Who doesn't love a character that is so vile you want to toss your kindle. Lisa Jewell strikes again with exactly that! You'll see exactly what I mean as you make your way through this addictive thriller.

When Ash Swains world is shattered after her father’s death, she is moved by the kindness of a man she has not met, Nick Radcliffe. But when Nick starts to date her mother, Ash starts to wonder just where he came from. A story of lies and deception that leave the reader wondering, Who is Nick Radcliffe and how does he do it?

Guys I’m sad about this. Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite thriller authors but this one just wasn’t my favorite by her. You are initially buying into the MMC being this major scammer who abuses woman (this is revealed early on so no spoilers) but we then have to believe so many other dynamics in one character that just don’t make sense. The first 50% of this I thought it was a solid read and I really flew through, but the ending left me unsatisfied and disappointed that I knew a lot of what was coming. I was really hooked initially and I enjoyed some of the stories that were built up throughout. Lisa is good at addictive writing structure. This doesn’t read like a thriller, it’s much more of a psychological mystery or literary story with a psychopath and other side characters intertwined. I’m really really bummed about this because it was highly anticipated for me. The plot holes were obvious, the ending was rushed and the characters were bland.

In Lisa Jewell's latest book, Nick Radcliffe is a man of substance and good taste with a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. He appears in Nina Swann's life after her husband’s unexpected death. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, he seems too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past and what she finds is more than unsettling...

Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn't right.

Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever. This was what I have come to expect from Lisa Jewell and I loved this book.

I would like thank Net Galley and Atria publishing for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. I always read and enjoy Lisa Jewel's books. She writes a twisty thriller with good writing and interesting characterization. This most recent book is in a similar vein to several of her other books. Someone who seems good and honest, who is preying on vulnerable women. It has a large cast of characters, and is told in multiple POV's. It is also told in multiple timelines. The timelines are marked,( four years earlier etc)but you often have to read a bit to know what pov we are in. For me, I would like it clearer at the outset, but that just might be me:). It is the story of Nina Swann, whose husband has just died. He was pushed in front of a train by a man with mental illness. She and her daughter are trying to cope. They get a package in the mail from a man named Nick who said he knew her late husband and had an old lighter of his , that he decided to send when he heard of the death. There is a woman named Martha , with a small child, whose husband Al is often traveling for work. There is Amanda, who was told her husband , Damien,died 20 years ago. There is Tara, whose husband Jonathan keeps promising to take her away to the Algarve. These are some of the women we meet in this book. There are more and they all have stories to tell. This is a well plotted book, and the end left me gasping. It was a bit hard to follow, but worth it if you like psychological thriller.

I have never once been disappointed in a Lisa Jewell book. This one is particularly menacing because the male main character takes his turn as narrator. He's a cunning narcissist who has left a trail of women who pay dearly for loving him. This is a riveting, obsessive read!

Twists and turns! This book is full of them and they keep you guessing throughout.

This book follows Ash Swann, the daughter of a deceased restrantuer, and her life after her father's death. After a year of mourning, her mother starts to date again but the man gives Ash the creeps. She starts to do some digging and finds much more than she bargained for. Her mother's new boyfriend has a very shady past and has made a life of manipulating women.

I really read through this work fast as I was desperate to know what happened and if everyone would come out on the other side. Not so much a murder mystery but more of a suspense novel. Great for a wet, rainy day and a cup of tea.

As a longtime Lisa Jewell fan, I was so excited to dive into Don’t Let Him In. And while this one didn’t have the high-stakes intensity of some of her previous thrillers, I still really enjoyed the ride from start to finish.

Jewell has a real gift for pulling you into a story and keeping you engaged, and this book was no exception. It wasn’t the most exciting thriller I’ve read recently, but it was solid—one of those “just right” reads that keeps your attention and makes for a perfect weekend binge.

The story follows Nick Radcliffe, a charming new man who enters the lives of Nina and her daughter Ash not long after Nina’s husband dies. Ash is instantly suspicious, and as she digs into Nick’s past, she starts uncovering some truly disturbing truths. Let’s just say…he’s not who he claims to be.

