Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. The premise of this book was chilling, and so was the entire book. I thought this was a fresh take on the thriller genre, and so compelling to learn about this serial killer from the perspective of his past, present, and future victims. I was gripped, the writing was excellent!

Thank you NetGalley, Knopf, and Clémence Michallon for the advanced copy of The Quiet Tenant in exchange for my honest review.

The best adjective I could use to describe this book is unsettling. And I do mean that in the very best way. I loved all the differing point of view chapters, especially when they overlapped the same event and we got to see it through multiple perspectives.

My true crime girlies don't need to be told, but Michallon does a great job of reminding us that depravity really does walk among us. And I think that's what was ultimately so unsettling about this book for me.

I saw the rights for this book were recently acquired and I sincerely hope it gets picked up as a limited series. I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next!

Aidan Thomas is the perfect neighbor, a beloved hard-working man living in a small town. But he has a twisted secret: he's a serial killer and has kidnapped a woman, whom he has forced to live in a shed in his garden. And when Aidan and his daughter are forced to move, she has to go with them. Could someone find her and figure out she's not just a quiet tenant?
At first, it might seem like a things-get-gory thriller, but I'd say it's actually a story about the true meaning of survival.
It's a page-turner, for sure—I couldn't stop reading it—, and it resonated with a lot of my emotions. I found the ways in which the woman in the shed dealt with her pain to be quite compelling, and her feelings and fears felt very realistic.
I must say, though, I found the chapters with Emily's POV a bit out of place, but I think that was precisely the point of her whole character: to make it noticeable how normal serial killers may appear to others.
If you're looking for a thriller with a memorable story and characters, you should check this one out!
I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Pulse racing. It began a bit slow and just the painful nature of the book, I was tempted to not finish it. However I decided to continue on and give it a chance. It is a what we have always heard, about how unlikely a suspect of a horrendous crime or crimes was the nicest person. I liked that the book was divided into the takes by the victim (Rachel) who is held captive in a shed for 5 years and the daughter. I'm glad I continued to read it until the end because it did not disappoint. Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

*****5 Star (short) Review*****
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This 👏 one 👏 is 👏 worth 👏 the 👏 $$$$ & 🕰️
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Aiden may seem like the perfect man, but he has so many secrets that are revealed throughout this debut English language novel by @clemencemichallon
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Will Rachel regain her freedom & will the women find justice???
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This review is vague for a reason, you need to read this book!!!
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Thanks to @netgalley @clemencemichallon @aaknopf for the ARC

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded down

The first half of this book gripped my attention. I was intrigued by the different perspectives of the captive, the daughter, and the love interest of this serial killer, Aidan Thomas. There was something unique about each person's interactions with the same person. I started to get a little bored about halfway through. It was a little repetitive with "Rachel" trying to find ways to survive and escape and Emily obsessing over all things Aidan. I would have liked a little more backstory into what made Aidan a serial killer. This is the reason I knocked it down a couple of stars. The ending was good but could have been done up more with action/more results of how the police found the evidence.

Overall, I am impressed by the author's debut and am excited for what she comes out with next!

The first 25% really drew me in… the middle section dragged… and I did like the ending! The second person POV was an interesting touch that I ended up liking more than I thought. All in all a 3 ⭐️ read.

Can we ever truly know someone? Everyone loves Aidan Thomas, and when his wife dies of cancer the town rallies around him and his 13-year-old daughter, Cecelia, to support them in their grief -- including Emily, a young restaurant owner who will do just about anything to get closer to the man she's had a crush on since she was a teenager. But Aidan has been hiding a side of himself from everyone... Everyone, that is, except his victims. Aidan is a serial killer, choosing young and vulnerable women to kidnap and kill. But when he meets the girl he calls "Rachel", he decides to keep her for himself, instead. "Rachel" has spent the past five years as Aidan's captive, trying everything she can think of to survive and biding her time until she can escape. As Aidan gets careless by distractions such as his growing attraction to Emily and his struggle to control his coming-of-age daughter, "Rachel" may have a chance after all...

Thoughts: Told in alternating POVs from "the woman" (aka "Rachel"), Emily, Cecelia, and Aidan's victims, readers are kept on edge with each chapter. I watch too much true crime and Criminal Minds to buy into the reason why Aidan breaks from his methodology and keeps "Rachel" alive when he kills all of his other victims, but it's an interesting twist that adds complexity to Aidan's persona. "Rachel" -- and readers -- are never quite sure what Aidan is capable of next. And I wanted to yell at Cecelia and Emily to get as far from Aidan as they could, but they are too blinded by their love for him. Author Clemence Michallon poignantly captures the victims' voices, including why sometimes captives don't flee when they have the chance. There is a surprising amount of depth to this story, and gave off "Misery"-esque type vibes at times. My only wish is that we had Aidan's POV, too. Definitely a page-turner, perfect for a Fall suspense binge-read.

