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Don't Let Him In
There's a killer on the loose.
They say a locked door can't stop him.
And you're in a big, old house, all alone.
That is, you think you're alone...
Rebecca has come back home to the small town of Eriston to bury her father, Sean.
Sean was always obsessed with the town's urban legend, of a killer who supposedly comes in the night.
Rebecca's never had time for the rumours. Except, as she reads through his notes, it's clear he was sure he was about to uncover the truth. And then she hears that there are unanswered questions about his death.
It's unnerving, reading through his theories alone in their tall, creaking family house on the seafront.
If she didn't know better, she'd swear she thought she heard someone outside her door...
They say a locked door can't stop him.
And you're in a big, old house, all alone.
That is, you think you're alone...
Rebecca has come back home to the small town of Eriston to bury her father, Sean.
Sean was always obsessed with the town's urban legend, of a killer who supposedly comes in the night.
Rebecca's never had time for the rumours. Except, as she reads through his notes, it's clear he was sure he was about to uncover the truth. And then she hears that there are unanswered questions about his death.
It's unnerving, reading through his theories alone in their tall, creaking family house on the seafront.
If she didn't know better, she'd swear she thought she heard someone outside her door...
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2021
231 people are currently reading
975 people want to read
About the author
Howard Linskey
31 books251 followersABOUT ME
A bit about me and my books. I am an author with Canelo, currently writing a series of William Shakespeare mysteries. The first is 'A Serpent In The Garden' which sees Will forced to look into the mysterious death of a lady in Elizabethan London. .
I am also the author of a series of books set in the north east of England, featuring journalists Tom Carney & Helen Norton with detective Ian Bradshaw, who all appear in ‘The Chosen Ones’, ‘The Search’, 'Behind Dead Eyes’ and ‘No Name Lane' and the standalones, 'Alice Teale Is Missing', 'Don't Let Him In' and The Inheritance'.
My WW2 historical novels include ‘Hunting the Hangman’, which tells the true story of the assassination of Nazi General, Reinhard Heydrich, and ‘Ungentlemanly Warfare’. The latter features SOE agents, Harry Walsh and Emma Stirling and OSS agent, Sam Cooper.
My earlier novels, the David Blake books, have been optioned for TV by Harry Potter producer, David Barron. The Times newspaper voted 'The Drop' one of its Top Five Thrillers of the Year and 'The Damage' one of its Top Summer Reads. Both books broke into the top five Amazon Kindle chart.
I’m honoured to be the ghost writer of ‘Surviving Hell’ which tells the true story of former Para, Nick Dunn, one of the Chennai Six, who were wrongfully imprisoned in India for years, having committed no crime, and 'Surviving Hell', the autobiography of Princess Diana's former bodyguard, Lee Sansum.
On a far lighter note, I am also the writer behind ‘The Little Book Of Pintfulness’ a mindfulness spoof, which comprehensively proves that life is just better with beer. Please read responsibly.
Prior to becoming a full-time author, I led a series of different lives with a number of jobs, including barman, journalist, catering manager and marketing manager for a celebrity chef, as well as in a variety of sales and account management roles. I can confirm that writing books definitely beats working for a living.
I started writing many moons ago and was first published in the Newcastle United football fanzine, 'The Mag'. I then became a journalist and wrote for regional newspapers. I have also written for magazines and web sites and was once the English Premier League football correspondent for a Malaysian magazine. I've stopped all of that nonsense now, preferring to make up stuff instead and call myself an author.
I'm originally from Ferryhill in County Durham but, like most of the people I grew up with, I left the north east in search of work and never quite made it back. I am now settled in Hertfordshire with my lovely wife Alison and wonderful daughter Erin.
I'm still a long-suffering Newcastle United fan and can only assume that Mike Ashley is a punishment inflicted upon us for all of the crimes we committed in our past lives.
I am represented by the best Literary Agent in the UK, Phil Patterson at Marjacq. Catherine Pellegrino looks after my foreign rights there. If you are Brad Pitt and you wish to play David Blake in a movie then Leah Middleton takes care of Film and TV rights:
Marjacq Scripts Ltd
The Space
235 High Holborn
London WC1V 7LE
+44 (0) 20 7935 9499
F +44 (0) 20 7935 9115
enquiries@marjacq.com
A bit about me and my books. I am an author with Canelo, currently writing a series of William Shakespeare mysteries. The first is 'A Serpent In The Garden' which sees Will forced to look into the mysterious death of a lady in Elizabethan London. .
I am also the author of a series of books set in the north east of England, featuring journalists Tom Carney & Helen Norton with detective Ian Bradshaw, who all appear in ‘The Chosen Ones’, ‘The Search’, 'Behind Dead Eyes’ and ‘No Name Lane' and the standalones, 'Alice Teale Is Missing', 'Don't Let Him In' and The Inheritance'.
My WW2 historical novels include ‘Hunting the Hangman’, which tells the true story of the assassination of Nazi General, Reinhard Heydrich, and ‘Ungentlemanly Warfare’. The latter features SOE agents, Harry Walsh and Emma Stirling and OSS agent, Sam Cooper.
My earlier novels, the David Blake books, have been optioned for TV by Harry Potter producer, David Barron. The Times newspaper voted 'The Drop' one of its Top Five Thrillers of the Year and 'The Damage' one of its Top Summer Reads. Both books broke into the top five Amazon Kindle chart.
I’m honoured to be the ghost writer of ‘Surviving Hell’ which tells the true story of former Para, Nick Dunn, one of the Chennai Six, who were wrongfully imprisoned in India for years, having committed no crime, and 'Surviving Hell', the autobiography of Princess Diana's former bodyguard, Lee Sansum.
On a far lighter note, I am also the writer behind ‘The Little Book Of Pintfulness’ a mindfulness spoof, which comprehensively proves that life is just better with beer. Please read responsibly.
