Reviews

The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon

floreadzik's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

2.5

emrose311's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

altbauleserinberlin's review against another edition

4.0

Wow. Ich lese normalerweise keine Krimis oder Bücher mit Spannung, aber irgendwie hat es mir der rote Farbverschnitt angetan.
Vor kurzer Zeit habe ich bereits ein Buch gelesen mit ähnlicher Ausgangslage und fand es furchtbar. Als ich dieses Buch anfing, war ich mir sicher, es würde wieder gleich enden. Das war aber eine massive Fehleinschätzung, denn dieses Buch ist ein wahres Meisterwerk. „Das Gästezimmer“ ist das, was „Wenn sie wüsste“ (Freida McFadden) sein will. In diesem fast 450 Seiten langen Buch wird eine fesselnde Geschichte erzählt, die nicht nur inhaltlich, sondern auch literarisch in jeglicher Hinsicht überzeugt.
Insbesondere gefallen hat mir, dass es nicht nur die Spannungs-/Krimischiene fährt, sondern in adäquatem Maße auch Vater-Tochter-Beziehungen, die alltäglichen Gefahren junger Frauen und generell Normalität aufweist.
Des Weiteren ist mir der Wechsel der Erzählperspektive ins Auge gefallen. Dass Emily und Cecelia nur aus der Ich-Perspektive erzählen, während Die Frau/May Mitchell nur aus der Du-Perspektive ist ein grandioser Einfall, der nur weiter Michallons Pfiffigkeit untermauert. Hut ab.
Ich konnte das Buch auf den letzten 200 Seiten nicht mehr weglegen, da es so spannend wurde. Kann ich nur empfehlen.
4/5 ⭐️ und 9/10⭐️

reading_with_my_doodle's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

courtofsmutandstuff's review against another edition

dark

• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

This triller is intriguing but also deeply messed up - the pacing is solid, and I enjoy the separate POVs (though I don't like the "you" 2nd person POV of The Woman in the Shed, but it was less jarring for me since it was only her POV and not everyone's). I do wish there were maybe 2 more chapters at the end because I love everything to be fully explained and wrapped up, but it is a solid ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Rape

Moderate: Stalking and Death of parent

jgillaspie20's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

valpal18's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

caitnichl's review against another edition

mysterious tense

4.0

❗️Potential Spoilers ❗️
I was hooked from the first sentence! The writing in this book, in my opinion, is INCREDIBLE. I loved the switching POV, I loved the short(ish) chapters, I devoured the second person narrative (this is normally something i hate) I thoroughly enjoyed (almost) the entire experience of the book ! I thought this book was wonderfully written, engaging, I mean the suspense and tension was written throughout every page…
My only complaint is the ending! (Anyone with me?) I feel like it just fell short and by the end of this book I didn’t get everything that I needed/wanted out of it. The book was beautiful, gripping, intriguing..and I think it would have been 5 ⭐️ if the ending was…different?! If it gave me more!!??
Ending aside, I loved this book. The story focuses on Aidan Thomas, beloved community figure, lineman worker, “wonderful father”, he’s SO ordinary. Except, obviously, he’s NOT because he’s a serial killer (of course!) We’re told the story from multiple perspectives throughout the book (“Rachel” - his captive of 5 years, Emily - his new “love interest” / victim, his daughter Cecelia, and we do get some insight from his past murder victims) I think each character was well-developed, and incredibly interesting and purposeful. Michallon did not write a single character who fell flat! The plot progresses at an expert pace (until the end in my opinion) and unfolds to a harrowing climax! 
I definitely recommend this book! 👏🏻👏🏻

princessbeans's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense

3.25

Really interesting differing POVs. One of those endings where I wish it told me just a little bit more (from the daughter's perspective). 

tessthegreatt's review against another edition

tense fast-paced

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

2.5