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.**

Four and a half pulse pounding stars for The Quiet Tenant! If you are looking for a great fiction novel about a serial killer from a victims point of view this is for you.

This isn’t a book to be squeamish about, because it doesn’t dive deep into the actual bloody murders. It’s more about the mindset of the man doing the killing.

I easily finished this in one sitting. Thrilling and captivating!

Freaky read. Told through 3 perspectives: the hostage, the daughter, and the foolish woman in love with the brute killer.
My sympathies were with the hostage who is called Rachel. She held in for 5 years, knowing her captor was a murderer.
I did find it hard to believe that Cecilia, the daughter, wouldn’t question more about this strange woman who is now living with the.
Emily is just pathetic and very lucky to be alive.
I thought the ending was incomplete, it’s not shared how the hostage reunites with her family and also the punishment meted out to the killer.

The Quiet Tenant
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Author: @clemencemichallon
Pages: 320
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Read if you like:

👫Multiple viewpoints
2️⃣ Second person POV
🔪Psychological thrillers
🥞Short chapters
🏘️Small town murders
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“You are Rachel. He found you. All you know is what he has taught you. All you have is what he has given you.”
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I’ll be honest, this book was not what I was expecting… BUT in the best possible way. If you are looking for a fast paced, action packed thriller, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a real, raw and emotional story of survival - this one is for you.

I love thrillers, but this was a heavy book - it took me almost a week to get through because I felt I had to read this in different sittings. Clemence utilized horrifically beautiful storytelling, i honestly had a hard time believing this was a debut! The writing was beautifully unique and the use of 2nd person in this particular book and setting was extremely impactful. I rarely read second person narratives, but something about being told YOU are experiencing this made this so much more personal.

Wow. I was not expecting to be blown away like I was by this one. The Quiet Tenant deserves to be shouted about! And yet I almost don’t want to say a word. I know it’s impossible, as people typically don’t just pick up a book and start reading without at least knowing a little bit about it, but honestly if you can you should go in knowing nothing about the story. No, seriously, stop reading this review, buy the book, and go in blind. Still reading? Fine, but I warned you. I’ll still try to be as spoiler free as possible, though it’s almost impossible, but I won’t even give away as much as the book’s own description will. Aidan Thomas seems like the perfect guy. Kind, thoughtful, helpful. No one has an unkind thing to say about the man. But Aidan Thomas also has a secret, he’s a serial kidnapper/killer. And the story of The Quiet Tenant tells his story from the multiple points of view of the women in his life: his daughter, his girlfriend, and a woman he’s held captive for more than five years! While quite disturbing at times the story is outrageously gripping.This is one of those books where you think you’re only going to sit and read a chapter or two and suddenly hours have gone by. This is an absolutely stellar debut and I’ll be eagerly anticipating Clémence Michallon’s next novel. Thanks so much to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an eARC of The Quiet Tenant.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-quiet-tenant-cl-mence-michallon/1142242370?ean=9780593534649&bvnotificationId=cc28eb40-0ff2-11ee-8766-0a62c9a73395&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/251248086

This book was AMAZING! It’s really a quiet kind of thriller. There aren’t a lot of action scenes, but there’s a slow-building intensity throughout while we root for Rachel’s escape. I could not put this book down! Between the audio and physical book, I finished it in a day. It reminded me of The Last Thing to Burn by @willrdean, which I also loved! If you like serial killer thrillers, check this out!

Thank you to Netgalley and Alfred A. Knopf for the gifted ARCs in exchange for my honest review!

I was happy to be on the front end of Clemence Michallon’s writing career with what I think is her debut novel, The Quiet Tenant. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but I loved her twist on the serial killer scenario. I am a huge fan of serial killers, reading about them, not hanging out with them, so any fresh plot is always welcome. Of course, I think we know that a serial killer could be hidden under the guise of your neighbor. Hell, it could even be a family member. Serial killer’s are not always male, though it is rare to find one that is female.

Imagine meeting a kind, young man who turns out to be your worst nightmare. He has murdered eight women and you are the ninth. Why has he kept you alive? Why doesn’t he take what he wants and dispose of you? What makes you different from the others?

‘Rachel’ is the tenant and he is the landlord. He has had her for eight years. Now, things have changed. His wife has died and he is being evicted. How can he incorporate her into his new life, keeping the specifics hidden from his thirteen year old daughter, Cecilia.

Rachel has a set of rules she has made to keep herself alive, hoping she will be saved.

