Spooky, weird, and from the perspective of the perpetrator, what more could you want! I loved how easy this book is to read (you won't want to put it down!) and how well-written the setting and atmosphere are.

I loved this book. Lots of twists and turns. Kept my attention and wanting more. I was happy with the ending. I really enjoyed reading the story. It's a must read!!!

This is undeniably one of the darkest, most sinister, bone-chilling, and psychologically complex thrillers that will either leave you hating it or completely enthralled. While it may haunt your nightmares for a long time, I found myself irresistibly drawn to its unconventional structure, slow-burning progression, mind-blowing and multilayered characterizations, albeit disturbing. It stained me, haunted me, and left me utterly shattered. Even after finishing the final chapter, the detailed and heart-wrenching portrayals of the victims lingered, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. The dark atmosphere and the masterful resolution of the narrative continue to occupy my thoughts.

Want a good suspense that will keep you on edge and reading blocking out the world, this is the book! Recommend!

𝙈𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)

𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:

This one left me… unsettled, but not quite in the way I hoped.

The premise is undeniably chilling: a serial killer hiding in plain sight, his victims’ stories woven through the perspectives of the women around him — including one he’s still holding captive. It should have gripped me. And at times, it did — there are flashes of taut, slow-burning suspense and a really effective use of interiority. Michallon does a great job capturing how violence can hide behind charm and routine, how a man like this can move through the world undetected.

But something about the execution felt flat for me. The pacing dragged in places, and the rotating perspectives — while interesting — sometimes diluted the tension. I wanted more emotional punch, more insight into the captive’s psychology, more propulsion in the back half. It felt like it hovered in literary-thriller territory without fully committing to either.

Still, it’s a thoughtful, well-crafted debut that clearly took risks, and I think it’ll work better for readers who lean more literary than plot-driven. Just not quite a knockout for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf, and Clémence Michallon for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Quiet Tenant is available now.

I'm not sure how or why it took me so long to read this book. Maybe right book, wrong time? I don't know, but I'm disappointed that I waited so long. This book was engrossing from beginning to end. I found myself having a visceral, physical reaction to the antagonist. I despised that man and the hold he had over literally everyone in his life. A true psychopath. My biggest gripe about the book was "Emily." I think I understand the author's purpose for including the character, but I don't feel like it was executed effectively. I was left feeling like "so what" about her. Overall, however, this was a strong read. I'm certainly open to reading more from this author.

Even after having just finished this book, I’m still left with more questions than answers. Since we had this big “character study” on Aiden and his women, I still don’t have any answers on why he killed the women that he did. I guess we are given little clues on his controlling behavior, but it was a very underwhelming conclusion.

This was a dark and intense story! I was devoted from the first page. I loved the story telling and the pacing! All the makings of a great thriller/mystery.

This was absolutely captivating - you cannot put this one down. One of the best suspense/thriller novels I've read in a long time, with an ending that was moving beyond measure. Absolutely fantastic!

This was pretty good. It kept me engaged to want to know what would happen. Clemence Michallon did. Good job with this twisted story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this copy of the story.

While I found this incredibly difficult to get into, it bloomed nicely once I got past a certain invisible barrier. I deeply appreciate the utter lack of description with the various assaults, and thought the multiple perspective thing was an intelligently utilized technique with regard to adding depth.

What a great thriller! For a debut thriller, this one hit it out of the park! It is dark and twisty and such a wild wide. I am a sucker for a serial killer book! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review!

My only advice to you, whether it pertains to this book, domestic thrillers in general, or dating apps, is don't trust a mid looking white man. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf

I alternated between reading the e-copy and listening to the audiobook for this one, and I think the audiobook is the way to go, as it helped having different narrators so I could keep the different POV characters straight. Using 2nd-person for Rachel's chapters was a bold choice, but I think it actually works here, as she's lost her autonomy during her ordeal as Aiden's captive, and the "you" rather than "I" helps to showcase that. I wish there was more from Cecilia's POV, as she could provide some (what I feel to be) necessary backstory for Aiden that's otherwise lacking. Emily got on my damn nerves most of the time, and I would gladly trade a few of her chapters to get more from Cecilia instead.

