Sadly, this one fell really flat.

BUT! It started off super strong. I was totally invested, and then somewhere around the 35% mark, I was bored. I don't know if it was the lack of dialogue or lots of inner monologues, but I found myself skimming way too much. There were times I wanted to DNF because I wasn't enjoying the story and didn't really get excited coming back to it. I do think I'm in the minority and others will like this one. But it was just so-so.

Thank you netgalley for this arc.
This is a quick book easily read in one sitting with enough tension to keep the story interesting. The ending definitely leaves you with questions and feeling a little uncomfortable (but clearly that was the aim).
Such a well written book that I did enjoy it was just a little predictable with not the easiest flow to follow.
For a debut novel though I’m excited to see what else Friend will come out with.

3.5* 😳 A chilling Gothic thriller that could really amp up the atmospheric suspense feel at Halloween, so save it for the chilling season. Looking back at some of the creepiest books I have read they are geared around twins. This one is no exception between their telepathy, giggles and their incredible visions of a dark presence tangled with their grief.
Alfie recently lost his wife, Pippa, and raising twin daughters, Sylvie and Cassia. His daughters are found standing at the foot of his bed in the middle of the night reporting a man is in their room. When the evidence is not there, he discounts it as psychological and missing their mom. He begins to have nightmares also and is afraid his dark secrets are haunting him. When he ask Pippa's twin sister Julia, a psychiatrist to come and observe the girls speaking to an imaginary friend, setting the table for him and speaking of what he is going to do them he needs some clarity of a dangerous presence.
Black Mamba the imaginary friend, is able to transform into animals and fly to mystical lands which ties to the Hart House's sinister past and has reared its horrors on Julia and Pippa when they also had an imaginary friend.
A lot is evolving in the book with a creepy, atmospheric tale, I lost my thoughts a few times maybe reading too much into it or misunderstanding the premise of it but it delivered.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This one started off a bit slow. I thought that it'd be just another mediocre horror read for me, but halfway through the book, things started picking up!
The story follows Alfie and his twin daughters, who are grieving the loss of their mother, Pippa. One night, Alfie is woken by twins saying that there's a man in their room. When Alfie goes to check, he doesn't find anyone. But the twins say that he is always with them and no one else can see him, and they call him Black Mamba. Alfie assumes that they must've made up an imaginary friend. But when weird things start happening around the house and with the girls, Alfie asks his sister-in-law Julia, who is also Pippa's twin, to talk to the girls as she is a therapist.
Just when I got invested, the book ended!😩 And I have so many questions!!!! I expected explanations for so many things. I really hope there'll be a sequel to this book.

A killer debut!
Sends a chill through the spine until the very last line. For the fans of The Haunting of Hill House here's your next creepy house that creeks and shrieks at night - Hart House.
I lovvved reading this so much in the dark.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me a copy of this wild ride.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

This book is like if the boogeyman, hill house, and the shining had a baby.

Exploring the horrors of life, death, and grief “Let Him In” is one of the creepiest things I’ve read in a while. I’ve never had a book affect my sleep like this before, but this one really freaked me out I guess. I mostly read before bed to unwind but honestly this left me uneasy, tossing and turning. Recent widow Alife is left to raise his twin daughters alone. And as the family copes with their loss, Alife through drinking and the twins clinging to each other more, something dark lingers over their house. “Daddy, there’s a man in our room...” The author really takes the spooky twin trope and runs with it. Alfie notices a shift in energy with the girls. He was used to his twins often speaking in unison and for their movements to sometimes be in sync, but with their new imaginary friend Black Mamba around, all this leaves him feeling unsettled..

Thank you to Net Galley & Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
Let Him In instantly captures you and builds into something amazing and wonderful and creepy... Then the ending was a bit of a letdown for me. There were things brought up in the story that were never explained, and I wanted answers! It was quite enjoyable and if you like horror novels, give this one a try.

Grief and shadows collide in 'Let Him In,' a haunting tale that will make you question what's lurking beyond the darkness...……

Book Information

Let Him In, written by William Friend, is a 240-page horror novel with an expected publication date of October 3, 2023. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance readers copy of this book for review.

Summary

Amid a summer night, Alfie awakens to his twin daughters' claims of a lurking shadow in their room. Blaming it on a nightmare due to their mother Pippa's passing nine months earlier, he initially dismisses their distress. The twins create an imaginary companion, seemingly a harmless reaction to grief, but it takes a darker turn as they set places for him, whisper ominously, and hint at being taken away.

Growing concerned, Alfie turns to Julia, Pippa's psychiatrist sister. Yet, as he grapples with haunting visions and an eerie sensation of surveillance, Alfie starts questioning the true nature of this presence. Delving into his own secrets and the ominous history of Hart House becomes imperative for Alfie to avert an impending tragedy that defies comprehension.

My Thoughts

This is an impressive debut novel with an equally remarkable cover. Perhaps we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but it is one of the things that drew me in. "Let Him In," is a quick and atmospheric read that delves into the realm of creepy and suspenseful horror, blurring the lines between reality and imagination. Twins, secrets, and a malevolent 'friend' weave a web of suspense that will keep you guessing.

