Told through the perspectives of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon explores the psychological impact of a hard-working family man's crimes on the women in his life and the bonds between those women that give them the strength to fight back.

The Quiet Tenant is marketed as a searing thriller and an astute study of trauma, survival, and the dynamics of power. The book is the debut novel by this author. The book was a bit creepy with the storyline and how events unfolded. Some parts of the story were hard to get through; the scenes seemed to drag a bit.

Also, the book is more part of women's fiction and drama, not a crime thriller. It was an okay read. I would rate this a 3 to 3.5 out of 5 stars.

#TheQuietTenant #NetGalley @AAKnopf @Clemence_Mcl

Thank you Knopf Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of The Quiet Tenant. This thriller follows the self destruction of a serial killer, from the points of view of his five-year captive, his daughter, and his most recent prospect. A solid 4.5-stars, not quite a 5 because it lacked a big twist I was hoping for, but definitely more than a 4 because I devoured the last half with only a couple of restroom breaks. Can’t wait to see what else Clémence Michallon has in store for us!

Absolutely unputdownable (if that’s a word)

This book is told by different perspectives.
Your ideal small town widower, Aiden, his daughter Cecilia, and his “family friend” Rachel. Seem like the ideal family right? Well they did to Emily, the local restaurant owner.

Aidens wife dies or did she? So when they are forced to leave, aiden is banking on Rachel’s state of mind to no reveal his deep dark secret. Does Rachel escape? Does she let the whole town know they’re town hero is a serial killer?

At first, I read the reviews and it definitely gave me mixed feelings on reading this book. But I was approved on NetGalley and man, this book doesn’t disappoint! I read it in two days! I hope she comes out with more books because this easily has become one of my favorites!!

The story has so much potential but the writing style was not for me. It was very dry. There is no suspense or mystery.

It was narrated through Rachel, Emily and Cecelie. Nothing about Aidan. No back story, no motive behind killing the women or for keeping Rachel alive.

The concept of the book was good but it felt short. A lot of questions were left unanswered.

Thank you Net Gallery for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

I do not have words to express how good this book was. I was hooked from the first page and I struggled to put it down. My only complaint is that the writing style felt choppy to me, The book was so good though, it was easy to overlook that. Five years ago she was taken and held captive in a shed. She was told over and over that he her name was Rachel, that he saved her, that everything she has is because of him, One day he tells her that he has to move, Rachel's survival instincts kick in and she convinces him to take her with him. He gets himself and his daughter settled in the house, then brings Rachel in as a "roommate". He begins to trust that she will not disobey him in the house. She knows the more comfortable he gets, the move likely he will mess up. She also knows that he has killed other woman, she is the only one he has kept.

I really don't know how i'm going to review this book, it just a NO from me. Maybe in the next time when my mood is more better. I will re-read this book again and give this a second chance. But for now i will stuck with 3 stars.

This is my own opinion, Thank you for Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.

The Quiet Tenant - Clémence Michallon

4.5/5⭐️
This Book will be coming out July 20, 2023

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What a Mind F*ck this book is. Like wow. Most of the time I was on my toes, heart racing ready for the next ball to drop. I’m truly a little speechless over it.

Aidan Thomas, the well loved man of the town, the one everyone stops to talk to, offers to lend a hand. Aidan’s wife recently passed leaving him and their daughter Cecilia. Aidan ex-Marine may have some hidden secrets others see right past.

“My name is Rachel”, locked in a shed after being kidnapped for nearly 5 years is told it is time to move. Her captor can’t keep her where they are anymore. She is to live in the house with him. During these years she has seen other women come and go in the shed, for her to be the only one left. She’s determined that this is her time to finally get free. With lots of planning watching quietly will she get free? What secrets is Aidan Thomas hiding? Does her captor have a new target?

📚📚📚
If you enjoy:
~ kidnapping
~ serial
~ murder
~ broken families
~ stalking
~ suspense
~ caring dad
~ birds or murders of crows
… You should definitely check this out

📚📚📚
If you want to figured out the answer to any of those questions? Or in need of a good Mind F*ck story? Definitely give this a go!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you @NetGalley for this ARC copy and @aaknopf and @clemencemichallon for this opportunity!

