Let Me In

By: John Ajvide Lindqvist

Narrated by: Steven Pacey

Length: 16 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

John Ajvide Lindqvist's vampire novel Let Me In was adapted into an award-winning Swedish movie and made into an American film and is now a TV show available to stream on Showtime!

It is autumn 1981 when inconceivable horror comes to Blackeberg, a suburb in Sweden. The body of a teenager is found, emptied of blood, the murder rumored to be part of a ritual killing. Twelve-year-old Oskar is personally hoping that revenge has come at long last—revenge for the bullying he endures at school, day after day.

But the murder is not the most important thing on his mind. 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. There is something wrong with her, though, something odd. And she only comes out at night. . . .Sweeping top honors at film festivals all over the globe, Let Me In has received the same kind of spectacular raves that have been lavished on the book. American and Swedish listeners of vampire fiction will be thrilled!

Following the success in Sweden, this movie was remade in 2010 starring Kodi Smit Mcpheem, Chloe Grace Moretz and Richard Jenkins changing its name from the Swedish Let The Right One In. The story has continued to reach new viewers in a London Musical and John Ajvide Lindqvist's book remains a vampire favorite among its listeners.

©2004 John Ajvide Lindqvist (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Absolutely chilling. This page-turner grabs you from the onset and just won't let go. Vampires at their Anne Ricean best!” —L. A. Banks, author of the Vampire Huntress series

“Readers are familiar with modern Sweden through its distinctive crime fiction. Now John Ajvide Lindqvist is taking a Gothic look at the country's dark side. Henning Mankell's gloomy police procedurals were the first to become international bestsellers in the middle 1990s and spearheaded an explosion, but the latest publishing phenomenon to come out of Sweden seems to be plumping for a different genre. John Ajvide Lindqvist has become an overnight cult figure.” —The Age (Australian)

“It is easy to compare Lindqvist to Clive Barker or Neil Gaiman. When you reach the last page, you are left with the wonderful tingling sensation that only comes with a brand-new love affair or a really great book.” —Dagens Næringsliv (Norway)

uncomfortable

This is a technically very good book but it took me way longer to finish it than it should have because it made me so uncomfortable. There was A LOT of first person pedophile talk and while I understand why it was included, it made it very difficult to read. Otherwise it's an engaging and unique story, well written and performed. Read if you can stomach it.

So much better than the movie...

I watched both the foreign movie and the American and thought both were good. After reading this book I think that it's better than the movie and wish they would have stock to it a little more.

a great entry into the vampire cannon

though this is a translation from an earlier Swedish work, I would like to note that it is nonetheless a very good translation. it is easy to see why this novel was on the bestseller list in Europe as long as it was. Left me wanting more. The performance by the reader was highly adequate and professional that did not take away from the storyline in the least. An overall really good read for those interested in horror fiction, vampires, or any combination of the two.

Vyah

Wow never read a foregin novel that captures a city and culture so well. I had saw the film some years back and it was passable but this book takes it miles beyond. Great characters that branch off and come back together. Maybe I little confusing listening if your not paying solid attention as the odd names seem to run together but a great book never the less. If you like character driven horror novels then slap this one in your collection.

A different kind of vampire story

This is a somewhat bittersweet vampire story. It introduces you to a lot of characters that all seem to be in separate circumstances then get woven into this emotionally entangled little horror story with a young bully victim and his equally young vampire friend in the middle of it. One by one they become victims in one way or another, until you don't know what your feelings toward this young vampire should be, as Eli is also a victim. My only complaint is that the story was too drawn out for my tastes and I found myself wanting it to end. When the end did draw near however, the suspense was relentless as Oscar's fate drew closer.

I Love Eli and Oscar

Read the book. Listen to the book three times. Have watched the movie, Let The Right One In, many times. I would say I'm somewhat obsessed! This IS the purest love story of all times.

Disappointing

Found nothing in the characters or plot compelling enough to finish listening to the narration and I have a long and boring drive to work. Steven Pacey, as always, was excellent but not even his amazing ability to bring characters to life could keep me in the story.

interesting

This book is very well written and intriguing but also very disturbing. a bit too disturbing for me in parts, even as someone who reads a lot of horror. it deals with fictional and real life issues, which can make it difficult to digest. I did think it was good but listen to at your own risk.

Gripping, lovely, and intense

This is a slow burn novel. Every step is deliberate and thought out. There is one part I wish (not going to ruin it) had some more padding but it is believable.

One of my all time favorite books

If you liked the movie, definitely read the book. I am reading it several years later after the first time, and it is even better the second time around.