Twenty-five years ago a horrendous murder shocked the small town of Gritten. The case remains cloaked in mystery since the murderer, Charlie Crabtree, seemingly disappeared afterwards never to be heard from again. His name lives on in infamy and has been whispered about on the internet, and inspired copycats throughout the years. Paul Adams was friends with Crabtree and his victim, his life was irrevocably changed that tragic day. Paul is just starting to pull his life together when he must return to Gritten to care for his mother who suffers from dementia. Not only must Paul must face his mother's rapidly deteriorating health, but he must confront the past he left behind. The past he wanted to keep buried. But the past won't stay buried, and maybe Charlie is back to finish what he started.
I did not read Alex North's The Whisper Man. I don't very often read what could be considered dark mysteries or horror. But something about The Shadows intrigued me. Maybe it's because I do often read stories about people going home again. Many people grow up and try to move on, but invariably you will find yourself still connected with your past in some way, shape, or form. It's almost unavoidable. So I think it's an interesting way to place Paul's fears, within the echelons of his past, and having him acknowledge them, and face them head on, if he wants any semblance of a life, because regardless of everything, the events of twenty-five years ago have held him back from living.
Alex North weaves a story that is as compelling as it is frightening. It pulled me in from the onset and I'll admit it was a sleep-with-the-light-on kind of situation. But I didn't want to put the story down.
The Shadows moves back and forth in time incorporating what happened with what is happening. Alex North also weaves in a possible copycat case being investigated by Detective Amanda Beck of Featherbank (who I understand appeared in The Whisper Man as well). It seems like it should be overwhelming, but I thought that Alex North paced everything really well.
I don't want to say too much and give anything away. I will say that I thought I could predict where the story was going, while I was right about certain small elements, the big twists kept proving me wrong, which is something I appreciate in a mystery: keeping me guessing, but not making the answer too far out of the realm of possibility that there was absolutely no way to piece it together.
Overall, it was chilling, it was thrilling, and now I have to read something a little on the lighter side. But I certainly know where to go when I need a good scare.
I did not read Alex North's The Whisper Man. I don't very often read what could be considered dark mysteries or horror. But something about The Shadows intrigued me. Maybe it's because I do often read stories about people going home again. Many people grow up and try to move on, but invariably you will find yourself still connected with your past in some way, shape, or form. It's almost unavoidable. So I think it's an interesting way to place Paul's fears, within the echelons of his past, and having him acknowledge them, and face them head on, if he wants any semblance of a life, because regardless of everything, the events of twenty-five years ago have held him back from living.
Alex North weaves a story that is as compelling as it is frightening. It pulled me in from the onset and I'll admit it was a sleep-with-the-light-on kind of situation. But I didn't want to put the story down.
The Shadows moves back and forth in time incorporating what happened with what is happening. Alex North also weaves in a possible copycat case being investigated by Detective Amanda Beck of Featherbank (who I understand appeared in The Whisper Man as well). It seems like it should be overwhelming, but I thought that Alex North paced everything really well.
I don't want to say too much and give anything away. I will say that I thought I could predict where the story was going, while I was right about certain small elements, the big twists kept proving me wrong, which is something I appreciate in a mystery: keeping me guessing, but not making the answer too far out of the realm of possibility that there was absolutely no way to piece it together.
Overall, it was chilling, it was thrilling, and now I have to read something a little on the lighter side. But I certainly know where to go when I need a good scare.