A serial killer decides to keep one of his targets captive, hiding her from his wife, his daughter, the world in a shed, where he visits her every night to do whatever it is he does. When his wife dies and he and his daughter have to move, he decides he has sufficiently terrorized and bent his captive to his will that he can move her into the new house, telling his 13 year old daughter that "Rachel" is a friend of a friend of a friend going through a tough time, and telling Rachel that if she says or does anything to give things away, he will kill her. This is the dark and unique premise of this story, which is told from multiple points of view: including Rachel's and the daughter's. Can a man be so charming and manipulative that he can get away with this? Is Rachel really bent to his will, or is she just biding her time, waiting for her chance to escape? The beginning is a bit slow, but as the book progressed, it got harder and harder to put down. Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Recently widowed, Aiden is now taxed with raising his thirteen year-old daughter Cecelia after the unexpected death of his wife.
He’s a soft-spoken gentleman that will always go out of his way to help anyone. The town adores him! But like they say, if someone or something appears too good to be true….
So here’s the deal… Aiden, as you might suspect, is hiding deep, dark secrets! In fact, one of them is presently being held against her will upstairs right now!
Told from multiple perspectives of those around him, you’re privy to an up-close and disturbing glimpse of a monster.

*Special thanks toNetGalley and Knopf for this e-arc.*

What a dark read and perfect for those that love a good thriller.

Aidan Thomas puts on the perfect facade as an upstanding citizen, husband, and father to 13-year-old Cecilla. His dark side is that of a serial killer. Having already kidnapped and killed 8 women when it comes to his 9th victim Rachel, she had been held captive for 5 years and she is a fighter he had not expected. Aidans wife passes away and he moves with his daughter and decided to take Rachel.

For the thriller lover this is a deliciously dark read and a fast one for me because I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend this read for adults.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I thought the use of 2nd person perspective for the main POV was very creative, this is the only book I remember reading from that perspective.

I didn’t understand Emily’s “connection” with Aiden. It seemed way too obsessive, too quickly and I wish it was more developed so it was easier to understand why she was so heartbroken about truly not understanding who she was dating. Considering how little they interacted, it seemed like there might be a lot she did not know.

There seemed to be background pieces missing that I wish were filled in more with the daughters POV, specifically about her moms death and her grandparents relationship with her dad.

There’s a serial killer on the loose! And when he comes upon our protagonist he decides that instead of killing her, he’ll keep her…. In his shed…. On the property where he shares a home with his wife and daughter. But alas, his wife dies and now he has to move house. Will he kill his captive? Absolutely not! Now he’s moving her out of the shed, into a bedroom is his new house and introducing her to his daughter! Oh, and he’s dating again. What could possibly go wrong? So much fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for this ARC! I really enjoyed this novel and I can’t recommend it enough to fans of psychological thrillers. It did take me a bit to get into the second person POV of Rachel, but I ended up loving how her chapters were written. It really did put you into the story and pulled at my heart strings.

This was a wonderful debut novel and I hope to read more from Clémence in the future!

This is a unique book. The way it was written I felt like I was watching an episode of Criminal Minds. You slowly get to know the characters but you almost watch the story from the outside – I don’t know how to describe it correctly but that’s how I felt reading it.
It was a great thriller with lots of intensity and tension. I loved how determined the main character – Rachel – was to survive. The only downside was the ending. It felt very rushed. I just wanted something more, maybe explanation or motive. Great thriller to add to 2023 TBR.

Thank you NetGalley, Knopf and the author for ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a chilling story that most psychological thriller fans will find fascinating. I was clinging the pages and really loved how the POV shifted from the victim, the next victim, and the daughter of the creepy man who abducts and kills women. He seems like a stand up guy who everyone loves, and no one suspects what is under the surface.

I have read books that have a similar storyline to this one, but this still felt original and it was hard to turn away because I had to know how it would all come together.

This was a dark read and great debut!

How well do you know your neighbors? The folks who live on either side of my house are always good for a wave or a quick chat, but I can't say I truly know them. I'm reminded of the countless news stories that we see where neighbors are shocked about the actions of the people living near them. Sentiments like "He was always such a nice guy" or "He was a quiet neighbor, never caused any problems" come to mind. The truth is we can never really know the people we choose to live by. In her debut English language novel The Quiet Tenant, French author Clémence Michallon explores the idea of the community everyman and the dark secrets he harbors.

