I couldn't wait until October to read this book, even though it would be the perfect spooky season read! It's positively chilling and creepy, just what I want in a thriller. I loved the gothic horror and crime fiction elements too. It follows Daniel Garvie, a criminal profiler haunted by a traumatic childhood encounter with a serial killer. When his father mysteriously disappears after discovering a brutal murder, Daniel is forced to confront the shadows of his past and the eerie figure known only as the “Man Made of Smoke.”

This isn’t just a thriller—it’s a ghost story woven into the bones of grief, memory, and the shadows we can’t quite shake.

The writing is immersive, tinged with that signature North melancholy that makes even the quietest moments feel loaded with dread. The central mystery coils itself slowly, pulling you deeper into its fog until the line between the supernatural and the psychological blurs.

What makes this novel shine is how personal it feels: the haunting isn’t just in the town or the folklore, it’s in the characters themselves—their secrets, their losses, their refusal to let go.

Alex North has such a great way of mixing crime, mystery, and just the right amount of creepiness. The Man Made of Smoke hooked me right away with its eerie atmosphere and unsettling story. It has that haunting, folklore vibe but still feels grounded and real.

I really enjoyed the characters—flawed, believable, and easy to get invested in. The tension builds steadily, and there were definitely a few moments that gave me chills. North’s writing is smooth and keeps you turning the pages.

Some parts felt a little drawn out, and I wished the supernatural side had been pushed just a bit further. Still, this is a gripping, eerie read that kept me hooked. If you liked The Whisper Man, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.

Haunting, atmospheric, and unsettling in the best way. Alex North blends psychological depth with chilling suspense, weaving a story that’s as much about fathers, sons, and buried trauma as it is about a serial killer. While it wasn’t nearly as terrifying as his previous books, it still had me on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend the audiobook, which really brought the tension to life.

I was very excited to finally see a new book by North! I read this book in a day, like all his others, and I was not disappointed. I will say I was not as enthralled by this story, as I was his others. But i still really enjoyed my experience and will continue to read more from this author.

This is just what I’ve come to expect from a book by Alex North - tense, gripping, and creepy AF. I read it in less than two days. I enjoyed the main characters’ inner dialogue and how it led them to solve the mystery. The Whisper Man is still my favorite of North’s books, but this is a close second.

This is the second book I’ve read by Alex North. I read The Whisper Man many years ago and it easily became one of my most recommended books to others. North’s writing is dark and atmospheric. The tension builds slowly in The Man Made of Smoke and the truth unfolds through multiple layers. I think North did a great job portraying how guilt haunts us through the exploration of flawed characters. The story featured a father and son dynamic, life after experiencing trauma, and how the past shapes us.

While The Whisper Man remains my favorite book written by this author, The Man Made of Smoke was an unputdownable serial killer story that had a lingering creep factor. I did feel it was slow at times and wish the momentum from the last quarter of the book had began a little sooner. It packed a punch and just when you think you have it all figured out, you’re in for quite the surprise.

Thank you NetGalley / Celadon Books for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

One night a group of people cross paths with a serial killer and his victim and this experience has repercussions decades later. I enjoyed the setting of the story and the way places invoked the sense of isolation. The main character was extremely likeable and intelligent. The story did move slowly in some parts but it ultimately didn't detract from the plot.

I really enjoyed The Whisper Man, so I was so excited for this one! However, The Man Made of Smoke just didn’t grab me the same way. The writing was good, but the pacing was too slow, and it never built the suspense I was hoping for. While the premise had potential, it lacked the thrill I needed. Did not finish at 34%. Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Daniel Garvie had an encounter with a missing child & serial killer when he was younger. He feels regret for not speaking up & possibly helping the child. Daniel has dedicated his life to seeking criminals & putting them away. When his father passes away, Daniel returns to his hometown. He finds clues his father left behind as to who might have hurt him.

This is the second book I read by Alex North. He writes some great eerie, creepy thrillers. I think what makes them the most unsettling is that they also target children & that's always horrifying. This is a slow burn mystery that kept me intrigued throughout. It's a story told in multiple timelines & pov's. The past perspective from the young victim was the most hard to read. It was interesting seeing the alternate stories from Daniel & his dad. They show how you never truly know another person's thoughts or actions.

Strongly recommend to all mystery/thriller readers.

Creepy story that had me guessing until the end. Alex North doesn’t disappoint!! I recommend this book to anyone who has a fascination with serial killers and who loves a good bump in the night!

