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_sarahleb_'s review against another edition
3.0
Listen, I really wanted to love this book. I really did! But I just finished reading it and I’m actually feeling a little aggravated. This book is my actual worst nightmare.
The main character was extremely frustrating, it was almost liked she was cursed to always make the worst choice possible. I get that other people were often manipulating the situation but it was almost disheartening how often everything kept being the worst outcome possible.
I feel so incredibly bad for Tim! Like oh my god, someone named Tim must have done Freida dirty because DAMN the man could not catch a break???
This poor man has been absolutely in love with this woman his entire life, he witnesses one of the most traumatic experiences that someone could ever possibly survive. He watched the person he loves get choked half to death by HER BOYFRIEND (❤️🩹) and, despite being stabbed in the stomach, manages to save her life! And how does she thank him?! NEVER SPEAK TO HIM AGAIN!!!
But wait! If that couldn’t be ANY WORSE, she shows back up one day, FINALLY gives him a chance, gives him a glimpse of the life he could ever dream of and then BOOM. He’s INCARCERATED because of said woman?!?!
I’ll be the first to admit that Tim was not perfect, there were definitely a few questionable choices that he made but my lord. #justiceforTim
And then just when you thought things couldn’t get worse 🙃 it does. Of course it does! That’s the scariest part!! EVERYTHING WILL ALWAYS GO WRONG
Anyway, other than all of that, the writing was great! It was an easy read and I’ll definitely read some more of her books, this one just did not do it for me.
I’d like to thank Poisoned Pen Press inc and Freida McFadden for the chance to read an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
filipa_maia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed the story. Fast, compelling, mysterious and dark - just my type of book. Although, at some points, I felt like the story was going nowhere, I think that overall, and by the end, everything went that way it was supposed to. And that ending? My God, I was not expecting that! Nice!
I will definitely read her other books now.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Abortion
yvo_about_books's review
4.0
"Sometimes people do exactly what you think they’re going to do, and they still manage to disappoint you."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
I'm aware that Freida McFadden is a very popular psychological thriller author, but somehow I had never actually picked up one of her books before. It seemed like a sign that just when I promised to myself to change this in 2024, an ARC of previously published The Inmate popped up on Netgalley. Of course I couldn't resist this opportunity, and especially since I always love a good thriller with a prison angle... And I definitely understand why so many people seem to enjoy her books now!
The Inmate uses a dual timeline structure, where we switch between the present and eleven years earlier when the murders happened. As often with dual timeline structures, I did prefer one over the other, as the flashbacks just had a bit too much teenage drama for me. That said, once Brooke and the rest are at the farmhouse, things get intense enough to keep your attention. The present timeline is mainly your typical psychological thriller with a main character with unreliable narrator vibes... The last especially once she starts questioning her own memories. It was this present timeline that kept me on my toes, as I was fully invested in discovering the whole truth about both past and present events.
This story is definitely more character driven, and the main characters are all flawed. I had mixed feelings about Brooke, who could behave in an incredibly stupid way in parts... But I can't deny that the manipulation, gaslighting and building up of doubt and confusion are really well done. This is one of those stories that makes you think you have everything figured out, only to drop a plot twist bomb on you that makes you question everything... Not every twist is completely credible, but it does make for a very engaging story. And that ending! I definitely didn't see that last chapter coming, and it was a great way to end things on a high note.
I'm keeping this review short to avoid possible spoilers, because The Inmate will have so much more impact if you go in blind. While this story is mainly a character driven psychological thriller, there are also plenty of moments of tension and things can get pretty graphic especially in the flashbacks. I enjoyed the prison scenes, and I loved how this book made me doubt everything I thought was a given fact. Recommended if you enjoy the genre! I will definitely be diving into Freida McFadden's backlist ASAP.
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
dilani's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Brooke was too childish at times. Not to mention she kept flipping on who might have tried to kill her eleven years ago. Instead of thinking on things she jumped straight to conclusions. I also don’t think the twists hit me hard as they were meant to, especially the final reveal. It was a bit too outlandish/convenient for me.
Not the worst thriller, but not the best.
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Kidnapping and Car accident
kassidypf13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a good thriller. I was bouncing back and forth between who could have done it. It was one of the guys, but I wasn't 100% sure who it was.
And the final twist with the son was interesting, though I'd figured out something was up with that little hint someone dropped.
The characters however weren't very likable for the most part, which made it a bit harder to enjoy.
Narrator Rating: 3.25 stars
The narrator was decent but pronounced some words oddly. Her voice was harder to tune out which was good. She just didn't make the book come alive as much as I would have liked.
Elemental Levels: Fluff-NA Heartfelt-4/5 Helpful-NA Horror-1/5 Inspiration-NA Love aka Romance-2/5 Mystery-4/5 Predictability-2/5 Spice-0.5/5 Suspense-3/5 Tear- 2/5 Thrill-4.5/5 Humor-0.5/5
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Car accident, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
rsagarin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Abortion
lanean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Car accident
medini_l's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Car accident, and Death of parent
sierrabowers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail