From my blog: Always With a Book

This is definitely going to be one of my favorite books of the year and I love that it’s a debut novel! I know I’m going to be rereading it at some point and I will be recommending it to everyone, though I know it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea…but for those who love thrillers and books like Room or Notes on an Execution, this is a must-read!

In a word, this book is unsettling and dark but so well executed! I love serial killer stories but this one is just so different from all the other ones I’ve read so far in that it’s not told from the serial killer’s point of view. Rather, we have a story told from the female perspectives of those closest to him – one of his captives, his daughter, and a new love interest, and a few of the women he has killed. It is through these voices that we learn about him and I found this structure to be so compelling.

I think the quote at the opening of the book really says so much about what Aidan is all about:

“Alas! Who does not know that these gentle wolves are of all such creatures the most dangerous!” — Charles Perrault, Little Red Riding Hood

To the neighbors in his small upstate town, Aidan is a normal guy, living a quiet life, but he hides quite an unimaginable secret, one he is willing to do anything to keep hidden. He even manages to keep this secret from his own daughter. Reading about him, it’s hard not to get chills, wondering if and when he is going to be found out. But equally terrifying is reading about his captive, Rachel and how she has managed to stay alive all this time. Why hasn’t he killed her? And now that they have had to move and he has Rachel living in the same house as his daughter, how can he keep this charade up without Cecilia figuring out what is really going on?

The further I got into this book, the more unsettled I became. It is a slow-burn at first that builds in tension and suspense. I had a hard time putting this one down and haven’t stopped thinking about this one since I finished reading it. If this is your type of book, go get it and let me know what you think!!!

I went into this book not knowing anything about it. I did start it, stop and then start it again about a month later. The second time i started the book, I got sucked into the story and could not stop.

The book was told from 3 different POVs and you also get get chapters from Aidan's past victims before he murdered them.

Once I got into the story, it was hard to stop reading.

Entertaining and suspenseful enough to keep me reading but I kept thinking that it may be too close to other books like Room by Donoghue. Close but different. Interesting premise and the literary devices used to move the story along were good but I think there were two flaws for me. First that the character development of the serial killer/abductor did not include anything that would tell us the why of what he did, the brief glimpses of prior victims told a bit but way too little. Secondly, I just didn’t care a lot about the main character, the tenant, because there wasn’t enough passion in the telling of her circumstance, I cared more about the killer’s child and the killer’s new paramour.

Wow, when this book says thriller, it means THRILLER. We start out with "The girl in the shed" and go on throughout the book flipping throughout different POVs. We follow a small town serial killer who disguises himself very well through the eyes of his victims and you literally are pulled into this book and I could not get enough of reading through the POV of his daughter and his multiple victims. Normally multiple POVs puts me off from a book but this is done so well in this novel. You literally are left with a cliffhanger in each chapter of this book (and there are a lot) but you are never lacking tension and suspense. The ending did leave a little to be desired but, overall, this book was amazing and if you're looking for a gripping thriller that will pull you in from beginning to end, pick this up.

This novel is told mostly from the perspective of “Rachel”, who has been held captive by an outwardly normal seeming man for 5 years - and he has killed multiple other women but inexplicably has kept her alive. There are also chapters told from the perspective of the man’s 13 year old daughter, and of a woman in town who has a crush on him.

All I can say about this one is WOW! One of the best thrillers I have ever read, in part because it’s not just a typical thriller - although the suspense was fantastic, it also was an incredible character study with terrific writing. It reminded me a bit of a cross between Emma Donoghue’s Room and Danya Kukafka’s Notes on an Execution, both books I loved as well. I seriously couldn’t put it down and lost sleep over it - not because it was too scary to sleep though it was pretty creepy in a non-graphic way, but because I just wanted to keep reading it. And I’m all the more impressed that not only is it a debut novel, but that English is not the author’s first language! Amazing, can’t wait to see what she writes next.

4.5 stars

I sat with a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach throughout this whole book! And I didn't hate that feeling. I kept turning the page.

Aidan Thomas, such a good man, helps everyone, has everyone's sympathy because his wife has passed away and he is raising his daughter all alone. Emily, who owns the restaurant that he frequents, has hopes that they might start a relationship. (Be careful what you wish for) Little does everyone know, Aidan has some secrets, There is a woman living in his house with him. A woman who has been missing for 5 years. Aidan is a serial rapist/murderer but you wouldn't know it to look at him.

He calls her Rachel and he thinks he has worn her down but she is still trying to stay strong and get away. When he moves into another house and lets her out of the shed she has been locked in, she meets his daughter Cecelia and she might just find her way out.

This book grips you from the start. I was hoping and praying she made it out in one piece. You will too. So wonderfully written with jumps and deep breaths through everything. I might have yelled at the characters a few times. Looking forward to more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for a copy for review.

