The Inmate
Book Review
Book name: The Inmate
Author: Freida McFadden
Genre: Thriller
Intro: The Inmate
Author: Frieda McFadden
Chapter One: Present Day (Pages 1-9)
As the prison door closes behind her, Brooke Sullivan reflects on her life decisions, realizing this is not where she wanted to end up. She wonders who would choose to be in a maximum-security prison. A correctional officer, appearing equally disenchanted, asks for her name. Brooke responds, "Brooke Sullivan," and mentions she is there to meet Dorothy Kurtz.
The woman looks at her clipboard without responding. Brooke is unsure why she is there, and she notices an old man reading a newspaper in the empty waiting area. The surroundings feel tense, with barbed wire and guard towers nearby. After several minutes, a loud buzzing sound startles Brooke, causing her to step back. A door with red bars opens to a dark hallway, and Brooke hesitates, wondering if she should go inside. "Should… should I go in? " she asks herself.
The woman tells Brooke to go ahead, indicating she has passed through security. As Brooke steps through the bar door, it closes and locks behind her, making her uneasy. This is her first time in this place. Her job interview was only over the phone, and the warden was eager to hire her without meeting in person. Brooke signed a one-year contract and faxed it last week, feeling it was a mistake to come.
Brooke watched the red metal bars close behind her and felt she could still escape. Although she signed a contract, she believed she had the option to leave. Unlike the inmates, she wasn't trapped. Brooke took the job at the prison as her last option after applying to every position within a 60-minute commute in Raker town. She didn’t want this job but felt fortunate to be called for the interview, so she continued walking.
A man named Stephen Benton, a correctional officer, stands guard at a second barred door in the hallway. He is in his 40s, has a military-style haircut, and wears a blue uniform like the woman at the front desk. Brooke greets him, introducing herself and mentioning it is her first day working there.
Benton gives Brooke a serious look while she feels uncomfortable under his gaze. She's second-guessing her outfit choices for her job at a men’s maximum security prison, where she opted for a black button-up shirt and black dress pants, thinking it would be safe. Although it's nearly 80° outside, she regrets wearing so much black. Brooke's dark hair is pulled back in a ponytail, and she has on minimal makeup—just some concealer and lipstick that matches her lips. Benton advises her to avoid high heels next time. Brooke notices her black pumps and argues that they are chunky, but she stops speaking when Benton stares directly at her, realizing his point about footwear.
Benton checks Brooke's purse with a metal detector and then she walks through a larger one herself. Brooke makes a joke about airports but senses Benton doesn’t appreciate humor. She decides to avoid high heels and jokes next time. Brooke mentions she is meeting Dorothy Kurtz and tells Benton that she is a nurse practitioner starting at the clinic. Benton responds with a skeptical to Brooke. “Good luck with that. ”
Brooke turns left and sees a woman in her 60s waiting for her. The woman has cropped gray hair and wears navy blue scrubs. Brooke feels that the woman is familiar but can’t remember from where. Unlike the guards, she doesn’t smile, making Brooke think smiling might be against prison rules. The woman asks if she is Brooke Sullivan, to which Brooke confirms, recognizing her as Dorothy.
Dorothy looks at Brooke disapprovingly, similar to the guard at the front. She comments on Brooke's new high heels. When asked why she wore them, Brooke feels embarrassed and admits she understands now. Dorothy hesitantly accepts Brooke's choice not to attend orientation without shoes. She notes the prison's chemical smell and flickering green lights outside the medical ward. Finding empty plastic chairs against the wall, she opens a door to a room. “This will be your exam room,” she informs Brooke.
Brooke looks into a small room, which is about half the size of the ones at her old job in Queens. It has an examining table, a stool, and a desk. She asks if she will have an office, but Dorothy says no and points out the desk. Brooke wonders about using a computer for records, but Dorothy explains that everything is on paper.
Brooke is surprised to learn about working with medical records, as she has never done so before and thought it was prohibited. Dorothy explains that rules differ in prison and shows her the records room, mentioning that Brooke will get an ID badge. Dorothy scans Brooke's ID badge, unlocking a dusty room full of file cabinets. She feels overwhelmed by the task ahead. Brooke inquires about a supervising doctor, and Dorothy replies that Dr. Wittenburg covers several prisons and is mostly unavailable, but reachable by phone.
