Wow, this book was quite the ride! It's not often that an author chooses to disclose the villain early on in the book, but Michallon made the risky decision to do just that--and it works!

Engaging from page one, you won't regret giving The Quiet Tenant a chance!

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.

This book grabbed me from the first chapter and never let go. Told from multiple perspectives with great character development and constant tension, I could not put it down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an advanced reader copy.

I love a multi-POV book and The Quient Tenant just set the bar high for future books I read! Once I started reading, I could not stop until I knew what happened next - and learnred more about the three narrators. May be a little too dark & twisty for some but 5 stars from me. Bravo to Michallon on such a well-crafted debut!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Knopf for the ARC copy of The Quient Tenant to read and review.

I really liked this book! The story sucked me in almost immediately and the alternating points of view really helped to paint the picture of how the women of the story saw the killer. Hoping to not be too spoilery here, but the addition of the short chapters dedicated to the victims he killed and their interactions with the killer was great to help paint the picture of just how vile he was.

Overall a well-crafted, and paced story!

This book was freaking awesome! I totally binged it and did not want to put it down. I kept convincing myself of certain story lines and nothing played out like I expected (granted I may have been a bit out there!).

This is a bit of a character study and I've seen some gripes about that. For me, it totally worked. I went in blind and couldn't get enough. I was completely captivated by the relationship between Rachel and her captor, the Stockholm syndrome aspects, and how everything transpired once Rachel met Cecelia.

I kept imagining how I would act if I were in Rachel's shoes and much of that was because of the second story point of view for her parts. It was impossible to fathom.

I also liked that we heard different stories and different viewpoints. Aiden was so much more than just a kidnapper - he was a father, a lover, a widower, a murderer. To see and learn those different sides was fascinating.

This is one I'll be recommending for a long time! I absolutely loved it and can't wait to see what else Michallon comes up with!

An incredible inside take on a serial killer. I was hooked from the first page with the different POVs including his latest victim, his girlfriend, and his daughter. Riveting and engaging until the last page.

I love a good crime fiction/psychological thriller/mystery read, and when I read the synopsis for The Quiet Tenant, I knew I needed to read it. And it did not disappoint!

I love a good serial killer thriller, but this one was unique because it was told exclusively from the perspective of the women in the killer's life - including his victims, his new girlfriend, and his daughter. I listened to this book on audio and was blown away by the cast of narrators. Such a great job!

I also really loved how the chapters were labeled, especially for "Rachel" - you'll know what I mean once you read the book.

Such a unique take on this genre, and I cannot wait to read what this author does next!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book started out really strong and though the voice of Rachel was really strong, I disliked Emily so much that it brought down the whole book.

The reader is quickly drawn into this physiological thriller about a kidnapped woman. Although the book is told from varying points of view, the main part of the story is told from the kidnapped woman's point of view. The rare use of the second-person narrative for her portion of the story really puts the reader in her shoes and ramps up the tension. The fact that she is not given a name and is only called by the name he gave her just serves to draw the reader in even more and increase the shock and horror of it all.

Reading this book is a little like watching a horror movie. At times, you want to scream and wonder why she did or didn't do this or that or the other thing. However, unless one is really in such a horrific situation, you can't really know what you would do. This exciting but terrifying thriller is about the closest you can come to knowing what it feels like.

This was an enjoyable thriller that kept my attention. It was a little creepy at times, but that is OK. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

First off, I don’t think this was a thriller at all. If I had those expectations, I would’ve enjoyed this more—possibly.

I lovedddddd the premise of this book, but the execution was just okay.

I loved the different perspectives given, but I personally did not like that one was in the second person. Example: “you’re in a room. You’re alone.” Nah man. Not my fave. Just my opinion.

This book slowly warmed up. It took me about 25% to really feel like I cared. At the end, it did get exciting, but then it just ended…..and that was it. I felt very unsatisfying. It didn’t feel like the story was finished.

This is a 3.5 for me.

