The gripping new psychological thriller from the Richard & Judy bestselling author of The Whisper Man

The Shadow Friend

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?

THE GRIPPING NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF RICHARD &amp; JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK 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

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.

The chilling must-read Richard & Judy thriller pick

The Whisper Man

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...

A RICHARD &amp; JUDY PICK 
SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 
A GUARDIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 
'The best crime novel of the decade' Steve Cavanagh 
'Both terrifying and utterly heartbreaking' Mark Billingham 
'Superbly creepy . . . it might just break your heart a little, too' Heat 
'A dark, creepy, thriller with a huge amount of heart' Stuart MacBride 
'Beautifully crafted, heart-rending and spine-tinglingly chilling' Sarah Pinborough 
'Shades of Thomas Harris and Stephen King but brilliant in its own right' C. J. Tudor 
______________ 
 
If you leave a door half-open, soon you'll hear the whispers spoken... 
 
Fifteen years ago, a serial killer known only as 'The Whisper Man' wreaked havoc on the sleepy village of Featherbank. 
 
But with the killer behind bars, the village is now a safe haven for Tom and his young son Jake to make a fresh start. 
 
Until another boy goes missing. It feels like history is repeating itself. 
 
Could the killer still be out there - and can Tom protect his son from becoming the next victim? 
___________ 
 
'A true skin-crawler' Guardian 
 
'This flawlessly plotted thriller absolutely deserves to be shouted about' Sunday Mirror

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

The best crime novel of the decade

Steve Cavanagh, bestselling author of Thirteen

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

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.

Fantastic. He writes beautifully, with a powerful understanding of the effects of loss and damage on the human psyche and a style that sweeps you into its grip and never lets go. I'm totally sold on Alex North

Alex Marwood, bestselling author of The Wicked Girls

A fine, chilling tale. Alex North paints a world that is so believable and at the same time utterly terrifying. The characters are beautifully rendered, and the tenderness of the central relationship between father and son deepened the sense of terror

Deliciously creepy and kept me up long after I'd turned the last page

Utterly absorbing and intense, so deliciously creepy I think I held my breath for half the book. I couldn't walk away from this affecting story until it was done with me. Loved it!

Gripping, disturbing, and creepy as hell - The Whisper Man deserves to be a huge hit. Absorbing writing, characters that will live with you long after finishing, and guaranteed to show up in a nightmare or three. Heartbreaking and unsettling in equal measure, it's destined to be the book that will readers won't be able to forget

Wonderfully dark, gently creepy and completely bloody heartbreaking. Alex North is a fantastic writer. The Whisper Man left me in pieces

A nerve-shredding emotional rollercoaster that'll keep you up late at night, whether you're still reading it or not. A compulsive read that's sure to give you nightmares

Ed James, bestselling author of The Hope That Kills

A phenomenal read. Terrifying and heartbreaking in equal measure and if it wasn't so hot I'd definitely be sleeping with the windows shut tonight! The Whisper Man will be the book everyone's talking about next summer, mark my words

A riveting page turner! Dark and unsettling, this one creeps under your skin

One of the best crime novels I've read in ages. Alex North has crafted a book that manages to be thrilling, terrifying and genuinely moving.

Mason Cross, bestselling author of The Samaritan

There's a soft voice outside your window and it demands your attention. The Whisper Man is coming. In fact, he's already here. Get ready to be unnerved. This novel is thrilling

The Whisper Man is a tour de force, utterly absorbing and brilliantly realised

Mel McGrath, bestselling author of Give Me The Child

The Whisper Man is a chilling, gripping read but also deeply moving. It's a novel that succeeds on all kinds of levels and deserves all the success that is no doubt coming it's way

No one does Dark with a Heart like Alex North and The Whisper Man delivers a sucker punch that stays with you. Beautifully crafted, chilling &amp; emotional, this's going to be topping Books of the Year lists as soon as it's out

I read The Whisper Man in one go, barely remembering to breathe. North writes brilliantly about the cruelties of life, great and small, and the terrors that afflict young children (not to mention their parents). Tender, terrifying and utterly compelling, The Whisper Man will haunt you to the final page and beyond.

