A chilling, atmospheric horror that stays consistent throughout the entire book. Each character is so well developed which meant I was able to really connect with them, particularly Alfie.

Can’t believe this is a debut! Absolutely brilliant writing, plot, and execution. Can’t wait to read more from this author.

PG-13 level horror that borrows classic genre tropes and feels familiar, but in a good way - a way that made me ready for spooky season.

Imaginary friends, creepy twins, obscure religious beliefs, a family imploding from grief. This book doesn't reinvent the wheel by any means. Instead, it revisits some well traversed, and generally well-liked staples, and combines them in a way that feels satisfying. I appreciate how the author creates a heavy, suffocating atmosphere and some genuinely eerie moments, without ever becoming too gruesome or vulgar.

The book was at its best when discussing the psychology of the twin relationship, and their invention of Black Mamba, and at its worst when fixating on the relationship between Alfie and Julia (yuck). The biggest missed opportunity for me involves the inclusion of the religious component. I really enjoyed the religious undertone, and I found it to be the most original part of the novel. As such, I wish it would have been at the forefront a little more.

This book started off really strong- creepy twins seeing a man and a snake in their bedroom - but I got a bit lost in the plot about 70-75% in. I couldn’t really make sense of the ending, and it wasn’t really wrapped up for me.

I loved the vibe and I definitely felt spooked while reading. But it also felt like the haunted part of the story just disappeared without a lot of explanation/resolution.

I’m still not entirely sure what the ending meant and the last 20% or so was a bit harder for me to follow and stay engaged.

I did enjoy the story and the premise behind it. Creepy kids is always a trope that I gravitate towards and I would continue to read this author’s work. It’s a great book to kick off spooky season.

Creepy and twisty.
Loved the cover, and it immediately hit me with a wave of unease as I started reading.
Twists and unexpected turns left me wanting to keep reading, only during the daylight..
If you're a fan of horror, pick this one up, just in time for Halloween.

I've had to sit on this review for a while, and I honestly don't think I have a lot to say. Let Him In is a gothic horror that deals a lot with grief. I found myself not wanting to pick it up, but while I was reading I found myself enjoying it. Throughout the story I wasn't invested in the actual characters; I wanted to see what was going down with Black Mamba. The ending was unclear, which I think saved the novel. If it had had a different ending, I would have been much more disappointed in it. Overall, not my favorite. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys gothic horror, but will warn that your results may vary.

A creepy psychological narrative that investigates the effects of generations of shame and blame and how those bleed into even the places we inhabit. This story will keep you wondering if the house is haunted or if the people are haunted. Is there a demon invading Hart House's inhabitants' minds or are their minds running wild based on fringe beliefs, self-doubt, and shame?

This book was a good mix between horror and thriller - I have been loving books like this that could have a mix of supernatural and realistic trauma responses to grief and death.

Alfie is a newly widowed father, who is struggling through caring for his twin daughters and his own grief. He is trying to learn how to take care of his family and their household and then his twins start to talk about their imaginary friend. Their Aunt Julia believes that this "friend" is a coping mechanism for the twins to work through their mothers death, but soon enough this imaginary friend starts to become more sinister. The twins start throwing tantrums and aggressive behavior leading to bruising and negative behaviors with their father and one another.

This debut novel was so fast pace and perfect for the spooky season coming up. The mystery of figuring out what is happening adds an extra element and allows the reader to decide if what is happening is psychological or if there is really something sinister happening within this house. I fully recommend this book if you love a fast-paced thriller/horror surrounding a grieving family with young children.

This was so creepy in the best way possible! It is a gothic psychological thriller that will have you keeping the lights on at night as you try to decide what the twins in the story are actually seeing. It's hard to say too much without giving spoilers but I will ask you this: What would you do if your twins came into your bedroom and said there was a man in their room?

