The Inmate
October 9, 2026
The Inmate
Freida McFadden
Bright World
2026-07-21
9788984375277
Review
It popped up as a recommendation on Millie's Library based on books I had previously read, so I took a chance and started reading it.
To be honest, I usually try to avoid Western thriller novels because their plots and pacing tend to be quite similar.
However, the rating was fairly high and the reviews weren't bad, so I decided to give it another shot, giving it the benefit of the doubt.
To be honest, I usually try to avoid Western thriller novels because their plots and pacing tend to be quite similar.
However, the rating was fairly high and the reviews weren't bad, so I decided to give it another shot, giving it the benefit of the doubt.
Many people mentioned that pushing through the beginning was tough, and for me as well, the early part was quite a hurdle.
The narrative felt a bit dragged out.
Still, by constantly imagining what kind of twist might be waiting at the end, I was able to turn the pages without too much trouble.
The narrative felt a bit dragged out.
Still, by constantly imagining what kind of twist might be waiting at the end, I was able to turn the pages without too much trouble.
However, when the pivotal twist meant to anchor this entire narrative was finally revealed, I personally felt a huge sense of
It was a twist I had pretty much already anticipated while reading.
disappointment.It was a twist I had pretty much already anticipated while reading.
On top of that, compared to that twist and the capabilities the character had demonstrated so far, the plan itself was so shoddy that the ending left me thoroughly let down.
The character was portrayed as a meticulous perfectionist who executes plans without failure, but in reality, it was surprisingly flimsy—closer to a plan that just relies on luck, essentially
For a story that had been dragged out from the beginning and seemed fairly well constructed, the resolution felt far too empty.
Rather than focusing on intricate tricks, it felt more like a work that leaned heavily into the character's emotional trajectory.
It was a typical book with an underwhelming payoff.
The character was portrayed as a meticulous perfectionist who executes plans without failure, but in reality, it was surprisingly flimsy—closer to a plan that just relies on luck, essentially
praying for the best.For a story that had been dragged out from the beginning and seemed fairly well constructed, the resolution felt far too empty.
Rather than focusing on intricate tricks, it felt more like a work that leaned heavily into the character's emotional trajectory.
It was a typical book with an underwhelming payoff.
Also, I don't understand why these kinds of novels always feel the need to feature an all-powerful cheat-key character: the hacker.
Using a single character who can magically fix anything in a snap felt like a cheap shortcut, effortlessly bypassing obstacles that the author should have resolved with clever ideas and gritty storytelling.
Using a single character who can magically fix anything in a snap felt like a cheap shortcut, effortlessly bypassing obstacles that the author should have resolved with clever ideas and gritty storytelling.
It leaves me wishing the author had pondered more deeply and fleshed out the narrative with more rigor when overcoming those hurdles, which would have made the story much richer.
From an engineer's perspective, real-world security and systems are nowhere near that simple to bypass or fool so effortlessly.
From an engineer's perspective, real-world security and systems are nowhere near that simple to bypass or fool so effortlessly.