Title: THE INMATE
Author: Freida McFadden
ASIN: B0B3RFRP41
Pages: 386
Source: Private Copy
There are three rules Brooke Sullivan must follow as a new nurse practitioner at a men’s maximum security:
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.
Official Summary
07 November 2024
Freida McFadden is one of the authors whose backlist I have added to my TBR. Her stories are quick reads, guaranteed to keep me hooked from start to end. I raced through this one in one day. The Inmate is a suspenseful read that explores the dark pasts that we can never fully outrun. With Brooke Sullivan stepping into a maximum-security prison as a nurse practitioner, she’s thrown into a world that’s strict, unnerving, and uncomfortably familiar. The three rules she must follow seem simple enough, but McFadden turns these into tension-filled traps, especially since Brooke has a haunting connection to one of the most dangerous inmates, Shane Nelson – her former high school sweetheart.
Brooke is an intriguing protagonist. Her complicated past, especially her role in Shane’s imprisonment, gives her a compelling vulnerability. As she tries to maintain professionalism amidst familiar faces in such a charged environment, McFadden unfolds her inner turmoil, creating a character we can empathize with, even as we question her decisions. Brooke’s anxiety over Shane’s presence builds with each chapter, lending the story a real tension that hooks you early on.
The maximum-security prison environment is captured with gritty realism, making Brooke’s vulnerability and fear feel all the more immediate. McFadden uses this confined, high-stakes setting masterfully, making you feel the claustrophobic atmosphere where danger seems to lurk around every corner. The subtle psychological terror ramps up as Brooke realizes that Shane hasn’t forgotten her role in his conviction.
Shane himself is a fascinating, complex character who’s as much a mystery to the readers as he is a threat to Brooke. His presence is sinister yet magnetic, and McFadden strikes the right balance between revealing just enough of his backstory to keep us on edge while letting us wonder about his true intentions.
The novel blends psychological suspense with a tense prison drama. The plot is fast-paced, with twists and revelations that kept me on edge. McFadden keeps you hooked with secrets that slowly unravel, adding layers to the story without tipping her hand too soon. By the end, you’re left both satisfied and a little haunted by the story’s twists.
This is a riveting thriller for readers who enjoy a layered plot, complex characters, and a setting that heightens the suspense. Freida McFadden delivers a solid story that will keep you guessing right up to the final page. I highly recommend adding this one to your TBR.
Also by Freida McFadden
THE TEACHER
Lesson #1: Trust no one.
Eve has a good life. She wakes up each day, kisses her husband Nate, and heads off to teach math at the local high school. All is as it should be. Except…
Last year, Caseham High was rocked by a scandal involving a student-teacher affair, with one student, Addie, at its centre. But Eve knows there is far more to these ugly rumours than meets the eye.
Addie can’t be trusted. She lies. She hurts people. She destroys lives. At least, that’s what everyone says.
But nobody knows the real Addie. Nobody knows the secrets that could destroy her. And Addie will do anything to keep it quiet…
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
#1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practising physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humour novels. She lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.
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