I was confused the entire time. I also did not find this thrilling in the slightest. The beginning was quite interesting and had me hooked but by the middle, I just wanted it to end.

A crime he witnessed as a child, comes back to haunt him in the worst way. Dan Garvie escaped an encounter with a serial killer. He goes on to become a profiler. Until one day his dad passes away, and Dan feels like the circumstances surrounding his death are suspicious. He returns home in an effort to uncover the truth behind his father death. This is told in a dueling timeline, giving you glimpses into past and present. The twists at the end were jaw dropping. I read this in two days.

This was a creepy thriller that had me only reading when it was light outside. I have enjoyed every thriller I have read by Alex North and this one was no exception. The plot and characters were well written and added substance to the creepy tone of the book. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Alex North and thrillers.

While there were things that I really liked about this book (the characters, the past timeline), overall this was unmemorable and did not capture my attention the same way North's other books have. The ending, in particular, was lack-luster and I was definitely hoping for more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted eARC!

Alex North is just SO good! I’ve been a fan since The Whisper Man, and reading this book reminded me why he is one of my must-read authors. The words that come to mind to describe this book are emotionally haunting. It has some good twists and a very exciting third act, but it also packs an emotional punch. North does a great job of building the suspense and giving us just enough breadcrumbs to piece things together. I enjoyed the main character, David, and his father John.
The one thing I didn’t care for was the inner dialogue that David had with his father. At first I thought it was just him imagining what his father would say, then I wondered if it was meant to be supernatural, and by the end I honestly didn’t know.
Overall, I highly recommend The Man Made of Smoke. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m torn between 3.5 and 4 stars. I have enjoyed every book I’ve read by this author and although I did enjoy this one it took a bit for me to get into it. I felt like it had a very slow start but once it picked up I couldn’t stop reading. I had to find out what was happening.

Alex North is definitely a must read author for me and I am already looking forward to a new book because I enjoy the stories and the writing style.

Thank you to @netgalley and @celadonbooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

★★★½

The Man Made of Smoke is a dark, atmospheric thriller that blends psychological suspense with a haunting exploration of trauma, memory, and the long shadows cast by childhood fears. Alex North delivers his signature blend of eerie storytelling and emotional depth, though this one leans more introspective than pulse-pounding.

The story follows Dan Garvie, a criminal profiler shaped by a terrifying encounter with a serial killer in his youth. When his father dies under suspicious circumstances, Dan returns to his isolated island hometown, only to find that the past may not be as buried as he thought. The mystery unfolds slowly, with layers of secrets and unsettling disappearances that build a creeping sense of dread.

Shane Zaza’s narration is a strong point of the audiobook. His voice is steady and immersive, capturing the emotional weight of Dan’s journey while maintaining the tension needed for a psychological thriller. Zaza’s performance adds gravitas to the more introspective moments and helps carry the slower pacing.

While the atmosphere and character development are compelling, some listeners may find the plot a bit meandering, especially in the middle. The ending, while thematically resonant, leaves a few questions unanswered—particularly around the killer’s motivations—which may frustrate those looking for a tightly wrapped conclusion.

Still, for fans of moody, character-driven thrillers with a literary edge, The Man Made of Smoke is a solid listen—especially with Zaza’s narration guiding the way.

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #celadon #macmillanaudio #macaudio2025 #themanmadeofsmoke #alexnorth #shanezaza

3.75 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've read some of Alex North's books before, and I've really enjoyed them; however, while I still liked The Man Made of Smoke, for me it just wasn't as engaging as the others.

At the beginning, I found the timeline to be confusing and it took a while for me to figure out what was going on; additionally, all of the different victims ended up blending together for me, and it was hard to keep them all straight. I also wasn't getting the depth I wanted from the main characters; it just felt like something was missing. The pacing dragged on a little bit for me too, and I found myself struggling to maintain focus while reading the first half of the book.

I did like the story, however, and once I got used to the pacing and various timelines, the pieces of the puzzle started coming together and it made sense. I thought it was unique and clever. Overall, I liked the story. It was a good message about grief, revenge, and letting go of the past.

Thanks to Netgalley, Celadon Books and Alex North for this ARC. I enjoy all the books I’ve read by this author. I especially enjoyed this one. The characters all blended nicely in the story and all the stories blended as well. There were so many characters I had to make notes, I very seldom have to do that. So I took longer to read it then I normally would have. This book was one I liked as it went back and forth with the characters and stories. Definitely a good choice fOr a bookclub. I’m recommending it to mine.