Alfie struggles to care for himself and his twin daughters after the death of his wife, their mother. One night he wakes to find the girls at his bedside talking about a man at the foot of their bed. After investigating, Alfie concludes they must have been dreaming. This becomes recurring until the girls see him during the day too. When the girls’ temperaments begin to change, Alfie starts to wonder. Is this new playmate of theirs a manifestation of their imagination to cope with their grief, or something much more sinister?

The description and the cover art drew me in. Both paint a spooky and mysterious picture of what is going on. I was eager to find out what that was. However, I have been struggling to get my reaction down about this book. It has many thought-provoking themes on addiction, mental health, and grief, but the pacing nearly kills it.

It starts off strong and I was expecting it to slow down for some exposition, but it slowed down to a point where I was trudging through. It lost that captivating feeling the first couple chapters had. By the 40% mark it does pick up again and William Friend does a fantastic job creating a chilling atmosphere full of suspense and tension. This is not one I foresee adding to my physical library and quite frankly I might forget about it in a few days.

Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Willam Friend for the advanced copy. My review is honest and voluntary.

Simply fantastic. Do you fancy your grief horror with a dash of the occult and supernatural? This should be right at the top of your list.

Mr. Friend offers up a Malfi-esque lesson on the depths to which your grief can consume you. Couple that with a potentially haunted house, a reclusive “church” and the demons they spawned and you’re in for a serious treat.

What’s more, the authors ability to write near perfect dialogue between characters (hell, the authors ability to write period) is reason enough alone to pick this up.

Do yourself a favor and keep an eye open for this one. I doubt you’ll be disappointed!

4.5 rounded up!

This is the book that made me sign up for NetGalley! I loved this book and it was just what I was looking for to feel spooky vibes and look over my shoulder!

If you like creepy kids (twins even!) with a terrifying imaginary friend I recommend this book to you!

Twin Girls and an imaginary Friend called Black Mamba? Hell yeah, Horror Movie stuff!

I really liked the creepy Black Mamba - and the twins were described perfectly ( I couldn't be in a room with them when they talk about him lol ) I also liked the history of Hart House but unfortunately it didn't go into more details.

Honestly this book was hard for me to review because I don't know what the point was, there were many factors ( supernatural, religion, psychological ) but I might didn't get the final outcome.

Characters were great and it get me going because I wanted to know the ending.

Thanks to Netalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book and highly recommend.

From the 7-year-old, unison-speaking, robot-like twin girls, who quite reminded me of the twins (Hello, Danny) in the movie The Shining by Stephen King, to the gothic, supposedly haunted, three-story manse, Hart House, whose attic and cellar once bore mute testimony to tragedy, including the death of their mother, Pippa, comes this chilling, well-written first novel by William Friend.

Nine months after Pippa's death, the twins, Sylvie and Cassia, begin to repeatedly claim there's a man in the dark, standing at the foot of their bed. Their father, Alfie, does all the usual things- turning on all the lights, checking the closet and looking for the monster under the bed, scouring the entire house for an intruder, but to no avail. Just as suddenly as it started, it ends with the twins sleeping through the night with Alfie imagining the girls' issues must have resolved themselves.

Soon after, an imaginary, invisible friend the girls call Black Mamba, makes an appearance. The twins claim only they can see him and that he takes many forms, including a black mamba snake, a bear and others. Alfie plays along in the beginning, figuring that it's all make-believe but things only get creepier. He starts having strange dreams about his dead wife, and keeps thinking he can see things out of the corner of his eye.

Feeling desperate and still grieving for his dead wife, Alfie calls on Pippa's twin sister, psychotherapist Julia for help. With misgivings, she finally agrees to counsel the twins, while having qualms herself because as a child, she too had strange experiences at Hart House. Memories of her father constantly taking photos of empty rooms and walking around at all hours of the night, shaking an old, engraved, wooden rattle while strongly scented candles burned throughout the house.

As this novel subtly winds its way toward its chilling conclusion, all the threads knit together in a way you will never see coming.

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.