If you’re looking for a thriller that’s engaging without being over-the-top, this is a great pick.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell hits shelves on June 24, 2025.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Lisa Jewell did it again! I found this book a bit slow at the beginning but it quickly picked up. I read somewhere that this book was described as a kaleidoscope thriller and I think that is the perfect way to describe it. The way all the different stories and POVs come together was amazing.

4 stars from me!

This one definitely wasn’t my favorite by Lisa Jewell. It was just OK. It was very slow going and took me way longer to read than a “Thriller” should take. Tons of characters to keep up with and it was a bit confusing at times. I didn’t care about any of the characters. Not even the women he was taking advantage of. I feel they were made to be too dumb. This one has tons of rave reviews so maybe just not for me. I typically love Lisa Jewell books.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for the advanced copy for my honest review.

t's always impressive how long con artists are able to keep their multiple lovers/families/lives straight. Especially when I struggle to keep my own together.

Nick Radcliffe's long cons can't last forever, or can they? He is definitely a very unlikable character with plenty of charm and excuses to cover his tracks. 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝗜𝗻 is a drama-filled, popcorn read where you are just waiting for the moment he slips up. It was not my favorite novel by Lisa Jewell, but I had to see how it turned out. Plus it was an @aotmbookclub buddy read last month! 👏🏼

I wished for more everything (rage, smarts, and independence) from all the women he had conned over the years. Wouldn't you question why your partner is mysteriously unreachable on every "work trip" or the large expenses showing up on your accounts? Or maybe it's just that I've read too many books like this that make me naturally suspicious... But hey, my front door matches!

Details: Lisa Jewell • 368 pgs • 24 June 2025 • Gifted: @atriabooks @netgalley • 3.75⭐

This book was an emotional rollercoaster ride. I have enjoyed many of Lisa Jewell’s books, but this one is, without a doubt, my favorite. I could not stop reading. I was immediately immersed in the characters' lives and couldn't wait to see where the story went. It was twisted and full of jaw-dropping moments, I never predicted. The alternating timelines kept the tension increasing as more twists were revealed. I was addicted.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you, Atria Books and NetGalley, for my ARC.

4.5 stars

This was a wild ride! Starts off kind of confusing as there are two different timelines and so many character names, but hang in there, it will all come together in time. I think the POV's sort of had different fonts, but it was very subtle.

Here's the gist...Nina and Ash Swann, mother and daughter, mourning the loss of their patriarch, Paddy, a larger than life chef and restaurateur. Al and Martha, Martha owns a flower shop and Al is her "often away on emergency business in the food hospitality industry" husband.T hese two families seem to have nothing in common until Nick Radcliffe enters the Swann's lives.

It was hard to see how these stories would intersect, but the author slowly feeds you morsels and breadcrumbs and so many characters until you see, you see what is happening and it all slowly unfolds. Great character development, pacing, and villain portraiture. I enjoyed it! This author always seems to tell a wild story that sticks with you!

None of This Is True was one of my top 10 books last year so I was thrilled when Netgalley gave me access to her newest release. This one, however, is going to be one of my worst 10 for 2025.

It was just Boring. There was 0 character development, 0 plot, 0 excitement. I kept reading because I thought there was going to be a twist, but it stayed Flat until the very end. The female characters were all the same carpets, okay with being walked over and somehow not letting curiosity get the best of them until the last 35% of the book. This plot is definitely based on real life conmen who successfully lead double lives and scammed women out of money, but reading this as a book that was marketing "thriller" is misleading.

Literally nothing happens for the first half of the book except for a ton of names getting thrown at the reader. Eventually, you figure out everyone's different storyline, but it's all basically the same and there's nothing unique about any of their situations. When Ash goes detecting, everyone opens up to her so easily which seems unrealistic. Wouldn't some of these women feel shamed to silence, be weirded out a random person found them on social media or showed up at their business, or still stick up for him?

This book hovered on a 2-3 star rating for me for a long time but it unfortunately didn't live up to my expectations. I know I'm an outlier but there are so many more "thrilling" books about conmen out there that you can skip this one without hesitation.

Lisa Jewell is back with another chilling psychological thriller, and Don’t Let Him In does not disappoint. True to her style, Jewell masterfully weaves together the lives of three complex women—Nina, her teenage daughter Ash, and a florist named Martha—whose paths become dangerously entangled through one charming but deeply unsettling man: Nick Radcliffe.