#books #booklover #smut #booknerd #bookfriend #bookish #booklovers #bookishcommunity #bookloversunite #instabook #bookporn #bookphotography #reviews #igbooks #ilovereading #smutty #bookaddiction #bookhoader #hotnsexy #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecs #yummy #givemeallthebooks #readingthepainaway #booktok #netgalley #arc #thequiettenant

I read through this one in an evening, I was tied to it and didn't want to do anything else until it was finished. I really liked how the author didn't go into the details of the traumatic events (i.e. sexual assault) that happened to the MC as a victim of a kidnapping. It was obvious that was what was happening, but thrillers often use the details for a haunting effect, and it just makes it a trauma read. I also liked how it was a somewhat different storyline, with the two worlds blending into one. With all that said, it was a bit slow and the ending could have been better with an extra plot twist or two. But overall it was a quick, enjoyable read.

Books like this are exactly why I am suspicious of everyone I meet, but esp those that seem picture perfect.

Recommend, thanks for the copy!

Thank you to @kellyhookreadsbooks for putting this book on my radar and @Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

The Quiet Tenant is easily one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time. Our main character is an unnamed woman held captive in a shed for the past five years. Her captor’s circumstances have changed and he must now move her off the property. I’m not going to tell you anymore. If you are a person who reads thrillers, you will absolutely enjoy this.

When I tell you a received a cardiovascular workout while reading this book, that is not a an exaggeration. I found this so well done and am so impressed that not only is this work a debut, but the author wrote it in English when French is her first language. The talent!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of The Quiet Tenant in exchange for an honest review.

Aidan is a serial rapist and murderer. But for some reason (never made entirely clear), Aidan has held captive in his shed a woman he calls Rachel. When his wife passes away and his in-laws throw him out of their house, Aidan has to move. You’d think that would be the end of Rachel, but surprisingly not. Aidan decides to take Rachel with him, and let her begin living in his new house, even though that brings Rachel into contact with his 13-year-old daughter, Cecilia. And for the first time in five years, Rachel has a glimmer of hope that she can survive her ordeal.

The Quiet Tenant has an interesting conceit: the story is told by the women in Aidan’s life, but never from Aidan’s perspective. The majority of the story, as you might expect, is from Rachel’s point of view. Told in the second-person to draw you into her plight, it was compelling stuff, as you are suddenly balancing your laser-focus on not provoking Aidan with the possibility that the change in your circumstances might give you a chance at escape. The book also does a fairly convincing job of explaining the opportunities Rachel chooses not to risk. I also liked Cecilia’s perspective. Aidan is her dad, so she doesn’t really have a frame of reference for his strangeness, but she is able to sense that something is off with Rachel. And I really liked the short chapters from the perspectives of Aidan’s earlier victims.

Where I thought The Quiet Tenant was weakest was when told from the perspective of Emily, who has a crush on Aidan. While of course she doesn’t know what Aidan really is, her mooning over a serial killer just felt so out of place. It was also never really clear whether Aidan was interested in her as a future victim or a potential new wife. I’m just not sure I grasped why Emily needed to be in the story (other than to put certain plot points in motion that I’m sure could have been done without her). And, while I’m quibbling, I did not love the ending, and do not believe that Rachel would have been physically capable of doing what she did after five years in the conditions of her captivity.

Still, despite some imperfections, The Quiet Tenant is a solid thriller, based on the all-to-real violence faced by women every day. And this novel would make a great movie. Recommended.

A great thriller that kept me turning the pages deep into the night. So good to hear the different POV's. It gave you a better story. Look forward to more by this author.

This book is so chilling!!!! Before I get into why I loved it, here is a brief synopsis.

Quiet, hardworking, single dad, Aidan is beloved in his town. After losing his wife everyone rallies behind him to help him out. But, Aidan has a secret- he is a serial killer. Not only has he killed multiple women, but he has one woman locked up in his shed. Told from the perspectives of the woman being held captive, Aidan's daughter's, and Aidan's girlfriend, I was so uncomfortable with this book I could not put it down.

