Don't Let Her In

by J.M. O'Rourke

Lesley seems like a perfectly normal woman. Until you ask her to leave.

Gillian wants to do right by her elderly Aunt Myra. A safe nursing home. Daily visits. A peaceful final chapter for the woman who has been like a mother to her.

A plan that’s derailed when a stranger turns up on the doorstep claiming to be Myra's long-lost niece, Lesley. She says she’s here to look after Myra.

Within days, Myra’s bank accounts are being drained and Lesley has taken full control of the house. And Gillian—the woman who has always been there for Myra—isn't allowed through the door.

When she demands to see her aunt, the threats begin. Smashed windows. A slashed tire. Headlights chasing her down a lonely country road.

But Gillian isn’t backing off.

Suspicious that Lesley isn’t who she says she is, Gillian digs into her past. And discovers a secret far more horrifying than anything she could have imagined.

A chilling, twist-laden thriller about the people we let through the door, and what they take when we do.

Don’t Let Her In – the shocking psychological thriller, perfect for fans of B.A. Paris, Shari Lapena, and Lesley Pearse.

Genres: Thriller

317 pages, ebook

Published July 12, 2026

Reviews

[Abhinav Ka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in a small village in Ireland, Don't Let Her In follows Gillian, a woman in her forties, a former nurse who now works from home as a mental health therapist. She and her sisters, Helen and Sheila, are very close to their aunt by marriage, Myra, whose health has been deteriorating.

When Myra moves into a nursing home, her estranged niece Lesley suddenly arrives from Glasgow with her husband, Robbie, and their two grandchildren. They quickly stake a claim to Myra's house money. Gillian becomes suspicious of their intentions when they try to prevent her from seeing Aunty Myra.

Gillian isn't about to give up without a fight. Determined to protect her aunt and make sure she is properly cared for, she begins questioning the motives of these unexpected newcomers. What follows is a tense and increasingly unsettling series of events that makes Gillian question not only the people around her but also her own perception of what is happening.

What starts as a seemingly straightforward family conflict gradually becomes something much more sinister.

This was my first book by J.M. O'Rourke, and it turned out to be a very tense and gripping little thriller. The atmosphere, family dynamics, toxic characters, and growing sense of unease kept me turning the pages, constantly wondering who could be trusted.

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5

A suspenseful read for anyone who enjoys psychological tension and unreliable perceptions. Definitely an author I'll be keeping an eye on!

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not really care for this one, honestly. First of all the Scottish dialect was a bit irritating. I LOVE the Scottish accent in person but on paper it's just annoying to read. Second, the plot was not all that interesting. It didn't make a lot of sense as to why Lesley would harass Gillian instead of be friends. The old keep your friends close and your enemies closer adage. Also, how I pretty much know whether a book will be thrilling for me to read is if it grabs me from the very first page (sometimes I will give it the first chapter on occasion) and keeps me wanting to turn the pages and stay up late to find up what happened. This book did none of that. It did not grab me from the first, nor did it make me want to stay up past my bedtime and read. I literally just didn't care. A dull read for me.

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this from the synopsis.

However, it was very slow and I couldn’t connect with the characters. I did understand their desire to look out for the old lady, but that, and other aspects were repetitive.

I wasn’t shocked about anything as the novel wasn’t suspenseful enough.

Thanks to J.M O’ Rourke.

2 stars

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Casca Wardle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an intriguing and gripping story, I was instantly invested. It felt like an absolute nightmare when the random and unsettling twists started to unravel. I had to put the book down a few times because it was so infuriating what was happening with aunt Myra. At the same time, I just needed to know what was going to happen next and I was totally rooting for Gillian to save the day.


5 out of 5! Absolutely outrageous and addictive, you don’t want to miss this one!

[julie slinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rollercoaster ride

My first book by this author - read it in one day - could not put it
down . So many twists & turns -satisfying ending but sad at the same time. Would highly recommend.

[Paul Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

what women w EA r should not be an issue

Read this and very disappointed to note the comment that if women wear certain comments it felt like the main character felt they deserved this a. Myth and should be corrected

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. A few surprise twists, but a few that were pretty obvious. Didn't take long to get into it. Would recommend.

[Andrea Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another smash for this author

This author writes the perfect, well for me, anyway, psychological thriller. When the blurb talks about the twists, I can never tell how twisted it will get. I don’t like to see too many people dying or getting hurt ( yep, I’m a wimp) or animals. Bad people are ok.