Let Him In by William Friend is a haunting novel. The plot is original. Something is happening in Hart House. Alfie, Pippa, and their twins are the second generation of this family living in Hart House. Pippa and her twin sister grew up in Hart House.

I got the chills reading this book. The events taking place are through the eyes of the latest generation of children twins living here. Flashbacks add to the unease you get while reading this book. I knew what was going on, but the reality of it was always just out of reach.

When I finished Let Him In, I knew, in that world, nothing was right. This book is well written. Glimpses of reality are shocking. The ending lives up to the book itself. I would like to the author for this early copy. I enjoyed reading this book and will be following the author now.

Alfie is left widowed with his twin daughters, when his wife Pippa is killed in an accident. Told in Alfie and his sister in law Julia’s point of view, the novel introduces Black Mamba. A man who can shape shift that the girls have announced is their imaginary friend and protector. Alfie enlists the help of Julia, his sister in law who is also a psychotherapist to help determine what the girls are dealing with.
Weird dreams, physical reactions and behaviour changes in the girls worry both Alfie and Julia. There’s a connection between Black Mamba, the girls and the house; but how will that connection be broken?

This was a quick read. A story of trauma and grief, mixed with the paranormal, however, at times it became a little slow for me. There’s quite a mix of the imagination and real time events that I was sometimes lost in. I felt that the whole story wasn’t explained-was it about religion or the supernatural? Both aspects were touched on, but I didn’t feel that either was explained clearly. I did enjoy the way that the twins were written-they were eerie and creepy, while also innocent. Overall a decent story but it was lacking some detail for me.

A classic spooky gothic haunted house tale! However, warning-if you require answers being tied up in a neat bow, this will not be the book for you! Often in other horror fiction social media groups I'm in, I see a lot of people wanting a non-graphic scary haunted house tale akin to Shirley Jackson. This one by William Friend does accomplish that, but with this book, you have to be willing to go along with the ride without promise of a payoff. While the ominous setting and creepy twin trope are sure to grab your interest, you will be full of questions. Expect an unreliable narrator, or even unreliable narratives from several characters! This is the ole "is it paranormal or is it psychological" question. I think the pacing of the book worked nicely, and I was eager to read it to find out more. I don't pan books if they don't answer all my questions, and enjoyed my journey through the book. Thanks, NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC!

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this super creepy ARC! Let Him In by William Friend is a well-written and atmospheric horror novel that will keep you up at night. It tackles themes of grief and trauma as well as the supernatural in a way that keeps the reader guessing. While the pacing is slow in the beginning, it picks up in the middle. The characters are well-developed, particularly Alfie, and the twins are truly unsettling. If you're in the mood for a creepy read, I highly recommend this read!

Alfie, recent widower wakes to his twin daughters waking him up to say there's a man in their room. Assuming grief, he calls on his wife's twin sister to talk to them as their psychiatrist. The twin 7 year olds have an "imaginary" friend called Black Mumba who can change shapes/beings. The girls start to become obsessed with Black Mumba and they do not want him to leave.
This started off great, but then nothing happened after the first quarter of the book, until the last few chapters.
The idea behind the book was great, but it was just never executed. There is a lot missing from the plot. They throw in talking pieces in the middle of a paragraph about one of their pasts, and you almost have to guess what happened. Half the time, it was unnecessary and did not add anything to the story. Honestly, this is the movie Hereditary. I would read something from Friend again, but I think he just needs to focus on keeping his plot points going in his next book. I would also probably not even classify this book horror. A few demon words doth not make a scary story. This was more a book about grief and lost; a thriller maybe.

This was a great spooky story. The vibes were equal parts creepy and I was hooked from the first chapter. The ending gave .me chills. It was super satisfying!!

The two things that drew me towards this book were the creepy cover (because it's brilliant) and the equally creepy premise. Unfortunately, while there were some enjoyable moments, I found the majority of Let Him In to be slow-moving and a bit repetitive.

Let Him In is well written, with intriguing characters and interesting dynamics between them. I also enjoyed seeing how these characters developed throughout the story as they dealt with (or didn't deal with) their grief, particularly Alfie and the twins. The setting of this book, Hart House, and the nearby Peter's Park are described beautifully. There are also some moments of tension that are so heightened they genuinely made me feel uneasy while reading, in the best way.

Throughout the book, the narrative toys around with what is real and what isn't, going back and forth between the two and never really deciding one way or the other. While I don't mind an open or ambiguous ending, I found the ending to this book too inconclusive and confusing to be satisfying. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, a final 'a-ah!' moment to bring everything together... but it never did, and my questions were left unanswered.

