Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

December 14th, 2018 Kimberly Review 26 Comments

14th Dec
Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Let Me In
by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Narrator: Steven Pacey
Length: 16 hours and 49 minutes
Genres: Horror
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Narration: 5 cups

Set in 1983, Let Me In is the horrific tale of Oskar and Eli. It begins with the grizzly discovery of the body of a teenage boy, emptied of blood. Twelve-year-old Oskar is personally hoping that revenge has come at long last - revenge for all the bad things the bullies at school do to him, day after day.

While Oskar is fascinated by the murder, it is not the most important thing in his life. A new girl has moved in next door - a girl who has never seen a Rubik’s cube before, but who can solve it at once. They become friends. Then something more. But there is something wrong with her, something odd. And she only comes out at night....

HORRIFIC twisted

Each year for the #HoHoHo Readathon I try to read a horror story or thriller as my winter selection. Let Me In was an Audible daily deal. Murder, suspense and paranormal woo-woo await you in this page-turner.

Let me In was dark, gritty and filled with disturbing scenes. At times I found the violence and sexual content unsettling. In fact, more than once I considered putting it down. The narration and talented writing kept me listening. I was rewarded as shock gave way to a suspenseful, unsettling horror story that slowly pulled me in until there was no escape. Vampires do not sparkle. 

“Keep your relationships brief. Don’t let them in. Once they’re inside they have more potential to hurt you. Comfort yourself. You can live with the anguish as long as it only involves yourself. As long as there is no hope.”

Fans of Joe Hill and Stephen King’s darker works will find the tale riveting. The characters are complex and the story well-plotted as threads slowly drive you towards the unknown. Beware of the dark.

Oskar is a 12-year old  latch-key boy who is bullied at school. His parents are divorced. His father is an alcoholic and Oskar lives with his overprotective mum. Oskar daydreams about hurting the bullies and his thoughts are vivid and disturbing. He is lonely and befriends Eli, a one-hundred and twenty year old vampire girl who is forever twelve. She is taken care of by a pedophile who becomes enraged and jealous of the friendship between Eli and Oskar. This causes things to spiral out of control and sends the reader down a dark hole.

Like King and Hill, John Ajvide Lindqvist shares a macabre, horrifying tale that reminds us sometimes the monsters aren’t the things that go bump in the night but the humans who claim to fear them.

Steven Pacey narrated Let Me In, and he captured not only the atmospheric tones of story but the emotions and desperation of the characters.

“-there was something in her, something that was…pure horror. Everything you were supposed to watch out for. Heights, fire, shards of glass, snakes, Everything that his mom tried so hard to keep him safe from.” 

Not for the faint of heart, Let Me In was pure horror, a violent, unimaginable, non-sparkly vampire tale that will you won’t soon forget. Sweet dreams.

Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist #loveaudiobooks was a dark, gritty, reminder that vampires don't sparkle. Click To Tweet

Movie Trailer

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

26 Responses to “Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist”

  1. Adriana @ BooksOnHerMind

    I’m assuming this is the origin of the movie by the same name. I didn’t realize some of the back stories. I wonder if it ended in the same way. Also, I didn’t know the man taking care of the vampire girl was a pedophile. Why would he want to take care of her? If he messed with her she would just kill him? I love that you read a horror books for your Christmas readathon.

  2. Heidi

    Oh gosh, this sounds so good but the unsettling and disturbing violence puts me off a little. I would do better reading this than listening.

  3. Tracy Terry

    Well! That synopsis certainly draws you in. There are so many aspects to this story that appeal to me but all along I heard alarm bells cautioning this might be too graphic for my liking … the sexual content perhaps more so than the violence itself … something that was confirmed in your thoughts about this book. Oh well there’s one I won’t be adding to my list.

    Tracy Terry recently posted: ANGELS AT CHRISTMAS.
    • Kimberly

      It doesn’t hold back, so yes those aspects might upset you. Reading may be better where you can skip sections.

  4. Sophia Rose

    Oh yeah, you’re on your own with this one. My goosebumps ran home to mommy. 🙂

    I find winter a great setting for horror even more so than fall because of the cold and the stark colors and light. Glad you found a good one for the readathon.

  5. Ailyn Koay

    definitely a horrible kind of story that I really hope there’s a good ending to it… preferably with Oskar being a hero

  6. Melliane

    I wonder if I have read a book by this author because the name does ring a bell but if it is the case I think it was in French.