Prior to becoming a full-time author, I led a series of different lives with a number of jobs, including barman, journalist, catering manager and marketing manager for a celebrity chef, as well as in a variety of sales and account management roles. I can confirm that writing books definitely beats working for a living.
I started writing many moons ago and was first published in the Newcastle United football fanzine, 'The Mag'. I then became a journalist and wrote for regional newspapers. I have also written for magazines and web sites and was once the English Premier League football correspondent for a Malaysian magazine. I've stopped all of that nonsense now, preferring to make up stuff instead and call myself an author.
I'm originally from Ferryhill in County Durham but, like most of the people I grew up with, I left the north east in search of work and never quite made it back. I am now settled in Hertfordshire with my lovely wife Alison and wonderful daughter Erin.
I'm still a long-suffering Newcastle United fan and can only assume that Mike Ashley is a punishment inflicted upon us for all of the crimes we committed in our past lives.
I am represented by the best Literary Agent in the UK, Phil Patterson at Marjacq. Catherine Pellegrino looks after my foreign rights there. If you are Brad Pitt and you wish to play David Blake in a movie then Leah Middleton takes care of Film and TV rights:
Marjacq Scripts Ltd
The Space
235 High Holborn
London WC1V 7LE
+44 (0) 20 7935 9499
F +44 (0) 20 7935 9115
enquiries@marjacq.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
May 13, 2021
Rebecca Cole has been travelling but has to return home to Eriston on the Northumberland coast following the date of her father. Sean Cole was the former editor of the local newspaper and his death seems suspicious. Rebecca discovers her father had been researching past cases of missing or murdered women - is this why he died?
The start of the book is very chilling and elements of this continue throughout the book as it becomes clear there is a very creepy observer. The setting of the novel is extremely good, the history of the town with a much higher than average rate of missing/murdered women throughout its history adds to the puzzling intrigue of the plot. The town is declining, lots of things have closed down but there’s a real sense of nostalgia, though not all of it positive, which I really like. If you add this to the backstory Rebecca’s father was investigating you have an interesting premise. There’s a good range of characters too. Rebecca is very likeable, intelligent and an interesting central protagonist. Equally likeable is her ex-boyfriend Alan Miller but at the other end of the likability spectrum is DI Alex Hall and the less we say about him the better! As the novel progresses the case becomes deeper and more intriguing, there’s tension, some fear and menace as well as plot twists and turns. I like the finale which takes place at the coast and although Rebecca has worked a lot of it out, this doesn’t detract from a tense and exciting ending.
However, the story does take a little while to get going, in places it’s a bit circular and drawn out although once it gets ‘warmed up’ it’s a compelling read and hard to put down.
Overall. I’ve read a few books by this author and enjoyed them and the positives in his latest novel definitely outweigh a few negatives and makes it a very worthwhile read.
With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for the arc for an honest review.
The start of the book is very chilling and elements of this continue throughout the book as it becomes clear there is a very creepy observer. The setting of the novel is extremely good, the history of the town with a much higher than average rate of missing/murdered women throughout its history adds to the puzzling intrigue of the plot. The town is declining, lots of things have closed down but there’s a real sense of nostalgia, though not all of it positive, which I really like. If you add this to the backstory Rebecca’s father was investigating you have an interesting premise. There’s a good range of characters too. Rebecca is very likeable, intelligent and an interesting central protagonist. Equally likeable is her ex-boyfriend Alan Miller but at the other end of the likability spectrum is DI Alex Hall and the less we say about him the better! As the novel progresses the case becomes deeper and more intriguing, there’s tension, some fear and menace as well as plot twists and turns. I like the finale which takes place at the coast and although Rebecca has worked a lot of it out, this doesn’t detract from a tense and exciting ending.
However, the story does take a little while to get going, in places it’s a bit circular and drawn out although once it gets ‘warmed up’ it’s a compelling read and hard to put down.
Overall. I’ve read a few books by this author and enjoyed them and the positives in his latest novel definitely outweigh a few negatives and makes it a very worthwhile read.
With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for the arc for an honest review.
May 30, 2021
Many thanks to Sriya Varadharajan at Michael Joseph Penguin Random House, UK for this chance in the BLOG TOUR of DON’T LET HIM IN by Howard Linskey. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
Eriston is a long-dead tourist town. The vicious cycle of lack of tourists and thereby income for all the shops and hotels and thus everything reduced to shambles and disrepair has been going on for years and Rebecca had escaped from this ‘there’s nothing to do here’ place a long time ago. Her father’s death however calls her back from the traveling spree that she had undertaken to overcome a job and love failure. But Eriston is not a welcoming town as there’s no other place that has seen more deaths or suicides or murders than this corner of the earth.
As Rebecca discovers that her father Sean was on the trail of a particular story that might have caused his death and the local police have no interest in pursuing the truth, Rebecca with help from a local beat bobby follows the breadcrumbs left by her reporter father.
There is a dark atmosphere at the beginning of the story with the setting of the place, a town with a foreboding feel, with evil lurking around the corner, whispers of the legend and rumors of the Chameleon hunting for young women, a peeping tom’s voice and thoughts that add to the creepy intensity in the story. I simply loved the gothic vibe in the first part of the story and the romance that develops between Alan and Rebecca adds a subtle charm to this chilling tale of a serial killer who has remained undetected for years altogether. The chapters that describe the killer’s thoughts were scary, to know that we are so helpless and unaware of the invasion of the privacy of one’s own home was terrifying to read.
The author does emphasize the point of the lack of newspaper reading crowd and the massive inclusion of smartphones in our daily life, a particular lament by Rebecca about having quit social media coz of the glitz and blitz of her friends making her feel like a failure was a true reflection of most people’s lives. The mystery unveils slowly with everyone becoming a suspect and the unmasking when it happened was not a total shocker, at least for me. The ending however raises the tension to a peak as the killer gives a hair-raising explanation to his gruesome acts.