Ultimately this book just wasn't for me, but if the premise sounds intriguing to you and you don't mind a slow burn, then definitely give it a go if you're looking for something to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and William Friend for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a bit of slow burn for me . It definitely creates a tense atmosphere that sucks you in.It finally picked up for me after the 51% mark. I enjoyed this overall. It was creepy as any good horror should be!
I liked this book
thank you netgalley for the ARC

This was a fairly short read but was more of a slow burn in building up the characters and plot. It didn’t take anything away from the creep factor though! At times I felt like I was questioning what was going on just as Alfie had. New information is given to the reader at several points throughout. It turns into being about something different than you’re lead to believe in the beginning. The less information you have on this before going into it, the better. Overall, a great atmospheric novel that draws you in and doesn’t want to let you go.

Alfie and his twin daughters are mourning the loss of Pippa, his partner and their mother. Soon, the girls start to talk about a mysterious man in their bedroom they eventually call Black Mamba. Can Pippa’s own twin sister help the girls and Alfie to move on, or is something more sinister happening?

The grief experienced by Alfie and the girls was palpable. The book exposed the complicated nature of families and the battle faced those left behind.

'Let Him In' is very reminiscent of the horror movie, Darkness for me. We meet Alfie and his twin girls after the devastating lose of their wife/mother.  As more and more strange things start happening, Alfie reaches out to their Aunt and family psychiatrist, Julia. As we follow this family, we explore if the darkness is coming from their lose, the house, or the people closest to them.

Thanks to NetGalley and poison pen press. This book by Willian Friend is a creepy read right up my alley. I am a mood reader so it took me while to finish it as I was not really into creepy at the moment.

Alfie has twin daughters and has recently lost his wife. His wife was also a twin and she has a sister, Julia, a psychologist by trade who figures prominently in this book, as Alfie seeks her help when the twins insist they see a man named black Mambo.

William Friend takes grief and trauma and mixes it with twin lore and horror. The author does an excellent job creating an Atmosphere that leaves the reader wondering: is this grief/trauma or is it supernatural? That said the book is slow at times, although I love the voices of Julia and Alfie. He does a good job at character development, especially with Alfie. Here we see the impact of grief as it wars with reason.

The twins for me are really creepy. They are reminiscent of the twins in the Shining.. I do recommend this book when you are in the mood to be creeped out.. It would be a great Halloween read.

This was a fun read. Built on the foundationof many familiarsnd well loved tropes, Let Him In definitely creates a tense atmosphere and a sense of uncertainty that any good supernatural story needs. The eerie connection between twins is a fantastic background on which this horror story grows, and is certainly a reminder of just how creepy kids really are.

What a way of creeping your mind. It exposes you to meanings of what ifs and it even felt like a horror film jumpscares. But overall, it seems a little bit flat for me and somewhat familiar to me.

In William Friend's spine-tingling debut novel, "Let Him In," readers are welcomed into a world of eerie suspense and psychological turmoil. The story revolves around Alfie, a grieving widower left to care for his twin daughters, Sylvie and Cassia, following the unexpected death of their mother, Pippa. The novel kicks off with a chilling scene as Alfie wakes up to his daughters' disturbing claim that there's a mysterious man in their room.

As the haunting tale unfolds, the heartache and grief that have taken residence in Hart House, their family home, become palpable. The twins' distress is painted vividly, having lost their mother at such a tender age. Seeking solace, they invent an imaginary friend named Black Mamba, who has an uncanny ability to transform into various creatures and lead them on surreal adventures.

However, the innocuous imaginary friend takes a sinister turn when the girls start setting a place for him at the table and making unsettling claims about his intentions. Alfie, concerned for his daughters' well-being, enlists the help of Julia, Pippa's twin sister and a psychiatrist, to unravel the mysteries behind this apparition.

The novel masterfully weaves psychological tension with a sense of gothic horror. The titular Hart House is itself a character, shrouded in dark secrets and lingering doubts about the deaths that have occurred within its walls. Alfie's journey to uncover the truth behind the haunting forces him to confront his own past and secrets, leading to a climax that leaves readers gasping.

Friend's writing effectively captures the eerie atmosphere and the characters' emotions. The sense of unease gradually builds as the story progresses, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. The parallels drawn between the twins' experiences and the history of Hart House lend an additional layer of complexity to the narrative.

In many ways, "Let Him In" channels the spirit of classic horror tales such as "The Haunting of Hill House" and "The Whisper Man." The presence of twins, a haunting house, and a blend of psychological and supernatural elements contribute to the story's chilling appeal.

