The Shadows was suspenseful, had a surprising twist, and a creepy ambiance. I think that the atmosphere of the book was satisfyingly creepy, but the overall story was pretty tame. I wouldn't consider this a horror story. I mean people die, but I book isn't graphic.

This book deals with lucid dreaming, online crime buffs, and a missing person.

Charlie is a deeply disturbed boy, who draws others to him. Charlie begins to teach his followers how to lucid dream... and eventually to murder.

I don't want to give too much away about this story since it is a thriller, but I am happy that I read it.

I consumed this story as an audiobook, which I would recommend. I love listening to thrillers, and this book was not an exception to that. I really enjoyed this narrator's voice.

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book captured me from the beginning. I really did love it. The narrators were amazing. Unfortunately, there were just so many characters that it was hard to keep up with. I also do not know if this is a NetGalley app issue, but my book would randomly pause & jump back 5 chapters, so that was very annoying. Honestly, by the end I was just over it. Which stinks because this could have been a great book. I also thought that there was so much going on in the story that it was hard to follow.

After reading Alex North's first novel The Whisper Man and being blown away I couldn’t wait to get my hands on his follow up.

The Shadows is creepy and atmospheric and it gives a fascinating look into lucid dreaming initiated by Charlie Crabtree a young teenage boy who participated in a ritualistic murder, went missing and became a cult figure int the darkest corners of the internet. His notoriety leads to the gruesome copy cat killings of young boys.

Twenty five years later Detective Amanda Beck returns and we have also have Paul Adams a university lecturer who has returned to Gritten to see his elderly mother who is dying and suffering from dementia. Being in his mother's house again brings back haunting memories from the past and the time has come for Paul to confront the ghosts from all those years ago.

This was my first audio book and although I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I admit I had a vivid nightmare on the first night listening to this book I felt something was missing but my expectations were probably too high due to my love of The Whisper Man. I wonder if my experience would have differed if I had read the book and not listened to it? How great was the artwork on the cover, loved that too!

I wish to thank Netgalley & MacMillan Audio for a copy of the Audio Book in return for an honest review

Nowhere near as good as The Whisper Man so I felt really let down. It was okay, not amazing. I did a combo of reading the hardcover and listening to the audio version. I didn’t care for the male Marriott they chose better for a classic not great for this. Overall I just felt meh like it was ok. I did like the nod mention to Whisper Man. It kinda felt like a cross between Sleep Beauties and Whisper Man but with a lot less suspense than anticipated.

I had to stop this book early because of the intensity and Gore this would be a wonderful book for those who don't mind that. This book is very well written and I would recommend it for those who enjoy books that are from Stephen King that are more gory like pet sematary.

I finished this book in one day, goes to tell that the audiobook was quite good, it was an enjoyable listen, though the story was mediocre, I didn't hate it.
if I was judging the story my rating would've been 3 🌟 if I was judging the audiobook narrators I'd say 4.5 🌟

I think it's fair to say that this wasn't exactly what many of us were expecting. I don't know y'all... something just wasn't working for me with this one.

Let's just for minute contemplate the idea of "lucid dreaming", some might consider this just ludicrous. I however, I wanted to buy it, I wanted it to work, but for some reason, it just didn't come together here. At least not for me. Maybe there was just too much going on, and rather than converging, everything just seem to run parallel. Maybe I just need to think on this one some more. Hmmm...

As for the narration, I can't say this was as bad as with The Whisper Man, but perhaps it simply doesn't work well as an audiobook. There's not as much dialogue, so you find yourself getting lost in the narration. There's also not enough descriptive writing in my opinion to pull you in.

I want to thank NetGalley, MacMillian Audio, and Alex North for allowing me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my review.

Alex North's newest novel is a great addition to the thriller genre. It's a compelling story with some great turns. I love the 'tormented adult who must return back to their home and past they've been avoiding' stories. Throw in a copy cat murder investigation and I'm sold.

The Shadows is perfect parts spooky and mysterious. It is told through two narrators, Paul Adams and the investigator of the copy cat murder. It is a compelling plot and a satisfying conclusion. It's super easy to read and get lost in.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy of The Shadows in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book but i didn't see it as being creepy at all. I feel like it was more of a murder mystery that messes with your head. It will have you guessing until the very end. There were so many twists and turns in this book. I feel the narrators for the audiobook did a great job. I had less issues with the Netgalley app this time so maybe some of the bugs are being fixed. Like I've said before there are always some technical difficulties when it comes to a new app.

