A group of friends. 25 years ago. And there's a copycat now. This book had me hooked from the first page. There is a lot of flashing back 25 years ago and then coming to now, but Mr. North does a good job in transitioning between the past and present. 4 teenage boys are doing experiments with dreams. How to have a lucid dream v. an asleep dream. They all kept a dream journal and met every day to discuss what they dreamed. One dreamed of an accident to happen to another kid and the dream actually came true. A teenager was killed 25 years ago. A horrific, brutal murder. Now it's happened again and with the same distinctions as the murder in the past. Paul has come home to Gritten to be with his mum during her final days. She had dementia but kept talking about someone being in the house and red hands. Upon investigating the house, Paul does find red handprints in the attic. He also finds a box containing his dream journals. Detective Amanda Beck is in Gritten in the present to investigate the copycat murder because of the similarities to the murder 25 years before. What she finds is an online presence with the name CC666.

This was a scary read for me as was North's book "The Whisper Man." The ending has a twist I wasn't expecting. If you are a horror genre fan, read this book. Read them both. You will not be disappointed!

This definitely whetted my appetite for the full book and I can't wait to find out what fresh nightmares Alex North has concocted.

I loved the sample I got - I just wanted more! Definitely buying this by Alex North; it's the perfect set up for a cozy autumnal thriller. I'm really looking forward to it.

I need to read this book, just like North’t previous book this seems as creepy and dark as that one,

Infinitely creepy and I can't wait to read more! This is like a campfire story and I love it. I can't wait to read the rest and see where this story takes me. I loved Alex North's The Whisper Man and I think I will love this one too.

This chapter sampler has me wanting to read the book! The prologue hooked me from the beginning and was sad that I only had one chapter available. Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for a digital arc of the chapter sampler! I can't wait to read the rest

An enticing preview of The Shadows by Alex North. This author is new to me as I have not read his previous book either, The Whispers.

This excerpt includes the prologue and the first chapter. It is about an old murder and a new murder that bare striking resemblances. The first chapter has me wanting more indeed! I will be checking out this book soon and adding it to my TBR list.

Thank you to Celadon books via NetGalley for providing me with a sample of the digital review copy.

This sampler made me pick up the book. I was hooked right from the first line and am looking forward to reading the rest of the book.

This chapter sampler made me even more eager to pick up a copy of this novel. I love North’s writing style.

Creepy and atmospheric. Haunting and dark. This was a decent story made more chilling by the excellent audiobook narration. I hate to minute but I think there’s some thing about Alex North’s writing that just does not work for me. I really found this book confusing, convoluted, and dare I say boring. However the story was redeemed for me by the stellar audiobook narration. Hannah Arterton and John Heffernan really amplified the tension, atmosphere, and creep factor in this story. I usually prefer to listen to my books than read them, but in the case of this one it was imperative for my enjoyment. I really hate to give less than a stellar review, but this was just not the right fit for me, but I’ve seen many wonderful reviews.

*** Big thank you to Macmillan Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

This Chapter Sampler of The Shadows by Alex North is really creepy and dark, just like Whisper Man. I didn't realize that it occurs in the same town, and that the same detectives are on the case. This will definitely be a really intense read!

This sampler was completly intriguing and got me so excited to read it completly and I will do it after this magnificent chapter

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review.


I recently read North's other story The Whisper Man and absolutely loved it. When I heard he was releasing another book I had to read it! Four chapters was not enough!!! I need more!!

Starting off with a bang of murder, creepiness felt heavy in this sampler. Feel like this is one you'll be glued to.

Intriguing and I cannot wait to get my hands on the entire book! The book has been on many social media outlets and have been receiving rave reviews from those who have read it. A psychological thriller, running from your past and the different point of view of past and present make it very intriguing.

Alex North is a new author for me and I look forward to reading more.

I received an advance digital copy of this book from the author, publisher and Netgalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A brilliantly creepy follow up to The Whisper Man.

5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.

Very excited by this chapter sampler! I really enjoyed it. I can't wait to read the full book. It is coming up soon on my list.

A murder was committed and it seems there were copy cats from what happened 25 years ago. The notion of using lucid dreams where they share the same dream, conjure a shadowy figure and kill as an act of sacrifice and becomes an incentive enough for them to disappear in the real world and be powerful in the dream world. The fact that the villain, Charlie Crabtree, disappeared when the murder took place 25 years ago was all the talk in the deep dark web.

I listened to this first before I read the chapter sample. But might be better also to read and listen at the same time. There were lots of going back and fort from the past and the present and it gets confusing but if you have the book it would be easy to take note and go back. I love how it keeps you guessing and wondering what really happened. Characters build up was not strong and many characters are involved.

Highly recommend this if you’re into thriller/mystery genre. I haven’t read the author’s debut novel, The Whisper Man, but would want to get my hands on it.

Posted my review (when i listened to the audio version in my Good Reads and IG)

This is my second Alex North book and I've thoroughly enjoyed both of them. This one has a lucid dreaming component that I find fascinating, partially because I have lucid dreams often.

LOVE Alex North's whisper man, so was excited to read this new sampler and it did not disappoint! I can't wait to read the full book but this sure opens with a punch! Alex's writing style is easy and keeps you reading, perfect for fans of thrillers and mysteries and I sense this one may have a sense of occult to come too. Can't wait to keep reading!

Red hands. Red hands everywhere.

The synopsis left me all but eager to begin "The Shadows", and I truly wanted to love it. But unfortunately for me it was just okay. I know that I am in the minority when I say this but I just couldnt love this book. I listened to it in audio form and am contemplating going back and actually reading it because I cant help but feel that maybe its me and not the book. I will say though that both narrators were fantastic. I respect Alex Norths writing enough to not only give it another try but also to urge other readers to not be dissuaded by my rating of 3*.

Charlie Crabtree is an obviously extremely disturbed child. He has his friends, Billy Roberts, James Dawson, and Paul Adams believing in the myth of Mister Red Hands. Charlie Crabtree urges his friends to begin keeping dream diaries in an attempt to find Mister Red hands during their lucid dreaming. Charlie later participates in a ritualistic murder, goes missing and becomes a cult figure in the darkest corners of the internet. Twenty- five Years later the myth is still very much alive and has claimed yet another victim, Michael Price.

Overall I found this book to be interesting, somewhat creepy, but all to hard to follow.

I recieved a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.