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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: Pregnancy, Stalking, Blood, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Murder
aleen_elizabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Grief, Murder, Bullying, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Classism, Mental illness, Stalking, Car accident, Kidnapping, and Torture
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: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, Death, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Police brutality, Death of parent, Medical content, Confinement, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Car accident, and Bullying
Minor: Gun violence, Abortion, and Kidnapping
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: Blood, Child death, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Medical content, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Police brutality, Confinement, Kidnapping, Car accident, Grief, Bullying, Gun violence, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, and Violence
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review
- 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: Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Medical content, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Gun violence, Bullying, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Child death, Classism, Mental illness, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Gore, and Cursing
Minor: Ableism, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Car accident, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Body shaming, and Abortion
bee_isreading'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
2.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Death, Violence, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent and Car accident
aimzthereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I will continue to read her. books because they are fun, quick smart thrillers.
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Murder, Medical content, Child death, Blood, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Stalking
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Kidnapping
assesgrass's review against another edition
3.5
i felt like there was wayyy too much happening at the end like it was all plot and then at the end it throws a million things at you which i guess is okay.
Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, and Blood
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Death of parent, Violence, Toxic friendship, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Abortion, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death and Animal death