This was a very slow read with a difficult flow of situations. I could not relate to the characters or there actions as was all so unbelievable. This was a struggle to read and apart from this demonstrating how women so easily fall for the wrong type of man it gave me nothing.

4-5 stars

The woman, ‘Rachel’, has been chained in a shed for five years, no one seems to be looking for her, has she been forgotten? She has stayed alive when maybe others haven’t by appeasing, agreeing and apologising. Who is her captor? He is a recent widower, Aidan Thomas, who in his town is regarded as a truly wonderful man, prepared to help anyone and everyone. He’s polite, kind and a good father to twelve year old Cecilia. Aidan has to move house and it is agreed that ‘Rachel’ will move with him, come out of the shed and become his tenant, an exceptionally quiet one so that Cece is neither aware or suspicious that she is chained much of the day and night in her room. The story is told by Rachel, Cecilia and by Emily who becomes attracted to and obsessed with Aidan.

This novel seems to have divided readers into two camps, those who didn’t finish it and those at the opposite end of the spectrum who think it’s brilliant. I’m in the latter camp! I become hooked, drawn in and immersed right from the beginning. Rachel’s perspective is disturbing, haunting and at times brutal. At the start of the book the sentences are short, sharp, suspenseful and chock full of tension conveying her desire to stay alive, her stillness and lack of fight. As time goes on this subtly changes once she is the tenant and interacting with Cece, at times the tone is almost, but not quite, relaxed as weaknesses are sought to exploit. Cecilia is a really lovely child and she helps to relieve the intensity and whilst Emily drives me mad she is absolutely integral to the outcome. What of Aidan? He’s an enigmatic chameleon that’s for sure but I imagine most psychopaths are.

The novel is extremely well written, it’s hard to put down especially when it becomes as twisty as. The danger builds, calms, builds again and the ending is good and I’m so glad it doesn’t go on and on allowing you to make your own assumptions. I guess parts of this seem unlikely but this is good fiction and when you look at what some people do then maybe it’s not beyond the realms. I’d like to congratulate Clémence Michallon for writing such a high quality debut in English which is not her first language - that’s quite a feat.

I really like this character driven novel because it’s a bit different from the usual in this genre, it’s a cracking read and a most impressive debut.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Aidan Thomas is a model father and citizen. Quiet, polite and helpful, the community rally round him when he loses his wife to cancer. He is a kind and trustworthy man....except he isn't. Aidan is hiding a terrible secret; a disgusting second life of control and aggression. How long can he hide the worst side of himself from the world?

I haven't read a book from this author before and I enjoyed the way the narrative played out through different perspectives and viewpoints of different characters. The character of Rachel especially is cleverly and beautifully developed with interesting insights into her mindset and thoughts. Without giving away any secrets, the book explores some some quite tense topics and I found it really interesting and intriguing to see how deception and perception play a part in Aidan being able to live his double life.

A brilliant narrative with a fantastic ending.

I was so excited for this one but sadly it's a DNF for me, slow & one of the plot lines just seemed totally unbelievable.

This was absolutely amazing and gripping from page one. I needed to know what happened next and could not put it down. As this was not written in the authors first language, I still found the writing absolutely beautiful and compelling especially seeing different characters point of views and the change in the characters over time, mostly being Rachel. The characters were written so well and I loved how different Aidan's character is from the usual perpetrator's you find in thrillers. This premise is unique and so interesting, keeping you on the edge of your seat to the very end. I highly recommend for any lovers of thriller I think this is a must read.

I was completeley astonished to read at the end of this book that the author was not writing in her first language. That said this is a remarkable book. I found it totally compelling, very disturbing and very dark but I could not put it down. The characters are excellent as is the plot. I would have liked more about 'Rachel' at the very end of the book which would have satisfied me more but I thought it had a very good ending. It made me think and raised a lot of questions - highly recommend

Aidan Thomas is a hardworking family man. When his wife dies he and his daughter have to move house. Also in the house is Rachel. She's introduced to Cecilia as a friend of the family in need of somewhere to live. But, where has she been for the last five years? What secrets is Aidan hiding?

