Brooke Adams starts a new job as a nurse practitioner at a high-security men’s prison, returnining to her hometown with her young son. Her motives are complicated by the presence of Shane Nelson, an inmate serving a life sentence for a triple homicide that occurred when they were teenagers. Brooke’s testimony originally put Shane behind bars, but she now questions her memory of that night. As she interacts with Shane within the prison walls, she uncovers evidence suggesting the real killer might still be free in her community.
Fans of psychological thrillers read this book for its rapid pacing and the unreliable nature of the protagonist's perspective. It appeals to readers who enjoy stories centered on small-town secrets and the tension of confined settings. The audience gains a narrative centered on the fallibility of memory and the consequences of past choices. The experience concludes with several plot reversals that challenge the reader’s assumptions about the guilt or innocence of the central characters.
Insights from The Inmate
“I’m the reason Shane is in prison.”
Brooke goes back to work at the prison where her high school boyfriend is locked up. It made me realize how hard it is to let go of the version of someone you loved at seventeen.
“He's watching me. He's always watching me.”
The way Shane looks at Brooke from behind the glass is chilling. Even after a decade, some people can still make you feel like the only person in the room for the wrong reasons.
“Marcus is a good boy. Most of the time.”
Brooke’s son has these dark streaks in his personality that really creeped me out. You start wondering if people are born with a shadow already inside them.
Tim stayed by Brooke's side through everything while Shane was behind bars. It made me think about how we overlook the steady people while chasing the ones who hurt us.
- Published
- 2022
- Publisher
- Poisoned Pen Press
- ISBN
- 9781728296173
- Language
- EN