As a debut author, Friend showcases a talent for crafting a suspenseful narrative that sinks its hooks into readers from the outset. The pacing is well-executed, with each chapter unveiling new revelations and deepening the sense of foreboding. The characters, particularly Hart House and Black Mamba, are developed with a haunting allure that resonates long after the final page.

"Let Him In" is an atmospheric thriller that promises to keep readers on edge, eliciting both shivers and gasps. This captivating debut marks William Friend as a writer to watch in the realm of psychological suspense. For fans of unsettling tales and those who revel in the tingling sensations of fear, "Let Him In" is a must-read that lingers like a ghostly whisper in the night.

Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
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I had no expectations of what I would get when reading this but wow that was amazing! It's one of those books that will leave you feeling unsettled, confused and questioning everything by the end and I absolutely love that.
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The gothic atmosphere and the sheer brilliance in the quality of the author's writing made for an unputdownable, fast paced book. This is not the kind of book that will throw gore and jump scares at you to try and disturb you. Instead it will slowly chisel away at your perception of reality and worm it's way under your skin to give you a constant sense of dread and unease.
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It talks about what happens after the loss of loved ones and explores different avenues of grief. How people cope even long before they have passed, through religion and beliefs and how we (and other outside factors) can warp our perception of reality.
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This book is filled with love, loss, taboos, and most prominently, things that go bump in the night. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book that will give them chills even long after reading the last, frightening, sentence.
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Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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***Trigger warnings include but may not be limited to, death of loved ones, grief, domestic abuse, abuse of children by children and miscarriage.***

An enthralling, chilling, read! The creep factor was high with this story. It only took me a little over a day to finish, because I could NOT put it down! I had to know what happened to Pippa, and what was going on with Alfie and the twins. Definitely pick this up if you're into haunted house stories! You won't be disappointed.

My first read by this author thanks to NETGALLEY! Let Him In by William Friend was an unsettling, thought-provoking story reminiscent of The Shining, revolving around two eerie twins who’ve lost their mother. As time passes, his daughters start talking about an imaginary friend. They say they can see him and hear him. When Alfie becomes frightened, he calls on his sister-in-law, Julia for help. The writer blends supernatural elements with emotional turmoil and creates an innovative take on the haunted house trope, filled with atmosphere, gloom and tension. Never in my life would I have anticipated the fear that consumed me while reading this novel (by the way which I loved). #netgalley #lethimin

Let Him In is the debut from William Friend. Alfie, a widower, is raising his twin girls alone in the family home of his late wife. The twins appear at his bed one night, claiming that they saw a man in their room. Initially seen as a coping mechanism for their grief, Alfie isn't concerned with their imaginary friend. However, as their friend Black Mamba inserts himself more and more into the family's life, Alfie turns to his psychologist sister-in-law to evaluate the girls and try to get rid of Black Mamba.
This book is creepy and atmospheric, with a chilling ending. However, the pacing is slow. There were a lot of side plots that weren't fleshed out, which was disappointing because I felt like there were a lot of unanswered questions. Maybe that was the intention, but this book was very short, so there was room to expand on these areas, and doing so may have taken this book from creepy to terrifying. I know others have loved this one, so I am likely in the minority but I prefer to have not so much left up to interpretation and speculation.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

William Friend's debut novel, Let Him In, is a horror story with a big serving of psychological thriller on the side.

Alfie and his twin daughters are grieving the loss of their wife and mother. An imaginary friend initially seems like a harmless coping mechanism for the young twins, but as the friend becomes more center stage in their lives, Alfie begins to worry. Julia, Alfie's sister-in-law and twin sister to the deceased, is called upon to help. When Julia arrives, she also must face her grief, along with her daunting family history,

The cover of Let Him In is stunning, and the beginning of the book pulled me in quickly. I found myself intrigued by the family, house and imaginary friend. The sadness of the characters permeates the pages of this book. You can almost physically feel their distress. As the book continues, crumbs keep falling, and they kept me interested, wondering how everything would unfold in the end.

Unfortunately, the pace of the book never really picks up. And the ending isn't as tidy as I'd personally like it to be. I'm all for taking time at the end of a book to reflect and come to my own conclusions. But there are too many unanswered questions for me to really come up with any sold theories. There were a lot of horror themes running through this book, and it maybe could have done with one or two less to help it's ending all tie together.

If you are a fan of gothic horror and enjoy a slow burn thriller, this book is worth a try, especially since it is being released during the spookiest time of the year.

A big thank you to the author, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with this digital ARC. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after reading the book.