A creepy and dark story. This is one that will stay with me, especially when the lights go out
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have to start off saying the cover of this book hooked me and the writing is great.

While the idea of the story is interesting and starts off very eerie, I feel it was a little repetitive with the back story of Pippa. The ending has me little confused. I’m guessing Friend meant for it to be open ended so the reader can believe whatever they see fit. I’d rather have a straight forward ending. The story is good, but not the right pick for me.

Thank you for the ARC!

If you're looking for a spooky read that's creepy but not too intense, 'Let Him In' is a solid choice. It's got this haunted house mystery vibe which is really cool, especially if you're into stories where the scariness is more about the unknown than outright horror. The book switches between Alfie, who's dealing with losing his wife, and Julia, his sister-in-law. Their take on grief is pretty interesting and feels real.

Alfie's kind of a mess, which is frustrating but also kind of relatable, especially when you see how he struggles with parenting on his own. Julia's a bit more fun with her sarcasm. The ghostly stuff in the story is neat because it's all about figuring out if the creepy things happening are real or just in the characters' heads – I always love that kind of twist in horror stories.

The book doesn't just throw scary stuff at you non-stop; it's more of a slow build, which I personally prefer. There's this one romance subplot that felt a bit out of place, but it wasn't a big deal. Overall, it's a great read for when you want something spooky but not too gory or violent, perfect for Halloween time. I'd give it a solid four stars.

Thank you to the publisher for the egalley!!

3.5 stars rated down.

I've never read a book like this. Let Him In did a wonderful job of pulling me in and keeping me guessing at what was going on. Black Mamba was an excellent villain, and I spent the majority of the novel wondering if he was real or a figment of the girl's imagination. Where I struggled with this novel, was the jumpiness of the story. I felt like there were parts that left me confused, and answers were never given later. What was the deal with the rattle? How did the mother get in the house? What bit Pippa and killed her? I am left with many questions. I also wish there was more concrete evidence on if Black Mamba replaced Alfie in the end. I'd like to believe he did, which leaves the reader with a sinister aftertaste. But because of the vague writing style, I am left confused more than anything. This is definitely a debut novel, but I will give Friend's sophomore novel a chance.

The incredible, creepy front cover of this book is what first drew me in. Then I read the plot blurb and was instantly intrigued. Others have written great stories about children whose imaginary friends aren't so imaginary or innocent. But this story takes that premise to a new, bizarre and creepy level.

Alfie and his twin daughters are trying to navigate life following the death of the girls' mother. When the kids start coming into his room at night to report there is a man in their room and they start talking about their imaginary friend, Alfie thinks they are just trying to cope with grief and loss. But soon, this imaginary friend takes a dark turn.

As I started reading this story, I really thought it was going to be the run of the mill evil imaginary friend tale. Kids make invisible friend, parent is mildly amused, situation turns dark, imaginary friend is exorcised, evil entity comes back, parent strikes back, entity is banished, family lives happily ever after. But nope....every time I thought I had this story figured out, it took a dark turn in a totally different direction. Creepily bizarre, this book was a perfect addition to my Spooky Season reading this year!

This turned into a binge read for me. I couldn't stop reading....I had to know how it ended!

Bit of a slow burn. But the story delivers. Loved it!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Poisoned Pen Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Let Him In is William Friend's debut novel of psychological horror. It was on my Halloween TBR and I found it to be a chilling, quick read.

Alfie is a grieving father struggling to raise his (creepy) twin daughters after the loss of his wife, and finds his world turned upside down when his (creepy) twin daughters become increasingly obsessed with a shape-shifting imaginary friend they named Black Mamba.

As the line between reality and imagination blurs, Alfie must confront his own fears and uncover the truth behind Black Mamba's presence. Is Black Mamba a manifestation of his (creepy) twin daughters' grief or something more sinister?

Things to know:
1. Twins are creepy.
2. The cliffhanger-style chapter endings kept me turning pages.
3. However, there is some redundancy that slows the pace.
4. The ending was satisfying enough, but I was expecting more.

Pretty good, not great. Worth a read.

Dark and gothic. I loved this creepy tale of horror. This is a carefully thought-out story that at times gave me the willies. I love how you're not really sure if the twins' friend is real or imaginary until the end.

This Gothic story sets the stage for a chilling experience.
Alfie, is a widowed father raising twin daughters, Sylvie and Cassia, The story kicks off when the girls claim there's a mysterious figure in their room. The narrative weaves together telepathy and otherworldly visions tied to their grief.

