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The Tenants
Don't miss the BRAND NEW pulse-pounding thriller from M. A. Hunter! If you love Claire Douglas, Lisa Jewell, or Freida McFadden's The Tenant then you MUST listen to this!
If walls could talk...
Looking after and tending to the needs of my tenants is what gives me purpose. Every day I go out of my way to watch over them and keep them safe. They're more than just paying guests, they're my neighbours, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure they're happy.
But when one of them is found dead in their apartment, everything I thought I knew is thrown into chaos. I always thought that danger only lived in the outside world, it’s why I’ve not stepped foot outside this building for 5 years. But I’m quickly realising that there is more to fear inside these walls.
When I inherited this building from my dad I had no idea about its sordid history. But as far as I'm concerned, no good comes from digging up the past. But with the police asking probing questions - about them, about me - and with my tenants holding secret meetings, I must uncover the truth before anyone else comes to harm, even if it means risking everything I've carefully built.
If walls could talk...
Looking after and tending to the needs of my tenants is what gives me purpose. Every day I go out of my way to watch over them and keep them safe. They're more than just paying guests, they're my neighbours, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure they're happy.
But when one of them is found dead in their apartment, everything I thought I knew is thrown into chaos. I always thought that danger only lived in the outside world, it’s why I’ve not stepped foot outside this building for 5 years. But I’m quickly realising that there is more to fear inside these walls.
When I inherited this building from my dad I had no idea about its sordid history. But as far as I'm concerned, no good comes from digging up the past. But with the police asking probing questions - about them, about me - and with my tenants holding secret meetings, I must uncover the truth before anyone else comes to harm, even if it means risking everything I've carefully built.
Audible Audio
Published August 17, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
August 14, 2025
Dramatic, mysterious, gripping and riveting, M.A. Hunter has delivered with The Tenants: A BRAND NEW psychological thriller from M. A. Hunter for 2025! Eve is a landlady of a building that she inherited from her father. She lives in the top flat and enjoys looking out for the safety and happiness of her tenants. Eve has not stepped outside of the building for the last five years as she has agoraphobia following a horrific attack. Eve wants everyone to feel safe but everyone's sense of safety is rocked when one of the tenants is found dead in their apartment and the police arrive to investigate....
Even thought the tenants, with the exception of Eve, can go in and out of the building, The Tenants: A BRAND NEW psychological thriller from M. A. Hunter for 2025 still has that 'trapped' feeling that I enjoy in books. As the book progresses, there is a sense of desperation and dread that seeps from the pages. Eve no longer feels safe as it appears that someone is doing things to mess with her mind But who and why? Is there a killer amongst them? If so, it would not be the first time. Eve has learned that the building that she inherited has a dark past.
This is a gripping mystery which kept me engaged and doing my best super sleuthing to determine whodunit! I enjoyed the mounting tension, the eerie vibe, and the sense of danger. This is the 7th book that I have read by M.A. Hunter and he always creates riveting well thought out mysteries with interesting characters.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Even thought the tenants, with the exception of Eve, can go in and out of the building, The Tenants: A BRAND NEW psychological thriller from M. A. Hunter for 2025 still has that 'trapped' feeling that I enjoy in books. As the book progresses, there is a sense of desperation and dread that seeps from the pages. Eve no longer feels safe as it appears that someone is doing things to mess with her mind But who and why? Is there a killer amongst them? If so, it would not be the first time. Eve has learned that the building that she inherited has a dark past.
This is a gripping mystery which kept me engaged and doing my best super sleuthing to determine whodunit! I enjoyed the mounting tension, the eerie vibe, and the sense of danger. This is the 7th book that I have read by M.A. Hunter and he always creates riveting well thought out mysteries with interesting characters.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
September 6, 2026
M.A. Hunter's "The Tenants" is an engaging, twisty, psychological thriller. Danie Couchman does an excellent job heightening the tension in the audiobook.
November 12, 2025
This was really suspenseful, with something going on constantly. Really liked the tension!
September 12, 2026
3.75⭐
Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ UK
Publication date ~ August 18, 2025
Est Page Count ~ 338 (45 dated/timed chapters)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 55 minutes
Narrator ~ Danie Couchman
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ agoraphobia, references to suicide, rape and assault
Eve sure knows how to knock back the alcohol. She is a landlord of an apartment building she inherited from her father after his death. A bit of an odd duck this one, and not because of agoraphobia resulting in her not leaving the building for 5 years. There's a secret passage in the walls that allows her to listen in on the tenants conversations. Sometimes she get some juicy information and other times she hears some upsetting stuff. She, also, has a skeleton key that opens all the doors if the need arises, which I suppose makes sense in case there's an emergency. Is there always an emergency when she used it, though? Prob not.
