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The Quiet Tenant

'Daring and completely satisfying' James Patterson

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The Quiet Tenant

By: Clemence Michallon
Narrated by: Amber Battaglia, Aure Nash, Clemence Michallon, Elena Rey, Gilli Messer, Jess Nahikian, Milly Sanders, Reba Buhr, Sara Sheckells, Valerie Rose Lohman, Yu-Li Alice Shen
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'Clémence Michallon has written a classic... Daring and completely satisfying' James Patterson

'Beautifully written, entirely convincing and relentlessly gripping ... so brilliantly told, with characters so plausible and compelling, that I was hooked until the last word' Sophie Hannah

'From the first page, you can say farewell to sleep...a brilliant, breathtaking thriller with characters you love - and love to hate. I didn't know whether to tear to the end or savour every page' Abigail Dean, bestselling author of Girl A

'An absorbing and addictive psychological thriller - I couldn't put it down' Edel Coffey

'I was pulled in from the very first page... The plot was masterful, the many threads honed and pulled taut kept me turning pages' Jane Shemilt

He took you and you have been his for five years. But you have been careful. Waiting for him to mess up. It has to be now.

Aidan Thomas is a hardworking family man and a respected member of his community. He's the kind of man who always lends a hand and has a good word for everyone. He's also a kidnapper and serial killer who has murdered eight women. And there's a ninth, a woman he calls Rachel, imprisoned in a backyard shed where she fears for her life.

When Aidan's wife dies, he and his thirteen-year-old daughter, Cecilia, are forced to move. Aidan has no choice but to bring Rachel too, introducing her to Cecilia as a family friend who needs a place to stay. He knows that after five years of captivity, Rachel is too frightened of the consequences to attempt to escape. But Rachel is a fighter and a survivor. And when Emily, a local restaurant owner, develops a crush on the handsome widower, she finds herself drawn into Rachel and Cecilia's orbit, coming dangerously close to discovering Aidan's secret.

The Quiet Tenant explores the psychological impact of Aidan's crimes on the women in his life through the voices of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily - and the bonds between those women that give them the strength to fight back. Both a searing thriller and an astute study of trauma, survival, and the dynamics of power, The Quiet Tenant is an electrifying novel by a major talent.©2023 Clemence Michallon Domestic Thrillers Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Fiction Crime Exciting Survival Thriller
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Critic reviews

A beautifully written, entirely convincing and relentlessly gripping novel, featuring a protagonist in captivity. She's been kidnapped and taking prisoner by a serial killer, and her only mission is to stay alive long enough to find a way to escape. This isn't a mystery puzzle novel, so I'm surprised that I loved it as much as I did, because usually I like to be able to solve a mystery (or cheer on the solving of one) when I'm reading crime fiction, but this tale is so brilliantly told, with characters so plausible and compelling, that I was hooked until the last word
Dark and juicy...like Emma Donohue's Room, the novel takes this creepy and claustrophobic premise and spins a paradoxically expansive plot from it, told from the perspective of his victim, his daughter, and a local restaurant owner
A nail-biting terror of a read, slowly revealing how Rachel, already a little bit broken, ended up where she did....And then following as her courage incrementally ratchets up, as brainwashed and terrified, she starts to eye, and then discard, her opportunities to escape. I finished it at very high speed, heart pounding, absolutely loving it
An expertly paced psychological thriller...with a white-knuckle climax
A gripping psychological suspense novel.. Michallon's riveting tale shows a killer through the eyes of the women in his life
In a small American town, single dad Aidan is regarded as a good guy, but he is hiding a secret - he is a serial killer and kidnapper, and is holding a woman captive in his shed. A chilling depiction of evil
I can recommend The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon. The story of a male serial killer called Aidan Thomas is told from multiple perspectives, in a way that centres the female voices of his victims. It's a pacy thriller and a sharp study of survival
The tension in The Quiet Tenant grips from the very first page. The novel's emotional intensity never lets go, keeping hold until the very last page...Wonderful
This slow-burning but gripping novel stands out in the overcrowded "women held prisoner" genre
Cleverly constructed, well written and harrowing in the extreme from the very first page, this is an unforgettable debut. If this is a first novel, what's the next going to be like? I dread to think - literally. Congratulations to Clémence Michallon, queen of the psychological thriller. We'll be waiting
From the first page, you can say farewell to sleep, conversation, Netflix. This is Room meets Notes on an Execution, a brilliant, breathtaking thriller with characters you love - and love to hate. I didn't know whether to tear to the end or savour every page
Clémence Michallon has written a classic on her first try. The Quiet Tenant is a daring and completely satisfying mystery; a one-of-a-kind; a bravura feat of storytelling
All stars
Most relevant
I recently read Clémence's book, and I was absolutely blown away. The story is told from various points of view, but it's the victims' perspectives that really make it stand out. Clémence does an incredible job of making the reader feel the horror and terror that the victims experience. The story is so vivid and intense that it's almost like you're living it yourself. It's a powerful and moving story that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it. Clémence has done an amazing job of bringing the victims' stories to life, and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a gripping and thought-provoking read.

Great storytelling

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I both enjoyed and got frustrated by this book. It is easy to get invested on it, and overall it’s an interesting ride, but in the end I had the feeling I didn’t get the pay off I’ve deserved. So many things are left untold and it just feels like missed opportunities, because these things if told, would enrich the story.

Interesting and engaging story, but frustrating at times

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Whew, let me tell you about Clemence Michallon's The Quiet Tenant. This book? It'll get under your skin in the best, most terrifying way. It's a psychological thriller that just lays bare how deep control can run and how sometimes, freedom finds you in the most unexpected corners.
Michallon does this brilliant thing where she pulls you into the lives of three women, all tangled up with this one man, Aidan. He seems all quiet and normal, but chile, he's anything but. You've got Rachel, stuck in his shed for five years – just imagine! Then there's Emily, his teenage daughter, trying to figure out her daddy after her mama's gone and things just ain't sitting right. And my personal favorite, the local restaurant owner, who just knows something's off with this man. She's got that good sense, you know?
What really got me was how Michallon handles the power dynamics. She ain't here for the cheap thrills; she's showing you the quiet, twisted ways a predator works, how he keeps his hold without all the dramatics. That's what makes Aidan so chilling – he could be anybody's neighbor. The tension? It's thick! You're on edge with Rachel as she plots her escape, you're rooting for Emily to connect the dots about her father, and you're holding your breath hoping the restaurant owner puts it all together before it's too late. This book is a masterclass in suspense, keeping you hooked from the first page to the last. Trust me, The Quiet Tenant is a gripping read that'll leave you both unnerved and seriously impressed.

The Quiet Tenant: Chillingly Good and Hard to Shake

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Brilliant book, really well told from the various POVs of the women. The narration is excellent

I was gripped from the start

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Great story well told but some chapters a bit drawn out but Would recommend anyway

Great story

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