Loved this book!. It was my first Netgalley audiobook and although both the story and the narration were worth all of the stars, the audiobook technology was painful to use.

This was a cleverly written suspense thriller with ghostly overtones and a creepy storyline. It made my skin prickle more than a few times. The twists were spot on - didn't see them coming - then BAM!

It's about a historical murder and the folklore surrounding it. The lucid dreaming plotline was fascinating and eerie. When the MC Paul returns to the village where he grew up, his childhood traumas come back and he's faced with having to come to terms with a frightening and tragic past.

The narrators were perfectly suited to the characters and the book was well performed. I was riveted from the start.

My only complaint was with the audio technology. If I stopped the book for a period of time, it would lose my spot and then either flip ahead or behind from where I left off. And trying to find my chapter was near impossible. Hopefully the kinks can be worked out.

Absolutely recommend this audiobook! I will be reading more of North's books in the future!!

Thank you to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

For fans of books like THE WITCH ELM by Tana French, or any book by Jane Harper. Creepy, intense, and highly character driven.

A dual timeline story that meanders between the "before" and "after" of an incident that left our main character, Paul, traumatized 25 years ago. I quite liked the way this story was structured, and how Alex North unfurled the story through the novel, revealing bits and pieces of the "real" story the deeper the readers got to know Paul—who is a really interesting character, whose denial of the past makes him a terrifically unreliable narrator. I also really enjoyed the way North played with our expectations, and how, until the very end, it was never quite clear if this novel was going to make that jump from thriller to horror.

There were a few elements that I don't think worked as well as they could have. The final reveal was slightly disappointing—not quite out of left field, but still a little bit out of place. Especially because the main source of tension was drawn from the fraught relationships between this small, troubled community and the intimate friendship between the four boys at the heart of the novel.

I also didn't really think Detective Amanda Beck played a particularly important role in this story. I have not yet read THE WHISPER MAN, but from what I understand, she features in that novel as well. Here, she took mostly a back seat and appeared only to give us more context about the people Paul lost touch with—a role that could have probably been fulfilled some other way. Her POV chapters were the least interesting parts of the book.

The performances by Hannah Arterton and John Heffernan for the audiobook were terrific. Well paced, clear, and had just the right touch of drama without being over acted.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan for providing this free audiobook.

Another awesome, creepy book from Alex North! I loved ‘The Whisper Man,’ so I was very excited to hear of his new book, ‘The Shadows,’ and it did not disappoint. The narration was fantastic and the story was addicting. It was hard to stop listening each day! The story is told by two narrators, Paul, a man whose close friend was murdered in a horrific manner 25 years ago; and Amanda, a police officer investigating a copycat murder in a nearby town. I loved the dual timelines, present day and 25 years ago, and how they ultimately intersected. The writing is atmospheric and creepy, but not too scary. A perfect read for any time of the year.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for providing this ARC.

THE SHADOWS by ALEX NORTH

Creepy, immersive, and leisurely paced!

The performance by the two narrators John Heffernan as Paul Adams and Hannah Arterton as Detective Amanda Beck were absolutely fantastic and what really made this a gripping story for me. I love multiple narrators and I thought they both were the perfect entertaining fit to their characters’ voices. They both definitely had no problem setting the mood that created quite the spooky atmosphere. Some of the themes explored here, especially lucid dreaming and ghosts really fascinate me and kept my interest high throughout. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I was scared or that this book creeped me out or anything but it did have a mysterious air to it that kept me interested and listening.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free ALC.

Alex North has very quickly become one of my favourite authors. The Shadow Friend holds up, if not tops The Whisper Man and I'm already excited for the next release.

#theshadows was eerie, creepy, mysterious and has some great unexpected twists. The plot keeps you on your toes, always guessing who is the ghost on the other side of the door.

I listened to the audiobook, and it's the kind of book you can't put down yet don't want to read before bed! Creepy but in the best way possible.

Thank you #Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of the audio book, loved the narrators and loved every moment of this audio book!

Paul Adams was badly shaken by an incident in his teenage years which took led to the death of his closest friend and left him emotionally distressed well into his later years.

He avoids his hometown, Gritton, for as long as he can until his mother’s deteriorating health forces him to return and face the demons that still haunt the woods.

Meanwhile, a copycat murder of a innocent child adds to the mystery and his troubles.