I wonder if I would spy on people if I had the opportunity. I'd like to think no because that's quite the invasion of privacy, obviously, but I'm really super nosey. Let's go with no, so you don't think differently of me. 😂
She has an older brother that annoyed me quite a bit. He forces her to talk to a therapist because he just couldn't understand her agoraphobia and just kept dismissing it like it was no big deal.
To keep the story flowing there's an old secret, fighting neighbors, cheating neighbors, a death in the building, and building history is uncovered.
The build up is slow, but the plot held my interest and came together nicely. Didn't love the old secret, or the cop, but I'd recommend it if you like often drunk, unreliable characters.
Narration notes:
She did a great job. There were some tense moments and she did a good job capturing the fear.
Agoraphobia ~ an anxiety disorder marked by an intense fear and avoidance of situations or places where escape might be difficult or help unavailable if you panic.
Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ UK
Publication date ~ August 18, 2025
Est Page Count ~ 338 (45 dated/timed chapters)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 55 minutes
Narrator ~ Danie Couchman
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ agoraphobia, references to suicide, rape and assault
Eve sure knows how to knock back the alcohol. She is a landlord of an apartment building she inherited from her father after his death. A bit of an odd duck this one, and not because of agoraphobia resulting in her not leaving the building for 5 years. There's a secret passage in the walls that allows her to listen in on the tenants conversations. Sometimes she get some juicy information and other times she hears some upsetting stuff. She, also, has a skeleton key that opens all the doors if the need arises, which I suppose makes sense in case there's an emergency. Is there always an emergency when she used it, though? Prob not.
I wonder if I would spy on people if I had the opportunity. I'd like to think no because that's quite the invasion of privacy, obviously, but I'm really super nosey. Let's go with no, so you don't think differently of me. 😂
She has an older brother that annoyed me quite a bit. He forces her to talk to a therapist because he just couldn't understand her agoraphobia and just kept dismissing it like it was no big deal.
To keep the story flowing there's an old secret, fighting neighbors, cheating neighbors, a death in the building, and building history is uncovered.
The build up is slow, but the plot held my interest and came together nicely. Didn't love the old secret, or the cop, but I'd recommend it if you like often drunk, unreliable characters.
Narration notes:
She did a great job. There were some tense moments and she did a good job capturing the fear.
Agoraphobia ~ an anxiety disorder marked by an intense fear and avoidance of situations or places where escape might be difficult or help unavailable if you panic.
July 16, 2025
Eve gave me the creeps! Eve is the owner of a rambling old building that used to be a hotel and was redeveloped into flats. Her father owned it, and when he died, she became the new owner. She lives in the top flat, which is fine; since she suffers from agoraphobia, she never goes out. Eve thinks of her tenants as friends, but during the story we discover that the opposite is not exactly the case.
Eve spies on her tenants, although she likes to call it ‘keeping an eye out for their welfare.’ So when one of them is found dead, she cannot help but try and find out what happened.
Somehow the story is fast-paced and slow at the same time. There are no really unexpected twists, which made me think it is not a bad story, but it could have done a bit more some more editing.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this review copy.
Eve spies on her tenants, although she likes to call it ‘keeping an eye out for their welfare.’ So when one of them is found dead, she cannot help but try and find out what happened.
Somehow the story is fast-paced and slow at the same time. There are no really unexpected twists, which made me think it is not a bad story, but it could have done a bit more some more editing.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this review copy.
September 13, 2025
Keeping order is very important to Evie. Now that her father has died, she is the landlord for a group of flats that she lives in. Not only does she live in the building, Evie hasn’t set foot outside for five years. While she might never have imagined herself to be agoraphobic, that is most definitely the case for her.
After inheriting the building from her father, Evie is bound and determined to do right by her tenants by organizing meetings, while also covering the needs of all of the tenants. However, when one of them is found dead in his apartment, Evie’s carefully orchestrated life begins to crumble.
How much is too much for a landlord? Perhaps Evie oversteps her boundaries, but as she does so, she uncovers more about her tenants than she could have ever imagined. Safety becomes a pressing concern, not just for Evie, but for everyone in the building. Amidst Evie’s struggle to maintain order and unravel the mystery of the murderer, the tension in this book never stops.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
After inheriting the building from her father, Evie is bound and determined to do right by her tenants by organizing meetings, while also covering the needs of all of the tenants. However, when one of them is found dead in his apartment, Evie’s carefully orchestrated life begins to crumble.
How much is too much for a landlord? Perhaps Evie oversteps her boundaries, but as she does so, she uncovers more about her tenants than she could have ever imagined. Safety becomes a pressing concern, not just for Evie, but for everyone in the building. Amidst Evie’s struggle to maintain order and unravel the mystery of the murderer, the tension in this book never stops.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
August 20, 2025
This was a gut clenching thriller with an unreliable narrator. As things start, you get a peek into her not so great mental status. As things progress you start to see inconsistencies. The thing is, our main character does too, and she starts to wonder if she is losing her mind or if she is being set up. There was so many character actions that icked me out in this, but it made for a great thriller. I read it in one day, because I honestly couldn’t put it down!
