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Reading lists

12 must-read books for Luther fans

Serial-killer-books

13 of the best serial killer thrillers

You Can Run

THE CHILLING THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON, THE WHISPER MAN 
 
YOU CAN RUN 
Police called to a crime scene on a quiet suburban street are shocked to find a woman being held captive. 
YOU CAN HIDE 
When the remains of more victims are discovered, it seems that the notorious Red River Killer, who has been abducting women for twenty years, has finally been identified. 
BUT HE'S STILL OUT THERE 
DI Will Turner leads the investigation. The killer may be running, but he's certainly not hiding - and the hunt for his next victim is very much underway . . . 
 
Praise for Alex North 
'The best crime novel of the decade' Steve Cavanagh 
'A thriller that is both terrifying and utterly heartbreaking. Mesmerising and masterful' Mark Billingham 
'This is a true skin-crawler' Guardian 
'Shades of Thomas Harris and Stephen King but brilliant in its own right' C.J. Tudor 
'First it's spooky. Then it's scary. Then it's terrifying' A.J. Finn

The best crime novel of the decade

A dark, creepy thriller with a huge amount of heart

A thriller that is both terrifying and utterly heartbreaking. Mesmerising and masterful

First it's spooky. Then it's scary. Then it's terrifying

Shades of Thomas Harris and Stephen King but brilliant in its own right

Alex North was 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. The Whisper Man was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, and is being published in more than 30 languages.

YOU CAN RUN 
Police called to a crime scene on a quiet suburban street are shocked to find a woman being held captive. 
YOU CAN HIDE 
When the remains of more victims are discovered, it seems that the notorious Red River Killer, who has been abducting women for twenty years, has finally been identified. 
BUT HE'S STILL OUT THERE 
DI Will Turner leads the investigation. The killer may be running, but he's certainly not hiding - and the hunt for his next victim is very much underway . . .

The 50/50 Killer

A CHILLING THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON, THE WHISPER MAN 
 
'I read it in almost one sitting...an outstanding read' Luca Veste 
 
--- 
 
When young police office Mark Nelson is assigned to Detective John Mackey's team, he's thrilled to work with a legend of the force. 
 
Following the death of his girlfriend years before, Mark has thrown himself into his work, determined to be the best. And if there's anyone who can help him get there, it's Mackey. No one has cracked more cases. 
 
But there's one case that he's never managed to solve - The 50/50 Killer. A man who preys on copules, taking them hostage before forcing them to play a twisted game. He asks them to make a simple choice. Who should live? And who will die? 
 
When a tortured young man stumbles into the police station one morning, he reveals to Mark that he's barely escaped The 50/50 Killer with his life - but his girlfriend is still in danger. 
 
Has the victim's escape sealed his girlfriend's fate? Or can Mark and Mackey put a stop to the killer's spree, once and for all? 
 
--- 
 
Praise for Alex North 
'The best crime novel of the decade' Steve Cavanagh 
'A thriller that is both terrifying and utterly heartbreaking. Mesmerising and masterful' Mark Billingham 
'This is a true skin-crawler' Guardian 
'Shades of Thomas Harris and Stephen King but brilliant in its own right' C.J. Tudor 
'First it's spooky. Then it's scary. Then it's terrifying' A.J. Finn

The 50/50 killer preys on couples. 
 
He manipulates their love for each other and makes them play a game. 
He stalks them, tortures them and then forces them to choose. 
What is going to break first? Their will or their love for each other? 
Only two things are certain: 
One of them will die. 
And the other will have killed them.

Black Flowers

A CHILLING THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON, THE WHISPER MAN 
 
'An electrifyingly scary thriller' DAILY MAIL 
 
--- 
 
Reeling after his father suddenly takes his own life, Neil Dawson starts seeking out answers to help make sense of this tragedy. He rifles through his father’s possessions and is shocked to discover an old novel – one he’d never known his father had written. The Black Flower. 
 