The narrative shifts between Paul and detective Amanda and though their voices are gripping the story itself lacks a powerful execution that would have matched the interesting premise.

Between 2.5-3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for my first audiobook of the highly-anticipated The Shadows by Alex North. I loved The Whisper Man last year and was very excited for this new book. The audiobook is told by multiple narrators and timelines, and definitely helps to build up the ominous suspense. A murder occurred 25 years ago between three friends and Charlie Crabtree is not seen again. Now, a copycat murder happens and Paul unwillingly returns home. He also has a very sick mother with dementia who knows about the past murder. I love thrillers but unfortunately this was a rare DNF for me.

3.5 stars rounded up. I was so excited for this new book, and it did give all the creepy, shadowy vibes. It just didn’t live up to the hype of The Whisper Man. Overall, a decent read! The audiobook version was stellar!

I finished The Shadows by Alex North and I loved it! His first book The Whisper Man was one of my favorite reads last year and The Shadows I enjoyed even more. I thought this time around North really amped up some of the horror details and the story was definitely much more gruesome.
He still did a great job with dveloping the characters and I really enjoyed the fact the the detective Amanda was from his first novel. There were plenty of twists and I never saw the murderer coming... my guesses are getting crazier lol. The Shadows also does a great job setting the atmosphere of a hopeless run down town with history and past ghosts. He does a great job of building Paul's personal story and history but at the same time gives nothing away in the form of answers until the end. This is just all around a great read and I recommend this one! Alex North is definitely now a favorite author of mine and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!

Thank you to @netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the free ALC.

Book Rating: 🌟🌟🌟💫
Narration Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Story:
The Shadows focuses on Paul Adams, who reluctantly returns home to look after his ailing mother. When Paul was a young boy, his friend, Charlie Adams, was involved in a brutal homicide and then vanished without a trace. After Paul was initially accused of the crimes Charlie committed, he left town and vowed to never return. Now, Paul reads about a murder that has occurred nearby that resembles the crime that changed his childhood and realizes that maybe he did not have the entire story of what happened all those years ago.

The Shadows is a creepy, immersive thriller that has a great plot, but is leisurely paced. It was easy to read, but I didn’t have that “I need to finish this NOW” feeling that I love in thrillers. I loved the Slenderman vibes that this book had and Charlie is one the more disturbing characters that I have read lately. One twist in this book caught me off guard, but the ending fell a little bit flat for me.

Narration:
What really bumped this book up to 4 stars for me was the narration. John Heffernan and Hannah Arterton are fantastic as Paul Adams and Detective Amanda Beck. I love multiple narrators and both fit their characters’ voices perfectly. As was the case with the audiobooks The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup and The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor, I feel the audiobook really elevated this story and I enjoyed it more through listening than I would have with reading the physical copy.

Overall, The Shadows is a solid mystery that isn’t at the level of Alex North’s debut, The Whisper Man, but is still a fun book to read when you are in the mood for a more spooky type of suspense. Fans of C.J. Tudor will love this book!

ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Shadows is a psychological thriller about a few boys who become obsessed with lucid dreaming and it somehow ends up in 2 of them murdering someone else. The story follows Paul Adams in both present day and 25 years ago when the murder happened as well as Detective Amanda Beck in present day.

25 years ago, Billy was found covered in blood, holding a knife. His friend and accomplice in the murder, Charlie Crabtree, was nowhere to be found. 25 years later, Paul Adams, who was linked to this case, is forced to revisit his hometown to tend to his dying mother. After discovering that his mother has been keeping newspapers and other materials on the murder, Paul begins to look deeper into his past. As the story progresses, Paul’s mental state begins to fall apart as he gets more and more paranoid.

I read this as an audiobook and the narrator did a pretty good job at setting the mood and creating an ominous atmosphere. I don’t usually like to read thrillers because they freak me out lmao but I think this one was pretty worth it. The themes of lucid dreaming, ghosts, and shadowy figures might not be scary per se, but I’ve always had a deep fascination for all of the above and it’s always creeped me out. I wouldn’t say that this book scared me, but it has left me with a feeling of eeriness and foreboding.

In the first half, everything creepy that occurs has an air of mysticism to it and it seems more supernatural, but as everything begins to click into place, the logic behind everything made more sense. I liked how most of the “magic” parts of the plot were explained in a way that was more logical (because it makes it a little less creepy to me LOL)