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.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for providing me with an eARC of The Quiet Tenant in exchange for my honest review!

When I first found this on NetGalley, I was immediately drawn in by its unnerving cover. Then I was further intrigued by the narrative's conceit being that it takes place from the POVs of a few different women who all exist in the world of Aidan Thomas, an outwardly benevolent father and widower who secretly leads a double life as a serial killer and kidnapper. One of those women, Rachel (though it's made clear early on that this probably isn't her real name), is someone who he's kept locked away for the past five years. And as it turns out, this whole book was such an enthralling experience, one that's full of deep psychological tension. Don't expect it to be paced like your typical thriller, though. It was much more slow-burn than that as it pulled me into Rachel's head, showing me the endurance she has to summon up against Aidan and the patience she's using to wait for just the right moment to finally escape his awful grasp. The decision to give her a second-person POV is fitting as well, making me feel like she's doing her best to distance herself from her nightmarish situation.

The POVs we get from Cecilia, Aidan's 13-year-old daughter, and Emily, a restaurant owner who falls for Aidan's charm, are compelling, too, as a reflection of real-life people who've personally known serial killers and saw them as innocent, even kind human beings before learning about the monster underneath the surface. I do think Emily's perspective could get pretty frustrating, though. There were quite a few points where she was written to do some implausible and baffling actions, and they took me out of the book whenever they popped up. If the character writing for Emily had been polished up, this book would have been even better.

I appreciate that author Clémence Michallon made the choice to avoid giving Aidan his own POV. It's become a popular storytelling device, giving murderers their own central viewpoint in the narrative. I myself am a huge fan of You (both the books and the Netflix series), which hinges on that trope precisely. But as much as it can be a good way to tell a story if handled properly, it's also nice to remind us that not all of these stories have to be told by the killers, that they deserve to have a spotlight shining on their victims. And that's what we get in The Quiet Tenant. It prioritizes Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily having their stories told. We even get a sprinkling of brief chapters from the POVs of women whom Aidan has previously murdered, which was a grimly suitable touch.

Overall, I'm officially rating The Quiet Tenant 4.25 out of 5 stars, which I'll then round down to 4 stars for NetGalley and Goodreads. This is one of the more memorable books I've read in some time, and I'm eager to see what Michallon will pen next.

can not stop thinking about how believable/realistic this debut was and I read it a few weeks ago.

What sets this book apart from other serial killer thrillers was the second-person narrative used to tell the story of the woman held hostage. Chills ran through me as I read what "you" did and thought. She could have been any of us and this narrative further emphasized this.

As the book advances, past victims share their last moments alive before their murder. Their stories will haunt you. The serial killer grows bolder and turns out to be an “everyday” family man who is loved by his community.

If you love psychological thrillers, read this one. Trust me. It was easily my favorite read of last month. Thank you to @netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you so much Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this e-ARC in trade for a fair review. This is my first book I’ve read by this author and I absolutely loved it. It grips you right away and is fast paced. I like how the chapters go between the different characters point of view and how it all ties together.

Aidan is an interesting character and compartmentalizes a lot…as most kidnappers & serial killers do. Rachel is a strong fighter who has survived in a shed for 5 years and has to play along as the quiet tenant. Aidan’s 13-year old daughter knows Rachel as the nice, but weird tenant. She has no idea Rachel is tied to a radiator every night, that she’s a victim, or what a monster her father truly is. Emily has a total crush on Aidan and knows him as the sweet widower that she can’t stop thinking about. It’s amazing to see how all these story lines come together in the end.

Absolutely loved this book, can’t wait for more books by this author to come.

This was a supremely interesting novel from the point of view of the women in the life of a seemingly beloved community member who happens to be a serial killer. His current victim, his love interest, and his daughter. I really enjoyed that the focus was on them instead of him. I had to read this in one sitting because it was so gripping and intense, and I never really knew what was going to happen next. I haven't really read a thriller quite like this one, definitely recommend! I also appreciated that the SA mentioned in the book was a fade to black rather than super graphic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group for the e-arc of this debut novel.

#TheQuietTenant #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley, Clémence Michallon and Knopf Publishing Group for my eARC! Publishes June 20 2023!

P U L S E P O U N D I N G ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is like a long version of a Criminal Minds episode to me? I absolutely loved it. I won’t watch Criminal Minds or shows alike at night or when my husband is gone. Ironically, he was gone on a bachelor trip this weekend and this book was the perfect “night cap” after work each night! It was so thrilling.

