This was such an amazing book!! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and had a hard time putting the book down. One of the best books I’ve read this year!

ALL. THE. STARS. I loved this book. I loved the differing story lines. I loved how it was told from the victims point of view and didn't give the bad guy a voice (because he doesn't deserve one). I loved the psychology behind the victims. This was an incredible debut. I listened to the podcast "Criminal Types" and the author was a guest on one episode and it was so interesting to hear her process. Amazing book and I can't wait for more!!

5 big stars! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
I liked hearing from the 3 different women closest to Aidan and learning about him, without actually hearing from him directly. This book, while not exactly a mystery, still kept me on the edge of my seat. Seeing a serial killer from an almost "guy next door" perspective vs. him as a kidnapper vs. him as a father. Very interesting!

This was a fantastic psychological thriller and had so many moving components: a serial killer, his captor, his unsuspecting daughter, and the local restaurant owner who develops a crush on him.

Aiden Thomas appeared to be a typical family man and well respected in the community, but he’s harboring a dark secret. Not only has he murdered eight women, but he’s held a woman named Rachel captive for the last five years, which completely goes against his typical MO.

When Aiden and his daughter, Cecelia, are forced to move, he takes Rachel with him and introduces her to his daughter as a family friend. Rachel is too brainwashed and fearful to attempt to escape, but she quickly develops a bond with Cecelia and wants to protect her from her father.

Emily, a young woman with a crush on Aiden, is also drawn to Rachel and Cecilia, and the more she gets to know them, the closer she gets to learning Aiden’s secret. But will he get away with his despicable crimes, or will they finally break free from the lies and trauma Aiden has bestowed upon them?

This was such a well developed debut thriller, and I couldn’t put it down! These characters were so different and yet they were all connected by one common factor: Aiden. For such a terrible person, I was surprised by how his treatment of each woman varied. It was like meeting a different version of him with each encounter. And the lengths he went to in order to keep Rachel and hide her identity was surprising, but I never really understood what his end game was in that respect.

Rachel was a strong character and though she appeared to be under his constant control, the reality was that she was in survival mode. Every decision she made was quietly calculated and meant to protect not only herself, but Aiden’s daughter and even Emily. She never lost her sense of self and fought for her freedom until the very end.

Highly recommend!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group for providing a copy of this book to review.*

The Quiet Tenant is an introspective look at the lives of the victims of a serial murderer. The novel is written more like a thriller but I did personally find it emotionally hard to read. That said, I think there are many readers who would love the premise of this book & I could see it being a good book club pick. Thank you for the opportunity to read it 🙂

The first novel in I don't know how long that had me reading into the night. A few implausible turns but overall, so good and memorable. My kind of thriller.

Wow! This is an absolute whirlwind of a novel. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next, but didn’t want it to end. Well drawn characters, pulse-pounding suspense and expert craftsmanship combine to make this a powerful tale. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

The Quiet Tenant is an incredibly unique and dark read that will leave you second guessing every interaction you have in your everyday life. This book shares the story of a serial killer, but instead of focusing on his thoughts and inner dialogue, it focuses on the point of view of the women in his life.

I thought this was a really creative way to approach the serial killer trope and it made the story even more dark and ominous. Told from several POVs, it primarily focuses on Emily, the woman who appears to be a love interest of the killer, his teenage daughter Cecilia, and then a woman who’s been held captive by the killer for the past five years. Reading each of their view points and how they interact with Aidan, the serial killer, creates this narrative of someone living a double life.

This was a truly fantastic read and I loved how the author used the different characters to move the story forward. This really builds to the very end and I didn’t want to put it down into I flipped the final page.

4 ⭐️. This one pulls you in quick. Definitely a different writing style than I’m used to, but I enjoyed it. There was no wild twist but I did enjoy the story. Throughout the entire book I kept finding myself thinking, JUST GET OUT, GO!

I have a hard time with disturbing thrillers but you’ve got to give credit where credit is due. This book is fantastically written with the three women’s perspectives. Genius! I can really appreciate the power of standing together that was in this.

The Quiet Tenant is an interesting look at what it is like to be a victim and survivor. "Rachel" has been controlled by Aiden for so long that she cannot even admit her real name to herself. She has forced herself to stop thinking of the family left behind when she was abducted. But now Aiden is forced into a new situation where he eventually makes mistakes, allowing Rachel to begin to hope.

I found this book reminiscent of Emma Donaghue's Room--a woman held captive for years, controlled by her captor, but finally given an opportunity at freedom. One interesting thing that Michallon has done is to provide glimpses into Aiden's other victim's personalities and final moments. Eventually Rachel gets glimpses of them too.

This book does a great job of showing why people in abusive situations don't always leave, or wait to leave. It also shows the dual nature of the narcissist's personality--for most of the people he knows, he is charming and kind. But behind closed doors, he is monstrous.

The Quiet Tenant is well planned and well written. The characters are, for the most part, interesting and believable.

Rachel is the sole survivor of a local serial killer and has been held captive by him for the last five years. When he is forced to move, he decides to bring Rachel with him and moves her into his new home with his 13 year old daughter, introducing her as a troubled “family friend”. Will Rachel fight through her fear and finally figure out a way to escape or will she just become the killer’s latest victim? Told through multiple points of view including the killer’s other victims, the author keeps you on the edge of your seat and does a great job keeping up the tension without being overly graphic. Was it the most believable story…No. But I didn’t care because I couldn’t put it down.

“That must be why he didn’t do it. In the woods. He saw something in you that was more interesting than death. Pain, and your endless ability to feel it, to demonstrate it. He will entertain the possibility of you being whole again, as long as he’s the one who gets to put you back together.”

