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Book Information
The Shadows: A Novel
Written by Alex North
Narrated by Hannah Arterton and John Heffernan
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Start ListeningEditor's Note
Delightfully creepy thriller…
Alex North’s follow-up to his bestselling “The Whisper Man” is another delightfully creepy thriller that will haunt you long after you finish. A grisly, ritualistic murder took place 25 years ago, all the more shocking because the victim and killers were friends. Now, a copycat crime sets the stage for an electrifying story that takes place both in the past and present, in dreams and reality.
Description
The haunting new thriller from Alex North, author of the New York Times bestseller The Whisper Man
You knew a teenager like Charlie Crabtree. A dark imagination, a sinister smile--always on the outside of the group. Some part of you suspected he might be capable of doing something awful. Twenty-five years ago, Crabtree did just that, committing a murder so shocking that it’s attracted that strange kind of infamy that only exists on the darkest corners of the internet--and inspired more than one copycat.
Paul Adams remembers the case all too well: Crabtree--and his victim--were Paul’s friends. Paul has slowly put his life back together. But now his mother, old and suffering from dementia, has taken a turn for the worse. Though every inch of him resists, it is time to come home.
It's not long before things start to go wrong. Paul learns that Detective Amanda Beck is investigating another copycat that has struck in the nearby town of Featherbank. His mother is distressed, insistent that there's something in the house. And someone is following him. Which reminds him of the most unsettling thing about that awful day twenty-five years ago.
It wasn't just the murder.
It was the fact that afterward, Charlie Crabtree was never seen again...
Book Actions
Start ListeningBook Information
The Shadows: A Novel
Written by Alex North
Narrated by Hannah Arterton and John Heffernan
Editor's Note
Delightfully creepy thriller…
Alex North’s follow-up to his bestselling “The Whisper Man” is another delightfully creepy thriller that will haunt you long after you finish. A grisly, ritualistic murder took place 25 years ago, all the more shocking because the victim and killers were friends. Now, a copycat crime sets the stage for an electrifying story that takes place both in the past and present, in dreams and reality.
Description
The haunting new thriller from Alex North, author of the New York Times bestseller The Whisper Man
You knew a teenager like Charlie Crabtree. A dark imagination, a sinister smile--always on the outside of the group. Some part of you suspected he might be capable of doing something awful. Twenty-five years ago, Crabtree did just that, committing a murder so shocking that it’s attracted that strange kind of infamy that only exists on the darkest corners of the internet--and inspired more than one copycat.
Paul Adams remembers the case all too well: Crabtree--and his victim--were Paul’s friends. Paul has slowly put his life back together. But now his mother, old and suffering from dementia, has taken a turn for the worse. Though every inch of him resists, it is time to come home.
It's not long before things start to go wrong. Paul learns that Detective Amanda Beck is investigating another copycat that has struck in the nearby town of Featherbank. His mother is distressed, insistent that there's something in the house. And someone is following him. Which reminds him of the most unsettling thing about that awful day twenty-five years ago.
It wasn't just the murder.
It was the fact that afterward, Charlie Crabtree was never seen again...
About the author
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Reviews
Great listen!!! Kept my attention right from the beginning! I mainly listen during my commute and I found myself driving slower and slower because I didn’t want to stop listening! Fast-paced, great twists! A great thriller indeed!
Rating: 5
Absolutely enthralling. Gripped you until the very end. I highly recommend, it is old fashioned scary. As the book was read I could picture the scene in my mind just as if it were a movie. Can't wait to read the next one!.
Rating: 5
Very atmospheric! I think an improvement from his first book. Looking forward to more.
Rating: 4
How one possibly think a remarkable mystery like this thanks
Rating: 5
I haven't yet read Alex North's first book, The Whisper Man, but I found the description of The Shadows intriguing so took advantage of the opportunity to listen to a copy provided by Netgalley. I'm so glad I did - full of mystery and atmosphere, this was indeed an intriguing listen. North does an excellent job of setting the tone and sense of place, and both narrators did a fine job of voicing the characters and narrating the action. There are interesting, unexpected twists along the way, including the kind that make you back it up a bit to see if you just heard what you thought you did. All in all a most satisfying listen - one that's put The Whisper Man on my TBR list.
My thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy for an unbiased review.
Rating: 4My thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy for an unbiased review.
Well...that was not what I was hoping for. It started really good then the ending just didn't do it for me.
Rating: 3Twists and turns throughout the whole book. Couldn’t stop listening
Rating: 5To Nicole. What the the fuck. "I listened to it at 2.0" - is that your way of flexing? Jesus. Anyway, it was a decent book.
Rating: 3
Consider me officially creeped out.
After having read The Whisper Man, I knew I'd be getting my hands on this book, and sure enough, I selected it for my July 2020 Book of the Month pick as soon as it went up. Then I was graciously and awesomely provided a review copy of the Audiobook from the publisher via Netgalley, so I read along to the hardcover while listening to this one for total creeptastic immersion.
The book itself was great, and the dual narration was fantastic. We got a then and now timeline with our main character, Paul, and we got Detective Amanda Beck's present day narrative with some copy cat murders happening that pull them both back to that frightening place and time it all began.
You have, in the Then time, a spectacularly creepy kid, Charlie, who is written so well with this calm and eerily controlled demeanor, the way he smiles this smile like he knows something you don't. Then there's The Shadows, which are the woods by Paul's house that seem to move around you, like the woods itself were a character. There's a faceless man with bloody hands haunting their dreams, and of course, the murder victims.
In the present, you have Paul's dying mother he's finally come back to see when she goes into hospice, and she's rambling eery things from her dementia induced stupor. You have old voodoo dolls and dead kids' dream journals popping up, and red hand prints on walls, and the distinct feeling of being watched. Not to mention the people still alive back then slowly being picked off one by one in these gruesome ways.
Woo! It was a lot! I had to stop reading when it got dark out because I was legitimately spooked. The book was done so well, you could hear the sounds and see the sights. Amazing.
I really liked the narrators of the audio. I listened at 2.00 speed. Very well done.
Rating: 4After having read The Whisper Man, I knew I'd be getting my hands on this book, and sure enough, I selected it for my July 2020 Book of the Month pick as soon as it went up. Then I was graciously and awesomely provided a review copy of the Audiobook from the publisher via Netgalley, so I read along to the hardcover while listening to this one for total creeptastic immersion.
The book itself was great, and the dual narration was fantastic. We got a then and now timeline with our main character, Paul, and we got Detective Amanda Beck's present day narrative with some copy cat murders happening that pull them both back to that frightening place and time it all began.
You have, in the Then time, a spectacularly creepy kid, Charlie, who is written so well with this calm and eerily controlled demeanor, the way he smiles this smile like he knows something you don't. Then there's The Shadows, which are the woods by Paul's house that seem to move around you, like the woods itself were a character. There's a faceless man with bloody hands haunting their dreams, and of course, the murder victims.
In the present, you have Paul's dying mother he's finally come back to see when she goes into hospice, and she's rambling eery things from her dementia induced stupor. You have old voodoo dolls and dead kids' dream journals popping up, and red hand prints on walls, and the distinct feeling of being watched. Not to mention the people still alive back then slowly being picked off one by one in these gruesome ways.
Woo! It was a lot! I had to stop reading when it got dark out because I was legitimately spooked. The book was done so well, you could hear the sounds and see the sights. Amazing.
I really liked the narrators of the audio. I listened at 2.00 speed. Very well done.
Great read, does a nice job building suspense. Creepy in a good way
Rating: 5