The victim was his friend. So was the murderer.

'Hugely atmospheric and deliciously creepy' Alex Michaelides, bestselling author of The Silent Patient

Twenty-five years ago, troubled teenager Charlie Crabtree committed a shocking and unprovoked murder.
For Paul Adams, it's a day he'll never forget. He's never forgiven himself for his part in what happened to his friend and classmate. He's never gone back home.
But when his elderly mother has a fall, it's finally time to stop running.
It's not long before things start to go wrong. A copycat killer has struck, bringing back painful memories. Paul's mother insists there's something in the house.
And someone is following him.
Which reminds him of the most unsettling thing about that awful day twenty-five years ago.
It wasn't just the murder.
It was the fact that afterwards, Charlie Crabtree was never seen again . . .

'Alex North has outdone himself. The Shadow Friend is the work of a writer who is an absolute master of his craft' Jane Casey

'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