I loved this book. I thought it was very fast paced and I enjoyed getting perspectives from the already murdered women in between POVs. I thought it was interesting how the author used 2nd POV with the woman in the cabin and how this made the book feel more creepy. 4.5 stars for me!

Is that a five star thriller? You bet your suspense-loving ass it is.

THE QUIET TENANT is about a serial killer without actually being about the serial killer, which is one of the big reasons I loved this. It is told from the perspective of three women; his teenage daughter, the woman who falls for him (ew, Emily), and the one woman he spared…and instead kept locked in a shed for five years, visiting nightly to assault her after he wrapped up his evening as a loving husband and father.

We get a glimpse at the monster hiding behind the mask of someone that neighbors would be sure to say “seemed like such a great guy” if he were ever caught. But I love that we never get his perspective. Let’s not give this guy any airtime to provide whatever sympathetic sob story he might weave in his head to attempt to justify murdering nine women.

I also really, really loved the interludes that gave each murderer woman’s brief perspective.

This is a bit less thriller, more character study in a lot of ways. It’s not one of those twisty stories with unreliable narrators and red herrings. Instead, we get a glimpse at the psyches of the women in three extremely different situations, all very much trapped by this man in their own ways.

As the story progressed, I got more and more stressed. Surely this woman was going to do something about her escape. But when? And how? The suspense built perfectly and the short chapters really messed up my sleep schedule, keeping me reading late into the night.

This took me back to another five star serial-killer-from-the-perspective-of-women book from 2022, NOTES ON AN EXECUTION. They are similar but also so different. If you loved that one, I don’t know what you’re waiting for; you need to read THE QUIET TENANT immediately.

<i>"Here is what it feels like, the moment your life becomes a tragedy. The moment you've anticipated. When your life stops being yours and turns into a crime story."</i>

This is a razor sharp, taught, and heart pounding psychological suspense that truly gets you invested from the first chapter. For fans of Catherine Ryan Howard or Notes on an Execution, this will be right up your alley. What we know is that Rachel is kidnapped and held captive by a serial killer and rapist for several years. We follow along intimately as she makes a desperate play for her freedom after 5 years. The action unfolds slowly, painstakingly, but all the while maintaining a tightrope of tension. What makes this feel so unique, is that we also get to see the serial killer from the perspective of 2 other women in his life -- his tween daughter and a woman interested in him romantically.

It's the dichotomy of seeing how these other women view the killer, how he can so seamlessly blend into normalcy, that taps into the deepest, darkest curiosity and allure that we as a public have with true crime and these types of predators. It seems so incongruous that such a monster could be a part of society so easily, be so respected, and yet behind closed doors do unspeakable things.

<i>"The geography of his flesh: things you didn't want to learn, but learned anyway."</i>

The manner in which we see 'Rachel' broken down, dehumanized, scattered, and then slowly knit herself together as she plots for her opportunity is done expertly and respectfully. While perhaps her transformation felt a bit accelerated, I nonetheless found myself compelled to see her push herself, break past her fears and ingrained subservience.

<i>"You don't forget your first. You never forget the boy who taught you how to survive as a stranger in your own body."</i>

I think this also provides sharp commentary on the media treatment of victims and these crimes, and also the reality afterwards of those touched by these crimes. Often it's a ride into the sunset and a happy ending without any real consideration for the heavy work it will take afterwards to recover from the trauma. However here, Michallon takes time at the end to show us the long road ahead not just for 'Rachel' but for Emily as well. And while it isn't a deep dive into that life of renewed freedom, the glimpses and passages offered convey volumes.

Though this wasn't perfect, Emily was seriously unhinged and I found her romantic notions a bit too much for the 1 months time period, and I would have loved getting some of Cecilia's viewpoints at the end, a glimpse into how this affects and haunts her after, I still think this sticks the landing and is highly addicting overall

For those looking for a keenly sharp psychological suspense, look no further!

<i>"What you want: A way to exist in the world, after."</i>

Thank you Knopf for my galley & finished copy!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
"The Quiet Tenant" by Clémence Michallon was an addictive, chilling & suspenseful thriller that had me hooked right from the start.
Amazingly, this was Ms. Michallon's debut novel.
I will definitely be on the lookout for what she decides to write next.

I wanted to love this book but I just didn't. It was told in a different way than other thrillers in first person and second person but I just couldn't get behind it. It was very confusing for me. The writing was very robotic and lacked any type of character for me. I felt like it wasn't set in this time period because it was SOO ROBOTIC. I can see why people would love it BUT I can also see why people wouldn't like it. If you are a fan of serial killers and dry writing, then pick this up.

**Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own.**

I went into this blind and WHOA!!! I assumed by the cover that it was in the suspense/thriller genre and I wasn't wrong, but it still didn't prepare me for this psychological thriller. I've never read anything quite like it. Go in blind and buckle up for the ride even if it is a slow burn.

