Lets get my blood pressure back to normal first.

I am not someone who typically picks up a thriller but this idea sparked my interest and I was properly terrified.

“Rachel” is taken and held captive for years. Usually in the shack, but family man (serial killer!) Aidan is forced to move him, and daughter and decides to bring captive-Rachel along. I was holding my breath the entire book.

This book is told from the POV of Rachel, his daughter Cecelia and his possible girlfriend/next victim. I can’t believe this is her debut novel - bravo.

This is the story of a serial killer, told from 3 different perspectives: his daughter, his girlfriend and a victim. The different views converge to paint a picture of a frightening, cold, evil man. The pacing is more of a slow burn than a propulsive thriller, though the ending had me on the edge of my seat and very stressed out. I liked hearing from the women in Aidan's life vs hearing from him, especially his daughter and his victim. Emily, his "girlfriend" was the weakest viewpoint and I found it difficult to connect with her and her decisions. I would have appreciated a little more insight into why Aidan was the way he was, but overall it was a solid read. 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4. Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very interesting book. It dealt with some very dark themes, but didn't dwell on the horrifying aspects of crime and instead focused on the will of one woman to survive.
This is the story of a woman who has been held captive by a man for years. When he tells her he must move, she fears he will finally kill her and so convinces him to bring her with him to his new home. She is forced to act as though she is just renting a room from her captor in order to deceive the man's daughter. The reader also sees the action unfold from the point-of-view of Emily, a restaurant owner who would love to pursue a relationship with Aidan, a man who comes to her restaurant once a week. Will the kidnapping victim escape? Will the man's daughter discover the truth about her father? And will Emily discover the truth about Aidan?
This book is slow but compelling. I was completely drawn into the story and found myself nervous for our heroine multiple times. I also found myself incredibly annoyed with Emily multiple times!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking thriller.

This was such a fun psychological thriller! I loved the concept, and it really kept me interested the entire time. I liked how we got so many different perspectives, although the second person POV was a bit jarring until I got used to it. The ending was a bit too wrapped up for me, but if you’re looking for a quick thriller I would definitely recommend this one! On a side note, I actually can’t believe this is a debut novel from someone whose first language isn’t English; it was very well done!! I will definitely look forward to more by this author!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the opportunity to read before pub day on June 20th!

I’ve been in a reading slump for a few months now and THE QUIET TENANT was just what I needed to get myself out of it. It’s a slow-burning thriller, but somehow the pacing still made me fly through the book. If I didn’t have responsibilities, I’m fairly certain I would have finished it in one sitting.

The story is told from multiple points of view, which I sometimes take issue with. However, Michallon handled it perfectly and each point of view really lended a different angle to the story. Having Rachel’s POV told in second person was also a unique take that, in my opinion, makes the story even more immersive as it puts you in her shoes.

It’s hard to say much about this book without giving spoilers, but I will say that if you enjoy a slow-burning plot without a lot of violence or gore, I would definitely recommend picking this one up! Personally, I wasn’t ready for it to end and will definitely be picking up future novels from Clémence Michallon.

Special thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Story opens with a blurb from the woman in the shed….definitely peaked my interest and kept me wanting to read. I mean normal ppl don’t keep a woman in the shed…..The next chapter is from Emily’s perspective, at first i found her to be interesting, further along in the story she’s a bit annoying and you just want to knock her in the head and say pay attention!!!!
So several perspectives are throughout the story, the woman in the shed, Emily, Aidan’s daughter—Cecelia. I mean i see some of the complaints written on the second perspective point of view from the storyline. I reviewed mainly off the story kept my interest, I wanted to keep reading and enjoyed the story throughout!!

Thanks to Netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4.5
Pub Date: 6/20/23

[potential spoilers ahead]

“Rachel” has been held captive for the last five years in a shed by a nameless man. They have a frequent routine, which is thrown off by the death of the man’s wife. The man & his 13-year-old daughter is having to move, & “Rachel” is going with them as a “friend of a friend” who is “subletting a room.” She starts to become close to the man’s daughter & forms a plan for both of them to escape.

