Let Him In by William Friend is a novel about Alfie, his twin daughters and their aunt Julia. After the twins mother dies unexpectedly the twins begin experiencing visions of a man inside their home. They grow closer and closer to ‘Black Mamba’ a man who can change forms. This is an engrossing story that slowly gives details that paint a haunting picture. Is the man a demon or simply a fantasy that the twins enjoy? Very good book!

Let Him In is an atmospheric, character-driven literary suspense. The story is told in dual first-person POV. First, we get the perspective of Alfie, a newly widowed single father of twin girls. It’s been ten months since their mother passed, and they’ve made a new… friend. This imaginary friend, named Black Mamba, is unsettling and Alfie isn’t sure of what he should do. The second POV comes from his late wife’s twin sister–Julia. She’s a psychotherapist, and she comes to the house regularly to check on the girls.

Despite the book being quite short (at only about 240 pages), it’s very slow-paced. The author leisurely takes his time telling this story, which is filled with flashbacks–in both POVs–of the late wife, Pippa. While the imaginary friend possibly being something more plotline is far from original, Let Him In takes this concept and pairs it with themes of loss and grieving of a loved one. While unsettling at times, I’m reluctant to call this book a “horror” title, as the author doesn’t quite deliver on that front. The novel is more of a character study with an atmospheric setting and a languorously suspenseful plot.

Let Him In is for those who want to read a creepy (haunted house?) story that’s rife with allegory.

Let Him In was an intense ride from start to finish. It's a story about grief, about the connection between twins, about belief systems. Told in chapters that feature one of two characters' thoughts and observations, the book tells the tale of a family still grieving the loss of a mother/wife/sister/daughter. Alfie and his twin seven-year old daughters Cassia and Sylvie are struggling after the Alfie's wife Pippa died unexpectedly a while before. One night, the twins show up at Alfie's bed claiming there was a man in their room. A man they call "Black Mamba" who continues to visit and takes on the forms of various animals. Marian, Alfie's mother-in-law, insists that Julia, Pippa's twin who is a family psychiatrist, help the twins out. Julia tries to resist, as she has distanced herself on purpose as being too close to them to offer therapy, and also has no desire to return to Hart House, the old house in which she grew up and in which her parents practiced their own versions of religion and spirituality. But as the twins' dependence on Black Mamba and resistance to Alfie escalate, Julia finds herself drawn in to try to set the girls straight and hope to save her remaining family from calamity.
I don't know what William Friend's writing background is prior to this, his debut novel, but this book read like the work of a veteran author. The atmosphere got creepier as the story went along, and the tension increased throughout, as past secrets were unveiled little by little, and the truth of Black Mamba eventually comes to light. 4.5 of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Let Him In.

I'll be honest, this isn't scary. Not at all.

It contains elements that would make for a potentially scary story; twins, a grieving family, a house with a sordid past.

But, nothing fully coalesces and I think it's because the author doesn't have a clear idea of what he's trying to say.

Is this about grief, sorrow, is the imaginary friend the twins see their version of Babadook? Great movie, by the way.

Or is this about cults and the strange, fervent behavior they inspire and produce in their parishioners?

I feel the author is pointing fingers at fringe religious sects, but doesn't take it further, even though the narrative had potential to become something truly macabre and horrifying.

I also wasn't a fan of Julia hooking up with Alfie at the end, felt kind of icky about that.

The family dynamics and the unsettling relationship between Alfie and Julia was creepier than the imaginary friend.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this before publication but I wasn't a fan of the narrative, the characters, or the writing style.

When a widowed father of twin girls awakes in the night to find them at the foot of his bed claiming there is a man in their room, he quickly checks the house only to find it empty and locked tight. Chalking the recurrence up to nightmares and nothing more...
But now the girls have an imaginary friend and things are happening in the house that are unexplainable.
This was a very good story! Very intense. I could not read this after dark without feeling unsettled... watched.
I can not wait to see what else this author has in store. I will definitely be checking out future work!

