The Quiet Tenant will make some noise in your head! This is a great, fast paced for me, suspense read, I really liked (is that the right word? appreciated?) the way the story was told (the POVs from women worked), the pacing, and the intensity of the plot. Thank you Knopf, this is a great summer read for anyone looking for kind of the anti-beach read vibe... and also great for thriller and creepy book fans for the Fall reading season as well.

Seriously, this was a good one and I can be picky about suspense!

Spectacular! A darkly thrilling tale of survival and obsession.

Successful journalist Clémence Michallon's dazzling debut, THE QUIET TENANT, is an instant out-of-the-park knockout! My #1 Thriller of 2023.

This sophisticated, twisty, electrifying psychological thriller is brilliant and will have you glued to the pages while anxiously awaiting the next masterpiece from this talented author.

A serial killer masked as a doting father, an upstanding community leader, a friend, and a helper. All explodes when his latest victim, his daughter, and his girlfriend collide in this heart-pounding binge-worthy thriller.

A charming widower who leads a secret life murdering women. The narration alternates between Rachel, whom Aidan has held prisoner for five years; Emily, the bartender with whom he enters a romantic relationship; and his young daughter.

Aidan Thomas is a family man and an upstanding figure in the small upstate New York town. He was always lending a hand. Behind closed doors, he is evil and has dark secrets. He is fooling everyone.

In reality, he is a kidnapper, a serial killer, a MURDERER.

He has murdered eight women, and the ninth victim, Rachel, he is currently holding prisoner in his backyard shed—years of being tortured while she awaits her death. She has been planning her escape but how?

When Aidan's wife dies, he and his thirteen-year-old daughter Cecilia are forced to move. He rents a different house from a judge.

Rachel is smart. She knows he will kill her, so she talks him into taking her along as a family friend. After five years of imprisonment, he assumes she is too fearful to escape.

There are rules for staying alive inside the shed and outside the shed.

But Rachel is a fighter. She is a survivor. Now she will live in the house as a family friend instead of in the shed at the new location. She befriends the daughter, Cecilia. She must play the part.

Then another person is involved. Emily is a local restaurant owner/bartender who has a crush on with handsome widower, Aidan. Will someone discover the truth before it is too late? How will Rachel escape?

Told through the POVs of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, readers get to hear from the women in Aidan's life. Will the other women believe Rachel before Aidan kills them all?

WOW! I loved this book. What a smashing debut! I adored Rachel and was rooting for her to the satisfying conclusion. She is intelligent and resilient. The basement scene was heart-pounding.

The author's writing is exceptional. Vivid descriptions, well-developed characters, twisty plot, intensity, and suspense off the charts, mind-blowing. An exploration of trauma, survival, and power delving deep into the minds of victims. The book focuses on more mental and psychological violence, not physical violence showcasing the power dynamics.

The author does an excellent job portraying an ordinary man and how he appears to the outside world and the evil, darkness, and demons behind closed doors. SPINE-CHILLING. I enjoyed the POV from the three women versus the man. Scary since this could happen in real life.

THE QUIET TENANT is nail-biting, intelligent, captivating, and utterly unputdownable. Out of all the thrillers I have read this year (190 YTD, and this is Mid-June) this one is stand-out! The best thriller I have read this year. Movie-worthy!

Check out the author's bio; quite impressive. Michallon has been added to my favorite author list, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. If you can only read one psychological thriller this year, this is the ONE! Highly recommend.

Thanks to #Knopf for a gifted ARC via #NetGalley for review purposes. All opinions are mine. I also purchased the hardcover copy for my home library.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 20, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars +++
June 2023 Must-Read Books
Top Books of 2023

Loved this book! This was one of the most hyped books coming into the summer and this book is worth the hype. This twisted psychological thriller follows a man who has to sell his house after his wife dies but there’s one small problem-he has a hostage in the shed that he kidnapped. He decides to move her when the house sells and what follows is a tense cat and mouse game about a woman plotting her escape from him. I couldn’t stop turning the pages. While the plot itself may not be entirely originally the execution is as it’s told from 4 povs-the captive, a girl in town who is trying to date the man, the daughter, and the 9 victims he murdered before. I loved this American debut-the pacing, the characters, the tension, and the unique voice. Perfect for a beach or summer read!

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Quiet Tenant is the debut novel from Clemence Michallon.

"Her name is Rachel - That's what he told her. And she must do whatever he says if she wants to survive. It's been five years. There have been other girls that didn't make it -she's seen the trophies. She's convinced him to let her move out of the shed. But is it too late to run?"

This book reminded me a lot of a book from a few years ago - Room. The POV is almost all Rachel - what she's thinking - why she hesitates to run - and her empathy for the newest potential victim and the killer's daughter. The early part of the book was repetitious and droned a bit for me. Once Rachel has moved to the house there is different tension and action. The ending does make up for the slow part and you're holding your breath hoping that Rachel will get away.
The rape in this book is not graphic but it's there several times in the story. You ask yourself - what am I willing to do to survive?
Nice debut from Michallon.

