Can't wait to read this book!
I think it will be better than The Whisper Man which was a great read too!!!

4.5/5!

Paul and his friends begin experimenting with lucid dreaming, jotting down summaries of their dreams as they wake and trying to control what and how they dream. When his friends start using their dreams to harm dogs and scare the people in the community, Paul fears that his friends are taking the experiment too far and distances himself.

The book opens with a murder. Paul's friends, Billy and Charlie are the culprits and though Billy returns to the community shortly after the murder covered in blood and admitting his guilt, Charlie is never to be seen again. The goal with the lucid dreaming had been to vanish into the dreamworld and it appears Charlie may have achieved just that.

Flash forward 25 years and Paul is returning to his hometown for the first time since he left for college to help his ailing mother. He has repressed many of the bad memories from that horrific time, and hopes that they can stay far from his mind. However, he quickly learns that the legend of Charlie Crabtree is far from dead and there are copycats experimenting with lucid dreaming and experiencing devastating effects. Feeling partially to blame for his part in the lucid dreaming experiments that has led to several deaths, Paul takes it upon himself to learn more about Charlie's disappearance. It also seems that the ghosts of Paul's hometown still linger in the shadows, and as the deaths and mysterious events around Paul start to tally up, we question if Charlie really did make it to the dreamworld and continues to haunt the town.

This was such a page turner for me and I devoured it in two days. The novel alternates between the past (25 years ago) and the present and also alternates between two narrators which adds a really nice depth. The eerie aura and creepy events definitely set the mood and had me questioning if paranormal elements were at play. The writing style is definitely similar to The Whisper Man and there are connections, but this is a standalone novel. Some of the suspense building techniques even reminded me of a King novel.

With twists I didn't see coming at all, this is a must read for any fans of horror/thrillers!

Thank you to Celadon Books, NetGalley, and BookishFirst for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I knew this was just a sample, but I wanted more! Haha. This definitely seems like a read that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

This was a serious tease! I loved The Whisper Man and by what I read I'm going to love The Shadows way more! One of my new favorite writers already!

The only issue I can find with this sampler is that it's not the whole book.
It's gripping, creepy and highly entertaining.
Highly recommended.
many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I just ordered this on book of the month thanks to this excerpt!

I loved whisper man and this seems just as creepy with the serial killer vibes again and maybe even a sadistic side?

I am so excited to finish reading!

Since this is a sampler, I'll not be sharing the review on my site, however the chapters were delightful and I cannot wait to read the full book.

This sampler gripped me from the first page and had me hooked, so I'm stoked to get to read the full copy when it releases in a couple of weeks. This one went straight to my TBR list, and I can't wait to read it soon!

The first chapter itself blew my mind. I cannot wait for this book to release and read further. It's gripping and scary. The author has done a brilliant job in making the readers tied up from the first chapter itself.

I really enjoyed this chapter sampler and wish more NetGalley authors and publishers would do this! One thing I often do in physical bookstores is pick up a book and start reading it (or sometimes turn to a random page) just to see if I like the author's voice. If I do, I buy the book. I'm all about how readable a book is - if I love an author's voice and be tantalized to read almost any subject. Similarly, even my favorite genres don't work if I like the author's voice. So reading a few pages is something I often try to do in a bookstore. This sampler functioned in a similar way for me. I decided I really liked Alex North's suspenseful writing style and the detective, Amanda, he introduced. The murder also sounds intriguing, with its hundreds of bloody handprints. This sampler definitely made me want to read the whole book!

Excellent sampler! I cannot wait to read the whole thing, seems like it will be great! ,

The Whisper Man was one of my favourite surprises of last year (it's a little darker than I'd normally read, but I was drawn in by all the buzz), and after reading the first chapter of The Shadows, I can't wait to spend more time with Amanda Beck and set aside a night for this one.

Cannot wait to read the full book. The sampler provided enough to keep me interested and to want to continue.

Definitely a great teaser and makes me want to get a copy of this book when it comes to read it !

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this advanced sneak peek !

The prologue and the first chapter really pulls you into the story. I have so many questions did Elliot and Robbie really kills the dead boy

This is engrossing and I need more now! I have never read something so fast and that doesn’t include The Whisper Man. I was scared that the next book would fall flat but it is still intense and everything feels fresh and Alex North is going to climb the charts as the new most wanted author of 2020

A great preview of the Shadows that drew me in. I can't wait to read the whole thing! It was similar to The Chestnut Man in my opinion. Thank you to NetGalley for a free preview in exchange for an honest review.

Yes, just based on this sampler of The Shadows by Alex North I am fully expecting the final product to be a full five star read. And that's just based on the prologue and the first chapter. The first piece of this horror thriller totally reeled me in and I can't wait until I have the chance to really sink my teeth into the story. This little taste has me excited for more.

Alex North knows how to pull you right in. The writing immediately kicks off with a gritty, macabre tone that leaves your heart pumping within its first few pages. Thrilled for what’s in store in this combination of mystery and horror.

It is almost very rare for me to get really excited after reading the first chapter of a book until now. Atmospheric, straightforward and well-established groundwork to keep you wanting for more. I was so delighted to see Detective Amanda Beck again that it was like meeting an old friend you haven’t seen for a while. I cannot forget The Whisper Man because t’was the second Suspense Thriller book that I got late last that made me realize that I’m smitten with this particular genre as well. Certainly looking forward to when this book comes out.