I love Alex North's books. This one sucked me in right from the very beginning! if you enjoy Criminals Minds, pick this book up!

Alex North always hits with a good time.

At this point, I have read everything he has written and they just keep getting better. I loved the whole atmosphere of this book. It was creepy when it needed to be and did not try to do too much. But somehow was original? Honestly, just pick this up if you are looking for a good time this summer. Go in with as little information as you can, as it will make the experience more enjoyable!

The Man Made of Smoke – A thrilling serial killer novel
Alex North has a knack for writing novels that feel like nightmares you can’t look away from—and The Man Made of Smoke is no exception. It’s dark, gripping, and unsettling in the best way.
The story follows Dan, a man still carrying the weight of a day that shattered his life. His father, John, has recently gone missing believed to have taken his own life, though no body has turned up. As Dan returns to his father’s home, the past starts creeping in through, and it becomes clear that something far more sinister may be at play. Could the infamous Pied Piper killer be back? Or has someone else picked up the mask? North blends suspense, emotional depth, and just the right amount of psychological unease. The result is a story that pulls you in quietly and refuses to let go. It’s the kind of book you promise to put down after one more chapter until you realize it’s 2 a.m.

I very much enjoyed The Shadows and The Whisper Man by Alex North and figured The Man Made of Smoke would be no exception. Following a series of fast-paced thrillers, I decided to switch gears and started The Man Made of Smoke. And wow, I truly forgot what a phenomenal writer Alex North is!

North has an unnerving ability to get under the reader's skin -- primarily through his creepy antagonists. During the entire book, I felt a niggling sense of dread as Dan Garvie tried to retrace his father's footsteps and revisit the past, like there was one piece of the puzzle out of sight despite otherwise having a complete picture. Needless to say, I could not put the book down once I started. Arguably my favorite of 2025!!

I really enjoyed this book. I was slow paced at times but the payoff is always with it with an Alex North book! If you are looking for a spooky crime novel, this is a great option!

North doesn't disappoint in his latest. This one grabbed me from the start! Believable, well-crafted characters combine with the perfect pace to create this horror/police procedural. The multiple POVs give a well-rounded view of the storyline. There are ample twists and potential suspects keep you engaged and filled with a creepy feeling throughout. I appreciated the short chapters which worked perfectly for the genre. This multilayered story is a page turner, and I look forward to North's next book.

Pick this up if you're a fan of Criminal Minds (show) and psycho9logical thrillers.

Alex North is back with another masterfully insidious work. It's the menacing characters and settings that draw me in every time, and this one is no exception. What I think sets North apart from other thriller writers is that the clues to the perpetrator's identity are there, you just need to look carefully.

"Man Made of Smoke" was creepy and terrifying---impossible to put down, full of plot twists, and reminiscent of a Stephen King novel. The book follows Daniel as he deals with his missing father and an experience from his childhood that he never fully recovered from---a sighting of a serial killer and his young victim and the feeling g that he could have saved a young boy's life. Overall, this book was phenomenal---making my husband read it next :)

Firstly thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books and the author for the ARC of this book.

This book had a lot of promise. I love a good serial killer thriller with lots of creepy elements but unfortunately this one fell a bit flat. I found the multiple pov's confusing and the story a bit dragged out only to be rushed at the end.

It was by no means a bad book just a bit forgetful and repetitive. Overall not a book I would recommend for just anybody.

3.5 stars.
This one started off strong—creepy, atmospheric, and totally gripping. Alex North knows how to build suspense, and the early chapters had me hooked. But as the story progressed, especially toward the end, it started to lose steam. The conclusion just didn’t land for me, and I found myself wanting more from the payoff.

That said, I still enjoyed the overall experience. It was a solid read, just not one that blew me away. If you’re a fan of North’s style or enjoy a slow-burn thriller with a supernatural edge, it’s worth checking out—but keep your expectations in check for the ending.

Needed editing. Repetitious - not in a good way. Not great writing. And the ending kinda came out of nowhere and was rushed.

Alex North’s *The Man Made of Smoke* is a haunting, slow-burn thriller that masterfully weaves together multiple timelines and perspectives to create an immersive and emotionally resonant mystery. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of Dan Garvie, a criminal profiler haunted by a childhood encounter with the elusive "Pied Piper" serial killer, and his father, John, a retired police officer whose obsession with the case leads to his mysterious death.

The novel's structure, alternating between past and present, allows readers to engage deeply with the investigation as it unfolds from different angles. Dan's return to his isolated island hometown to unravel the truth behind his father's death and the resurfacing of the Pied Piper case creates a compelling narrative that keeps readers guessing until the final pages. North's atmospheric prose and complex character development enhance the story's depth, making the psychological aspects as gripping as the central mystery.

I wanted to love this book, but I thought it was just okay. I loved The Whisper Man and The Shadows but The Angelmaker and this one fell short for me. I found this book to move too slowly. A lot of things were repeated and it felt like it took a while for the story to make any progress. I also didn’t like how Daniel was “talking” to his dad and the killer through his subconscious. I will say, I did think the ending picked up a little and I didn’t see the twists coming.

This book absolutely captivated me. I had no idea where it was going at first but couldn't put it down.

You follow Dan Garvie from when he was just a kid who escaped a serial killer at a rest stop. Dan was with his parents and his best friend Sarah. He always felt guilty that he didn't save the little boy that was with this man. The boy with the haunted eyes. The scared child that it seemed everyone turned their backs on.

You meet Dan and his childhood friend and the bully who became the sheriff after Dan's dad retired. You hear from Dan's dad also. Dan was called to come home because it appeared his dad committed suicide. Dan is a prison psychologist. He listens to the worse of the worse as they try to come to terms with things that happened to them. Dan feels so much guilt over the little boy from his childhood.

Dan and his dad didn't have such a good relationship. He mother left shortly after what happened at the rest stop. Each had their own problems.

This is a very intense story. One that will captivate you. Hold your interest all the way. Parts made me cry and near the end it made me weep. I forgot about the letter that

You'll be trying to figure out who the Pied Piper is. Who the killer is. And what happened to all the children. All the adults. Why is this guy doing these things? What happened to him to make him so cruel. And he is cruel.

The Pied Piper always said, "Nobody sees. Nobody cares". But my favorite line in this book was at the end... "We See. We care."

This author knows how to write a good thriller/horror story. This one had me on the edge quite a lot and I did not guess who he was. I did have a few guesses of course. I was always wrong.

If you like a page turner thriller with a touch of horror wrapped in you need to grab this one.

I received an ARC via NetGalley and a physical copy from the publisher. This is my honest opinion of this book.

I'll be looking for more by this author.

Now, this is a psychological thriller.

The Man Made of Smoke will reel you in, makes you think you may have caught it and figured things out, then it tugs away from you, leaving you floundering, empty-handed. But you keep going back for more.

I really liked reading the timelines, the different POVs, tying things together, and at the same time, holding back for the big reveal at the end. I clearly did not expect the events near the end unfolding and was hanging on at the edge of my seat.

Edit: This book still makes me think about it after reading so felt the need to properly change my rating. 5 stars!

The Man Made of Smoke follows the childhood trauma and guilt of the protagonist Dan Garvies, who believes he saw a missing abducted child. For years, he struggles with the guilt of not saying anything until after the boy and his abductor leave out of fear. By the time he tells his father, they are gone. They give their recounts afterward, but it is too late. As an adult, he returns home after the mysterious death of his father. He follows clues of what his father was up to, which leads him to think that his death and what happened to him as a child are connected. Especially when others involved in the case begin to disappear. Dan must struggle with his past to save his future.

This is the second book that I have read by Alex North, and it was just as gripping. He does an amazing job of keeping the readers engaged and on the edge of their seats. Every time I thought I knew who was involved, he would prove me wrong. You feel for his characters, and his plot is well thought out. I highly suggest this book to other readers who enjoy mystery thrillers with a psychological twist. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you, Netgalley, Alex North, and Celadon Books for allowing me to read this. I hope others will enjoy it as much as I did.

I loved this book! It had suspense and I never would have guessed who the killer was! I liked the different POVs and how the story came together. This is my 2nd book by Alex North and it won't be my last. I also liked the creepiness of the book too!

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this book did not do it for me. It seemed like it was going to be good from the blurb but it never pulled me in. I was 100 pages in and still had no idea what was going on so I did DNF it. I think everyone needs to form their own opinions on this book as it may really captivate others.

Call it 4.5 stars. It would have been a 5 except for one plot hole left empty that most readers probably won't even notice. I've been a fan of Alex North/Steve Mosby for years now, and this is one of his very best. When Daniel was a boy, he came within inches of the serial killer they called The pied Piper, and the child who would be his next victim. Daniel has never forgiven himself for not doing something to help. And now, all these years later, it appears there is someone else who can't forgive those who didn't help.

Alex North once again does not disappoint. The Man Made of Smoke is gripping, eerie, scary and suspenseful.
The “man made of smoke” is at the forefront of the story but the author brings so much life into this book with the character relationships and the things that haunt them. It’s equally emotional and terrifying. And wow, this man is one heck of a writer. Highly recommended for fans of psychological thrillers with a supernatural edge. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for an early copy. Loved it so much I got the hard copy in my BOTM box.