I love a serial killer story and this one did not disappoint! I enjoyed the multiple POVs and seeing how Aiden played everyone. Rachel had me rooting for her the entire time, even when I was screaming "run!" in my head at her. Emily, on the other hand, was kind of a ninny and I would have dropped red flags off at her restaurant every day until she got the hint. The small chapters from the POVs of Aiden's victims were very well done and amped up the tension. This is a great book for true crime fans!

Wow! This was a 5-star thriller for me.
A serial killer's story told from three outside perspectives of women in his life. The writing in this book is done so well. I know some people don't like the second person perspective, but I thought it was so well done here and really moved the story along! I could not stop turning the pages, and I don't want to say too much because the small parts that reveal themselves along the way are part of the reason I liked the book so much! I hope that this one gets the attention it deserves, this author is definitely one to watch for me.

I requested The Quiet Tenant from Netgalley because of book recommendations from readers I trust and I was not disappointed. The story is told from three different women’s perspectives with their experiences with Aidan Thomas, a kidnapper and serial killer. A shocking and gripping psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages but also not wanting the story to end. At one point, my heart was racing during a particular scene, it was that intense. The author did a great job of keeping me engaged from start to finish. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I received an electronic advanced copy (eARC) from publisher Knopf and Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book.

"One of the most anticipated novels of 2023..." That phrase, as well as the cover of the book, sparked my attention. The horror of this pulse-pounding psychological thriller was hard to accept as you get to know a serial killer through the eyes of his 13 year old daughter, one of his victims spared, and his girlfriend.
The suspense of women being fooled by the very ones they trust will have you look around every corner as a serial killer lurks around locating and destroying his victims, except the one he decided to keep chained outside in a shed, while his wife and daughter are inside their home.
Aidan is known as a hard working family man doing good deeds around the community. When his wife dies of cancer, the community holds a fundraiser for him and his daughter. When he moves, he takes his victim, Rachel with him and creates new boundaries as she lives in the house with his daughter. She has been captive for 5 years.
This story is more about the victim Rachel once a runner and independent woman. It is told through her eyes, as well as his daughter, Cecilia and new girlfriend, Emily. Rachel is in survival mode, as she is given more freedom around the house, she is so beyond brainwashed it is seared into her brain she can't leave.That he will find her.
My heart ached for her and her family. I can't even imagine the horror for her and all his victims that did not survive. The author did a great job keeping it real but nothing in detail what he did to her. The story will ring familiar with other books and the endurance of captivity.
Thank you NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Clemence Michallon’s The Quiet Tenant

A literary thriller about a serial killer narrated by those closest to him: his 13-year-old daughter, his girlfriend, and the one victim he has locked in a shed.

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

3 Things I Appreciated About The Quiet Tenant:

Quiet Tenant reads more like a character study than a thriller, IMO, but it works for me. It’s a character-driven, lyrical drama that allows for an immersive reading experience & a chance to witness the many ways a human spirit can be broken and then stitched back together with hope.

***Note: If you’re looking for a “pulse-pounding thriller,” as the synopsis states, you will be disappointed.

Michallon does a phenomenal job capturing abductee Rachel’s stress reactions—fear, cognitive impairment, dissociation, grief, and anger. (Rachel is not the victim’s real name; it’s the one abductor Aidan gives her.) I don’t know how anyone can survive five years of captivity in a shed, but Rachel does, and readers read about how she manages to endure.

While I wouldn’t say this book is suspenseful, it’s full of dread. The writing style wowed me! Michallon’s choice to tell this story from the POVs of 3 women made it unputdownable.

Told from the points of view of the woman held captive for five years, the thirteen year old daughter, and the new (almost) girlfriend, this thriller about the serial killer that everyone thinks is the perfect neighbor might make the readers think twice about everyone around them. Aiden Thomas is his small town's darling, but no one knows his secrets until the one woman that he chose to keep instead of kill escapes.

I appreciated the tension throughout the book and the way that "Rachel" played into the man's ploys in order to stay alive. The excellent use of second person in her chapters added to the stress I felt as I read the book. I also really thought the ending was a clever choice, keeping the focus on the women rather than the killer.

Also, the fact that English is not the author's first language is surprising - I never could have guessed. I look forward to reading anything else she writes going forward.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

The Quiet Tenant
Genre: psychological thriller
Rating: 4⭐

Thanks so much @aaknopf for the #gifted finished copy! This book is out 6.20.23

I went into this blind, and quickly wondered if the plot was going to be too intense or disturbing for me. That wasn’t the case at all - while certainly a dark and traumatic subject matter, Rachel’s abuse was not described in detail on page, and the story mostly focused on her strength and determination to survive.

