*Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*

Eh, just wasn't for me. It had some good bones, but dragged on at times and just slowed down the plot and tension. The narrator was fine, but they didn't have enough material to work with.

Alex North is masterful. He makes you terrified from the beginning and doesn't let go with his quiet tension. He does it again in this book. This book never feels like you are racing toward a cliff, but you are.
The narrator is perfect for this book. His tone is the spot on with the pace that matches the book’s vibe. It’s fast pace but supernaturally slow and terrifying at the same time. I honestly don’t know how he does it. I loved it.

Such a good thriller! I listened to the audiobook which was so haunting and suspenseful! I was drawn in from beginning to end. I was cheering for Dan while also feeling so bad for those that had been effected by the serial killer that's reign seemed to never end. Such a good book!!

Audiobook Review🎧📖💨
Thank you so much partner @macmillan.audio @celadonbooks @netgalley for the gifted audiobook!

The Man Made of Smoke
by Alex North
Narrated by Shane Zaza

About the book 👇🏽

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:

"Nobody sees, Nobody Cares"

Alex North really knows how to make you devour a book! When I saw this audiobook was on the list for Macmillan Audio, it was my first choice and obviously had to choose it for my Book of the Month box! I binged the audiobook because Shane Zaza had a grip on me with his storytelling. He had my complete and full attention throughout. This was so much more than a serial killer story. It was creepy and unsettling… poking the bear that is grief and trauma. This book had me emotional, much more than I could have anticipated. I can honestly say that I did not see it going where it did. Alex North will continue to be on my auto buy author list! The Man Made of Smoke is out now!!

Happy reading 📖🎧💨🔪

Alex North took me by complete surprise with his first novel, The Whisper Man, and I've loved him ever since. I've eagerly awaited each new book and this one is no exception.
This was such a compelling read. Dan Garvie: criminal profiler, traumatized from childhood by a close encounter with a serial killer in a gas station bathroom finds himself up to his eyeballs in a mystery he thought would remain unsolved forever. Unbeknownst to Dan, his father, a retired police officer, never gave up the hunt. While it is too late for Dan's father to bring the Man Made of Smoke to Justice, it's up to Dan to pick up where his Dad's trail left off and solve a mystery decades in the making.
While this doesn't have quite the supernatural element of his previous books, the creepy urban legend factor definitely delivers. Nobody sees, and nobody cares... I was privileged to get to review the audiobook version of this story and blew through it in record time. The narration was great, and with hairpin turns and twists that give you the shivers, Alex North continues to hold his spot at the top of my horror fiction list. This mystery unraveled like someone folding and pulling taffy - doubling and growing and twisting as you see the colors slotting into place and the whole thing taking shape. I was guessing until the end, and as always, North leaves just a hint of something left unsaid with an interpretation open to the reader.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up because the audiobook version was well done

This was my first Alex North book
It was well plotted, good suspense, interesting characters. Nothing really super memorable, but it was well written. I can see how if you’re looking for a solid mystery thriller with a hint of horror, this author would probably be a reliable choice.

I listened to this one on audio and found it the perfect way to consume this novel. A definite shout out to the golden age of thriller radio shows.

Once again Alex North knocked it out of the park for me. I have been becoming a huge fan, and honestly North has become one of my go to authors for reads that can consume me into another world.

Highly recommend.

The Man Made of Smoke is a quiet, unsettling thriller that leans more into atmosphere and trauma than psychological twists. Alex North unfolds the story with his usual skill, layering timelines and perspectives in a way that deepens the tension, even when the pace lags. Dan and John Garvie (son and father) are haunted in different ways by the same horrific memory. While the payoff comes later than I would have personally liked, it’s effective. This book lingers more than it shocks. If you’re patient with slow burns and introspective dread, it’s a worthwhile, eerie read. Just don't expect fireworks from page one.

4.5🌟
The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North is a gripping and twisty psychological thriller. I had trouble getting into it at first, but once I did I was eager to finish. With a Serial Killer premise, this book is full of chilling suspense and mystery. Definitely not to be missed, I highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This slow-burning thriller hooked me from the first eerie line—“Nobody sees, and nobody cares”—and had me locking my doors just a little tighter. When Dan Garvie was a kid, he watched something terrible happen in a rest stop bathroom… and did nothing. That moment—the moment he locked eyes with a terrified boy and stayed silent as a killer walked away—has haunted him his entire life.

