The Shadows

by Alex North

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...

• ISBN10: 1250318033
• ISBN13: 9781250318039
• Publish Date: 7 July 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Celadon Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

Paul Adams returns to his childhood home when his mother has a fall. He left when he graduated and never looked back. Events surrounding Charlie Crabtree made Paul want to forget. But coming home stirs up memories and questions.

The second narrative is that of Detective Amanda from Featherbank, whose investigating a ritualistic murder performed by two teens. Her investigation leads her to Charlie Crabtree and eventually Paul.

While the story dragged in places, or perhaps I was impatient and frustrated by the audio player, the flashbacks were atmospheric with supernatural-like elements. I found myself asking if Charlie was dead. Childhood Paul and adult Paul aren’t much different, and he struggles with seeking answers and trying to forget. What he finds in his attic and the questions from Amanda raise questions. Combined with eerie threats and disturbances, North raised the hair on the back of neck.

The storyline was suspenseful as the past met the present. North brought it all together and made events feel plausible. Something is definitely wrong with the water in Gritten, and I for one won’t be visiting. If Paul is smart, he’ll take the next train headed north.

“Red hands, red hands, red hands everywhere.”

John Heffernan did a stellar job as the voice of Paul. He had to perform them both as adults and young teens. His voice was believable and enhanced the overall tale. John’s narration was perfect for me at 1.3x

Hannah Arterton was the voice of Amanda and she captured the young tenacious detective. Hannah naturally talks fast and each time her narration began I had to adjust the speed. I listened to her at 1x, something I never do. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer