Lena just moved to Mandalay Close. She needed a new start, since her boyfriend cheated her out of the home and happy-ever-after she’d believed they were always going to share.
But on the day Lena moves in, letters begin to arrive for all her new neighbours. Letters that promise to expose everyone’s deepest, darkest secrets. Every house has received one - except for Lena’s.
Someone clearly wants to implicate her, to ruin her new life and turn everyone against her. She’s made an enemy, but who, and why? Everyone seems so nice, so trustworthy. So normal.
Except for one. And as bad things begin to happen and her life rapidly spins out of control, Lena finds herself cursing the day she moved to Mandalay Close. She can’t believe this is happening to her, because she’s not a bad person, is she? Even though she does have secrets of her own, secrets that she’s not willing to share with anyone…
A completely jaw-dropping psychological thriller, perfect for fans of K.L. Slater, Lisa Jewell and Sue Watson.
Readers love Joanne ‘I could NOT put this book down! The story was a real good one, you didn’t know what was happening. I LOVE books when they make you think, and then you change your mind on the characters. The ending was WOW, AFTER ALL THAT JUST WOW!!!!! Loved it!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘So good! I couldn’t put this book down and was guilty of ignoring my family for most of yesterday because of it… Can’t wait for the next one!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I loved the twists and turns in this book… A great read for those who like twisted tales… Joanne Ryan is fast becoming the queen of psycho-dramas.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Oh wow!!! Joanne Ryan really knows her stuff!!!… Everything a psychological thriller means and more!!! Absolutely fantastic.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘From the moment I picked this book up, I was hooked. I had a hard time putting it down. I even stayed up late reading… I thought I had the twist figured out but the author surprised me multiple times. I highly recommend this book to anybody who loves thriller books especially ones that have twists that make you yell, “WHAT?!”’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I could NOT put this book down and read it cover to cover in one sitting!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Once Joanne Ryan hooks you into a story, she doesn’t let you go. This twisty thriller kept me turning the pages never sure what was going to happen next… Brilliant. A great read!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Amazing… filled with twist after twist in the end, which was something I never saw coming… If you’re after a book that you won’t be able to put down, this is it.
Joanne Ryan lives in the south of England and has always loved writing. Her novels concentrate on the darker, secret side of life of seemingly ordinary people. She also writes under the pen name of Marina Johnson https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Gone are the days when people got excited when they received a letter....
Lena moved into Mandalay Close the same day her neighbors received letters threatening to expose their secrets! Everyone received the letters except for Lena. Some begin to look at Lena, the newcomer, as the one who sent the letters. Lena has secrets of her own, but she just wants to start over as she is reeling over the loss of her 11-year relationship with Gareth who cheated on her.
Unfortunately, when Lena moved, she did not move into Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood. She moved into a neighborhood full of secrets and 'interesting' neighbors. Why oh why did Gareth have to cheat on her? Now she is in over her head!
This was an enjoyable book told through various POV's. There is quite a bit going on in this quiet neighborhood and the neighbors all have dysfunction going on in their lives and homes. There are quite a few twists and turns along the way which the story moving at a nice pace. I felt for Lena as she had quite a bit going on in her life during this book. Plus, the unlikeable characters were well done. I really disliked quite a few of them in this book.
I found this to be a fast, enjoyable and twist filled read.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
A series of neatly addressed envelopes drop through the letterboxes of the occupants of Mandalay Close – threatening letters of exposure, which most choose to ignore. Lena, post messy break up with her partner of eleven years, moves into the close on the day the letters begin to arrive. Are the two events connected? Several people think so, and Lena starts to regret her decision to move into the prestigious area.
Although this starts off a bit dull and unevenly paced, once it gets going, it does become interesting and very entertaining reading. It’s told through several points of view and this works well as you get a fly on the wall insight behind some closed doors and it’s far from pretty. These are not very likeable people which they often hide behind a veneer of respectability, and some are very nasty, reprehensible characters.
It becomes really intriguing as situations escalate and trying to figure out whodunnit it has your suspicions twitching back-and-forth from one suspect to the next as there are so many to choose from. There are some good red herrings and twists though your head does spin a bit towards the end with all the big reveals.
There is one point of view which I find hard to buy into because it’s from the perspective of an eight-year-old, bright or not, it does not sound like any eight-year-old that I know.
Overall though, it’s an easy read and hits the entertainment mark.
