This was an absorbing story with a fascinating subject. Difficult to read at times, especially as it involved children.. Very complicated storyline which is revealed in bits and pieces. A great conclusion.

The Shadow Friend is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats throughout. Twenty five years after a horrific murder, Paul is returning home to help his elderly mom. He was connected to the murder in the past and friends with both the murderers and victim. One of the murderers disappeared and was never brought to justice. To make matters worse, a copycat killer has showed up. Paul's mother thinks there is someone in the house. And someone is following Paul. Could the past have come back to haunt Paul? The story is unpredictable with solid writing. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers.

My second book by this author and though this one took me a bit longer to become fully invested when I did it was like a runner-way train and what a ride.
Amanda is investigating a crime which she believes is a copycat of one committed in Gritten many years previous.
Paul is the now grown-up boy whose school friends murdered a classmate.
With Paul’s mother dying he is back in his home town for the first time in years and almost instantly upon arriving home things start to occur knocks in the night, sinister red hands and a creepy doll posted anonymously through his door.
This story flits seamlessly between past and present as this whole story plays out.
It was quite the spooky mystery, told from the POV of Detective Amanda Beck and the now grown-up Paul Adams.
An Intricate web of small tangible things that unbeknown were all deeply connected.
It was like one branch with many offshoots it was quite a feat the way everything here eventually slotted together so neatly and I was majorly impressed with the finished picture here.
Enjoyed this one a lot.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of The Shadow Friend.

This book is not one of those where you can watch Netflix with the one eye, and read with the other eye, that I can promise you. The book is up and down (in a good way!) and you have to pay close attention otherwise you will miss some of the fine plot twists and turns. Recommended for anyone that love a good read, because you will definitely enjoy this one!
TB

I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as The Whisper Man, and I'm not 100% sure why. I think there was something about the writing style that left me feeling a little detached. I also think there were sections of the actual story and the plot that didn't appeal to me and that I found to be a little bit too over the top. The whole idea of lucid dreams, and intentionally being able to enter into a dream world where you're able to meet up with other people in your own dream, thereby all having the same dream, was just too far-fetched for me.

Overall, not a bad read, and I did enjoy certain parts of this story. I loved the main character's emotional reflection of his relationship with his mother, I loved the themes of regret, remorse, wasted time and parental love that run through this book. And actually, some sections left me feeling very emotional, which I didn't expect for a thriller novel such as this one.

So in conclusion, not a bad read, but perhaps not quite what I expected. I felt let down slightly by the plot, but at the same time, I felt rewarded in some respects as well, specifically in respect of some of the mature and emotional themes that ran through this book. Will I be reading the next book that this author publishes? Oh yes, definitely.

https://lynns-books.com/2020/08/11/the-shadow-friend-by-alex-north/
My TL:DR Five Word Review: Thriller with plenty of twists

The Shadow Friend was another very good read from Alex North. I really enjoyed the Whisper Man and so when I saw The Shadow Friend I knew I had to read it and I’m so glad I did. It feels like Alex North has plenty of fresh ideas and can spin a creepy tale that seems to border on the supernatural without ever actually crossing the line.

Shadow Friends is a book about murder. Two school boys killed one of their classmates. One of them seemed to disappear and one was brought to justice. Another friend, not involved in the murder escaped the village and never came back until his mother was taken to hospital following a fall.

Paul Adams escaped his hometown following the death of a friend. Twenty five years later his mother has suffered a fall and Paul travels home bringing back to the surface unwanted and painful memories. It appears that not everyone is happy to see Paul return and his steps seem to be shadowed. Couple this with a new investigation following a copycat murder in a nearby village and you have the makings of a tense, chilling and mysterious story.

I really enjoyed this. The tension practically oozes off the page and the mystery of it all held me fairly spellbound. I simply had to know what was going on and the curiosity drove me forward at a fairly relentless pace.