A thriller that grows on you, Howard Linskey’s Don’t Let Him In is utterly compelling and captivating!
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
Eriston is a long-dead tourist town. The vicious cycle of lack of tourists and thereby income for all the shops and hotels and thus everything reduced to shambles and disrepair has been going on for years and Rebecca had escaped from this ‘there’s nothing to do here’ place a long time ago. Her father’s death however calls her back from the traveling spree that she had undertaken to overcome a job and love failure. But Eriston is not a welcoming town as there’s no other place that has seen more deaths or suicides or murders than this corner of the earth.
As Rebecca discovers that her father Sean was on the trail of a particular story that might have caused his death and the local police have no interest in pursuing the truth, Rebecca with help from a local beat bobby follows the breadcrumbs left by her reporter father.
There is a dark atmosphere at the beginning of the story with the setting of the place, a town with a foreboding feel, with evil lurking around the corner, whispers of the legend and rumors of the Chameleon hunting for young women, a peeping tom’s voice and thoughts that add to the creepy intensity in the story. I simply loved the gothic vibe in the first part of the story and the romance that develops between Alan and Rebecca adds a subtle charm to this chilling tale of a serial killer who has remained undetected for years altogether. The chapters that describe the killer’s thoughts were scary, to know that we are so helpless and unaware of the invasion of the privacy of one’s own home was terrifying to read.
The author does emphasize the point of the lack of newspaper reading crowd and the massive inclusion of smartphones in our daily life, a particular lament by Rebecca about having quit social media coz of the glitz and blitz of her friends making her feel like a failure was a true reflection of most people’s lives. The mystery unveils slowly with everyone becoming a suspect and the unmasking when it happened was not a total shocker, at least for me. The ending however raises the tension to a peak as the killer gives a hair-raising explanation to his gruesome acts.
A thriller that grows on you, Howard Linskey’s Don’t Let Him In is utterly compelling and captivating!
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
April 9, 2021
Eriston is a small town. It's the kind of place where everyone knows your name - and your secrets. Rebecca hasn't been back in years, but she grew up in the shadow of the dark local legend. There have always been deaths in Eriston - more than can easily be explained. People are dying in their houses, behind locked doors. Her father, Sean had always warned her of the dangers. But Sean knew too much and now he's dead. Rebecca could be next.
There's a killer on the loose in Eriston and Sean has been trying to find out who was responsible for the deaths of local women. Rebecca Cole returned to her home town after her father's death. She decides to pick up where her father left off and try and find the killer. There's plenty of suspects and red herrings in this creepy but easy to read book. It's quite a cleverly crafted story that had me guessing until the end. This is an intriguing read. The tension builds throughout. A really enjoyable read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #PenguinMichaelJosephUK and the author #HowardLinskey for my ARC of #DontLetHimIn in exchange for an honest review.
There's a killer on the loose in Eriston and Sean has been trying to find out who was responsible for the deaths of local women. Rebecca Cole returned to her home town after her father's death. She decides to pick up where her father left off and try and find the killer. There's plenty of suspects and red herrings in this creepy but easy to read book. It's quite a cleverly crafted story that had me guessing until the end. This is an intriguing read. The tension builds throughout. A really enjoyable read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #PenguinMichaelJosephUK and the author #HowardLinskey for my ARC of #DontLetHimIn in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2025
#️⃣6️⃣5️⃣5️⃣ Read & Reviewed in 2025 🌠☔
Date Read: Saturday, November 29, 2025
2️⃣🌟, the advice is literally found in the title, bitch dont let him in
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
53th read in "Lush and Beautiful Reads" November🌃
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃
┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊★˚ .• *
┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩
┊ ┊ ︎✧
┊ . ˚ ˚✩
┊
┊
┊
┊
⋆｡˚ ✩ ˚｡⋆
This is pretty much a slog to read 😐😐😐😐. There is just nothing to make sense of anything here. The plot is so basic and the synopsis doesn't do anything new. The promise was uninteresting sona mother how good the execution can be, the whole point was not even good in the first place. Characters are undeveloped and the plot was extremely predictable. Once again just look at the title, that's literally just it bitch, just don't let him in 😒😒😒. The mix of suspense and mystery is just non existent for this book and it just seems to repeat close all over and over again just to baby the reader as if the reader can't pick up all these clues in the first place . I can probably compare this to all of those pretentious poetry books but this time it's for mystery books. Sean and Rebecca were so flat as characters and they're just so basic and one dimensional, very stereotypical.
Date Read: Saturday, November 29, 2025
2️⃣🌟, the advice is literally found in the title, bitch dont let him in
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
53th read in "Lush and Beautiful Reads" November🌃
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃
┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊★˚ .• *
┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩
┊ ┊ ︎✧
┊ . ˚ ˚✩
┊
┊
┊
┊
⋆｡˚ ✩ ˚｡⋆
This is pretty much a slog to read 😐😐😐😐. There is just nothing to make sense of anything here. The plot is so basic and the synopsis doesn't do anything new. The promise was uninteresting sona mother how good the execution can be, the whole point was not even good in the first place. Characters are undeveloped and the plot was extremely predictable. Once again just look at the title, that's literally just it bitch, just don't let him in 😒😒😒. The mix of suspense and mystery is just non existent for this book and it just seems to repeat close all over and over again just to baby the reader as if the reader can't pick up all these clues in the first place . I can probably compare this to all of those pretentious poetry books but this time it's for mystery books. Sean and Rebecca were so flat as characters and they're just so basic and one dimensional, very stereotypical.
January 11, 2021
Oh boy, this is one of those books where you can be sitting with your back against the wall and still feel there is someone behind you. Howard Linskey has rapidly become a go-to author for me as he sets my imagination on fire and makes me feel and see everything that is going on.