Enclosed within is a dried rose – eerily similar to the one held in the book by a mysterious girl who is found with no name and no memory – only a black flower in her hand… 
 
Why did his father keep this book hidden? And is the flower a sign – or a warning? As Neil begins to uncover more strange clues, he suspects there is more to his father’s suicide than meets the eye. 
 
Detective Hannah Price is mourning the death of her own father, whose shadow looms large after she followed him into the police. 
 
When Neil calls on her to help investigate his father’s death, she soon realises the truth Neil is seeking lies within The Black Flower. But as she starts digging deeper, she’s shocked to discover dark secrets from her own past lurking in its pages… 
 
--- 
 
Praise for Alex North 
'The best crime novel of the decade' Steve Cavanagh 
'A thriller that is both terrifying and utterly heartbreaking. Mesmerising and masterful' Mark Billingham 
'This is a true skin-crawler' Guardian 
'Shades of Thomas Harris and Stephen King but brilliant in its own right' C.J. Tudor 
'First it's spooky. Then it's scary. Then it's terrifying' A.J. Finn

When Neil Dawson's father commits suicide, he is devastated by the loss. 
 
But even through his grief, Neil knows something isn't right. Among his father's possessions, he finds a copy of an old novel, The Black Flower. Opening it will take Neil into an investigation full of danger, pain and subterfuge. 
 
Detective Hannah Price is also mourning her father, having followed his footsteps into the police force. 
 
When she gets assigned to Neil's father's case, it will lead her on a journey into her own past and to the heart of a shattering secret...

The Man Made of Smoke

The terrifying new serial killer thriller from the author of the international bestseller and major Netflix movie, The Whisper Man ‘Chills to the bone...a haunting portrait of a psychopath and the psychiatrist trying to understand what drives him’ Daily Mail‘A haunting, atmospheric story…Truly a white-knuckle read from start to finish’ Tracy Sierra 
 
 ***** You never forget the day you meet a serial killer. 
 
Dan was just a teenager when he saw the man made of smoke, silent, watchful, vanishing into the mist. He was too scared to move, too scared to stop him. He’s carried the guilt ever since. 
 
Now a criminal psychiatrist, Dan spends his life trying to understand the darkest minds. 
 
But when his father disappears, he’s pulled back to the remote island he once called home, where something unsettling is waking. 
 
A body has been found. The past is reaching through the fog. And the man made of smoke might never have left. 
 
This time, Dan has to face what’s been waiting in the dark. -- Praise for Alex North 
 
 'As terrifying as a great horror novel, as unpredictable as the best type of crime novel and above all beautifully written...a writer who is an absolute master of his craft' Jane Casey 
 
 'This is absorbing, headlong reading, a play on classic horror with an inventiveness of its own' New York Times 
 
 'Hugely atmospheric and deliciously creepy' Alex Michaelides

A splendidly creepy story - which chills to the bone...a haunting portrait of a psychopath and the psychiatrist trying to understand what drives him

A haunting, atmospheric story about the long shadow evil casts on all it touches. Truly a white-knuckle read from start to finish

Balancing his trademark hint of the supernatural with very real fears, this is a book full of regret and grief, but most of all heart. I loved Dan - I was swept up in his story, riding the wave of his uncertainty and worry

I tore through this gritty tale of guilt, grief and the ghosts that haunt us. The twists are exceptionally well executed, the emotional through line compelling, and the mercurial baddie is genuinely unsettling. With this book, Alex North dares to peer into the darkest corners of the human psyche, and the results are eerie and moving in equal measure. If you loved The Whisper Man, you’ll love this, too. Nightmares guaranteed!

Built around the five stages of grief, The Man Made of Smoke paints a haunting portrait of a psychopath and the psychiatrist trying to understand what drives him

Alex North has done it again. He has managed to craft a serial killer thriller with strange beauty, big heart and seemingly effortless elegance. The Man Made of Smoke was in equal parts terrifying, creepy, thrilling and moving - a book you want everyone else to read immediately because it's so damned good. Alex is simply master of the sub-genre.