Brooke feels uneasy about her new environment as she reflects on her time at urgent care, where she was never alone. She hopes the issues at her new place won't be as serious. During the tour, they visit the supply room, which is smaller than the one at the clinic and has ID badge access. It contains bandages, suture materials, and various medical supplies. Dorothy informs Brooke that she will write medication orders while Dorothy will dispense them. Brooke responds nervously, “Right, okay. ”
Dorothy warns Brooke about working in a maximum prison, noting that many inmates will appreciate her care if she remains professional. She stresses the importance of not sharing personal information, including where she lives or details about her life. When asked if she has children, Brooke mentions she has a son.
Dorothy is surprised that Brooke has a child, as most people are when they learn this, given Brooke's youthful appearance. At 28, Brooke looks like a student but feels much older. Dorothy advises Brooke to keep her personal life separate from work, stressing that the men she will be dealing with are criminals serving long sentences. She warns Brooke that while some inmates have legitimate needs, others may seek drugs. Dorothy emphasizes that the small amount of neurotics in the pharmacy should only be used in rare situations and insists that Brooke never accept payment for narcotics. Brooke reassures Dorothy that she understands and would never engage in such behavior.
Dorothy looks at Brooke and comments on a person who may end up in a bad situation. Brooke is surprised when the warden interviews her. She asks about the last worker, who left for "personal reasons," but isn't told she was arrested for selling drugs to inmates. The previous person in Brooke's job is in prison, highlighting how difficult it is to escape the prison system. This might also apply to employees working there.
Dorothy tries to reassure Brooke, telling her that working in a medical job isn’t as scary as it seems. Brooke asks if she will be responsible for seeing all the prisoners in the penitentiary. Dorothy confirms that Brooke will be seeing everyone, and asks if that concerns her. Brooke replies that it doesn't, but she’s not being truthful about her feelings.
Brooke is hesitant to take a job at a prison not because she fears for her safety but because one of the inmates is someone she used to know. This inmate, who was her first boyfriend, is serving a life sentence, and Brooke feels uncomfortable about seeing him again. She cannot tell Dorothy the real reason for her reluctance.
My rating: 10/10
My review: Awesome
Beyond the initial chapter summary, what truly sets Freida McFadden's 'The Inmate' apart as a top-tier thriller is its masterclass in crafting a suffocating atmosphere and developing a protagonist whose internal struggle mirrors the literal prison walls around her. For me, the 'dark hallway aesthetic' isn't just a backdrop; it's a character in itself. The way McFadden describes the prison, from the starkness of the cell bars to the unsettling green light she mentions in the book's cover art (which I totally agree with, it’s iconic!), it all contributes to a constant sense of dread. You can almost feel the chill in the air and hear the clanging of gates. This isn't a bright, sterile hospital environment; it's a place designed to contain, and that feeling of containment permeates every page. The flickering lights, the chemical smells, the constant surveillance – it all builds an oppressive atmosphere that perfectly complements the psychological tension. It's this immersive, almost claustrophobic setting that makes 'The Inmate' a truly unforgettable thriller and keeps you guessing what horrors might lurk around the next corner. Then there's Brooke Sullivan. While she's technically an employee, there's a profound irony in how she herself feels like an inmate, trapped by circumstances and her past. It's not just the physical confinement of the prison, but the emotional and psychological cage she finds herself in. Her decision to take this job, despite the obvious red flags and her deep reluctance, speaks volumes about a desperation that goes beyond just needing a paycheck. As a reader, I found myself constantly questioning her choices and worrying about her safety, not just from the dangerous people around her, but from her own secrets. Brooke's internal conflict is palpable. She's trying to maintain a professional facade in an incredibly hostile environment, all while battling the ghosts of her past, specifically the knowledge that her ex-boyfriend is one of the prisoners. This adds such a rich layer of complexity to her character. She's vulnerable, yet there's a quiet strength in her determination to navigate this impossible situation. You feel her unease, her fear, and her attempts to rationalize her presence in a place she clearly doesn't want to be. This personal connection makes her much more than just a nurse; she becomes a symbol of someone inadvertently caught in the system, blurring the lines between the free and the incarcerated. Her story isn't just about survival; it's about confronting her past in the most terrifying way possible.