I liked Rebecca, the main character in the story, who had returned to her home town after her father had died unexpectedly. When she was informed, that his death was suspicious, it throws into a whole new level of thinking. She has to know the truth.
The story jumps between Rebecca and the creepy killer of the townsfolk that hides in plain sight. Rebecca has a history with this town of growing up and taking a giant step, pushed by her parents, to go to college. It is strange for her to return to a place where time hasn’t stood still, and friends have moved on without her. She is, to put it bluntly, like a fish out of water.
The killer is one of the weirdest and creepy that I have come across in a while. My heart raced as I saw things through his eyes and felt what he felt, in the most terrifying way, helpless not knowing how far he would go. Here is one creepy sick dude and he wanted his prize and she had come back home.
A thrilling story enhanced even more as I live on my own. It is the perfect setting for reading this petrifying story.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have read honestly.
I liked Rebecca, the main character in the story, who had returned to her home town after her father had died unexpectedly. When she was informed, that his death was suspicious, it throws into a whole new level of thinking. She has to know the truth.
The story jumps between Rebecca and the creepy killer of the townsfolk that hides in plain sight. Rebecca has a history with this town of growing up and taking a giant step, pushed by her parents, to go to college. It is strange for her to return to a place where time hasn’t stood still, and friends have moved on without her. She is, to put it bluntly, like a fish out of water.
The killer is one of the weirdest and creepy that I have come across in a while. My heart raced as I saw things through his eyes and felt what he felt, in the most terrifying way, helpless not knowing how far he would go. Here is one creepy sick dude and he wanted his prize and she had come back home.
A thrilling story enhanced even more as I live on my own. It is the perfect setting for reading this petrifying story.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have read honestly.
May 16, 2021
#DontLetHimIn
By Howard Linskey
“Don’t Let Him In” is Howard Linskey’s latest standalone thriller set on the North East’s Northumbrian coast. A gripping and sinister read that engaged me from the start, Howard never disappoints and this was no exception.
- A dark legend has haunted the small town of Eriston for as long as Rebecca can recall. Her father had always warned her of the dangers - ‘Don’t Let Him In’ - He was on the verge of uncovering the town’s darkest truth. He knew too much. Now he’s dead. And Rebecca could be next....is she risking her life by carrying on his work?
I always love a story that’s set in my local area, it’s adds to the enjoyment when you recognise places mentioned and gives you a sense of familiarity. The author instilled a real sense of fear with the small town local legends and the suspicions of a serial killer in their midsts.
The characters were very well portrayed and I liked how Rebecca was very grounded about her financial and employment circumstances, following the death of her father. Told from her point of view, we see her wrestle with the emotions of her life when she lived in Eriston and her relationship with her father. Once she accepts the idea that her father may have been murdered for what he knew, she manages to get people to talk and help her put the pieces together with the aid of Alan, her ex boyfriend. Although slightly predictable I enjoyed how the plot all came together and the ending had a tense, fast paced, edge of the seat setting.
This isn’t my first Howard Linskey thriller and it sure won’t be my last. I’m happy to recommend both “Don’t Let Him In” and the author and I wish him every success with another entertaining and engaging story.
Howard Linskey is the author of the crime series featuring Detective Ian Bradshaw and journalists Tom Cagney and Helen Norton. His David Blake series has been optioned for TV and he is also the author of historical books published in the UK. Originally from County Durham, his books are based around the North East of England and is a long suffering Newcastle United fan.
You can find out more about the author and “Don’t Let Him In” from this link - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/315/3...
Thank you to Sriya Varadharajan and Penguin Random House for inviting me on the #BookTour and for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
By Howard Linskey
“Don’t Let Him In” is Howard Linskey’s latest standalone thriller set on the North East’s Northumbrian coast. A gripping and sinister read that engaged me from the start, Howard never disappoints and this was no exception.
- A dark legend has haunted the small town of Eriston for as long as Rebecca can recall. Her father had always warned her of the dangers - ‘Don’t Let Him In’ - He was on the verge of uncovering the town’s darkest truth. He knew too much. Now he’s dead. And Rebecca could be next....is she risking her life by carrying on his work?
I always love a story that’s set in my local area, it’s adds to the enjoyment when you recognise places mentioned and gives you a sense of familiarity. The author instilled a real sense of fear with the small town local legends and the suspicions of a serial killer in their midsts.
The characters were very well portrayed and I liked how Rebecca was very grounded about her financial and employment circumstances, following the death of her father. Told from her point of view, we see her wrestle with the emotions of her life when she lived in Eriston and her relationship with her father. Once she accepts the idea that her father may have been murdered for what he knew, she manages to get people to talk and help her put the pieces together with the aid of Alan, her ex boyfriend. Although slightly predictable I enjoyed how the plot all came together and the ending had a tense, fast paced, edge of the seat setting.
This isn’t my first Howard Linskey thriller and it sure won’t be my last. I’m happy to recommend both “Don’t Let Him In” and the author and I wish him every success with another entertaining and engaging story.
Howard Linskey is the author of the crime series featuring Detective Ian Bradshaw and journalists Tom Cagney and Helen Norton. His David Blake series has been optioned for TV and he is also the author of historical books published in the UK. Originally from County Durham, his books are based around the North East of England and is a long suffering Newcastle United fan.
You can find out more about the author and “Don’t Let Him In” from this link - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/315/3...
Thank you to Sriya Varadharajan and Penguin Random House for inviting me on the #BookTour and for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
May 22, 2021
Thanks to the author, NetGalley UK and publishers Penguin for the opportunity to read this book in advance. This is an honest and voluntary review.
There are two big pitfalls of mystery books. The first is revealing the culprit is someone never talked about in the book before, who the reader had no possible chance of suspecting.