What begins as a slow, character-driven narrative quickly spirals into a dark, tangled web of secrets, gaslighting, and emotional manipulation. Jewell explores the blurred lines between love and control, truth and perception, all while keeping readers on edge with her trademark twists and shifting perspectives.

I found the tension in this book to be expertly paced. Each chapter pulled me deeper into the mystery, revealing just enough to keep me guessing but never too much to spoil the suspense. The character work is a standout—Ash’s intuition and quiet strength, in particular, stayed with me long after I finished.

That said, the plot does get a bit convoluted in places, with multiple timelines and perspectives sometimes making it tricky to keep track of the story’s momentum. Still, Jewell’s writing remains sharp and immersive, and the payoff is absolutely worth it.

If you're a fan of domestic thrillers that probe the dark side of human relationships—especially stories about women reclaiming their agency—Don’t Let Him In is a gripping, thought-provoking read. Just be prepared to question everything…and everyone.

First line: The house is spectacular.

Summary: Ash Swann has just lost her father and her mother seems to be moving on fairly quickly. Nick Radcliffe came into their lives when he reached out in a show of sympathy and an old friendship with Ash’s father. But no matter how charming and attractive Nick is Ash cannot seem to warm to him. Something seems off about this man who suddenly appeared in their lives and she is determined to find out before her mother gets too attached.

Martha is a mother, wife and a florist. She has put everything into her business and her marriage to her loving husband, Alistair. But recently Alistair has been traveling more for work and spending days away from the family home. When she questions him the answers all seem legitimate but something still feels off about it all.

As Ash and Martha look deeper into the men in their lives they find that there are secrets that have been buried deep and could bring their lives crumbling down.

My Thoughts: I absolutely love Lisa Jewell! She has written some of the best psychological thrillers I have read but unfortunately this is not one of them. I loved the short chapters which made the story a quick read but the actual plotting was tedious. I felt like very little actually happened. It was very repetitive in its story.

I instantly hated the Nick. He seemed sleazy and the way he treated the women around him was so condescending. Jewell did a great job of bringing the manipulation aspect to the forefront and how easily someone can be taken in by these types of tactics. The character was written well but he is horrible.

Throughout I felt sorry for all the women involved and kept hoping that they would find some sort of resolution to their problems. They were used and abandoned but some of them use this part of their life to change too.

The book was rather long for what it was. For fans of Jewell I would warn you that it is not as shocking as many of her other novels. It had a satisfying ending and a few reveals that kept me reading on. It was okay and that’s about all I can say for it.

2.5 ⭐️
I’m a fairly quick reader, but this one was rough to get through and took me weeks. Enough so I almost DNF’d. I was expecting a thriller, as that is what it was advertised as, but really it was really just a predictable twisted story. The story is mostly the ramblings of a psychopath and how he gets away with things and the daughter of his target trying to figure him out. Nothing held my attention so much so that I couldn’t put the book down. Not for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for this ARC. All opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a good mystery. Even though I knew early on that the main male character was a bigamist, it was still fun to see how the female characters eventually catch on to him. Jewell masterfully weaves in the clues to his character so that the plot is compelling. The ending was a good surprise and made for a satisfying conclusion to the book.

Recommended for those who like mysteries that focus on intellect rather than blood and gore.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an electronic copy of this book.

I have loved every Lisa Jewell book she has ever put it. They are so captivating, that I even try to sneak a few pages at work. So when her new book, “Don’t Let Him In” came out, it was at the top of my TBR list.

Nick Radcliffe is a schmoozer. He is handsome, caring, has a good job, and says all the right things. Nina has fallen in love but her daughter, Ash, is not convinced and feels something is off. But what happens when Ash starts finding out who Nick really is.

I love Lisa Jewell but this one fell a little short for me. Nick was a very unlikable character (obviously) and made me want to throw my kindle away. I also found it boring and confusing at time with all the different women. The ending was great and brought up the ranking to 4 stars for me!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this book early.I did find the first half confusing, but it all came together in the end. I think thriller readers and Lisa Jewell fans will come away from this novel satisfied.