The first half was incredible! It was fast paced and heart pounding, and kept me on the edge of my seat and had me turning pages so quickly. Told from three main point of views, this thriller also gives voice to other victims of the stiry’s serial killer and was a really unique viewpoint as they narrate their final few moments. In the second half the paced slowed a bit, and there were certain parts that felt awfully convenient and fairly far fetched. While the ending was satisfying, it was pretty abrupt and I was left with a question or two. Still, I couldn’t put this down and overall found it really bingeable.

Read if you enjoyed: Room, Rena Olsen’s The Girl Before, Mary Kubica’s The Good Girl, or Lisa Gardner’s Find Her

I. AM. SHOOK.

There is a “before” you read this book. And there is an “after”.

Blows any and all other thriller writers, the overhyped ones specifically, out of the water. Step aside because this is a f***ing book!

Told from the female perspectives of the captured, the victims, the lover and the daughter. This book was high anxiety until the very end.

Wow! This was a great slow burn book that truly will captivate you and blow your mind. I would have never known that English was not the authors first language.
Written from two perspectives, it tells of a woman that has been held captive for 5 years, by a family man that everyone in towns knows and loves.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for this early release in exchange for my honest opinion.

Pub date: 20 June 2023

4.5/5 stars (rounded up to 5 on here)

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
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Okay so I went into this book completely blind. I saw Abby (Crimebythebook) post about it and was giving such a good review for it, that as soon as it was announced it was on NetGalley, I requested it. Let me say, it does not disappoint and I loved going into the book blind. I feel like it helped me understand what all was going on and I loved that there were different POV that included the woman in the house, the other victims, the daughter of the abductor, and the girlfriend of the abductor. I have to say though that it didn’t get confusing or repetitive with the various POV and I absolutely loved them. I feel like it helped moved the story along at such a great pace and there were many times that I didn’t want to put the book down and if I didn’t have a toddler, I probably wouldn’t have. This is one that I would definitely recommend and was one of my most anticipated novels this year! Cannot wait to get a copy of it for my shelves!
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This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (read_betweenthecovers) in the near future!

So refreshing to have a title for a thriller that does not include girl, woman, wife, etc. in the title. It is clear the author is pushing back on how thrillers and true crime focus mostly on the perpetrator by giving us the perspectives of his victims and two women who love him. We slowly get to know the only named victim Rachel almost exclusively through her thoughts and the flashbacks we get. Through the flashbacks we learn how she was captured and what she did to ensure her survival. It was also interesting to see him through the eyes of his daughter and a new love interest in his life, neither of whom have any idea of his true nature.

This is a slow burn, more character driven than your typical thriller, so much so I actually hesitate to call it a thriller at all, But the author provides enough suspense to keep you reading so you can learn more about the central characters and how much they do or do not know about Aidan.

There are books that are read and books that are devoured. The Quiet Tenant falls firmly in the latter category. It tells a familiar tale in a wholly original way; a serial killer through the eyes of the women in his life - his daughter, his new love interest and the woman he’s held captive for the last five years.

As tense as it is insightful, it's a literary thriller that defies easy categorization.

Thank You to Netgalley and Publisher for this ARC.
What a read! This book is incredible, from beginning to end it was heart-pounding. It's a slow burn but it will easily be the best thriller of the year. Please give it a try and stick to the end because you will not be disappointed.

5/5 looking forward for more books from this Author.

We have been taken through a wild ride! Aiden, cunning, manipulative yet charming and everyone in town loves him and his daughter. Set in a small town where this lovely man is filled with secrets. 4.5 stars!

🌟Book Review 🌟

📚 The Quite Tenant
by Clemence Michallon

Release Date: June 20, 2023

Read if you like......

👩‍👩‍👧 Multiple POVs
🔪 Serial killers
📕 Short chapters
😱 Shocking thrillers

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. It took me awhile to finish this one. It was so dark, sinister, and disturbing that I'd have to take a break from it, but I always wanted to come back to it. I had to know what happened.

The story is told from three perspectives that revolve around the life of a serial killer - his victim, his daughter, and his girlfriend. The book is so well written, I couldn't believe this was a debut. The suspense, the nail-biting, the pounding heart, there's no way if you start this one you won't finish it. I loved the end. Overall, this book was unique, different, and I really enjoyed it.

5 solid stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I had no idea what to expect going into this novel, and wow was I blown away. I’m so used to horrors and thrillers taking place on a remote island or there’s a severe weather alert that forces everyone into close proximity. “The Quiet Tenant” by Clémence Michallon gave us the opposite. A woman in distress, kidnapped, held hostage inside a shed and her kidnapper’s own home. The fear was prominent, I found myself unable to stop reading when I picked it up. I’m so used to third person novels that reading one from first person was refreshing, it made me feel like I was in all of the victim’s shoes. The multiple POVs of all the serial killer’s victims was heart wrenching, and it made me feel anxious the entire time. I was rooting for the main character the whole time, I wanted to cry with her, plead with her, scream for her. The best thriller book I’ve read in a while. I hope it gets adapted to film! Thank you Net Galley for a chance to read this work in exchange for an honest review, and for Michallon for creating such a suspenseful book.