Cecilia is grieving the loss of her mother & the loss of her childhood home, & now a strange woman is moving in with her & her dad. She starts to warm up to Rachel & begins to see her as an ally, especially when she doesn’t have any friends or any opportunity to leave the house. Her dad loves her & does nice things for people, so she does what she can to make things easier for him.

Emily looks forward to Tuesdays & Thursdays at the restaurant bar, because Aiden Thomas always comes in for a Cherry Coke. She’s had a crush on him since she was a teenager & knows his reputation as a wholesome family man & the town’s handyman. They’ve had this silent routine down, but things get spicy between them after he randomly takes one of the bar's coasters.

The Quiet Tenant was ultimately about survival with a new take on the serial killer narrative. Through these main POVs, the author creates an amazing juxtaposition of the same man & does a great job of using second person in Rachel’s chapters to show her dissociation.
Though the synopsis mentions “bonds between those women that give them the strength to fight back,” I didn’t feel like that was the driving force for any of the characters’ actions, especially for Emily, who was clueless the entire time. I was honestly annoyed at how obsessed Emily was with Aiden, & the lengths she went to to become “closer” to him. I understand & appreciate that we needed to see his appeal in the “real world,” but Emily’s infatuation went a bit too far for me.

I do wish there would have been more of a focus on the aftermath from Rachel's perspective, rather than Emily's, as we were along for more of Rachel's journey than Emily's, & it was a bit more compelling & traumatic.

I LOVED the short chapters, & I was constantly on the edge of my seat. It was unputdownable, fresh, dark, & disturbing.

“Everyone has had an aid in Thomas story “mine happened at 13” this is the one of the first things the bartender Emily says when her POV starts. She is in love with Eathan but Eathan has a secret. He has a woman who he’s forced to call herself Rachel and her name is accompanied with the speech saying that he found her he saved her life ET see. He also has a daughter Cecelia it’s to be honest I found her POB‘s pointless. That wasn’t the only thing I didn’t like about this book I found the writing was over the top like the example I gave at the beginning of this review also more than once the kidnapped “Rachel“ could’ve got away but chose not to. This sounded like it was going to be an awesome read but unfortunately with the over the top writing the 13-year-old Emily having a crush on a grown man who fixed her dad‘s freezer seemed a bit much in the fact that the only happiness she got was the two times he came in to the restaurant to get a cherry Coke and she was the owner of the spaghetti restaurant and the bartender… I mean I guess stranger things have happened but if your restaurant is doing that good why can’t you hire a bartender I don’t know that it’s just a minor point but something that irritated me and add it to the “Are you serious” vibe of the book. We also get POBs from his victims that didn’t get to liv in his house for years I just think it could’ve been so much better andit really makes me sad that this book turned out to be a disappointment as it was one of my most anticipated books of the summer but you win some you lose some and it wasn’t all bad because I didn’t finish it but could’ve been so much better. I received this book from NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

The Quiet Tenant was a slow burn that never really had a major climax or twist but that didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying it. There were moments of perfect tension throughout and I thought the multiple POV were done well. I enjoyed hearing, albeit briefly, from the other victims of the serial killer, I thought that was pretty clever. The audio was so well done, each character done by someone different which added to the overall effect and the ending was also really satisfactory so I can’t help but recommend this one if you don’t mind a slow burn.

The Quiet Tenant is a book that follows a serial killer from different points of view. You get the point of view of the woman he is holding hostage, a woman that is falling in love with him (without knowing about his crimes), his daughter, and all the other women he has killed in his life. The killer is an upstanding citizen, a friendly neighbor, and a single dad (his wife died of cancer) who everyone admires. The town does not suspect him at all. The story unfolds as the woman being held hostage is trying to figure out how to escape and expose the killer.
This story was very chilling and emotional, especially the parts told from the woman being held hostage. It was heartbreaking hearing her story and everything she went through. You definitely root for her to escape. It is also very interesting to get the point of view of the woman falling in love with him. She has no idea the evil he is capable of. The dichotomy between the two points of view was very interesting to the story and a great choice. It shows that you never really know people. I also really liked the other point of views sprinkled in. The story was told in a very personal and unique way. The writing was beautiful, and I really enjoyed this book! This book was a lot more emotional than other serial killer thrillers. Parts of it were hard to read due to the different points of view. You really feel bad for all the women that the killer has tortured. This was beautifully written and a great read!
I will say that I gave this 4.5 stars instead of 5 because the writing did seem a bit too lyrical at parts for my taste. It also was a slower read and I typically enjoy my thrillers a little more fast paced. However, it was still a great read, and it didn’t take away too much from the reading experience. If that is more your taste, you will love this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf for the arc!