With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to Boldwood Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and Boldwood books,and the author Joanne Ryan for an early copy of her book to read.
This is my first book ive read from this author,Lena moved to Mandalay close,she lived with Gareth who cheated on her and they shared a home and they contributed equally to there home but it wasnt in her name,she moves into a coach house a smaller place.she get to know a couple of neighbours, one couple didnt seem to be very unpleasant..the neighbours recieve letters except Lena.why?there are secrets in there neighbourhood..this rating was close to five stars an easy read,for me wanted abit more of a twist near the ending.i would certainly like to read more of her books.
This is a twisty, unpredictable domestic thriller. It’s soapy in all of the best ways. The plot unfolds from different distinct perspectives that eventually come together most shockingly and unexpectedly. Each character has secrets and is not as they seem. I enjoyed how the puzzle pieces cleverly fit together creating a suspenseful mystery thriller that was entertaining and original. Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my copy.
Lena has moved to Mandalay Close after leaving her cheating husband, Gareth. The quiet street seemed like a fresh start for her, and she was hoping to meet some new neighbors and maybe even make some friends. She did complete her goal of meeting new neighbors, but the friends part is debatable…
Oliver, Rachel, and their son Jolyon live next door, and immediately there are issues. Oliver is cold, aggressive and seems to have a problem with Lena right from the start. I’d like to say that part of his behavior may be related to stress - many people on the street have received letters threatening to divulge their secrets, and all are reacting in their own ways. Unfortunately, Oliver is just a jerk, with or without the letter.
Prue lives on the other side of Lena and takes care of her mother, who has dementia. The two women do become slightly friendly, but Prue has secrets that don’t allow her to truly be close to anyone. She also knows a lot of secrets; she spends many sleepless nights and boring days watching the street, and sees things that other neighbors don’t have any clue about.
This is the second book I’ve read by the author, and I enjoyed both of them. Both are popcorn thrillers, but both are entertaining and well-written. This is fast-paced enough to finish in a sitting, and had some good surprises…neighborhood thrillers are usually fun, and this one was no exception. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
(Thank you to Boldwood Books, Joanne Ryan and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on April 18, 2024.)
Numerous neighbours of Mandalay Close receive letters that are dropped through their letterboxes into their homes. Many of them do not think much about them at the time but these are a ticking time bomb for Lena who has recently moved into this cul-de-sac and has yet to build relationships with them. She has recently broken up with her partner Gareth, tossed aside for a younger version of herself and is looking for some peace and stability after her move. But this is not meant to be, and Lena is about to find herself in a lot of hot water.
This book is told by multiple POV’s and allows the reader to see into the lives of these neighbours and everyone of them holds secrets, secrets that they were hoping would remain confidential as this is a close community and no one wants their dirty laundry aired for all to see. As the book progresses, we are drip fed more and more information and are we going to be right in our thinking of who is behind all this angst, and will Lena be able to prove her innocence?
Overall, quite a good read, the book moves along at a decent pace and does contain many twists that will keep you entertained.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.
Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Publication date : April 18, 2024 Narrated by: Julia Franklin, Willow Nash, Toby Webster
Another domestic thriller that was told from multiple points of view, so at first it was difficult to keep track of all the characters introduced.
For me Lena was the one who's story sounded most interesting. I felt sorry for her. The way people took advantage of her. Not only her boyfriend of 11 years cheated on her, then threw her out, but also her best friend took advantage of her. Lena could be annoying at times, neverless she was someone who many readers can identify with and care about.
There's that couple next door, with son named Jolyon. Jolyon's father, Oliver, sounded suspicious from the start! Then there's that older woman, Prue, next door who takes care of her elderly mother. I had my suspicion that there was also something wrong.
And then there's that mystery with the letters that some people started to get on the day Lena moved in. Who sent them and why? I didn't believe that Lena was the sender because she was newcomer, didn't know any of her neighbours nor their secrets. Or did she choose that location on purpose?
"Don't Let Her In" by Joanne Ryan had me hooked right from the start, immersing me in the drama and mystery unfolding in Mandalay Close.
Lena's move to the neighborhood was supposed to be her fresh start, her chance to leave behind the wreckage of her previous relationship. But fate had other plans. As soon as she settles in, ominous letters start appearing for her neighbors, promising to reveal their deepest secrets. Except, curiously, Lena's mailbox remains empty. It's as if someone is deliberately targeting her, trying to sabotage her newfound happiness.
