For my next read, I chose The Inmate by Freida McFadden.
Brooke Sullivan starts a new job as a nurse practitioner in a maximum-security prison, bound by three strict rules—especially never getting too close to the inmates.
But Brooke has already broken them all. No one knows she shares a secret past with Shane Nelson, one of the prison’s most dangerous killers—her former high school sweetheart, now serving life for brutal murders. And it was Brooke’s testimony that put him behind bars.
Shane hasn’t forgotten.
From the very beginning, I was completely pulled into this story. I kept trying to figure out who I could trust—and honestly, I got it wrong. I really bought into the idea that Brooke might have been wrong about Shane. At the same time, Tim had me questioning everything. The way he acted just didn’t sit right with me, and I was convinced there was something more going on there.
Turns out…I was wrong on all levels.
That’s one thing I’ve come to expect from Freida McFadden. Just when you think you have it figured out, she flips everything upside down. This book definitely delivered on that.
I will say, there were moments where I found myself a little frustrated with Brooke. She made some choices that felt risky (to put it lightly), especially when it came to letting Shane back into her life. I’d like to think I would have been a bit more guarded in her situation. But at the same time, that emotional pull and history between them added so much tension to the story.
In the end, I was glad to see how things played out. Despite my suspicions along the way, I do think Tim genuinely cared about Brooke, and I’d like to believe they’ll find some happiness after everything they’ve been through.
Overall, this was another fast-paced, twisty read that kept me guessing until the very end. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that keep you second-guessing every character, this one is definitely worth picking up.