Alex North mixes the emotional with the thrilling so expertly. Just a mind-blowingly tense and brilliant read

Creepy and atmospheric from the first page, The Man Made Of Smoke is as well-written as it is tense. There were whole pages where I held my breath. It tugs on the heart strings too. Love it

It is a rare talent to be able to write a compulsive thriller with such heart. The Man Made of Smoke is a rare gem that is both terrifying and heart wrenching, bittersweet and hopeful, nightmarish and deeply, deeply human. Written with skill and intelligence, and told with empathy and nuance, this is a novel that’s not to be missed. I loved every word

Rebecca Thorne, author of The Grief House

Creepy, compelling and so fiendishly tricky, I couldn’t put it down. Another surefire winner from the king of haunting!

A mesmerising thriller, surprisingly packed with profound humanity

A writer who can terrify you on one page and break your heart on the next

No one does 'Dark with a Heart' like Alex North

This impressive serial - killer novel is a serious examination of why some people who experience childhood trauma become decent adults and others do not

Each novel by this author is more authoritative than the one before - which is saying something, as he started with the splendid The Whisper Man

Impressive... Each novel by this author is more authoritative than the one before — which is saying something, as he started with the splendid The Whisper Man. With a nemesis worthy of Thomas Harris, this is Alex North laying siege to our nerves in expert fashion.

Dan Garvie can't move on from a thing he didn't do. He saw the boy. He knew he needed help. But he ran and hid – and a terrifying serial killer got away. 
 
Years later, Dan is a successful criminal psychiatrist, unpicking the very darkest of human behaviour. Because, despite what he saw that day, Dan knows there's no such thing as a monster. 
 
But now his father, John, has disappeared. And days before he vanished, he’d found a body near his home, which might just link back to the serial killer from that fateful day. 
 
Is this a chance for Dan to save his dad and find redemption. Or is he walking straight into a trap...

Dark Room

HOW DO YOU CATCH A KILLER WHO ENJOYS THE FEAR HE CREATES? 
A chilling serial killer thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author or international phenomenon, The Whisper Man 
 
-- 
 
For DI Andrew Hicks, solving a murder is logical: your first suspicions are usually right. 
 
So when the body of a young woman is found, Hicks immediately turns his attention to the most likely culprit – her possessive ex-husband. 
 
But when a second body is found, killed in near identical circumstances, Hicks is forced to think again about his suspect. 
 
As the death toll starts rising, Hicks realises he’s dealing with something much darker – and deadlier – than he’d imagined. 
 
A serial killer is at large – one who revels in chaos. 
 
To stop the senseless murders, Hicks must bring the killer to justice. 
 
But will his own demons stand in the way? 
 
-- 
 
Praise for Alex North 
 
'The best crime novel of the decade' Steve Cavanagh 
'A thriller that is both terrifying and utterly heartbreaking. Mesmerising and masterful' Mark Billingham 
'This is a true skin-crawler' Guardian 
'Shades of Thomas Harris and Stephen King but brilliant in its own right' C.J. Tudor 
'First it's spooky. Then it's scary. Then it's terrifying' A.J. Finn

For DI Andrew Hicks, solving a murder is logical: your first suspicions are usually right. 
So when the brutally beaten body of a young woman is found, Hicks immediately turns his attention to the most likely culprit – her possessive ex-husband. 
But when a second body is found, similarly beaten, Hicks is forced to think again about his suspect. 
As the death toll starts rising, Hicks realises he’s dealing with something much darker – and deadlier – than he’d imagined. 
A serial killer is at large – one who revels in chaos. 
To stop the senseless murders, Hicks must bring the killer to justice. 
But will his own demons stand in the way?

The Half Burnt House

ARE YOU READY TO ENTER THE HALF BURNT HOUSE? 
 
The spine-tingling new thriller from the internationally bestselling author of Richard &amp; Judy pick and major Netflix movie THE WHISPER MAN 
 
____________ 
 
It begins with the house – and a body: 
Alan Hobbes stabbed to death in his own bed. 
 
