📚 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 - The Quiet Tenant⁣
𝘉𝘺 𝘊𝘭é𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘯⁣
⭐⭐⭐⭐️⭐️ (5/5) ⁣
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝐭𝐡⁣
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𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞(𝐬): "𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯. 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬."⁣
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𝐓𝐡𝐞 "𝐆𝐢𝐬𝐭": Aiden Thomas is the perfect man. Handsome, hard-working, a beloved husband and doting father, always willing to lend a hand for a neighbor in need. But Aiden has a dark secret. He's a serial killer who has already killed 8 women and has his sights set on a 9th. He's also had a woman chained in his shed for five years. 😳 After his wife dies, he's forced to move homes, and must take the woman with him, still very much a captive, but given more freedom than she had in the shed. He introduces her to his thirteen-year-old daughter as Rachel, a family friend who needed a place to stay. Aiden banks on Rachel being too brainwashed and afraid to attempt escape, but he's wrong...⁣
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𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 💭: Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!!! After several 𝘮𝘦𝘩 books, I was desperate for a real page turner, and boy did The Quiet Tenant deliver!⁣
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This one gets in your head in the best way. This is not an in-your-face thriller. The moments are more quiet, more calculated, and absolutely suck you in. ⁣
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Rachel is a fantastic character. Emily is absolutely annoying/naive 😂, but you know...I kind of get her. Lol. There were a few moments that were a bit TOO convenient, but I can't complain when the story hooked me the way it did. ⁣
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This one publishes on June 20th, and you won't want to miss it!⁣
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𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 📖: You like: psychological thrillers; multiple viewpoints; abduction stories⁣
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𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: R (for adult situations)⁣
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𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 ❗️: Rape; Death due to cancer

I loved this book! It’s a thriller, but it’s also a look into the psychological and mental effects that sustained fear can have on an individual. It’s uniquely told from the perspectives of different women in the killer’s life, including one victim who, instead of being murdered like the others, is kept captive for five years. The limits of their points of view and the way their experiences overlap give the reader interesting - but fractured - insights into the killer’s motivation and behavior. It’s such a unique way to tell a story, and I couldn’t put it down.

I especially loved the chapters told from the killer’s victims. They might have been my favorite part. Nameless, listed only by their number in his kills, their accounts made my heart hurt.

I did get frustrated with the woman held captive over and over. She had SO MANY chances to escape! I had to continually remind myself that this woman had lost her independence, confidence, and trust in the world, so she would be unwilling to take any unnecessary risks, as her main goal was to stay alive no matter how bad the situation became. Obviously I’ve never been in that situation, but I just saw so many viable chances for her to get help that she ignored. I still absolutely loved her and was rooting for her the whole time.

This book lends itself to discussion and would make a great book club selection! It’s a fascinating and unique thriller that I will remember for a long time! Thank you so much to Knopf and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book comes out in just a few days and my guess is that the rights to a movie or mini-series will be purchased by the end of the year. It’s a short, page-turning, suspense novel that you won’t want to put down. There are multiple points of view including the serial killer, his daughter, girlfriend, and the girl he’s held on to for the past 5 years (the quiet tenant). The chapters are all labeled but it’s also pretty easy to determine on your own whose chapter it is. You won’t get confused but you might find yourself internally yelling at a character periodically – like “no”, “don’t do that”, “hurry up”, “pay attention”, or “what were you thinking?” Now, some might say it’s not very realistic but knowing the world today, I completely believe it could happen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and provide an honest review.

The debut novel by @clemencemichallon is a fantastic psychological thriller. It is told from multiple POVs from the women in a serial killers life. It focuses on trauma, survival, and missing the red flags. I really enjoyed the unique perspective to a serial killer story. I highly recommend checking out this book this summer!

Thank you @aaknopf @vintageanchorbooks and @netgalley for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

*3-3.5 stars

A tense debut thriller about a serial killer who decides to keep one woman captive. As the story opens, he's kept this woman he's calling 'Rachel' in a shed on his property for five years and has thoroughly brainwashed her and terrorized her into following his every demand. Now his wife has died and he needs to move to a different home with his 13 year old daughter, Cecilia. What to do with 'Rachel'? He believes he has her so cowered that he can move her in and pretend she is a 'tenant.' What could go wrong with that?

The story is told by various women--Rachel, Cecelia, his latest girlfriend Emily, as well as short chapters from the women he has killed. Most are told in first person point of view but Rachel's is in second person 'you', which seems strange and somewhat off-putting. Some of the things she does are so inexplicable but surely the result of this constant mental and physical cruelty. The tension in the plot arises from the reader wanting her to find a way to escape!

Michallon is French but received her degrees from English-speaking universities and became a US citizen in 2022, deciding to write her first novel in English.

