Joanne Ryan’s newest domestic thriller: Don’t Let Her In

In Joanne Ryan’s newest domestic thriller, Don’t Let Her In, we meet our key protagonist, Lena. She seems to have a bit of a shadowy past, she doesn’t seem to have any problems lying, she had a bad breakup and although justified, she metes out her own flavor of revenge. In short, she is definitely an anti-heroine, but as the novel unfolds, the question is: is she also a murderer?

Just as we get used to Lena’s POV, Ryan switches things up. We also glean more information as her older neighbor gets several turns at her story, as well as her violent next-door neighbor’s psychologically abused son. Finally, we hear from another neighbor, who is a pathological gambler. These alternating narratives between these four characters, slowly reveal intimate truths about the desperate lives of seemingly ordinary people who live in a well-respected neighborhood.

As the narrative unfolds, Lena looks increasingly guilty, or, is she being set up? Ryan does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing and humanizing her neighbors, which is also an underlying theme: how much do we know our neighbors? They seem nice enough, creepy, or even violent, but will we ever know their true stories? Will our lives intersect with theirs and create chaos? Or, will we find a new best friend? This is the trajectory of Lena’s journey, and in the end, will she, and her neighbors, survive?

This is a quick read, perfect for a long weekend, or a quiet evening in, depending on your reading speed.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy.