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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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!

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!!

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.

I've read all of this author's books, and this one is my least favorite. I guessed who "did it" and practically slept through the first half because it was so slow. I guess you can't knock them all out of the park. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Freida has done it again! There was a surprising twist and a shocking twist within the twist. This was a fun, easy read that grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let go til the end.

Just finished the Tenant by Frieda McFadden. This was her first thriller written in a man's point of view.
I love her quick-read, suspenseful, twisty thrillers! She always gives me a
"whoa, I did not see that coming" moment. Keep them coming Frieda!

Freida is always a nice little pallette cleanser read in between my books. I’ve read absolutely everything by her because she’s the reason I’m reading again to be honest. I really enjoyed this one better than the last one however I did once again have part of the twist figured out. If you’re looking for a quick little read that’s just over all fun, you will enjoy this one I think

I absolutely loved this book. One of my favorites by Freida McFadden. She did it again with the twist and turns and suspense. I started to read this and did not want to put it down.

Oh my, she's done it again. Absolutely loved this book - could hardly put it down. So many possibilities and unexpected plot twists! This is a must read!

McFadden pumps out books like their water, and this one was a surprisingly decent story. It was nice to see a female protagonist instead of another female victim. The book was a bit over the top and unrealistic, but I finished it. I appreciate the ARC

Thank you Poisoned Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy of McFaddens latest thriller" The Tenant". She has become my favorite author to listen to on audio since you don't need to intensely listen to follow along. Blake is a big wig at an advertising firm who is on top of the world after getting promoted and proposing to his dream girl. However, that all comes crashing down when he loses his job and has to take in a tenant to keep his beautiful Brownstone. Once that tenant arrives, what was bad becomes only worse. In typical McFadden fashion, the twists don't stop throughout the entire novel. I do think this one was a tad more predictable than some of her other works, but I enjoyed in none the less!

Awesome book. It was an easy read. Pace was just right. I did not see the plot twist coming.. I highly recommend this book!

This is only the second book I have read from Freida since The Teacher. In classic Frieda, the multiple twists involving the main characters are not ones saw coming. Thanks, @poisonedpenpress, for gifting me a digital arc copy that I easily devoured in two days (when work allows me to continue to read). There is one coincidence that I thought might have been to far-fetched (Krista meets Whitney at the diner while she is having dinner with her best friend Becky). I would love that part to have been a lot more complicated and realistic.

I really enjoyed this one! It was fast paced and kept me hooked from start to finish! Definitely recommend reading if you are looking for a good mystery/thriller!

Thank you Mandy & the team at Poisoned Pen for the eARC!
Much like her other books, I devoured this. It was actually unpredictable for me, and I did not see the ending coming at all. I love Freida so much and will always read her books. I love the way it was written, though seeing it through a mans POV was so different for her!
Always so good, forever a Freida fan.