Don't Let Him In: A Novel

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!

I read this for the September meeting of the Pretty Page Turners book club. It kept me interested, but there’s no damn way that man would’ve gotten as far as he did with me! If I feel like the vibes are off, I’m gonna call you out. Haven’t these women ever heard the saying “If it’s too good to be true then it probably is”?

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.

Three women are bound together by one man in this psychological thriller that explores deception, trust, and the danger of ignoring instinct. In the quiet aftermath of her husband’s sudden death, Nina Swann is unsettled yet intrigued by a sympathy card from Nick Radcliffe—an acquaintance from her husband’s past who seems eager to reenter her life. Cultured, attentive, and disarmingly kind, Nick offers comfort just when Nina is most vulnerable, quickly positioning himself as an emotional lifeline. Nina’s daughter, Ash, is far less convinced. Something about Nick’s warmth feels rehearsed, his charm too carefully constructed. Guided by intuition rather than evidence, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past—and what she uncovers points to a history he is desperate to keep buried. Elsewhere, florist Martha is grappling with her own unease. Her husband, Alistair—a seemingly devoted father to their infant daughter—has begun disappearing on frequent business trips. His explanations are plausible, yet Martha can’t shake the feeling that she’s being shielded from a far darker truth. As these three storylines slowly converge, long-buried secrets rise to the surface, revealing a web of deception far more dangerous than any of the women anticipate. When the truth finally emerges, it forces them to question every choice they made—and wish they had heeded the same warning from the start: don’t let him in. The novel is told from three perspectives—Ash, Martha, and an initially unnamed man—and shifts between present day and four years earlier. The opening introduces many characters at once, which can be confusing as you try to keep track of identities and timelines. This becomes easier midway through the book as the characters are more fully established. It also becomes apparent fairly early on that Nick, Alistair, and Jonathan are all the same person. One of the more frustrating aspects of the story is how easily the women are manipulated, even in the face of glaring red flags. Given what happens to Amanda, it’s difficult to understand why his behavior isn’t questioned more forcefully. Time and again, a charming smile or teary-eyed confession is enough to override logic and caution. Additionally, a subplot involving a child questioning their gender feels underdeveloped and ultimately unnecessary, as it adds nothing to the overall story or character development. While many of the twists are predictable and lack real tension, the short, digestible chapters help maintain momentum and make the book an easy, fast-paced read. Despite a few plot holes and unexplained events, it was ultimately a solid and suspenseful thriller.