Overall, I like the idea of learning about Aiden through the three women closest to him, as they each hold a different version of him in their heads and see him totally differently from the other two. On the other hand, doing it that way doesn't really give him a lot of depth, as he's not really a cohesive character but rather a composite, and it makes it a bit difficult to piece him together as a whole. All in all, I would recommend this book as an interesting character study of a serial killer told by those who "know" him the best (though I wouldn't go so far as calling it a psychological "thriller," so if you're expecting that type of book, you may be disappointed).

3.5 stars

**I received a review copy from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**

(2.5 stars rounded up)

This was a fast read but I didn't feel any tension, so I would hesitate to call this a thriller. I'm not sure I'd call it a mystery either since we know who the villain is from the outset. There were chapters from multiple characters' perspectives, but their voices were identical. The writing felt simultaneously short and stilted, and overly descriptive of really basic, non-important things, like someone picking up a glass to take a drink. I was expecting more in the way of explanations than I got, so this was a really unsatisfying read in that respect.

Such an interesting and unique take on the serial killer story. All the different perspectives really add to the nuances of the perpetrator and make them seem more human, which is odd for someone so evil. This author has such an excellent vision and clear talent to being that vision to life so seamlessly on the page.

I love serial killers, they're fascinating! However, this wasn't as intriguing or captivating as I would have liked. Or even as gritty as some other books. I ended up listening to the audiobook which had multiple narrators and really helped keep me going! This was told in multiple POVs and I enjoyed Rachel's the best since she was the person held captive and it was interesting to see how she acted around Aidan and other people. I did not enjoy Emily, she was annoying and was constantly doing things she had no right doing - she drove me mad!! I wish this did more and was more surprising, it was unfortunately a bit predictable but a quick read!

This one surprised me. I chose it because I was doing the alphabet challenge and needed a ‘Q’ book. It was quite good. It is written in a second person perspective and I’m not the biggest fan of that. But i enjoyed the twists at the end and was entertained throughout.

"The Quiet Tenant" by Clémence Michallon? Whew. That book definitely stuck with me. I'm giving it three stars, because while it wasn't perfect, it was seriously unsettling.

What really grabbed me was the way it told the story from the perspectives of three different women. Rachel, the daughter of a serial killer, was just... heartbreaking. You could feel her desperation, the way she was trapped, and it was so uncomfortable to read, but in a way that made you want to keep going.

Then there was Cecilia, the ex-wife, who was living in constant fear. I felt so much for her, trying to protect her son and just survive. And Julie, the woman who moves into the apartment, completely oblivious? That was just pure, slow-burn dread. You knew something bad was coming.

Honestly, some parts were really hard to read. It's not a light book, that's for sure. And sometimes, it felt like the story was dragging a bit. Rachel's internal monologues, while powerful, felt a little repetitive at times. I kept thinking, "Okay, I get it, you're terrified!"

The ending? I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It felt a bit rushed, like it just stopped suddenly. I wanted more closure, more of a sense of what happened next for these women.

But overall, "The Quiet Tenant" is a book that will definitely stay with you. It's dark, it's disturbing, and it makes you think. If you're looking for something that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and maybe give you a few nightmares, then this is it. Just be prepared for a bumpy ride.

I really liked this book. For the first 3/4s, I was really tense while reading. Thinking "just one more chapter" to see what was going to happen next. Fighting against sleep in bed at night to just read a little bit more.
Sadly the end felt a bit flat though? We'd had snippets of what our male MC had been up to in the past, and a snippet of the aftermath, but I wanted some definite answers to what he did and what the consequences were. Just wanted it to be rounded out.