This is an exciting, spooky novel that I have been interested in reading since I read about it earlier this spring, so I am grateful for having the opportunity to read it through an Advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion!

I want to start by saying its a slower paced novel. The slower pace allowed me to make connections of the mystery, put together pieces of the story, and come up with my own theories about what's happening, something I really enjoy. Once I started learning about the history of the house, the history of every death in the family, the history of Black Mamba, I knew I would be hooked.

Black Mamba controls the family like a master puppeteer, and through the perspectives of a grieving husband and the sister in law who took a step back from the family, we learn about this "imaginary friend" that twin girls are obsessed with known as Black Mamba. This eerie tale had me hunched over my kindle until the very end.
I personally loved the ending of the book. It was a happy, not happy ever after.

Grief is incredibly complex, incredibly difficult to articulate. I feel as though William Friend was able to capture how grief can affect not only Alfie, but also the girls, the remaining twin sister Julia, and the grandmother. Grief affects everyone differently, and he was able to capture it with those characters.

I am also a fan of haunted house horror, so the more I learned about the cellar, the more excited I became. I truly think the house is what brough Black Mamba alive. I wonder if there will be a second book, that one going through the next generation, or even a prequel that goes over the death of the grandfather..

Let Him in was a really fast and engaging read that delivered well on creepy vibes and kept me curious throughout. The writing style manages to give so much and yet never feel slow or too detailed. Definitely a great spooky October read.

Note: arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for honest review

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of "Let Him In", by William Friend. I found this story to be creepy and intriguing all mixed into a haunted house wtih children at the center of the story. I found it to be a quick read yet very vivid it the writing style. A great October spooky-vibes read.

I know it’s shocking that I chose another gothic psychological thriller. This book was interesting and I desperately wanted to know why the strange behaviors and occurrences were happening. It was a quick and interesting read. Some was slightly predictable but that should not stop you from reading it. The book was released on 10/3. Thanks to netgalley and poisoned pen press for the copy.

As I was reading Let Him In, I kept thinking, what exactly is this book, what am I reading. I was so confused for much of it
....but you know what? That made it all the more terrifying and unputdownable! I read through this one so quickly.

Is something supernatural happening here, or is it something purely psychological? Are the kids' dad, Alfie, and the kids' aunt, Julia unreliable narrators? Who can you believe, what can you believe, and what is happening in this house. These were all the questions I was asking myself.

Let Him In left me guessing right until the very end. This was such a complex novel about a family coping with the death of a wife, mother, daughter, and sister under such odd and mysterious circumstances.

And that is all I'm going to say - this one is best going into it knowing very little about it.

I'd definitely recommend Let Him In if you like stories that are unpredictable and that leave you guessing at what is reality at every page.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

I went back and forth on whether to give this one three or four stars. I settled on four because even though it wasn’t what I expected, I did enjoy it quite a bit. I thought this was going to be a creepy house with a mind of its own kind of haunted house story, maybe along the lines of House of Leaves. It seemed like it was going to be that for a good portion of the book… however, I think it was less that and more psychological, but I wouldn’t call it a psychological thriller. It was more an exploration of the mental effects of grief among members of a family and losing someone in the family too soon, but among multiple generations. It was suspenseful in that I wasn’t sure quite where it was going but at the same time it was a slow burn. I would recommend it if that description makes sense and appeals to you.

This was like nothing I have ever read before. You won’t regret reading it! Thank you #NetGalley for the opportunity!

Let Him In is the perfect way to usher in the haunting season.
A creepy goth story of grief and generations of turmoil, stuffed under the guise of religion. A dad and his twin girls making their way after the death of his wife, whose twin also carries deep seated secrets.

Not my typical book but found I couldn’t put it down, and read into the wee hours of the dark night.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is an absolutely great horror story. There are so many elements that add a sense of foreboding, tension and general creepiness. Details like the twins almost psychic bond, the mother's mysterious death and the father's grief induced decline build the tension throughout the story. What I like most is the mystery of it all. There are so many different threads weaved together and the slow reveal of background story really amps the suspense. As we start getting insights about what happened before the start of the story, it led to more questions about the what's happening in the moment. And while it's completely unexpected, seems inevitable by the end.

I really wanted to get into this book, since it being my first horror themed book but it just wasn't for me and couldn't really get into the story and plot.

This was SO freaking creepy. Like I had to sleep with the lights on creepy. Essentially, after his wife suddenly dies from anaphylaxis shock from a crazy bite Alfie, our main character is left to raise his twin daughters g alone. Shortly after her death, his daughters bring to "life" the Black Mamba, an invisible, shape shifting, friend. There were total surprises in this book, it definitely kept me on edge and was NOT expecting that ending. All around, it's spooky, but also heartbreaking the way it surrounds grieving such a significant loss. I'd recommend Let Him In as a perfect kick start to Spooky season reads!

