I have enjoyed all of Alex North’s books and I can add his current book The Man Made of Smoke to that list.
His writing in this book in detailed and intricate.
A totally compelling and utterly addictive tale that grips from first page to last.
Alex North’s ability to build and maintain suspense makes this novel a captivating read for fans of psychological thrillers.

I really enjoyed the multiple timelines in the POVs of Daniel Garvie, his father John, and a boy named James. The layered and traumatic mystery connecting all of them unravelled at the perfect pace, holding my attention throughout. The narrator, Shane Zaza, did a great job conveying the tone of the story. Fans of crime thrillers will enjoy this book.

"Nobody sees and nobody cares."

The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North is a suspenseful and compelling serial killer thriller that is haunting, atmospheric, and chilling.

When Dan Garvie was young, he very nearly became a victim of a serial killer. At a rest stop bathroom, Dan is shocked when he finds a young boy covered in dirt and with fear in his eyes being lead away by a killer later known as The Pied Piper. This event had sparked an obsession within Dan and after reading a book about the case, he goes on to pursue a career in Criminal Profiling. As Dan tries to work the case, his father, a retired police officer, uses his time trying to find leads to solve the cold case that has haunted him. Later on, when Dan receives a phone call saying that his father has committed suicide, Dan returns to the small island of his hometown. He is back not only to pay his respects, but also because he isn't entirely convinced that his dad would kill himself. As Dan tries to uncover the truth behind his father's suspicious death, one question keeps coming to his mind... Could this be the work of The Pied Piper?

If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would!! Extremely haunting, mysterious and tension filled, this book had me in a chokehold and did not let go! It starts off as a slow burn mystery but pretty soon I was flipping the pages like my life depended on it! With multiple POVs and timelines the tension and foreboding is layered on as we go throughout the events that shaped Dan and his hunt for human monsters. The characters are all deeply flawed but also so realistic! This is definitely a book that I will shout about to anyone and it will stay with me long after the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alex North, and Celadon Books for this ARC!! Publication date was May 13th 2025.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC
4.5 ⭐️

The Man Made of Smoke has become my favorite from Alex North. The plot was intriguing and sometimes a little spooky. But easily, my favorite thing about this was the emotional impact. As a mother of boys, this had some scenes that ripped my heart out. North also did a great job describing the connection that can be so deep and meaningful between children and their parents. This is the best thriller I've read in a very long time.

there is a lot to love here. This is a page-turning serial killer story with a trope that is catnip for me. The killer in question is known as the Pied Piper Killer. I love a good Pied Piper trope. This one has short chapters and keeps things moving all through the story. And it’s got a lead character that I felt very invested in, as a grown man, but also as the boy he was as our story begins.

I also like that, just like in The Whisper Man, North plays around with the notion of what is real and what is slightly, ghosty? Magic? He just creates the slightest frisson of creepiness there that has you wondering exactly why the hairs on the back of your neck are standing up. I love that.

But, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that there were a couple of things that kept this book from being a five star out of the park hit for me.

One of those things is that, in his desire to create a layered mystery, north goes too far into character and plot complication. There are a lot of characters in this book, and there are a lot of people, including a bunch of victims of past crimes that one really needs to keep count of in order for the story to make sense. There were multiple points in my reading that I thought. "now. Wait, who is that?" I can see that the editor and the author were trying to help us with that, and that there were times where they would insert a a reason for there to be kind of a a summary or a quote up to this point" kind of rehash and instead of that being helpful, it just felt kind of ham-handed. Overall, he's just trying to do too much here, and I think if it had been simplified by about 30% the layers of story that he was telling, which were good, could've really shined in a better way.

And, and I think this is probably just a me thing, but there was a particular narrative device that he uses all throughout the story that felt fresh and interesting at the beginning of the book, but by the end felt really overly done. I understand why he did it this way, but by the end, it just felt like a narrative crutch rather than a feature of the story.

But, I've read this book quickly. I was interested in the entire time and I ended up giving it a full four stars. If you liked the whisper man, I think this is definitely worth your time.

The Man Made of Smoke was a great, fast read. Well-paced with believable characters, and the perfect blend of horror and police procedural.

This book had me LOCKED IN 🕵️‍♀️. Compelling, suspenseful, and utterly unputdownable. I have read my fair share of serial killer thrillers, but this one is undeniably unique.

The depth of emotion in this story is what really did it for me. There are so many themes explored here, like guilt, revenge, redemption…all centered around a very bad mad who does very bad things. Through his stunning writing, Alex North forces you to confort an unsettling and heart-breaking truth: nobody sees, and nobody cares.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley/the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

As soon as I saw this book was available, I knew I had to read it, I'm a big fan of all of Alex North’s work. The Man Made of Smoke stays true to his signature style: a haunting, atmospheric mystery with unsettling twists and just enough true crime elements to blur the line between past and present.
This story had everything I’ve come to expect from North: an eerie tone that slowly creeps in, layered characters wrestling with memory and fear, and a chilling mystery that seems to consume an entire city. The way he weaves the supernatural with psychological suspense made this another can’t-put-down read. If you’re a fan of dark, thought-provoking thrillers that linger long after the last page, this one doesn’t disappoint

A son, determined to get to the root of an elusive serial killer, is forced to become closer with his father - who may have secrets of his own - to do so. Alex north does an excellent job building the suspense of the storyline with pacing to keep you engaged and curious to find what comes next. 3/5

4.5 stars rounded up! NOBODY SEES NOBODY CARES! It was crazy how it was such a short book but was such a slow burn with tons of character development. The ending did feel a bit rushed and left me wanting more. I love this author’s style of writing! The Whisper Man is one of my all time favorite thrillers, so The Man Made of Smoke was one of my most anticipated reads for the year, and this one did not disappoint! I already added a physical copy of this book to my shelf!