Aiden Thomas is a hardworking utility lineman, known in his upstate New York community as an all-around good guy. He's the kind of guy who will drop everything to help out a friend in need. Car won't start? Call Aiden. Has the freezer at your restaurant stopped cooling? Give Aiden a ring. Along with his wife and teenage daughter, Aiden has become a pillar in his local community. There's more to Aiden, however, than meets the eye. He isn't the man everyone thinks he is. If his secrets were to come out, the community would be appalled to know him.

The woman in the shed has come up with a set of rules for staying alive. It is simple really. Do whatever he tells you, and you get to live. Anger him or go against what he says in any way, and you'll end up dead like the others. This is her reality, the life she's been forced to live for several years. He sneaks in food for her, a bucket to relieve herself, and books that belonged to the girls who came before her. He uses her body for his own primal pleasures. She lets him do what has to be done so that she can stay alive. Her life is completely at the mercy of this monster. This is the existence she has been resigned to, and there seems to be no way out.

The Quiet Tenant is a shockingly impactful psychological thriller that had me glued to each page. I couldn't put this one down! Clémence Michallon writes from three unique perspectives that give a holistic view of her horror story. There's the voice of the imprisoned woman, desperate for escape but aware that there's little hope for the life she lived before. There's also the voice of Emily, the next woman targeted by the abductor, though she's completely unaware of his true intentions. Finally, there's the voice of the abductor's daughter, a child living with a monster. By combining the POV of these characters Michallon vividly builds the world where her story takes place, inviting us into the psyches of everyone involved. Only the abductor's perspective is omitted, giving him an air of mystery and uncertainty that drives much of the suspense in the novel. The characters and their stories culminate in a pulse-pounding conclusion that will have you breathlessly turning the pages. The Quiet Tenant is a fantastic thriller that should go to the top of your summer reading list. My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy to review.

The Quiet Tenant will make some noise in your head! This is a great, fast paced for me, suspense read, I really liked (is that the right word? appreciated?) the way the story was told (the POVs from women worked), the pacing, and the intensity of the plot. Thank you Knopf, this is a great summer read for anyone looking for kind of the anti-beach read vibe... and also great for thriller and creepy book fans for the Fall reading season as well.

Seriously, this was a good one and I can be picky about suspense!

Spectacular! A darkly thrilling tale of survival and obsession.

Successful journalist Clémence Michallon's dazzling debut, THE QUIET TENANT, is an instant out-of-the-park knockout! My #1 Thriller of 2023.

This sophisticated, twisty, electrifying psychological thriller is brilliant and will have you glued to the pages while anxiously awaiting the next masterpiece from this talented author.

A serial killer masked as a doting father, an upstanding community leader, a friend, and a helper. All explodes when his latest victim, his daughter, and his girlfriend collide in this heart-pounding binge-worthy thriller.

A charming widower who leads a secret life murdering women. The narration alternates between Rachel, whom Aidan has held prisoner for five years; Emily, the bartender with whom he enters a romantic relationship; and his young daughter.

Aidan Thomas is a family man and an upstanding figure in the small upstate New York town. He was always lending a hand. Behind closed doors, he is evil and has dark secrets. He is fooling everyone.

In reality, he is a kidnapper, a serial killer, a MURDERER.

He has murdered eight women, and the ninth victim, Rachel, he is currently holding prisoner in his backyard shed—years of being tortured while she awaits her death. She has been planning her escape but how?

When Aidan's wife dies, he and his thirteen-year-old daughter Cecilia are forced to move. He rents a different house from a judge.

Rachel is smart. She knows he will kill her, so she talks him into taking her along as a family friend. After five years of imprisonment, he assumes she is too fearful to escape.

There are rules for staying alive inside the shed and outside the shed.

But Rachel is a fighter. She is a survivor. Now she will live in the house as a family friend instead of in the shed at the new location. She befriends the daughter, Cecilia. She must play the part.