Eve hasn’t left her building in 5 years, not since the attack. She is the landlord of the building that she took possession of when her dad passed away. Why would she need to go anywhere outside where it isn’t safe? She can have anything she needs delivered, and she runs her own design business from her apartment. She’s spent so much time creating a family like atmosphere in her building. At least, she thought she did until one of her tenants ends up dead and the police start poking around. Because she has some secrets that do not need to see the light of day.
Thank you to Love Books Tours for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
Eve hasn’t left her building in 5 years, not since the attack. She is the landlord of the building that she took possession of when her dad passed away. Why would she need to go anywhere outside where it isn’t safe? She can have anything she needs delivered, and she runs her own design business from her apartment. She’s spent so much time creating a family like atmosphere in her building. At least, she thought she did until one of her tenants ends up dead and the police start poking around. Because she has some secrets that do not need to see the light of day.
Thank you to Love Books Tours for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
June 4, 2026
A building manager who has spent years protecting her tenants is shocked when one of them is found dead. As secrets from the building’s past begin to surface, she must uncover the truth before more people are hurt. At 52% in, I thought, This has been a hard book for me to get into. I hope it gets better. Unfortunately, after finishing it, I would describe it as mediocre at best. I wasn’t very engaged with the story and had a hard time connecting with the characters.
September 24, 2025
3.75
This book pulled me in right away. Eve inherits her father’s apartment building, and when a tenant turns up dead, the whole place feels heavy with secrets. As the police dig in, the past starts creeping out in ways I didn’t see coming.
What I liked most is how eerie the atmosphere felt—I could almost picture myself walking those halls. The plot was clever and kept me turning pages, though I’ll admit a couple of moments stretched a bit. Still, it was compelling, and I enjoyed the ride.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book pulled me in right away. Eve inherits her father’s apartment building, and when a tenant turns up dead, the whole place feels heavy with secrets. As the police dig in, the past starts creeping out in ways I didn’t see coming.
What I liked most is how eerie the atmosphere felt—I could almost picture myself walking those halls. The plot was clever and kept me turning pages, though I’ll admit a couple of moments stretched a bit. Still, it was compelling, and I enjoyed the ride.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 13, 2025
Eve is a very devoted landlady. She holds monthly meetings to ensure all of the tenants needs are met, she is the first to offer a shoulder to lean on and a bottle of wine if needed and she is always on top of repairs or other problems. Of course, she is able to do this by sneaking around in a secret passageway which allows her to listen in to all of the apartments. Eve is our main character but a creepy one and she always seemed much older than her mid 30's. Eve suffers from agoraphobia as a result of being attacked while she was jogging. Since that happened she has been unable to leave her building, one she inherited from her father. Her older brother Pete worries about her both because she never leaves the place and also because she is quite a heavy drinker. Her character comes across as very unstable although she manages to work as a public relations specialist part time.
The mystery part of this starts when Eve lets herself in to a tenants apartment and finds he has hanged himself. She thinks is was a clear suicide but the police detective investigating thinks it was foul play. Eve tries to figure out what is going on in the building but often feels tired and confused and her brother is growing more concerned. I wanted to know more about the tenants as they didn't seem very fleshed out but liked the twists some of which concerned Eve's past. Interesting premise but I was wishing for a bit more action. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC for review.
The mystery part of this starts when Eve lets herself in to a tenants apartment and finds he has hanged himself. She thinks is was a clear suicide but the police detective investigating thinks it was foul play. Eve tries to figure out what is going on in the building but often feels tired and confused and her brother is growing more concerned. I wanted to know more about the tenants as they didn't seem very fleshed out but liked the twists some of which concerned Eve's past. Interesting premise but I was wishing for a bit more action. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC for review.
July 31, 2025
Just finished and this was an incredibly great read. Eve is a landlord and a tenant of a building she inherited from her father. She wants to keep her tenants happy and build a harmonious community. While she fears the world outside her building, she learns that danger could be lurking inside also. A neighbour is found dead in her building, the past is threatening to overtake her and weird happenings have her confused. Others are thinking she is losing her mind. Very compelling. Highly recommend. My favourite read this month. Publish date is August 18, 2025 by Boldwood Books.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital review copy. I leave this review voluntarily.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital review copy. I leave this review voluntarily.
August 19, 2025
Eve has inherited an apartment building. She wants to ensure that she is a helpful and supportive landlady so her tenants feel welcome. She keeps a very close eye on them so she can be there when they need her most.
However, there is a murder and Eve can't believe she failed to keep her tenants safe. She soon starts to realise that her home is not the sanctuary she thought it was...
The book starts out as a slow burn and builds up. I thought this worked well towards the latter parts of the book as the tension really ramps up. It has a claustrophobic feel as everything happens within the confines of the apartment complex which I enjoyed. This mirrors Eve's prison like existence as she is too frightened to go outside and it feels like the walls are closing in on her.