Ryan's narrative is excellent, each chapter unraveling another layer of deception and betrayal. The story's got more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, and let me tell you, I was flipping through those pages faster than you can say "plot twist." Lena? She's a relatable character, trying to pick up the pieces after getting her heart stomped on. But man, I wanted to shake some sense into her when she couldn't seem to shake off her no-good ex. Like, come on, girl, you deserve better!
Now, I gotta admit, there were a couple of things that didn't quite click for me. Like, the eight-year-old character's perspective felt a bit too grown-up. But hey, in the grand scheme of things, it's a minor quibble in an otherwise gripping tale.
If you're into fast-paced mysteries with a side of drama, this one's for you. Can't wait to see what Joanne Ryan comes up with next!
When Lena moves into her new home on idyllic Mandalay Close, she’s seeking a fresh start after heartbreak. But her hope for a peaceful new life is quickly shattered when mysterious letters appear on her neighbors’ doorsteps, threatening to expose their most private secrets.
As tensions mount in the once-quiet cul-de-sac, Lena watches in dismay as the community descends into chaos. Yet amidst the confusion, her house remains curiously untouched.
I was captivated from the very beginning. It was fast-paced, and the twists were fantastic throughout. The end left me flabbergasted. I enjoyed this very much and highly recommend it to all psychological thriller lovers!
Thank you to Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
The synopsis sounded really interesting; with the people receiving threatening letters and a new person moving in to the small community (after her boyfriend kicked her out), a murder, a quiet and mysterious neighbor. But unfortunately the letters were mentioned once or twice, no one was “let in” or “not let in” to justify the title stating “don’t let her in” … the mention of the ex boyfriend was mentioned to exhaustion, which made me feel as though it could have been made into its own book. The murder, the family next door and creepy neighbor could have been expanded upon to make them more mysterious and make the story interesting. I felt the book to be slow, not really sure what I was reading (it felt as though there were 3 completely separate stories in the book). There was a little twist at the end (which is why I gave it 2 stars). Overall I expected more “thrill” from the mysterious letters (and what they actually said, they never told us), and possible more sinister plot with them. I was let down with the book, which is disappointing.
Loved this one about Mandalay Close, a supposedly-tight-knit community of like-minded residents...until they begin receiving threatening unsigned letters. Lena has just moved in after leaving Gareth when he moved his new girlfriend in the house she paid for; and of course she's fuming over the humiliation and hopes to find some good friends in this neighborhood. But soon it's clear that it's not as easy as it may appear as the police show up, neighbors are accused of things they may or may not have done, and soon a dead body is discovered! Told in alternating chapters from each characters point of view, the novel reveals how jealousies, lies, secrets, and betrayals all are at the heart of this seemingly-sweet little community. Fascinating and fun! Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for sending me this ARC! I had a fun time reading about Lena who moved into a new house in a decent neighbourhood after she was kicked out by her partner of 11 years. It was also the same timeframe where all of Lena’s new neighbours received anonymous malicious letters.
Though I had difficulties relating with the book’s pace at the start, the story eventually picked up pace with its multiple POV representation! I wish the author had more personalisation when different POVs are written though like example a child and an adult POV felt the same that there is not much transition in terms of vocabulary used.
There were quite a few reveals scattered along the way so it was a fun quick read.
Well this book was not for me. Who exactly are you not supposed to let in? You won’t know either even after you read the book. It was a very slow mover more than half the book. There were parts of the book that seemed intriguing but went absolutely nowhere. The book did finally pick up and things came together but it was unrealistic in my opinion. This just wasn’t for me.
This had me hooked right from the start, and it got better and better. When lena splits from her partner of 11 years, she rents a coach house in a nice part of town. Only there are some very strange people living in Mandalay Close and a lot of odd things happening. Oliver next door tries everything to make lenas life miserable. Could he have a past connection to lena??. Then there's a murder in the close and found in lenas garage. Who can it be? Who did it? Someone is watching!!!!! It appears everyone in Mandalay Close is hiding something. I found this book a proper page turner and more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, and lots of I didn't see that coming moments. A great physcological thriller. It's definitely worth reading
When! I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was a lot more going on here than I had anticipated. At first, I assumed that the neighbourhood letters and the fact that Lena was the only one without one would be the primary source of tension throughout the whole book, but in reality, this point was better used as a means of introducing more complex issues within Mandalay Close, the community Lena recently moved to. It might be challenging for inexperienced thriller readers to follow the eight main characters, but it's a fairly straightforward read, and the voices are unique enough that I had no trouble identifying who was who and figuring out some plot twists since the first try. Solid read.