Then another person is involved. Emily is a local restaurant owner/bartender who has a crush on with handsome widower, Aidan. Will someone discover the truth before it is too late? How will Rachel escape?

Told through the POVs of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, readers get to hear from the women in Aidan's life. Will the other women believe Rachel before Aidan kills them all?

WOW! I loved this book. What a smashing debut! I adored Rachel and was rooting for her to the satisfying conclusion. She is intelligent and resilient. The basement scene was heart-pounding.

The author's writing is exceptional. Vivid descriptions, well-developed characters, twisty plot, intensity, and suspense off the charts, mind-blowing. An exploration of trauma, survival, and power delving deep into the minds of victims. The book focuses on more mental and psychological violence, not physical violence showcasing the power dynamics.

The author does an excellent job portraying an ordinary man and how he appears to the outside world and the evil, darkness, and demons behind closed doors. SPINE-CHILLING. I enjoyed the POV from the three women versus the man. Scary since this could happen in real life.

THE QUIET TENANT is nail-biting, intelligent, captivating, and utterly unputdownable. Out of all the thrillers I have read this year (190 YTD, and this is Mid-June) this one is stand-out! The best thriller I have read this year. Movie-worthy!

Check out the author's bio; quite impressive. Michallon has been added to my favorite author list, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. If you can only read one psychological thriller this year, this is the ONE! Highly recommend.

Thanks to #Knopf for a gifted ARC via #NetGalley for review purposes. All opinions are mine. I also purchased the hardcover copy for my home library.

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Pub Date: June 20, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars +++
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Loved this book! This was one of the most hyped books coming into the summer and this book is worth the hype. This twisted psychological thriller follows a man who has to sell his house after his wife dies but there’s one small problem-he has a hostage in the shed that he kidnapped. He decides to move her when the house sells and what follows is a tense cat and mouse game about a woman plotting her escape from him. I couldn’t stop turning the pages. While the plot itself may not be entirely originally the execution is as it’s told from 4 povs-the captive, a girl in town who is trying to date the man, the daughter, and the 9 victims he murdered before. I loved this American debut-the pacing, the characters, the tension, and the unique voice. Perfect for a beach or summer read!

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Quiet Tenant is the debut novel from Clemence Michallon.

"Her name is Rachel - That's what he told her. And she must do whatever he says if she wants to survive. It's been five years. There have been other girls that didn't make it -she's seen the trophies. She's convinced him to let her move out of the shed. But is it too late to run?"

This book reminded me a lot of a book from a few years ago - Room. The POV is almost all Rachel - what she's thinking - why she hesitates to run - and her empathy for the newest potential victim and the killer's daughter. The early part of the book was repetitious and droned a bit for me. Once Rachel has moved to the house there is different tension and action. The ending does make up for the slow part and you're holding your breath hoping that Rachel will get away.
The rape in this book is not graphic but it's there several times in the story. You ask yourself - what am I willing to do to survive?
Nice debut from Michallon.

I love a serial killer story and this one did not disappoint! I enjoyed the multiple POVs and seeing how Aiden played everyone. Rachel had me rooting for her the entire time, even when I was screaming "run!" in my head at her. Emily, on the other hand, was kind of a ninny and I would have dropped red flags off at her restaurant every day until she got the hint. The small chapters from the POVs of Aiden's victims were very well done and amped up the tension. This is a great book for true crime fans!

Wow! This was a 5-star thriller for me.
A serial killer's story told from three outside perspectives of women in his life. The writing in this book is done so well. I know some people don't like the second person perspective, but I thought it was so well done here and really moved the story along! I could not stop turning the pages, and I don't want to say too much because the small parts that reveal themselves along the way are part of the reason I liked the book so much! I hope that this one gets the attention it deserves, this author is definitely one to watch for me.

I requested The Quiet Tenant from Netgalley because of book recommendations from readers I trust and I was not disappointed. The story is told from three different women’s perspectives with their experiences with Aidan Thomas, a kidnapper and serial killer. A shocking and gripping psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages but also not wanting the story to end. At one point, my heart was racing during a particular scene, it was that intense. The author did a great job of keeping me engaged from start to finish. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I received an electronic advanced copy (eARC) from publisher Knopf and Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book.