Now a criminal profiler, Dan returns to his childhood island after his father dies under suspicious circumstances. The past he’s spent decades trying to make sense of suddenly comes roaring back. As he unravels his father’s cryptic clues and digs into a cold case that’s never stopped haunting them both, Dan realizes the “Pied Piper” might still be out there—and he may be the next target in a twisted, decades-long game.

This one’s for readers who appreciate a dark, atmospheric mystery that builds slowly but rewards your patience. The layered POVs between Dan, his father John, and another mysterious voice add a rich psychological depth, showing how deeply trauma and guilt can thread through generations. The emotional weight is real, and Alex North captures it beautifully—even if the pacing dragged a bit for me at times.

While I didn’t connect with the ending (and I definitely wasn’t as chilled as I hoped), I still found this a smart, haunting story about justice, memory, and the shadows we carry. Not my favorite from North—The Whisper Man still holds that crown—but The Man Made of Smoke lingers like fog you can’t quite shake.

Alex North’s The Whisper Man is one of my all-time favorites. While his second and third books were not as good, I was optimistic for The Man Made of Smoke seeing early reviews. Great cover and title!

This book immediately gave me the same ‘Sixth Sense’ eeriness of The Whisper Man. The author can make the reader feel the same fear from the characters with his writing. The plot was creative with the various time perspectives of the handful of characters with a true mystery to find the perp. The story had strong psychological and relationship aspects woven into the story. I wasn’t sure if I initially enjoyed the amount and type of ‘reflection and introspection’ throughout the story but eventually felt it was effective to add to the eeriness. I enjoyed the ending as a final product to a solid plot.

Edge to the narrator of the Whisper Man over this one but he was still effective telling a diabolical story.

Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Alex North for an advanced copy of The Man Made of Smoke in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a little bit of a wild ride, but I really enjoyed it. North has a way of imbuing his novels with this gritty, dark atmosphere that keeps you on pins and needles for the entire book. It sets the stage for some of the most chilling psychological thrillers I have read, and The Man Made of Smoke lives up to that.

The beginning was a little slow. It took me a bit to find my footing, but once the different timelines were established, I was hooked and I had to keep listening to find out what happened.

Shane Zaza did a great job with the narration. He was able to keep me on the edge of suspense for the whole listen. It was easy to differentiate between the characters, and it was easy to lose myself in the narration.

Cannot wait to check out North’s next work.

I absolutely love Alex North novels. This is a haunting tale of trauma, guilt, grief, and redemption. The prose in this book is soooo melodic in the scariest way. I was genuinely scared while I was reading. Some trigger warnings to know before you read are suicide, abduction, forced proximity, and violence.

This was an intriguing and thrilling novel about a series of interconnected, brutal murders, and a father and son’s relationship as they independently investigate them.

I think I would’ve given this 3 stars if it weren’t for the excellent narrator of the audiobook. The story was fast-paced and I appreciated the multiple POVs to give the characters more depth, but the storyline fell a little flat for me near the end. That said- no regrets, and I’ll keep reading whatever Alex North writes!

4.5 stars!

I absolutely love this style of writing—it's captivating, clever, and dripping with suspense! This book tackles a theme that hits a little too close to home: when someone witnesses something troubling but chooses to look the other way, it often means they simply don’t care. The plot feels all too familiar, reflecting how we, as a society, often ignore those in need. It’s a chilling reminder of our collective apathy—an eye-opening read!

Dan Garvie, haunted by a childhood encounter with a serial killer, becomes a criminal profiler to seek justice for victims. After his father's suspicious death, he returns to his island community to uncover the truth, questioning whether the monster from his past has come back.

The narrative unfolds through a dual timeline and multiple points of view, weaving together a tapestry of guilt, trauma, and redemption. Everything connects beautifully, but the core message is raw and powerful. The main character had a chance to make a difference but didn’t, and that haunting regret follows him to the very end. It’s a burden he must carry, prompting him to seek change.

