Since Freida McFadden is one of the very biggest names within thrillers now, readers can expect breakneck pace and twisty plots. In The Inmate, McFadden’s next, a nurse takes a job at a high-security prison, despite a big surprise: her old boyfriend has become a prisoner at the facility.
But the real question is whether you should read this book, and that depends.
This review will give you an overview of what other people think of the book and a summary of the book. It gets a comparison to McFadden’s books. You’ll know by the time you’ve finished this inmate book summary if this thriller is a must-read. It will be clear to you whether it is or not.
What Reviewers Are Saying About The Inmate?
The general opinion? This is a B-tier McFadden book. It’s not her worst, but it’s definitely not her best either. Most readers agree it’s still fun to read, but it falls short of her earlier hits. On Goodreads, the book has a 4.01 out of 5 rating, with reviews all over the place.
Readers love how fast the story moves. You can finish it in one sitting. The plot twists keep coming, and the pages turn quickly. McFadden knows how to keep you hooked, even when the story has problems. The book does what it’s supposed to do: keep you reading until the end.
However, critics point out several issues. The main idea feels weak compared to her other books. The writing is very basic, just the facts, nothing extra. The main character makes dumb choices that don’t make sense. And the ending? It’s messy, though packed with big reveals. For most readers, this one’s a skip unless you’re a die-hard McFadden fan or really need a quick read.
The Inmate Plot Overview
Brooke Sullivan comes back to her hometown after her parents die. She needs work, so she takes a job as a nurse practitioner at a maximum-security prison. But there’s a big problem: her ex-boyfriend Shane is locked up in that same prison. Even worse, Brooke testified against him in court 11 years ago.
Here’s the backstory from the inmate’s book summary: Shane was accused of killing their friends at a party over a decade ago. Brooke’s testimony helped put him away. Now she has to see him every day at work, and the tension is thick. The prison setting creates constant danger and unease.
The book jumps between the past and present. You learn what happened 11 years ago while following Brooke’s current struggle. The big mystery: Did Shane actually kill those people? Or has Brooke been wrong this whole time? As secrets come out, nothing is as simple as it seemed.
The Reading Experience: Pacing and Writing Style
This book moves at lightning speed. You can read it in one sitting without trying hard. McFadden strips everything down to just the plot. There’s no fancy description, no extra details, no atmosphere building. It’s her most bare-bones thriller yet.
The writing style is super simple. It tells you what happens and nothing more. Some humor pops up here and there (like a Spiderman joke), but mostly it’s all business. The chapters are short and push you forward fast. There’s zero fluff or filler content anywhere.
This creates a trade-off. You get speed, but you lose depth. The book doesn’t feel rich or immersive. It’s like reading bullet points instead of a full story. Some readers love this approach because it’s quick. Others feel cheated out of a real reading experience. It depends on what you want from a thriller.
Character Development and Believability
Brooke Sullivan, the main character, makes choices that will make you scratch your head. The inmate’s book summary reveals she has to be kind of dumb for the plot to work. She takes a job at the exact prison where her ex-boyfriend, who supposedly tried to kill her, is locked up. Who does that?
Throughout the story, Brooke stays “willfully blind” to obvious things. She ignores red flags and makes illogical decisions. Shane Nelson, the imprisoned ex, remains mostly mysterious. Tim Reese, their childhood best friend, plays a role in the mystery, too. But none of these people feels real.
The characters exist to serve the plot, not the other way around. They do things because the story needs them to, not because it makes sense. This is typical McFadden style-somewhat unreliable main characters who miss obvious clues. The lack of depth shows. If you want complex, realistic people, look somewhere else.
The Twists and Surprises
Don’t worry, no spoilers here. But let’s talk about what to expect. This book has multiple twists, not just one big reveal at the end. For a long chunk of the story, the answer seems pretty obvious. You think you know what happened.
Then McFadden throws twist after twist in the final section. The ending is “messy” and “zany,” according to many readers. Some reveals feel way over-the-top. The plot gets complicated with layer after layer of secrets. Your head might spin trying to keep up.
Some readers love these wild reveals. Others think they’re too much and don’t make sense. The twists may stretch what you can believe. This is classic McFadden: unreliable storytellers and surprise endings. The inmate book summary wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that these twists are both the book’s biggest strength and its main weakness.