This is a book a will go back to from time to time especially during spooky season. I enjoyed it so much and also, look at that cover!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: October 3, 2023
William Friend’s debut novel, “Let Him In” is the perfect fall thriller for the spooky season. A house with secrets and a dark past, two psychically connected twins who just lost their mother, a grieving father and an imaginary “friend” that may not be that imaginary after all? Sounds like the right combination to me!
Alfie has just lost his beloved wife, Pippa, in a tragic accident. Now, he is living in his wife’s family house, Hart House, raising his two young twins on his own. As he tries to cope with his grief, his young daughters start talking to and seeing an entity they name “Black Mamba”, a shadow man only they can see. Unsure if this is a result of their grief or something more, Alfie calls in Julia, Pippa’s sister (and the girls’ aunt), who is also a psychologist, to try and determine the root cause. As time goes on, the twins become even more convinced that Black Mamba is real and what’s worse- Black Mamba wants to take Alife’s place. It is up to Alfie and Julia to try and convince the girls that their imaginary friend isn’t real- even though Julia knows the truth- that Black Mamba is very real and everyone she loves is in very real danger.
“Let Me In” is narrated by both Alfie and Julia, alternatingly, and the story begins immediately after Pippa’s death as the family is trying to come to terms with the loss. Julia, being Pippa’s twin, gives the reader a little bit of insight into the character of Pippa, who plays such a relevant role and yet she is only introduced to the novel after her death. This helps to add depth to both Alfie and his daughters, as, through Julia’s eyes, we get to understand the marriage between Alfie and Pippa, and their relationship with their daughters before the tragedy. Alfie and Julia are what you’d expect from two people who have just lost the most important person in their respective lives, honest and flawed, while still generating the right amount of empathy. The little girls make the entire story though, and the fact that they are twins ups the creepiness factor.
The ending is a bit of a letdown for me, with the Alfie-Julia plot line and the final ending itself, but not enough to completely turn me off the novel or its author.
The story itself is an addictive page-turner, with both the mysterious character of Black Mamba and the secrets of the Hart House at its core. Friend’s creative plot sunk its teeth into me from the first page and I was equally terrified and entertained all at once. “Let Me In” is a gripping debut, and I hope Friend continues to deliver more novels in the horror genre.

Loved this book! I am always on the lookout for a book with a good, creepy element and this definitely had that.

After Alfie loses his wife unexpectedly, his twin girls begin to speak about an imaginary friend. The girls aren't the only ones experiencing things in the old Hart House either. As it turns out, there are things that his wife's twin sister is keeping to herself as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Friend for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A book that got creepier as you turned the pages. From start to finish the atmosphere was both uplifting and bleak. The twins lost their mum and gained an imaginary friend. The Black Mamba in a work of fiction (or is it?) in a world too small for children and a father's quest to make things right again. All the way to the last pages I was left guessing.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc

The writing- incredible. The story- terrifying. I will be recommending this book to all of my horror reading friends! Such a ride, I absolutely couldn't put this down.

Sadly this one wasn't for me. I loved the creepy cover but the characters, writing, and plot just didn't work. However, I think it was just a me thing and do believe others will enjoy this one!

I requested this book because I loved the cover and I’m glad I went into it pretty blind. As someone whose favorite genres are horror, this book did not disappoint. It was atmospheric and creepy and I didn’t know who or what to trust. I had so much fun with it

First let me applaud the cover that sets the tone for this book.
This book is slow yet builds up its eerie storyline where the main characters are the Hart House and mysterious Black Mamba.
At times you won’t know what is real and what’s grief stricken illusion or child’s imagination.
Gothic thriller that reminds me of The Haunting of Hill House where reality and supernatural are weaved into one.

I love how this book dealt with past trauma and grief. There were parts that were so creepy and felt so real that I did not want to continue to read it at night, and that's rare for me! The author does a good job of keeping you questioning about the true motives of the characters in this book, and it added so much to the overall plot! Highly recommend this book.

I definitely did not expect that ending, I really enjoyed this. It was something different than what I've been reading lately, and that was a nice change. I love a quick thriller read and this one was perfect to fulfill that need!

I had to DFN this one. I was so excited to read this but character names are SO important! I kept picturing a family of pigs because of a characters name and it just ruined it for me

for a debut this was pretty good. i was intrigued and creeped out A LOT throughout. the ending was clever and i like that it was left to our imagination. some parts felt slow and boring, and i never really connected with julia. but the rest was fantastic!

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me an early copy of this novel. (Well, early for the US!) Below is my honest review.

This novel had a great hook - grief, twins, lost parent/partner, mysterious entity. We never know what we can trust the whole time. Is Black Mamba real? Is he imaginary? Is he a demon? Are the girls making him up? It makes for a fun, compelling read, as events keep pushing Alfie, the twins' widowed father, and Julia, the twins' aunt, towards a confrontation with the thing known as Black Mamba... and each other.

All in all, I found it to be a hard to put down read. The short chapters are split by Julia and Alfie POVs, and we learn a little more of the story from each - both past and present - as things are slowly revealed. But each chapter makes you want to read just one more, which is the sign of a great book.

I did say, the ending didn't leave me fully satisfied, and I really wish that they'd kept the UK title ("Black Mamba") for the novel. Of course, it wasn't a bad ending... I just had felt so compelled to keep reading that when I got to the end, I wanted more.

All in all, four stars. Recommended for horror fans and fans of tales of grief and rebuilding.