This is a slow-burn mystery that will keep you hooked until the last page, as you find yourself rooting for a satisfying conclusion. And let’s be honest—what would you do if you encountered a serial killer? Would you speak up and show you care, or would you just carry on with your day? It’s a thought-provoking dilemma!

The setting is vividly eerie, sending chills down my spine and adding layers of tension to the story. I can’t praise the writing enough; it’s simply superb! If you’re a fan of shows like *Criminal Minds*, this book is right up your alley. Expect twists, turns, and some disappointing truths to be uncovered. I didn’t see much coming, but I was on the edge of my seat, eager to unravel the mystery and find some resolution.

The audiobook is brilliantly narrated, making it nearly impossible to hit pause when I needed to. I can’t recommend this suspenseful listen enough! It would make for a perfect Halloween week read—spooky, thrilling, and utterly fitting for the season. Grab your copy and prepare for a wild ride!

Thank you, Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

THE MAN MADE OF SMOKE is a haunting, emotionally intense slow-burn mystery that blends psychological suspense with unexpected heart.
The story follows Dan, whose life was forever altered by a chilling childhood encounter with a notorious serial killer. That trauma led him to a career in criminal profiling. But when his father mysteriously disappears, Dan is pulled back to his isolated hometown, an eerie island with secrets buried deep. As he begins to uncover the truth, it becomes clear: the past never stays buried, and some ghosts don’t rest easy.

One of the most surprising elements of this book was the tender and complicated father-son relationship at its core. It added depth and humanity to an already gripping mystery. The plot is layered and atmospheric, unfolding with measured suspense rather than shock-value gore. This was my first Alex North novel, and I’m already adding his backlist to my TBR.

🕵️ READ THIS IF YOU:
Want more from the author of The Whisper Man
Appreciate serial killer thrillers that prioritize atmosphere over gore
Are drawn to stories with emotional depth and complex family dynamics

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the complimentary ALC

I am a fan of Alex North! He is able to weave together thrillers that keep you reading! The Man Made of Smoke is no exception to that! Dan has an experience as a young boy that haunts him into adulthood, and guides him into a career profiling killers. When Dan gets called back to his hometown after the death of his father, a former police officer, Dan finds that his father may have been investigating things after his retirement, and maybe his death is not so cut and dry.

Reading this book leaves an eerie feeling at the back of your neck, add in the quality narration of the audio and you have a great thriller that will keep you up all night until you finish!

"Nobody Sees and Nobody Cares." Alex North is always an author I can count on for a thriller, and The Man Made of Smoke is no exception. Full of twists that you won't see coming.

I really want to enjoy North’s books; I love good thrillers and this one just didn’t do it for me. This was a slow burn thriller that unfortunately did not have me on the edge of my seat. I was a bit underwhelmed with the slow-moving plot. I also never fully connected with the characters who were very surface level, with little to no depth. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this novel. Here are my thoughts!

Dan witnessed a terrifying crime when he was a child, and it significantly alters his life trajectory. As an adult, he is a criminal profiler, trying to help victims of crimes. He gets a call that his father has passed away and it brings him home, and it seems like something related to his childhood occurrence may be coming back into his life.

This is my first Alex North novel. A lot of my bookstagram friends have reviewed his work and the plots always intrigued me with the dark suspense vibes. I liked this novel. I thought the author did a great job of balancing out the grief Dan was facing over the loss of his father, the grief of his childhood trauma and investigating this new case. It was woven together in a way that was equally sad, terrifying and beautiful all at once.

The crimes reveal themselves in a well-timed manner that most suspense fans would enjoy. The characters are unique, and I found it hard to pinpoint who the criminal was because each character felt grey and complicated. Very much like real people!

I listened to this novel, and Shane Zaza’s voice is amazing. I could listen to that accent all day. What I found particularly enrapturing was the way in which Shane used volume to increase suspense for the listener. His whispers and shouts were performed perfectly to capture the tension that the reader needs to feel.

The only thing I would change, is if each chapter had some sort of heading with which character we would be focusing on. If I paused in the middle of a chapter, sometimes I had no idea which character storyline we were on. And I would get some of the names mixed up which is a me problem.