Genre: Horror
Release Date: October 3rd, 2023
Pages: 240
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“William Friend’s haunting debut Let Him In is a creeping, gothic psychological suspense about a young, newly widowed father struggling to raise twin daughters obsessed with an imaginary friend.
“Daddy, there’s a man in our room…”
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. Grief has made its home at Hart House: nine months ago, 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.”
My Review:
I have mixed feelings about this one. There were parts where I was totally hooked and invested, but there were also parts of the story that pulled me out of the experience. I love the creepy, haunted house/children trope. The twin factor just added to the ominous tension in the story. There is also generational trauma linked to the events. It’s one of those stories where you’re never quite sure what is real or not. It’s a classic gothic horror story. It also deals with the complexities of overcoming grief, particularly as a child, examining the normalcy of behaviors. I think the pacing was a little off for me. It dragged at times and became a bit repetitive. I didn’t feel any particular connection with the characters, especially the adults, whose actions I didn’t always agree with. It was just an okay story for me in general. Nothing totally blew me away but it was still a good read. Also, this cover is to die for, props to the designer. Overall, I think it’s a solid debut and I’d be interested in seeing what the author has in store for us next.
Disclaimers:
Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me an early copy of this amazing story! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Have you read this book? Planning to add it to your TBR?
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