If it had happened to you, you would have run away too.
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?
About the Author:
Alex North is the pseudonym for an anonymous author born in Leeds, where he now lives with his wife and son. He studied Philosophy at Leeds University, and prior to becoming a writer he worked there in their sociology department.
My Review:
I absolutely adored Alex North’s first book The Whisper Man and when I saw he had a new book out I popped it to the top of my pile and started it immediately.
The Shadow Friend is a new standalone thriller with a creepy undertone centring around a violent killing by schoolchildren who believe in an urban myth. Twenty-five years ago, the main character Paul Adams left his home town of Gritten after the murder of a classmate. He’s avoided his friends and family ever since, but when his mother is taken seriously ill, he has no choice but to return and face up to his past.
The story is narrated by Paul and tells the story of his past and present taking the reader on an uncomfortable and often scary journey. There is no doubt this author loves to spook his readers out and keep them guessing throughout. The Shadow Friend certainly kept me on my toes and caught me out several times.
In my opinion, this isn’t quite as atmospheric or chilling as The Whisper Man, but it was entertaining and kept me reading until the end.