The second is the trap this book falls into: having no faith that your reader has picked up on the clues you seeded into the story and then spoon-feeding the explanation to exhausting detail, and still trying to present the reveal as a bigger shock than it is. I’ve never read a book before where an author is so afraid of leaving some mystery in their mystery, and obviously thinks their readers are too stupid to figure stuff out.
It’s a shame because up until the last 10% or so this book is a really good read. A good mix of clues and suspense, and a building sense of threat in the small town with the unusually high rate of missing and murdered people. All I can imagine is that the editor took a holiday for the last section, which is overwritten and underwhelming.
Rebecca literally spends the chapter before the big reveal putting the final clues together for the main suspect, but realising she has no real proof to back up her suspicion. In the next chapter they reveal themselves and the book presents this as a shock. Then Rebecca even says I don’t know why this is a shock and painfully labours over every part of why the culprit created the circumstances in which they revealed themselves.
The fun of a good whodunnit is figuring out the culprit. Your ending should either come as a total surprise to the reader and they enjoy the shock, or they’ve figured it out and get to feel smug that they picked up on the early clues. In either case you should never distract from the action of the plot climax by spelling out every single clue as is done here. That’s for the epilogue where you can address the ‘the one thing I didn’t understand’ questions you think might linger.
Instead we have a horribly clunky ending which absolutely ruined an otherwise enjoyable book. If I’d stopped at the start of chapter 43 this would have been a solid 4/5 star review, but that final section is 1 star territory all the way, so I���ve balanced that out at 2 stars. Please, next time have more confidence in your readers.
There are two big pitfalls of mystery books. The first is revealing the culprit is someone never talked about in the book before, who the reader had no possible chance of suspecting.
The second is the trap this book falls into: having no faith that your reader has picked up on the clues you seeded into the story and then spoon-feeding the explanation to exhausting detail, and still trying to present the reveal as a bigger shock than it is. I’ve never read a book before where an author is so afraid of leaving some mystery in their mystery, and obviously thinks their readers are too stupid to figure stuff out.
It’s a shame because up until the last 10% or so this book is a really good read. A good mix of clues and suspense, and a building sense of threat in the small town with the unusually high rate of missing and murdered people. All I can imagine is that the editor took a holiday for the last section, which is overwritten and underwhelming.
Rebecca literally spends the chapter before the big reveal putting the final clues together for the main suspect, but realising she has no real proof to back up her suspicion. In the next chapter they reveal themselves and the book presents this as a shock. Then Rebecca even says I don’t know why this is a shock and painfully labours over every part of why the culprit created the circumstances in which they revealed themselves.
The fun of a good whodunnit is figuring out the culprit. Your ending should either come as a total surprise to the reader and they enjoy the shock, or they’ve figured it out and get to feel smug that they picked up on the early clues. In either case you should never distract from the action of the plot climax by spelling out every single clue as is done here. That’s for the epilogue where you can address the ‘the one thing I didn’t understand’ questions you think might linger.
Instead we have a horribly clunky ending which absolutely ruined an otherwise enjoyable book. If I’d stopped at the start of chapter 43 this would have been a solid 4/5 star review, but that final section is 1 star territory all the way, so I���ve balanced that out at 2 stars. Please, next time have more confidence in your readers.
May 26, 2021
Oh boy, this is one of those books where you can be sitting with your back against the wall and still feel there is someone behind you. Howard Linskey has rapidly become a go-to author for me as he sets my imagination on fire and makes me feel and see everything that is going on.
I liked Rebecca, the main character in the story, who had returned to her home town after her father had died unexpectedly. When she was informed, that his death was suspicious, it throws into a whole new level of thinking. She has to know the truth.
The story jumps between Rebecca and the creepy killer of the townsfolk that hides in plain sight. Rebecca has a history with this town of growing up and taking a giant step, pushed by her parents, to go to college. It is strange for her to return to a place where time hasn’t stood still, and friends have moved on without her. She is, to put it bluntly, like a fish out of water.
The killer is one of the weirdest and creepy that I have come across in a while. My heart raced as I saw things through his eyes and felt what he felt, in the most terrifying way, helpless not knowing how far he would go. Here is one creepy sick dude and he wanted his prize and she had come back home.
A thrilling story enhanced even more as I live on my own. It is the perfect setting for reading this petrifying story.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have read honestly.
I liked Rebecca, the main character in the story, who had returned to her home town after her father had died unexpectedly. When she was informed, that his death was suspicious, it throws into a whole new level of thinking. She has to know the truth.
The story jumps between Rebecca and the creepy killer of the townsfolk that hides in plain sight. Rebecca has a history with this town of growing up and taking a giant step, pushed by her parents, to go to college. It is strange for her to return to a place where time hasn’t stood still, and friends have moved on without her. She is, to put it bluntly, like a fish out of water.
The killer is one of the weirdest and creepy that I have come across in a while. My heart raced as I saw things through his eyes and felt what he felt, in the most terrifying way, helpless not knowing how far he would go. Here is one creepy sick dude and he wanted his prize and she had come back home.
A thrilling story enhanced even more as I live on my own. It is the perfect setting for reading this petrifying story.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have read honestly.
December 26, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.
I felt this book got off to a good start - it had a good opening chapter that was quite creepy and I thought after reading that it looked a promising read. Unfortunately this book fell short for me - I did enjoy it although it didn’t wow or really thrill me. I liked Rebecca’s character, and her determination to find her fathers killer. I found the story a bit predictable, it had too many suspects and I correctly guessed the killer quite early on. For me, this was an easy read and I would have liked to see more scenes like the opening chapter which was just full of suspense. 3 stars.
I felt this book got off to a good start - it had a good opening chapter that was quite creepy and I thought after reading that it looked a promising read. Unfortunately this book fell short for me - I did enjoy it although it didn’t wow or really thrill me. I liked Rebecca’s character, and her determination to find her fathers killer. I found the story a bit predictable, it had too many suspects and I correctly guessed the killer quite early on. For me, this was an easy read and I would have liked to see more scenes like the opening chapter which was just full of suspense. 3 stars.