I liked how the author slowly revealed things and it was hard to work out Eve's motivation for the things she does and if she was a reliable narrator. The other tenants were also hiding their own secrets which added to the story.
I thought it was well written and I enjoyed the storyline, especially as it all came together. No ambiguous endings! I think people who lie a more claustrophobic psychological thriller will enjoy this one.
A huge thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.
However, there is a murder and Eve can't believe she failed to keep her tenants safe. She soon starts to realise that her home is not the sanctuary she thought it was...
The book starts out as a slow burn and builds up. I thought this worked well towards the latter parts of the book as the tension really ramps up. It has a claustrophobic feel as everything happens within the confines of the apartment complex which I enjoyed. This mirrors Eve's prison like existence as she is too frightened to go outside and it feels like the walls are closing in on her.
I liked how the author slowly revealed things and it was hard to work out Eve's motivation for the things she does and if she was a reliable narrator. The other tenants were also hiding their own secrets which added to the story.
I thought it was well written and I enjoyed the storyline, especially as it all came together. No ambiguous endings! I think people who lie a more claustrophobic psychological thriller will enjoy this one.
A huge thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.
August 20, 2025
This is the first book I’ve read by M A Hunter and having read the synopsis, thought it would be right up my street. I was not left disappointed!
The story centres around Eve who owns and lives in an apartment block with her tenants. And the death one of her tenants and her crusade to figure out what happened to them.
The story is told solely from Eve’s point of view focusing on her background, the reason why she doesn’t leave her building and her attempts to solve the mystery death of one of her tenants.
I found this a very easy read, that kept me gripped throughout. It kept me wanting to read one more chapter. And I became very fond of Eve and some of the other tenants of the building. The ending was also very good.
I will definitely be reading more from this author and give this an easy 5 stars. Locked room style books are right up my street and this did not disappoint!
Thank you to Boldworld Books and NetGalley who provided me with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story centres around Eve who owns and lives in an apartment block with her tenants. And the death one of her tenants and her crusade to figure out what happened to them.
The story is told solely from Eve’s point of view focusing on her background, the reason why she doesn’t leave her building and her attempts to solve the mystery death of one of her tenants.
I found this a very easy read, that kept me gripped throughout. It kept me wanting to read one more chapter. And I became very fond of Eve and some of the other tenants of the building. The ending was also very good.
I will definitely be reading more from this author and give this an easy 5 stars. Locked room style books are right up my street and this did not disappoint!
Thank you to Boldworld Books and NetGalley who provided me with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2025
Left a block of flats by her late father, Eve is very conscientious that she has to keep her tenants happy. So much so that she retreats to a secret passageway to observe their moves to try and nip any problems in the bud.
Following a serious assault Eve has agoraphobia and hasnt left her block in years. Her brother is concerned about her mental health, more so when she discovers the body of a tenant in his flat.
Her condition is spiralling and when strange things start happening she herself feels she losing her mind. Who could have it in for her and why? The reasons may shock you.
This was a fairly fast paced novel, written in such a way that you feel all of Eve's panic and worry. It's an interesting storyline in the sense it all happens within the four walls of the block. I really enjoyed it
Following a serious assault Eve has agoraphobia and hasnt left her block in years. Her brother is concerned about her mental health, more so when she discovers the body of a tenant in his flat.
Her condition is spiralling and when strange things start happening she herself feels she losing her mind. Who could have it in for her and why? The reasons may shock you.
This was a fairly fast paced novel, written in such a way that you feel all of Eve's panic and worry. It's an interesting storyline in the sense it all happens within the four walls of the block. I really enjoyed it
August 19, 2025
Really good read
The Tenants by M A Hunter.
This was a really good read. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. It did take me a while to get into this book. It was a slow starter for me. But I persevered and kept putting it down. It did take me a few days to read. I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters. I didn't have any favourites but I didn't dislike them either. I was surprised by the ending.
The Tenants by M A Hunter.
This was a really good read. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. It did take me a while to get into this book. It was a slow starter for me. But I persevered and kept putting it down. It did take me a few days to read. I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters. I didn't have any favourites but I didn't dislike them either. I was surprised by the ending.
August 17, 2025
3.5 stars
Eve is a landlady and also lives in the building with her tenants. She likes to make sure they are all happy and holds regular meetings with them.
What the tenants are not aware of is the secret corridors and crawl spaces that Eve goes through to listen to their conversations.
When Eve hears James and Danielle arguing, she intervenes. However, when he is found dead the next morning, she is in shock.
Eve is struggling with agoraphobia and hasn’t been outside for five years, but she is determined to keep an eye on her tenants even more now.
Things start happening to Eve and she catches someone in her flat, but she feels like her brother and the Police don’t believe her.
I don’t like it in books when someone makes someone else feel like they are losing their mind, as I find it frustrating, and I just want them to reveal themselves.
This is a good read but not quite as gripping as I expected.
Thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book.
Eve is a landlady and also lives in the building with her tenants. She likes to make sure they are all happy and holds regular meetings with them.
What the tenants are not aware of is the secret corridors and crawl spaces that Eve goes through to listen to their conversations.
When Eve hears James and Danielle arguing, she intervenes. However, when he is found dead the next morning, she is in shock.
Eve is struggling with agoraphobia and hasn’t been outside for five years, but she is determined to keep an eye on her tenants even more now.
Things start happening to Eve and she catches someone in her flat, but she feels like her brother and the Police don’t believe her.
I don’t like it in books when someone makes someone else feel like they are losing their mind, as I find it frustrating, and I just want them to reveal themselves.
This is a good read but not quite as gripping as I expected.
Thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book.
October 19, 2025
I'm not sure about this one. I fear it was in the middle, won't remember much about it in a few weeks.
Some thing(s) I liked:
✅Writing style was fine
✅Twisty - I liked the ending one
✅I wasn't sure how the sorry would work when it was all set in one place without much chance of differentiation - but it was don't well
Some thing(s), not so much:
⭕Very slow
⭕The FMC was just a. Creepy freak and there was anything endearing or redeeming about her
⭕Completely unbelievable to the point it took away from the story somewhat
Some thing(s) I liked:
✅Writing style was fine
✅Twisty - I liked the ending one
✅I wasn't sure how the sorry would work when it was all set in one place without much chance of differentiation - but it was don't well
Some thing(s), not so much:
⭕Very slow
⭕The FMC was just a. Creepy freak and there was anything endearing or redeeming about her
⭕Completely unbelievable to the point it took away from the story somewhat
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2025
Great intriguing book. I love spaces that are unknown. This went to a place I didn't see coming. The not knowing was more interesting than finding out. A good read.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and netgalley for an early release of this book
Thanks to the author, the publisher and netgalley for an early release of this book
August 18, 2025
I enjoyed the book if you love Claire Douglas and Lisa jewels and frieda McFadden books then you will enjoy this one!!
Blurb
Looking after and tending to the needs of my tenants is what gives me purpose. Every day I go out of my way to watch over them and keep them safe. They're more than just paying guests, they're my neighbours, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure they're happy.
But when one of them is found dead in their apartment, everything I thought I knew is thrown into chaos. I always thought that danger only lived in the outside world, it’s why I’ve not stepped foot outside this building for 5 years. But I’m quickly realising that there is more to fear inside these walls.
When I inherited this building from my dad I had no idea about its sordid history. But as far as I'm concerned, no good comes from digging up the past. But with the police asking probing questions - about them, about me - and with my tenants holding secret meetings, I must uncover the truth before anyone else comes to harm, even if it means risking everything I've carefully built.
Blurb
Looking after and tending to the needs of my tenants is what gives me purpose. Every day I go out of my way to watch over them and keep them safe. They're more than just paying guests, they're my neighbours, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure they're happy.
But when one of them is found dead in their apartment, everything I thought I knew is thrown into chaos. I always thought that danger only lived in the outside world, it’s why I’ve not stepped foot outside this building for 5 years. But I’m quickly realising that there is more to fear inside these walls.
When I inherited this building from my dad I had no idea about its sordid history. But as far as I'm concerned, no good comes from digging up the past. But with the police asking probing questions - about them, about me - and with my tenants holding secret meetings, I must uncover the truth before anyone else comes to harm, even if it means risking everything I've carefully built.
November 30, 2025
3.5/5⭐️
August 11, 2025
thank you yo Netgalley and publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'll be honest, the second Eve opened a door to a tenants apartment without his approval or proper notice, I was no longer on her side hahaha.
But regardless... this book was a good time. my mind was constantly trying to put the puzzle pieces together and they never quite fit until the end. it kept me guessing, kept me entertained, and at one point I even yelled at the book. ( I mean grow a heart Joan!!)
That's it... that's all my thoughts
I'll be honest, the second Eve opened a door to a tenants apartment without his approval or proper notice, I was no longer on her side hahaha.
But regardless... this book was a good time. my mind was constantly trying to put the puzzle pieces together and they never quite fit until the end. it kept me guessing, kept me entertained, and at one point I even yelled at the book. ( I mean grow a heart Joan!!)
That's it... that's all my thoughts
July 20, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
A haunting and cleverly plotted psychologically mysterious tale. “The Tenants” followed Eve, the property manager of Blackbird House. It was an apartment building she inherited from her father and has watched over for it for the last five years. She’s protected everything worth protecting inside the walls of Blackbird House. Until one tenant was found dead in their flat. Eve’s controlled world shattered and the police started to ask questions. Meanwhile the other tenants began meeting behind closed doors and not long after the long-buried secrets from the building’s past started to emerge.
