I was hesitant to start this one after reading a handful of mixed reviews on Bookstagram, but decided it’s always best to form my own opinion. Without further ado, here’s my review!

I immediately liked that the chapters included multiple character POVs, alternating between Julia & Alfie. This gave me just enough information to stay invested, but left me consistently guessing as to what would happen next.

The suspense build up in this book was really well executed, and by the end I was dying to know what would happen to the twins and Black Mamba. I couldn’t put my kindle down for the last 30% of the book! Is this a ghost story? Haunted house tale? Possessed children book? You’ll have to find out yourself! 😈

Thank you to the author and netgalley for my ecopy of this novel to read and honestly review!

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't influenced by the cover to pick this one up, thankfully what was inside the book lived up to the vibe I got from the cover. Let Him In is unsettling and lives up to the horror label while also approaching grief and the loss of a parent in a very interesting way.

This book legit gave me chills with every chapter. I loved the level of suspense it gave while keeping likeable characters.

3/5 🌟
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Didn’t love it, but also didn’t hate it. It drug on just a little bit for me. But also had some pretty good scenes that low key spooked me out a little. lol. overall, probably a better read around halloween/fall. Could definitely see this one getting you in the spooky season mood 👻 y’all just going to have to read this one for yourself, I am not sure if I would recommend or not. 😂

I began reading this book with eagerness but the story is much too slow to get into. After months of struggling to pick this up, I'm only 50% in. It is clear that this is not to my pacing in this season of my life. I kept reading thinking there would be some thralling payout but I'm not sure that that is true. (I'm happy to be proven wrong though). I do believe this might work if I had the time to really dig in. It reads like most psychological thriller I like-uneasy, creepy, a mystery. Unfortunately, wrong timing.

The book Let HIm In by William Friend is a slow burn psychological suspense that centres around a widower and his twin daughters. One night his daughters tell him they see a figure at the end of their bed - when he cannot find anything he assumes it is a nightmare and their lives go on. Things begin to deteriorate in Hart House after this shadow figure shows up in the girls' room - Alfie drinks too much, and strange things begin happening with the girls.

The family must confront their past in order to figure out how to rid their lives of the shadow "friend" that will not leave their house even after Alfie consults his psychotherapist sister-in-law for help.

The story had well developed characters and the storyline was quite clever, but I found that some of the events were a little repetitive and at the end I was a little disappointed that the resolution seemed a little rushed. It was a lot of build up for what seemed like a very rushed ending.

As a debut novel, I think it was a good one and I would for sure read another novel by this author. Rating 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this advance copy via NetGalley..

Let him jn book tells a scary story about a family who can't escape their own fears. After their mom dies, the two little girls start talking about a man who's not really there. Their dad thinks they're just making it up, but the man becomes more and more real. I got really scared reading this because it feels like the house is haunted. The author does a great job of making you wonder what's real and what's just in their imagination. It made me think about how our minds can play tricks on us when we're sad and scared. This book will stay with me for a while - it's a really chilling tale!

A single father, grappling with the task of raising his 6-year-old twins after the loss of their mother, encounters an unsettling occurrence when the girls claim to have seen a man in their room one night. Despite the father's belief that they are experiencing night terrors, the girls persist in their claim. However, after months of disturbing encounters, the girls develop a bond with their supposed visitor, whom they refer to as "The Black Mamba," a shape-shifting friend who takes them on nocturnal adventures.

Seeking assistance from his sister-in-law, a psychotherapist, the father aims to uncover the truth behind the haunting experiences plaguing his daughters. The chilling and beautifully written narrative skillfully navigate themes of grief and unwavering love, painting a haunting portrait of the twins and their eerie encounters. While the ending may not unfold as expected, it resonates with the reader. Overall, this compelling story marks a successful debut for William Friend, leaving readers eagerly anticipating his future works.

This one is so creepy! A perfect book for spooky season. Mr. Friend did an excellent job of plotting a creepy book that had me wanting to keep reading to see what happens at the end. Definitely recommend this one.

Amazing book !! The plot was amazing well developed !! The characters are unique . You can’t stop reading 100 %. Recommend !! I loved it

Widower Alfie and his twins girls are still living in the house that his wife grew up in. One night the Alfie is awakened by the girls screaming that there is a man in their room. Alfie searches the entire house and finds nobody.

The girls start talking about their new friend Black Mamba. They story takes off from there. I enjoyed the gothic horror. It has the childhood home, weird religious grandmother, and twins that were creepy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. When I first saw the cover I was immediately attracted to it and I'm disappointed in myself for taking forever to getting around to reading it. I would definitely be recommending this book to my friends in my reading group! Thank you for the great ARC!!

Seriously creepy and I had to read it with the lights on. Can't wait to see what the author writes next

3.5 stars, rated up.

I really enjoyed this. I admit I was sucked in by the cover to start. The horror elements with the possibility of creepy children really called to me. The story, however, is far less shallow than I am. One of my favorite things in books is the exploration of grief and how it is dealt with so differently from one individual to the next. I thought this was done really well.

The last third of the book I did struggle a bit, finding the direction a little meandering and confusing. That could be a me problem, but I found it a bit unfortunate that I lost some of the momentum when it is a relatively short book. I would definitely still recommend this as a good creepy, gothic read. This is a debut author, and I'm looking forward to what is to come from them. This story and the characters have stuck with me which holds a great deal of weight for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this was enjoyable overall. I read it pretty quickly and the author did a great job with creating a creepy atmosphere. With that being said, some parts felt slow and repetitive. I wish certain aspects were explained more so that the story made more sense. I also expected the ending, so it wasn’t very wowing for me. If you like short horror novels that are able to describe creepy atmospheres within the first few pages, you should give this a try!

Thank you NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my free and honest review. Wow, this book is a serious heart stopper. What a thriller that takes you in an emotional roller coaster and then kicks you even further at the end. Whew!

I am a big fan of creepy kids and bumps in the night. I definitely wasn't disappointed as the imaginary friend "Black Mamba" makes his presence known and haunts the Hart House.

The story is told through two POVs, Alfie (dad) and Julia (aunt). I loved the Aunt Julia, I loved that she was a psychiatrist and used her education and rationality to challenge the supernatural elements. I felt somewhat indifferent to Alfie... I wasn't a fan of his dream sequences - I don't think they added anything to the sense of foreboding that was already established. My favorite part was the religious/occult aspect.

I am impressed with it being a debut. I will definitely check out anything else William Friend writes in the future.

3.5⭐ (liked it)

*I received an eBook though @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress and am leaving an honest review voluntarily.

"Let Him In" is an atmospheric, slow-burn tale of grief. The story does become a bit repetitive at times, especially during dream sequences. However, the storytelling is masterful and the reader is left guessing again and again while the plot unfolds. The ending — while anticlimactic in comparison to the rest of the novel — is well done.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance copy!

This is sort of a different genre for me but I wanted to branch out. very unsettling! The atmosphere was creepy and one of those ones that just sticks with you after youre done reading it.

Let Him In is a slow burn family drama with some elements of horror.

A young family of four is beset by tragedy leaving a father to care for his twin daughters. The children attempt to navigate their grief with visions of a mysterious man in their mother’s childhood home. The father and their aunt are left to untangle what is real and what is imaginary.

Reminiscent of The Babadook, this story’s primary villain is grief draped in the trappings of a monster. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and language of the book, I wish there was more horror to pull the reader through into this world faster. Many times I found myself putting the book down in favor of more captivating reads. And when I was ultimately finished, I found it not as satisfying as others in the genre.