May 8, 2021
This is a great read.
Rebecca receives a phone call telling her that her father has died so immediately heads back home to the UK.
When she arrives at the family home, the Police visit her and tell her that her father’s death may be suspicious, but they’re not really sure.
There’s another lower rank Policeman who speaks to her and he tells her he was working with her father, looking into the unusually high number of deaths in the area, and he thinks he was murdered.
Rebecca is intrigued so starts to look into what her father was working on before he died.
We also have chapters from someone who is watching Rebecca and it’s clear their intentions aren’t good.
It’s strange for Rebecca to back after being abroad for so many years but soon she’s asking the locals what they know.
This is a great mystery thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Rebecca receives a phone call telling her that her father has died so immediately heads back home to the UK.
When she arrives at the family home, the Police visit her and tell her that her father’s death may be suspicious, but they’re not really sure.
There’s another lower rank Policeman who speaks to her and he tells her he was working with her father, looking into the unusually high number of deaths in the area, and he thinks he was murdered.
Rebecca is intrigued so starts to look into what her father was working on before he died.
We also have chapters from someone who is watching Rebecca and it’s clear their intentions aren’t good.
It’s strange for Rebecca to back after being abroad for so many years but soon she’s asking the locals what they know.
This is a great mystery thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
July 8, 2025
Undeveloped characters, main character has no personality, sentences are way too long, alan and main girl have no chemistry, bad guy's pov didn't add suspense to the story, the reveal didn't feel like a big reveal bc you see it coming during the whole chapter
May 25, 2025
struggled to finish and the most obvious plot twist ever
December 26, 2025
This an okay read, didn’t quite work for me. The story wasn’t bad by any measure, but it lacked the tension and thrill I was hoping for. I found it fairly predictable, probably because there were too many obvious clues for me, which made it easy to see where the plot was heading. Because of that, a lot of the suspense fell flat for me. The writing itself was fine, and the premise had potential, but the execution didn’t fully deliver the excitement.
February 2, 2022
Suspenseful
October 19, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for an advance copy of Don’t Let Him in, a stand-alone thriller set in the fictional Northumbrian town of Eriston.
Rebecca Cole returns to Eriston after the death of her father, former editor of the local paper, and discovers that he has been investigating the series of unexplained that have been committed in the town and its surrounds over the past 20 years, locally attributed to The Chameleon. Circumstances encourage her to continue his investigation, but at what cost?
I enjoyed Don’t Let Him in, which is an atmospheric tale and is genuinely creepy in parts. It is told from Rebecca’s point of view in the main, with an unnamed stalker-type musing on his methods and thought processes. I’m not really sure what that actually adds to the novel, especially as the denouement seems to contradict some of it.
The plot is interesting and offers several possibilities as a suspect, but he’s not well disguised and I was sure of his identity by the half way point. After that I found my interest in Rebecca’s attempts to unmask him. She does a good job considering she has no official resources and the local detectives aren’t showing much interest. I liked the denouement, which is exciting and nail biting, and the wrap up which gives the reader all the information they could want about what happened. It might not be to every reader’s taste, but I like all my questions answered and tied up.
Rebecca is a good protagonist, likeable but tenacious and tough when she has to be. I would read more about her if offered.
Don’t Let Him in is a good read that I can recommend.
Rebecca Cole returns to Eriston after the death of her father, former editor of the local paper, and discovers that he has been investigating the series of unexplained that have been committed in the town and its surrounds over the past 20 years, locally attributed to The Chameleon. Circumstances encourage her to continue his investigation, but at what cost?
I enjoyed Don’t Let Him in, which is an atmospheric tale and is genuinely creepy in parts. It is told from Rebecca’s point of view in the main, with an unnamed stalker-type musing on his methods and thought processes. I’m not really sure what that actually adds to the novel, especially as the denouement seems to contradict some of it.
The plot is interesting and offers several possibilities as a suspect, but he’s not well disguised and I was sure of his identity by the half way point. After that I found my interest in Rebecca’s attempts to unmask him. She does a good job considering she has no official resources and the local detectives aren’t showing much interest. I liked the denouement, which is exciting and nail biting, and the wrap up which gives the reader all the information they could want about what happened. It might not be to every reader’s taste, but I like all my questions answered and tied up.
Rebecca is a good protagonist, likeable but tenacious and tough when she has to be. I would read more about her if offered.
Don’t Let Him in is a good read that I can recommend.
July 7, 2021
I received a copy of this book from the publisher Penguin Michael Joseph in return for an honest review.
I got right into this book. I loved the fact that it’s set up North near my home town of Newcastle, and it mentions loads of places I know. It’s actually set in the fictional (I think) town of Ericsson, just outside of Newcastle on the coast.
Rebecca’s dad dies, and she returns home to sort out his funeral etc. But gets more than she bargained for when she finds what he’s been up to.
I really enjoyed this. It grabs your attention and makes you wonder who the killer is. There are a few choices and I didn’t guess correctly. I liked the way the book moves between the story and letters from the killer to Rebecca, that put an interesting spin on it. The book also stays in the present with no chapters moving to the past. I did like the little nods back to when Rebecca was younger though.
I would definitely recommend this book, and I would read more of the authors work. A good thriller, fast paced and gripping.
Thanks again to Penguin Michael Joseph for my e-arc.
November 3, 2021
DNF Shades of nosiness, like Girl On The Train. Slogged my way to about 30%
April 15, 2025
It was fine! Predictable but not unenjoyable.
