Lisa Jewell is one of my most favorite author, especially after None of this is true, I vowed to read every book she writes so I was absolutely over the moon when I got this eARC.

We have Nina and Ash, mother and daughter dealing with the grief of losing their husband and father. One day enters Nick, he got those smile that can melt anyone in a sec. Even though Nina likes Nick but Ash doesn’t like his whole persona so she starts digging and comes across shocking things.

We also have a happily married Martha that’s living with her perfect husband and infant but as perfect as it might look from outside it’s not. When her husband stays out of town most of the days and every time asked got a perfect answer, she gets the feeling that something’s not quite right.

And then all of their lives tangles up and classic Lisa Jewell style it keeps you so intrigued that you can’t put it down!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for kindly providing me with this eARC. All opinions are my honest opinions.

i am very thankful to be given this arc. thank you netgalley. this book was so painful to get through and i feel like we were going in circles. usually thrillers make me want to pick up the book but this book made me not want to pick it up. i have thought about DNFing it multiple times. i really enjoyed her other novels but this one did not do it for me.

This book has made me realize that thrillers are subjective. What one may find thrilling, another may not.

I fall in the latter for Don’t Let Him In.

It felt more like the biography of a man scamming lonely, widowed women. I didn’t find anything thrilling about it.

The story was told in both a third person and first person point of view, both present day and past, often times breaking the fourth wall.

Did it have a satisfying ending? Of course. Don’t all thrillers? But it was the journey getting there that was a difficult one to travel.

Wow! What a whirlwind of a read. This is the Lisa Jewell style writing that first got me hooked on her books. Well written, multi faceted storyline with short fast paced chapters. Clear your schedule before starting it. Don’t Let Him In was a 2 day read for me, only because I started it late in the day and eventually had to give in to sleep -waking up early the next morning to finish it.
Thank You to NetGalley, Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for the opportunity to devour and thoroughly (yet somewhat guiltily) enjoy this ARC.

Nina Swann is the widow of recently deceased restauranteur Paddy Swann, locally famous in his own right for his vibrant personality. He was pushed in front of a train by a mentally ill man, leaving Nina and his daughter Ash grief stricken and trying to move on with their lives.

Shortly after Paddy’s death, Nina receives a letter from Nick Radcliffe sending condolences and claiming to be an old friend from his early restaurant years. Nick later sends an old zippo of Paddy’s wanting Nina to have. Soon after, Nick and Nina take their friendship to the next level, but Nina’s daughter Ash thinks there’s something off about Nick and mysterious appearance into their lives.

Martha is a local flower shop owner and mother of 3. Her last child, Nala, she had in her late 40s after remarrying a man named Alistair, who swept her off her feet with his extravagant gifts and getaways. However, four years into their marriage, Al becomes dodgy, unresponsive, and begins to disappear for days on end with an excuse always on end.

Don’t Let Him In follows the various viewpoints of Ash, Martha, and a mysterious man reminiscent of the tinder swindler. With her mother blinded by a new romance, Ash leaves it to herself to figure out what Nick is really hiding; seeking out Paddy’s previous girlfriend Jane to do so. Martha begins to investigate and wonder if Al is being truthful about his long workdays and ill mother.

Lisa Jewell never fails to disappoint me! Every time I think I have an idea of what’s going on, the end ties together perfectly for a gripping thriller. With the amount of true crime stories similar, I felt myself wondering how a man can charm women so much to have them second guessing every intuition they’ve ever known. This was a fast paced read that was impossible to put down until I reached the final page.

This one was just…fine.

The synopsis of this one sounded so interesting, but I just couldn’t get into it at all. After about halfway through, the story picked up a bit for me, but I never got invested with these characters, and found my mind constantly wandering.

I really enjoy Lisa Jewell, but this one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to the publisher for this e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I jumped at the opportunity to read this ARC. This book will be released on June 24, 2025.

Nina's husband is killed. Later, she is contacted by Nick Ratcliff, an old friend of her husband. Nina's daughter is suspicious of Nick and his intentions.

This book is told from multiple points of view, in several different timelines. There are so many characters and so many different scenarios and stories. It is a tad confusing.
I typically love anything written by Lisa Jewell. Unfortunately, this one was just "ok" for me. It's not particularly "bad;" just not my cup of tea.

Lisa Jewell is either a huge hit for me or just average, but either way I’m always going to want to pick up her newest book.

Unfortunately for me, Don’t Let Him In fell into the “just average” category. I think this is because con man thrillers usually are not my vibe. I still read through this pretty quickly because Jewell’s writing works well for me, but I was left wanting more by the time we got to the conclusion of the book. & if I’m so honest, I have no idea how this man bamboozled so many woman. His long, rambling explanations / speeches had me rolling my eyes SO much. He sounded like he was full of crap, all the time. I couldn’t buy into him successfully ruining these woman’s lives for decades.

I did love all the woman coming together and how a lot of small details all tied up. I just wanted a little more of the sinister vibes that Jewell pulls off in some of her other books.

Overall, not a bad book by any means and many people will likely enjoy it. I’ll always be interested in the next book by the author, but this was just an average read for me.

Thank you so much for the advanced copy!

Don't Let Him In" by Lisa Jewell is a captivating psychological thriller that masterfully weaves together the lives of three women connected by one manipulative man. Nick Radcliffe, a charming and polished individual, enters the life of Nina Swann, a recent widow, and her suspicious daughter Ash. Meanwhile, Martha, a florist, struggles with her husband Alistair's frequent absences and financial secrecy. As the story unfolds, dark secrets and lies surface, revealing a sinister truth. With Jewell's signature twists and suspense, this novel delivers a thrilling page-turner that explores the complexities of human relationships and deception, keeping readers on the edge.