The cover is eye-catching, it really drew me in. The story was good to read in the dark. I loved that this had an imaginary friend in their story which gave it the creepiness to it. A wonderful chilly read that left me with goosebumps.

This book was creepy in all the right ways and even had me imagining shadowy figures in the dark as I read! Black Mamba was the perfect level of scary and mysterious and I was captivated and curious the entire time. Definitely read this one!

This story started out quite strong, setting a haunting tone that I hoped would be sustained throughout the book. Unfortunately, much of the writing felt redundant and there were several gaps that were never filled in, including (how did Pippa die? what happened with the baby? what happened with Julia and Pippa's dad?). After much buildup, a rushed ending that attempted to piece together these mysteries was the biggest disappointment.

This book had great potential but fell a little short for me and wound up just in the middle of the rating scale - definitely would have given 3.5 if I could have!

First, the plot is so good and the concept for this book is very unique. I was caught a bit off guard about the religious aspects as that wasn't mentioned at all in the book's blurb. There were parts of the book where I couldn't put it down, but then other parts that I felt were a bit of a slog. For me, I found Alfie/the twins' chapters to be most easily readable and felt that Julia was a bit more stale. I felt the ending was a bit rushed, but overall was solid.

The characters were well flushed out and I felt like I got a good picture of each character and their unique voice, which was a very strong point for this book. I felt like each character had a place in the book and I understand who they were and why they were that way. Definitely the strongest point in this book for me!

I recommend this book for horror lovers and found it a relatively easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Friend, and Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to receive a copy of this book in exchange for a prompt and honest review. This review has been posted to multiple sites.

I was drawn to the cover and synopsis of this! I am always on the look out for more horror books & this fit the bill.

I was hooked from the start! I loved the build up, it started off creepy and got even creepier as the story developed.

I enjoyed the “imaginary friend” aspect although I did feel like there were key points that were unfinished.

I was disappointed by the ending, mainly because I am not a fan of open endings. I would have loved to have seen this cleared up more & a definitive ending.

Overall for a debut it was really good! I’d definitely read more from this author.

"Let Him In" is a terrifying examination of grief. When his twin daughters begin to claim that an imaginary friend is intruding into the family home, Alfie initially chalks up the strangeness to his wife's (and their mother) sudden death. But the *something* that stalks his children by night continues to turn his life upside down...

This book was slow-going at first but perfectly frightening! It's very difficult to "get" me - I'm so desensitized to horror that not much bothers me at this point. But something about the way that the imaginary friend intruded into the lives of this family - and the questions that aren't quite answered at the end of the book - made me question noises as I tried to fall asleep last night. Very much recommended!

Let Him In, the debut of author William Friend is a character driven force of slow creeping dread and fantastic atmospheric horror. This story will make the reader wonder along with the characters what is real and what is imaginary.
Buckle up dear reader for this book will take you on a ride.

Let Him In is a deliciously creepy tale including sinister twins who talk in unison and communicate with each other in meaningful glances. Into their life comes Black Mamba, a creature who starts as a snake but morphs, over the course of the book, into something far more ghoulish. Fast paced with excellent characterization, Let Him In is a good, chilling read.

This is a very creepy read. It’s also an almost overwhelmingly sad read.

Almost as much a study on grief as it is a horror novel, the book has you wondering just what is and is not real.

While I’m not sure I loved our little family, I definitely worried for them and I found the author both surprised me and pleased me with how this ended.

It does get a little repetitive at times (I was reminded a little bit of Stolen Tongues), but just when the repetition starts to get a little too much, the author amps things up, leaving you tense and worried all over again.

I would definitely read the author again!

• ARC via Publisher

This eerie gothic tale, reminiscent of "The Haunting of Hill House" and "The Whisper Man," centers around twins and is guaranteed to send shivers down your spine. Drawing inspiration from the iconic eerie twins, Louise and Lisa Burns, in "The Shining," this story promises countless screams, sleepless nights, and a heightened sense of fear at every creak and shadow that you mistake for a dangerous presence.