M A Hunter delivered an intriguingly eerie psychological thriller that was clever and compelling. Prior to reading “The Tenants”, I hadn’t read a book by him. I am so glad to have been given an advance copy since it was my first read by Hunter. Hunter’s writing style was taut and suspense driven with an unreliable narrator. I like how he used a gradual revelation of secrets by withholding key information and revealed the twists methodically. He used theme integrated pacing that aligned with the psychological unraveling of the plot. Even more, the rising action escalated alongside the character’s mental deterioration. It was fantastic. On top of all that, the short, snappy chapters created a sense of urgency and added to the overall suspense.
Altogether, I enjoyed this gripping and disturbingly engaging narrative. So much that I am interested in reading more by M A Hunter in the future. I’d recommend this haunting and engaging read for readers that like sharp, twisty plots, unreliable narrators, atmospheric settings and psychological tension. This is also a great read for those who relish in books by Daniel Hurst & B A Paris.
Thank you Net Galley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
A haunting and cleverly plotted psychologically mysterious tale. “The Tenants” followed Eve, the property manager of Blackbird House. It was an apartment building she inherited from her father and has watched over for it for the last five years. She’s protected everything worth protecting inside the walls of Blackbird House. Until one tenant was found dead in their flat. Eve’s controlled world shattered and the police started to ask questions. Meanwhile the other tenants began meeting behind closed doors and not long after the long-buried secrets from the building’s past started to emerge.
M A Hunter delivered an intriguingly eerie psychological thriller that was clever and compelling. Prior to reading “The Tenants”, I hadn’t read a book by him. I am so glad to have been given an advance copy since it was my first read by Hunter. Hunter’s writing style was taut and suspense driven with an unreliable narrator. I like how he used a gradual revelation of secrets by withholding key information and revealed the twists methodically. He used theme integrated pacing that aligned with the psychological unraveling of the plot. Even more, the rising action escalated alongside the character’s mental deterioration. It was fantastic. On top of all that, the short, snappy chapters created a sense of urgency and added to the overall suspense.
Altogether, I enjoyed this gripping and disturbingly engaging narrative. So much that I am interested in reading more by M A Hunter in the future. I’d recommend this haunting and engaging read for readers that like sharp, twisty plots, unreliable narrators, atmospheric settings and psychological tension. This is also a great read for those who relish in books by Daniel Hurst & B A Paris.
Thank you Net Galley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 21, 2025
I liked this, but I do feel there may have been one too many twists. I found the book well-written and the characterization very good, but in my opinion, the ending was disappointing. Also....what happened to the cat? Rounding up to 4 stars from 3.5. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author.
September 12, 2026
This was a completely blind read for me, as I only read it because it was a “free borrow” on Hoopla. Thought it sounded interesting enough, so I went ahead and listened to the audiobook. It was pretty good, although I have some conflicting feelings on it.
This book follows Eve, a landlord of an apartment building who discovers that one of her tenants has been murdered. The murder mystery itself here is pretty intriguing, with Eve trying to dig deeper to solve it while also trying to find a way to protect herself and her tenants when the police get involved, and when it becomes clear that the killer is specifically trying to get at her. I really enjoyed the investigative aspect of this book, and Eve consistently trying to uncover more of what’s really going on. There’s a small but solid cast of characters who all have distinct personalities. Eve herself has an intense fear of the outdoors due to past experiences, and therefore spends all her time in the apartment building; along with that, she secretly snoops on her tenants using a secret tunnel system in the building, which she has positive intentions with but is still a little creepy—but all these do make her a unique character. The tenants are all unique and have distinct reactions to the events of the story, and the small cast works well for the small scale of the story. There are some genuinely tense moments and good reveals too, which I enjoyed.
Unfortunately, this book is let down by one big flaw, in my opinion. A mystery lives and dies by its two major aspects: making the mystery itself intriguing, and making the answers satisfying. This book handles the former quite well, but sadly fumbles a bit with the latter. While parts of the ending are hinted at throughout the book, and the ending itself is made up of a few revelations that do get some buildup, I felt that each revelation was extremely unsatisfying. This is especially because Eve herself is already a somewhat unlikable character—not a bad or uninteresting character, but one I think a reader may likely feel conflicted by. The ending, for me, pushes her past conflicted and more into unlikable, and felt like it subverted some parts of the story in a poor way. Alongside that, I thought the actual truth behind the murders could have been interesting, but ultimately lacked a lot of the buildup. It feels like the “why” behind what’s going on is itself a revelation, but when the revelation is unsatisfying, and the “why” had no strong buildup, then the answers will just fall flat. It’s a case where I think it could’ve worked if done better, but as is it feels like a missed opportunity.
Overall, despite that rather substantial negative, I still had a decent time with this one. Prior to the ending I’d have said it was actually quite good, but the ending did sour it for me. Perhaps others will feel differently. Still, taking the whole into account rather than just the dissatisfaction with how things turned out, I had a reasonably good time with this one.
