How can I describe a book about a captured woman as amazing? Not sure...but Michallon achieves it! Stylistically compelling, propulsive, visceral, all of the adjectives for this one. A beautiful book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I'm somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars with this one.

I was so excited to read this one. The cover is beautiful and the synopsis really intriqued me.

I liked the book well enough and I never got bored with it at all. I think the structure was unique and the author did a good job creating a story with an interesting premise. I was interested in how everything was going to play out but I'm just not sure what to make of it or really what it was trying to be. I liked the writing style even though at times it felt like it was trying too hard to be literary. There was just something about that left me wanting more. I think it was interesting and compelling, but there was just something about it that seemed to be holding back. It was on the cusp of something great and then it just wasn't.

I'm also not sure how I liked the "you" perspective. I felt like it was a barrier to really getting to know "Rachel". Aidan's daughter Cecelia has a few chapters with her perspective and I just don't get the point. She wasn't fleshed out enough in my opinion. There were hints of something more going on with her and then the author never went there. Also, I don't understand Emily at all. Again, there were places the author could have gone with her (ones that would have made more sense). I don't understand her fascination with Aidan and I feel like she made their "relationship" into much more than it actually was.

Aside from those things, there was something about this book that kept me turning the pages. It was good enough to keep me reading but was far from the literay thriller it desparately wanted to be. But I do think the author is talented and I would not be opposed to reading her future work.

The Quiet Tenant by @clemencemichallon

This book in one word: addicting! I couldn’t put it down. I know second person POV isn’t a popular choice but I thought it worked here! Once I got the hang of it I really enjoyed it. I just had to know what was going to happen and it kept me on the edge of my seat!!!

I think this story focuses more on the psychological component of the victim and killer, rather than having a ton of action/violence so it’s more of a slow-burn thriller in my opinion. You really get into the manipulation and careful scheming of the killer, while also experiencing the toll the neglect and abuse takes on the victim.

There was a couple times I was texting @naesreadingnook screaming at Rachel like GIRL WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! RUN!!!!

Also, Emily’s chapters were equally intriguing and infuriating. That woman 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

Read if you love:
-psychological thrillers
-unputdownable read
-short chapters
-serial killer theme
-multiple POV

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Highly recommend giving this one a go!! One of my favorite thrillers of the year so far! OUT JUNE 20TH! Huge thank you to @aaknopf publishing & @netgalley for the early copy 😊

I was fortunate enough to get another advanced reader copy of a book I was looking forward to reading this summer - The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon. I first heard about it from @Fabledbookshop during their spring preview of upcoming releases. It’s the story of “Rachel,” a woman held captive by a serial killer for five years. The book is told alternately from the point of view of Rachel, as well as the serial killer’s new love interest/potential victim(?) and his 13-year-old daughter.

While I read it over just a few days, I was ultimately let down because so much of the story felt so unbelievable and the action dragged (honestly nothing much happens until the 80% mark.) I can’t speak to the mind of a victim who has suffered so over five years, but I find it unbelievable the amount of time the killer allows her to spend with his daughter, often unsupervised and unrestrained. I had trouble with the choice to use second person POV used for Rachel’s portions. I found the girlfriend almost stalker-like in her own chapters and I wanted more from the daughter’s perspective about her relationship with her dad. And unfortunately, none of the perspectives give any information about the killer and why he does what he does. I ultimately was left with a lot of questions.

And finally, I wanted more out of the end of the novel. The last two chapters are told from the points of view of both the girlfriend and “Rachel,” but they basically give me the exact same information about the scene. I wanted a stronger epilogue.

Aidan Thomas. The husband. The dad. The hard-working member of society. The person you could always go to for a helping hand. <i>The serial killer.</i>

We follow 3 main POVs in this book. The woman who Aidan is holding captive ("Rachel"), his daughter (Cecilia), and the woman who Aidan is kind of dating (Emily). There was second person POV. That did not bother me but wanted to mention for those that dislike. "Rachel" just basically goes through her story of wanting to escape but not knowing how. You see inside her mind and her day to day struggles of being held against her will. "Rachel" forms a relationship with Cecilia. Cecilia is unaware of her father’s secret live and really looks up to him. Emily is kind of obsessed with Aidan and almost has stalker like tendencies. The book does also give you short POVs from the women Aidan kills before he kills them. I did like that.

This book pulled me in with the description. However, it did fall flat in the thriller genre for me. I feel like if it was just labeled something different such as fiction or drama, I would have had different expectations. I was expecting the usual plot twisty suspenseful thriller that I’ve come to know and love. This was not that. Just make sure you have that in mind before you read this book. I feel like the synopsis was more suspenseful than actual book. It was good enough to keep me engaged and finish reading but this wouldn’t be a book I recommend to someone as a thriller to read. The ending was expected as well.