The main characters, Hart House and Black Mamba, dominate this horror-infused tale of grief and family drama. Their foreboding presence will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and give you enough goosebumps to leave you bundled up in two blankets, even in the heat of July.

Set within a haunting house that harbors dark secrets, where two deaths have occurred under mysterious circumstances (though they may appear natural, doubts still linger), we meet Alfie, a grieving father, and his twin girls, Sylvie and Cassia, who are left behind after their mother, Pippa, tragically succumbs to anaphylactic shock. Together, they reside in the same place, haunted by their immense grief.

Nine months ago, the twins began experiencing nightly visits from an unknown presence, claiming that there was a man in their bedroom and that they were scared. Despite Alfie's attempts to investigate, he never saw anyone. However, the girls persisted, seeking solace by sharing their father's bed. Eventually, the visits abruptly ceased, and Alfie didn't question the reason, believing that his daughters had learned to cope with their fears.

Now, the girls speak of an imaginary friend named Black Mamba, an elder man who can transform into any animal he desires. Black Mamba takes them on incredible journeys, from soaring through the city as a shapeshifting black bird to diving into the depths of the sea, where they encounter magnificent creatures.

The existence of Black Mamba raises concerns for Alfie, prompting him to seek guidance from Julia, Pippa's twin sister and a psychiatrist. Unbeknownst to Alfie, Julia and Pippa also had an imaginary friend similar to the one the girls describe. Julia fears that something sinister may threaten the entire family, connected to their own religious rituals and a dark past.

As Alfie begins to suffer from traumatic nightmares, unsettling visions, and an eerie sense of being watched, the situation escalates, leading to even deadlier and more dangerous consequences.

Overall, the book's chilling ending is nothing short of jaw-dropping. The lingering echoes of the twins' imaginary and unnerving giggles still haunt my mind. The gothic house setting, the gradual buildup of tension, and the disturbing atmosphere captivate you from the very beginning, making it impossible to put the book down until the thrilling conclusion. I highly recommend this as a must-read for Halloween or for anyone seeking a spine-tingling experience.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a digital review copy of this thrilling book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

thank you to William Friend, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC in exchange for my personal for review.

I like the cover. It's nifty.

This book was not for me. It was toooooo slow in the beginning and middle then whizzed through the end.

But, the writer does a great job with characteristics that make you feel like you were there in the story with the characters. I wish I could give a half star because this book isn't quite a 3 but also not yet a 4.

This was a creative and creepy way to show how grief affects us all differently. The writing was a bit repetitive and slow, but pushing through, I found the ending quite satisfying! I loved the twins they made me feel so uneasy, black mamba was written perfectly in my opinion and Alfie's development throughout the book was great! Although I do understand why the religious aspects were there, I did find it quite dragging, I enjoy this and am still obsessed with the cover!

A recent widower drowning in grielf. His 8-year-old twin daughters. An imaginary friend. Or is he?
This is a slow-burn horror novel with Gothic vibes, a dash of thriller, and a sprinkle of literary fiction. William Friend does an excellent job of creating believable characters who have suffered a real tragedy. The writing is seamless and flowing, but I felt as though the plot moved too slowly at the beginning and middle of the book and too fast at the end. All in all, however, a classic horror read: hauntings/ghosts, occult, creepy old houses? Yes please.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thankful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. Seeing as it comes out in October it will be perfect for spooky season! Alfie and his twin daughters are adjusting to the loss of Pippa, beloved mother and wife. The twins come up with a seemingly harmless imaginary friend to cope although the situation quickly becomes a bit more sinister. The lines between reality and imagination are blurred and Alfie can’t be quite sure he’s doing his best. Aunt Julia his wife’s twin comes to help and soon finds she’s also not sure what’s a remnant from her past living there or something taking over the twins! Really enjoyed this book and it kept me engaged!

I rather enjoyed this book! It gave me the creeps to the point I had to walk around my house at night with a flashlight because the shadows reminded me of the book. I definitely recommend this book and have suggested friends preorder their own copies.