Paul had a troubled past in Gritten Woods, as he and his friends were manipulated to try and unleash the power of lucid dreams. But as a copy-cat killer is now on the loose, can Paul and PC Amanda Beck find out what happened in the past to save the future?

Having really enjoyed ‘The Whisper Man’, I was excited to be invited to read the ARC of Alex North’s new book – ‘The Shadow Friend’. Some of the things I really enjoyed about the first book still sparkled in this one – North’s ability to put a paranormal slant on crime makes for a chilling read. In this book it is all about lucid dreams and there are some really scary moments as we get into our narrator Paul’s head as a teenager. In North’s previous book I also commended the use of multiple perspectives however this is used less here. The narrative only has two perspectives – Paul, who has moved back to his hometown to confront his past and PC Amanda Beck (from The Whisper Man) who is investigating some copy-cat murders of a crime which Paul was very close to. There’s also flashbacks from Paul’s past including chapters which focus on the lucid dreams he had. Although it should have been simpler with less perspectives, the flashbacks and dreams did muddy the waters of the plot somewhat.

I must admit I found this book a lot more confusing than the Whisper Man in general. What should have been a fairly simple premise is confused by so many different threads and characters. This all feels ok to an extent until the conclusion tries to pull them all together and suddenly side characters or parts you didn’t think were that important suddenly get thrown into the forefront. The end reveal includes about 4 different plotlines come together at once and it makes for a very confusing read. This is a shame as I enjoyed some of the build up and the flashbacks about the dreams but I can still see a big plot hole with one part of the timeline.

As it’s the second book including PC Amanda Beck I was disappointed that we didn’t really get to know her more as a character. There was also a massive twist reveal towards the end which turned everything we knew about the book on it’s head which was impressive. However, the more I think about the twist, the more it makes parts of the beginning of the book non-sensical so perhaps it wasn’t the cleverest of moves.

As a paranormal crime read, this book contained some of the parts I loved about The Whisper Man but the confusing conclusion let it down. I will still keep an eye out for more of North’s books, however as I do think he is a very talented author. Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin UK Books – Michael Joseph for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the Whisper Man, which I only read after seeing a link from another book on Amazon and so was really excited to be given the opportunity to read Alex North’s next novel. I enjoyed it, maybe not as much as his first, but it was still an interesting story, very different but fast moving and scary in parts, but maybe not as gripping for me as the 1st. I did feel all the characters were a little 2 dimensional and I didn’t really empathise too much even with Paul, but enjoyed the return of the female detective from the 1st novel, hopefully she will return in the next one as her character seems to developing in both books?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a preview copy. Very enjoyable.

I loved the Whisper Man so I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to read The Shadow Friend .This book is equally as atmospheric and creepy written in two time lines .the present and twenty five years ago when there was a murder committed by school boys and one of them disappeared .There is also an almost supernatural feel in part of the book with the "lucid dreams" Altogether a brilliant gripping story with many twists and turns and a satisfying ending.I can't wait to read Alex Norths next book. Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my review copy in return for an honest review .

As excited as I was about Alex North’s book, I have to be honest, it wasn’t as good as I hoped it would be. And I’m sure that this time it wasn’t the case of me overhyping the book for myself.

I loved the technique Alex North used in this book - giving us the glimpses of the past mixed with the present events. These “memories of the past” weren’t meaningless and provided some great insight into the main mystery, and in general, were very interesting to read. In fact, I think the past bits about Paul’s friendship with Charlie was my favorite part of the whole book.

The plot itself was rather engaging. I wasn’t excited for the mystery to unravel, but I still felt compelled to keep reading to find out what actually happened and who I could blame.

However, while the story reads VERY quickly [I flew through it in a couple of hours], it felt empty. There wasn’t enough content for me to (1) get attached to the characters and (2) feel thrilled about the plot. To the point that I couldn’t even remember the name of the main character without looking at the blurb.

