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Freida McFadden has a distinct style: short, punchy sentences, characters making eyebrow-raising decisions, and an avalanche of coincidences that somehow just work. And The Tenant delivers all of that in a thrilling, fast-paced ride that keeps readers hooked until the final twist.

The story kicks off with Blake losing his job and to make ends meet, he and his fiancée, Krista, decide to rent out a room in their home. Enter Whitney, seemingly the ideal tenant. But from the moment she moves in, the tension skyrockets, and the chaos unfolds.

Yes, there are moments that stretch the limits of plausibility, but that’s part of McFadden’s charm. You don’t pick up one of her books expecting deep character studies, you pick them up to be entertained, and this one delivers in spades. The twists keep coming, the suspense never lets up, and the situation spirals into pure, addictive madness.

One of McFadden’s most entertaining and original books yet, The Tenant is a wild ride worth taking even if you have to suspend disbelief along the way. Highly recommended.

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Great read! Hooked from the first page. Will always be a Freida Fan! Just when you think you have it figured out here comes a new twist!

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This is your typical Freida McFadden read. It's nothing that's going to win a Pulitzer, but if you are looking for a fast read that makes you scratch your head and wonder "what the heck did I just read...?" then this is your book. Some of the shenanigans were a little too...tame for my taste, but that's just me. But I read to be entertained and that's what I was. I am not one to try to guess whodunit or figure out the plot as I read. That takes the fun out of it. I read for fun and this was fun. Thanks for another perfect escape, Freida!

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Another great book from Freida McFadden! The twist is something you never see coming, and it is wonderfully entertaining. I highly recommend The Tenant and the rest of her books if you are looking for a thriller that is a good read and not full of highly described bloody scenes.

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I probably don't even need to review this book because everyone who loves Freida will read it anyway! Another solidly reliable thriller!

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Freida McFadden does it again! I’ve been an avid fan of her work and was thrilled to receive this ARC.

The Tenant is a gripping psychological suspense novel. After losing his job and falling behind on his mortgage, Blake Porter rents a room to the seemingly perfect Whitney. But when strange smells, unsettling noises, and odd behavior from his neighbors begin to surface, Blake realizes something is very wrong and the real danger may already be inside his home.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book—it was a fast, compelling read packed with twists and suspense. Every chapter kept me hooked and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Freida has a way of making her stories impossible to put down and this one was no exception.

A huge thank you to Freida McFadden, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warnings: violence

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This book was absolutely amazing. The twists and mind games that Frieda brings you through is absolutely incredible.

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I really wanted to love this but, it was just so slow getting started that I found myself skimming and just waiting for it to be over.

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I enjoyed the book. As it got closer to the end I almost wanted to start skipping sentences so I could find out the ending sooner. I had guessed one part early on, but the reasoning for my guess was way off base. I like reading Freida’s books and try to figure it out before I get to the end. I have only been successful once so far. This one was a partial for me. For me, I like to read for fun. I’m not reading to fact check and wonder if this could really happen. So in that sense, I was able to enjoy the storyline and go along for the ride.

Posted same review on Goodreads

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I received an ARC for this book and as a Freida Reada I was super excited!

I truly loved this one! It was full of the twists that Freida is famous for and kept me guessing until the end!

A man loses his job and his fiance and him decide to take in a tenant to make ends meet. Living with someone isn’t as it seems and strange/awful occurrences keep happening to the couple. It HAS to be because of the new tenant, right?!

Perfection and totally what I’d expect of a Freida read!

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This is this best Freida book I've read so far. I won't give anything away that happened so I won't spoil the book for anyone who wants to read it but let me tell you that it totally didn't end the way that I thought it would. It kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Freida is my favorite author right now.

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Freida has done it again. This book was a TRIP. I finished this in less than 24 hours, and was gasping out loud every few pages, especially in the last few chapters. I love getting the different character's perspectives because it adds so much depth to the story. I don't think I'll ever get sick of her books, and I already can't wait for the next one.

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Thank you to Freida McFadden and Poisoned Pen Press for the early access copy of The Tenant, I wrote this review for The Strand Magazine!

She’s done it again (not that we ever doubted her!). Freida McFadden’s The Tenant is a fast-paced psychological thriller that keeps readers engaged with its unsettling atmosphere and layered deception. Following Blake Porter as he welcomes a seemingly perfect tenant, Whitney Cross, into his home, the novel weaves a tale of manipulation, gaslighting, and buried secrets. Blake and his fiancée Krista are looking forward to planning their wedding. That is, until Blake goes from finance bro to landlord woes.