<i>Overall, I will just say that if you go into this book expecting a <b>drama</b> and not a <b>thriller</b> you would probably enjoy it much more than I did.</i>

Thank you to Clémence Michallon, NetGalley, and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC of this book!

This was definitely a different read from the other thrillers I’ve read. I really enjoyed having three different POV’s, one from the killer’s daughter, one from a towns person who knows him, and the other from one of his victims. I flew through this book due to the short chapters and needing to know how this was all going to end. The author does a great job of giving you just enough context clues to know what’s happening without going into detail of the abuse.

I do wish it would’ve been a little short, at times it felt like it was dragging and just repeating itself. I also wish Cecilia had more chapters I would’ve loved more of her POV. I also would’ve loved a detective POV that was on the case I think that would’ve really add to the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this thriller and would recommend it to anyone who loves true crime and serial killer stories.

Michallon's career as a novel is off to a promising start. Although there are some flaws in this book - why did the criminal act as he did? Why was the woman in the shed/house spared? Why didn't her parents play a more prominent role, given where they lived? - and although the story isn't really a new one, Michallon's writing is strong enough to keep the reader wanting to continue to the end. I can't say that I couldn't put the book down, but I certainly was motivated to read to the end. I look forward to watching her potential come to full bloom.

A kidnapped young woman held captive for years. Her abuser, an active member of society, and a father. For some reason, instead of killing her, he brings her along when he moves to a new home, and introduces her to his daughter as their new tenant. But this precarious situation can only last so long.

I wanted more from this book. It was okay but overall a little boring. I enjoyed the writing but the lackluster plot prevented me from loving the book. It’s a tale that’s been done before and unfortunately there wasn’t anything that made this one stand out from the rest.

Trigger warning: sexual abuse

This book was my first book in the second person pov's, and I don't think it was for me. The writing was hard to get immersed in and the timelines felt all over the place. I wish the author would have stuck to one or just had the povs of May and Aidan. The chapters from the other characters, especially Emily, didn't seem to add to the story in any way. I would still try this book if you enjoy second-person povs.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

I highly enjoyed The Quiet Tenant, especially the multiple female viewpoints within the text. I found myself rooting for each character, especially May, and wanting them to succeed. I flew through this book in a day, which is high praise!

Spectacular. Riveting. Beautifully written. Perfectly paced. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for this to be out because it's going to be the easiest hand-sell of the summer for me. Thank you Netgalley and Knopf for the ARC.

This book was unlike anything I’ve ever read. Told through the perspectives of those closest to a serial killer, his daughter, his new love interest, and the woman he kidnapped, The Quiet Tenant is an eerie yet unputdownable debut thriller. This book embraces the nuance of characters; it addresses how a man who is liked by everyone can still harbor a dark secret, and it tackles the psychology of victimization. The different viewpoints are distinct, and the use of second person narration for the kidnapped woman successfully denotes a feeling of disassociation. This is a must read for all mystery thriller readers!

I have a lot of questions!

3.35 stars

The Quiet Tenant is a psychological thriller about a woman held captive by a serial killer in a shed for 5 years. When the opportunity presents itself for her to move into her captor’s house, she might finally find a means of escape.

This started as a painfully slow read for me--the writing felt overwrought, the plot a bit contrived, and I had a hard time connecting. The events required me to suspend all of my disbelief. However, around the 40% mark, I gave up trying to resolve the issues with this book, and I was finally sucked in.

Told through the eyes of the tenant, the potential next victim who is a bartender, the captor’s 13-year-old daughter, and many victims of the captor, the narrative style is in the second person, which I am not a fan of. There wasn’t a great distinction between the tenant's and the bartender's voices, and I thought the daughter’s chapters were superfluous. I would have loved some chapters told through the eyes of the creepy serial killer.

The killer is supposedly what makes this book stand out, but I have met this character before, most recently in Strange Sally Diamond, where the killer was much more developed. In this case, the killer garners a lot of sympathy because they are a single parent and good-looking, but there is not a lot of depth to his character.

This book is getting a lot of hype--it has some interesting elements, but it is not wholly original--think Room and Strange Sally Diamond. It has a lot going for it--a hottie serial killer, a sympathetic MC, some good tension and suspense, but it also has some issues--including plot holes and unanswered questions: Why her? Why him? Why now? In the house? Really?! He couldn’t think of a better plan?

Movie rights have already been sold, and I can see how this book will transform on the big screen. It is very readable, and it has some good moments. It didn’t blow me away like I was hoping, but it held my attention, and by the end, my heart was pounding out of my chest.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor in exchange for an honest review.

I unfortunately did not like this book at all. It jumped around too much and was completely grim. I don’t know what I expected based on the synopsis but I couldnt connect with anything here.

The best review that I can give this book is that it really got under my skin. This book is dark, tense, and anxiety-inducing. I cannot believe that this is a debut. Please check for trigger warnings on this one. This is an absolutely incredible thriller.

