Book Review The Inmate | Freida McFadden
Opener
In this review, I’m continuing my journey through Freida McFadden’s books, and this time the spotlight is on The Inmate. McFadden is known for her sharp and gripping stories, and this one doesn’t disappoint. In fact, it’s a twisty mystery that kept me guessing at every turn.
The story follows a single mother trying to uncover the truth about her friends who were killed one tragic night when they were teenagers. From the very first chapter, the way McFadden builds tension pulled me in.
Much like The Housemaid’s Secret, this story keeps you second-guessing everyone’s motives. However, the tone here feels darker and more emotional, pulling you deeper into the fear and confusion.
Plot Setup of The Inmate
The story centers on Brooke, who returns to her hometown after eleven long years. She’s been running from painful memories of her high school boyfriend, Shane, who once tried to kill her. Later, Shane was convicted for attacking another teen, her best friend Tim, and for murdering three others.
Meanwhile, Brooke is a single mom raising her son, Josh — whose father happens to be Shane. That one fact keeps her life tangled with the past.
When she takes a job as a nurse at the local prison, she’s forced to face the man she once feared the most. Because of staff shortages, the prison hires her despite knowing about her connection to Shane. As a result, Brooke hopes for a fresh start, but her decision brings her right back into danger.
The job tests her strength every day as she balances work, fear, and emotions she never truly buried.
If you’ve read Never Lie, you’ll recognize McFadden’s trademark style — tight spaces, unreliable characters, and secrets that slowly unfold.
Structure & Narrative Style
The Inmate uses a dual-timeline format that moves between the present and the events eleven years ago when the murders happened. Flashbacks show teenage drama and heartbreak, while the present focuses on Brooke’s struggles at the farmhouse.
Because of this structure, the back-and-forth between timelines keeps the story fast and exciting. It also makes readers question what’s real and what’s memory. Brooke’s thoughts feel messy and confused, which builds her image as an unreliable narrator.
The story is deeply character-driven. Brooke and the others are flawed, which makes them real. Sometimes Brooke’s choices seem frustrating or careless, but that only makes her more human. The manipulation, gaslighting, and slow rise of tension are handled really well.
Each twist hits hard, forcing you to question everything you thought you knew. Even when the story feels unbelievable at times, it stays thrilling. The ending, especially, lands like a shock and leaves a lasting impact.
Character Analysis of The Inmate
Freida McFadden often writes characters that split opinions, and The Inmate is no different. Brooke is a strong lead, but she doesn’t always win your heart. Still, McFadden gives her enough life and personality to make her stand out.
At times, Brooke feels similar to other McFadden heroines — complex, emotional, and a little unpredictable. Some moments hint that she might have a darker side herself.
Other characters are easy to tell apart. Their voices feel real, even if the dialogue sometimes sounds awkward. Each person has a clear role and a reason to exist in the story, showing McFadden’s skill in building memorable people.
Setting & Atmosphere
The prison setting adds an intense and scary backdrop that keeps the tension alive. Brooke’s secret link to one of the inmates makes every scene inside the facility feel dangerous. You never know when things might turn violent.
The missing background checks, the uneasy co-workers, and the constant sense of being watched all add to the fear. Brooke seems drawn to danger, which makes her journey both brave and reckless.
The cold and lifeless atmosphere mirrors the emotional gap between Brooke and Shane. It’s hard to tell what’s true and what’s not, which keeps the reader uneasy.
If you enjoy stories about the dark side of human nature, The Inmate delivers. It has the same haunting tone found in Tender Is the Flesh, exploring what people become when pushed to their limits. Both books make you question how far someone will go to survive.
Twists and Conspiracies
One thing I liked about Brooke was her kindness toward the inmates. She treated them with care, even when others at the prison were cruel or harsh. The head nurse and guards acted cold, making Brooke’s compassion stand out.
Her relationships with Tim and Shane keep changing. One is trying to rebuild his life, while the other remains locked away. That constant shift adds mystery.
Then comes the shocking twist — the babysitter turns out to be Shane’s mother. She’s been hiding dark secrets for years, covering up old crimes and framing Tim. The plot ties back to Brooke’s father, who had a disturbing past connection with her mother. The chain of betrayals feels endless.
Tim tries to save Brooke, even getting stabbed in the process. The police fail to catch the real killers, which adds frustration and disbelief.
In the climax, Pamela (Shane’s mother) loses control after a sudden noise. Brooke gets a brief chance to fight back. Shane ends up dying when ice falls from a tree — but the twist doesn’t stop there. McFadden explains that Josh, Brooke’s son, had actually stabbed Shane with an icicle. That shocking detail changes everything.
By the end, Tim is free and cleared of all charges. Brooke and Josh return to a quiet life, but the peace feels fragile. The epilogue leaves you with chills — Josh might kill again to protect his mother.
Style & Impact of The Inmate
Without giving away every detail, The Inmate hits harder if you read it without knowing too much. It’s a tense, character-focused thriller full of emotion and surprise. Some scenes are graphic, but they add realism and depth to the story.
What I loved most was how the plot made me question everything. Every time I thought I had it figured out, a new twist proved me wrong. That’s McFadden’s magic — she makes readers doubt their own instincts.
It’s easy to see why she has such a loyal fanbase. This book kept me hooked from the first page to the last. It made me excited to dive into more of her work.
Climax & Resolution
In the final moments, Brooke faces Shane and Pamela in a terrifying confrontation. At first, it seems like luck saves her — but McFadden explains everything clearly. The noise that distracted Pamela wasn’t random. It was Josh.
Josh had learned about the danger from Tim and acted fast. He stabbed Shane with an icicle, causing Shane’s fatal fall. The sequence is chilling, emotional, and deeply satisfying.
After everything, Tim finally walks free, his name cleared. Brooke and Josh go home, hoping for peace. But McFadden leaves readers uneasy with the last hint — Josh might be more like his father than anyone realized.
Dual Plotlines
The story weaves two plotlines that blend smoothly. One shows Brooke rebuilding her friendship — and eventually her romance — with Tim. The other reveals her doubts about what really happened that night years ago.
The balance between love and fear adds emotional weight. Tim becomes a father figure to Josh, bringing warmth into the story. But Brooke’s memories keep haunting her, and she’s unsure what to believe.
The flashbacks to the party at Shane’s house build tension like a horror movie. The truth behind that night unravels slowly, leading to one final shocking twist that changes everything.
Final Rating & Verdict
On a scale of McFadden’s works, The Inmate sits right in the middle. It has all her usual trademarks — flawed characters, short chapters, and fast twists that keep you reading.
If you’re a Freida McFadden fan, this story won’t surprise you, but you’ll still enjoy the familiar chaos. The pacing is tight, the drama constant, and the ending leaves a punch.
It’s an easy, fast, and addictive read — classic McFadden. You’ll get the thrills, the suspense, and just enough madness to make you question everyone’s motives.
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