Let Me In

Let Me In by Adam Nicholls, 2021, thriller

Great cover art.

Morgan Young is a private investigator whose best friend, Gary, works for the Washington Homicide Department. When his old girlfriend, Carrie, and her husband are brutally murdered, he asks Morgan to help with the investigation.

This is a good example of writing a crime thriller. There are ties to the police, but Morgan can work outside the law and also get into trouble to heighten the tension. Morgan doesn’t carry a gun which puts him in danger as well. He also loves his wife, Rachel, which gives him a vulnerable spot, and Nicholls uses that.

Morgan follows the usual with interviews, looking at neighborhood videos, and making the rounds. Actions of a routine investigation add authenticity to a story like this. There’s also the local cafe where cops hang out and more murders to increase the need to solve the crime.

The murderer is identified as “the killer” in the beginning and insight is given into his motive. All the victims are tied to a high school experience, and many people can relate to that uncomfortable time with both good and horrible memories.

This is the first book in a series and the crimes are personal and brutal although not graphic. The POV is both from the killer and from Morgan. They balance each other out in a cat and mouse game to win.

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#mystery #crime #detective #AdamNicholls