A new Freida McFadden release? Say no more, I’m in for the plot twists (and let’s be honest, the slightly unhinged characters too)! So, the second The Tenant dropped on Audible, I hit play without hesitation, ready for another ride through the chaos.

In this review, I’ll share my thoughts on the narration and the story, and let you know if The Tenant by Freida McFadden deserves a spot on your listening list.

The Tenant – Sinopsys (Spoiler Free)

Blake Porter is riding high, until he’s not. Fired abruptly from his job as a VP of marketing and unable to make the mortgage payments on the new brownstone that he shares with his fiancee Krista, he’s desperate to make ends meet.

Enter Whitney. Beautiful, charming, down-to-earth, and looking for a room to rent. She’s exactly what Blake’s looking for. Or is she?

Because something isn’t quite right. The neighbours start treating Blake differently. The smell of decay permeates his home, no matter how hard he scrubs. Strange noises jar him awake in the middle of the night. And soon Blake fears someone knows his darkest secrets…

Danger lives right at home, and by the time Blake realises it, it’ll be far too late. The trap is already set.

Release date: 06-05-25
Language: English
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
Publisher: Dreamscape Media

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Why I Chose the Audiobook Version

As a huge fan of audiobooks, especially in crime and mystery, I’m always searching for my next listen and If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I have a 9-to-5 job with loads of solo time, which means I can plug in and dive into stories whenever I get the chance. So, when The Tenant, the latest thriller from The Housemaid bestselling author Freida McFadden, dropped on Audible, I hit play immediately.

Now, let’s get into the review, shall we?

The Tenant by Freida McFadden Narration & Listening Experience

If you’re a fan of Freida McFadden’s books, you’ll notice something a bit different in this new release, most of the story is told from a male character’s point of view. For the first 44 chapters (about 70% of the book), we follow Blake’s perspective, and Will Damron is the voice behind him, doing a solid job of bringing the character to life.

Christine Lakin takes over for the remaining 30% of the book, voicing both Krista and Whitney. She does a great job capturing the personalities of both female characters.

Here’s a look at the talented voices behind Blake, Krista, and Whitney, along with a overview of their backgrounds.

Will Damron

Will Damron, an award-winning audiobook narrator from southern Virginia, has lent his voice to hundreds of stories across various genres, including YA, fantasy, sci-fi, and history. With a theater background from Middlebury College, Will has performed Off-Broadway and in regional theater across New York, New England, and Virginia. He’s also the author of The Tercentennial Baron, a debut fantasy-adventure novel he wrote while living on his parents’ 350-year-old farm and working as an actor at Colonial Williamsburg.

As a narrator, Will has received numerous accolades, including an Audie Award for Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, two Voice Arts Awards, and several AudioFile Magazine Earphones Awards. After moving to Los Angeles, Will focused on audiobook narration while finishing his novel, which he later published independently. When he’s not narrating or writing, he enjoys exploring the great outdoors in places like Scotland, New England, and the American West, or working in his studio in Los Angeles.

Check his official website: willdamron.com

Christine Lakin

Christine Lakin is best known for her role as “Al” in the 90s sitcom Step by Step, and more recently starred in Hollywood Darlings alongside Jodie Sweetin and Beverley Mitchell. She has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, including Modern Family, The Rookie, CSI, Valentine’s Day, and Veronica Mars. Christine has voiced various roles, including Jane in The Walking Dead game and PeeBee in Mass Effect: Andromeda.

In addition to her on-screen work, Christine is a prolific audiobook narrator with over 150 narrations, including the bestselling Bosch/Ballard detective series by Michael Connelly. She has also performed in several acclaimed theater productions, such as Silence, The Musical, and worked with the Troubadour Theater Company. Christine has hosted for CMT, VH1, E!, and live awards shows like the Burbank International Film Festival.

Check her official website: christinelakin.co

Audiobook Scorecard of The Tenant by Freida McFadden

Now, I’m a picky listener, especially when it comes to audiobooks. Even if the author is fantastic, if the narrator’s voice doesn’t fit the story, I won’t be able to connect, and I’ll opt for the printed version instead. Also, it’s worth mentioning that strange sounds, like heavy breathing or inconsistent audio quality, can really pull me out of the experience and ruin the immersion.

So yeah, I take this stuff pretty seriously, maybe too seriously, haha. But when I’m listening to a story, I want to be fully in it. Audiobooks are a full experience for me, not just background noise.

Here’s my humble, yet very detailed list of what I believe an audiobook should offer.

My Thoughts on The Tenant by Freida McFadden (Spoiler Free)

As a Freida fan, I wanted so bad to love The Tenant, but it didn’t quite match other books magic. While the narrators did a solid job, the story just didn’t deliver the tension or momentum I usually expect from a Freida McFadden book. It felt more rushed, repetitive, and less gripping than her previous works.

Blake’s constant whining and repetitive inner monologues became tiresome, and several scenes felt either absurd or far too predictable. If you’ve read McFadden’s earlier books, especially The Housemaid, this one might come across as a less polished, lower-stakes version.

The characters felt too shallow and underdeveloped. I did like that Freida chose to write from a male point of view this time, but with less repetition and more depth, it could’ve been much stronger. You don’t really care about anyone, people come and go and in the end of the day you’re just curious to see what happens next because you know that the plot twist is coming!

And the twist? It didn’t land at all. I saw it coming, and by the time it happened, it felt too far-fetched to make any real impact. The motivations were so weak I was just like, “Wait… what?” Cue eye roll.

Even the epilogue was underwhelming. Honestly, it feels like Freida might be rushing her writing lately, focusing more on quantity than the quality that made The Housemaid such a standout.

That said, it’s still an easy read, short chapters, simple dialogue, and the kind of book you can finish in one sitting. This is something I genuinely appreciate about Freida’s style. Sometimes you just want something light, without overly complicated language or long, drawn-out chapters. Despite the repetitive structure, the story still flows.

Quotes from The Tenant by Freida Mcfadden

He’s going to kill you, Krista. You have to get away from here… He’s going to stab you with a kitchen knife. It’s going to happen right here.”
— Quillizabeth’s

So you see, when I stabbed Krista that night, I wasn’t saving Blake’s life. I was saving my own. I bet you five bucks Krista never saw that coming.”
— Amanda

Main Themes in The Tenant by Freida McFadden

Deception and Hidden Truths, Power Dynamics and Control, Psychological Manipulation and Paranoia.

Who Should Read It?

• This book will appeal to fans of Freida McFadden who never miss a new release (like me).
• Readers who enjoy domestic drama.
• Thriller enthusiasts craving fast-paced suspense.

Printed Version Details and Authors Profile

Freida McFadden

#1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and possessed cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

Check her official website: freidamcfadden.com

So, have you already dived into The Tenant, either the book or the audiobook? What did you think of the twists and the characters? If it’s still on your list, what are you most excited to find out? Drop your thoughts in the comments, I’d love to hear your take!