About The Book
Aidan Thomas is a hard-working family man and a somewhat beloved figure in the small upstate New York town where he lives. He’s the kind of man who always lends a hand and has a good word for everyone. But Aidan has a dark secret he’s been keeping from everyone in town and those closest to him. He’s a kidnapper and serial killer. Aidan has murdered eight women and there’s a ninth he has earmarked for death: Rachel, imprisoned in a backyard shed, fearing for her life.
When Aidan’s wife dies, he and his thirteen-year-old daughter Cecilia are forced to move. Aidan has no choice but to bring Rachel along, introducing her to Cecilia as a “family friend” who needs a place to stay. Aidan is betting on Rachel, after five years of captivity, being too brainwashed and fearful to attempt to escape. But Rachel is a fighter and survivor, and recognizes Cecilia might just be the lifeline she has waited for all these years. As Rachel tests the boundaries of her new living situation, she begins to form a tenuous connection with Cecilia. And when Emily, a local restaurant owner, develops a crush on the handsome widower, she finds herself drawn into Rachel and Cecilia’s orbit, coming dangerously close to discovering Aidan’s secret.
Told through the perspectives of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, The Quiet Tenant explores the psychological impact of Aidan’s crimes on the women in his life—and the bonds between those women that give them the strength to fight back. Both a searing thriller and an astute study of trauma, survival, and the dynamics of power, The Quiet Tenant is an electrifying debut thriller by a major talent.
| Length | 10 hours and 44 minutes |
|---|---|
| Author | Clémence Michallon |
| Narrators | Clémence Michallon, Gilli Messer, Elena Rey, Valerie Rose Lohman, Amber Battaglia, Reba Buhr, Jess Nahikian, Aure Nash, Milly Sanders, Sara Sheckells, Yu-Li Alice Shen |
| Release Date | June 20, 2023 |
| Publisher | Random House Audio |
My Thoughts
While I found this audiobook interesting, unfortunately, it never progressed to exciting. However, maybe the author meant for it to be nothing more than thought-provoking.
Aidan Thomas is the person we all fear. An extremely handsome, likable – – serial killer. He is a person without visible clues, how can we spot a good guy from a really, really bad one?
This story is told from three viewpoints.
- The lady Aiden kidnapped five years earlier who is still being held in his shed.
- Aiden’s 13-year-old daughter Cecilia.
- And Emily, a bartender who Aiden is interested in, but she wants much more than he’s willing to give.
When Aidan’s wife dies, he is forced to move to a new home. At that time his captor, who he has named Rachel, is allowed to gradually become part of Aiden’s and his daughter’s life. He tells his daughter that Rachel is a family friend.
As he trusts Rachel by now, to be intimidated and fearful of him, will she be able to escape? Or fall into a unique family life with the two?
My Concerns
While it was interesting enough to listen to the dynamics of how three people react to a serial killer, I’m not sure reading it would have held my attention.
If you’re looking for suspense and a thriller, this may not be the book. This was an interesting character study.
Final Thoughts
If you read my concerns and a few reviews, many of which are extremely good, you will probably want to give this book a try. It is definitely a book that will scare you a little. After all, who can really identify a serial killer?
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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