How The Inmate Compares to Other Freida McFadden Books
Among McFadden’s thrillers, this one ranks in the middle to lower end. The main idea is weaker than books like “The Housemaid.” The writing is even more stripped down than her usual style. The central mystery doesn’t grab you as hard.
That said, it still has her signature twisty style. The structure feels familiar if you’ve read her other books. For McFadden fans, this hits the same beats but does it less well. A pattern shows up across her work: questionable characters, home-based settings, shocking reveals.
This book feels the most repetitive of that formula. Better options exist in her catalog. If you haven’t read McFadden before, start with “The Housemaid” or “The Coworker” instead. Those books do everything this one does, but better. Save this inmate book summary for when you’ve run out of her good stuff.
Who Should Read The Inmate
Let’s be real about who will get something out of this book. Not everyone needs to read every thriller that comes out.
Read this book if you:
- Already love everything Freida McFadden writes and want to complete her collection
- Need something super quick to read (under 4 hours total)
- Love twisty thrillers, no matter how they’re written
- Enjoy crazy, over-the-top plot reveals that get wild
- Want a light read between heavier books
Those are the people who might actually like it. But many readers should skip it entirely.
Skip this book if you:
- Haven’t read McFadden before (start with her better titles instead)
- Want characters that feel real and make sense
- Prefer plots that could actually happen
- Like rich, atmospheric writing that pulls you into the world
- Have limited time and want to spend it on better thrillers
Tips for Getting the Most Out of This Book
If you decide to read it anyway, here’s how to make the experience better. Following this advice from our inmate book summary will help you enjoy it more.
Read it fast. The book was made to be finished in one or two sittings. Reading quickly helps you overlook the problems. If you stop and think too hard, the cracks show.
- Don’t think too much about the logic. Suspend your disbelief about the character choices and convenient plot points.
- Focus on the fun factor. Treat it like a guilty pleasure, not serious fiction.
- Stay away from spoilers. The twists are the main reason to read, so keep yourself in the dark.
- Try the audiobook. The 8-hour narration by Leslie Howard might make the experience better. Though one reviewer found it made the main character more annoying.
- Keep your expectations low. Go in knowing this isn’t McFadden’s best work.
Following these tips won’t fix the book’s problems. But they might help you have a decent time anyway.
Conclusion
“The Inmate” is truly a thriller to be reckoned with. But it is a flawed thriller. This novel has good aspects. Decent pacing and many twists exist in its pages, but it leaves much to be desired.
So, ultimately, it’s fun though completely forgettable. It’s the kind of game you will play, finish, and then forget about. If you’re waiting for the next McFadden novel to come out, or you’re looking for something to read to kill time, then this book is for you. If you’ve read all the better ones, skip it.
You’re better off spending your time reading “The Housemaid” by the same author or “The Guest List” by Lucy Foley than spending your time reading this – it does read as McFadden working on autopilot. It works, but it isn’t that inspiring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Inmate Based on a True Story?
No, it’s complete fiction. McFadden worked as a physician, which helps her get medical details right. The prison setting feels researched, but the story is made up. It uses similar tricks to true crime stories but isn’t based on real events.
How Long Does It Take to Read The Inmate?
The book has 336 pages, but it reads super fast. Most people finish in 3-5 hours. The audiobook runs 8 hours and 4 minutes. Short chapters make it easy to binge. You can definitely read it in one sitting if you have the time.
Are There Graphic or Disturbing Scenes in The Inmate?
Violence gets mentioned but not described in detail. The murder mystery involves deaths but minimal gore. The prison setting creates tension without being too dark. Most adult thriller readers will handle it fine. It’s less disturbing than many psychological thrillers out there.
Do I Need to Read Freida McFadden’s Books in Order?
No order needed. “The Inmate” stands alone completely. It has no connection to her other books. You can read McFadden’s work in any order you want. Each book has different characters and settings. There’s no series to follow.
What Should I Read After The Inmate?
If you liked it, try better McFadden books like “The Housemaid” or “The Coworker.” For similar fast-paced thrillers, check out Riley Sager or Ruth Ware. For better prison mysteries, try “The Mars Room” by Rachel Kushner. If this one let you down, “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides offers better twisty thrills.