A creepy, serial killer-inflected thriller

More than just superbly creepy, this beautifully written thriller might just break your heart a little, too

With a tender theme about the complexity of father son relationships at its heart, this thriller is immaculately plotted, superbly written, and so good it deserves to be shouted about

A psychological thriller that's both terrifying and heartbreaking - you won't want to miss this one

[A] superb thriller... Readers will have a tough time putting down this truly unnerving tale, with its seemingly unexplainable elements and glimpses of broken and dangerous minds

Extraordinarily well-written, deeply moving . . . The stories are deftly marshalled and interwoven by North with a mastery that would be astonishing were he a debut novelist

ALEX NORTH'S tightly plotted crime thriller presses all the right buttons for the genre

This exceptionally creepy thriller is also a touching portrait of a bereaved father and son learning to depend on each other

A debut that will disturb and intrigue in equal measure

A debut novel set to disturb and intrigue. Truly chilling

As much an exploration of grief and of the father-son bond as it is a nerve-shredder, this is a good choice for Stephen King fans

Hollywood has snapped up this psychological thriller - and no wonder

Deliciously dark and twisty, this is a page-turner from start to finish

If you like a touch of Stephen King mixed with British crime, then this is for you . . . this is a spooky read, but also holds its own as a police procedural novel

This flawless thriller will touch your heart and live long in your memory

This flawless thriller lives long in the memory

Alex North 4

Next year's most terrifying novel, from the internationally bestselling author of The Whisper Man, available to pre-order now 
 
**** 
 
Neil Garvie can't move on from a thing he didn't do, back when he was twelve. He saw the boy. He knew he needed help. But all he could do was hide. 
 Now with a successful career as a criminal psychiatrist, Neil pours himself into his work, understanding the very darkest of human behaviour. Because, despite what he saw that day, Neil knows there's no such thing as a monster. 
But now he's got a call. His father, John, a retired police officer, has disappeared, last seen approaching a high cliff, known locally as a suicide spot. Neil can't believe he didn't see the signs. 
It's just, the more he looks, the more it seems like there weren't any signs. In fact, John seemed to be conducting some kind of off-the-books investigation, into the mysterious murder of an unidentified woman. 
Why didn't John go to his former colleagues? What did he uncover? Did it drive him to take his own life, or did it drive him into the hands of a killer? 
But the most important questions of all are the ones that Neil doesn't know to ask. How does this modern-day murder connect back to what happened that day when he was twelve? And, this time, when he comes face to face with the darkest killer he's ever faced, will he have the courage to step out of the shadows and save the people he loves? 
******* 
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 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

Alex North

The spine-tingling new thriller from the bestselling author of The Whisper Man

ARE YOU READY TO ENTER THE HALF BURNT HOUSE? . . . The spine-tingling new thriller from the internationally bestselling author of Richard &amp; Judy pick THE WHISPER MAN 
 
'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 
 
'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 
____________ 
 
Katie Shaw always looked after her younger brother Chris - until she left him alone one carefree afternoon and he was savagely attacked. He hasn't spoken to her since. 
 
Now a mother, Katie vows not to repeat her mistakes. Carelessness cost her one family, and she won't let it destroy another. 
 
Then she receives a call from the police. 
 
They're investigating a particularly brutal murder, in a half-ruined house that once belonged to a notorious local serial killer. The case has thrown up many unsettling questions, but only one prime suspect: Chris. 
 
The detective wants Katie's help finding him, but she has only one thing on her mind: proving her brother's innocence, and finally making up for her negligence all those years ago. But soon it becomes clear that the killer isn't finished yet. 
 
Which means that even as she attempts to save her old family, Katie is placing her new one in deadly peril . . . 
____________ 
 
'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' ALEX MARWOOD 
 
'Thrilling, moving and utterly gripping; The Half Burnt House is a triumph' WILLIAM RYAN 
 
'A masterfully creepy, atmospheric rush of a read that will linger with you long after you've finished the last page' NEIL BROADFOOT

Alex North

The Half Burnt House

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