From Bad to Worse: One Man's Spiral in The Tenant

The Tenant Frieda McFadden

Freida McFadden is back with another psychological thriller, and this time she’s letting a man spiral for a change. The Tenant follows Blake Porter, who goes from having it all—a high-flying VP job, a fancy Manhattan brownstone, a fiancée he loves—to losing it all in one bad day . After he’s unexpectedly fired, he and his fiancée, Krista, are forced to rent out a room to make ends meet .

Enter Whitney: attractive, charming, and seemingly the perfect solution to their money problems . Of course, if she were actually perfect, we wouldn’t have a book. The story kicks off with what feels like a classic "roommate from hell" scenario. It starts with minor annoyances—Whitney eating all of Blake's cereal, using up the hot water—but quickly escalates to more sinister events that make Blake question his sanity . The smell of rot permeates the kitchen, his neighbors start acting strangely, and he becomes convinced Whitney is digging into his darkest secrets .

One of the coolest parts of this book is the shift in perspective. McFadden usually writes from a female point of view, so seeing the story through Blake’s eyes is a fresh twist . Watching him unravel under the pressure is both stressful and weirdly entertaining. The pacing is classic Freida—fast, with short chapters that make you think, "Okay, just one more," until you’ve accidentally finished half the book . The confined setting of the brownstone adds to the claustrophobic tension, making you feel just as trapped as Blake does .

If you’re a seasoned McFadden reader, you might find the central twist a bit predictable or convenient compared to some of her other jaw-droppers . Some of the characters, particularly the women, can feel a bit one-dimensional, seen through the lens of Blake’s increasingly paranoid perspective . And fair warning: a subplot involving the couple's goldfish, Goldy, is either going to strike you as a hilarious highlight or a completely ridiculous diversion .

But honestly, those are minor quibbles if you’re in the mood for a quick, addictive thriller. The general consensus is that this is a return to form for McFadden, especially if you found her last few releases a bit lacking . The slow-burn tension and the final unravelling of deception are engaging enough to keep you flipping pages .

Verdict:

Definitely pick this up if you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced thriller to devour in a weekend. It might not be her most shocking book, but it’s a thoroughly entertaining ride that proves McFadden still knows how to trap her readers in a story . Just maybe don’t read it right after interviewing a new tenant for your spare room.