A tangled web of lies
Having been persuaded by her husband George to leave London and move to the small village of Little Hollow in Cornwall, Helen Sanderson is unimpressed to discover he has not only bought an old cottage without her approval, but it is also in dire need of renovation. The fact that the locals are distant and unfriendly towards them does not help either. Her discomfort is further increased when she learns the former owner was convicted of a triple murder, for which she is serving thirty years in jail. As if this is not worrying enough, on arrival she feels an unnerving sense of familiarity about the cottage.
However, George finds their new home fascinating and throws himself into its renovation. Unfortunately, as the builders knock down one of the walls, they find a poppet. When further symbols of witchcraft are discovered, they register their reluctance to continue the work and leave the cottage unfinished, re-enforcing Helen’s misgivings about the place.
Undeterred, George decides to revive his failing journalistic career by writing a book about the cottage’s history. Glad he is once again showing an interest in writing, Helen initially supports his enthusiasm, unaware he has lied to her about his acquisition of the cottage and his connections to it. However, it is hard for Helen to criticise George, as she has disturbing secrets of her own.
I must admit, when I first began to read this book, I wondered whether it was going to be all about witches and magic. However, although there are elements of witchcraft referred to in ‘Let Me In’, this is not a supernatural novel. Cornwall has always possessed a rich history and tradition of witchery, especially amongst the locals, so it is not surprising it would figure in a small community such as the village of Little Hollow, where the action takes place.
The story is told from the alternating viewpoints of all the main characters. Through their individual accounts of past events, the truth of what really happened thirty years ago is gradually revealed to the reader – which is fortunate, as they are certainly not telling the truth to each other.
As the original murders referred to at the beginning of the novel are historic, ‘Let Me In’ is what would probably be referred to as an ‘open and shut’ case by the police, especially as someone has been accused and convicted of the crime. However, there is more to the story than that, which soon becomes clear with each chapter.
With so many revelations coming to the surface, it is a wonder that anyone would want to live in such a village. Nevertheless, I found ‘Let Me In’ both engrossing and entertaining. It is certainly worth a read.
However, George finds their new home fascinating and throws himself into its renovation. Unfortunately, as the builders knock down one of the walls, they find a poppet. When further symbols of witchcraft are discovered, they register their reluctance to continue the work and leave the cottage unfinished, re-enforcing Helen’s misgivings about the place.
Undeterred, George decides to revive his failing journalistic career by writing a book about the cottage’s history. Glad he is once again showing an interest in writing, Helen initially supports his enthusiasm, unaware he has lied to her about his acquisition of the cottage and his connections to it. However, it is hard for Helen to criticise George, as she has disturbing secrets of her own.
I must admit, when I first began to read this book, I wondered whether it was going to be all about witches and magic. However, although there are elements of witchcraft referred to in ‘Let Me In’, this is not a supernatural novel. Cornwall has always possessed a rich history and tradition of witchery, especially amongst the locals, so it is not surprising it would figure in a small community such as the village of Little Hollow, where the action takes place.
The story is told from the alternating viewpoints of all the main characters. Through their individual accounts of past events, the truth of what really happened thirty years ago is gradually revealed to the reader – which is fortunate, as they are certainly not telling the truth to each other.
As the original murders referred to at the beginning of the novel are historic, ‘Let Me In’ is what would probably be referred to as an ‘open and shut’ case by the police, especially as someone has been accused and convicted of the crime. However, there is more to the story than that, which soon becomes clear with each chapter.
With so many revelations coming to the surface, it is a wonder that anyone would want to live in such a village. Nevertheless, I found ‘Let Me In’ both engrossing and entertaining. It is certainly worth a read.
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