The Quiet Tenant

A Novel

By: Clémence Michallon

Narrated by: Gilli Messer, Elena Rey, Valerie Rose Lohman, Amber Battaglia, Reba Buhr, Clémence Michallon, Jess Nahikian, Aure Nash, Milly Sanders, Sara Sheckells, Yu-Li Alice Shen

Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BEST SELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR • GMA BUZZ PICK • “A bravura feat of storytelling...daring and completely satisfying.”—James Patterson, #1 best-selling author

A PULSE-POUNDING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER ABOUT A SERIAL KILLER NARRATED BY THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM: HIS 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, HIS GIRLFRIEND—AND THE ONE VICTIM HE HAS SPARED

"Intelligent and suspenseful."—Paul Tremblay, author of The Cabin at the End of the World

“All…of the expected suspense and psychological tension, but offering a story about women—the ones who didn’t know the evil that lurked within, the ones who tried to placate or fight but still perished, the ones who might actually survive. Haunting but never prurient…truly unforgettable.”—Alafair Burke, author of The Wife

Aidan Thomas is a hard-working family man and a somewhat beloved figure in the small upstate New York town where he lives. He’s the kind of man who always lends a hand and has a good word for everyone. But Aidan has a dark secret he’s been keeping from everyone in town and those closest to him. He’s a kidnapper and serial killer. Aidan has murdered eight women and there’s a ninth he has earmarked for death: Rachel, imprisoned in a backyard shed, fearing 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 along, introducing her to Cecilia as a “family friend” who needs a place to stay. Aidan is betting on Rachel, after five years of captivity, being too brainwashed and fearful to attempt to escape. But Rachel is a fighter and survivor, and recognizes Cecilia might just be the lifeline she has waited for all these years. As Rachel tests the boundaries of her new living situation, she begins to form a tenuous connection with Cecilia. 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.

Told through the perspectives of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, The Quiet Tenant explores the psychological impact of Aidan’s crimes on the women in his life—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 debut thriller by a major talent.

©2023 Clémence Michallon (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • GMA BUZZ PICK • A LibraryReads #1 Pick

One of The Washington Post’s Notable Summer Books 2023

One of Vogue’s Best Books of 2023

One of Goodreads’s Most Anticipated Books of 2023

One of New York Post’s Best Summer Books

One of CrimeReads’ Most Anticipated Books of 2023

One of Apple’s Best Books of the Month–June 2023

"An expertly paced psychological thriller . . . with a white-knuckle climax."—The New York Times Book Review

“A gripping psychological suspense novel . . . Michallon’s riveting tale shows a killer through the eyes of the women in his life.”—The Washington Post

“Clémence Michallon has written a classic on her first try. The Quiet Tenant is a daring and completely satisfying . . . bravura feat of storytelling . . . Who in her right mind would attempt a novel utilizing the first, second, and third-person? And then have the skill to actually pull it off.”—James Patterson, #1 best-selling author

Excellent story line

I would recommend this book! Cannot put it down and up all night. I hope there is a follow up to continue this story!

Could not stop listening

I really enjoyed listening to this book. I found it unpredictable, which is why I was hooked.

Kudos to Random House for using multiple narrators

Wow, just icky wow! Just when I thought I can’t read another novel about a serial killer of women, I get persuaded by reviews to read yet another one. It is the structure of the story that garnered my attention. This is a story told by the women in the serial killer’s life: his daughter; a woman who has a crush on him; and the woman he holds captive. Peppered throughout the story are the stories of the women he killed, those unlucky women who fell for his charms.

The story begins with “the Woman in the Shed”. The reader learns that she has been confined and abused for 5 years. Author Clemence Michallon keeps the chapters short which builds suspense and foreboding. This poor, unnamed woman has survived simply by being agreeable.

Emily owns a bar and has a crush on Aidan Thomas, a single dad who lost his wife to cancer. Aidan is a Lineman by trade and all-around good guy who is first in line to help anyone in need. Emily finds his unassuming nature attractive. Aidan appears to be a model citizen. Everyone finds him to be great.

The Woman in the Shed is named “Rachel” by Aidan. When Aidan’s in-laws decide to sell the house that he and his daughter lives in, he needs to find another home. The Judge, a local personality, bestows a home to Aidan after learning Aidan was about to become homeless. Aidan struggled with debt from his wife’s illness, and the Judge made a grand gesture of allowing Aidan to use/rent one of his properties. Rachel convinces Aidan to move her as well. By this time, Aidan has killed eight other women.

Through Rachel’s chapters we learn how a serial killer grooms his victims, how he keeps them imprisoned. Michallon’s style of writing allows the reader to feel the weight of his daily propaganda: he is all seeing and all knowing. He knows everything she does. He has cameras. He’s a Lineman, he knows how to work security. It is her docile nature that has kept her alive; yet there is an inkling inside her that knows she must remain alert.

Rachel’s chapters are in second person. Emily, and Cecilia’s (Aidan’s daughter) chapters are in first person. The reader knows what sort of individual Aidan is. Through Emily we can see how she is duped, even when there are warning signs. Cecilia knows her dad is controlling, but she is only 13 and is still reeling from her mother’s death.

Michallon owns the story. Her chapters build tension and dread. I chose to listen to the audio, narrated by a full cast. Each of Aidan’s victims have their own voice. I commend Random House Audio for utilizing multiple narrators for the multiple voices. I highly recommend the audio.

I wish I could have believed it was unbelievable

This book is very like The Room. After I read that I found out there was a girl locked up very much like the one in that book. What a sad world we live in. The author did a good job.

Underwhelming

Story started off good and pulled me in. But for the remainder of the book it just dragged on, almost seeming to just be attempting to fill pages. The story became dry and uneventful, no big surprises and just waited for it to end.

Dragged on

Story line was a thriller, good yet it could have been condensed. Narration was enjoyable overall.

Easy to listen to

Kept me on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller.

Could not stop listening

This book gripped me all the way to the very end. It’s been a long time since a book has none that.

Starts off strong, but…

This started off great, and I did binge listen. I found myself questioning how realistic it is that the victim didn’t take advantage of the opportunities to leave. I expected a much better ending after the time I put into this. The narrators were good, except I found Emily to be extremely annoying. I would recommend but with caution not to expect a great ending.

So-so

Doesn’t live up to the hype of being a thriller. Too many questionable happenings to make it believable.