For years, he’s lived as a recluse in the remains of a 
derelict mansion that once belonged to a serial killer. 
 
The police have a suspect: Christopher Shaw, 
observed on the premises on the night of the murder. 
 
Katie Shaw hasn’t seen her brother Chris in two years. 
All her life, she’s tried to look out for him. 
Even when he made it so hard. 
 
But now he’s bound up in the secrets of this dark house. 
To save Chris, dare she follow him inside . . . 
 
____________ 
 
‘North handles the complicated plot with skill while bringing his troubled characters to life amid the horror’ Observer 
 
'Alex North at his best - a writer who can terrify you on one page and break your heart on the next' STEVE CAVANAGH 
 
'One of those books that made me wish I'd written it. North wields suspense like a blade. Breath-taking and terrifying' HELEN FIELDS 
 
'Dark, gripping, and twisty' CLARIE MCGOWAN 
 
'Endlessly intriguing' NEW YORK TIMES

The Half Burnt House is Alex North at his best - a writer who can terrify you on one page and break your heart on the next

Steve Cavanagh, bestselling author of Thirteen

One of those books that made me wish I'd written it. North wields suspense like a blade. Breath-taking and terrifying

North handles  the complicated plot with skill while bringing his troubled characters to life amid  the horror.

North's poetic way with even the most grotesque of situations is always a joy. The Half Burnt House is his best yet. I love it.

Thrilling, moving and utterly gripping; The Half Burnt House is a triumph

A masterfully creepy, atmospheric rush of a read that will linger with you long after you've finished the last page

Deeply complex and carefully crafted, this novel is a thrilling question mark all the way to the end, and it puts North's storytelling skills on full display . . . the tension mounts with almost every single chapter... his best so far, a superb addition to his already impressive oeuvre

Alex North's best book yet. It's as darkly disturbing as The Whisper Man, and as viciously twisty as The Shadow Friend. But this time there's a premise that will break your heart even as it chills you to the very marrow. Nobody in dark fiction writes family relationships - guilt, fear, loss, and ultimately love - like North, and this is an unputdownable thriller

Everything in this story is connected in ways the reader can't begin to imagine until a series of stunning parallels and revelations are disclosed. Wait for it!

North's latest thriller does not disappoint, weaving an intriguing cast of characters across multiple time periods into a story rich with layers and plot twists and perfectly suspenseful pacing ... A delightfully bone-chilling tale

As terrifying as a great horror novel, as unpredictable as the best type of crime novel and above all beautifully written...a writer who is an absolute master of his craft

This is absorbing, headlong reading, a play on classic horror with an inventiveness of its own

Hugely atmospheric and deliciously creepy

Katie always prided herself on being a responsible big sister - until she left her brother Chris alone for one selfish afternoon, and everything fell apart. Although he survived the attack, the scars ran deep - physical, and emotional. Now they're adults, and they haven't spoken in years. 
 
Then she gets a call - from a detective. A body has been found in a sprawling mansion - one that remains half-ruined by a decades-old fire. Chris is the prime suspect. 
 
Katie knows this might be her last, best chance to save her brother. But she doesn't realise that this isn't the first murder - and so she doesn't know how much danger she's in...

The Shadow Friend

The gripping new psychological thriller from the bestselling author of Richard and Judy Book Club Pick and major Netflix movie The Whisper Man 
 
'Hugely atmospheric and deliciously creepy' Alex Michaelides, bestselling author of The Silent Patient 
'A surprising and moving finale that will live long in the memory' Daily Express 
_______ 
 
THE VICTIM WAS YOUR FRIEND 
 
It was just a silly game to start with. Paul never really believed in it. 
 
He never dreamed Charlie would take it so far. 
 
SO WAS THE MURDERER 
 
For twenty years, Paul's tried to put his past behind him, but now his mother is dying, and he can't run any longer. 
 
But home isn't just full of bad memories. It's also the last place anyone saw Charlie alive. 
 