To be honest, I thought the first half of the book was gripping. We flip back and forth learning a little of Paul and his earlier years. Charlie Crabtree is one of Paul’s friends, although I use the term loosely because Charlie is one of those characters that you just know is ‘one for the future’. Charlie dominates the small group of friends and Paul is the only one to challenge his strange ideas of lucid dreaming eventually forcing Paul from the group entirely. Which is probably something of a break given the turn things take.

Then the second half seemed to ramp the suspense up even more.

At the same time that Paul is mentally torturing himself about the past and feeling guilt over what he could have done differently, his movements are being shadowed, his presence in town isn’t welcome and somebody wants him to leave. However, the investigation I referred to above is taking on a life of its own, the investigating officer has connected the dots and although this is clearly a copycat killer it seems that an online chat group could possible lead to the original perpetrator’s whereabouts being uncovered. Charlie has taken on a dark cult status with a following that talks of the crime he commited. Unfortunately, the new investigations seem to prompt a new round of killings – but, I’ll stop there because spoilers are highly likely and nobody wants a runaway blabbermouth now do they?

The characters. Paul is likable and carries the story with ease – certainly to the extent that I found myself wanting to shout directions and instructions at him from the safety of my own living room like the cheap seats of a theatre (he’s behind you). Charlie is a very easy to dislike character. He’s manipulative and scheming and has a very dark streak. The author does provide some history and a better understanding of Charlie’s motivations as the story progresses and this was a welcome inclusion that really helps to firm the foundations for events.

I enjoyed the setting. We jump back to the school years with the bullying and awkward teenage boy moments. There’s the forest that seems to back onto the boy’s houses and that takes on a life of its own with overgrown trails, snapping twigs and an overall ghostly atmosphere and there’s the overall creep factor which was here by the bucketload.

In terms of criticisms. I don’t really have much to say here. I had a couple of little issues here and there but nothing that really merits mention.

On the whole I found this a thoroughly enjoyable read. It’s dark and twisted – in fact, the main twist – omg – did not see that coming at all. Then of course there’s a good number of other little twists but that main one – wow, what a sucker punch that was.

Chilling, riveting, creepy. Another winning instalment by an author that I will definitely be keeping an eye on.

My rating 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I enjoyed this book, although I did get a bit lost at times. The book is set in two timelines and with a lot of characters between both. There was a good level of tension and mystery that kept me interested right to the end.
I would definitely like to read more from this author.

This story which is a fusion of genres is atmospheric, poignant and resonates.

Paul returns to his home village twenty-five years after a murder that left one boy dead, one a killer and the other gone without a trace. Paul's viewpoint is both past and present. A recent murder introduces the police procedural element with the detective's point of view.

This is a contemporary gothic style story. It's creepy with elements of horror, poignant and mysterious. Slow pacing builds the suspense and makes the horror elements more intense.

This is a niche read, but for those, it appeals to, it's addictive and memorable.

I received a copy of this book from Penguin Books UK - Michael Joseph in return for an honest review.

Twenty-five years ago there was a murder in the town of Gritten, Paul has stayed away but now his mother is dying and he has returned. Unfortunately he also needs to confront the events that led to a death and the disappearance of another boy. As a teenager Paul and his friends became involved with 'lucid dreaming' an attempt to be awake within a dream and influence events, these also involved a scary figure that lived in the woods called 'Red Hands'.
I know that the first book that North wrote, 'The Whisper Man', was a huge hit but I didn't get it so I thought I'd try again. As before I like the police procedural part but did not like the whole horror/chiller aspect which seems to be an integral part of the plot. It was interesting that there is a whole section of the book devoted to Stephen King fandom as there is no doubt that King has influenced North. I can't fault the book in terms of appealing to fans of a certain genre, the problem is that genre does not do it for me!

Okay, this book was creepy. I haven’t read The Whisper man yet but I will be dragging it to the top of my tbr pile asap. This was different to any other murder novel I have read before. The lucid dreaming was equal parts interesting and creepy. I didn’t work out any of the twists and the ending broke my heart.