Because there were so many unnecessary words (i.e. fluff), it was actually difficult to stay focused on what was happening in the book. It’s very strange, but even though the writing was beautiful and easy to read, my mind kept wandering off. I constantly caught myself thinking about other things, and had to re-read passaged multiple times because of that.

This kept happening for the most part of the book. I even tried switching to a different one to see if the problem was me. But no, I can confirm that the other book didn’t fail to keep me captivated.

I feel very conflicted about «The Shadow Friend». On one hand, it wasn’t bad at all, and I actually liked Alex North’s writing style (except the fluff). But on the other hand, I could tell you the whole plot in a couple of sentences and there was nothing even slightly scary or creepy or even thrilling.

Twenty five years ago Paul left his hometown, Gritten, after a traumatic experience and has only returned now because his mother is dying. His return brings back unwanted memories of his schooldays and the ex friends who shared dreams and committed a murder which was notable because the killers were teenagers and left behind red hand prints from the victim's blood. When his mother gets upset by his return and tells him "it's in the house" and strange things start happening, Paul is unsettled. Meanwhile in another town, detective Amanda Beck is dealing with a copy cat murder and in the course of her investigation turns up at Gritten. Between the two of the them the copycat killer is caught. I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I felt at times it was confusing and that Amanda wasn't really necessary in the storyline - it could have worked just as well without her.

Dreams have always mystified us. Whether it's from Joseph interpreting Pharaoh's dreams in the Bible to Leonardo DiCaprio starring as the dream-maker in Inception, our sleep-induced thoughts affect us. Lucid dreams are the premise of The Shadow Friend, the second book featuring DI Amanda Beck.

Paul Adams has returned to his home, Gritten Village, after being away for many years. He would have stayed away for longer but his mother is dying. Once back, he finds he can't escape the secrets from the past. DI Amanda Beck is investigating the terrible murder of a teenager killed by two friends. What's more horrific is that she discovers similar cases, starting with one in Gritten Village, twenty-five years before.

I could tell you more about the plot and the characters but I don't want to give too much away. Especially in relation to the lucid dreams - that's something you need to experience yourself! But the thing that makes this book stand out for me is the emotional content. Alex North made me cry with The Whisper Man and he's done it again with The Shadow Friend. He looks at grief again but not just in terms of the loss of a loved one. He also considers grief over decisions made and the sacrifices a mother makes for her child. There were so many beautiful phrases that connected with me personally. I'm welling up again just thinking about it!

I thought The Whisper Man was pretty creepy but Alex North has turned up the tension and chill factor significantly. In hindsight, reading this just before I went to bed might not have been the best plan! I had some pretty restless nights. But The Shadow Friend is utterly compelling and despite wondering if my nerves could take it, I had to keep reading. An outstanding book and one that is definitely going into my top ten reads of 2020.

Paul returns to his native village of Gritten after an absence of 25 years. His homecoming is due to the decline in health of his mother who has dementia. In some lucid moments she tells Paul that there are things in her house still linked to the gritty murderous past that Paul left behind all those years ago..
A storyline flirts with reality and supernatural taking readers to the brink of excitement and builds tension. The author moves between past and present to unearth the gritty nub of the story.
The character of Paul is particularly well crafted and believable
Another excellent book by Alex North

Following on from The Whisper Man you'd think I'd know what I was expecting when I picked up an Alex North book. And to an extent, I did. And yet this book still managed to take me by surprise, giving me a story which was suspenseful, creepy and with a hint of the Stephen King's about it that had me glued to the page.

This is a story which takes place over a dual timeline, of sorts, although the majority of it is set in present day as our protagonist, Paul, returns to his childhood home of Gritten, to visit his dying mother. When he sees her she is in a confused state and eyt her words shock him, bringing down the walls he built to protect himself from a fateful and deadly summer some twenty something years earlier. Alongside this we find Detective Amanda Beck investigating a brutal murder of a teenager by two of his classmates who seem to be reenacting a notorious murder where one of the two suspects disappeared without a trace. When her investigations lead her back to Gritten she finds herself in the middle of dark and deadly battle where the lines between reality and dreams appear to blur.

