After enjoying The Whisper Man by Alex North, I was excited to read this next novel by him. Like The Whisper Man, The Shadows mixes mystery thriller and paranormal horror. It seemed like the perfect read for October. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this one the way I did the previous book.
The book follows two points of view, a detective investigating a recent murder and a man who lived through a traumatic experience 25 years before. Paul Adams was once part of a group of boys who sought to control and escape into their dreams. Charlie Crabtree, the leader of this group, and another boy commit a heinous murder, and Crabtree disappears without a trace. In the present day, other boys are mimicking Crabtree's crime, which leads to the present day investigation. Could Crabtree still be alive and instigating these new murders? That question leads both the detective and Paul down a path that threatens lives.
The setting of the book is perfect for the story line. The town is rundown and desolate, which fits with the desperation of the characters. The woods, or The Shadows as the townsfolk call them, are massive, dark, and creepy. It feels completely possible that a ghost or other paranormal being could be roaming its depths.
I found the first half of this book very entertaining. The possible paranormal/supernatural element adds a spookiness to the book that I found enjoyable. The mystery of whether Crabtree is alive was also engaging. I was invested in finding out what was going on. However, when some things began to be revealed, I did not like the direction the story took. I found the reveal of the murderer to be un satisfying. The plot became to complex and convoluted for me. I would have preferred a more straightforward resolution.
In the end, I found the book to be just okay. I didn't care for the ending, so that lower my rating. However, I would recommend it as a dark and somewhat spooky read. It made for fun Halloween reading.
The book follows two points of view, a detective investigating a recent murder and a man who lived through a traumatic experience 25 years before. Paul Adams was once part of a group of boys who sought to control and escape into their dreams. Charlie Crabtree, the leader of this group, and another boy commit a heinous murder, and Crabtree disappears without a trace. In the present day, other boys are mimicking Crabtree's crime, which leads to the present day investigation. Could Crabtree still be alive and instigating these new murders? That question leads both the detective and Paul down a path that threatens lives.
The setting of the book is perfect for the story line. The town is rundown and desolate, which fits with the desperation of the characters. The woods, or The Shadows as the townsfolk call them, are massive, dark, and creepy. It feels completely possible that a ghost or other paranormal being could be roaming its depths.
I found the first half of this book very entertaining. The possible paranormal/supernatural element adds a spookiness to the book that I found enjoyable. The mystery of whether Crabtree is alive was also engaging. I was invested in finding out what was going on. However, when some things began to be revealed, I did not like the direction the story took. I found the reveal of the murderer to be un satisfying. The plot became to complex and convoluted for me. I would have preferred a more straightforward resolution.
In the end, I found the book to be just okay. I didn't care for the ending, so that lower my rating. However, I would recommend it as a dark and somewhat spooky read. It made for fun Halloween reading.