Rating: 7.5/10
This book follows Eve, a landlord of an apartment building who discovers that one of her tenants has been murdered. The murder mystery itself here is pretty intriguing, with Eve trying to dig deeper to solve it while also trying to find a way to protect herself and her tenants when the police get involved, and when it becomes clear that the killer is specifically trying to get at her. I really enjoyed the investigative aspect of this book, and Eve consistently trying to uncover more of what’s really going on. There’s a small but solid cast of characters who all have distinct personalities. Eve herself has an intense fear of the outdoors due to past experiences, and therefore spends all her time in the apartment building; along with that, she secretly snoops on her tenants using a secret tunnel system in the building, which she has positive intentions with but is still a little creepy—but all these do make her a unique character. The tenants are all unique and have distinct reactions to the events of the story, and the small cast works well for the small scale of the story. There are some genuinely tense moments and good reveals too, which I enjoyed.
Unfortunately, this book is let down by one big flaw, in my opinion. A mystery lives and dies by its two major aspects: making the mystery itself intriguing, and making the answers satisfying. This book handles the former quite well, but sadly fumbles a bit with the latter. While parts of the ending are hinted at throughout the book, and the ending itself is made up of a few revelations that do get some buildup, I felt that each revelation was extremely unsatisfying. This is especially because Eve herself is already a somewhat unlikable character—not a bad or uninteresting character, but one I think a reader may likely feel conflicted by. The ending, for me, pushes her past conflicted and more into unlikable, and felt like it subverted some parts of the story in a poor way. Alongside that, I thought the actual truth behind the murders could have been interesting, but ultimately lacked a lot of the buildup. It feels like the “why” behind what’s going on is itself a revelation, but when the revelation is unsatisfying, and the “why” had no strong buildup, then the answers will just fall flat. It’s a case where I think it could’ve worked if done better, but as is it feels like a missed opportunity.
Overall, despite that rather substantial negative, I still had a decent time with this one. Prior to the ending I’d have said it was actually quite good, but the ending did sour it for me. Perhaps others will feel differently. Still, taking the whole into account rather than just the dissatisfaction with how things turned out, I had a reasonably good time with this one.
Rating: 7.5/10
July 18, 2025
Three and a half stars rounded up. I received an invitation to read M.A. Hunter’s “The Tenants.” Eve has agoraphobia and has not stepped outside for five years. She inherited the building she lives in and manages from her dad. Living nearby is her older brother, who worries about her, pays for her to go to therapy, and has been trying to get her to venture back outside.
Eve believes in the goodness of her tenants and considers them family. Eve also likes to ensure her tenants’ needs are met and likes to resolve any disagreements as fairly and quickly as possible. Unfortunately, one of her tenants is found dead in their apartment. At first, Eve believes her tenant died by suicide, but starts doubting things when neither the police or her other tenants seem to agree. Also, weird things start happening to Eve and she’s not sure if she’s imagining things or if she’s being targeted.
This book started off strong, but the plot got a little messy. I did appreciate the author having Eve realize she could order cameras to determine what the truth was around the weird events. The twists were a little unsurprising to me, but they all still made sense plot-wise except for one of them.
Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.
Eve believes in the goodness of her tenants and considers them family. Eve also likes to ensure her tenants’ needs are met and likes to resolve any disagreements as fairly and quickly as possible. Unfortunately, one of her tenants is found dead in their apartment. At first, Eve believes her tenant died by suicide, but starts doubting things when neither the police or her other tenants seem to agree. Also, weird things start happening to Eve and she’s not sure if she’s imagining things or if she’s being targeted.
This book started off strong, but the plot got a little messy. I did appreciate the author having Eve realize she could order cameras to determine what the truth was around the weird events. The twists were a little unsurprising to me, but they all still made sense plot-wise except for one of them.
Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.
September 6, 2026
When the landlady a Lil bit crazy! This has mystery, suspense, mental health, post covid, PTSD, alcoholism, secrets and secrets. All is not what it seems.
Eve seems like the best landlord ever. She cares about her tenants, holds monthly meetings and goes above and beyond. But what the tenants don't know she's spying on them. We begin to realize Eve has more going on when we find out she's seeing a therapist and refuses to leave the apartment building after a violent attack and covid. But when a tenant is found dead in their apartment things begin to change rapidly. Eve learns her apartment building that she inherited from her father has a very dark past. Eve also seems to be struggling with her memory and day to day life. Why is she forgetting things? What happened with the dead tenant? What will the police think when they find out she has been entering the apartments on her own? How does Eve feel when she finds out someone has broken into hers? Is someone stalking Eve? Who writes a suicide note for her? Can she survive the secrets from her past? What secret was her dad hiding?
