The Tenant

Plot twist has a plot twist. Great book bravo Frieda 👏🏽I have to admit it started off slow and what I thought would be predictable but….I should’ve known better! Not to give anything away but my blood went ice cold when Blake went to the moms house and saw the pictures on the mantle….those of you who read the book know EXACTLY what I’m referring to. That was the moment I grabbed another cup of coffee and finished the book! I’m going to order “do not disturb” next. My vacation week ends tomorrow and will need another book to read before summer is over!

Freida McFadden delivers a taut psychological thriller in The Tenant that kept me alternately intrigued and unnerved from start to finish. The premise—a psychologically complex new tenant moving into a long-ago crime scene—feels fresh, and McFadden builds the tension expertly, weaving red herrings and unreliable narration into a narrative tapestry that’s impossible to put down.What I loved:• Atmosphere & Pace: Every creak of the old house and every hint of dark history is vividly realized, pulling you deeper into the unfolding mystery.• Complex Characters: Both the tenant and the homeowners are multi-layered and unpredictable—just when you think you know who’s trustworthy, the rug gets pulled out from under you.• Twists & Turns: The plot keeps you guessing, and while one or two developments are a bit familiar, the final reveal packs enough punch to feel satisfying.Where it could improve:• The sheer number of twists, while thrilling, occasionally teetered toward overcomplication. A slight trim might have sharpened the impact.• Some secondary characters could use more depth—they serve the plot but don’t quite stay in your head after you close the book.Final thoughts:The Tenant is an absorbing, suspenseful read that will appeal to fans of psychological dramas and secret‑filled thrillers. It nails the eerie, atmospheric tension and delivers a finale that justifies the ride. If you’re looking for a twisty, page‑turner you can devour in a weekend, this is a solid choice—and a 4‑star one at that.

This is the first 3 star I have ever given Frieda McFadden. I didn't think I would ever give her less than 4 stars. I guess I just couldn't really get in to this one. This is the first book of hers that I didn't start and finish within 24 hours. many I have finished in 1/2 day or less!To begin with I didn't like the characters.Krista was not convincing at all at being loyal and that should have been a red flag to Blake right away.Blake was annoying with his internal dialogue about every time he saw Amanda(fake Whitney in skimpy clothes or no bra) Amanda was annoying with the parading around in the house with barely and clothes on and treating the rest of the house like it was hers considering it was very early on and she didn't really know the couple she was renting from and the fact that she was just renting a room.I was so incredibly irritated at Blake. How could be so gullible? I am sure that I'm not the only one who has read McFadden's books that has noticed that there is this annoying gullibility that usually causes most of the problems when it comes to the characters. There is just too much that gets let go in the first place. Too many red flags go up for me. I know this is a book but some things need to be a little more realistic. I feel that sometimes McFadden's books rely a little TOO much on these gullible characters and it just gets to the point that we (I) need smarter characters. I guess since I have read almost all of her books I tend to see the patterns. I see when someone is being naïve and I know that more than likely they are pretending to be naïve or they are being played.spoilers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I knew there was more to Amanda/fake Whitney's story. I figured that was what was going to come in at the end.I knew that Blake would end up going back and taking over his father's business in the end.I knew that there was definitely something fishy about how Blake was fired and that either Krista/Whitney or Amanda/Whitney had something to do with it.I was a bit disappointed and felt like McFadden really missed a great opportunity to link the co-worker that Blake spoke of in the beginning and how he ended his life. I felt like that was just a distraction and really a waste of pages.I mean...yeah it did possibly turn your head in a different direction and make you go down a different rabbit hole...but that rabbit hole wasn't deep. She could have linked that story in and it would have made it more interesting.As I said in the beginning....I have always finished books within a 24 hour period from the time I started the book, only putting it down for work or if life got in the way. Many times I would forgo weekly television shows just to finish up a book...only to start another one that would have me reading late into the evening. This one just wasn't it. I found myself putting it down ever few chapters.

This book was genuinely so well written and obvious thought and planning was put into every character and plot point. I couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping as I turned page after page and I wish I could read it for the first time again. It was just never what you would expect with this book and that’s what makes it stand out from the rest, really great work.

This was one of my favourite McFadden thrillers. As usual, she uses a clever, engaging plot with many unexpected twists. My only reservation about McFadden’s books is that the villains are so very bad that they are almost unbelievably bad - and predictably unpredictable! However, as long as you can suspend disbelief, she provides a quick, riveting and light read.