“The Quiet Tenant” by @clemencemichallon hooked me immediately and did not ever let up.

Aiden Thomas is a widower, father and small-town good guy in upstate New York. There’s just one problem: he’s kept a woman locked in his shed for five years while murdering eight others. This is told in alternating perspectives — the trapped woman, Aiden’s 13-year-old daughter, and a bartender in town who has a crush on him. The reader gets to know Aiden from each of the these perspectives, which is what makes it so fascinating (and so creepy!)

“The Quiet Tenant” was so good on so many levels. It’s a serial killer thriller but also a commentary on women and power dynamics. The book has gotten a lot of press — and I am here for all that hype! This is an incredible debut, and I’m already psyched for her next book.

I’ve followed Clémence on Instagram for awhile, and it was fun to see little bread crumbs of herself sprinkled throughout the book, from her marathon training to red lipstick. I’m completely blown away that this book is in her second language.

What a Creepy great read! A young woman held captive by a serial killer. This story is told from the
perspective of his victim, his daughter, and a local restaurant owner, who is slated as his love interest or his next victim?
Bone chilling and page turner are good descriptions of this book. My first read from this Author and will look for more by her.
Thank you to Netgalley, AA Knopf books and the Author Clemence Michallon for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

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

I went in blind to this realistic mystery, and I think -- if you can handle it -- that's the way to go. Because the discovery of major details would be ruined by the synopsis.

If you must know something before diving in, I recommend reading the opening, one-sentence description from its bio and nothing more: "A pulse-pounding psychological thriller about a serial killer narrated by those closest to (him): His 13-year-old daughter, his girlfriend, and the one victim he has spared."

That's strong, and it's enough. Because reading about a wolf in sheep's clothing from those in the wolf's pack makes those reveals hit harder. They're more impactful when you find out with the characters rather than before them.

And because I believe so strongly in this, I don't want to say much about the plot except to say that this story read very real, which made it that more chilling and emotional to encounter. It was obviously very character driven and, apart from its flawless opening chapter, it's delivered at a much slower pace than I anticipated given the promotional materials.

Like the title implies, it's quiet. It sneaks up on you. Lingers. Makes itself comfy in your mind.

It's not a happy book, but it does have a lot to say.

Wow! This book will slowly and quietly keep you at the edge of seat, without you even noticing it!

Aidan Thomas is beloved within his community. He's a hard-working family man, a widower, a devoted father who is always willing to give a helping hand. He's also a kidnapper and serial killer. And I promise I have not spoiled this book for you. It's all in the description. This book is told from different POVs, one of them being the victim. And it's so incredibly well done, you can't help but feel what these characters are feeling.

This book was intense and thrilling and wonderfully messed up. I loved it! A huge thanks tp the author, NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
I really enjoyed the multiple points of view in this book. It was intriguingly to see a serial killer through the minds of a daughter, a love interest, and a victim. However, I was frustrated with Rachel at times, but the quick chapters make the book feel like it flew by.

I absolutely devoured this book. I honestly don't even know where to begin - this one will keep you gripped up until the end. I really enjoyed the different POV's throughout, beginning with the unnamed woman. I was dying to learn more about her and her REAL name throughout the whole book. I was on the edge of my seat hoping Emily would learn to stay away and Cecilia would finally see her father for who he is. I will recommend this book for a long time - this one was absolutely amazing. Huge thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for a chance to review this one.

YES!! This is absolutely my kind of thriller. Suspenseful, unique, and smart.

I’m beyond impressed that this is a debut thriller from @clemencemichallon Everything was well done- from short chapters cleverly titled and full of tension to alternating POV. We get to hear this story from the perspective of those closest to the killer, his 13 year old daughter, his girlfriend, and the one he has chosen to spare. All perspectives play on the readers feelings toward the killer and the women in his life. Parts read like a suspenseful movie that makes you hold your breath and others like a deep character study of women who find strength where it seems impossible.

It was impossible to put this one down. If I had more time, I could have absolutely read this book in one day!

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

• claustrophobic, quiet story
• unique POV
• slow burn

This is definitely a character-driven, dark novel. I can't believe this is a debut!

🗣️ Thank you to @netgalley and @aaknopf for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

This book just wasn’t for me. I felt like the pacing was a little too slow and I never found myself eager to pick the book back up. It wasn’t the writing that I didn’t care for but the development of the story.

Thanks to Netgalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor publishing , and Clemence Michallon for this ARC. The premise of the book lead me to pick this one up to read asap..I’ve read a few reviews and some were 5 star and others not so much, but I’m glad I went with the choice to listen to the 5 star reviews. I though this book was unique in its own way with the chapter headings and making you think when the 1 page chapter gave you the “girls number” and their final thoughts. I’ve not seen that exact concept in a book before, so It’s always nice to see and read something so different.
You have to wonder what was so special about Rachel that he kept her and not any other..
This was a wonderful, exciting read I read day and night. I’d definitely recommend this to others... Being the first book written by this author, I’m hoping for more wonderful things to come from her .
My reviews are also seen on Twitter, FB, Goodreads, and Amazon. I review and recommend as well at local book stores and book clubs.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 3.75⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Thriller/mystery📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
It wasn’t my favorite thriller but I was hooked from the start.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Dark and twisty psychological thrillers
Slow burn
intriguing plots
Multiple POVs
Character driven
Abduction/ serial killer stories

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
It was a captivating read

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I wanted more at the ending
Was a little on the slower side

📖 Book Review 📖

📱”The Quiet Tenant” by Clemence Michallon

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Expected publication June 20, 2023


The author’s writing style is very straightforward, adding tension and drama to the storyline. The woman, ‘Rachel’, has been chained in a shed for five years, staying alive by appeasing, agreeing and apologising. Her captor is Aidan Thomas, a recent widower, and helpful friendly man. He’s polite, kind and a good father to a curious, twelve year old Cecilia. Aidan has to move house and at the last minute decides ‘Rachel’ will move with and become his tenant. Emily, is the local bar owner who becomes attracted to Aiden.

