Don't Let Him In: A Novel

What a wild ride! 🫠 Don’t Let Him In was a thrilly thriller and had me frustrated in the best way because Jewell nailed the MMC. He is written so perfectly awful that it made my skin crawl. We’ve all heard stories about men who are walking red flags in documentaries or true crime podcasts, but Nick Radcliffe takes the crown. He is hands-down the ✨worst✨. The pacing dragged a bit in spots, particularly in parts 1 & 2 but once I hit part 3, it flew and the tension spiked fast. Once things started going down and getting juicy I was so invested. Warning though, there is a LOT to keep track of, and I found myself jotting down notes just to stay on top of it all but it pays off and keeps you fully locked in. I also loved how the title actually tied directly into the story and wasn’t just a catchy phrase. If you’re a Lisa Jewell fan or love psychological thrillers that feel a little too real, this one’s a must-read.

Wow. That ending made me yell “YES”! This is a twisty tale of a slippery man, told from alternating perspectives, one of which is his. It’s a look inside the mind of a sociopath who has a knack for divining the needs and wants of women. But sometimes he loses control and bad things happen. This is one of those novels that you read through your fingers, metaphorically, like a scary movie. Oh, the delicious anxiety and the satisfaction of the ending.

This book is amazing! I will say the women in this book got on my nerves! The plot and twist were cool! Nick/Alistair (Al,) is a piece of work!

This novel is a well-crafted, engaging thriller, featuring concise chapters that facilitate a swift reading experience—an attribute I have come to associate with this author. The narrative frequently shifts between timelines and alternates between first- and third-person perspectives. While this narrative structure initially required some adjustment, it ultimately contributed to the book’s complexity. Although I remained interested in the story’s resolution, I found the plot relatively predictable and not as compelling as I had hoped. Regrettably, this particular work did not rank among my favorites from this author.

This reminded me of the show You, in a book version (though the show was originally a book series). There are a lot of characters to keep track of and at times it gets confusing who is who. I was often wanting to shake the shoulders of the women and their decisions, but the main character is unique in that there is nothing redeeming about him to us, the reader. He is always insufferable, unsympathetic, sociopathic. Fairly quick read, not Jewell’s best or worst book.