November 20, 2025
my mom recommended this book (like most of the books I’ve read). I had a question about it and called her to debrief and after lots of “you’re reading ‘don’t let him in’ right?”, “are we reading the same book?” and “do I know how to read?” we realized that I downloaded the same book title but different author. So unfortunately no post read debrief with Mami :/
What I truly loved about this book was the sense of unease it instilled while reading it. This may not be the case with everyone, but I found that I was more scared than the author made Rebecca out to be, because she never truly realized she was in danger (while we did since Linskey included snippets of the murder’s thoughts). Along with that, everyone seemed like a suspect, since there was no clear idea of one character being more suspicious than others so any interaction she had with anybody kept you on your toes and in suspense. I truly loved chapter 36 (I don’t even know what it was about it that was so good- maybe her line of thinking and ability to separate personal feelings from facts?)
With all that being said, I disliked the ending. It seemed like the author wanted such a big plot twist, that he pinned it on the person the readers would least suspect (however because he was such an unlikely suspect, that made him one of the main suspects in my mind since authors do tend to try and pull a “fast one” on readers. Don’t get me wrong, it was still surprising, but definitely slightly predictable. I briefly suspected Alan just because her total lack of focus on him potentially being involved, but the murderer’s thoughts sprinkled throughout the book quickly disproved that. Which I do appreciate because I did like their relationship (but it would’ve been interesting to see that play out since it really would’ve been a huge oversight on her part not even being slightly suspicious of him. I don’t think my heart could’ve taken that though :P). I also find that there were some moments that were slightly unnecessary and just caused the book to come to a lull. For example, the man breaking into her house. I found that it wasn’t really necessary or could’ve been more intriguing had Dominic really played into it more. After all, he was always trying to be “the boy who called wolf” and overreact at little things - why not play up the situation? Had he thrown a fit over it being the murderer it would’ve played even more into his role of playing the detectives.
But definitely a worthwhile read!
What I truly loved about this book was the sense of unease it instilled while reading it. This may not be the case with everyone, but I found that I was more scared than the author made Rebecca out to be, because she never truly realized she was in danger (while we did since Linskey included snippets of the murder’s thoughts). Along with that, everyone seemed like a suspect, since there was no clear idea of one character being more suspicious than others so any interaction she had with anybody kept you on your toes and in suspense. I truly loved chapter 36 (I don’t even know what it was about it that was so good- maybe her line of thinking and ability to separate personal feelings from facts?)
With all that being said, I disliked the ending. It seemed like the author wanted such a big plot twist, that he pinned it on the person the readers would least suspect (however because he was such an unlikely suspect, that made him one of the main suspects in my mind since authors do tend to try and pull a “fast one” on readers. Don’t get me wrong, it was still surprising, but definitely slightly predictable. I briefly suspected Alan just because her total lack of focus on him potentially being involved, but the murderer’s thoughts sprinkled throughout the book quickly disproved that. Which I do appreciate because I did like their relationship (but it would’ve been interesting to see that play out since it really would’ve been a huge oversight on her part not even being slightly suspicious of him. I don’t think my heart could’ve taken that though :P). I also find that there were some moments that were slightly unnecessary and just caused the book to come to a lull. For example, the man breaking into her house. I found that it wasn’t really necessary or could’ve been more intriguing had Dominic really played into it more. After all, he was always trying to be “the boy who called wolf” and overreact at little things - why not play up the situation? Had he thrown a fit over it being the murderer it would’ve played even more into his role of playing the detectives.
But definitely a worthwhile read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2025
Did it keep my interest? 3.5. I played nine holes of golf while listening to the end of the story. It was not unpleasant. I even got a birdie while I listened. Rare for me.
Did I enjoy the topic? 3.5. The stalker/murderer was creepy. It made me go through scenarios where someone could be hiding inside my house, so I guess job done by the author.
I saw a few comments where readers thought they were getting a book of the same name, by a different author. Why would you both choose the same title? Instead of ‘Don’t let him in’ why not change yours to ‘Do not let him in’? Goodreads has a list of 268 books that share a title name, including Mein Kampf! You would think a publisher would have had a note to the author that maybe included ‘You might want to rethink naming your book the same name as Hitlers manifesto’
Was the dialogue realistic? 3. Rachel’s inner dialogue included a repeat of clues we already read about. I don’t mind being spoon fed clues to a mystery, but I could see how smarter people would not need it. (I’m the guy who keeps a tab open to the scrabble cheat page when I play scrabble online, so I’m not above being given the answers to a test)
Would I recommend to Jen (smart, discerning reader)? 2. She’s a smart reader who doesn’t cheat.
Would I have recommended to my Mom (read for entertainment)? 3. Mom might have liked a few extra clues in her murder mystery
Quality of narrator? 4. Kirsty Dillon is an English actress who was in a couple episodes of one of my favorite private eye series, C.B. Strike
Did I enjoy the topic? 3.5. The stalker/murderer was creepy. It made me go through scenarios where someone could be hiding inside my house, so I guess job done by the author.
I saw a few comments where readers thought they were getting a book of the same name, by a different author. Why would you both choose the same title? Instead of ‘Don’t let him in’ why not change yours to ‘Do not let him in’? Goodreads has a list of 268 books that share a title name, including Mein Kampf! You would think a publisher would have had a note to the author that maybe included ‘You might want to rethink naming your book the same name as Hitlers manifesto’
Was the dialogue realistic? 3. Rachel’s inner dialogue included a repeat of clues we already read about. I don’t mind being spoon fed clues to a mystery, but I could see how smarter people would not need it. (I’m the guy who keeps a tab open to the scrabble cheat page when I play scrabble online, so I’m not above being given the answers to a test)
Would I recommend to Jen (smart, discerning reader)? 2. She’s a smart reader who doesn’t cheat.