The book unfolds through the dual perspectives of a grieving husband and Julia, the twin sister of his deceased wife. Friend masterfully crafts the unsettling presence of an "imaginary friend" that haunts the story. This is well written such that readers will wonder alongside Alfie, the father, whether it is imaginary or perhaps something more. The portrayal of the twins is also particularly well-executed.

While the story effectively builds suspense and immerses the reader in its eerie atmosphere, it does suffer from occasional repetitiveness and generally slower pacing. Numerous concepts are introduced, hinting at deeper meanings, only to be left unresolved, leaving readers questioning their significance.

As the story progresses, the anticipation grows, but the ending falls short of expectations. The lack of clarity in the conclusion left me disappointed, wondering if it was a deliberate creative choice or a result of me just not fully grasping its intent. Despite the intense buildup and investment in the characters, the payoff doesn't align with what I anticipated.

Recommendation

"Let Him In" is undoubtedly a solid story that showcases Friend's talent for crafting a chilling narrative. However, the unresolved concepts and ambiguous ending may leave readers grappling with a sense of incompleteness. Still a good book and recommended.

Rating

3 Imaginary Stars (or are they real….)

Let Him In
By William Friend
Pub Date: 03 Oct 2023
Poisoned Pen Press
General Fiction (Adult) | Horror | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 3.75/5

Let Him In is William Friend's debut novel. It is a very unnerving and interesting horror novel. As you read Let Him In, you'll find yourself drawn deeper and deeper into the world of William Friend's chilling narrative. Prepare to be left uneasy and enthralled.

In the wake of his wife Pippa's death, Alfie is left to raise their two twin daughters on his own. Eventually, his daughters begin communicating with a man they refer to as Black Mumba. They claim to see and hear him talking back to them. In spite of Alfie's concerns, he believes the imaginary friend phase will pass. However, Alfie calls Julia, his sister-in-law, for help as the situation worsens. Julia is a psychotherapist who agrees to counsel the twins. With Julia's help, Alfie begins to understand why his daughters need the mysterious figure known as Black Mumba in their lives. But will this understanding make the situation worse? Only time will tell….

A creepy atmosphere permeates Let Him In. Despite a few slow-moving sections, Friend's writing is excellent for his first novel. Overall, it is a very intriguing novel for horror fans.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to review this unique book. Your kindness is appreciated.

I had high hopes for “Let Him In” by @ and it was well worth the read. From the first couple of pages I was hooked and wanted to know what was going on.
I was invested to know what was going to happen as I had my own theories and I was surprised by the route the book took. The story follows Alfie a widower who is raising his twin girls, the topics of grief and the human psyche are just well written into this debut novel. Alfie calls upon his late wife sister for help and understanding on what is happening with the girls and their now imaginary friend. I was fascinated as I feel research went into this around twins and how one another react and find that it may be relatable in actual life.

The book really does give you the chills as I was wondering throughout the book if this was more of a “imaginary” friend who would then become some sort of real apparition and do some physical harm. I just really want to highlight how this book really captured me again. I could not put it down. I wish that the author could write more novels like this. It was well written and gave multiple dynamics to the overall novel and outcome of the storyline.

This book took a bit longer for me to read. It was slow pace and did not grab my full attention until about half way through. Once I got half way, the build up of suspense and thrill was good! I wish the storyline included more details of the Parsons history and maybe even POV from the twins would have been a nice addition! My favorite part of was the ending and how it all came together. I was hoping for more around the grandmother being found in the house with the girls. Overall, it was a good book but I felt the flow did not capture my attention as much as I’d hoped.

I was pleasantly surprised by "Let Him In". Totally atmospheric and creepy, kept me guessing, afraid that one of my own kids would start waking up to tell me there was a man in their room... the whole shebang. Although the ending left quite a few questions for me, I enjoyed the ride. Perhaps another read through will help me answer those questions, maybe not. Either way it was a ingenious story and I am totally satisfied regardless!

This was a new author for me and will now be patiently awaiting his next book! This debut novel centers around Alfie, a young widow, and his twin daughters as they try to find their footing after his wife’s untimely death. Atmospheric and creepy, this book kept me turning the pages. The details are given at just right time, never getting too slow or being dumped on you to process all at once and comes together beautifully as you learn more about this family and their strange past. I also loved how he highlights how grief can affect us all so differently and becomes a dark stain on the homes and hearts of some who allow it to consume them.

Title: "Loud and Clear: A Gripping Debut that Thrills and Chills!"

William's Friend's debut album in the world of writing hits all the right notes with this suspenseful thriller/horror masterpiece. From the first page to the last, I was completely captivated, enjoying every spine-tingling minute of this book. It pulled me out of a major book slump, and I'm thrilled I took the chance on this ARC read. With this amount of talent, I have no doubt we'll be hearing much more about this amazing new author in the future!

I would like to thank Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy for my honest review.