And Paul starts to wonder if Charlie might come back to finish what he started . . . 
_______ 
 
'Alex North has outdone himself. The Shadow Friend is the work of a writer who is an absolute master of his craft' Jane Casey 
 
'Absorbing, headlong reading . . . As with all the best illusions, you are left feeling not tricked, but full of wonder' New York Times 
 
'Echoes of the chilling Slender Man myth' Crime Monthly 
 
 Praise for Alex North 
 
 'The best crime novel of the decade' Steve Cavanagh, bestselling author of Thirteen 
 
 'First it's spooky. Then it's scary. Then it's terrifying. And then... well, dear reader, proceed at your own risk. An ambitious, deeply satisfying thriller - a seamless blend of Harlan Coben, Stephen King, and Thomas Harris. My flesh is still crawling' A. J. Finn, no.1 bestselling author of The Woman in the Window 
 
 'Alex North has achieved the seemingly impossible. The Whisper Man is a thriller that is both terrifying and utterly heartbreaking. Mesmerising and masterful' Mark Billingham 
 
 'A dark, creepy, thriller with a huge amount of heart. Damn, but Alex North can write!' Stuart MacBride

Alex North has outdone himself. As terrifying as a great horror novel, as unpredictable as the best type of crime novel and above all beautifully written, The Shadow Friend is the work of a writer who is an absolute master of his craft. I couldn't begin to guess how the story was going to end but I enjoyed every second of the journey

If you liked The Whisper Man, you'll love this. Alex North has crafted a second novel which is just as gripping as his first and even scarier. Hugely atmospheric and deliciously creepy, it's about how the past encroaches on the present, and how dreaming influences reality, until in the frightening world of The Shadow Friend, it becomes harder and harder to tell one from the other... and the nightmare takes over

No.1 bestselling author of The Silent Patient

This is absorbing, headlong reading, a play on classic horror with an inventiveness of its own... As with all the best illusions, you are left feeling not tricked, but full of wonder

North has returned with another creepy, atmospheric tale exploring the devastating effects of childhood traumas on communities . . . Builds to a surprising and moving finale that will live long in the memory

With echoes of the chilling Slender Man myth, this thriller ultimately feels like a ghost story conjured out of guilt and loss

North follows up his sensational debut, 2019's The Whisper Man, with another terrifying spine-tingler... The complex plot shifts smoothly between past and present with numerous unexpected twists. An overwhelming atmosphere of doom and disaster hovers over the perennial darkness of the nearby woods. This heart-pounding page-turner is impossible to put down

The layers of deception make for a chilling read

Included in 'The Week's Best Books - The Creepy One'

A chilling and deeply psychological read

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?

I Know Who Did It

PRE-ORDER NOW! A CHILLING THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON, THE WHISPER MAN 
 
Every year Detective David Groves receives a birthday card for his son - even though he buried him years ago. 
 
His son's murder took everything from him, apart from his belief in the law, even though the killers were never found. This year, though, the card bears a different message: I know who did it. 
 
Meanwhile, a woman who died in a car accident is claiming to be back from the dead - with a terrifying account of what she's been through. 
 
The answer to both lies with the kind of people you want to run from - and uncovering the truth means going through hell . . . 
 
Praise for Alex North 
'The best crime novel of the decade' Steve Cavanagh 
'A thriller that is both terrifying and utterly heartbreaking. Mesmerising and masterful' Mark Billingham 
'This is a true skin-crawler' Guardian 
'Shades of Thomas Harris and Stephen King but brilliant in its own right' C.J. Tudor 
'First it's spooky. Then it's scary. Then it's terrifying' A.J. Finn

Every year Detective David Groves receives a birthday card for his son - even though he buried him years ago. 
 
His son's murder took everything from him, apart from his belief in the law, even though the killers were never found. This year, though, the card bears a different message: I know who did it. 
 
Meanwhile, a woman who died in a car accident is claiming to be back from the dead - with a terrifying account of what she's been through. 
 
The answer to both lies with the kind of people you want to run from - and uncovering the truth means going through hell . . .

