Don't Let Him In
| Author | Lisa Jewell |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Richard Armitage, Joanne Froggatt, Tamaryn Payne, Gemma Whelan, Louise Brealey, and Patience Tomlinson |
| Publisher | Atria Books |
Publication date | 24 June 2025 |
| Pages | 384 |
| ISBN | 978-1-668-03387-6 |
Don't Let Him In is a psychological thriller novel by British author Lisa Jewell, published 24 June 2025 by Atria. The novel centers around a con man, the women who fall for his cons and those who work to uncover his secrets.
The audiobook is narrated by Richard Armitage, Joanne Froggatt, Tamaryn Payne, Gemma Whelan, Louise Brealey and Patience Tomlinson.
Plot
Style
Don't Let Him In is written from three perspectives: the man who goes by many names, Martha and Ash.[1] It also jumps back and forth across time.[2][3]
Reception
Don't Let Him In is a New York Times bestseller.[3]
Reviewers highlighted Jewell's ability to write a suspenseful story. Shelf Awareness's Elyse Dinh-McCrillis wrote that "pages will fly by as thriller fans race to see if an unctuous, toxic man gets his comeuppance",[1] and Kirkus Reviews praised Jewell for being an "absolutely a genius at building suspense", but added that "but the 'man behaving badly' plot is getting tired".[3]
Regarding the story structure, Publishers Weekly highlighted how "Jewell effortlessly toggles back and forth in time".[2] Kirkus also discussed this aspect, adding, "Jewell’s cutting between past and present certainly allows revelations to ooze out at a slow, controlled pace; even as the reader makes obvious connections, the full picture remains obscure."[3]
Reviewers also discussed character development. Dinh-McCrillis notes that "while the women are vulnerable to flattering male company and trust too easily, Jewell also depicts them as strong and capable".[1] Kirkus similarly wrote, "Jewell has written some incredibly engaging and strong female characters", but asked, "What would it have been like to split the narrative between them instead of giving so much voice—and thus narrative power—to the male antagonist?"[3]
The audiobook won the 2026 Audie Award for Thriller or Suspense.[4][5]
References
- ^ a b c Dinh-McCrillis, Elyse (18 July 2026). "Don't Let Him In". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 26 March 2025. Archived from the original on 16 June 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ^ a b c d e "Don't Let Him In". Kirkus Reviews. 19 April 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ^ Glyer, Mike (4 March 2026). "2026 Audie Award Winners". File 770. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (3 March 2026). "Audie Awards 2026: 'Sunrise on the Reaping' Wins Audiobook of the Year". Variety. Retrieved 18 March 2026.