This one did not work for me. There were too many characters, points of view and timelines. It was often difficult to know who was talking and what was going on. To top it off, I did not find that all of the characters were well developed, so it made it even more difficult to keep track and feel a connection. I found that the story was predictable and hard to stay engaged in. That being said, the story did improve as it went out. There were a few twists and turns that were fun, but overall it was just not for me. Nina Swam met Nick a year after her husband's unexpected death and he is a breath of fresh air in her life. But Nina's daughter decides to look into Nick's past because she doesn't think he is everything that he says he is. Martha lives in a nearby town and starts to wonder why her husband Alistair has been disappearing for days at a time. What will these women uncover and will they be safe?

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

3.5 rounded up to 4.

Pros:
Same vibes and general mystery as all Lisa Jewell stuff
The characters are easy to keep separate

Cons:
I don’t like the first and third person POV
He gets so unlikable in his POV I wanted to stop reading
The ending kinda fizzles out?

I am generally a Jewell fan....but this fell short for me. To say, as many have already, it's "a slow burn" is being generous; it moves at a tedious pace. Constant back and forth time lines and took too long to hook reader.
I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This is a twisty, suspenseful novel with multiple timelines that expertly converge into an overarching, suspenseful tale. Like an "Are We Dating the Same Man?" Internet page come to life. The plotting is intricate, the characters are well-developed and the suspense is unrelenting, securing Lisa Jewell as one of the most accomplished suspense writers out there today. I always know I will be entertained and thrilled when I pick up a Lisa Jewell book, and this one, like all her others, delivered -- particularly the ending.

4.5 Stars – A Twisted, Layered Plot That Hooks You

Don’t Let Him In is an ominous and psychological tale that slowly unravels the dark layers of manipulation and control. The plot is centered around three women, Nina, Martha, and Ash, each unknowingly caught in the web of a manipulative man. It all begins with the sudden death of Nina’s husband, Paddy, and the arrival of a seemingly thoughtful stranger, Nick Radcliffe. What starts as a gesture of sympathy quickly spirals into something far more dangerous. The story unfolds through shifting timelines and perspectives, gradually revealing how deeply Nick’s lies run.

Jewell paces the plot with a slow-burn intensity, layering suspense and emotional stakes. Just when you think you’ve figured things out, a new piece of the puzzle changes everything. The conclusion wraps up the chaos neatly, maybe a little too neatly, but after the emotional whiplash, it’s a welcome relief.

A compelling, tightly plotted thriller that keeps you second-guessing until the end.

Thank you #NetGalley amd the publishers for the ARC #dontlethimin!

Don’t Let Him In is a cleverly crafted psychological thriller by Lisa Jewell. The protagonist is a man with high ambitions of becoming a successful and wealthy businessman. His approach to reaching his goals is treacherous and deceiving. Nick uses his good looks and charm to prey on single women in hopes to gain their affection and trust. The lives of Nina and Martha are captured by Nicks polished demeaner and attentiveness and thus fall prey to his diabolical plan.

What I find competing about this story is the attention given to character development. Nick’s character is successfully fleshed out in the story, Nick captures the attention of several women and pulls each one into his web of deceit.

I found this story to be highly entertaining as you witness how Nick navigates through these different relationships. He is a master of his craft.
I was totally absorbed in this story and loved how Nick’s path to success was eventually destroyed by the women he deceived.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a satisfying psychological story.

Absolutely amazing. Easiest 5 stars given to a fantastic book! Excited to read more by this author! Love the twists and turns! Will be sharing with my Facebook group.

Don't Let Him In was both tough to read and hard to put down! Although cringy at times, it was interesting to read this from the mind of Nick. I really liked how the author showed how the characters were linked and how it all came together nicely at the end. The book was filled with betrayal, lies, and desperation woven into a smooth talking and clever silver fox! 4 stars as I would've liked more of a twist or suspense at the end but overall I really enjoyed this book for a quick read!

Thank you net galley and the publisher for the arc. All opinions are my own.

Lisa Jewell has done it again. She has weaved a very clever tale involving a conniving man who recks havoc on women’s’ lives. He preys on them and exploits their weaknesses to get what he wants. As the story progresses, all of the different lives he has been keeping come together. It is a true page turner. I could not put it down. It is up to one of the victim’s daughters to investigate the man in question and hopefully bring him down forever.

A Gripping Psychological Thriller with a Chilling Twist 👏

Lisa Jewell once again delivers a suspenseful and addictive read with "Don't Let Him In". The novel expertly weaves tension, mystery, and complex characters into a tightly paced story that kept me hooked from the first chapter.

The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, allowing readers to slowly uncover the layers of secrets and psychological manipulation at play. Jewell's writing is sharp and emotionally charged, making the characters feel real and their fears palpable. The atmosphere she creates is both claustrophobic and compelling, perfect for fans of domestic thrillers.

While the plot is generally well-constructed and satisfying, there were a few moments that felt slightly rushed or relied on coincidence a bit too heavily. Still, the emotional payoff and final twists more than made up for it.

Overall, "Don't Let Him In" is a dark, engrossing read that explores trust, trauma, and the thin line between love and danger. A solid thriller that fans of Jewell and the genre will definitely enjoy!

Well what can I say…. Lisa Jewell does it again. From the first chapter to the last, I was in hook line and sinker. What I love most about her is how she’s able to create such powerful character point of views. All so strangely different and compelling you and drawing you into their storyline and how you relate to them and how you feel.
Although she does have one quite despicable people…. Who’s character flaw is just simply being a narcissist who’s been playing the victim his whole life.