This was just okay for me! Three of my good friends LOVED it so please take my negativity with a grain of salt. I thought I was getting a fast-paced, extra creepy thriller and I ended up with an overwritten book with a million descriptions and very little else. I am not a literary expert and I'm sure many will love this prose, but I was so bored and kept waiting for the characters to stop talking in circles and actually get to the excitement. A woman is kidnapped by a serial killer and the only time I was remotely close to the edge of my seat was the last 10% of the book.

Also, I personally hate books written in second person and I doubt I would have picked this up if I had known the majority of the book was written this way. Then again, my friends have been raving about it so maybe I would have!

Overall not my favorite but I appear to be an outlier. I'm excited to hear what others think of this and totally understand if it was just not the book for me, personally.

This was such a dark and disturbing read, but a strong debut from Clémence Michallon. A woman has been held in the shed of a serial killer, a man that the community has no idea holds such a dark secret. When the man has to relocate to a new home with his daughter, he decides to bring along this woman and integrate her into their day to day life. As others began to take notice of his new tenant, things began to unravel.

I am just not a fan of books written in the second person. While I liked the premise, this writing style kept me from being fully engaged.

The Quiet Tenant was tense and suspenseful. Told from multiple points of view and still easy to follow. A good thriller that many will enjoy.

What an intro!

This book was told in 2nd person- which was an interesting change for me, but I liked it!

I loved all the different POV’s that were brought together to tell the story. Reading each victims interspersed story within the main story was done so well and really assisted in the character build up.

This was French author, Clémence Michallon’s first book written in English and it was superb!

It was pitch black; she was barely able to see her hand held directly in front of her face. The air was cold, heavy, chilling. The rope around her ankles burned, rubbing her skin raw. The handcuff around her right wrist trapped her in this unknown place. It had been weeks, months? She has lost concept of time. Her only motivation… stay alive.

The Quiet Tenant follows Rachel, who has been trapped in the hands of Aiden, a serial killer. When he is forced to move he must bring her along with him and she does everything she can to stay alive.

A significant amount of the chapters in this book are told in 2nd person narrative, which is definitely not my favorite and is a harder style to read, but the story kept me intrigued, so I got used to the style. There are also some other perspectives throughout the story, which just added to the impact. I thought it was well told, I was turning pages quickly, and I found myself wanting to know how everything was going to end.

I definitely recommend if you’re a serial killer thriller fan!

This was a fantastic thriller with a lot of depth! When I read the synopsis I was expecting a run-of-the-mill serial killer novel, but Michallon has created something much more nuanced and complex. She essentially utilizes three women to illustrate not only the different guises of our killer, but also the intricacies of being female. On a superficial level, I really enjoyed Emily's chapters because it made me feel akin to Joe from the series You - I know I shouldn't like this guy but I kind of find him attractive and am rooting for the romance! But then at the same time "Rachel's" chapters were so taut and often had me on the edge of my seat. The overall concept of Rachel moving in with her captor struck me as very unique and original, which added to my enjoyment of the book overall. There were a couple of plot holes I wish had been filled in/missed opportunities for development, particularly concerning Cecilia, but overall this was such a solid thriller and one I will definitely be recommending.

Aidan Thomas is a family man beloved by his small town, but he has a dark secret that no one knows…he’s a serial killer and one of his surviving victims is locked up in his shed. Will Rachel find the strength to escape after five years of captivity or will her fate resemble those of all of Aidan’s past victims?

THE QUIET TENANT by Clemence Michallon was a fast-paced thriller following the POVs of “Rachel” the kidnapped, Cecelia the 13-year-old daughter, and Emily the love interest.

I’m shocked that this is a debut!! The story was intriguing and nerve-wracking, and it was easy to really get a feel for the characters (and even fall in love with some)!

I would have liked some more explanation and backstory behind certain things (thus the 4 stars), but an enjoyable thriller regardless!

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, and Vintage and Anchor for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: June 20

This was definitely not a "pulse-pounding thriller" like the summary suggests. It was slow and predictable. I also disliked the writing style, particularly the POV of the woman being held prisoner by Aiden. I didn't like any of the characters. I really wish we could have gotten the POV of Aiden at some point or know why he was killing women. There was nothing surprising, suspenseful, shocking, or thrilling and I felt like it was very similar to other books I've read. Overall, I was disappointed, but since it kept me reading until the end, I give it 3 stars.

This story is about three women whose lives currently revolve around one man - Aidan Thomas. Aidan is a family man, a hard worker, and a universally-liked member of his small New York hometown. Except when he’s not. Aidan has secrets darker than anyone could imagine and a side of himself no one could guess. The tale is told from the perspective of his thirteen year old daughter, the young restaurant owner who takes a romantic interest in him following the death of his wife, and the woman he’s kept locked in a shed for the past five years.