As Alfie grapples with nightmares and his own undisclosed secrets, he turns to Julia, his late wife’s twin sister and a psychiatrist, for some clarity. Enter Black Mamba, the imaginary friend with the ability to morph into animals and take the girls on mystical journeys, connecting to the sinister history of Hart House.

The characters are well written and not one dimensional. As a reader, I could emphasize with the main character and feel his grief.

The book delivers a creepy, atmospheric narrative, and it's a solid read, especially if you're into the kind of twin-centric chillers that tend to linger in the memory. I would definitely recommend it to everyone who likes reading horror tales.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy for an honest review.

Sometimes timing can have a large effect on your feelings toward a story. I have read so many reviews from people that were enthralled with this book - but for me? It simply fell flat. The storyline was slow and with a horror book that just doesn't work for me. I want to be gripping the edge of my seat, afraid to look over my shoulder, and have that fear follow me even after I've put the book down.

Friend did a great job with creating a creepy atmosphere and if you are new to horror and just want to dip a toe in then give it a shot. The storyline is creative and there are moments where Black Mamba is definitely unsettling. But, if you are looking for that dark, unsettling feeling that lingers long after you've turned out the lights? Then you should probably skip this one.

I have been reading a lot of boring books lately and this is one of them. Maybe because it is a horror book I was expecting it to be scary but this book is not. It does have a creepy element to it. It wasn't bad but it felt like it was a bit disjointed.

Alfie wakes one night to find his twin daughters at the foot of his bed, claiming there’s a shadowy figure in their bedroom. When no such thing can be found, he assumes the girls had a nightmare.

He isn’t surprised that they’re troubled. The twins’ mother Pippa died unexpectedly, leaving Alfie to raise them alone. And now, when the girls mention a new imaginary friend, it seems like a harmless coping mechanism. But the situation quickly develops into something more insidious. The girls set an extra place for him at the table. They whisper to him. They say he’s going to take them away…

Alfie calls upon Julia—Pippa’s sister and a psychiatrist—to oust the malignant tenant from their lives. But as Alfie himself is haunted by visions and someone watches him at night, he begins to question the true character of the force that has poisoned his daughters’ minds, with dark and violent consequences.

Whatever this “friend” is, he doesn’t want to leave. Alfie will have to confront his own shameful secrets, the dark past of Hart House, and even the bounds of reality—or risk taking part in an unspeakable tragedy.

***A big thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book.***
**contains spoilers**

The captivating cover of "Let Him In" immediately seized my attention, and the novel lived up to my expectations by immersing me in intricate family dynamics. Through the narrative, we are introduced to Dad, Alfie, and his twin daughters, Cassia and Sylvie. The family grapples with the aftermath of a tragic event that unfolded nine months ago: the sudden and unexpected death of Pippa, the girls' mother and Alfie's long-time partner, within the confines of their home.

This chilling Gothic thriller, perfect for amplifying the atmospheric suspense during Halloween, invites readers to save it for the chilling season. Reflecting on the eeriest books I've encountered, many revolve around twins, and "Let Him In" follows suit. The story weaves a narrative that explores the telepathy, giggles, and profound visions of a dark presence intertwined with the twins' grief.

Alfie, coping with the recent loss of his wife, Pippa, while raising his twin daughters, faces a disturbing scenario. The girls claim a man is in their room at night, but when no evidence surfaces, Alfie dismisses it as psychological effects of missing their mother. As nightmares plague him, Alfie becomes increasingly fearful that his own dark secrets are haunting him. Seeking clarity, he enlists the help of Pippa's twin sister, Julia, a psychiatrist, to observe the girls as they interact with an imaginary friend, setting the stage for a revelation of a dangerous presence.

The imaginary friend, Black Mamba, possesses the ability to transform into animals and travel to mystical lands, linking to the sinister past of Hart House. This dark history has previously haunted Julia and Pippa when they, too, had an imaginary friend. The narrative unfolds with a creepy and atmospheric tale, although at times I found myself lost in thought, possibly overanalyzing or misunderstanding certain aspects of the plot. Nevertheless, "Let Him In" delivered on its promise of a suspenseful and unsettling reading experience.

Alfie is adjusting to raising his twin daughters when his wife dies. He gets help from his wife's sister Julia when they become obsessed with an imaginary friend with sinister intentions.

Let Him In is a creeping slow-burn horror novel. Imagine your daughters some into your room and say there is a man in their room. It is really chilling. The characters are well developed and realistic. The large manor in disrepair gives a gothic mood. The first half could have been a bit more fast paced, but things really picked up about half way through. Some aspects of the ending were a little unclear. It was an good debut, and the explorations of grief and imagination were really interesting.