The narratives, told between Rachel, Cece and Emily, are in tandem to one another, revolving around their relationship with Aidan Thomas. Aidan is a beloved member in the community who is grieving his wife’s death. Aidan is a sad, sad little man. He does so much to these women. This book is creepy, realistic and truly just so sad.

I enjoyed that the characters were limited. It really allowed the author to put a tremendous amount of development on the characters and plot without all the other bullshit. Personally, I find many thrillers / murder-mysteries to have way too many characters to try and throw the reader. Of course the ending was predictable to me, she gets away safe and sound. I guess if you had more characters there could have maybe been more of a twist?
I loved it just the way it was! I would without a doubt recommend this book and author. The chapters were short and easy reads that kept you on the edge of your seat. From one narrative ending the chapter as she knocks on the door, straight to a different narrative picking up the scene of the door opening at the beginning of the next chapter, I truly did not want to put this book down!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Clemence Michallon and Knopf Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Quiet Tenant, to be published 20 June 2023. This suspenseful novel was written in a metaphoric prose in second person with alternating POVs. It was a tightly structured novel of tension and purpose. A serial killer tells his tale through his victims, a bar waitress and his daughter. The result is powerful and disturbing. 4/5 stars. #NetGalley. #ClemenceMichallon. #KnopfPublishing

This is one of those books that draws you in right away. I had a hard time putting it down! I found myself thinking about the strength and resilience of people, but also how we can think we know someone and yet not know them at all. I enjoyed the way the story was told, through various perspectives. I want a sequel! I need questions answered of what happens to the characters in the story. How well do they put their lives back together? Do some connections remain?
#TheQuietTenant #Netgalley

There are so many different things to say about this one! I was captivated by the characters and was devastated and proud and so many different emotions flew through as I read this. The writing style wasn’t like anything I have ever read before. It was truly unique and because of this, at first, I really wasn’t sure. But after finishing it, I can really tell why the author went this direction. It was a great read that felt so real. There are so triggers, though, so check those first but I do recommend giving this book a shot.

I'm not a huge fan of books written in second person, but this one really worked for me. With short chapters narrated from multiple perspectives, the pacing is just right. This is amazing to me, considering this is the author's first book written in English.

In the Quiet Tenant, we hear from Rachel- the woman who has been held captive for 5 years, Cecelia, the kidnapper/serial killer's 13 year old daughter, and Emily, the bartender/restaurant owner that is quickly becoming obsessed with Aiden, the dad/serial killer. We also hear from several of the women that Aiden has killed.

This thriller is unputdownable and kept me turning the pages long into the night.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I could tell that this author was trying to do something different with the serial killer genre! The story gave me literal anxiety which is the sign of a good thriller. I couldn’t put it down. I found the plot a little improbable, particularly for the times May could have escaped. But I also realize that added to the Stockholm Syndrome aspect of the story and kept me hooked and stressed!

I definitely get the buzz this one is getting. Very dark and twisted but kept me on my toes and kept me very engaged. Highly recommend.

Terrifying thriller about a women who was abducted and held captive for years. Aiden is a pillar of the community, the town all know him and feel sympathy for him as he tries to raise his teenage daughter alone after the death of his wife. What the town doesn’t know is Aiden is an extremely dangerous serial killer who has held a woman captive for years. Rachel, who has been captive for years in a backyard shed, is now so brainwashed she is terrified to even entertain the possibility of escape. When Aiden has to move and can no longer hold Rachel in the shed, she sees her only chance of escaping and saving her own life. This thriller is scary and extremely fast paced.

The Quiet Tenant is a slow burn read that still managed to pull me in so completely that I kept thinking “just one more chapter” but didn’t stop until I reached the end.

This is the story of a serial killer told through the perspectives of women in his life - including his 13 year old daughter and the woman he’s been holding captive for five years.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy!

First book I’ve read by this author. I struggled at first with the point of view. I felt it was scattered and odd. But once I got into the book I realized we were almost inside the main characters head. So the author wrote more along the lines of how the main character thought. Which was actually really great and unique. I really enjoyed this new story line that stands out from all the other thrillers out there. Feels very true crime instead of standard thriller. You will have a happy ending and all the ends tied up nicely. There are moments of anxiety while being nervous for the main character. The book is a page turner for sure. You follow a timeline with short chapters that make you want to keep going.