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Let Me In

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Let Me In

Written by: John Ajvide Lindqvist, Ebba Segerberg - translator
Narrated by: Steve Pacey
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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 readers 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 readers.

 Dark Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Gothic Horror Scary Paranormal

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What the critics say

“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

“Sweden's Stephen King…A classic horror-romance story. I love it. Could not stop reading. More please.” —Amelia (Sweden)

“A must for vampire fans, even those who think they've seen it all.” —Katherine Ramsland, author of Piercing the Darkness, The Science of Vampires, and The Vampire Companion

“A brilliant take on the vampire myth, and a roaring good story.” —Kelley Armstrong, bestselling author of Haunted

“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)

“Let Me In, a Swedish book taking the publishing world by storm, is a different, surprising, and sometimes delightful reading experience. Delightful would not normally be the first word that springs to mind when describing a blood-soaked plot.… It is Lindqvist’s great skill that a strong thread of innocence continues alongside this horror.
” —The Sunday Telegraph (Australia)

“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)

“Impressive…can certainly compare with some of the best international authors…Lindqvist is as learned as Anne Rice as far as the most updated vampire mythology is concerned.” —Dagens Nyheter (Sweden)

“One of the creepiest and most imaginative stories of the decade…echoes Stephen King at the height of his storytelling powers.” —Sunday Herald-Sun (Australia)

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The Twilight Saga, by Stephenie Meyer, was one of the most widely popular book series of its time. It spawned a huge following, gained devoted fans that argued fervently for either Team Edward or Team Jacob, and generally started an entire young adult vampire craze. It was also a sign to many that teens could still become obsessed with books—and not just obsessed, but obsessed on a widespread, global level. But after Twilight came to an end, many younger listeners (and the adults they grew into) were left wondering what next series could fill the void. Luckily, a plethora of authors stepped up with content sure to satisfy any Twilight fan’s thirst for a new listen.

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All stars
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A very scary take on the old Vampire stories
Listen to the book. You will not be disappointed

Great book

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This book follows several plot threads exploring the vampire legend. John Ajvide Lindqvist centers his story around Oskar - a 12-year-old misfit - who develops a close relationship with an androgynous vampire (Eli). Lindqvist makes the 200 year-old Eli sympathetic, while telling the stories of two newly-infected vampires: Virginia (horrified by her transformation) and Håkan (a sociopathic quasi-'Renfield' facilitator transformed into a legitimate monster). The book (originally titled 'Låt den rätte komma in' when released in Sweden) isn't a conventional exploration of the immortal blood-feeders, but rather a dark exploration of disturbing themes (drug addiction, divorce, severe school bullying, pedophilia, etc) using a vampirism outbreak as a matrix. It delivers a viscerally-affecting narrative about uncomfortable realities. The imagery is effective, the characterization is peerless, the pacing is spectacular, and the translation captures the story nicely.

Additionally, the reading from Steven Pacey is impressive. His voice-acting makes characters distinctive, diction/timbe/cadence are commendable, and his tone is emotive. Less fortunately, I had to set playback speed to 1.15X to make up for a somewhat plodding rate of reading. In toto, however, the performance was imperfect but notably above-average.

This is a gritty 9/10 star book looking at the Vampire Mythos from multiple angles. I was a little trepidatious with the YA aspects to the story (young misunderstood human falling in love with a monster is an overdone trope), but this book is strikingly different. It's nowhere near that. I never saw either of the film interpretations (so I can't comment on how faithful they were to this novel), but if you are looking for a 'Twilight' clone.. avoid this one. If you are looking for a superior horror/suspense tale, your Credit is well-spent.

An Unusual Vampire Story

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Was pleasantly surprised. It was as descriptive, detailed and character fleshed-out as the best Stephen King novel. Just excellent

Very good indeed

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This story was not what I was expecting however it was still a good story…. Some language and descriptions are intense but well done to better tell the story.

Not what I expected

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Story seemed a bit cheesy. Not scary, but somewhat entertaining if you’re listening while working or driving.
If you’re triggered by homosexual pedophilia, avoid this book.

Kind of cheesy

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