At a Glance

Title: The Shadows

Author: Alex North

Published: July 7, 2020 by Celadon Books

Page: 336

Genre: Thriller, Horror, Mystery

Goodreads Rating: 4.00 out of 5

My Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis

My Thoughts

The Shadows, one of my most anticipated new releases for July. I tried to get an advanced copy from Celadon books but didn’t manage to snag one, but it was one of the July picks from Book of the Month, so you know I put that in my box.

Alex North, a pen name, published The Whisper Man last year. I really enjoyed North’s mix of mystery and suspense combined with just a touch of the paranormal. His books fall under the horror genre as well, but I find these to be less horror and more on the paranormal/suspense side. Regardless, I really enjoyed The Whisper Man, you can see my review for it HERE, and knew I would enjoy this one.

This book, while not a sequel to The Whisper Man, takes place in the same environment but a town over. We also once again meet, Detective Amanda Beck who is assigned to investigate a gruesome murder that shockingly resembles a murder that happened 25 years ago. I really enjoyed the slight cross over between this book and The Whisper Man, but I also really liked the fact that they’re both completely separate stories. You don’t need to read one to read the other.

The narrative within the book jumps around between past and present but also between Amanda and Paul. We get a really good glimpse into both characters especially in Paul’s life, which was highly influenced by the events that happened 25 years ago. He’s not the most likeable character at first and could possible be seen as a unrelatable narrator. It’s the first time he’s been back home since he initially left more than 2 decades ago and he’s only back because his mother is dying. When those involved with the original murder start to be found murdered, Amanda isn’t sure whether Paul is behind them or if he’s the next victim. Regardless, the different perspectives between them adds a whole extra level of mystery.

Another huge aspect of the plot is Lucid Dreaming, which after I read this book, you can guarantee I started to research it a bit. It was really the most unsettling piece of the story for me and gave the prose the creepy atmosphere that adds to the suspense.

North once again has given us a truly suspenseful real. Maybe I don’t scare as easy as I thought, but I could use a little more ‘Joe Hill’ spooky vibes to really satisfy a ‘horror’ labeling. If you love a good suspense novel or every psychological thrillers you’ll really enjoy this. The Shadow’s is out now, get it HERE!

I hope you enjoyed my thoughts on The Shadows. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof_books. 

About the Author

Alex North was born in Leeds, England, where he now lives with his wife and son. The Whisper Man was inspired by North’s own little boy, who mentioned one day that he was playing with “the boy in the floor.” Alex North is a British crime writer who has previously published under another name.

Disclaimer: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and recommendation. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.