Would I have recommended to my Mom (read for entertainment)? 3. Mom might have liked a few extra clues in her murder mystery
Quality of narrator? 4. Kirsty Dillon is an English actress who was in a couple episodes of one of my favorite private eye series, C.B. Strike
June 4, 2021
This is a compulsive and creepy read and I love books that are set in small towns and communities as we get to meet the close knitted characters who are all connected somehow, and seem to have a piece of the jigsaw puzzle that slowly fits into place the more you read. Everyone seems to know something but won’t say...
It’s relatively predictable half way through the book but even so, the storytelling is addictive and I wanted to learn more about the history of the town, the characters and the mysterious disappearance of women and past murders. The setting of the story, the creaky isolated house that Rebecca lives in and the intermittent perspectives of the killer’s thoughts in between chapters made this read quite atmospheric and chilling - I’m glad I read most of it during the day!
The main protagonist, Rebecca, is also a well developed character and it was really interesting to follow the investigation through her eyes and interrogating the locals.
Overall an entertaining and addictive page turning thriller that will definitely make you want to double check your doors and windows are locked!
It’s relatively predictable half way through the book but even so, the storytelling is addictive and I wanted to learn more about the history of the town, the characters and the mysterious disappearance of women and past murders. The setting of the story, the creaky isolated house that Rebecca lives in and the intermittent perspectives of the killer’s thoughts in between chapters made this read quite atmospheric and chilling - I’m glad I read most of it during the day!
The main protagonist, Rebecca, is also a well developed character and it was really interesting to follow the investigation through her eyes and interrogating the locals.
Overall an entertaining and addictive page turning thriller that will definitely make you want to double check your doors and windows are locked!
July 1, 2021
I loved this book. It was really great to read another book by Howard and be reminded what an excellent storyteller he is. This is a slightly slower paced read but it has everything you could want from a crime story, and it was interesting to see the police on the periphery of the story. They're there to help tell the story, but this isn't a police procedural as you might expect.
Rebecca returns to the small, North-East of England town that she grew up in following the death of her father. As with many small towns, very little has changed over the intervening years, including the surprisingly high number of murders that Eriston still appears to be plagued by. Rebecca's father, who had been the editor of the local paper, was looking into the murders and writing a book about them when he suddenly dies. Did he die of natural causes as the local police suggest, or is there more to this? Rebecca decides to carry on with her father's investigations, completely unaware of what she is getting involved in.
No spoilers but there is a great conclusion to the tale.
Rebecca returns to the small, North-East of England town that she grew up in following the death of her father. As with many small towns, very little has changed over the intervening years, including the surprisingly high number of murders that Eriston still appears to be plagued by. Rebecca's father, who had been the editor of the local paper, was looking into the murders and writing a book about them when he suddenly dies. Did he die of natural causes as the local police suggest, or is there more to this? Rebecca decides to carry on with her father's investigations, completely unaware of what she is getting involved in.
No spoilers but there is a great conclusion to the tale.
September 19, 2021
This is the first Howard Linskey novel I've read, but it won't be the last, that's for sure. I came to this with high expectations, having been told by fellow writers that his skills in plotting and ratcheting up the tension are up their with the best. They were not wrong.
Rebecca's dogged search for answers to the mystery of her father's death, the disturbingly creepy musings of a stalker who has her in his sights, the atmospheric scene setting, particularly in the final confrontation at the abandoned lighthouse, and a handful of potential suspects we can never quite bring ourselves to trust. . . all of these are so well brought together by a writer of considerable talent.
l'll be back for more.
Rebecca's dogged search for answers to the mystery of her father's death, the disturbingly creepy musings of a stalker who has her in his sights, the atmospheric scene setting, particularly in the final confrontation at the abandoned lighthouse, and a handful of potential suspects we can never quite bring ourselves to trust. . . all of these are so well brought together by a writer of considerable talent.
l'll be back for more.
June 10, 2021
The setting of this book is excellent. A close knit town where everyone knows everyone's business. But, there's a serial killer amongst them so who can they trust? And who is watching them ready to strike?
I loved the mystery that was hidden within the narrative. The narrative from the mystery person was genius. I kept trying to dissect the information that I could get and figure out who it was. I went full on into trust nobody mode. And accused everyone in Eriston.
Rebecca returns to Eriston after her father's death. But even that is steeped in mystery. He was the editor of the local newspaper. Had he uncovered some secrets that would reveal who was the killer.
Don't Let Him In was a fantastic story. Mystery lurked on every page.
I loved the mystery that was hidden within the narrative. The narrative from the mystery person was genius. I kept trying to dissect the information that I could get and figure out who it was. I went full on into trust nobody mode. And accused everyone in Eriston.
Rebecca returns to Eriston after her father's death. But even that is steeped in mystery. He was the editor of the local newspaper. Had he uncovered some secrets that would reveal who was the killer.
Don't Let Him In was a fantastic story. Mystery lurked on every page.
January 26, 2024
I actually rate this book a 3.5. I liked the second half of the book more than the first half. In the beginning I found it boring and I felt like it dragged on at times. But the characters were interesting and the storyline itself was good.
May 1, 2025
Thought I had checked out a book by a different author with the same title. Was about as impressed with this as I would have been by the other book. Very predictable, thought there would be a shocking twist but there wasn’t
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 11, 2025DNF @ 37%.
The author was trying way too much with this one. There was too much going on right in the beginning and I started to get angry with the flow. Pacing was off and a bit unsteady at points. Had no investment in the characters at all.
The author was trying way too much with this one. There was too much going on right in the beginning and I started to get angry with the flow. Pacing was off and a bit unsteady at points. Had no investment in the characters at all.
March 2, 2025
Took me a while to get into but really enjoyed it overall, it was fun to try to work out all the way through and not too predictable!
April 27, 2025
The first few minutes had me on the edge of my seat, but it didn’t hold up like I hoped.
December 21, 2025
This was a no for me. I wasn’t invested in the story. I just kept reading to find out who the killer was. And boy was I disappointed. It was very obvious and didn’t shock me at all
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