Lisa Jewell never misses when it comes to crafting a compulsively readable thriller, and Don't Let Him In is no exception, though this one left me both hooked and slightly frazzled.
This is the story of Nick Radcliff (among other names), a master manipulator who infiltrates the lives of multiple women, leaving behind a trail of emotional wreckage, stolen money, and shattered trust. After the death of Paddy, a beloved restaurateur, Nick reaches out to his widow Nina under the guise of an old friend. Her daughter Ash is immediately suspicious, and rightly so. What unfolds is a chilling, multi-POV, multi-timeline narrative that exposes just how deep Nick’s deception runs.
I usually love a con artist thriller, and while this one had some brilliant moments: especially the tension of watching characters catch up to what the reader already knows, it was also a bit of a maze. There are so many characters and overlapping timelines that I found myself flipping back more than once to reorient.
That said, the short chapters and fast pacing kept me turning pages. Jewell’s writing is sharp, and I appreciated the inclusion of Nick’s perspective. disturbing, yes, but it added a layer of psychological depth. I even felt a flicker of sympathy for him at times (which I’m not sure was intentional!).
The themes (manipulation, grief, mental health, and female empowerment) are well handled, and the ending, while slightly far-fetched, delivered the kind of catharsis I was hoping for. I especially loved Martha’s storyline and would happily read more about her.
Overall, Don't Let Him In is a dark, unsettling read that’s perfect for fans of psychological thrillers and true crime vibes. Not Jewell’s most flawless, but definitely one of her most disturbing and that’s saying something.
