Reviews with content warning for Rape - The Quiet Tenant

A book I wanted to love more than I ultimately did. I loved the fact that although the plot involves a serial killer, he is the only one with no voice. Instead, the story is told from the perspective of three main women. I also loved that the audiobook gave each woman a different narrator for a full cast, but the man did not get a separate voice. It made the book feel about the women rather than the plot. I wish that each woman had felt as complex as I think they were though. One narrator in particular felt frustratingly one note to me and at times things felt long-winded without adding depth to the characters. I found myself wanting the book to pick up pace at these moments. But, ultimately, it was a satisfying listen that gave voice to those in these kinds of stories that often don't have one.

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derivative's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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rysmommyreads's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

3.5

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bookishmillennial's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

This book is about an unnamed woman who is abducted and kept in a shed by an unnamed man (well, until you learn his name) for over five years. She shares her rules for survival with the audience, and we root for her as she plans and manuevers a (hopeful) escape. We also receive a few sporadic POVs of past women he had kidnapped, who ultimately met their demise, which makes you wonder why he has kept this one woman alive for so long!

This is a debut novel, so I have a lot of hope that the author's skills in shocking and/or writing a much more riveting ending will only flourish. I really did enjoy most of this book, and I would absolutely call this a "page turner." However, the ending felt a bit lackadaisical and lackluster? I expected a bit more of a twist or a more pronounced conclusion.

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diannasbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

This book was crazy and dark and twisted. The ending seemed kind of rushed, and some areas of the book were a bit repetitive otherwise it would have been a 4 star read from me.

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