Full of twists and turns Don’t Let Her In is a great read. Lena has been evicted by her unfaithful ex and finds herself living in the lovely Mandalay Close. Or is it so lovely? The neighbours seem nice, initially… This tale will keep you on your toes wondering just who to trust. The characters feel very real; could there be people like these among your neighbours? There are some great twists and I couldn’t put the book down for the last 25%. I loved the ending, very satisfactory. Due out later this month, I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy and I thoroughly recommend it. Definite 5 star from me.
5 STAR This is the second Joanne Ryan book I have read, and I am obsessed. Her writing style is amazing and Her ability to flesh out characters without waffling is very impressive. I normally struggle with multiple POV's but I loved it in this book and when it all came together at the end? OBSESSED
I once again felt so many things, and was getting whiplash from the twists in the story, but loved every second.
MUST READ, and I will now be going and finding every other one of her books because I am obsessed.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Boldwood Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This book is an absolutely incredible! From the moment I started reading, I was completely captivated by the gripping storyline and the well-crafted characters. The author expertly weaves together suspense, mystery, and psychological elements, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. I found myself constantly guessing and second-guessing, trying to unravel the secrets hidden within the pages. There’s so many unexpected twists that happened, things I would have never guessed and I LOVE that!
One of the things I loved most about this book is the way the author delves deep into the minds of the characters, exploring their fears, desires, and vulnerabilities. It made them feel incredibly real. There’s multiple POVs, the main character Lena and some of the neighbours too. It was really interesting to read from the perspective of some of the neighbours and how they dealt with their life and other things that happened in the book.
The plot twists in this book are masterfully executed. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, there would be a curveball thrown in that left me shocked and eager to read on. The suspense built up beautifully, and the resolution was satisfying and thought-provoking.
Overall, Don’t Let Her In is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and suspenseful novels. It will keep you guessing until the very end and leave you wanting more. I definitely recommend preordering or getting the book once it’s released!
The writing had a good balance of exposition and action, and I got through the book quite quickly. Though there were some pacing issues at the start, the story picked up and maintained its steam after the first twenty percent or so, and I thought it more than made up for its initial bumps. While not necessarily likable, the characters were interesting and had enough variety amongst them to not come across as one-note. I thought the inclusion of unreliable narrators was done very well, and it made some plot points in the book more effective than they may otherwise have been.
While the characters themselves were all quite different, I found most of them to not have very distinct narrative styles, and the fact that the 8-year-old had the same cadence and vocabulary as the 40-year-old man broke my immersion in the story a few times. There were several reveals that I saw coming, and several others that took me by surprise, so I would say that the mystery itself was satisfying and well-done. I think fans of small-town mysteries will find this an enjoyable read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. This is my honest review.
3/5 Who can you trust when everyone has something to hide?
Not sure what the title has to do with the story but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Quite a few twists to this tale. Sometimes nosey neighbours are a good thing.
My first Joanne Ryan book and it did not disappoint! Holding my breath at each twist and turn until the surprise bombshell ending was just what I needed! Instant fan!!
First I want to thank NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Joanne Ryan for my ARC of Don’t Let Her In.
What an entertaining read! The story is set on a quaint cul-de-sac neighborhood with nosey neighbors. But everyone has secrets and everyone wants to keep them secrets. I thought the main focus was going to be on the poison pen letters that everyone was getting but it was way bigger! I like that it was told trim multiple POVs that all came together at the end of the book! I personally thought all the characters were well developed. There were definitely some you were meant to not like and it was made clear why. I liked the twists and turns that kept me guessing till the end. It was a great read and I can’t wait to read more from Joanne Ryan!
Thanks ti #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for the book #DontLetHerIn by #JoanneRyan. This book is based on a woman who has just moved in on a nice street but the neighbors aren’t what they seem. Being freshly out of a relationship where she was cheated on, she is trying to start over. Letters start showing up at certain neighbors homes. Is she the one sending them? Then things go from bad to worse…….. I read this book in one sitting and recommend it.