I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Don't Let Him In: A Novel by Lisa Jewell Published by Simon & Schuster, Atria on June 24, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
Pages: 367
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley
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Goodreads
From #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
Ever wonder if that charming new person in your life is too good to be true? Lisa Jewell’s Don’t Let Him In plays on this fear so well, you might start side-eyeing your neighbours.
The story kicks off with a bang – literally. Someone pushes restaurateur Paddy Swann in front of a train. His widow, Nina, is left picking up the pieces, and soon her path crosses with Martha, a florist barely keeping her shop afloat while her husband’s “business trips” get longer and more frequent. Enter Nick Radcliffe, who seems to have walked straight out of a romance novel. But we all know what they say about things that seem too perfect.
Jewell’s real talent isn’t in shocking twists (though there are plenty). It’s how she makes you care about these people before she starts dismantling their lives. She builds tension like a master chef reduces a sauce – slowly, carefully, until it’s rich enough to cut with a knife. The way she switches between perspectives is like watching a car crash in slow motion – you see all the pieces moving toward disaster, but you’re powerless to stop it.
What makes this book stick with you isn’t the plot, though it’s clever enough. It’s the uncomfortable truth at its heart: we never really know anyone completely. Not our partners, not our friends, and maybe not even ourselves. Jewell doesn’t just write about liars; she shows us how easy it is to lie to ourselves.
Sure, the middle section takes its time, like a cat playing with its prey. And yes, if you’re looking for constant shocking twists, you might get antsy. But trust me – when this slow burn finally ignites, you’ll be glad you stuck around.
Bottom line? Don’t Let Him In is Jewell at her best. It’s the kind of book that makes you check your doors are locked – not because of monsters or killers, but because of the much scarier possibility that evil might walk in wearing a perfect smile and bearing a bottle of your favourite wine.
If you like your thrillers smart, subtle, and psychologically sharp, this one’s for you. Just maybe don’t read it while your partner’s away on a business trip.
