THE TENANT Discussion Questions

• Do you think Blake was truly a victim of circumstance, or did his own decisions set the stage for what happened?
  (Consider his job loss, financial decisions, and choice to let Whitney move in.)
  
• How does Whitney manipulate Blake’s vulnerabilities, and what does this say about trust between strangers? 
  
• What role does the setting—the brownstone—play in building suspense and paranoia? Could the house be considered a character in itself?
  
• The smell of decay and strange noises are recurring details. What might these represent beyond the literal? How do they affect Blake’s mental state?
  
• How does Blake’s relationship with his fiancée change over the course of the novel, and why?
  (Discuss the strain caused by secrets, financial stress, and Whitney’s presence.)
  
• In what ways do the neighbors’ shifting attitudes toward Blake mirror the unraveling of his own identity and public image?
  
• Blake fears someone knows his darkest secrets. What do you think those secrets are, and how do they contribute to the story’s tension?
  
• What themes does the book explore regarding appearances versus reality—especially in how characters present themselves and are perceived by others?
  
• If you were in Blake’s position, would you have made the same decision to take in a tenant? Why or why not? 
  
• What do you think the title The Tenant really refers to—Whitney, something more metaphorical, or both?