"One of the most anticipated novels of 2023..." That phrase, as well as the cover of the book, sparked my attention. The horror of this pulse-pounding psychological thriller was hard to accept as you get to know a serial killer through the eyes of his 13 year old daughter, one of his victims spared, and his girlfriend.
The suspense of women being fooled by the very ones they trust will have you look around every corner as a serial killer lurks around locating and destroying his victims, except the one he decided to keep chained outside in a shed, while his wife and daughter are inside their home.
Aidan is known as a hard working family man doing good deeds around the community. When his wife dies of cancer, the community holds a fundraiser for him and his daughter. When he moves, he takes his victim, Rachel with him and creates new boundaries as she lives in the house with his daughter. She has been captive for 5 years.
This story is more about the victim Rachel once a runner and independent woman. It is told through her eyes, as well as his daughter, Cecilia and new girlfriend, Emily. Rachel is in survival mode, as she is given more freedom around the house, she is so beyond brainwashed it is seared into her brain she can't leave.That he will find her.
My heart ached for her and her family. I can't even imagine the horror for her and all his victims that did not survive. The author did a great job keeping it real but nothing in detail what he did to her. The story will ring familiar with other books and the endurance of captivity.
Thank you NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Clemence Michallon’s The Quiet Tenant

A literary thriller about a serial killer narrated by those closest to him: his 13-year-old daughter, his girlfriend, and the one victim he has locked in a shed.

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

3 Things I Appreciated About The Quiet Tenant:

Quiet Tenant reads more like a character study than a thriller, IMO, but it works for me. It’s a character-driven, lyrical drama that allows for an immersive reading experience & a chance to witness the many ways a human spirit can be broken and then stitched back together with hope.

***Note: If you’re looking for a “pulse-pounding thriller,” as the synopsis states, you will be disappointed.

Michallon does a phenomenal job capturing abductee Rachel’s stress reactions—fear, cognitive impairment, dissociation, grief, and anger. (Rachel is not the victim’s real name; it’s the one abductor Aidan gives her.) I don’t know how anyone can survive five years of captivity in a shed, but Rachel does, and readers read about how she manages to endure.

While I wouldn’t say this book is suspenseful, it’s full of dread. The writing style wowed me! Michallon’s choice to tell this story from the POVs of 3 women made it unputdownable.

Told from the points of view of the woman held captive for five years, the thirteen year old daughter, and the new (almost) girlfriend, this thriller about the serial killer that everyone thinks is the perfect neighbor might make the readers think twice about everyone around them. Aiden Thomas is his small town's darling, but no one knows his secrets until the one woman that he chose to keep instead of kill escapes.

I appreciated the tension throughout the book and the way that "Rachel" played into the man's ploys in order to stay alive. The excellent use of second person in her chapters added to the stress I felt as I read the book. I also really thought the ending was a clever choice, keeping the focus on the women rather than the killer.

Also, the fact that English is not the author's first language is surprising - I never could have guessed. I look forward to reading anything else she writes going forward.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

The Quiet Tenant
Genre: psychological thriller
Rating: 4⭐

Thanks so much @aaknopf for the #gifted finished copy! This book is out 6.20.23

I went into this blind, and quickly wondered if the plot was going to be too intense or disturbing for me. That wasn’t the case at all - while certainly a dark and traumatic subject matter, Rachel’s abuse was not described in detail on page, and the story mostly focused on her strength and determination to survive.

The first half was incredible! It was fast paced and heart pounding, and kept me on the edge of my seat and had me turning pages so quickly. Told from three main point of views, this thriller also gives voice to other victims of the stiry’s serial killer and was a really unique viewpoint as they narrate their final few moments. In the second half the paced slowed a bit, and there were certain parts that felt awfully convenient and fairly far fetched. While the ending was satisfying, it was pretty abrupt and I was left with a question or two. Still, I couldn’t put this down and overall found it really bingeable.

Read if you enjoyed: Room, Rena Olsen’s The Girl Before, Mary Kubica’s The Good Girl, or Lisa Gardner’s Find Her