“What the stories never said: at the end of the day, if a man wants to kill you, he kills you. It’s not on you to convince him not to.” 😳

4.5 stars for this amazing debut! If you read Room back in the day, this is reminiscent of that. “Rachel” is being kept in Luke’s shed behind the house. He has a wife and daughter and is a beloved member of their community, yet he is harboring this dark secret. Has he killed? Will he kill her? After 5 years of being abused, does “Rachel” remember who she was before she was stolen?

The audio, narrated by a full cast, is amazing!! This book is told from many POV and each one has a unique narrator. Genius. The chapters are short and, by the end, I was in the edge of my seat. Ahhh RUN girl, RUN! A nail biter for sure.

Thanks for the free #audiobook @PRHAudio #PRHAudioPartner and thank you to @aaknoft and the author for the ARC.

I always love finding a new author and I have! I super enjoy serial killer books (I know, I know)- and this one was unique in that it is written by the victim, his child and his girlfriend. So neat and a novel twist!

The Quiet Tenant will FOR SURE make my top books of 2023! I was biting my nails and nervous the WHOLE time. Clémence Michallon, bravo, fabulous debut. 👏🏼

I won’t be saying too much about this one but it’s about a serial killer. ‘Nuff said right?! Of course this male serial killer is a stand up gent so the town loooves him. This book alternates between the victims, the daughter, the new girlfriend, and the one he can’t quite seem to kill...

This story was a RIDE and I loved it. Short chapters. Suspenseful breaks. It read like the best episode of Dateline! Keith Morrison 4EVER.

Thank you to @aaknopf @netgalley for this gifted book. It came out on June 20. Highly recommend.

Although, now I will be skeptical of all strangers. Especially friendly ones. Be careful friends, or you’ll end up handcuffed in a shed. 🙅🏼‍♀️

🖤🖤🖤

I love a good thriller. I love books about serial killers. Add in your get multiple perspectives and a look at serial killers in the real world (his perspective, his daughter's, his girlfriend, and the current woman he is holding captive and didn't kill yet). If you get a chance, listen to the audiobook version, because there are different actors for all of the parts (each chapter is different). I loved that you didn't get many perspectives to start, and then you got more as the story developed. I also loved that you learned more as the story unfolded. This was such a unique take on the serial killer thriller and I adored it!

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Knopf for the e copy and the physical copy!

This was an interesting book. It’s told from many different POVs and keeps you going.

Just when you think something is going to happen, it changes but in a good way. It’s true really hard not to be predictable.

I wasn't sure how I would do with a book about a serial killer and the woman who he's holding captive, but the way it was told made it a suspenseful read. Using second person point of view really lets you get into the head of the captive. This was a good read, quick, compelling, interesting, and suspenseful. The aftermath I think could've been a bit slower paced and would have been far more satisfying had it been revealed from the viewpoints of all the main characters, not the lesser character but other than that I really enjoyed this book!

The Quiet Tennant
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Clemence Michallon

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Knopf and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Aidan Thomas is a hard-working family man and a somewhat beloved figure in the small upstate New York town where he lives. He’s the kind of man who always lends a hand and has a good word for everyone. But Aidan has a dark secret he’s been keeping from everyone in town and those closest to him. He’s a kidnapper and serial killer. Aidan has murdered eight women and there’s a ninth he has earmarked for death: Rachel, imprisoned in a backyard shed, fearing for her life.

When Aidan’s wife dies, he and his thirteen-year-old daughter Cecilia are forced to move. Aidan has no choice but to bring Rachel along, introducing her to Cecilia as a “family friend” who needs a place to stay. Aidan is betting on Rachel, after five years of captivity, being too brainwashed and fearful to attempt to escape. But Rachel is a fighter and survivor, and recognizes Cecilia might just be the lifeline she has waited for all these years. As Rachel tests the boundaries of her new living situation, she begins to form a tenuous connection with Cecilia. And when Emily, a local restaurant owner, develops a crush on the handsome widower, she finds herself drawn into Rachel and Cecilia’s orbit, coming dangerously close to discovering Aidan’s secret.

My Thoughts: This was a very dark and disturbing psychological thriller, also a slow burn. You will either like it or you won’t, unfortunately there is no middle ground here, in my opinion, which is not a bad thing. A serial killer and his daughter has to move, with his latest captor in tow. Aiden figures he has had Rachel in captivity for so long, that she would dare say anything or escape. However, Rachel is resilient and looks to the daughter as a means to escape. Who will win?

We have four main characters. Rachel, the kidnapped survivor who has endured hell for the last five years and must act as a “tenant” when they move, very much a survivor and resilient. Next, Aiden, very manipulative and a highly dangerous serial killer who does an outstanding job at blending into the background. Aiden’s daughter, Cecilia, who is ignorant to her father’s dangerous abilities, she is very unsuspecting. Lastly, we have Emily (name twin), who is smitten over Aiden, makes questionable choices, and is absolutely controlled, and even gaslighted by Aiden. Emily is the most frustrating character and I found myself yelling at her often. The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, and intriguing. The author’s storytelling was impacting, thought-provoking, suspenseful, and engaging. The author does an amazing job at slowly building the characters, interweaving the plot in twisty layers, with an intense flow and pace, and provides a conclusion that is unique and phenomenal.

My only complaint is some of the character development, you haven to suspend belief some. I highly recommend picking up the book or the audiobook. It really was a unique type of thriller.

This book. Dang this book was so good. The main male character reminded me of the BTK killer. The ending was a great finish to the story. I loved that the characters toggled between four points of view and current and past events. I will defiantly read more by this author.