Release date: June 24, 2025
Publisher: Atria
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis:
rom #1 New York Times bestseller Lisa Jewell, an author “at the very top of her game” (Lucy Foley)—three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.
“Who are you? Who are you really?”
Nick Radcliffe is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. He’s just what Nina Swann needed in her life after her husband’s unexpected death. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…
“Because there are things that don’t make sense, and I’ve been so patient, so very patient…”
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 and 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.
“You know that’s mad, don’t you? I’m your husband. We know everything there is to know about each other.”
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.
Review:
From the jump, there’s a sense of unease that lingers over every chapter. You’re dropped into multiple perspectives, each one intriguing in its own right, and at first you might find yourself wondering how it’s all going to come together. But trust Jewell, she’s playing the long game. Slowly, methodically, she weaves the threads until the full picture starts to emerge. It’s incredibly satisfying to watch the layers unfold.
And let’s talk characters. There’s one in particular (no spoilers!) who you will absolutely love to hate(or maybe you’ll skip the “love” part and go straight to pure loathing) He’s the kind of vile, magnetic presence that keeps you glued to the page, just to see what he’ll do next.
While this one leans more into obsession and psychological control than some of her previous novels, fans of The Family Upstairs or Watching You will definitely feel at home here. The plot is complex without being confusing, and the payoff is worth the ride. It’s not the kind of book you casually read with half your attention, there are details, connections, and moving pieces that deserve to be followed closely.
Overall, Don’t Let Him In is tense, darkly entertaining, and just twisted enough to keep you flipping pages late into the night. If you enjoy thrillers that don’t hand you easy answers and aren’t afraid to dive into the messiness of human behavior, this one should be high on your list.
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Novelgossip 