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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Wow… might be one of my favorite psych thrillers ever! Creepy af, slow burn, and unique POVs. Not your average thriller and that’s why I loved it so much. The gist- a serial killer lurking in plain sight and this tells the stories of the three women closest to him. The ending wasn’t what I thought it would be, but still keeps it in the 5 star range! Definitely a good one to add to your TBR.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Well, that was a ride. And by "ride," I mean more like a slow, white-knuckled creep in the dark than a roller coaster. My brain feels like it's been through a psychological boot camp. This book is a slow-burn thriller in the truest sense, so if you're looking for a mile-a-minute plot with twists around every corner, you might want to look elsewhere.
But if you're a fan of mind games and deep-seated dread, oh boy, are you in for it. What I loved most about this book is its completely unique angle. We don’t get to hang out with the monster; we live and breathe with the women he's victimized. Rachel, the captive, is the absolute core of the story, and her internal monologue is brilliant and chilling. The chapters told from the perspective of the killer’s young daughter and new girlfriend add this extra layer of creepy that really got under my skin. It’s less about "what's he going to do next?" and more about "what's happening inside their heads?" I also have to give the author a ton of credit for not taking the low road and making this story misandristic; it's a huge open door, and the book gracefully avoids it.
That said, the slow burn can be a bit of a grind at times. I felt the tension building beautifully, but I was constantly waiting for the explosion, and it just... didn't come in the way I expected. The ending, while powerful and empowering, felt a little quick given the psychological journey we'd been on. I think the only thing keeping me from giving this book 5-stars is that some of the actions and inactions of the two main females seemed so unbelievable to me. I caught myself thinking, "Come on. You would not have done this."
And if you're an audiobook listener, be warned: for me, the narrator kept this from being a great book. Whenever she tried to do a male voice, it was so horrible that it really took me out of the experience.
Ultimately, this is a wonderful psychological suspense. It’s a book that’s unafraid to be uncomfortable and is an exploration of female strength and survival. It’s not the typical fast-paced thriller, but it will definitely stick with you.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this was the best thriller i’ve read in a longgggg time
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 ⭐s
The Quiet Tenant is one of those books that gets under your skin and refuses to leave. Michallon takes a chilling premise — a serial killer hiding his victim in plain sight — and turns it into a masterclass of tension, dread, and psychological insight.
What really makes this novel stand out is the storytelling. The multiple perspectives, especially from the women whose lives intersect with the “quiet tenant,” are sharp, haunting, and deeply human. It’s less about gore and more about control, survival, and the quiet horrors that can exist behind closed doors. The writing is crisp, unsettling, and impossible to look away from.
I docked a half star only because a couple of sections slowed down a touch, but the overall impact more than makes up for it. This is a dark, smart thriller that lingers long after the last page — the kind of book you need to talk about the moment you finish.
The Quiet Tenant is one of those books that gets under your skin and refuses to leave. Michallon takes a chilling premise — a serial killer hiding his victim in plain sight — and turns it into a masterclass of tension, dread, and psychological insight.
What really makes this novel stand out is the storytelling. The multiple perspectives, especially from the women whose lives intersect with the “quiet tenant,” are sharp, haunting, and deeply human. It’s less about gore and more about control, survival, and the quiet horrors that can exist behind closed doors. The writing is crisp, unsettling, and impossible to look away from.
I docked a half star only because a couple of sections slowed down a touch, but the overall impact more than makes up for it. This is a dark, smart thriller that lingers long after the last page — the kind of book you need to talk about the moment you finish.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Kidnapping, Stalking
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
personal dnf record bc why is this book about a serial killer told from the perspective of the women in his life written like a YA novel.
line that made me dnf: "and my heart is gone, gone, gone, gone" like shut up lmao. I literally said "okay, no, that's enough" out loud and grabbed my phone to return this loan like no I'm not dealing with this writing style and way of writing women for 11 hours. it's like the author just found out what misogyny is
line that made me dnf: "and my heart is gone, gone, gone, gone" like shut up lmao. I literally said "okay, no, that's enough" out loud and grabbed my phone to return this loan like no I'm not dealing with this writing style and way of writing women for 11 hours. it's like the author just found out what misogyny is
It was good, it took a second to get used to 2nd person, but it works.
I found myself thinking this was completely unbelievable in parts. And the ending wasn't satisfying, so I was really bothered by that.
Yet overall a fine read.
I found myself thinking this was completely unbelievable in parts. And the ending wasn't satisfying, so I was really bothered by that.
Yet overall a fine read.
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail