April 10, 2025
By Layla Lundholm
Staff Writer
Twenty-eight-year-old Brooke Sullivan’s traumatic past has substantial effects on her future, stronger than readers initially realize.
In “The Inmate” by Freida McFadden, Brooke moves back into her childhood home in Raker, a town in upstate New York, after her parents’ sudden death in a car crash.
Brooke’s relationship with her parents was tense, as she cut contact with them due to their disapproval of her pregnancy at the age of 17. They were against her decision to keep her baby, Josh, and never showed any interest in meeting him.
When Brooke was growing up, her parents were strict, expecting her to be the perfect daughter. Brooke strongly resented their overprotective nature, especially when they enforced a curfew after the murder of a local girl. For this reason, Brooke lied to them about her relationship with the quarterback on the football team, Shane Nelson, who is Josh’s father.
“The Inmate,” which is told from Brooke’s perspective, skillfully weaves back and forth every few chapters between the night Shane attempted to kill Brooke and the present.
Upon returning to Raker, Brooke works as a nurse practitioner at Raker Penitentiary, a maximum-security prison. She is concerned about taking the job because Shane, who tried to kill her over a decade ago, is sentenced to life at that very prison. However, she accepts the offer because she needs the money.
Officer Marcus Hunt, who brings Brooke her patients, has a problematic relationship with Shane. He demeans Shane so much that Brooke often questions him, but he never listens to her. This unveils a mystery as readers wonder why Officer Hunt holds such a grudge.
Tim Reese, who lives down the street from Brooke and is the assistant principal at 10-year-old Josh’s elementary school, enhances the plot. He and Brooke were best friends in their youth, and now their relationship takes on a new dimension as he becomes Josh’s father figure and a source of support for Brooke. Tim shows Brooke and her son kindness and provides hope amidst serious conflict.
“The Inmate,” which is told from Brooke’s perspective, skillfully weaves back and forth every few chapters between the night Shane attempted to kill Brooke and the present. This technique adds depth to the narrative and keeps the readers engaged as they uncover the reasons behind Brooke’s trauma.
This novel has many thrilling twists, making it an exciting and engaging read. Meant for mature readers, “The Inmate” includes scenes of fighting and death. It also addresses prisons and divided households. The storyline is intense, but for those looking for an action-packed thriller, this is the book for you.
