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A review by justinkhchen
Let Him in by William Friend
3.0
3.5 stars
More of a familial psychological slowburn, the 2014 film The Babadook is probably the immediate comparison for Let Him In (I won't be surprised if it was a key reference during the inception of this novel), where familial grief is a recurring theme throughout. In addition to showing a man suffering from grief (we can always use more depiction of men being emotionally vulnerable), the narrative propels forward smoothly with brisk pacing, precise writing (reminds me of Lisa Jewell), and there are enough moments of creepy imagery that warrant its label as a horror novel.
One thing Let Him In is overshadowed by is the feeling of déjà vu — even though there are sprinkles of unexpected flourish (such as the history of the house, as well as the family's religious background), the overarching plot is very familiar (especially if you've seen The Babadook), and following the expected trajectory, therefore dampening its overall impact. The inclusion of a romance subplot also feels unnecessary; too light-touched to deem relevant, nor pushed far enough to add the needed layer of guilt.
As a whole, Let Him In was competently told and I was entertained (especially the audiobook, which is expertly narrated by its dual narrators). Just be aware it's solidly a drama utilizing horror tropes, rather than a full-on scary story, and its mileage will be determined by how much media one has consumed that explores this type of scenario. Will make for a solid library loan.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
More of a familial psychological slowburn, the 2014 film The Babadook is probably the immediate comparison for Let Him In (I won't be surprised if it was a key reference during the inception of this novel), where familial grief is a recurring theme throughout. In addition to showing a man suffering from grief (we can always use more depiction of men being emotionally vulnerable), the narrative propels forward smoothly with brisk pacing, precise writing (reminds me of Lisa Jewell), and there are enough moments of creepy imagery that warrant its label as a horror novel.
One thing Let Him In is overshadowed by is the feeling of déjà vu — even though there are sprinkles of unexpected flourish (such as the history of the house, as well as the family's religious background), the overarching plot is very familiar (especially if you've seen The Babadook), and following the expected trajectory, therefore dampening its overall impact. The inclusion of a romance subplot also feels unnecessary; too light-touched to deem relevant, nor pushed far enough to add the needed layer of guilt.
As a whole, Let Him In was competently told and I was entertained (especially the audiobook, which is expertly narrated by its dual narrators). Just be aware it's solidly a drama utilizing horror tropes, rather than a full-on scary story, and its mileage will be determined by how much media one has consumed that explores this type of scenario. Will make for a solid library loan.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**