Rachel’s perspective is disturbing, haunting and at times brutal. Imagining the world and all the “what ifs” she hadn’t fallen for Aiden’s ruse in the first place. At the start of the book the sentences are short, sharp, and suspenseful. She knows she needs to comply to stay alive. As time goes on this subtly changes once she is the house tenant and some interactions with Cecilia, the tone is almost relaxed, as weaknesses are sought to exploit. Aidan is an enigmatic chameleon as most psychopaths are.

I’d like to congratulate Clémence Michallon for writing such a high quality debut in English which is not her first language - that’s quite a feat.

Thank you @netgalley for this early kindle edition.

#somanybooks #readsomemore #audiobooks #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #booklover #bookishlove #readersgonnaread #bookishaf

It seems people either didn’t get very far in this book and put it down or binged it and dove head first into the dark, eerie depravity it that it was. ⁣
⁣
I, dove right in. On the edge of my seat, chewing my nails following “Rachel” the captive of five years, Aiden the widow, the devoted father, the killer; his daughter Cecilia who seemed devoted to her father but was aching for her mom; Emily the girl who fell well too fast for a stranger and put herself in terrible situations over she over that you wanted to shake her; other women? Who went missing. ⁣
⁣
He seemed to target women who seemed distraught. Who he thought may never be missed. “Rachel” seemed to stay alive by apologizing, agreeing, and doing anything and everything he said without putting up much of a fight. He almost groomed her, until he had to move locations and introduced his daughter to his captive who was a “quiet tenant.” ⁣
⁣
Except what happens when a lonely child missing her mom wants to get to know this quiet woman living in her home with her dad.⁣
⁣
This was such a different, thrilling, slow burn of a thriller that held me captive til the end. ⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!*

I loved this book. I read it in one sitting. It took me by surprise, in the best of ways.
Don't hesitate, and get it!

My nerves snapped like brittle violin strings.

First, let’s get expectations out of the way. The Quiet Tenant is marketed as a thriller. It’s not. This is slow moving, claustrophobic, intensely disturbing, dark psychological suspense.

I love character studies that put me inside the heads of victims and psychopaths. The author does both exceptionally well. I felt the creep factor rippling under my skin.

Content explores abduction and rape, and edges into Stockholm syndrome. Most of this is implied, without overly graphic details. But it’s hard to read. For me, this type of book hurts far more than the quick thrillers exploring similar topics.

So it might be weird to say that I loved this book, but I did.

The Quiet Tenant is a harrowing but good read. I'm beyond impressed the author was able to craft an engrossing story considering English is not her first language. It's one of those can't look away, got to see things through type of books.

The story alternates between the perspectives of a few different characters. There's really no reason to go into too much detail about the plot. Simply put, it involves a woman who has been held captive for years.

Part of the reason the story works is it's not so far rooted from reality. It's a scary world out there and from time to time you do hear about these horrific stories on the news of someone being held against their will. The author came up with this perfect scenario in which you feel invested in the character from the get go.

Give me all the bone chilling, under your skin, psychology thrillers!

Aiden Thomas is a family man. A well known figure. He always helps where he can. But under all that nice man posterior is a serial kidnapper and killer, that non are too the wiser about. He’s murdered eight women so far and has his eyes on number nine, Rachel. But when his wife dies and him and his daughter are forced to move, he has to bring Rachel along. He thinks he has her controlled that she won’t escape him, but Rachel is about to test his boundaries.

This was what I love in thrillers. It’s raw and gripping and definitely gave me the creeps. Because this is something that can truly happen. The story explores the impact of what Aiden has done to these women and it’s chilling at times.

I really want to get into Clèmence’s head and see what lurks there.

Aidan is a grieving widow, a loving father, and an active and valued member of his community. What his community and daughter don't know, is that he has a woman chained up in his shed. When circumstances change and he is forced to evacuate the shed, he is forced to move his prisoner into his home. Rachel tries to live quietly but as she is slowly reintroduced to the world and to Aidan's daughter, sitting still becomes harder to do....

The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon was a phenomenal thriller! I was on the edge of my seat and had to finish it in one sitting. The only thing I thought was missing, was a longer ending. It would have been nice to know what ended up happening to all the characters. I gave the book 4 stars!

The Quiet Tenant was a wild ride! I was hooked right from the first chapter and could not step away. A gripping story filled with several perspectives and lovable characters, what more could you ask for?

I picked this one up on a complete whim and hadn’t heard about it until I received a copy from the publisher (thank you to Knopf for my copy!) but I’m so glad I did. It kept me hooked for the less than 24 hours it took for me to devour it (and in print, a real feat these days). A story about a serial killer told from the perspective of three women in his life – his captive, his daughter, and the woman who has a crush on him – it was utterly compelling, disturbing, and unputdownable. Content warnings abound, so be sure to look those up before you read this one. (This would be great on audio – it has a full cast narration.)