The Tenant

Selected as a Most Anticipated title by People, Parade, Bustle, CrimeReads, She Reads, and more!

An electrifying work of literary suspense from internationally bestselling author Katrine Engberg, The Tenant—heralded as a “stunning debut” by #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs—follows two Copenhagen police detectives struggling to solve a shocking murder and stop a killer hell-bent on revenge.

When a young woman is discovered brutally murdered in her own apartment with an intricate pattern of lines carved into her face, Copenhagen police detectives Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner are assigned to the case. In short order, they establish a link between the victim, Julie Stender, and her landlady, Esther de Laurenti, who’s a bit too fond of drink and the host of raucous dinner parties with her artist friends. Esther also turns out to be a budding novelist—and when Julie turns up as a murder victim in the still-unfinished mystery she’s writing, the link between fiction and real life grows both more urgent and more dangerous.

But Esther’s role in this twisted scenario is not quite as clear as it first seems. Is she the culprit or just another victim, trapped in a twisted game of vengeance? Anette and Jeppe must dig more deeply into the two women’s pasts to discover the identity of the brutal puppet-master pulling the strings.

Evocative and original, The Tenant promises “dark family secrets—and a smorgasbord of surprises” (People).

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Published Sep 1, 2020

400 pages

Average rating: 7.39

157 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

MrsR
Jun 02, 2025
10/10 stars
This was an easy read and I really enjoyed it.
MicahJonee
May 30, 2025
9/10 stars
Great book in true Freida fashion! I’d say it’s one of my favs by her. I def guessed it but not all. Read in two days!
ktetterton
May 30, 2025
10/10 stars
Book Review: The Tenant By Freida McFadden I keep telling people to not bring another person in their home. Home should be your peace place. Not where someone is KILLED! People also ask me if I want a roommate! Oh no... and especially after reading The Tenant! Freida did it again! Had me up against a wall pleading! Don't do it Freida! Don't! Blake had my anxiety level on 20 the whole time! I was like Bruh, calm down, you thinking too much 🤔. I have read several of her books. I believe this is my 5th and I must say! This one is so good, it needs to be brought to the movie screen! I can see myself watching this all play out on Netflix! Without any spoilers, I can say this. You may want to do more than a background check if you ever think about getting a TENANT! Soon you see some fruit flies, RUN!!! 😆. Thoroughly enjoyed this latest new release! Ready for her next coming out in October, The Intruder.
Sbulli1305
May 28, 2025
7/10 stars
Good twists as always didn’t see it coming!
Mia_cb
May 24, 2025
10/10 stars
The Tenant by Freida McFadden Freida McFadden delivers another twisty, psychological thrill ride in The Tenant, a chilling exploration of secrets, suspicion, and the terrifying unknown hiding behind seemingly ordinary lives. Known for her knack for crafting suspenseful domestic dramas, McFadden keeps readers on edge with a tightly woven narrative full of jaw-dropping reveals. The story centers around a landlord who begins to suspect that her newest tenant is hiding something—or may not be who she claims to be at all. As tensions escalate and strange occurrences unfold, McFadden expertly ratchets up the paranoia, making readers question every motive, every interaction, and every whispered lie. With her trademark fast-paced writing and short, punchy chapters, McFadden ensures The Tenant is an addictive read—perfect for fans of thrillers that thrive on psychological manipulation and creeping dread. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, she pulls the rug out from under you. Dark, clever, and deliciously unsettling, The Tenant is another standout in Freida McFadden’s growing catalog of thrillers that leave readers breathless and desperate for more.

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