When Aidan’s wife dies, his in-laws kick him out of their house, which means a move to a new house in town. The woman in the shed knows she has to strike a tenuous deal to ensure her survival - she must become a member of his household, a quiet friend-of-a-friend who spends most of her time in her room and keeps to herself. She’s walking a thin line, and she knows that her only chance of escape will be Cecelia, her captor’s engage daughter.
This book was such a fast-paced read; I absolutely flew through it. The tension and pacing is just right to propel you from one chapter to the next - and to keep you reading til 1am because you can’t leave the story there.

It’s titillating enough to watch “Rachel’s” story unfold, both past and present, as she fights for survival, but what makes this book so fascinating is watching the wildly different perceptions of Aidan in his public, private, and secret lives. His daughter sees him as a protective and grieving father, whom it is her duty to help shore up. Emily, a local restaurant owner, sees him as an attractive and impossibly kind - even shy - widower that she desperately wants to know. “Rachel” knows him for the monster he is when no one else is looking. I couldn’t look away from the townsfolk’s naked admiration for him in one chapter to the fear and hatred he so deserved in the next.

The story is more about survival than a mystery, so it is pushed forward more by tension than plot twists and big reveals. It deals with dark themes without being too gruesome to be palatable, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think the only thing that was missing to make this a 5-star read was a little more depth on the emotional/psychological side. Nevertheless, this book felt like it did everything it set out to be. I would happily recommend this book to true crime fans, anyone looking for a slump-buster, or anyone in need of the perfect read to accompany them on their next flight.

I really enjoyed this tale of a widower serial killer who is housing a "tenant" while trying to date a woman and raise a teenage daughter. This story was interesting because of all the female obstacles this seemingly nice guy had to overcome in order to do what he wanted/had/needed to do.

Aidan is just a man trying to keep his daughter under control after his wife died. For some reason, he decides to "keep" one of the women, Rachel, he meant to kill. First in a shed, but then when he's forced to move, he "lets" her become a roommate of his and his daughter's house.

The premise seems a bit unbelievable, but Clemence makes it work. And Aidan makes it work until he wants to date Emily, the local restaurant owner. Emily is very nosy and perhaps Aidan has finally met his match. Hmmm..

Clemence does a nice job of giving various points-of-view, although I wish she had explored the murdered women's chapters a bit more to give the readers more information.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for an e-copy of THE QUIET TENANT to review.

I rate THE QUIET TENANT four out of five stars.

4.75⭐️

A debut psychological thriller about a serial killer from various points of view.

I immediately found the writing style captivating. We have various points of view the main narrator is Rachel ( only that’s not her real name), the woman who was held captive rather than being killed.
Then there’s the killer’s 13 yr old daughter Cecilia who lives with him.
Another narrator is Emily who is attracted to Aidan Thomas, his public persona is very much witnessed via her narration.

I liked how we hear about the captive/ killers escalation via his previous victims, that’s cleverly done, and a bit different.

We see the way Rachel has been indoctrinated, so that she complies even when she could have asked for help. It’s really well written. Then the tension increases, towards the ends it’s off the scale.
The only thing that I would have liked is a better understanding of what made him the way he is, the tipping point is mentioned. I would have liked more on his childhood, there was only a subtle hint.

This really is a cracking book, I’ve read a couple on this topic, and it’s up there with the best of them. If you loved The Last Thing to Burn (Will Dean) this is one for you.

I highly recommend it, I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next.

Clémence Michallon has given us quite a page turner with "The Quiet Tenant". A story about Aiden, a well loved man in a small town, who appears to be the model citizen, lending a hand to the townspeople, well known...or is he? Aiden has a dark secrets, a kidnapper and a serial killer. Another of his secrets is Rachel,  and shes secretly locked up and held captive in the shed in the backyard. 
      Aiden's wife dies and he is forced to move with his thirteen year old daughter, Cecilia, and Rachel has to make that move as well. Added to the mix is a local restaurant owner, Emily, who seems to be falling for Aiden, and unknowingly is pulled into this dangerous scenario. What follows is a tale told in several perspectives through three very different women, Rachel, Cecilia and Emily. A twisty tale of brainwashing, exploring psychological impact of the turmoil Aiden has caused.
     I'd definitely classify this as a thriller, and also a study on survival and trauma response, and what survival means for each of them in very different ways. Absolutely enjoyed the read and didn't want to stop once I started!

Thanks to the publisher for the free copy.
I have seen such glowing praise for this one, so I was excited to get an early copy. What I didn't realize was that it was told in second person in some parts, and that is one of my biggest reading nos. I think it takes me out of the story too much and I am not a fan of this stylistic choice. I know it worked for others, and I'm so glad it did. I also found this story to be a bit wordy at times. I think the author did something unique here and that's going to draw in a big audience. I wish it nothing but the best success.