I liked it , but it wasn’t amazing.
Thank you netgalley for a copy of this.

I couldn't wait to read this book as a true crime junkie, I was interested in reading all the different POVs of the women that this serial killer affected. The second person narration took some time to getting used to. I also felt like the ending fell flat, this book could've definitely used an epilogue. On the flip side, this book kept my attention the whole way through!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

• I loved this book! I had a few minor issues, but overall it was such a unique way to tell a serial killer story! It was character-driven, rather than plot-driven, and that is unusual for this genre.

• First of all, I loved that Aidan (the kidnapper/serial killer) did NOT have a POV in the story. The story was told by 3 females in his life – his 13-year-old daughter, his current girlfriend, & his current captive who he calls Rachel (although that was not her real name). While telling the story that way was fascinating, I did feel like I missed out on the “WHY” behind what compelled Aidan to kidnap & murder women.

• Rachel’s story (the captive) is told in second person narration. Which means the character is ascribed to the reader and referred to as “you”. It was quite strange for me to read at first. I’m certainly not used to 2nd person POV. However, as I read more, I was becoming Rachel in the story… and if I’m honest, it was a disturbing but very effective way of making the story extremely personal for the reader.

• I did think the ending was too abrupt. I’m fully engrossed in this amazing slow-burn story and then BAM! 💥THE END💥 I still loved the book, but the ending wasn’t as satisfying as I’d have liked.

• This story is about control, possession, trauma, fear, and survival. It’s oppressive, harrowing, and disturbing. But it also had emotion, determination, hope, and healing. It was a well-rounded, uniquely written debut novel. I’ll read the author’s next books for sure!

Thank you @Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

🔥5⭐️ thriller alert!! And dare I say… favorite thriller of the year?🔥

Author: @clemencemichallon
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 320
Published: June 2023
Rating: 5⭐️

So good I made my sister read it too (she binged it in one sitting)🙌

- One of those books where I couldn’t wait to pick up the book and keep reading!! Perfect when you need a quick paced read!
- I love a plot involving someone being held captive. Idk why, but these stories usually keep you on the edge of your seat, have a strong MC to root for, and have an action packed ending. This one did not disappoint!
- I enjoyed the multiple points of view! Some characters you do not understand who they are until later, and it built suspense in the story.
- Small town serial killer crime
- 📖Read if you enjoy: Room or Don’t Look For Me

Swipe to read the synopsis. Highly recommend this one!

I’ve read a lot of thrillers, and I’ve read a lot of serial killer books, but I have never read ANYTHING like this.

The story has three narrators- 1- a girl who was kidnapped over 5 years ago and has been kept in a shed, 2- the kidnapper’s (who is also a serial killer) daughter, who is reeling from the recent death of her mom, 3- a local restaurant owner with a massive crush on the slightly older widower (aka the killer.) Through them the story is told, and it is done so damn well. Each character is going through the “same” events, but has a totally unique experience compared to the others.

I saw a few reviews mention that this book shouldn’t qualify as a thriller and I beg to differ! The tension in this was HIGH throughout, especially the last quarter when everything is starting to simultaneously unravel and fall into place.

Another negative thing I’ve seen in some of the reviews was frustration with how each character acted, which I also disagree with. I feel like Michallon thought very clearly and carefully about the psyche and headspace of each of her characters in order to direct the characters’ actions, especially the kidnapped “Rachel.” I’ve done some studies on trauma response and victims of long-term abuse, and I think she nailed the perfect blend of hesitation, fear, inner strength, and calculation that was “Rachel.” And I really loved seeing each character arc growing and adapting in order for the events of the finale to unfold the way they did. I loved it.

Michallon is a first time novelist and her native language is French, and I would have never known either of those things based off the quality of the story. I will be keeping an eye out for her future works.

I got an uncorrected ARC from NetGalley on this and I’m so thankful I did!