It is really hard to write a review for this book without giving things away. This story features Aidan Thomas - he is a beloved figure in his small town. Everyone loves him. He is a single dad raising his daughter after his wife dies. He is also a serial killer and kidnapper - he is keeping one of his victims in his shed. This premise made for a read that was fear-inducing and consistently suspenseful. There were also many moments where I was downright angry.

This story is told from multiple perspectives: his daughter Cecilia, Rachel his prisoner, Emily who owns a restaurant in town, and his multiple victims. These are powerful voices, and they all weave a terrifying story.

I want to mention that Rachel is one of the most incredible characters that I have ever read. I didn't always understand her actions, but her words and thoughts were so powerful. Her perspective really made me think and question everything I thought was going to happen in this story.

The last 30 pages of this book kept me on the edge of my seat - literally. I had to put my Kindle down at times to take a breath and regroup. This thriller is one of the best reads of the year for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the advanced reader copy of this incredible debut novel. It releases on June 20th. I highly recommend this book!

Extremely dark and tense psychological thriller about a serial killer told from the perspectives of three women: his daughter, his current love interest and a woman he is holding captive. I was absolutely hooked from page one and finished this in 24 hours. Just an utterly engrossing, traumatic and emotional ride.

Just wow. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book, it was remarkable.

This was so dark and so real, it gave me chills. Thank God I've never experienced anything similar to Rachel, but the writing put the reader there. The second-person tense used for Rachel's part really made the story immersive and addicting. As in, I've never read a book that I felt like I couldn't physically take my eyes away from the page, until this.

The short first-person POV of the victims was brilliant and gave a power back to them.

Emily was so messy and immature but at the same time, thank god for her unnerving Aiden.

I still feel like there's a lot I need to know about Cecilia. She said there were secrets that no one knew, but those secrets were never revealed. I couldn't quite figure out the relationship between her and Aiden and I wanted more clarity. Was he just an overprotective dad because he knew the evil in the world (him), or was he somehow keeping her captive too.

Overall, this was an easy 5 stars because it was just so gripping and raw. The psychological component of being held captive for years felt as authentic as I could imagine. Now I feel like I'm gushing but the writing was just so impactful to the story.

Wow! This book. I stayed up to finish because I had to know how this ended. I mean, a serial killer, Aidan, with a teenage daughter, Cecelia, is moving to a different house, but his captive is moving with them. He has managed to keep all his activities secret from his family for years. His wife has recently passed away. Her parents want Aiden to move out of the house they lived in. Maybe this has Aidan a bit off-center, but he actually agrees to an unbelievable suggestion. The woman he calls Rachel has been in the killer's shed for five years. Rachel convinces Aidan to move her into the new house with him, and Cecelia. He lets her have meals with them. He still handcuffs her to her bed at night, but this is a new level of odd. Oh, and Aidan also spends time at a local eatery having drinks at the bar that Emily serves him. Emily looks forward to Aidan's visits. She doesn't seem bothered by the fact that he is a recent widower. But, then she doesn't know his secrets. Perhaps she is next on his list.

This was so different from anything I have ever read. I mean, talk about playing the long game. This was creepy, scary, intense, infuriating, and so darn good. There is so much to unpack here, but that is what makes this work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is quite a book! What a debut by Clémence Michallon.
Aidan is a husband, father, hard worker, friend, and helper to neighbors and friends, plus a kidnapper and murderer. He hides behind a kind manner, a good dad, a grieving widower, and a general mister good guy but behind his house, he has kept a woman, named Rachael, locked up in a shed for five years, this one he hasn't killed...yet. When his wife dies he has to move, does he kill her or take her?
The story is told by Aidan, “Rachael” the kidnapped woman, and Emily who fancies herself in love with the mysterious man who comes into her bar once a week.
The story twists its way through the thoughts and actions of the characters. “Rachael’s” strong desire to live and get back to her family, Emily’s loneliness and strong desire for love, and Aidan’s idea of a happy life, with his 13-year-old daughter (whom he treats as any normal good father does), his Rachael and new fascination Emily, while he continues his hobby of murder. The story doesn't go into the murder's details it weaves through the minds of the characters. You want “Rachael” to escape, you want Aidan caught and you want his daughter protected and Emily to run.
I highly recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon Vintage and Anchor for this eARC of The Quiet Tenant this is my honest opinion yes read this book!

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley. Overall this was a great book! I was undecided on 4 or 5 stars. Interesting plot and kept you wanting to read more and definitely a page-turner. I enjoyed the point of view from all of the characters. The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars was the ending. It seemed to happen so fast, especially after drawing the plot out for most of the book. It tied up loose ends, but I would have liked to hear more about what happened to the daughter, Cecilia in the end.