'Don't Let Him In' felt different to the usual Lisa Jewell thriller - but just as entertaining! I think the difference was that the plot itself was pretty straightforward, even though the structure was quite complex. I found the opening chapters and the shifting characters/timeline to be a little confusing at first, but after a few chapters I got used to the format and was once again in awe of Lisa Jewell's writing skills.

Plot-wise, 'Don't Let Him In' is ideal for anyone fascinated by the manipulative pathologies on show in stories like Dirty John (podcast/TV), Sweet Bobby etc.

Twisty, tense, suspenseful, this had me on the edge of my seat and I honestly couldn't put it down. Phenomenal

A Gripping Thriller with Unforgettable Characters

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell is a masterclass in suspense. The story follows three women—Nina, Ash, and Martha—whose lives become intertwined with the enigmatic Nick Radcliffe. What begins as a seemingly innocent connection soon spirals into a web of deceit and danger.

Jewell's writing is sharp and evocative, drawing readers into a world where nothing is as it seems. The alternating perspectives offer a multifaceted view of the unfolding drama, keeping the tension high and the pages turning.

Nick Radcliffe is a character that lingers long after the book is closed. His charm masks a darker side, and Jewell expertly unravels his layers, revealing a chilling portrait of manipulation and control.

The pacing is relentless, with each chapter adding depth and complexity to the narrative. The twists are unexpected, and the conclusion is both satisfying and thought-provoking.

Don't Let Him In is a compelling read that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and domestic suspense. It's a book that will make you question the people around you and the secrets they might be hiding.

Another incredible read from Lisa Jewell. I was hooked from the beginning and I couldn't put it down. Fantastic book.

Lisa Jewell is one of my favourite writers and this novel just reconfirmed why that is. What a totally brilliant and absolutely gripping book. So chilling and real. Was gripped all the way through and was invested in the characters 1oo%. Such a clever book and another fabulous book from Lisa. Am in awe of her writing.

Lisa Jewell does it again!!! What a phenomenal read! What characters! What intrigue!. What twists and turns! An utter masterpiece!! Simply speechless.... an amazing novel!!

Dark, Twisty and Addictive. Lisa Jewell is one of my absolute favourite authors and this one did not disappoint. All the stars!

My favourite thing about reading a Lisa Jewell book is how confident I am, as a reader, that this will be a story worth spending time with. Don’t Let Him In is no exception, and while I’m reluctant to share details of the plot for fear of giving away spoilers (and a lot of the pleasure of this book is the slow reveal of secrets), suffice to say it’s more than up to her previous high standards. A slow-burning thriller that is highly recommended. 4.5 stars rounded up.

Really good book that i will recommend to others.
Lisa is a fab author.
Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lisa Jewell is a prolific author and is one of my favourites. Don't Let Him In is no exception, it is wonderfully written and engaging. It's a recommended read.

Huge Lisa Jewell fan here and this one didn't disappoint. Took me a while to get into it, mainly because I couldn't keep track of the many characters. However, once I'd grasped who everyone was, I absolutely raced through it. Always good to see women overcome the charms of a manipulative man and work together to bring about his comeuppance!

Probably my favourite Lisa Jewell I've read. It felt more like a domestic horror than a real thriller because there's not lots of big reveals but instead a creeping, suffocating dread and repulsion. The first person perspective from inside the mind of a narcissistic psychopath was deliciously horrible and i had a delightfully nasty time watching his life spin out of control. Having read a few non-fiction books about guys like this who smash up women's lives for fun (and profit) it was a cathartic read.

Don’t Let Him In is another Lisa Jewell triumph and - unsurprisingly - has fully delivered on ‘most anticipated book’ for me.

Lisa’s antagonist got right under my skin and, just when I thought I couldn’t be more shocked at his behaviour, she cranked it up a notch again and again and had me compulsively turning the pages to find out how far things were going to go.

I’ve always been in awe of how Lisa uses different points of view and timelines to bring a story together and this works brilliantly in Don’t Let Him In, to bring a thoroughly satisfying conclusion to the story.

3 stars but rounded up to 3.5 Stars

Some thoughts :

- I think the portrayal of a narcissist conman who uses anything and everything to convince these women was spot on. I especially loved the utter ridiculous lies mixed in with the smaller ones that easily explained away problems.