3.5 🌟

Alfie awakes with his twin daughters at the end of his bed, telling him that they have a shadow in their room.

As the days progress, the twins start talking about Black Mamba, and the creepiness starts to settle in.

This novel is definitely about the gothic thriller vibes and it does it well. It also works with the theme of grief in one’s life.

The one thing for me that I wish was better is the way the dual perspectives was done. Usually I’m a fan of it, but for this story, I just wasn’t as invested.

It’s a good read for those fans of gothic thrillers, and it also does mesh in with Alex North’s “The Whisper Man,” which is another thriller I enjoyed.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me an ARC copy for an honest review!

I can appreciate the imaginary friend angle and it tying into the family history and the attachments of twins. I will never hear Black Mamba and think of anything other than the very demanding imaginary friend that wanted to be there for the twins. I did not see the ending coming at all though. The book is very creepy and easy to get lost into what the characters are trying to navigate as real or imaginary. Very readable and had me freaked out at least once or twice.

Let Him In can be likened to a literary manifestation of Easy Listening Jazz, offering a palatable narrative experience, albeit one I could easily forego. Initially, I held the expectation of a compelling crescendo toward a malevolent climax, yet it failed to materialize to my satisfaction. I would liken the experience to consuming flat soda merely out of thirst, lacking the anticipated effervescence. The quality of the writing is not subpar; however, I envisioned a more ominous trajectory for the storyline. Encountering works of this nature is disheartening due to the prevailing indifference it evokes. Whether infused with adoration or disdain, a work should elicit a more pronounced response. Regrettably, this middling book tends to fade into the literary background

I have no words besides wtf this was so good you must read it. I was shocked confused I thought I knew what was going on and then boom I’d get slapped by change.

This was a great horror story. Had me guessing until the end and even then the author leaves some open questions. Nice spooky read for a weekend in October. Just remember not to invite him in.

This was dark, chilling, and had me glancing over my shoulder as I read this late into the night. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's just something so...off about everything happening in Hart House. Friend does a great job of evoking chills and emotions from the readers, drawing them into the lives of a family riddled with grief. The twins themselves add a bit to the eeriness factor at times. Overall, this is the perfect read for a chill autumn night, when you're cozied up with a hot cup of tea.

What a creepy book and the cover is A+! This is not one to read in the dark (kindle) or while you are alone! This will make me take notice when my child tells me they have an invisible friend. The story takes place in a creepy house that has a recently widowed dad, his two twin girls and their aunt trying to make sense of the invisible friend that both the girls can see. I really want to leave it at that because anything else will spoil the story. Just know don't read it at night or alone. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

“Daddy, there’s a man in our room...”

Months after the death of their mother, twins Cassia and Sylvie awaken their father, Alfie, in the middle of the night with that sentence. Naturally, Alfie thoroughly checks out the girls' room as well as the rest of the house before settling them in his bed for the night. Night after night, the girls come in talking of a man but eventually, the girls stop. Then one day, they tell their father that they made a new friend. They call him Black Mamba, and he is basically a shape-shifter with whom the girls share adventures. Concerned, Alfie contacts his deceased wife's sister (and twin) Julia, who happens to be a psychiatrist. Julia says Black Mamba is just an imaginary friend and not to worry. But is he? As the girls' behavior becomes increasingly bizarre, Alfie begins to lean on Julia even more. But Julia is more worried than she is letting on. She knows the history of the house and the weird religious things her parents did there. What exactly IS Black Mamba?

And therein lies my issue with his book. It was very creepy - old house where some bad things happened, odd twin little girls who only like to play with each other, strange religious beliefs, a father who is wallowing in his grief and sees his dead wife. But I feel like the ending was too ambiguous. I'm still not sure what the hell Black Mamba was - a demon? A nightmare? An imaginary friend for mourning children? Their father in a drunken stupor telling them stories during his bender? I am still confused. I would also liked to know more about this mysterious religion that the maternal grandparents practiced. I didn't feel like we got enough information about that.

Overall, the atmosphere was great, but for me the plotline lacked resolution.

First, thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for a review.

Holy H**L! This can't possibly be a "debut novel" - I refuse to believe it. William Friend writes like a seasoned professional, His created characters that are not only believable, but that you actually care about - rare for a debut.

I could rehash the story, but that's been done countless times. What I want to tell you about is the feeling you'll get reading this. Anyone with children can relate to them having an "imaginary friend" - it's a phase almost every child goes through. But, what if that friend isn't so "imaginary"? Or what if a child takes their imagination to a whole new level? William explores these questions in a very eerie, and unsettling way.

This was an easy read, with none of the "hiccups" most new writers experience. I don't know if that's due to his talent, or his editor, but color me impressed. I look forward to more from this fine author.