I liked this sampler so much that I had to buy the book. I really like the way the author writes and I can't wait to finish the story.

Great book! I read a trail chapter and was hooked. Can’t wait to read the whole thing! It’s intriguing and keeps the reader on their toes wanting to know what will happen next.

I cannot wait to grab a copy of this after reading this chapter sample. I was such a fan of The Whisper Man and I can tell that Alex North won't be letting me down with the Shadows! Absolutely gripping.

Just finished the sample chapter and i would love to readdd moreeee !! I neeed more 😍 for now it's intriguing and i like this genre of writing

Just finished sample chapter and I need more!!!! It was superb and that cover is just WOW. I would love to read more by author

This book kept me on my toes and I could not put it down. There was twist and turns that made it hard to put down the book. This is a must read!

This is a highly anticipated read for me!!! I loved Alex North's The Whisper Man so much that I wanted to get my hands on this books as soon as I heard about it. The sample chapter did NOT disappoint.

This chapter sampler has me dying to read more! Good thing I was approved for the audiobook. Can't wait to listen!

Oh yes, I will definitely be reading this book ASAP. From the prologue and the first chapter, there is a clear sense of the creepy setting and mystery surrounding the gory murder they have just discovered.

The detective, Amanda, clearly has some demons of her own that you want to learn about as well.

I read The Whisper Man and really enjoyed it so I know that I like Alex North’s writing style. Thank you Netgalley for the sneak peek.

Update: just finished reading the entire book and here is what I posted on goodreads:

I enjoyed this book. I’ve read some of the other reviews and I can see how the two timelines along with the lucid dreaming could be confusing, but by the end, I thought all was explained well.

The setting is creepy and really draws you in. Paul returns home where some tragedy has occurred that has affected his entire life. I was very surprised when the tragedy is finally revealed and that made me really enjoy the book.

I felt like Amanda’s story could have been further explored, but she was not the main storyline. That distracted me some, maybe because I read so many police procedural stories where the detective is the main character.

Paul’s past stories mesh pretty well with the present to give the reader background information. I will admit that I thought the motives for the crimes were kind of, meh? But crimes have been committed for weirder reasons.

Overall, I would say that it is not quite the Whisper Man, but this is definitely an author I will continue to follow. I really enjoy how Alex North spins his narrative with the right amount of horror story mixed with reality.

I was given a short (one chapter) excerpt from The Shadows to review. That beginning chapter is a grabber. A child has been murdered and his body is found in a quarry surrounded by hundreds of bloody handprints pressed carefully against the stone.

That one chapter has me already hooked, and, yes, I will definitely read the book. Thank you to NetGalley for this teaser.

Excellent start, I had DEVOURED Alex North’s previous book, The Whisper Man, and I’m eager to read this next one. The author does a great job of creating an atmosphere that absolutely pulls you in from the jump.

I really enjoyed this and look forward to more from Alex North. Now I have to go back and read the Whisper Man too!!!! This book was spooky, atmospheric, and left me dying to know what happens next. I found a new author!!!!

I've heard amazing things about Alex North and after the first chapter alone, I am ABSOLUTELY HOOKED ARE YOU KIDDING ME. Horror is not normally my thing, but I definitely want to learn more. I love North's writing style. Can't wait for the rest of the story!

Ghost stories should be sad. That's what Jenny told him when they were 15 and aspiring writers. Ghost stories should also be creepy. And frightening, And horrifying. And they should stick with you long after you read them. Haunt you. Is this a ghost story, then? Maybe.

Though I was given only the preview, Book of the Month provided the opportunity for the whole thing, so this review started with a few chapters and expanded as I devoured the entire book in a day. I should have known that would happen. It happened with The Whisper Man. I don't know who Alex North was in his previous writing life, but I would love to find out and expand to reading those works, too. I do know he is heavily influenced by Stephen King. The Easter Eggs throughout are a King fan gift. Put them in a little box in your head.

The Shadows are a thick wooded area that runs behind all of the homes of our main characters. I had the perfect spot staring at the side of my yard, here in my home in a National Forest, where my trees are the most thick and overgrown. While I read I could hear all kinds of creatures moving around in that thicket, trying to guess by the noise how big each was....this was the perfect place to read this story. And I read until I didn't have enough light to continue. So, my nightmares may have only been half the fault of the author.

