Don't let him in by Lisa Jewell - [Book Review]

  

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Book Details:

Title: Don't Let Him In

Author: Lisa Jewell

Genre: suspense thriller

Publisher: Atria Books

Print Length: 368 pages

Source: A copy from the local library

Blurb:

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell, three women are connected by one man in this “gripping, shocking, masterful” (Freida McFadden, #1 New York Times bestselling author) thriller.

He’s the perfect man. It’s a perfect lie.

Nick Radcliffe is a man of substance and good taste. He’s exactly what newly widowed Nina Swann needs in her life. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. When Ash begins digging into his past, she finds a trail of unsettling coincidences.

Martha lives in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and devoted husband Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time, and Martha can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right.

Nina, Martha, and Ash have no idea they are on a collision course with a shocking truth. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

It is a good thriller and a story of a psychopath who could easily charm and cheat multiple women in his life. Even though it's a thriller, after we read 1/4th of the book, we realize who the cheater is. So, it won't be that thrilling from then, but it's interesting to see how he plans to manage extracting money from some, disappearing from the lives of others, and planning for his final retirement. 

I enjoyed reading this book as I have with all of Lisa Jewell's novels. The story is engaging and keeps you entertained. But it won't keep you hooked like any on-the-edge thriller. The narrative is good, and shifting between the perspectives of different people made it difficult to predict the next move. The narrative also switches between the past and the present.

I didn't like the characterization that well. The characters of Martha, Ash, and Paddy's old friend all seemed quite interesting. I couldn't understand the sudden shift in Nina's mentality at the end of the book. Amanda's character is unpredictable. It is disappointing that we couldn't understand the strong need of Alistair/Nick to stalk and cheat so many women. It doesn't look convincing at the end.

The book cover is fine, and the title is very apt. The pace is ok, but it gets boring in a few places. 

Overall, I won't recommend this book for lovers of On-the-edge thrillers. It is a casual read.

My Rating: 3/5

Until next time,

One day at Joshua Tree National Park, CA - Things to do

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Joshua Tree National Park is the second most visited National Park in California after Yosemite. This is the first national park that we visited in California. It is located near Palm Springs, California, which is 3 hrs from Los Angeles. 

We covered this park on our way to Page, the Grand Canyon, and SanDiego. 

Photo by Kindel Media: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cacti-in-joshua-tree-national-park-8979752/

How to Reach?

Joshua Tree National Park is 3 hrs away from Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas. So, it's very accessible. 

Some Flight options

Where to Stay?

Twentynine Palms is the best place to stay, which is nearer to the Park. But it might be expensive. The towns of Joshua Tree and Palm Springs are other options for staying.

We stayed in Twentynine Palms, and it was around 10 mins away from the Park. 

Here are some options to book accommodations:

Things to do in Joshua Tree National Park

Here is our 1-day itinerary of Joshua Tree National Park.

Pin it for later!

There is an entrance fee of $30; you can also use your Annual National Park pass.  The Joshua tree is a succulent variety in the Mojave Desert. It is actually not a tree, but looks iconic with spikes and branches, and it can grow as tall as 40 ft. During Sunset, this tree looks still cool in photos.

Skull Rock:

We entered the park from the North Entrance in Twentynine Palms. We drove through Park Boulevard to reach the Discovery Trail. 

Discovery Trail is an easy 0.5 loop that goes around the iconic rock that looks like a skull. The shape is very prominent. But this stop is usually very busy. So, take time to capture a photo without a crowd. 

We also did some fun rock scrambling here. You can see many other rocks with different shapes. You can also see Jumbo rocks. 

Split Rock is another hike closer to Skull Rock. It is a 2.5-mile loop to Face Rock. We couldn't do this due to a lack of time.

Arch Rock, Heart Rock:

We turned back on Park Boulevard to reach the Twin Tanks parking area on Pinto Basin Road. Arch Rock Trail is just 1.4 mile loop and might take 1 hr. It's an easy walk and a little rock scrambling at the end. 

We loved this hike with the kids. The Arch Rock is difficult to capture unless you climb a rock before it to capture it at the correct angle. But it looks huge and beautiful.

Heart Rock is around 0.2 miles away from Arch Rock. Don't miss this at all. We loved this rock in the shape of a heart. It is Instagram-worthy.

Cholla Cactus Garden:

We continued on Pinto Basin Road to reach Cholla Cactus Garden.

This is another popular spot after Skull Rock. It's an easy 0.25-mile loop, which might take 20 mins or less. 

Don't miss this! 

The Cholla Cactus is a shrub-like cactus, and it is also called 'jumping cacti' as it might detach and cling to nearby people. These are also called 'teddy bear cholla'. Perfectly named, I would say! These cacti really look so cute like teddy bears, ofcourse we cannot hug them 😜

This trail has the largest concentration of these cacti, so we spent a lot of time taking photos. 

We had our packed lunch and drove through Park Boulevard. 

Keys View:

We took a left at Caprock to reach Keysview. This is the best viewpoint in the entire park. There is a 0.25-mile short paved loop, which is steep to reach view point. It gives breathtaking views of all surrounding areas - the San Andreas Fault, Mount San Jacinto, Mount San Gorgonio, and the Salton Sea.

