Alex North is a pseudonym for a British crime writer of some renown. Who he might be was one of the major literary guessing games of 2019 due to the publication of THE WHISPER MAN. That most worthy novel introduced British detective Amanda Beck, who also appears in North’s latest release. The inquiries into his identity will continue and probably increase, as THE SHADOWS meets and exceeds the promise of its predecessor.

The “shadows” of the title refer to a large and dense forest that gives the suburb of Gritten Wood its name. Paul Adams, a university lecturer, has reluctantly returned to his hometown after almost a quarter-century’s absence due to his mother’s illness. In the throes of dementia aggravated by a head injury, she slips between the present and the past, even as she gives him cryptic warnings about something hidden in his childhood home.

"THE SHADOWS is a thoroughly atmospheric novel that does not rely on terror to propel readers forward; rather, its quietly suspenseful pacing incessantly tugs one along."

The house, as well as the town, holds painful memories for Paul. It was in Gritten Wood that a friend of his, Charlie Crabtree, murdered another friend and then abruptly disappeared. Crabtree was one of those people whose menacing demeanor would cause others to get as far away from him as possible. Paul initially does not know that Amanda is investigating a horrific murder in the town of Featherbank, which is less than 100 miles from Gritten Wood. Improbable as it may seem, it appears that Crabtree may be alive and influencing others via internet bulletin boards to continue the pattern of killings that he started.

Paul makes a number of startling and disturbing discoveries at his mother’s home. Spurred on by her comments, he comes to suspect that the truths he has so long believed may be wrong. When Amanda becomes aware of the similarity of Crabtree’s actions over two decades ago to the case that she is currently working on, along with others, she journeys to Gritten Wood just before a string of murders occur. This makes everything even more puzzling, not to mention dangerous, for Paul, who may not survive that trip home. Thomas Wolfe said you can’t go home again. In some cases, you also can’t leave.

THE SHADOWS is a thoroughly atmospheric novel that does not rely on terror to propel readers forward; rather, its quietly suspenseful pacing incessantly tugs one along. That said, there is a major revelation in the final third of the story that forces a re-examination of everything that has gone before. Amanda plays an interesting but mostly secondary role here, an indication that North, whoever he or she may be, is confident enough to change things up from book to book and toy with readers’ expectations. That confidence, as demonstrated here, is well-founded.