by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Narrator: Steven Pacey
Length: 16 hours and 49 minutes
Genres: Horror
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
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....
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. Share on XMovie Trailer
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. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Debbie Haupt
Holy Moly Kim I’m afraid its too dark for me but I’m glad you liked it
Kimberly
Yes it feed my dark passenger..lol
sherry fundin
Great cover. Are you telling me vampires don’t sparkle? But I like all types of vampires. lol
Kimberly
I am sure some still do…but these do not.
Darlene
I have this one, too, waiting to be listened to. It sounds great!
Kimberly
Enjoy. It was dark Darlene.
Stephanie Jane (Literary Flits)
I was reading your review thinking that the book sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place having read it. I haven’t! But I did watch the Swedish film version which was a little low-budget in places, but scarily entertaining
Kimberly
Oh that is cool!
bookworm
I’ve been wanting to read this one, it sounds gripping. I do love King and Hill. Great review!
Kimberly
This was dark and gritty, I would love to hear your thoughts on it.
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.
Kimberly
Not sure. It has been renamed, and apparently had a low-budget Swedish film done as well.
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.
Kimberly
Yes, sometimes that is easier.
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.
Kimberly
It doesn’t hold back, so yes those aspects might upset you. Reading may be better where you can skip sections.
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.
Kimberly
I agree winter is perfect for horror and thriller tales
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
Kimberly
It was creepy.
Lectus Read
I know the movie is a remake of Let the Right One In, but I had no idea there was a book!
Kimberly
Yep, this is the same, and renamed for Northern market I think.
Nadene
Wow! This is a book best read at day and never while you are alone.. Sounds awesome
Kimberly
Very much so.
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.
Kimberly
He is a Sweden author, with quite a few titles, so I imagine you have.