I received an arc of this debut thriller from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

First, i want to thank NetGalley for this free ARC and the opportunity to read this in exchange for a review.
I actually really enjoyed this book. Let's start with what I love about it. The characters are great. I love the build-up and insight/perspective from the woman in the shed. There was an awesome build-up to "the time" that i loved.
What im bot liking is i feel like im lacking a lot. Still have a lot of questions. Why did Aiden kill the women? Why did he choose this one woman to not kill and to keep as his "pet". I feel as if almost 300 pages were devoted to this main escape, then 20 pages give or take of that after. I feel like there should have been more at the end. It's more of an explanation as to why Aiden did what he did, maybe from his perspective. What drove him to do what he did what was the trigger. Also, what was Cecilia holding in that she almost felt comfortable talking to "Rachel" about? A lot of questions were left unanswered, and an ending that i felt was rushed.

I’m really not sure how I feel about this one. The premise sounded great but the story took a turn that I’d didn’t care for. I’m usually a fan of serial killer books. I’ve never really read a book that is in the second person and I did not care for it at all. Also found parts to be repetitive.

Review: This was such a page-turner! I was hooked from the first paragraph and wanted to scream at the book multiple times, convinced if it was me, I would have ran or fought or screamed. Something. There’s always more to the story though and everyone has to find their strength in their own way. Thank you to @knopf @pantheon @vintage @anchor @netgalley and @clemencemichallon for my copy!

The life of a serial killer/rapist as told by the women in his life - the women he has held captive in his shed for the past.5 years, a local bartender with a crush on him, his daughter, and vignettes from the women he has killed. Enjoy this one overall, the end was a little unbelievable but sometimes you have to suspend belief.. I enjoyed the different points of view on this one.

What an impressive debut. I adored Michallon’s writing. I don’t know if it is because she is a French author but I found her prose particularly unique and lovely. I think she’s got a skill for creating atmosphere that worked really well in this story.

I enjoyed all three POVs, and I appreciated that the style switched to help differentiate them. I also loved that the narrative was told from the various victims, which made the story more compelling. This book was sinister in a complex way because the violence these women faced was mostly hinted at instead of outright shown, which I found more interesting than a grisly action-driven story. While this is definitely more of a slow-burn, I was hooked from the beginning because of how Michallon built pressure. It grew in an eerie way that made me genuinely uncomfortable while reading it. It was far more exciting than your standard thriller, and I look forward to future books by this author because I think she has some real talent!

Thank you to Knopf and Netgalley for this ARC. 4.5/5 stars

"My name is Rachel." That is what he has taught her to say - the woman he has kept hidden away in his shed. The one he let live. When he needs to move out of his house, it is time to make a choice. Kill her? Or bring her closer into his life?

Wow, this one was quite a ride. I read this over the course of a day, mostly because I couldn't put it down. This was a unique thriller told from the points of view of the three women in orbit of a serial killer. I had the feeling it would be good - and I was not disappointed. Definitely a to-read if you enjoy thrillers!

"The Quiet Tenant" is a psychological thriller that is both disturbing and dark.

We are told this story mainly from three points of view: the woman, Cecilia (the daughter), and Emily. Each woman plays a different role in Aiden Thomas' life and it is through each of these women-and occasional chapters from additional women who are only identified by the sequence in which he has killed them-that we see a frightening picture painted of an extremely disturbed man.

What really stood out to me in this story was the focus on the women and the way in which they viewed Aiden. He is a very handsome and friendly man with an aura of mystery and tragedy that surrounds him. Like most true crime stories, we hear about women who were pulled in by serial killers because of their charm. In this story we can see how such a man can easily collect women and discard of them so easily. Yet, being that this story is told from the female perspective, we get a view into the disturbing reality of how some women are so vulnerable and just want to be seen, or remain in good stead, with the person who holds all of the power. At times I felt this was a commentary on women being weak and having that undertone of "asking for it" because the women who become his victims are so desperate to be loved and/or keep him content. But as I moved through the story I could see that there is a quiet watchfulness while under the gaze of a predator, and a woman who appeases their whims until freedom can be gained when they drop their guard.

This is a thriller that moves at a slow pace and is predominately cerebral. It takes a look at survival, victimhood, vulnerability, quiet strength, and the power of our mind to either mask or run from the evil in before us.

I read and reviewed an advanced eARC of this book thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor via NetGalley. All honest opinions are my own.

What I liked:
* the plot was unique and I was curious to find out what would happen to Rachel and Emily
* the way in which the author portrays how "normal" and "nice" truly dark people can appear to others

What I wasn't a fan of:
* the second person POV for Rachel
* the random POV's from victims
* I never felt like I truly understood the backstory/motivation of Aidan - it was all surface level. I wanted to understand where he came from, why he turned out the way he did, and how he was capable of both love and evil
* the relationship with the grandparents/in-laws was not fully fleshed out
* Ummmm....can we discuss how Emily was a very creepy character but the author never really delved into that

"The Quiet Tenant" is a lesson in fear, womanhood, and what it means to be a victim. Told through the perspective of three women, the book follows the actions of a man living a double life. To one woman, he is a murderer who chains and locks her away for his own sick pleasure. To another, he is a local handyman with great hair, beautiful eyes, and a smile that lights up the room. To the third, he is a father. I was glued to the page and couldn't stop thinking about this book. The plot was quick and shocking, but the characters were infuriatingly dumb. It reminded me of yelling at the screen during a horror movie as the character makes a horrible decision. The ending fell a little flat for me. I wanted justice and confrontation. I suppose that's how the women in the story felt, too.

Couldn’t put it down. Beach read - vacation read - one of those that clips along and you can’t look away. Short chapters told in multiple points of view by women, this novel took off on the very first page. While I had some confusion at the choices the author took at the end of the novel, I enjoyed the experience of finding out how this was going to end for each of the narrators telling the story. Go read this one - it’s a ride.

The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon is a very highly recommended debut thriller about a serial killer and the one woman he kept as a prisoner.

A woman who has been instructed by her captor to call herself "Rachel" has been a prisoner, chained up and locked in a backyard shed for five years. She knows his rules and routines. She lives in constant fear and follows everything he says in order to live. Her captor is Aidan Thomas is a well -liked, hard-working family man and serial killer.

When his wife dies through natural causes, Aidan is forced to move. He takes Rachel with him, instructing her to say she is a friend who needs a place to stay, especially to his thirteen-year-old daughter Cecilia. She has a room/prison cell in the house and has a small measure of freedom in her new arrangements. However, when Emily, a restaurant owner who has a crush on Aidan, begins to try and form a relationship with him, it may unbalance the already tenuous situation.

The well-written narrative is told through the points-of-view of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, as well as some chapters from previous victims of Aidan. The Quiet Tenant is a woman-centered novel. Aidan is never developed beyond the superficial, but neither are the women beyond how Aidan influences their lives. Rachel is the most developed, but she is also the most fearful of her captor.

This is absolutely a compelling and an un-put-down-able thriller. It is also, admittedly, a melodramatic novel, but, whatever. The narrative held my rapt attention throughout. It is an intense novel where the suspense keeps building and growing throughout the entire novel. Readers will fell Rachel's fear and trepidation while simultaneously learning how popular and well liked Aidan is in the community. A story of survival and resilience in an incredibly stressful and heartbreaking plot. Michallon is a writer to watch and I look forward to her next novel.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Knopf Doubleday via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

Everyone around town knows Aidan - he’s helpful, he’s charming, a loving husband, and a great dad. But with the town doesn’t know, is that Aidan secretly keeping a woman prisoner in his shed, and has successfully abducted and killed others. When he must relocate his family and bring his prisoner out into the open under the guise of “family friend,” Aidan’s secret killing spree starts to unravel in this fast paced thriller.

I am absolutely obsessed with this book - I couldn’t believe it was a debut novel and I read it in less than a day. The short chapters, changing POV, and quick plot kept my attention. But the writing style, the descriptions, the character development truly blew me out of the water because it does not read as a debut, but something I would expect from an established thriller author with 20 published books. I didn’t see half the twists coming, and I felt like the story had a realistic approach to the clear trauma that some of the characters are experiencing. I will be keeping an eye on this author in the future - I cannot wait to see what they bring to the table next.

I have mixed feelings about The Quiet Tenant (out June 20) by Clemence Michallon. While the concept was a creative one, telling the story about Aiden Thomas, a serial killer, from the perspectives of his daughter, the woman he starts dating, and the one victim he held captive, it didn’t completely work for me.

I just could not connect with the first half of the book. Once Rachel is given more freedom by her captor to roam around the house, that is when the story picks up and becomes way more interesting.

I did like the way the story was told by the three women in Aiden’s life and how each one of them saw him differently. I also liked how each of the killer’s victims got her own quick chapter so the reader could experience their last moments.

While not a bad book, I feel that if I had read it at a different time and not right after one I absolutely loved, I might have enjoyed it more.

This is gonna be the next big thing, I just know it. I read this one on an airplane on my kindle app and was white knuckling my phone the whole time!

Wow I loved this book.

A unique take on a serial killer who keeps a woman captive for five years.

Told in three perspectives. The woman, the killers daughter and the killers current love interest

While I at times was frustrated with Rachel, I could certainly understand her fears. I could feel her every emotion.

This isn't an edge of your seat thriller, more psychological thriller, with the emphasis on the psychological aspects. A slow burn to see how it all plays out.

There were a few things I would have liked more detail about at the ending, especially in regards to the daughter.

A great debut novel.

Thanks to netgalley and Knopf for the arc.