Alfie has lost his wife and raising two twin daughters on his own. 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. As she is a psychotherapist, she begins to counsel the girls. Who is this imaginary friend and what do they want?

The atmosphere is creepy as all get out! I felt the story of the girl's visions were frightening. There were times where the book was repetitive and slow moving. However, Friend's writing is superb for his first novel and he's a talented writer.

William Friend's debut novel, 'Let Him In,' is a truly ambitious horror story, with great writing and a genuine atmosphere of dread throughout. The plot gives off creepy vibes from the beginning: a father of 8-year-old twin girls, still mourning the loss of his wife, has to slowly face the fact that his daughters have acquired an imaginary friend, "Black Mamba," an entity that begins innocent enough and progressively gets more and more sinister. The story is told from two alternating points of view: the father's and his wife's sister, a psychotherapist who tries to treat the girls and discovers far more than she expected. This might have been a domestic horror thriller, it certainly has all the features of a typical psychological horror story; but the creepiness of the situation quickly develops into something much more unsettling and disturbing than the situations found in your standard mystery novel. There's nothing good when one's daughters claim to follow the orders of a man supposedly not real, or manifest adverse physical symptoms if they disobey. The mourning process gets obviously derailed, and the family situation gets more and more unhealthy. Friend describes this devolution with great skill and minimum drama, in a way that's almost distant and detached. However, as the details come in, the occult makes its appearance (the wife's family has dabbled in it far more than should be proper) and religious overtones start to dominate, I found myself pining for more characterization and less mystery. In fact, the only drawback of the book, in my opinion, is that the story is chockfull of mysteries, everybody has something to hide, to the point that at times the narrative demands a strong suspension of disbelief. I wish people in the book felt more real, their dialogue more convincing, the atmosphere of menace a bit more restricted. But, overall, I enjoyed the book and I will read more from William Friend in the future!

This book was very interesting. Wasn’t expecting the outcome or ending. And it kept me wondering the whole time. I don’t wish there was more or a story line then just the two girls and the spirit. Like more things to happen in the book. But the story all in all was great and interesting and a thrill to read.

“Let Him In” is an atmospheric, broody novella. (clocks in at 200 pages on the NetGalley app). William Friend has written a disarming read that takes a slow walk into what seems to be a horror movie. Psychological turns that just deepen the mystery. Loved and enjoyed his description of “Black Mamba”, the twins connection to him and more importantly to each other. Written from alternate perspectives, Alfie and Julia, we enter into a house that is mourning the loss of Pippa. Neither her husband Alfie, her twin daughters, nor her sister Julia are dealing with her death in a healthy way. As Black Mamba becomes a more pronounced presence we learn of religious overtones that come into play. Any more will begin giving plot points away.

Each sentence, sometimes each word, adds to the overall sense of menace we feel.

I do feel the ending could have been more drawn out. It comes rather abruptly and doesn’t explain some of what has occurred. It left me wanting more, which isn’t a bad thing.

I would read more from Mr. Friend.

I received my copy of “Let Him In” in exchange for my honest review.

If you’re looking for a good psychological gothic horror novel, then look no further than this book. I was blown away by this story and the way the darkness creeps in. On the surface you have a gothic tale wrapped around this contemporary story of grief and family. Below the surface is Black Mamba… I found myself twisted up in the narrative desperately trying to figure things out before the big reveal but still didn’t see the end coming. The story is written from dual points of view of a Grieving husband and his dead wife’s twin, Julia. The husband, Alfie, is trying to make sense of his life without his wife but he is plagued by nightmares and the presence of his twin daughter’s imaginary friend. Julia is called in to help with the twins, as she is a psychiatrist, but she too is haunted by the secrets of the past. Secrets will be revealed, and the past will have to be reckoned with, but I cannot (and will not) attempt to describe more about this story, when William Friend did such an amazing job of writing it. The tension and creepiness will make you glad that you must have lights on just to read the book.

Let Him In by William Friend
Publisher Poisoned Pen Press
Release Date October 03, 2023
Genre Horror/ Mystery & Thriller


Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Suspense: 5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5



Alfie Hart’s wife, Pippa, died nine months ago unexpectedly and it has caused a lot of grief for himself and their twins. Cassia and Sylvia. For some time now the twins have had what the adults seem to think is an invisible friend. Harmless right? Well….now they start talking to this invisible person, eating at the table with him, and tell Alfie he is going to take them away. Things are really starting to become ominous very fast. What turned out to be a coping mechanism has now become more violent. What could have brought this dark spirit into the Hart house and what does 5he spirit have planned for them? Alfie brings Julia, Pippa’s sister into the home to help because he has become the sole support for the girls. But will this change things or make them worse….



This book is scary as hell and brings together grief, sadness, mental anguish and a dark spirit that will intertwine together and make the reader question their own sanity. I do not even know if I can give this book the review it honestly should get. I really think this should be made into a movie. The complexity of how the author combines everything and the build up of the characters as well as the suspense is amazing. I love this book and think that you should run out immediately when the book comes out in October and get your copy.

5 stars DEFINITELY


Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.