Alex North

A novel about the dark places that are recognisably our own, The Whisper Man plays on our emotions as much as on our fears. A tremendous calling card for the brilliant Alex North.

A gripping exploration of father-son relationships with a propulsive plot, The Whisper Man is a true skin-crawler

A police procedural with supernatural overtones

Guardian, Best Crime & Thrillers of the Year

Creepy. With the movie rights sold to Hollywood, Alfred Hitchcock would have loved every spine-tingling moment

Alex North has achieved the seemingly impossible. The Whisper Man is a thriller that is both terrifying and utterly heartbreaking. Mesmerising and masterful.

First it's spooky. Then it's scary. Then it's terrifying. And then... well, dear reader, proceed at your own risk. An ambitious, deeply satisfying thriller - a seamless blend of Harlan Coben, Stephen King, and Thomas Harris. My flesh is still crawling

A. J. Finn, no.1 bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

A police procedural with supernatural overtones, this is a true skin-crawler

The Whisper Man is going to be huge. Dark enough to chill your blood but so beautifully written you will not be able to put it down. Utterly brilliant.

Ali Land, Sunday Times bestselling author of Good Me, Bad Me

Beautifully written. Beautifully plotted. Shades of Thomas Harris and Stephen King but brilliant in its own right

C. J. Tudor, bestselling author of The Chalk Man

An ultra-creepy tinge of the supernatural, blended with a petrifying threat from all-too-human monsters, conjures truly blood-chilling menace. Built on a tender theme, this flawlessly plotted thriller absolutely deserves to be shouted about

You might think you've read too many of these "next generation serial killer" novels but this is a very good example with strong characters and a palpable sense of sadness behind the scariness

A dark, creepy, thriller with a huge amount of heart. Damn, but Alex North can write!

Compelling, creepy and beautifully written, The Whisper Man will stay with you long after the last page is turned - and make you double-check all your doors and windows are locked at night

T. M. Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday

The Whisper Man is the most stunning thriller you will read this year, examining the relationships between fathers and sons, loss, betrayal, abduction and murder. It is a story that will unravel the reader as the plot itself unravels, leaving us winded, choking, gasping for air and wrung out, while disturbing, entertaining and enthralling us at the same time.

A painful and moving novel. Ostensibly about the abduction and murder of children, it is also an exploration of fatherhood and its challenges and rewards

Beautifully crafted, heart-rending and spine-tinglingly chilling, the Whisper Man is a thrilling tour de force. Assured and compelling, I can't wait to see what Alex North does next

Ostensibly a suspense novel involving the abduction and murder of children, The Whisper Man is also a study of fatherhood. Alex North's writing is impeccable as he spins out his plot . . . At once painful and moving, this story feels both real and important

Alex North weaves a stunningly captivating narrative that's a nuanced and grounded exploration of father-son relationships. He strikes such a delicate balance that consistently elevates itself, he ultimately provides a master class in genre exploration. An incredible read

Joe and Anthony Russo, directors of the Avengers franchise

The Whisper Man is the most unsettling thriller I have read since Jo Nesbo's The Snowman. Much more than the sum of its parts, it is nightmarish and disturbing and, at the same time, a moving and life-affirming novel about fathers and sons, and grief, loss, and recovery

Alex Michaelides, author of the Sunday Times bestselling The Silent Patient

You'll hear the whispers. And then you'll hear the screams... 
 
Still devastated after the loss of his wife, Tom Kennedy and his young son Jake move to the sleepy village of Featherbank, looking for a fresh start. 
 
But Featherbank has a dark past. Fifteen years ago a twisted serial killer abducted and murdered five young boys. Until he was finally caught, the killer was known as 'The Whisper Man'. 
 
Of course, an old crime need not trouble Tom and Jake as they try to settle in to their new home. Except that now another young boy has gone missing, stirring up rumours that the original killer was always known to have an accomplice. And then Jake begins acting strangely. 
 
He says he hears a whispering at his window...

Alex North

Books by Alex North

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12 must-read books for Luther fans

13 of the best serial killer thrillers

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