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.

Let Him In By William Friend is an interesting mix of supernatural & psychological horror. This novel goes back in forth in perspectives between Alfie, the father of two twin daughters, Cassia and Sylvia, months after losing their mother and his wife Pippa, and Julia, the aunt of the girls, and twin sister of Pippa. A nightmare turns into an imaginary friend, turns into a not-so-friendly imaginary friend, and pushes the boundaries leaving Alfie, Julia, and even myself as the reader questioning if he truly is imaginary or if the family is plagued by some sort of occult possibly attached to the dark history of their family home Hart House. Throughout this book these girls absolutely torture their father Alfie with the existence of this imaginary friend Black Mamba. It starts out all in good fun, Black Mamba wanting a pastry in addition to the girls, becoming a bear to be a big furry protector to the girls as they sleep. Whether it truly is a supernatural being intruding on their lives, or the girls subconsciously adjusting how he acts as a result of what they begin observing in the changing dynamic of their lives with their father, Black Mamba starts to get jealous of Alfie and start attempting to cause the girls to be removed from Alfie's care by CPS. Overall this is a fantastic read, very well written and playing with that notion of dangers lingering in the dark.

At 10 stars, I cant imagine much could be changed to make this book better. I went back and forth on whether or not to give this 9 or 10 stars, but I think It deserves every bit of 10 stars. If not for the very brief paragraph near the end of the book briefly describing an instance of sexual intercourse I'd say this is a great horror book for all ages. That being said, it's not gratuitous, Friend doesn't go into extensive detail, it's brief and tasteful for those not looking for (or actively trying to avoid) graphic sexual detail. The scene I believe is written in a way that several people I know with kids would be fine with their child reading this. I certainly would be, though I'm also a linguist and both understand and agree with most other linguists that swears and curses are bullshit, we give them power through societal beliefs. I understand a number of people would be aghast at the author's use of "cock" a whole two times, but there's really no reason to be. Especially because, like I said its not gratuitous.

Kinda major spoiler..... The ending, with Black Mamba having been gone a few months and then the girls saying to Julia that Alfie is the one that's gone before jumping on the bed saying "We got you! We got you!" actually left me questioning if Black Mamba was truly imaginary and is gone, or if Alfie's brief encounter with him in the cellar resulted in them trading places setting Black Mamba free to roam about within Alfie's body and killing or imprisoning Alfie himself. I really wanted to mention this because I absolutely loved it. I started the final chapter somewhat disappointed feeling somewhat blasé about how suddenly everything was over. If not for that final interaction with the girls, I probably would've only given this an 8 or 9.

I was never sure where this novel was going -- actual supernatural, only psychological, sociopathic? The ending tricked me into thinking one thing, then flipped my assumptions in glorious fashion. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in family-based horror.

I had high hopes for this story but for me it fell flat. The cover and the beginning of the story were super creepy and drew me in right away. The middle was somewhat confusing but it kept my attention enough that I wanted to stay around and find out what happened, but when I got to the ending i felt confused and as if there was still a lot of unfinished business. It could just be that this wasn’t a story for me though, so if the synopsis seems intriguing to you I say give it a shot!

I loved this creepy good story. It's a little difficult to believe that a novel that succeeds on so many different levels is a debut novel. I want to read my novels by William Friend. Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press.

To me this book started slow, but wow. It turned out to be an amazing read! Thank you for the chance!

I couldn’t peel myself away from “Let Him In”, what a dripping physiological horror thriller. A true masterpiece, this one is a must read. Sending good vibes to Alfie!

Navigating the pages of "Let Him In" is akin to walking through an atmospheric, foggy moor—there's a tangible mystique and an unmistakable undercurrent of eeriness. The spectral 'friend' and the chilling portrayal of children linger in the mind, conjuring images hard to shake off.

Yet, while the premise captivated, the prose and the narrative style didn't quite hit the mark for me. The writing, at times, felt dense, and the novel's intricate layers sometimes seemed more muddled than meticulously crafted. Glimpses into a richer backstory felt momentarily tantalizing but often untapped, lending a sense of fragmentation to the tale.

Still, with its chilling undertones and palpable tension, the book remains an enticing read. For those drawn to eerie tales that prompt reflection, it's certainly a journey to consider. But it's worth noting that its particular stylistic choices might leave some readers, like myself, pondering and ambivalent by the end.

This book had me hooked! From the creepy children to the mysterious deaths and the demons - I couldn’t put it down! I really think this has potential for a solid horror film adaptation (though the book will always be better than the films).