Perhaps it is natural to have nightmares about a story about trying to enter the dreams of others. Because that is what Charlie Crabtree told the others they could do. Lucid dreaming became a cult among four boys until Paul decides he's had enough. He leaves behind his best friend and someone ends up dead. 15 years later he still feels that guilt when he returns to his hometown of Gritten as his mother is dying.

At the same time, he learns that the internet has awoken people trying to replicate what Charlie did all those years ago. Copycats hoping to achieve the dream. Literally, the dream. Because Charlie said that if they made a sacrifice, they could live in the dream world. And Charlie was never seen again.

Paul's mother is not happy to see him back. She is old, injured, and dying. She is confused. But she keeps repeating that he should not be here. It was dangerous for him. She insists that something dangerous is in her house. Paul has to face his past. He ran away 20 years ago and never returned, but his life has gone nowhere and now it is time for him to close the past to open his future.

The Shadows brought us back Detective Beck from The Whisper Man. Herself still haunted by her own past, she is open to Paul's story and finding out what had happened so long ago so she can understand the crime that had just occurred in her own town. It's not really a sequel. Once again, it's more like a King story in which one character comes up again in a new story in a new place. Childhood sins come back to haunt adults and they must face their past. It's a common theme in both books and the most obvious nod to King in both books. Well, maybe the actual discussions about King are the most obvious.

I hope to see Amanda Beck again. I hope that Alex North continues to write these haunting tales. Because it was sad. It was creepy. It was frightening and horrifying. It was a ghost story. Ghosts from our past or ghosts of the dead? Maybe.

While this is only the sample beginning, I was hooked!! I thankfully then got a copy of this book and DEVOURED all of it. So good!!!

Absolutely loved this novel! I was a big fan of Alex North's The Whisper Man and read it back in the fall. The Shadows did not disappoint. From beginning to end I found myself completely drawn in to the mystery. The story jumps chronologically between "before" and "now" as it relates to a gruesome murder and disappearance that took place 25 years prior. The main character Paul returns home after two and a half decades to see his dying mother and what began as a personal trip down memory lane reflecting on the trauma he experienced quickly shifts to a current mystery. Copycat murders have occurred over time and now that Paul is back in town, eerie events continue to plague him. Throughout the entire book, I was completely confused on who did what and what was going to happen. I constantly found myself pausing, trying to keep everything connected and guess correctly before I reached the end. I was not successful and for that this ended up becoming quite a rollercoaster! The book itself well written and my only critique relates to the person revealed as one of the murders (there's so many in this book!). The final reveal felt somewhat out of left field and not as relevant as I would have hoped, seeing as how the rest of the book was so well connected which shocking reveals. Give it a read!

Well, I have to first say a chapter sample is not my favorite. I get pulled into the story line and then I'm left hanging.
The book takes place in two time periods, now and 25 years in the past. If you are a fan of dual timeline books, you will enjoy the read (as far as I can tell based on the short amount of the text I was able to read - again, I do NOT like samples).

Alex North pulled people into a suspenseful dual story line thriller in THE WHISPER MAN, and this one does not seem to disappoint in carrying on the pattern. Now, I must find the book so I can find out what happens.

More stars, I'm sure, once I can finish the book.

Thanks for providing me the opportunity read a sample of The Shadows.

I've read The Whisper Man and it was an awesome read. Based on what I've read so far, I can't wait to read "The Shadows". There are so many questions I need answers to. What happened to Charlie? Why would someone do that to him? What is the deal with all the prints on the stone? As parents we tell our children that everything will be alright to protect them from what may come their way. Is it the right thing to do? Maybe or maybe not. This book has my mind wondering and I can't wait to drive right on in.

It would be awesome to get an advance copy of the book.

#TheShadowsBook #NetGalley

The Shadows by Alex North is one of the most anticipated thrillers of the summer. After this preview, I'm only more excited to read the book in full and see where the story goes!
Many thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the early look!

While I honestly hate when publishers only give out excerpts as ARCs MONTHS before the entire book is going to come out, it does work, because even as I grumbled, I devoured the excerpt and will be buying the rest of the book. It's just really good. I'm really loving Alex North, I have to admit.