I would recommend Let Him In for those that like a creepy, gothic, slow burn story.

I loved this book! I kept thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it. The sure sign of a good read! It was creepy good! Thank you for letting me read it!

I concluded my Halloween reading with "Let Him In," which unfortunately ranked my least favorite among the spooky and thrilling reads I delved into. Maybe it was timing because I read chilling tales before this, and Let Him In struggled to measure up.

William Friend uses the vulnerable child trope, exploring either severe behavioral issues or potentially supernatural forces at play. However, the narrative falls short of evoking that deeply unsettling feeling associated with children in horror. While this might appeal to readers seeking a slightly eerie touch in their horror, as a devoted fan of dark and creepy tales, I found the children's portrayal of their spooky friend, Black Mamba, to be more whiny than genuinely unsettling, making it challenging to buy into the ambiguity of his reality fully.

On a positive note, William Friend does a good job setting the stage with the family house and its ominous past, successfully instilling a sense of creepiness and suspense surrounding the family dynamics in the house. Despite this, the payoff in the end didn't deliver the desired eerie and unsettling impact. The resolution wrapped up too conveniently, leaving specific questions I had answered but lacking the satisfying payoff I sought.

Well, this was creepy. The ending chilled me to my core. Nothing like a good imaginary friend trope to get your imagination going. I won't be sleeping with he lights on tonight, but Black Mamba will not soon leave the corners of my mind.

This was one of those plots that could go one of two ways. It could end up being incredibly terrifying, or it could be just okay, and unfortunately for me it was the latter.

I loved some of the spooky elements, but at times the story dragged for me. I also found the sudden romantic relationship between Alfie and Julia a bit strange and not important to the main plot.

Overall it was a decent story, and one I’d recommend to readers who don’t like super scary books, but enjoy a spooky atmosphere.

A Scary Imaginary Friend

Surprisingly complicated in scope for a debut novel, this book lured me in and then pulled me under. There are triggers which will deter the sensitive and it's not an easy read. The plot is obscured by a malevolence that is filling this damaged family's lives like a toxic fog. The suspense builds painfully as events unfold, leading to a place of deep, dark psychological horror.

The circumstances under which Alfie loses his wife and is left alone to raise their girls is conveyed well, though tragically. The heavy weight of grief and loneliness on the household seems at first natural but gradually becomes imbued with such creepiness that the threat of even greater losses awaiting can't be ignored.

Life in Hart House seems like a terrifying dream I'd want to quickly bundle up my kids and flee from, never to return. But, like Alfie, I would stay because I had no place to take them to. Alfie’s self-doubt is sadly justified as reality is slowly and painfully revealed. If there's no intervention, this family is doomed.

Julia, Alfie’s sister in law, is a survivor of some very strange parenting. Her own complicated grief is painful and it's understandable that she hesitates to become further involved with her late sister's daughters. She can help them, but like Alfie, her forced perspective has rendered her unable to grasp the truth.

I don't want to reveal anything, but I must say that the ending of the story is outstanding because it didn't feel like the end. My mind keeps returning to it, trying to work things out. It feels like something terrible has happened but is tragically unacknowledged. William Friend has worked an artifice that makes me doubt my own conclusions. Let Him In is profoundly horrifying.

Thank you to author William Friend, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for their gift of an advance reader's copy of Let Him In. My review is my own opinion and uninfluenced by anyone else. This is a powerful and frightening book

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I feel bad for saying this but I absolutely hated this book. I wanted to DNF after a few chapters but since it was an arc I pushed through. It’s a really short book (less than 300 pages on my e-reader) and took weeks for me to read because I kept reading a few pages then putting it down. I felt the atmosphere that was trying to be created but the pacing so so slow it wasn’t affective. Not to mention, the plot twist was not a plot twist, could see it coming a mile away, which made the ending lack luster. I will say, I wasn’t expecting the grandma’s role in all of this, I truly thought she would have been a solid back seat character but she really sat in the middle seat and leaned forward to get some book time.

Anyways, I’m sure this book would be effective for some readers, it just didn’t land for me.

I did like Julia though, she was my favorite character (minus her unnecessary ending).

This is Friend’s debut novel, and it is certainly one that will make you shiver. It begs the question, what is the correct way to grieve? The answer, of course, is that there is no one way to mourn. Let Him In explores this question and what grief might look like for young children. Friend is great at building a tense, creepy atmosphere, and I definitely did not read this after dark!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!