The Quiet Tenant is a dark book where one truly controls the life and death of another.

Rachel has been held prisoner in a shed and then in a house for five year. She is handcuffed when her captor is away. Her movement, food, personal hygiene, etc. are totally controlled by Aiden. This reminds me of the real life situation of the young ladies in northern Ohio.

The first part of the book was slow and frustrating for me. It never had a rhythm to help move the story along. The story evened out as the location changed. Finally, it was rocky at the end. The premise was good and chilling the way a thrill should be. Aspects of the plot were a little far-fetched. Other reviewers have outlined the story better than I could.

It was an okay read but did not fully keep my attention.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“The Quiet Tenant” by @clemencemichallon hooked me immediately and did not ever let up.

Aiden Thomas is a widower, father and small-town good guy in upstate New York. There’s just one problem: he’s kept a woman locked in his shed for five years while murdering eight others. This is told in alternating perspectives — the trapped woman, Aiden’s 13-year-old daughter, and a bartender in town who has a crush on him. The reader gets to know Aiden from each of the these perspectives, which is what makes it so fascinating (and so creepy!)

“The Quiet Tenant” was so good on so many levels. It’s a serial killer thriller but also a commentary on women and power dynamics. The book has gotten a lot of press — and I am here for all that hype! This is an incredible debut, and I’m already psyched for her next book.

I’ve followed Clémence on Instagram for awhile, and it was fun to see little bread crumbs of herself sprinkled throughout the book, from her marathon training to red lipstick. I’m completely blown away that this book is in her second language.

What a Creepy great read! A young woman held captive by a serial killer. This story is told from the
perspective of his victim, his daughter, and a local restaurant owner, who is slated as his love interest or his next victim?
Bone chilling and page turner are good descriptions of this book. My first read from this Author and will look for more by her.
Thank you to Netgalley, AA Knopf books and the Author Clemence Michallon for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

"Rule number one of staying alive in the shed: He always wins. For five years, you have made sure of it."

I went in blind to this realistic mystery, and I think -- if you can handle it -- that's the way to go. Because the discovery of major details would be ruined by the synopsis.

If you must know something before diving in, I recommend reading the opening, one-sentence description from its bio and nothing more: "A pulse-pounding psychological thriller about a serial killer narrated by those closest to (him): His 13-year-old daughter, his girlfriend, and the one victim he has spared."

That's strong, and it's enough. Because reading about a wolf in sheep's clothing from those in the wolf's pack makes those reveals hit harder. They're more impactful when you find out with the characters rather than before them.

And because I believe so strongly in this, I don't want to say much about the plot except to say that this story read very real, which made it that more chilling and emotional to encounter. It was obviously very character driven and, apart from its flawless opening chapter, it's delivered at a much slower pace than I anticipated given the promotional materials.

Like the title implies, it's quiet. It sneaks up on you. Lingers. Makes itself comfy in your mind.

It's not a happy book, but it does have a lot to say.

Wow! This book will slowly and quietly keep you at the edge of seat, without you even noticing it!

Aidan Thomas is beloved within his community. He's a hard-working family man, a widower, a devoted father who is always willing to give a helping hand. He's also a kidnapper and serial killer. And I promise I have not spoiled this book for you. It's all in the description. This book is told from different POVs, one of them being the victim. And it's so incredibly well done, you can't help but feel what these characters are feeling.

This book was intense and thrilling and wonderfully messed up. I loved it! A huge thanks tp the author, NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
I really enjoyed the multiple points of view in this book. It was intriguingly to see a serial killer through the minds of a daughter, a love interest, and a victim. However, I was frustrated with Rachel at times, but the quick chapters make the book feel like it flew by.

I absolutely devoured this book. I honestly don't even know where to begin - this one will keep you gripped up until the end. I really enjoyed the different POV's throughout, beginning with the unnamed woman. I was dying to learn more about her and her REAL name throughout the whole book. I was on the edge of my seat hoping Emily would learn to stay away and Cecilia would finally see her father for who he is. I will recommend this book for a long time - this one was absolutely amazing. Huge thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for a chance to review this one.

YES!! This is absolutely my kind of thriller. Suspenseful, unique, and smart.

I’m beyond impressed that this is a debut thriller from @clemencemichallon Everything was well done- from short chapters cleverly titled and full of tension to alternating POV. We get to hear this story from the perspective of those closest to the killer, his 13 year old daughter, his girlfriend, and the one he has chosen to spare. All perspectives play on the readers feelings toward the killer and the women in his life. Parts read like a suspenseful movie that makes you hold your breath and others like a deep character study of women who find strength where it seems impossible.

It was impossible to put this one down. If I had more time, I could have absolutely read this book in one day!