Wow!! I loved loved loved this book, I was gripped from the outset, disturbed, addicted, scared and apprehensive as to the outcome of the protagonist. All of the emotions. Clemence Michallon has done an amazing job giving us insight from various perspectives of the main characters in this story but also for having us, the readers, on the edge of our seats the entire time, shouting at the words on the page, telling Emily to run before she gets too involved and willing Rachel the courage to make the right decisions for herself. And poor poor Cece! I really enjoyed this book despite it's harrowing and unbearable events happening to Rachel on a daily basis. Her being a fighter and survivor helped us along and kept up the faith. 10 out of 10

I struggled with the beginning of this book - it felt a bit slow and the structure initially confused me. However, once I got past the first section, the pace picked up and I found myself quite invested in the outcome. Parts of it weren't that believable and I found it frustrating that we didn't find out what the daughter's secrets were about her father. The writing was good and that's what made it for me.

The story begins with ‘Rachel’ who is imprisoned in a basic, utilitarian shed. She has been kept there for the past five years. Her prisoner routinely brings her food rations and provides basic needs. At times she is left almost starving, but there is no escape. This is a gripping, compelling story about a girl trying to survive in intolerable conditions when she knows that Aidan Thomas, the man holding her captive, has murdered other women.
Aidan Thomas is an upstanding, respected member of society, with no-one suspecting his other life. When he is forced to move house, he takes the woman he calls Rachel with him, and she is kept imprisoned in another room. He tells his daughter Cecilia that she is a friend who needs help.
Chapters in the story are short and incisive, increasing tension and suspense, written by several characters in the plot. I was drawn into this brutal, suspenseful book from the very first page, hoping that Rachel could survive her terrible ordeal. When she is moved to a house, with camera surveillance, her ordeal becomes worse as she knows she is being watched by Aidan Thomas even when he is away.
Characters are realistic and relatable, developing as the story unfolds. Rachel desperately hoping to survive, Emily who owns the local coffee shop, who has a crush on Thomas. Clarissa, (a young teenager) feeling all the uncertainties and issues that this age group face, all have their own qualities which are explored in this compelling thriller.
A real page turner you will not be able to put down.

An unusual take on the captivity novel. Not only do we have the viewpoint of the woman held captive for 5 years, but we also hear from the captor's oblivious daughter and new girlfriend. The captor is a likeable, good-looking pillar of the community. No one suspects a thing. The writing is very literary with intense 'thisness' of detail. The captive addresses herself as 'you', suggesting some level of dissociation to cope with her ordeal.

Rachel lives in shed. Secretly. Tended only by her captor.
That alone lends the book a horrifying aspect, compounded by the fact that her captor is a serial killer.
As Rachel does whatever it takes to stay alive her situation become more and more bizarre as first her captor loses his wife and then moves house: shed-woman and all.
There is an element of disbelief that anyone could hold someone secretly captive for so long and maintain a community minded façade whilst doing so and yet we know from the news that such events do happen and people get away with it for years without detection, all of which lends itself to building the readers anxiety for Rachel and for the serial killers daughter.
Tense from the word go this one will keep you reading late into the night!

Just finished The Quiet Tenant by @Clemence_Mcl and I don't think I've read a novel where every single word is so perfectly placed since I read My Dark Vanessa.

The voice of victims and survivors is as clear as the chime of a bell

5*

I really enjoyed this book. Aidan Thomas is a pillar of the local community, liked and respected by all. However, he is also a serial killer, having murdered 8 women and keeping a 9th prisoner in an out building. When his wife dies he is forced to move house with his 13 year old daughter Cecilia. He takes Rachel, his prisoner, with them, passing her off to Cecilia as an old friend. This is a bizarre story told only from the perspectives of Rachel, Cecilia and a local business woman who starts an affair with Aidan. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Omg! This is a great storyline. I found myself willing on the characters to the right outcome.
Really well put together.

A fantastic book that I read in a matter of hours. It immediately gripped me and kept me hooked throughout.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

Really enjoyed reading the advanced copy from netgalley.
Keeps your gripped from the start.
I was hoping for a good ending and wasn't disappointed.
Would read other books by this author.

A very enjoyable and clever story. I will look out for this author in the future. Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this book.

Absolutely incredible. Honestly, I don’t have words for how good this book is. The writing is incredible, the plot is the same, and I completely adored it. Definitely a must read

It's interesting to have the perspective of the kidnapped person and how their capture affects them. I particularly enjoyed this in Room by Emma Donaghue and The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean. While The Quiet Tenant is an interesting exploration of how 'Rachel' is affected, I feel the novels I've mentioned have covered this.

TQT does do something different in hearing from the other victims. I would've liked these sections to have been in more depth. They were highly emotive.