Eve seems like the best landlord ever. She cares about her tenants, holds monthly meetings and goes above and beyond. But what the tenants don't know she's spying on them. We begin to realize Eve has more going on when we find out she's seeing a therapist and refuses to leave the apartment building after a violent attack and covid. But when a tenant is found dead in their apartment things begin to change rapidly. Eve learns her apartment building that she inherited from her father has a very dark past. Eve also seems to be struggling with her memory and day to day life. Why is she forgetting things? What happened with the dead tenant? What will the police think when they find out she has been entering the apartments on her own? How does Eve feel when she finds out someone has broken into hers? Is someone stalking Eve? Who writes a suicide note for her? Can she survive the secrets from her past? What secret was her dad hiding?
August 19, 2025
Eve hasn't left her home in 5 years. Trapped by crippling agoraphobia, she watches the world go by from the windows of the apartment building she owns. Her only contact with the outside world is through her tenants and the security cameras. Her life is quiet, structured, and safe. Until one of her tenants is found dead. As the police began investigating, Eve's carefully controlled world starts to unravel. The tenants she thought she knew are suddenly distant, secretive, and meeting behind closed doors. And the deeper Eve looks into the death, the more she realizes that her building holds dangerous secrets, Ones that go far beyond a single tragedy. With paranoia swirling and trust in short supply, Eve must decide if she will remain a prisoner in her own home, or risk everything to protect it.
The Tenants is a tightly wound and claustrophobic thriller that grips you from the first page! The way Hunter builds suspense is A+, using Eve's limited perspective and immersing you in her fear and isolation. Because the setting is almost entirely within the walls of the apartment building, the apartment feels like a character in itself, dark, oppressive and full of secrets. Eve is a complex main character and the way her trauma is handled is with care and is very realistic. The way her mental health isn't just a ploy really heightens the stakes. The pace is steady and the plot has plenty of twists and red herrings. Overall, if you are a fan of atmospheric, emotionally charged, slow burn psychological thrillers, definitely check out The Tenants!
Thank you to NetGalley, M.A Hunter, Boldwood Books, and LoveBooksTour for this eArc! Publication date was August 18th 2025.
The Tenants is a tightly wound and claustrophobic thriller that grips you from the first page! The way Hunter builds suspense is A+, using Eve's limited perspective and immersing you in her fear and isolation. Because the setting is almost entirely within the walls of the apartment building, the apartment feels like a character in itself, dark, oppressive and full of secrets. Eve is a complex main character and the way her trauma is handled is with care and is very realistic. The way her mental health isn't just a ploy really heightens the stakes. The pace is steady and the plot has plenty of twists and red herrings. Overall, if you are a fan of atmospheric, emotionally charged, slow burn psychological thrillers, definitely check out The Tenants!
Thank you to NetGalley, M.A Hunter, Boldwood Books, and LoveBooksTour for this eArc! Publication date was August 18th 2025.
August 19, 2025
M.A. Hunter takes domestic suspense to a whole new level in The Tenants, a dark and twisted tale that blurs the line between voyeurism, paranoia, and hidden truths. At the center of the story is a landlord whose obsession with watching her tenants crosses every boundary of privacy. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that those living under her roof are just as mysterious—and potentially dangerous—as she is.
What makes this novel so effective is the atmosphere of constant unease. Hunter keeps readers second-guessing every character’s intentions, planting subtle hints that make you wonder who is lying, who is hiding something, and who might be in real danger. The pacing is steady yet taut, and the sense of claustrophobia builds with each chapter, pulling you deeper into the web of secrets inside the building.
The psychological tension is sharpened by the complexity of the characters. No one feels entirely trustworthy, which only adds to the suspense. Just when you think you’ve figured out the truth, Hunter delivers another twist that shifts the ground beneath your feet.
By the time the story reaches its climax, the unsettling atmosphere and tangled lies come together in a shocking and memorable ending. The Tenants is a gripping psychological thriller that will appeal to readers who enjoy dark, character-driven stories full of secrets, deception, and suspense that lingers long after the last page.
What makes this novel so effective is the atmosphere of constant unease. Hunter keeps readers second-guessing every character’s intentions, planting subtle hints that make you wonder who is lying, who is hiding something, and who might be in real danger. The pacing is steady yet taut, and the sense of claustrophobia builds with each chapter, pulling you deeper into the web of secrets inside the building.
The psychological tension is sharpened by the complexity of the characters. No one feels entirely trustworthy, which only adds to the suspense. Just when you think you’ve figured out the truth, Hunter delivers another twist that shifts the ground beneath your feet.
By the time the story reaches its climax, the unsettling atmosphere and tangled lies come together in a shocking and memorable ending. The Tenants is a gripping psychological thriller that will appeal to readers who enjoy dark, character-driven stories full of secrets, deception, and suspense that lingers long after the last page.
August 20, 2025
Another great psychological thriller from an author I already enjoy. The story has a slow start, but once it gets going, the tension and suspense really builds and pulls you in. The main character, Eve, is super creepy, and the weird happenings with the other tenants give the whole book an eerie vibe. You can tell there’s more going on beneath the surface, and following along with Eve to uncover the truth makes for a really gripping read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
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