I had wondered about his relationship with his daughter, seeing he rarely let her out of his sight, other than school. Was he molesting her, having her take the place of his dead wife and Rachel is just a side bit for some variety? At first, I thought it was because he knew just how dangerous the world can be, seeing he is a predator. But, the reason was much more personal than her safety.

There were a couple of hiccups in the story, but over all it kept me reading. I wondered how in the world they could all live together and how it would end. Clemence Michallon was able to keep me in suspense, never giving away the ending, even though I tried to figure it out for myself. The twists and turns along the way were new to me and as many books as I read, it is hard to come up with something novel and unique. Kudos go out to Clemence Michallon for being able to do that and leave me wanting more. I am eager to see what she will come up with next.

The ending was inspirational and hopeful. I always wonder how I will react in a situation some of these characters find themselves in, and I tell myself one thing and wonder if that is what I would really do. After all, I don’t think any of us can know until or if it happens.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com

The Quiet Tenant had one of the best elevator pitches I have heard in years- What if the lovable handyman in a small town was a serial killer? And we don't just get his story in a run-of-the-mill, intended victim escapes type of way. No, we get his story through three women who are deeply entrenched in his life- a captive, a woman with a bad crush, and his daughter. I consumed this book with a fanatical energy, and I enjoyed its very literary take, even if I had secretly been hoping for a little more action. Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the ARC!

I thought I was tired of the serial killer trope until I read The Quiet Tenant. This book had me on the absolute edge of my seat, and takes care of the women affected in this novel. There were no cheap thrills which I really appreciated. This felt like a thriller with depth, which is rare for the genre.

Wow! This book grabbed me from the beginning and wouldn’t let go. It is a psychological thriller with the emphasis on thrills. Aiden Thorne seems to be an ordinary family man, one who is kind and helpful to his neighbors and friends. However, he hides a really dark side because he is in reality a serial kidnapper, rapist and killer. Somehow, he has kept his secret from everyone around him but his life starts to unravel when his wife dies and he has to move. Rachel, his current captive, seems destined to die, but Aiden hatches a plan instead to take her with him to his new home and introduce her to his daughter Cecilia as a friend of the family. Emily works in a restaurant and is totally enamored with Aiden, suspecting nothing about his dark secrets. The story is told from the points of view of the three woman, all of them under the control of Aiden in some way or another and all victims of his charm and his power. The novel centers around Aiden’s evil plans and the women realizing what is happening as they communicate with each other. This book is written with intensity and uses a genius way to weave around the three women and ultimately get them to become acquainted with each other. It is a brilliantly written psych thriller with a bullet train fast pace and twists that had my head spinning. I absolutely loved it and cannot recommend it highly enough!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

What a great debut thriller!

Ok so I was all in the whole time…the storyline is super interesting and it starts off fast. The first chapter pulls you into the action and the more you read, the more unique the plot becomes.

While the beginning started off with a bang, the middle slowed down quite a bit and it felt a little like groundhogs day…the same thing happening over and over- but I was never bored, just waiting for something big and new to happen.
Slow, but never boring.

I loved the POV switches, (Rachel- the spared victim, Cecilia- the 13 year old daughter, Emily- the girlfriend) and there were quick chapters thrown in from the past I looooved. I can’t really give too much info about them without giving the story away, but you’ll know when you read it

It was interested hearing from them since they were all so different and knew different parts of Aiden (the deranged kidnapper/serial killer). I also enjoyed seeing how their lives overlapped.

I felt like I did have some questions along the way, and some things seemed off, but I mean the whole situation of these character was off (in a good way).

If you want a good suspenseful read, with some twists & turns along the way, check this one out!
…and I’ll be sure to look out for her next book!

AMAZING!!! I was hooked beginning to end.
I think the multiple POV was genius, I remember thinking at first, "this can't be the same guy!"

Aiden Thomas is a well-respected citizen of the town. He is hard working, the widowed father of an early teenage girl. Eager to help others. Dedicated to his daughter. And he is a serial killer. And the kidnapper of nine vulnerable women, one who is still alive.
Clemence Michallon tells this story through the voices of three women: Rachel, the woman he has held prisoner for 5 years, his daughter, and the local bartender who has an enormous crush on him. This is not a typical “woman in jeopardy” book—Rachel learns the rules and learns how to push them. Her wit and determination drive the story. This is unlike other serial killer books: it lacks the gory details, but instead concentrates on Aiden as a man. This reader actually liked him most of the time.
The Quiet Tenant is a stellar debut novel. The plot is complex, the characters are believable and strong, and the writing is phenomenal. I am further impressed that Michallon authored this book in English, her second language. She has certainly mastered the intricacies of it. I look forward to future books from her.
My thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, Patheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and Clemence Michallon for an advanced copy of this book. My opinions are my own.