Most people love the idea of growing up in a small town like Raker, New York. Everyone knows everyone, it’s a quiet, peaceful spot to raise a family, and there isn’t much drama…until three teens are all killed on the same night in the same house, and you’re at the center of it.
I recently was given the opportunity to read Freida McFadden’s latest The Inmate, which is my first book by this author. I have heard from others that she is the “Queen of the Plot Twist”, and I can absolutely see why! Because this blog post is an ARC Review, I’m keeping to the same format as my other ARC Review posts. Below you’ll find basics about the book, a brief summary, my review, why I gave it the rating I did, and if I recommend it. Happy Reading! I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Book’s Basics
- Genre: Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller
- Length: 388 Pages
- Publication Date: March 5, 2024
- Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (rounded to 4)
A Brief Summary
11 years ago, on a stormy night in Raker, New York, everything changed. On that night, 6 teenagers were staying at Shane’s house and by the morning, only 3 of them were alive. Brooke Sullivan was nearly strangled to death but managed to survive, and her testimony is what sent Shane Nelson to prison for life. After 11 years away from Raker and 10 years after her son was born (a result of that night), Brooke returns to Raker as the new Nurse Practitioner at the penitentiary. And who is serving a life sentence there? Shane Nelson – Brooke’s high school ex-boyfriend, the father to her son, and the man she believes tried to kill her. Before too long, Brooke must treat Shane for an injury, where he pleads with her that he didn’t try to kill her that night and that the real killer will come after her again. After another local woman is missing and later found dead, Brooke begins to question everything she remembers from that night.
My Honest Review
Wow, this book had me on the edge of my seat. I thought I knew the resolution about 30% in then again at 80%, and I was wrong both times. McFadden has a way of making you think you know exactly what’s going to happen, then she throws a curveball at you and you’re guessing all over again. McFadden also provides readers with great character development. While the characters were static, their true characters/personalities are revealed as you read, which provide some shocking twists you might not be expecting. Speaking of not expecting, THE ENDING!! The ending absolutely made the entire book for me. It was a wild twist that I would not have guessed at all…even after the twist at the end, I still wasn’t expecting the true ending at the end (you’ll have to read to find out what I mean).
One frustration which is common for me when I read thrillers is that the female main character Brooke was dumb in certain moments. For example, her supervisor at the prison Dorothy told her not to give away any personal information, and on her first day, Brooke shares some personal information with an inmate. With that said, you can’t blame her, and I felt bad for her; she’s a single mom, who wants to do the absolute best for her son, and you can see how much she loves and is proud of him on nearly every page.
Why This Rating?
I gave The Inmate a 4.5 rounded down to 4. While I loved the ending, it seemed far-fetched. The motive and the extremely thought-out plan seemed so wild that it almost wasn’t believable. With that said, the ending left no strings untied, so there were no loose ends for readers to decide what happens on their own. McFadden also used the typical cliches (or maybe classics?) of a thriller: a stormy night, a power outage, no cell service, etc. Do think these are thriller cliches or thriller classics? Personally, I find them to be classics that I love to see used in the latest thrillers.
Do I Recommend?
Absolutely! Thrillers will forever be my favorite genre to read. I love the fast pace, the crazy plot twists, and the hopefully surprise ending I didn’t see coming. The Inmate did not disappoint! It was a fast-paced thriller with a story I hadn’t read before that keep me invested till the very end. If you love Freida McFadden or a very intriguing mystery, I highly recommend. This was my first Freida McFadden book I’ve read, and she’s already become an auto-buy author for me.
**If you would like to purchase the book, the Amazon link is HERE**
For other book reviews and recommendations, follow me on Instagram HERE and on GoodReads HERE!
Disclosure: Some of the links included are affiliate links, meaning that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.
