This was a very unique domestic thriller all surrounding a small group of people. We have Aiden, this seemingly wonderful man, always eager to lend a helping hand, devout in taking care of his daughter in the wake of his wife’s death. Cecilia is his teenage daughter. Emily is the woman pulled completely into this man’s orbit, having coveted him since her own teenage years. And then we have a young woman he calls Rachel, his captive, his quiet tenant…

The quiet determination in this woman was insane. The way that she tries to meld into her surroundings, while still trying to keep an eye open for any possible escape. She forms bonds with Cecilia and even strangely, with Emily. All the while, Aiden is trying to hide his true, evil, murderous nature from the world.

This is both a slow paced and pulse pounding at the same time. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past the narrative style though. It kept pulling me from the story.

I really enjoyed this book, it was really creepy! The perspective of prior victims was very different and really set this book apart from others. I felt that at some points the chapters were overly descriptive and wordy so I would lose interest until the next chapter. This story is told from multiple perspectives which I enjoyed.
I would definitely recommend this book to others.
Thank you too netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Interesting premise but I found it to be slow at times. It took me a while to get into it but the story had promise.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the ARC.

Thanks NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the quiet tenant. Really interesting book. At times a bit too long but overall a good idea. I would give it 3.5

2.5 stars
I was expecting more from this book. Wouldn’t really call this a thriller as I found it pretty slow. I DNF this book at 30% because it was just too slow for me and the characters didn’t really speak to me. I also felt there were unnecessary details added which just made this slower. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen and there just wasn’t much.

I wasn’t hooked and kept jumping in and out of the book which is always a sign that it’s not for me. The blurb sounded amazing and I really wanted to like this but it wasn’t for me.

But I appreciate that my request to read this book was accepted! Thanks!

I could not put this book down! My heart was pounding out of my chest through most of the book. One night I got up to make sure all my windows were locked. I found it very suspenseful and a more that a little terrifying in a serial kidnapper/killer way. No monsters here except for the human kind. I was disappointed not to find out more about the serial killer - his life before, his life after, his motives, his family, his daughter. But all-in-all a great psychological thriller.

This book had some interesting ideas, and it did a good job of keeping the tension up, but I feel like there just wasn't much happening most of the time. I did enjoy that we got to experience the story through the women affected by Aiden - his captive, his daughter, and the woman crushing on him, as well as short snippets of his murder victims in their last moments.

Throughout "Rachel's" captivity, we really get the sense of fear, despair, and doubt that any escape attempts would be successful. But it was really frustrating sometimes when she passed by opportunities that seemed ripe for fighting back or running.

The story did keep my interest and I was curious to see how it ended, but it wasn't as gripping and intense as I had hoped for. Definitely more for fans of slow burns rather than non-stop thrillers.

I feel like I'm going to be thinking about this one for a while. Quite an interesting read but there was just something missing from the ending. I wanted more out of it.

Although I was very much looking forward to this it was more lackluster than suspenseful. I had high hopes but felt like it was stringing along the plot and wasn't as twisting and scary as I had looked forward to.

I was so excited to read this book after reading the synopsis on Goodreads and expecting an amazing fast paced thriller.

However, I was disappointed in the book overall. I felt like the story lagged, and I was expecting more things to happen quicker with the “girl in the shed.” I eas disappointed in the fact that she didn’t try to escape earlier when she had the chance ( even if the attempt was a failed one) and I felt like the only “fast paced” part of the book was at the end when May escaped with Cecelia.
Then, I felt like the story abruptly ended, I wish there was more about the “aftermath” when Aiden was captured, and wanting to know how Cecelia was.
I really expected there to be some sort of a reunion with May and Cecelia and some sort of closure there between them. I also wish there was more closure/an explanation with what became of aiden during a trial and sentencing etc.
overall I do not think I would recommend this book for someone looking for a thriller.

This deeply disturbing novel adroitly provides different points of view on the kind of serial killer that manages to dwell in the public eye as non-remarkable, while still keeping the story centered on the multiple women who tell the tale. Recommended for suspense lovers.

I was really excited when this one was available to read now without requesting it. I thought it sounded really good. Sadly for me that wasn’t the case. I just couldn’t get into it. Tried a couple of times. Gave up. Didn’t get even past a one quarter of the book.

This one is hard to put down. Readers will root for Rachel, and fear for Emily. The content matter is disturbing but written in a way that isn't overly graphic. The storyline is gripping and this book is highly recommended.

Can you imagine being held captive for over 5 years? In this novel, you are introduced to Aidan and Rachel, and their lives as both captor and captured. I found the book very interesting, yet a little unbelieve a few times. I thought it was well written and you will definitely feel for the characters. You will be yelling at the book, but all the while not wanting to put it down

My first thought on beginning this book was, “Oh, great. Another crime against women story.” But that isn’t all this is. And I am here for this.

Aidan is that guy. Nice. Helpful. A killer with a girl in the shed. Waiting to die. But this girl is different. She is determined to get out of this alive and after five long years, she may get a chance.

When Aidan’s wife dies, he and his daughter must move. He really takes Rachel along. Telling his daughter she is a friend of the family who needs a place to stay.

Rachel has convinced him that she is too afraid to even try and escape. And that may be her saving grace. As she gets closer to the daughter, another player enters. Emily has a crush on Aidan, but she has no idea what he is.

This story is told from the viewpoints of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, this looks at the psychological impact of what he has done to these women and how they bond together to find the strength to fight back.

A pretty great story for a debut!

NetGalley/ June 20, 2023, Knopf

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Aidan seems like the nice local family guy who helps out his neighbors. He’s been hiding the fact that he has been keeping “Rachel” locked in a shed on his property for five years plus other crimes.

I liked how each chapter was titled.

Solid debut by the author.

This was a unique book, and I commend Michallon for writing in English rather than her native French.

The Quiet Tenant is the story of a serial killer told from three points of view: his captive victim, his teenage daughter, and the woman he is seeing. He goes about his daily life as an upstanding citizen of the town, while the three women lead more tortured lives.

This story is described as a "pulse pounding psychological thriller", but I did not find it to be thrilling, nor did it get into the real psychological aspects of a killer a la Notes on an Execution. The first few chapters are engaging, but then it becomes very slow. Most chapters are told by the victim, simply detailing the mundane daily life of someone held captive. They are also written in second-person POV, which can feel very clumsy to read. All character's chapters are very rote, lacking in the interiority and emotionality that brings characters to life. There were parts of this story that were too convenient (why would a successful and calculated serial killer leave a spare key under the pot by the door!?), and the ending was rushed and unsatisfying.

This is an interesting concept, and I will be curious to see what Michallon does next!

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, NetGalley, and Clemence Michallon for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Such a good read - I really enjoyed this book. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

This was one of those books that you keep promising yourself "one more chapter then bed" and before you know it 2 more hours have passed. I really enjoyed the different POV's. Will definetly be suggesting this.

This was a great book until the end. Ninety percent was focused on ‘the kidnapped Rachel’s’ struggles living with Aiden, and then with his daughter while she plotted her escape. Nothing at the end about Aiden’s arrest, conviction? A few lines about a confession..Noth8ng about Rachel’s reunification with her family. For someone who was missing for over five years, her reappearance was given short shrift.