I devoured this book in just two sittings, finishing it in well under 24 hours—needless to say, I was hooked. The brownstone setting in NYC felt so immersive that I practically became the nosy neighbour, eavesdropping on the drama unfolding across the hall. McFadden expertly crafts a tense, psychological thriller, weaving the Gaslighting/Manipulative Third Party trope into a story that feels both unsettling and familiar, like watching your favourite suspense film play out in real time. The result? A fast-paced, addictive read that keeps you flipping pages, desperate to uncover the truth.

With each turn of the page, you can feel Blake unravelling, his grip on reality slipping at an alarming pace as he questions everything he once believed. The tension escalates when a detective arrives at his door, a knock that signals the moment things shift from unsettling to downright dangerous.

This is how I want psychological thrillers to be written. At no point was I 1) confused by who’s who, 2) lost because of crazy timeline changes, or 3) annoyed about the plot being far-fetched. McFadden truly keeps it neat, clear, and classic in her latest novel.

McFadden, as always, delivers twists that keep readers on edge, and The Tenant is no exception. With a tight-knit cast—Blake, Krista, Whitney, and Krista’s friends, Becky and Malcolm—the limited number of characters narrows the pool of potential suspects, making the mystery more contained but no less gripping. This streamlined structure makes The Tenant an excellent entry point for readers new to psychological thrillers, offering just enough suspense without overwhelming twists.

This novel takes a step away from McFadden’s signature ‘twist on twist on twist’ style seen in Never Lie and The Inmate, offering a refreshing change of pace. While I began to anticipate the twist before its reveal, that, to me, is a testament to strong storytelling—one that feels both compelling and plausible rather than overly convoluted. The shift to a male perspective adds an interesting dynamic, and the focus on a long-con twist makes for an engrossing, slow-burning unravelling of deception. The Tenant has the makings of a timeless psychological thriller, one that will linger in readers’ minds long after the final page.

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I was honored to receive a digital ARC of The Tenant, and spent my rainy Saturday snuggled up with my kindle.

Wow! Just when I thought I had everything figured out, Freida did what she does best, and threw a couple more twists in. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end! If you love a suspenseful book that will keep you guessing, do yourself a favor and give this one a read.

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I loved this book.it caught my interest right from the beginning. I just couldn’t put it down, that’s the case with all Freida books!!! The characters were interesting and I like that it was a different perspective than usual.

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I was lucky enough to win the publisher’s drawing and receive an early copy of The Tenant on NetGalley—a month before its release! I was especially grateful to have it downloaded to my Kindle just in time for a work trip. As it happens, I’ve read nearly all of Frieda’s books while flying, so it felt like the perfect setting to dive into her latest.

While The Tenant may not crack my top five of hers, Frieda McFadden is one of those rare authors who never truly disappoints. Even when you think you’ve figured out a major twist early on—as I did before the end of Part 1—it’s still a thoroughly enjoyable ride. The story kept me hooked, and the final twist delivered exactly the kind of jolt I love in her books.

It’s always bittersweet to finish one of her thrillers, knowing the wait for the next begins. So I was beyond thrilled when her short story Death Row dropped soon after—just enough to tide me over until her next full-length release!

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Twisty and turny in the right ways and what you expect from a Freida book. Watching Blake
Unravel made want to never put it down. Loved the book as told in three parts. Never guessed the outcome- one of the best Freida books yet

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I really enjoyed this book! As a huge Freida McFadden fan, I had high expectations—and she absolutely delivered. The suspense had me guessing the whole way through, and I never saw the twist coming. Another addictive, twisty thriller from one of my favorite authors!

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Just finished The Tenant, so good. Was not expecting the ending at all. I loved every single page. Another great by @Freida Mcfadden thanks to the publisher and I’m glad I won this giveaway!!

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The Tenant by Freida McFadden is a typical psychological thriller with a twist or two that readers may be able to see coming early on.

I spent the first half of this book questioning why I even read anything McFadden publishes. The characters are supposed to be mid-thirties but act and speak like they're in their teens. I couldn't stand Blake and his constant whiney monologue. I thought the interactions between Blake and Whitney were extremely juvenile. There was soooo much talk about fruit flies, baking cookies, rashes, limonene, and that darn goldfish. Then about 50% of the way through, the first twist happens. I was able to guess this but still enjoyed it. And I liked the second half a WHOLE lot more than the first. But there were still immature interactions, whiney characters, and yes, lots of diabolical shenanigans that the reader has come to expect from McFadden. I guess we're all just here for the pure ridiculousness of it all. It's silly, unbelievable, and far-fetched. But I will keep reading (for now)

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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