 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #freidamcfadden #poisonedpenpress #thriller #mystery #fiction #bookstagram #theinmate

‘As the prison doors slam shut behind me, I question every decision I’ve ever made in my life.’

Brooke Sullivan has just started work as a nurse practitioner at a men’s maximum-security prison in Raker, upstate New York. There are three rules that Brooke must follow:
1) Treat all prisoners with respect.
2) Never reveal any personal information.
3) Never EVER become too friendly with the inmates.

Yes, Dear Reader, there could be a Problem. Shane Nelson, one of the men imprisoned, was once Brooke’s boyfriend. And, Dear Reader, it was her testimony that led to him being incarcerated. Hmm. Brooke moved back to Raker after her parents died. She was living in New York City with her ten-year-old son Josh but chose to return to Raker to live in her childhood home. Brooke had difficulty finding a job in Raker and while the job at the Raker Penitentiary was her least-preferred option, it was the only job offered.

Returning home is never easy and is made more difficult for Brooke because of her involvement in the murder case that led to Shane Nelson’s conviction. And, in Margie, Brooke’s found a wonderful woman to care for Josh while she works. Then her first encounter with Shane in the prison seems to go alright.

But … things go rapidly downhill. Twist after implausible twist lead Brooke, her best friend Tim and ultimately Josh, into danger. The story shifts between past between the night of the murders eleven years earlier, and the present. Brooke starts to doubt what she thought happened in the past and starts questioning who might have been involved. If she believes Shane, then he is innocent. And the murder of another woman in the present casts doubt on the one person Brooke thought she could trust.

Ms McFadden ties all the loose ends together neatly and while anything is possible in fiction, I could not suspend enough disbelief to accept the way this story plays out. While I enjoyed some of the twists along the way to truth, others jerked me right out of the story.

This is the first novel by Ms McFadden I have read.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I thoroughly enjoyed this read by Freida McFadden, the queen of fast paced, unputdownable thrillers. I kept thinking I had everything figured out and of course she always throws in a plot twist (or several). Definitely recommend picking this one up.

3.5 ⭐
As an introduction to Freida McFadden's literary world, "The Inmate" was an intriguing foray that sparked my interest and left me curious about her other works. The book tells the story of Brooke, a single mother and a nurse practitioner who works in a maximum security prison where her ex-boyfriend is incarcerated. Brooke had helped put him behind bars ten years ago. The plot is quite campy, and it takes readers on a wild ride full of surprises and unexpected twists. McFadden has a unique talent for leading readers to one conclusion, only to upend their expectations. I enjoyed "The Inmate" and look forward to reading more of McFadden's work.

There are three rules Brooke Sullivan must follow as a new nurse practitioner at a men’s maximum-security prison:
1) Treat all prisoners with respect.
2) Never reveal any personal information.
3) Never EVER become too friendly with the inmates.
But none of the staff at the prison knows Brooke has already broken the rules. Nobody knows about her intimate connection to Shane Nelson, one of the penitentiary’s most notorious and dangerous inmates. And they certainly don’t know that Shane was Brooke’s high school sweetheart—the star quarterback who is now spending the rest of his life in prison for a series of grisly murders. Or that Brooke's testimony was what put him there. But Shane knows. And he will never forget.
This is a great read from Freida McFadden. I have read almost all of her books and I have loved each and every one. I don't know how she does it but each one has a surprising ending that gets you every time. I am now waiting for the next Freida McFadden book. Love her books. If you like books that surprise you then you will love this book. You will just have to read it!

This was my first Freida McFadden book and I am in shock. My jaw must have dropped about 4 times in the last 40 pages!

I absolutely loved this book, and just when I thought I knew exactly who did it, I never saw the twist coming!! The epilogue was also WILD.

I am now a Freida McFadden FAN. Ready to devour the rest of her books!!

Freida did what Freida does!

A quick, entertaining thriller that keeps you guessing. I was back and forth the whole book trying to figure out the truth. The reveal wasn't quite the shock I was hoping for, but I absolutely loved the final page and how she wrapped it up. The final line was gold!

A solid 4/5 stars and I absolutely recommend!

3.5* McFadden’s stories always deliver with easy-to-read, fast-paced plots. This was no exception. It will keep you guessing and is twisty, but not as unexpected an ending as she usually delivers. Still a good read and will continue to pick up all of McFadden’s future books.

After not caring for the Coworker or The Teacher, I was reluctant to tuck into another Freida McFadden book so soon. However, after receiving this ARC, I figured I'd give her another shot, as I have loved some of her previous books.

In true Freida McFadden fashion, The Inmate, is an fast and thrilling read. I thought I had the book figured out fairly early on, and some parts of it I did. However, there was a twist at the end that I never could have anticipated, and truly enjoyed.

I would definitely recommend The Inmate to those looking to get back into the thriller genre, reading in general, or out of a slump!

4/5

I am a huge Freida McFadden fan and was so excited to see the email inviting me to read The Inmate. I flew through it because all of her books are easy, fun reads but it's not my favorite by her.

Love love love The Inmate!! Read it I. Two days because it kept me engaged from cover to cover. When I thought I had it all figured out, a twist came out of nowhere To make me second guess everything I thought I knew.

I truly enjoyed this author and her writing.. I was brought in and wanted to know what Brooke was going to do about her son father and her best friend she has not seen in 10 years. The characters were intriguing and made me want to see what happened next to them.

Wow!! This book sucked me in from the very beginning & kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, I was wrong!!! Freida always delivers with the jaw dropping twists & this was no exception!

Brooke Sullivan has taken a job as a nurse at a men's maximum security prison. But no one but her knows her connection to one of the prisoners in there - Shane Nelson - Brooke's high school boyfriend. A boyfriend who also tried to kill her, and her testimony put him into this prison for life.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
3.5 stars rounded up - I did completely fly through this book, it's definitely an easy read.

There were a couple of plot issues that stuck out to me though, like Tim not recognising the nanny, the motive for the murders seemed weak, and how easy it was to get Shane out of prison with a life sentence.

Brooke was extremely naive with her feelings toward Shane, however it did show how well he manipulated people - I was constantly torn between believing him, to wondering if what he was saying was an act. It was a little strange though with Brooke being traumatised from that night 10 years ago, to being happily in a room with him.

I also really enjoyed the present and past chapters, as the present played out - we see what actually happened 10 years ago on the night where Brooke was almost murdered.

Those last pages with the big twist... I did not expect at all! Definitely had my jaw dropping.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this copy. This review is voluntary.