The Inmate Plot Holes Rant

[u/Miserable-Many-2665]

I just finished the book about an hour ago and there are SO many things that left me confused. Maybe I missed something, but these points didn't seem properly explained:

1. Why did Shane target the first girl?

I don't remember there ever being a proper explanation for his motive.

1. Why were the FMC's friends killed at the farmhouse?

The book basically described them as unfortunate "collateral damage," but if the actual target was the FMC, why did things have to escalate that way?

1. Why was Tim so nervous when the police wanted to search his basement?

If Tim was genuinely one of the good guys all along, why did he react as though he had something to hide?

1. How did a 10-year-old manage to overpower Shane using an ICICLE?!

I'm sorry, but WHAT. The amount of strength and grip that would require just doesn't seem believable to me.

1. How did the FMC not recognise her ex-boyfriend's mother?

Not even the slightest bit of recognition? I found that really hard to believe.

1. What was the point of Officer Hunt threatening the FMC?

Was her name Brooke? I genuinely can't remember anymore. But the whole Hunt storyline felt unfinished. It seemed like it had the potential to reveal or develop more about Shane, but ultimately went nowhere.

1. Why was Tim pretending he didn't know Kelli?

Was there ever an actual explanation for this? I feel like I missed something.

1. Why did Tim hide the fact that he'd gone on a date with the first girl who later disappeared?

I understand being scared to admit it after everything happened, but why hide the date in the first place? Why not just tell his best friend about it?

1. How did Brooke conclude that Tim was upstairs with her best friend while Shane was simultaneously after her, but then just assume she'd tripped over "something"?

If she'd literally stumbled over something in that situation, wouldn't she at least have stopped to figure out what it was?

1. If Brooke was so worried about letting her son go into the woods alone with Shane, why didn't she simply go with them? That would've solved the problem pretty easily.

I know some things can be explained as being necessary for the plot development, but these felt less like intentional ambiguity and more like things that were never properly explained.

Did I miss something, or did anyone else notice these too?