It needs trigger warnings for violence, and sexual assault, but was never too much for me personally. I loved the concept of the book, and that I was rooting for the woman in captivity even though I did not know her name. The ending was satisfying, and the story a fun ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by this author and it was a journey thru several years of a kidnapped woman. I listened to this with Voiceview on my Kindle until close to the end, I had backtracked so many times due to the story switches between times and characters and it was a bit disorienting, I realized this story needs to be read, not listened to. The ending is good and satisfying, it develops a crescendo and takes off running, literally. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This one comes in with 4 stars.

The Quiet Tenant is a psychological thriller written in mostly second-person narrative, about a woman called Rachel, who is being held captive by Aiden. To Rachel, Aiden is a violent monster; but to those in his immediate life, Aiden is a charming, handsome, caring father, and struggling widower. Despite some empathy for Aiden's struggles, the reader still despises him. The novel explores Rachel's transformation from "the woman in the shed" to "Rachel, the woman in the house," as she learns to survive captivity and grows mentally, and physically stronger despite being forced to suppress her true self.

The first half of the book is primarily focused on learning about Rachel's backstory and Aiden's efforts to deprogram her. While slow at times, the story's multiple POVs and short chapters keep the reader engaged, and the author's inclusion of chapters on Aiden's other victims adds to the novel's intensity. The second-person point of view also contributes to the suspense, as I kept imagining myself in Rachel's shoes. Was I the victim? Is this how I would act? Would I have survived this long? I was immersed!

The last 20% of the book is had me sweating bullets as Rachel fights for her survival, leaving the reader rooting for her to succeed. Overall, The Quiet Tenant is a compelling read that will keep you engaged from start to finish. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group for providing an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Omg where do I even begin? I read this book in a few hours, which is unusual for me. What a wild ride. This is a heavyyyy read. Did this make my anxiety worse? 100%. Will I have nightmares? Of course. Disclaimer—sexual abuse.

Multiple POVs, which I love. A woman is locked up in a shed. Typical Stockholm syndrome-like stuff and the guy keeps her alive. They move after his wife dies, and said woman realizes her abducter has a daughter. They navigate living together while being so alone. She tries to escape over the years when she discovers more to the story…she’s not the only one.

Aidan is well liked in his small town. When his wife dies and he is left to raise his daughter Cecilia, the town rallies around him. However, locked in a shed on his property is "Rachel" a girl he kidnapped four years ago. When he loses the property, he decides to take Rachel with him and she is introduced to Cecilia as a friend down on her luck. Emily, a local restaurant owner, is beginning to fall for Aidan, and decides to make her move.

This was a fascinating story. The writing style isn't one I generally love, but the characters and plot kept me reading. The story was well paced and dynamic and unraveled nicely. When I read the author's bio at the end, I was shocked that English was not her first language. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars!

I really wanted to like this book, as others gave it high praise, but for whatever reason I couldn’t get invested (I almost DNF’ed this book at least ten times). I’m not sure why the perspectives of the other victims were included, they were barely over a page and there was no benefit to them being added. I also don’t think Cecelia’s perspective added anything, as it was so infrequent and didn’t bring anything to the table. Overall, I think this book could benefit from additional editing.

I could not put The Quiet Tenant down! I was hooked by the conceit of the story of a serial killer told from the viewpoints of the women in his life and I could not read this fast enough. I thought the sections about the "woman in the shed" etc were especially well done.

For the past five years, she’s been kept chained and handcuffed in his shed, physically abused, and given a new name. He’s a serial killer who has kept her alive all these years, as she waits to be his next victim. Suddenly, he tells her they have to move to a new house, and she’ll be The Quiet Tenant. There’s a lot to unwrap in this novel, told almost exclusively from the “tenant’s” POV, with short snippets from the other victims of this unassuming, Ted Bundy-like serial killer. This is definitely in the “psychological slow-burn” category, where the emphasis is squarely on the victim. We learn very little about the killer, no background, no motivation for his crimes, no look at his psyche, and that’s the point of this story- it’s all about the surviving victim - her fears, her will to live, her innermost feelings. It’s a powerful story, but the pacing is a little too slow for my liking and the implausible plot is stretched to the max. However, the visceral writing keeps the reader invested in the victim throughout the story and earns this a positive review. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.