Could not get enough from just the sampler. Perhaps it is a good book. Not sure yet on whether I will read the full book when it comes out.

The sampler did the trick! I can't wait to read the entire thing. I not usually a fan of this genre, but Alex North may make a convert of me yet.

From this small snippet of the book, I am absolutely hooked! The descriptions were so vivid and eerie, and I am dying to see where the story leads. I’m very excited to read the rest of it when it is released.
Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for this preview chapter!

From the brief glimpse of the first chapter, it was mysterious and eerie. Of course, I would have liked a bit more of the synopsis to include a bit of the '25 years later' events in the preview for more of that fleshed out mystery and maybe character convergence, as this chapter only introduces us to Detective Amanda Beck before any interaction with the boy (or his adult self), but I can't complain! From what I can glean from the prologue with the boy, there is something really spooky about the whole situation with the boy..and possibly the boy's mother.

Seems like a promising spooky police procedural! Difficult to tell for sure. I would say the pages didn't exactly grab me.

Thank you Netgalley, Alex North and the publisher for this free chapter sampler.

The prologue and first chapter really sucked me in. I really wish I had the full book. I added it to my TBR and can't wait until the book is released, so I can read the rest. I read The Whsipering Man recently and really enjoyed it. I didn't realize this was the same author until I added it to Goodreads.

The Prologue is about a boy that is going to the police station. Chapter one skips to present day to Detective Amanda Beck. Her father was a cop and she visits his grave. She gets a phone call and has to go to a crime scene. There is a dead teenage boy at a quarry. He is covered in blood and there are bloody handprints on the stones around him. I'm excited to see how it ends.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing this chapter sampler in exchange for an honest review.

Wow that was really intense. A part of me wants to keep reading, but it's only a sample! (cries) I love the mystery aspect we started off with in the prologue. I want to know more about his story and what happened to him. And then chapter one blew me away - this seems like a spooky, haunting murder mystery and I want to know more. Alex leads us towards the dark, shaded path with only a few emeralds of light leading the way as we try to figure out what is going on. It makes this story seem so intriguing and I keep saying it - BUT I WANT MORE.

The more I explore Mystery/Thriller, I more I hear praise for "The Whisper Man" and how readers are excited to read "The Shadows" next.

Luckily, I have just started with NetGalley and opted for The Shadows Sampler. Now that I have read the sampler, I am wondering how would I be able to sleep at night without getting to read the entire story?
It gives me chills now that I imagine the story.
I loved the Prologue and the writing for that is the first thing that strikes me and I am so looking forward to reading the entire book without wanting to wait too long 

This sampler definitely did a good job at pulling me into the story. I want to know how the prologue and the murder in the first chapter are connected and I am interested in learning more about Amanda's back story.

Thrillers from the detective's perspective are normally not my favorite, but I think I will like this one. I am very excited to buy the full length novel when it is released and will definitely be reading in in July!

Now that I’ve read a sample, I cannot wait to pick this one up! I loved The Whisper Man and I have a feeling this will be the perfect summer mystery/thriller.

Can't wait to read this book!
I think it will be better than The Whisper Man which was a great read too!!!

4.5/5!

Paul and his friends begin experimenting with lucid dreaming, jotting down summaries of their dreams as they wake and trying to control what and how they dream. When his friends start using their dreams to harm dogs and scare the people in the community, Paul fears that his friends are taking the experiment too far and distances himself.

The book opens with a murder. Paul's friends, Billy and Charlie are the culprits and though Billy returns to the community shortly after the murder covered in blood and admitting his guilt, Charlie is never to be seen again. The goal with the lucid dreaming had been to vanish into the dreamworld and it appears Charlie may have achieved just that.

Flash forward 25 years and Paul is returning to his hometown for the first time since he left for college to help his ailing mother. He has repressed many of the bad memories from that horrific time, and hopes that they can stay far from his mind. However, he quickly learns that the legend of Charlie Crabtree is far from dead and there are copycats experimenting with lucid dreaming and experiencing devastating effects. Feeling partially to blame for his part in the lucid dreaming experiments that has led to several deaths, Paul takes it upon himself to learn more about Charlie's disappearance. It also seems that the ghosts of Paul's hometown still linger in the shadows, and as the deaths and mysterious events around Paul start to tally up, we question if Charlie really did make it to the dreamworld and continues to haunt the town.

This was such a page turner for me and I devoured it in two days. The novel alternates between the past (25 years ago) and the present and also alternates between two narrators which adds a really nice depth. The eerie aura and creepy events definitely set the mood and had me questioning if paranormal elements were at play. The writing style is definitely similar to The Whisper Man and there are connections, but this is a standalone novel. Some of the suspense building techniques even reminded me of a King novel.

With twists I didn't see coming at all, this is a must read for any fans of horror/thrillers!

Thank you to Celadon Books, NetGalley, and BookishFirst for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I knew this was just a sample, but I wanted more! Haha. This definitely seems like a read that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Oh my goodness! What a tease! That was only one chapter and I was absolutely hooked! I need the rest of the book NOW! Thank goodness I just selected it as my July Book of the Month! I can’t wait to read it all!

This was a serious tease! I loved The Whisper Man and by what I read I'm going to love The Shadows way more! One of my new favorite writers already!

The only issue I can find with this sampler is that it's not the whole book.
It's gripping, creepy and highly entertaining.
Highly recommended.
many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Enticing sneak-peak of THE SHADOWS, a murder mystery that in the short offered pages brings the reader to the eerie location of a strangely posed dead body and over one hundred blood-red handprints.
I already like Detective Amanda Beck, her moxie and the love and respect for her dead father.
From Alex North, author of THE WHISPER MAN, fine start for his newest offering!
Chapter Sampler compliments of Celadon Books via NetGalley.

I just ordered this on book of the month thanks to this excerpt!

I loved whisper man and this seems just as creepy with the serial killer vibes again and maybe even a sadistic side?

I am so excited to finish reading!

Since this is a sampler, I'll not be sharing the review on my site, however the chapters were delightful and I cannot wait to read the full book.

This sampler gripped me from the first page and had me hooked, so I'm stoked to get to read the full copy when it releases in a couple of weeks. This one went straight to my TBR list, and I can't wait to read it soon!

The Shadows and The Whisper Man are both on my TBR list! I have heard many great things about Alex North and absolutely loved his style of writing in this Chapter Sampler. I will definitely be downloading the full book on my kindle! It definitely gives off the mystery feel and makes me want to carry on reading. Many thanks for allowing me to read these few chapters!