Dan has spent his adult life as a criminal profiler, helping to solve cases to ensure justice for victims. This eagerness to help was due to the unforgettable experience of coming in contact with a serial killer as a child. Dan no longer lives on the small island that he grew up on, but his father remains trying to put the pieces together on this decades old cold case. When Dan gets a phone call that his father has committed suicide, leaving behind a strange note, Dan can't help but question the suspiciousness surrounding his father's death. Dan returns to the island to get the answers he has been searching for since he was a child.
Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading The Man Made of Smoke. I loved the multiple POVs and the eerie/strange atmosphere. This one is full of revenge, lots of twists, suspicious characters, and a creepy feeling you can't quite shake. I honestly didn't know what to expect out of this one, but it far exceeded my expectations. I highly suggest picking this one up!
Thank you to NetGalley, Alex North, and Celadon Books for this ARC of The Man Made of Smoke in exchange for an honest review!

No one sees and no one cares....holy shit this was a brutal ride! Kept me guessing at every step. What a fun ride! Alex killed it again!!

Holy smokes! The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North grabbed my attention from the first chapter and didn’t let me go until the end!

As a child, Daniel survived an encounter with the Pied Piper, a man who kidnapped and murdered multiple boys. Decades later, Dan works as a criminal profiler helping develop profiles for dangerous criminals. When Dan’s father passed away under suspicious circumstances, he returns home. As hints of the past start returning, Daniel wonders if the monster from that day is back.

Listen - this is a dark story. North doesn’t hold back putting the reader in the shoes of the victims, and at times, I was truly nervous. But it’s also completely engrossing. I read it at every opportunity I had, and got a little mad when I had to stop in an interesting part (spoiler: the whole book was an interesting part, so that happened a lot). Even though I thought I knew what was happening, that didn’t stop me from needing to keep going to see if I was right (I was not).

There were also some otherworldly parts of the book. Instead of them distracting me, I found brought a lot of value and meaning to the story. It also made sense to me that a criminal profiler would imagine having conversations with the criminal to put himself in their shoes, even though he recognizes that it is just his subconscious answering.

If you can’t already tell, I highly recommend The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North, with the caveat to be aware of how dark it gets. But, while it’s the story of a serial killer, it’s also the story of fathers and sons and the ups and downs of their relationships.

Thank you to Celadon Books for the ARC. The Man Made of Smoke is out now!

The Man Made of Smoke was like an episode of Criminal Minds in book form.

It was chilling, fascinating and heartfelt all at once.

As someone who loves psychology, I was obsessed with the fact that the MMC, Dan Garvie, was a criminal profiler. I really enjoyed seeing how his background informed his investigation his Father’s death. Selfishly, I would’ve liked to see even more profiling but that’s just me.

A major part of the book was the distant relationship between Dan and his Father, and how that came to be. It broke my heart to watch them distancing themselves from one another due to misunderstanding and miscommunication. I yearned to reach into the story and force them to talk it out.

All in all, this was a great read and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you so much to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

Read if you like:

✨ Serial k!llers
✨ Criminal Minds
✨ Psychology
✨ Distant parent-child relationships
✨ Miscommunication
✨ Survivor’s guilt

No spoilers. Read via kindle ARC (netgalley).

This was a slow burn of suspense for me, I also was busy and could only read about a chapter per day so it also took me longer to get into then if I was to read it in more seatings I’m sure. However, the last chunk about 66% to end, I had to finish it as I got invested and was interested in how this was going to end. It has past and present, along with different POVs, and it definitely took you on an adventure.

Would I recommend? Yes, I really enjoy reading Alex North’s books.

Daniel is a criminal profiler who strives to remain calm and detached at all times. Yet he cannot shake the guilt that he has carried since childhood, when he saw another child who needed help but was too scared to intervene. He returns to his childhood home following his father’s suicide, but he quickly finds his father’s death more suspicious than anticipated. As he puts the clues together, they lead him back to that fateful day in childhood and the serial killer everyone thinks is dead.

This book was creepy and spooky in an enjoyable way, although it was a little too gory for my taste. The book was continuously suspenseful, yet still managed to create interesting characters plus a realistic relationship between Dan and his father. It faltered a little in the middle as things dragged out more slowly than I would have liked, but in general the plot kept the pages turning. I haven’t read any others by Alex North and after this one I’m on the fence about reading another, so I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts on his earlier books!

