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sharlapeggy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
kyraplummer'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
angie11290's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity, Stalking, and Car accident
theaa_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Pregnancy
victoriasutherland'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
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Chronic illness, Confinement, Car accident, Abortion, and Alcohol
madamenovelist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pregnancy
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
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
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
nyquillll's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I was trying to make guesses and predictions on who did it, and it was basically impossible to make an informed guess (in my opinion) because both the MMCs were viable options.
I also thought the twist(s), while intriguing and shocking, kind of came out of nowhere, at least the first one, in that I don’t think if I reread the book I’d be seeing things from a different lens. It didn’t feel like something I would’ve guessed just by reading versus making abstract, wild guesses.
That said, I was invested in figuring out who did it and was curious how the whole teenage pregnancy, mom moved away, who’s the dad issue would resolve itself.
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Minor: Toxic relationship, Medical content, Stalking, and Pregnancy