It did take me a while to get into the pacing of the book. The story is told from Paul and Detective Amanda Becks POV. However, from Paul we get both past and present which was a bit confusing to start with. Once I got to grips with it I really enjoyed it. It was chilling to read about Charlie and his obsession with lucid dreams and how intimidating he was as a child.

If you love your crime thrillers to have a twist I recommend this one.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This second Alex North thriller continues the high standards that have run through the entire resume. It's an unusual take on a 'main character returns to their hometown, bad things happen now, entwined with a mysterious past, secrets and dangers come to light' sort of storyline that isn't uncommon in the crime genre. North delivers something fresh, disturbing - and to be fair, that may sit a little uneasily with some readers given its flirtations with the supernatural or things a little 'out there'.

THE SHADOW FRIEND soaks in a creepy, spooky atmosphere as Paul Adams returns to the small English town of Gritten for the first time in 25 years. A quarter century ago a brutal murder occurred there; one of Paul's school friends was killed by two of his other classmates. Boys that Paul had hung out with a lot over the previous months, a quartet led by the troubled and charismatic Charlie Crabtree. A boy who seemed to believe that if they all trained themselves, they could dream lucidly, giving them unknown powers beyond their drab lives in a drab town.

Teenage fun to pass the time, or something far more dangerous?

The latter, as it turned out. Paul's world was rocked when one friend died, another of the gang of four was sent to prison for the murder, and ringleader Charlie disappeared. Was he still out there, haunting the town and those who remembered? When a similar killing occurs in another town, just how much influence does long-lost Charlie Crabtree have? A killer who believed in lucid dreaming...

Candidly, I think THE SHADOW FRIEND may divide readers a little more than THE WHISPER MAN. I really enjoyed it, soaking into the atmospheric tale and enjoying where North lead us. I wondered (even worried) how far down the supernatural track we might go, but overall felt the balance was good. Creepy, spooky, yet believable too. Other readers may struggle with certain aspects. The storyline bounces between past and present, building to some gut-wrench moments.

Another fine tale from a very fine storyteller, whatever name he uses.

The Shadow Friend by Alex North
I give this book 4 stars
If it had happened to you, you would have run away too.
25 years ago, Paul's friend Charlie brutally killed a classmate - and then vanished without a trace.
Paul's never gone back home.
Until his elderly mother has a fall. It's finally time to stop running.
It's not long before things start to go wrong. Paul realises someone is following him. And, in another town a copycat killer has struck.Can anyone stop it happening again?
Wow l loved the creepy,intense storytelling,there were plenty of unexpected twists throughout the book and the subject of lucid dreaming and flashbacks plays a scary and disturbing part in it.An absorbing and compelling psychological horror/thriller.
A recommended must read for fans of Whisper Man.
Thanks to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for my chance to read and review this book

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this before publication, and for the author for scaring me rigid with this foray into darkness that goes way beyond my worst nightmares.
This is, by its nature, a complex tale with a large cast of characters and taking place over many years. It focuses on the discovery of a child’s body, almost decapitated, surrounded by bloody handprints. Two boys are taken into custody having confessed to the murder, and the Detective investigating has a strange feeling about this case.
There are, indeed, links with other events and we quickly switch focus to a lecturer called Paul Adams. I don’t want to give too much away here, but we first meet Paul as a teen when the police take him in for questioning in a murder. A mutual friend has confessed to the murder (a body almost decapitated and surrounded by bloody handprints), and another friend has disappeared. Paul is cleared of any involvement, but he feels guilt for some reason. Of course, we want to know why.
Over time we learn some of the circumstances surrounding this situation. We learn about Paul as a teen and his worries about the influence one of his peer group, Charlie Crabtree, has over others. Charlie is presented as a rather disturbed individual, certainly manipulative, but we’re never sure how much of this is a real fear. However, having never been seen following these tragic events this is a character we’re definitely keen to know more about.
Having returned to his hometown for the first time in years when his mother becomes ill, Paul is a character that I was never wholly certain wouldn’t suddenly be revealed to be completely unreliable. He’s hiding things, and some of these revelations will have you shaking your head in disbelief.
It’s not spoiling anything to say that our questions are answered and a number of mysteries are cleared up. There’s a certain amount of gore and yet my overwhelming feeling at the end was a sense of wistfulness for the many losses that took place through this story.

Sadly I really struggled with this book and couldn't get into it so I gave up a 3rd of the way in so I will not review elsewhere

Synopsis

25 years ago, two teenage boys participated in a ritualistic murder. One of the boys was arrested but the other, Charlie Crabtree, disappeared without a trace. Following this tragic incident, Paul Adams left his hometown and vowed never to return. That changes when Paul’s mother suffers from a fall and there are significant concerns regarding her health. Upon his return, Paul learns that there have been several copycat murders across the years and that his mother was not only aware of them but knows more about Charlie’s disappearance than she should.

Review (warning unpopular opinion ahead…)

I loved “The Whisper Man” so I was thrilled when I was accepted to read an advanced copy of “The Shadow Friend” - Alex North’s new book! I wanted to love it but I just found it okay….

I thought the premise of this book was utterly unique and creepy; the concept of lucid dreaming completely fascinated me.

The story is told from 2 point of views: Paul and Detective Amanda Beck, as well as moving between past and present timelines for Paul. Initially, I found this confusing and difficult to follow. To further add to my confusion, there were so many characters that I felt tempted to write them down so that I could keep track more easily. To tell the story, Paul feeds the reader information slowly (presumably to build tension and suspense) however the pace of the book was so slow that it resulted in me checking how many pages I still had to read in order to finish it.

For me, this book felt “overly complicated” which unfortunately prevented me from fully enjoying it.

Atmospheric, intriguing but just a little confusing. Teenage murderers are a fascinating topic to explore and Alex North does it very well. There are supernatural elements, lucid dreaming, ghosts etc and this is where I feel the storyline gets a little confusing; at times it's difficult to know what's real and what isn't but it almost adds to the mystic of the story. Overall however a very good read.

Wow! And again wow!!
I'm kind of at a lost for words. The last quarter of this book was just so unexpected with such a brilliant twist!

I have to admit the first part reminded me a lot of The Whisper Man and it felt like the same blueprint was used; boys being killed and a touch of creepiness. I do think The Whisper Man had more of an eerie feel to it but in the end, this book did not disappoint at all!

"Red hands, red hands everywhere"

What are dreams?
A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep
But can dreams be manipulated?
A lucid dream is a dream during which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming. During a lucid dream, the dreamer may gain some amount of control over the dream characters, narrative, and environment.
This is a story built around the exploration of dreams. Its a story about a brutal killing that set in place a snowball of events with a jaw-dropping conclusion 25 years later. It's also a story about love and forgiveness. And in the end its a good old ghost story......" because ghost stories should be sad"

A brilliant read that will blow your mind in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin UK and Michael Joseph for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Shadow Friend is a chilling, clever thriller that kind of creeps up on you, you don’t realise you are nervous until its time to sleep.. and you realise, yeah, that ain’t happening.

Aside from that it’s an intriguing mystery, steeped in an imaginary local legend that becomes more sharply focused as you continue through the read. A wonderful mix of horror, thriller and mystery that as well as being beautifully written is also unpredictable, edgy and compelling.

Highly recommended.

Having read the author’s precious book I was very excited to read this book. I wasn’t disappointed. Well written characters, a creepy story and twists and turns along the way. Really enjoyed it

The Whisper Man was the one of my top ten reads of 2019, so I had high hopes for this book, and perhaps that’s where the problem lies, perhaps my expectations were set to high, or maybe I wasn’t in the mood for this type of read. Personally I found it very slow, and although the author uses the time to build on the tension I thought it just made parts of the book tedious to read. On the plus side Alex North captures the creepiness, and horror of Paul’s story, and there was a specific plot-twist that was unpredictable that I definitely didn’t see coming, which is always a bonus. Although The Shadow Friend was a decent enough read, it’s not one that excited me, or I found myself desperate to read another chapter! I’m definitely in the minority with this one, so it’s a book you may want to judge for yourself.