I loved the way in which the author blends a straightforward murder case with an element of otherworldliness. In this case it is the concept of lucid dreams - the act of being able to get yourself into a state whereby you can control your dream and commit acts, the effect of which will also be felt in the real world. What starts as a harmless and yet twisted game between a group of teenage boys soon seems to take on a life of it's own and the way in which the author depicts the manipulation and coercion of the group by one character in particular is sinister and yet believable. But it is the small tokens - the bloody handprints, the effigy dolls - which all build into the idea of the superstition - Mr Red Hands - and set you on edge with a kind of skin crawling tension.

As grotesque as the idea of the murder is, and we are spared most of the gory details, it is not that which really creates that undercurrent of unease. It is that prickling sensation of being watched. The setting of the dying town that feeds into the atmospheric nature of the story. The dark, dense, shadowy woods which lie at the edge of the town like a half remembered dream lingers the periphery of the conscious mind. And there is that very real feeling of unfinished business between Paul and the town that makes you sit up and take notice, perhaps gets the heartbeat pulsing that little bit faster, and makes you fidget that little bit closer to the edge of your seat.

Whilst this is a more thoughtful, suspenseful read, it is not without its moments of tension and shock. There are scenes towards the end in which the pace picks up dramatically, a showdown in which the full truth of what has happened is revealed. And prepare to be shocked as while I was certain. I had a handle on what was what, it really wasn't that at all. The author managed to keep me guessing right to the end. The clues were all there but in being absorbed and distracted by the past I literally couldn't see the wood for the trees. And the shadows. What happens in Gritten all those years ago is like an earthquake where the aftershocks are being felt for years to come. The author captures the psychological impact of that summer on all fo the key players perfectly, using the story like a mirror to reflect back at the reader until we feel every moment of fear and doubt too.

Creeping, suspenseful and full of mystery, this is going to completely satisfy fans of The Whisper Man and is definitely recommended.

I really enjoyed this book! Love a good creepy thriller and I'm starting to think Alex North can be relied upon for those! I thought the pace of the book was great - kept me turning pages until the early hours. Definitely recommend for all thriller fans, especially if you liked The Whisper Man.
Thank you for sharing this review copy.

My nerves tingled the second I turned the first page on my kindle. The Whisper Man was one of my most recommended books in 2019 so I was so excited (although a tad apprehensive too!) to see what was in store with The Shadow Friend; my most anticipated book of 2020.
To start I loved the references to Stephen King and the characters were totally right and mildly amusing as a result.
It has one heck of a creepy storyline. Lucid dreams, strange shadows and sacrificial killings makes it a tale that should be read in the depths of night so you can truly appreciate the brilliance of it.
There are beautifully descriptive paragraphs throughout that really capture the atmosphere of the book. The characters are pitch perfect and match the storyline superbly. It really is one of those gulp in one sitting reads. Alex is a truly awesome storyteller.

Having thoroughly enjoyed The Whisper Man I was very much looking forward to Alex North's follow-up, The Shadow Friend. In most ways it is an equally satisfying novel and my only reason for awarding four stars is that I had a problem with the concept of lucid dreaming and the supernatural element herein contained. That said, this is a very well written story with interesting characters and a well-developed plot which involves Paul returning home 25 years after he left his home town following life-changing events. Well worth a read.

Not sure about this one. Did not like the lucid dream theme and unsure if fifteen year old boys would analyse them. Slow paced and confusing time frame. His last book the Whisper Man was much better. A 2.5 star read for me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

“ Twenty-five years ago, Paul's friend Charlie Crabtree brutally killed their classmate - and then vanished without a trace.
Paul's never forgiven himself for his part in what happened. He'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. His mother claims there's someone in the house. Paul realises someone is following him. And, in a town many miles away, a copycat killer has struck.
Which makes him wonder - what really happened to Charlie the day of the murder?
And can anyone stop it happening again?”