This was just as spooky as the cover makes it seem! I honestly had nightmares and couldn’t read it alone at night. Very original and had major Baby Teeth/Behind Her Eyes vibes. The ending has me reeling…

The suspense was great throughout the book however I didn’t understand the story at all. I was confused on how the mom died and then somehow her twin sister fills in the spot. The twin girl were creepy which was fine given the book’s plot but it fell short on actually scaring me and just didn’t make sense. The imaginary friend just goes away and I wasn’t sure if that was really a metaphor for the father. Suspenseful story but it lacked to gain my undivided attention.

I received an ARC copy of Let Him In by William Friend through Netgalley!

I really enjoyed reading this book because what is more scary than a creepy child? TWIN CREEPY CHILDREN ! are they just playing with their imagination, is it due to the grief over the loss of their mother, or is something more sinister going on? Throughout the course of the novel, we learn more about the characters' past and what could be a contributing factor to what is going on.
I enjoyed reading this, as it was a fun and spooky read!
Thank you for the ARC copy! I would certainly recommend this to a friend~!

My older brother and I often speak of what we’re currently reading. When I told him about William Friend’s debut novel “Let Him In”, I described it thus: “It’s a little bit Turn Of The Screw and a little bit The Haunting of Hill House. To which older brother replied, rightly, “That’s a hell of a recommendation.”

That it is. “Let Him In” is part haunted house tale (Hart House…Hill House…coincidence?) part psychological thriller, with a healthy (?) dose of good versus evil stirred in. But it all turns, I think, on the ever-mysterious world of twins…two sets of them in this case. Alfie’s the father to twin daughters Cassia and Sylvie who speak to him about nightly visits from their might-be-imaginary, might-be-real friend called ‘Black Mamba’. Naturally concerned, he then reports this to Julia, psychologist and…twin sister to the deceased mother of the girls! Right or wrong, she agrees to serve as a psychological consultant.

‘Black Mamba’, whatever he might be, grows more powerful and influential. The curious relationship between Alfie and Julia grows. Slowly the tension builds…the screws get turned, if you will. I might also note a bit of an unconscious tribute to Peter Straub here, especially in the lyrical prose, which is not a bad thing at all.

In summation: You should read this. It could we be witnessing the arrival of a new, powerful voice in Dark Fantasy. Mmmmm…could be…

Recommended.

"Let Him In" by William Friend is a brilliantly written and genuinely scary book that left a strong impression on me. One aspect that intrigued me was the theme of evil infiltrating a family, which created a terrifying atmosphere. Alfie, the widowed protagonist, trying to raise his daughters amidst the strange occurrences in their odd house, added to the suspense and mystery.

The author's skillful writing leaves the reader constantly questioning whether the experiences in the story are a result of grief, genuine sadness, madness, or something supernatural. This ambiguity adds to the overall chilling effect of the narrative, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

Additionally, the well-developed and realistic characters enhance the overall reading experience. The eeriness of the twins, capturing the eerie essence that twins can sometimes possess, adds an extra layer of unease to the story.

If you are a fan of unsettling horror that explores the intrusion of evil into domestic life, "Let Him In" is a book worth diving into. With its brilliant writing, spine-tingling atmosphere, and well-crafted characters, it promises to deliver a gripping and haunting reading experience.

“Daddy, there’s a man in our room…”

As a parent, waking up to two of your children telling you there is a man in their room is terrifying and shocking. But that is what happens to Alfie’s twin daughters.

Having recently lost their Mother, Pippa, the girls are clingy and seem troubled. There is definitely something going on here. People die strange deaths, Pippa’s twin sister is terrified of something in the house and her mother is a puzzle you get to figure out.

Alfie isn’t really bothered by the girls grief. They lose their mother and suddenly they have a new imaginary friend. But there is something not right about this “friend”. Not right at all.

When Pippa’s sister, Juli, who is a psychiatrist gets called on to get rid of the friend, Alfie is wondering if they aren’t all losing their minds.

There were a lot of things in play here. Alfie’s grief is painful to watch. And it will get worse. All the secrets of Hart House are about to show themselves and who knows if it will work!

True horror! This is a debut. It is also scary, tense, full of children behaving oddly which is terrifying in itself and I loved every minute of it.

NetGalley/ Poisoned Pen Press, October 03, 2023


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The atmosphere in this book of a father handling the tragic loss of his wife and the monstrous manifestations of his twin daughters' grief was utterly exquisite. Combine the timeless melancholy and *extremely British* autumnal glooms of The Haunting of Julia (even the sunny scenes in this book felt remarkably bleak) with the "creeping dread in dark corners of a broken home at midnight" factor of Hereditary and it made for a book that I couldn't put down. An absolute stunner of a story.