A complex and multilayered novel that kept me turning pages. I thoroughly enjoyed it as I loved the storytelling and the solid plot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Rachel (not her real name but the only one her kidnapper allows her) has been held captive in a shed for five years. She knows she is lucky to be alive because she is not his first or even his last victim but, for some reason, the one he chose to keep. She also knows he is married with a daughter. When his wife dies, in order to save herself, Rachel convinces him to take her with them. She will live in their new home supposedly as a tenant, eat some meals with him and his daughter Cecilia but, otherwise, she is kept in her room, handcuffed to the radiator. She has only one objective - to survive - and has learned how to appease him, to make him believe she can be trusted, but always looking for an opportunity to escape.

Cecelia is thirteen and she and her father seem very close but she seems to have no friends or much of a life outside the house. He drives her to school, picks her up after and has restrictions on phone and tv time. At first she resents Rachel’s presence but, after watching her with her dad and realizing they aren’t a couple, a friendship starts to develop. Can Rachel turn her into an ally or will her developing fondness for the girl be her undoing?

Emily has fallen for a man who stops in for a drink at her restaurant a couple of times a week. He is everything she wants - well-respected in town, quiet but popular, always willing to help a neighbour in need. But he is married with a young daughter. Then his wife dies and slowly a relationship develops. However, he wants their affair to remain private and she is not to come to his house.

Alfred Hitchcock once said ‘there is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it’ and Clemence Michallon uses this rule to great effect in her psychological thriller, The Quiet Tenant. There is little real action on the page until near the end but the tension created by the interaction between the characters kept the story moving and the pages flipping at breakneck speed. The story is told from the different points of view of Rachel, Cecilia, Emily and even from some of the other victims. It is well-written, compelling and different from most serial killer tales I have read. Michallon is a French author and this is her first English novel. I really hope it’s not her last.

I received and arc of this book from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review

Dark, twisted and a little to disturbed for my taste. I did finish but I'm pretty sure I'm going to have nightmares about this story. Maybe that's what it's supposed to accomplish?

Would recommend for fans of…
🏚 Criminal Minds
🏚 Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile
🏚 Mindhunter

Every so often I read a thriller that completely blows me away with both impeccable plotting and a compelling emotional through line, and The Quiet Tenant is the latest book to do that.

The Quiet Tenant is the story of a serial predator, Aidan, told through the POV of the women in his life – his victims, his daughter, and his new romantic partner. The book focuses primarily on the perspective of one woman he’s kept captive for several years and the chapters narrated by her are written in the second person, adding a chilling “this could happen to anyone” element to the story.

What this novel lacks in mystery (you know from the outset what Aidan has done), it makes up for in suspense, leaving you constantly on the edge wondering if the main character will find freedom or if someone else will become an unwilling victim. The multiple POVs really added to the story and tried explore the question we all have (“How could they not know?”) when we see stories like this one on the news.

The chapters are short and bounce from character to character, making for a very fast-paced read, and while I know it won’t be for everyone, I wholeheartedly recommend this to all of my fellow mystery, thriller, and suspense fans.

Through three perspectives (his captive, daughter, and girlfriend), we see a psychopath’s ability to manipulate and control those around him.

Chapters from the captive’s perspective are told in second person POV, effectively emphasizing her point of view. She is disassociating. The imprisonment and abuse aren’t happening to her (me) but to someone else outside herself (you). (Jennifer Egan also does this exceptionally well in one chapter of THE CANDY HOUSE, “Lulu The Spy - 2023.”)

This literary thriller (is that a thing now?) was exceptionally well done. It’s not explicitly dark, but still deeply disturbing without being gratuitous. “He did what he came to do.” The author’s restraint makes the book approachable without losing the terror. Think of a horror film where you never see the monster, and all the gore happens off-camera. You’re more frightened because of what the director holds back.

It’s a book that haunted me while reading and for days after. Wonderfully well done, and boggling to think that it was written in English - not the author’s primary language. I can’t wait for her author chat hosted by @kellyhook.readsbooks and @beachesbooksnbubbles.

Thanks, NetGalley and AA Knopf, for the DRC.