I quite literally could not put this book down. It was so incredibly well paced and provoking. I loved that it was told from multiple POVs and the POVs chosen were perfect. I don’t want to go in to too much detail because I feel it would spoil some things. All I can say is, if you are a thriller lover this one is for you. Gripping, dark, sinister, and completely binge able. It reads in the 3rd person narrative, similar to Emma Donoghue’s Room. I thought this book was brilliant and can’t recommend enough.
Thank you to @netgalley and @aaknopf for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Congratulations @clemencemichallon wishing you all the success on your new release. This book is available June 20th. Add it to your TBR.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC! I really enjoyed reading The Quiet Tennant. You think you know someone- you never know what people are up to in their free time! The multiple view points worked well throughout the story, and kept things interesting. The viewpoints are separated by chapters which made it easy to keep track of. If I had to pick something to add or change about the book I do wish there was more from Aidan’s daughter, and some chapters from Aidan’s point of view would have been interesting. Overall this is a great fast paced, psychological, serial killer thriller

3.5-4 stars.

A thriller operating under the "less is more" characterization. As some others have described it, a "slow burn thriller." Who knew that such a thing could exist? The author slowly feeds you pieces of what's happening as you put together the scene of the crime...a crime that's been happening to "Rachel" for 5 years.

There is no gratuitous violence so the reader never knows how Aidan has killed his other victims. It's honestly the one thing that kind of bugged me the most because how a serial killer kills is usually a big insight to their personality. I don't need it gory, but a simple indication of what he did (strangle, gun shot, stabbed, whatever.) Rachel always assumed strangulation and that made sense to me except that's typically a crime of passion and Aidan didn't not come off as that type.

Told in multiple POV's with the main victim's POV as the majority, the most chilling were those of his victims (7 others I think?) His 13 yr old daughter and his current "girlfriend" round out the list of POV's. We never get an Aidan POV and I think if we had one of those right at that end, wow, that would have packed a punch!

Aidan has the whole town fooled with his charming, always willing to help personality, a widower raising a 13 yr old daughter. It's this persona that allows him to start to become reckless with the "one he didn't kill." You know serial killers, there is the desire for control and power and as they continue to get away with it that control and power grows, typical egomaniacs.

It does read slow, but I kept turning the pages anyways, because I was intrigued about where this was going, why did he let her live and would Emily be his next victim or the key to Rachel's escape? "Rachel's" POV was sometimes very repetitive, as she reminisced about her life before but I always gleaned something important from the storyline every time she talked, a little foreshadowing if you would. Her POV seemed to try and humanize her to the reader, but I didn't feel like we ever needed that.

Decent thriller, kept me turning the pages till the very end, where I was let down just slightly by the ending as it was just sort of over. Again, less is more, but that's one area where I really could have used a little more. Overall enjoyed it.

The Quiet Tenant
Author: Clemence Michallon
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Rating: 5⭐️

Synopsis: Rachel has been stuck with the same man for 5 years. She can’t get away even if she tried. Being locked in his shed for all those years will do that to you. When the man’s wife passes away, he is forced to move Rachel to a new house as a “family friend.” But who will find out about the other first: the teenaged daughter, the new love interest, or the girl he keeps locked up?

Thoughts: I always enjoy when the story is told from different perspectives. In this one you get three: the daughter, the bartender love interest, and the kidnapped woman. I could not put this one down and couldn’t wait to read more when I could. I flew through the pages and my heart was pounding at the end.

Read if:
* You love stunning debuts from authors
* You like being kept on your toes

Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC!

