The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon
Published by Abacus
Publication Date: 11th April 2024
Book Description:
Aidan Thomas is a hardworking family man respected by his local town. He's the kind of man who always has a good word for everyone. He's also a kidnapper and serial killer who has murdered eight women. And there's a ninth, a woman he calls Rachel, imprisoned in a backyard shed.
When Aidan's wife dies, he's forced to move and has no choice but to bring Rachel too. He knows that after five years of captivity, Rachel is too frightened of the consequences to attempt to escape. But Rachel is a fighter and a survivor. And when Emily, a local restaurant owner, develops a crush on the handsome widower, she finds herself coming dangerously close to discovering Aidan's secret.
My Thoughts:
Wow, what a book! My daughter pushed me to pick this one up again - I'd borrowed it from the library but didn't get to read it before the loan period ran out and I had to return it. Then my daughter read it and insisted I find a copy ASAP and dive in straightaway so we could compare notes. (The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!).
The protagonist is a young woman named Rachel. That's not her real name but the one given to her by her kidnapper, Aidan. He's a well-respected widower and single dad who lives in a small American town. He's also a serial killer.
By the time we meet Rachel she's already been locked in his outbuilding for a number of years, broken and subservient after such a long time under his control. The mood changes though when Aidan is forced to move house, the rules and routines he has enforced for so long are no longer possible. Something stirs in Rachel when she realises at least one other person is going to know she exists. At last there is hope! Can she really find a way to escape his clutches?
The tension and suspense that build throughout this novel are incredible and I found myself thinking about the scenarios playing out in the pages even while I wasn't able to read the book. How would Rachel cope with her new situation? How could Aidan possibly hope to keep her for himself? How he could credibly explain her presence in his home? All were questions lurking in my mind. As much as I was focused on Rachel though, she wasn't my favourite character. That honour goes to Aidan's daughter Cecilia. Each of the main characters in this book has depth but she stands out the most. The naivety of her youth is obvious, however life has already shown her that she will face some tough challenges along the way. She can sense there is something unusual about Rachel; the story her dad has told her as to why she's joined them in their new home doesn't sit right with her, but he's her dad and she knows better than to ask too many questions. The big question for the reader is whether those doubts would be enough to help Rachel escape. Would she realise what the consequences could be? To say this is a nail-biter would be a serious understatement, and I totally understand why I was recommended this book so strongly. It took a while for my heart rate to return to normal at the end! I award as many twinkly gorgeous stars as is physically possible.
To think that this is not only a debut novel, but also it is written in English which is not the author's first language - both facts are mind-blowing! I am so excited for Clemence's next book, Our Last Resort which is due for release in July this year. I'm feeling a pre-order coming on!
About the Author:
Clémence Michallon was born and raised near Paris. She studied journalism at City University of London, received a master's in Journalism from Columbia University, and has written for The Independent since 2018. Her essays and features have covered true-crime, celebrity culture, and literature. She moved to New York City in 2014 and recently became a US citizen. She now divides her time between New York City and Rhinebeck, NY.
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