HOLY COW! What in the world just happened?

About that epilogue: I don't know what to say other than 'like father like son'.

Brooke was not the brightest bulb in the box as shown below:
Boss: Do not tell any of the inmates personal information.
Brooke: *proceeds to tell a bunch of information to the man in prison for trying to end her*

If you read this book, DO NOT read the synopsis before starting. Go into it blind. Trust me, it's better to do so.

4.25 Stars ( )

I've been reading a lot of this author's books and I've been trying hard to get better in seeing the plot twists in her stories, and I saw it partly in this book. However, I was dumbstruck with the part I didn't see. Similar to her other books, a fast-paced and engrossing read. ( )

4.5⭐️/5⭐️
I really enjoyed this book!
Brooke starts her new job as a nurse practitioner in a maximum security prison. This was the only place that accepted her resume without much questions when she decided to move back to her home town after the death of her parent. Shane Nelson is one of the inmates of the prison she works in, also her ex and the father of her 10 year old son but most importantly he is the one who tried to kill her 11 years ago and she’s the one who put him in prison for the rest of his life.

She also has a best friend, Tim Reese, who testified that Shane killed their friends that night 11 years ago and tried to kill Brooke.

While living back in her hometown she started seeing Tim more and more often, Tim always been in love with Brooke but his love sometimes was overwhelming and through the book I had many questions while Shane seemed to be sweet and understanding while seeing Brooke in prison for medical seek. Brooke was warned that Shane can be very manipulative but she couldn’t understand why because all she could see was that he’s been nice and sweet with her. Even Marcus Hunt, a prison worker who shows much hate towards Shane, also who went with them in the same high school ( witch he hides) tried to warn her about Shane but in the same time he is showing interest toward her and seems like he knows a lot about her personal life with Tim and warns her to be very careful!

So, can she fully trust Tim? What Marcus Hunt tried to warn her about? Was Shane actually the one who tried to kill her that night?

Brooke gave me an impression of a very naive and “I’ll ignore all the signs/warnings” woman. After what she had experienced you’d think she’ll be more cautious, but no, she was very easy to manipulate with.
I have to admit, I’ve been going back and forth about the killer, the suspense was there!

The last chapter was my favorite! The ending…. Loved it!!!

This is my first Freida McFadden book and I really liked it. I keep hearing good things about her writing and her books so I’m definitely going to check out her other works. ( )

Tons of gratitude to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this awesome e-ARC!!! I'm so glad for this chance and I've truly enjoyed the novel! Such an awesome ride to the unbeknownst!

It was an anxious start that had me felt nerve-wrecking and thinking what I have gotten myself into. The desire to stop is there as well as the anticipation on what is to come. As I flipped the pages, I slowly find it to sound a little like Sarah Michelle Gellar's 'I know what you did last summer' LOL!!! However, the more it progressed, the more confused I was on who did it?! Thankfully it's the e version so I couldn't just flip to the back to know how it ends :-)

I liked the clarity of the story, how it was written and identified past or present day. This novel does go back and forth in order to know what happened before and after. The author sure knows how to keep us guessing and guessing, without giving much away, only little nibling bits here and there! I am surprised at how it ended, not knowing who to believe from when it happened and then the unexpected suddenly pop-up! I was pleasantly surprised with the actual outcome!

I liked the overall premise of this novel though it isn't as dark or sinister, yet it was troubling and scary. I have only read her other novel, The Coworker, so I can't compare this with any of the author's work, but I did enjoy this one with a different depth to it. If you are looking for a mindboggling read, The Inmate is a good one to try from Freida McFadden. ( )

This is the kind of story that gets turned into a Lifetime movie.

I think Freida McFadden is a good writer. And while I admit I was fooled most of the time as to "who done it," and I'll also admit I didn't foresee the other major plot twist, the story itself is too melodramatic for my taste.

When she was 17/18, Brooke goes to a party with her boyfriend Shane, a few other girls, and her best friend Tim. After sleeping together, one, then two of the kids are killed and Brooke herself is nearly strangled to death. Brooke testifies that it was her boyfriend who tried to kill her so off he goes to prison for life.

Ten years later, she and her 10 year-old son return home after her parents are killed. Brooke takes a job as a nurse practitioner at the same prison where Shane (who of course is the father) is serving time. In the meantime, Tim, now an assistant principal, rekindles his "wants to be more than friends" relationship with Brooke. Shane warns Brooke that it was actually Tim who tried to kill her.

See what I mean about a Lifetime movie? ( )