I was so excited to receive this to review from Netgalley and Michael Joseph Books as The Whisper Man was one of my favourite books of last year. Alex North’s style of character driven story telling is instantly recognisable and engaging. I didn’t predict any of the twists and was left shouting WTF several times, although not until 75% into the book. I understand why the book works this way, without giving anything away but it made this one just fall short of his incredible debut.

I loved the idea of this book, but it didn't grit me as much as The Whisper Man. It might have been me, but I got a bit confused about the timelines, I didn't feel it was very clear.
However I was fascinated about manipulating our dream states

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for the arc of The Shadow Friend by Alex North!

Thank you to Alex North for writing this second book as I loved your debut novel The Whisper Man!

This follows a guy named Paul Adams who returns home to his childhood home to his mother as his mother is dying. He ended up moving away as he went to university but hasn't came back since he left due to painful memories from his own childhood. When he finally gets home the memories come home and the memories resurface, as when he was a child his friends Charlie and Billy killed one of their friends from the school they attended. But Paul is guilty for not being there for his mother but also what happened that horrific day....

Amanda Beck who is a detective, goes to Gritten after seeing and reading about a case of a teenage boy being murdered... Is it Charlie back again to kill or is it a copycat killer?.... read to find out

I loved the whisper man, now i also love this second book The Shadow Friend! If anyone has read The Whisper Man i so recommend reading The Shadow Friend! a definitely a 5 star read for definite, Like the Whisper Man it had be cultivated and engulfed right from the very start, I love how Alex North writes! it is greatly executed perfectly so well done Alex North!

5 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An unpredictable dark thiller, which will keep you hooked
It has plenty of twists and turns found out see coming
If you enjoyed the whisper man
you will enjoy the shadow friend

A 2020 must read.

Thank you netgalley, Alex North and Michael Joseph for allowing me to read and review this book

When Paul Adams was a teenager, two boys in his town commited a terrible crime. They commited a ritualistic murder, then one of them disappeared. The other was arrested and charged with the murder. The missing boy was believed by some to have disappeared into a dream world.
25 years later, Paul is back to visit his dying mother and to finally find out what actually happened all those years ago.
This book for me was a slow burner, I found it hard to wrap my head around the lucid dreaming and what the boys were actually trying to achieve.
Once it took off I was hooked! There was so many twist and turns, sinister happenings and real ghost story vibes. I loved this book and can't wait to read more from this author.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The book starts by referencing a terrible crime 25 years ago when Paul’s friend and classmate was brutally murdered by a once-friend Charlie Crabtree.

Paul hasn’t gone back to his home town since. Now he’s back and the past has come to haunt him alongside the guilt that has never left him.

The story flicks between the POV of Paul and Amanda, a detective in a local town where there has just been a copy cat killing! This created some confusion for me at first as it wasn’t very obvious who’s POV each chapter was written from.

With the paranormal elements weaved throughout, intrigue is built from the beginning. It was a slow-burner throughout but I absolutely loved how it all wrapped up.

Thank you Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for a review!

After reading the Whisper Man I could not wait to get stuck in to this author's latest release. Is it a ghost story, urban legend or just plain murder????? It's all of them. It starts pod with four young boys who gravitate to one another. One of these boys has an agenda and is compelled to keep it. WHY????.This book is scary, chilling and so much darker and in the end terrifying. Secrets and lies, atmospheric and utterly gripping. Oh and I have met Red Hands or have I??? This author has another best seller on his hands and in my opinion another much talked about book.
Thanks to Penguin UK and Michael Joseph and Netgalley for the ARC

After the success of The Whisper Man last year, I was excited to get my hands on his next book. I believe I enjoyed The Shadow Friend even more than The Whisper Man if that possible. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller or Horror. You won't be disappointed. I'll be on the look out for all future releases.