On the way to Keys View, we saw a large concentration of Joshua Trees. This will be a good drive to do during Sunset. 

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-tree-surrounded-by-weathered-bush-on-brown-soil-under-white-and-blue-sky-during-daytime-73820/

There are some hiking areas around. Lost Horse Mine Trail is 4 mile out and back trail. The Ryan Mountain hike is the most popular trail, which is 3 miles out and back. It is a challenging trail. 

Hidden Valley:

Our last stop was Hidden Valley. The trail is a 1-mile loop around a rock-enclosed valley. 

There are some nice trails around this area. Barker Dam is a historic trail with 1.1 mile loop where you can see a water tank built by early cattle ranchers. Wall Street Mill is an easy 2-mile hike to see Wall Street Mill, building ruins, and rusty cars. If you are into history and culture, you will enjoy these 2 hikes.

Other things to do:

Stargazing:

This park is named the International Dark Sky Park. So, your best chance to see the celestial objects at night.

This is the best place to experiment on night time photography. There is an observatory in the park where they conduct skywatching programs. 

Photo by Trace Hudson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-leaf-tree-2454682/

Off-roading:

If you have a 4x4 vehicle, you can explore the Geology tour road. It is a 18 mile loop dirt road covering some geological history. 

We couldn't do stargazing/off-roading. It's for next time.

So, that's how we ended our day at Joshua Tree National Park before driving to San Diego. 

Hope you liked our travelogue. 

See you with my next travelogue or book review.

Until next time,

Hermit Road Scenic Drive - Grand Canyon National Park

Here is the post on how to plan a trip to Grand Canyon National Park. 

Our Grand Canyon National Park Itinerary - Day 1 

Hermit Road Scenic Drive: Viewpoints You Shouldn’t Miss

The Hermit Road Scenic Drive is one of the most underrated experiences in Grand Canyon National Park, especially if you want fewer crowds and uninterrupted canyon views. Stretching about 7 miles west of Grand Canyon Village, this scenic route offers some of the most dramatic viewpoints along the South Rim.

From March 1 to November 30, private vehicles are not allowed, and visitors must use the free Hermit Road shuttle or walk/bike along the rim. During the winter months, private vehicles are permitted, making it a peaceful and scenic drive if you’re visiting in the off-season.

Photo by Matthew Hernandez: https://www.pexels.com/photo/twisted-juniper-tree-at-grand-canyon-rim-36033571/

What makes Hermit Road special is how different it feels compared to the more popular Desert View Drive—wider canyon vistas, fewer railings, and a raw, untouched feel that truly showcases the scale of the Grand Canyon.

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Must-See Viewpoints Along Hermit Scenic Drive

Here are the Hermit Road viewpoints you should not miss, listed in order from east to west:

Trailview Overlook

This is the first stop and a great introduction to Hermit Road. You’ll get a clear view of hikers making their way down the Bright Angel Trail, offering a unique perspective of how steep and massive the canyon really is.

Maricopa Point

One of the best viewpoints for seeing the Colorado River far below, Maricopa Point offers expansive views and dramatic depth. On clear days, the layered rock formations look especially stunning in late afternoon light.

Powell Point

Named after explorer John Wesley Powell, this viewpoint is perfect for wide panoramic shots. It’s also a popular spot for sunrise and sunset, with golden light washing over the canyon walls.

Hopi Point (Do Not Miss!)

If you visit only one viewpoint on Hermit Road, make it Hopi Point. This is widely considered one of the best sunset viewpoints in the entire park. The canyon opens up dramatically here, with sweeping views that stretch endlessly in both directions.

Mohave Point

Just past Hopi Point, Mohave Point offers incredible views of the Colorado River’s sharp bend, making it a favorite for photographers. The canyon feels deeper and more rugged here.

The Abyss

True to its name, this viewpoint provides a sheer drop of nearly 3,000 feet, with no visible river below—just layers and layers of canyon walls. It’s one of the most jaw-dropping perspectives on Hermit Road.

Monument Creek Vista

This stop gives you a glimpse of Monument Creek Canyon, a side canyon that adds depth and texture to the landscape. It’s quieter than most stops and great if you want to linger.

Pima Point

Another fantastic location to spot the Colorado River, Pima Point offers a peaceful atmosphere and wide-open views. It’s especially beautiful during golden hour.

Hermits Rest

The final stop on the scenic drive, Hermits Rest, features a historic stone building designed by Mary Colter. Inside, you’ll find a small snack bar, restrooms, and a rustic fireplace. Just beyond the building is a short walk to viewpoints overlooking Hermit Creek.

We loved the Hopi Point, Hermit's Rest, Maricopa Point, and Powell Point. 

To be honest, we felt that most viewpoints of the Desert View scenic drive are similar. We loved the above viewpoints from the Hermit scenic drive better. Also, having fewer crowds is a huge advantage. 

On Day 3, we drove through the Desert View scenic drive and covered a few spots for Sunset. The best view was from the Desert View watch tower. 

We drove to Joshua Tree National Park the next day. That travelogue will be published soon. Hope you enjoyed the Grand Canyon travelogues. What places did you like in the Grand Canyon? Did it meet your expectations?

Until next time,