Read this if: you like serial killer mysteries and you are ok with gore and violence.

Skip this if: you prefer a cozy mystery and/or you are not ok reading about violence towards children.

Daniel Garvie has spent his life running from the crime he witnessed as a young boy, becoming a criminal profiler to seek justice for other victims as a way to atone for not helping the young boy caught in the trap of a monster. But when Dan’s father is presumed dead under mysterious circumstances, he is forced to return home and confront the demons from his past.

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, creates the dark, gritty atmosphere wrought with tension, quite like Alex North can. From the moment the story begins, through the introduction of our notorious serial killer known simply as The Man Made of Smoke who whispers but a few words - “nobody sees and nobody cares”, I had nothing but goosebumps as I felt completely immersed in the haunting nature of the story.

When Daniel witnesses the young boy in the bathroom terrified of the monster he is with, I was right there beside him. North’s slow, but evocative writing style allows you to literally experience the drip, drip, drip as it occurs. And as a grown man, searching for his missing father’s remains, I was there too with Dan, right beside him as all of the past traumas he had worked tirelessly to overcome came roaring back to life.

This book is decidedly slow burn, but with good intentions. It’s that slow, eerie nature that amps up the horror element and creates the sense of things going bump in the night, the shadows following you home at night. While the pacing itself didn’t throw me off, there is always some aspect of North’s books that leaves me slightly confused and feeling dreadfully unintelligent. In this case, it was the final reveal surrounding the young boy. I won’t say more to prevent any spoilers, but even after finishing it, I am still slightly unsure of what actually happened. Is this the point? Perhaps. But given the masterful way he tends to wrap up his novels, I have a feeling this one is just slightly over my head. And yet I still enjoyed it immensely.

If you are a fan of this type of book, I highly recommend reading it, especially around spooky season. It will not disappoint.

Read if you like:
▪️gritty atmospheric reads
▪️horror-tinged thrillers
▪️serial killer plot lines
▪️overcoming trauma
▪️father/son relationships
▪️past/present timelines
▪️dual POVs


Thank you Celadon and Macmillan for the advanced copies.

It has been awhile since I read Alex North's debut novel, [book:The Whisper Man|51540935] and I've missed out on a few of his books since (which I will definitely be picking up). It was an awesome thriller debut. So, when I saw this one, I was excited to have a chance to read another. I was not disappointed!

Description:
Dan Garvie’s life has been haunted by the crime he witnessed as a child—narrowly escaping an encounter with a notorious serial killer. He has dedicated his life since to becoming a criminal profiler, eager to seek justice for innocent victims. So when his father passes away under suspicious circumstances, Dan revisits his small island community, determined to uncover the truth about his death. Is it possible that the monster he remembers from his childhood nightmares has returned after all these years?

With his signature shock and suspense, Alex North brings us The Man Made of Smoke. In turn emotional, introspective, and utterly terrifying, this is a story of fathers and sons, shadows and secrets, and the fight we all face to escape the trauma of the past.

My Thoughts:
This is a complex thriller and it took some time at first getting the background and building the plot. There are multiple timelines and stories (that do come together!). Dan was haunted his entire life by what he witnessed as a child and felt he had let people down. He also felt guilt that he should have done something to help. Little did he know he had been in the presence of a serial killer. When his father disappeared and was presumed dead he had come back to the island where he grew up, a place he had sworn he would not return to. Digging through his father's things he finds old case files which lead him to believe the Pied Piper (the serial killer he saw as a child) is back. This is a scary, dark tale and it gave me chills. There were many twists, turns and surprises along the way. Lots of action in the second half of the story. Anyone who likes a good thriller will enjoy the book.

Thanks to Celadon Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Right from the prologue, The Man Made Of Smoke was both scary and intense, the stuff of nightmares. “Nobody sees and Nobody Cares”
This novel includes horror, thriller, mystery and crime fiction, all woven into a unique and complex plot.
The sadistic serial killer component added a dark element to the narrative that kept me engaged, allowing me to finish the book in just a few hours. I found myself both captivated and disturbed by this story.
Dan is a compelling character, known by his “detached and calm” demeanor. Some parts of the story are heartbreakingly sad, adding depth to the narrative. The use of a dual timeline effectively ties the plot together.
Alex North demonstrates once more that he is a remarkable author.
The narrator’s engaging voice brings the text to life. I highly recommend the audio version.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to listen to this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North
4/5 🌟

This was a great thriller with lots of twists and I could not see it coming which is a big plus. The story was done very well with lots of building and dark descriptions to really get across this serial murders crimes.

Dr Dan Garvie is a passionate criminal profiler who has a connection to serial murders that allows him to really get into their heads. When he gets a call his father, a police officer, has passed away from suspected suicide he goes back home and starts to come across an old unsolved case from his childhood, the Pied Piper. Picking up where his dad left off he unravels current leads to help find the mysterious murderer.

There are lots of seemingly unconnected missing children, but Dan is able to use his own memory of one of them and piece together the trail left behind. It has many twists and we go back to the memories of his father and growing up to put it all together. A bit confusing at times but good momentum to keep going!