- This isn’t a thriller in the way people might expect. It is definitely a domestic story with some thrilling aspects but nothing that i’d say was shocking or jaw-dropping. I will say it’s very much relevant to current social commentary and provided a good understanding of issues such as catfishing, manipulation and narcissistic behaviours.

- As always the actual writing was good. It kept me reading and I was intrigued to see how this would all connect up and be explained. The mixture of 1st and 3rd person took awhile to get used to, but after a few chapters it wasn’t overly bothering me or taking anything away from my experience!

- Ash confused me. At times it was very much like reading a moody teenager but then you’re reminded she’s actually 26 years old. I wasn’t totally loving her character - I loved her motives and protecting her mum but I just didn’t connect to her at all.

- Whilst the different women all played an important part to the plot. It was confusing. I was mixing up different characters, forgetting who knew what and when. I really think this was because there wasn’t enough distinguishing features between the women.

- This started strong but I felt like around 40% it was becoming very slow and information wasn’t being delivered as fast as I wanted. Towards the end it picked up but again it felt like it was dragged out again for the big reveals.

- I wasn’t a fan of the ending. One character totally switched up and that was jarring. Considering how easily she accepted everything and actually helps our conman- this didn’t feel like it fit with her overall character arc.

I’ll always give a Lisa Jewell book ago and whilst this wasn’t my favourite of hers I think some people will absolutely love this!

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw a new book from Lisa Jewell on Netgalley I just had to read it and, as usual, she did not disappoint.
I was hooked from the start and I was kept guessing as the story unfolded.
The characters were written so well I felt like I was there in the room watching them and I really enjoyed the dual timelines as everything came together.
Another smasher from Lisa Jewell and I can’t wait for the next.

Lisa Jewell has done it again!

It seems like I’ve been waiting for Lisa’s next book forever as she first mentioned it when I attended an event in 2023 at The Exchange in Twickenham and I asked her what she had planned after her book for Marvel and she said it was a book about a marriage scammer. OMG the wait was well worth it and I am very fortunate to have received an early copy via NetGalley.

Where to start with this gripping tale; the main character is everything you’d want from your ideal man - or is he? Lisa has created one of those characters that you just can’t get out of your head. He’s good looking, charming, convincing but a completely ruthless man who manipulates people by convincing them that he is their ideal man.

Despite their being many POV from different characters, Lisa still manages to hook her readers in as the mystery unravels and finally reaches a very satisfying conclusion.

The story starts just after a funeral and much of the story is from Ash’s point of view as she is the daughter of the deceased man. An old ‘friend’ of Ash’s father manages to worm is way into Ash’s mother’s life. Ash is a bit of an unreliable narrator as she has had some mental health issues so you’re never quite sure if she is right to be cautious of the mysterious handsome silver fox who has ingratiated himself into her mother’s life.

There has been a brilliant marketing campaign with this book where certain bloggers have received a beautiful pink box complete with a padlock, containing an old Zippo lighter, together with some rose butter soap and rose petals. These items are all key to the plot.

All in all another compulsive read from Lisa which I devoured in days. I just couldn’t stop reading! It’s published on 3 July 2025 so expect it to be a regular sight on many a sun lounger this year.

Just another compulsive read from an author at the top of her game. The story unfolded like the layers of an onion - with a VERY satisfying conclusion. I loved it!

Lisa Jewell delivers on plot time and time again. Fantastic storytelling, great settings. All in all, would recommend.

It’s been described as a read in one sitting book and I can see why. A charismatic, handsome, emotionally intelligent man tells you that he wants to be with you. All he does that is out of character is leave for a few days at a time, but that’s ok, right? If you can live with that, your relationship is pretty perfect. But what if hindsight suggested that, instead of going along with it, you didn’t let him be a part of your life initially. Because what if this person is dangerous and unpredictable. Would you let him in? This is cleverly written with plenty of twists and turns. Another winner for Lisa Jewell.

Absolutely amazing! Lisa Jewell has done it again. We follow three strands of narrative and watch with nail-biting tension as the strands come together. We follow a con artist as he tries to weasel his way through Nina’s life after her husband dies. I was gripped. A suspenseful read from the Queen of the psychological thrillers.