Loved this book! Very very suspenseful and I found myself constantly wanting more. I read this in almost one sitting. definitely check TWs before reading.

This book was fine. I think I had a hard time connecting to the writing style. It was intriguing enough for me to finish, but ultimately fell flat. I feel like Emily’s character was useless to me and she was kind of annoying and obsessive. I would’ve liked to see chapters with Aidan’s POV.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

4.5 STARS (rounded up!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I highly recommend this thriller that is releasing just in time for your summer beach trips of 2023. The Quiet Tenant is told from the perspectives of three women caught in Aidan Thomas’s orbit: his teenage daughter (Cecelia), his new fling / side piece after the death of his wife (Emily), and the woman he is keeping locked in his shed (“Rachel”). Yup, you read that right, and the woman in the shed will have you drawn into this story from the very first page. This thriller gets a ton of points for believability. Aidan was perfect on paper. It’s always the normal ones, huh? On the contrary, Emily was an idiot, but there are definitely women just like her out in the world—obsessed with a man before she really truly knows him. I wanted more from the book’s ending, such as a gasping plot twist or even a chapter from Aidan’s point of view. Overall, I could not put this book down. This debut author is now on my radar. 🎯

WOWOWOWOWWOOWWOW!!!!!! This book is unputdownable!!!!! It’s addicting, it’s scary, it’s heart pounding. The writing is soooo good. I couldn’t get enough and yet I was spooked and creeped out!!!!

I absolutely LOVED IT!

EXCERPT (non-continuous):
<b>Days meshing into one another, five long years turning to mud. One long stretch of the shed. A place of despair, of devastation. But at the end, it became what you knew.

Here, you learned how to survive.

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

Rule number two of staying alive in the shed: He’s always right, and you’re always sorry.

Rule number three of staying alive in the shed: In his world, you are the purest thing. Everything that happens must happen to the two of you.</b>

Hot take: People overuse “heart-pounding” and “couldn’t look away” for the thriller and horror genres. A lot of stories are meant to make your heart pound but the writing isn’t visceral enough to create a physical response. Most plots aren’t so compelling that you lie in the bed for hours saying “just one more chapter.”

This story explores the faces of a serial killer (Aidan Thomas) through four perspectives: his daughter (Cecelia), the woman with a crush on him (Emily), the women he’s killed (referred to as “Number One” and so on), and the woman he’s kept locked in a shed for years, whom he calls “Rachel.”

Rachel drives much of the story through her second person point of view, and the referral to herself as “you” hit me right in the gut, imagining that it’s ME locked in the shed, treated as cattle, raped daily, and just making it through one day at a time. I felt her hesitant victory coated in fear as she convinced him to take her with him when he moved to his new house. When she had a room with an actual bed.

The pacing seems intentionally slow at the beginning as we get a sense of the monotony of the women’s daily lives. Emily fixating on this quiet man who comes into her restaurant every Tuesday and Thursday for a Cherry Coke at the bar. Rachel describing how each day is the same as the last. Cecilia on how it’s been so hard to lose her mom to cancer, but at least she has her loving father. The pacing builds gradually to a racing conclusion.

<b>themes</b>
Throughout this book Aidan’s defining traits are the same traits many men have and are applauded for. “He’s a busy man” with a busy day. He’s in a rush because <b>none of this is about you; it’s really all about him.</b> “He knows you’ll do what he tells you to do.” “He wants control. All he has ever wanted is for life to go according to his plans.”

Conversely, we explore how a big reason women become victims is because our society makes them to feel lesser than, that their voices don’t matter in a thousand small ways, and they internalize it.

These themes are explored without pandering or taking away from the thrill of the story.

<b>If you read this book, who do you think the quiet tenant is?</b> Is it “Rachel,” the woman who isn’t able to make a sound of her despair in this house? Is it Aidan, the quiet man who is an upstanding citizen in the community, renting this home because his old home was sold after his wife died? I don’t know that you could convince me that it’s Cecilia, but she isn’t given a chance to express herself either.

Blanket trigger warning: the women in this book have been groomed, abused sexually, physically, and mentally. There is also violence outside of this theme. None of it is described graphically.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor publishing for sharing an ARC of this book. It will be released on June 20th, 2023, and you can pre-order now!

_____________________________
Original Review:

What an absolutely horrifying book. Stayed up 5 hours past my normal bedtime because I couldn’t stop reading. Review to come.

The different POVs helped brought in more perspective to the story. This was suspenseful and captivating. This books covers topics of serial killers, grief, loss of a loved one, stockholm syndrome, and a kidnapping.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!