In this, her debut novel, novelist Clemence Michallon manages to pull off a fantastic feat: creating an absolutely suspenseful story and writing it in English, her second language.

Aidan Thomas is the poster child of looks that can be deceiving. A quiet widower who is raising his thirteen-year-old daughter Cecilia in a small town in upstate New York, he appears to all the world to be a hard-working family man. Still, Aidan is harboring a dark secret: he is also a serial killer who stalks and kidnaps his victims. Five years ago, he kidnapped Rachel and for reasons known only to him, decided to keep her captive in a shed on his property. When he and Cecilia are forced to move, he continues to keep Rachel alive and stashed in a small bedroom, telling Cecilia that Rachel is a friend down on her luck. By now, Rachel has figured out how to please and manipulate Aidan into keeping her alive on a day-to-day basis. She is also initially too afraid to attempt to escape but as she and Cecilia grow closer, she now fears for both their lives and is determined to free them both. What Rachel doesn't know is that Aidan may be replacing her with his next victim, Emily, the owner of a restaurant in their small town.

Told from the viewpoints of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, the story unfolds as we get to know the characters. The suspense is heightened as the reader is immersed in this dark, unusual take on a serial killer. I don't consider this a thriller; it's more of a finely-turned psychological study of human interactions and the cost of survival. It demonstrates that no matter how damaged Rachel is, she can still feel compassion for the other women in Aiden's life. The story is deftly told and beautifully written.

I loved this book so much! It hooked me from the beginning and was a very interesting storyline.the characters were very developed and interesting.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this unusual ARC. This story is about a serial killer. But it’s more importantly about the lives of those around him: his captive, his daughter, a woman in love with him, his other victims, a community who believes him to be something he isn’t. You never hear his point of you, only those of the women around him. This is done so deftly, and unusually, it’s a powerhouse of a book. All three females are relatable in various ways. Through his reactions and interactions with them, you gain insight into his behaviors, need for control, and even a little sympathy as he tries to remain a good father. The author shows, in variety of ways, how women are taught or evolve through experience in how to tip toe around men to protect themselves, the inner strength of women and the will to survive in unlikely circumstances. Read this book; it’s a little disturbing but very well written.

This is quite a dark, disturbing read that will stay with you for some time. As a parent, this preys on your biggest fears - a serial killer stalking your child and keeping them captive in his basement. There is really few scenarios that terrify you more and this book certainly takes advantage of that. It also brings in several other elements - a daughter, a possible girlfriend - that add complications and twists and turns to keep you riveted. There are multiple POV's with time changes that are sometimes confusing but this trope doesn't get in the way of a entertaining thriller. If you love dark thrillers and true crime, you won't want to miss this one. Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf Publishing Group for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

DID NOT FINISH--20 percent

I have been trying to finish this book since April 17, 2023. I finally put a pin in it yesterday when I got back from another vacation. My brain would not engage on this. I was sitting out on a deck enjoying the sunset and realized that life is short, and I refuse to keep making this book happen. I had a rolling list of books I finally just said nope to this weekend.

"The Quiet Tenant" is just a lot. I don't even know what to say. If you go to the book page on Goodreads there's a lot of all caps and discussion of how pulse pounding it was...it was not. We follow a man named Aiden (hiding something dark) and his 13 year old daughter Cecilia. When Aiden's wife dies they move. There enters Rachel...the quiet tenant. I think what kills me the most is that the summary on NetGalley did not spoil me, but the Goodreads page did. And I wonder if that is will killed any interest I had in this book. You can read the plot details for yourself if you click on the book link.

The characters in the 20 percent I read though were just bland as heck. Aiden. Bad. Cecilia. Well she' 13. Rachel. Got nothing. Another woman is thrown into the mix and I just hard passed. Telling this story via second person point of view threw me. If any book screamed for a first person point of view via different characters, this one did. I just could not engage at all.

This had me screaming at the MC multiple times. While I do understand the headspace of a victim in their situation I couldn’t imagine not acting on impulse!
Such a good book in all the ways that matter. The multiple POV’s were clean and not confusing, their was on story and timeline going on, most importantly it was bordering realism which was wonderful.
We pile definitely recommend!