I think Alex North might be a one hit wonder for me personally. I LOVED The Whisper Man so much. However his others have been consistent 3's for me that I enjoyed but didn't grab my attention and maintain it. I thought the pacing was great and his writing is impeccable, however the story just fell flat for me. I will continue to read his novels though and hope for another banger!

Thank you, @writernorth and @macmillan.audio for my free audiobook. #MacAudio2025 #macmillanaudio

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 307 / Genre: Serial Killer Thriller
Audiobook Narrator: Shane Zaza
Duration: 8 hours 53 minutes
Release Date: May 13, 2025

When Dan Garvie was a child, he had a brief encounter with a boy who had been kidnapped by a sadistic serial killer known as The Man Made of Smoke. He could have helped save him, but he was too young, scared, and easily swayed by what the police wanted him to say. Years later, he’s still haunted by the encounter and has become a criminal profiler. When he gets news that his father is missing and presumed dead, he returns to his hometown and is quickly convinced that The Man Made of Smoke is back.

This dark thriller is perfect for when you’re in the mood for something creepy and twisty. It’s well-thought out and full of complicated characters.

Shane Zara did a great job bringing all the characters to life in the audiobook.

✨Reviews✨
📚The Man Made Of Smoke- Alex North 📚
📖3.5/5⭐️


Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC copy of The Man Made of Smoke.

This one was a bit of a slow burn for me  that I wished picked up a bit sooner. I almost gave up but I’m glad I didn’t. It ended up being filled with creepy eerie vibes that North does so well. I just wish the intrigue and mystery could have come out a bit sooner. Because it’s a bit slower it is less of a heart pounding thriller and more of a quiet, creepy dread that slowly washes over you as you learn more about the serial killer and murders.
I found the multiple POVS from a few different characters was easy to follow but did take some getting used to. Perhaps that would have been easier in a physical read versus the audio version I finished. 

I enjoyed the strong themes of guilt and how the same situation can affect everyone involved in completely different ways.

The premise its self was intriguing and eerie following many different story lines and subplots that all wove together perfectly.

Alex North is king of the creepy, eerie vibes and this book was no different!

This is my first time reading an Alex North novel. Shane Zaza's narration enhanced the experience plus I had a physical copy. The combination worked for me because there are so many characters. Most of them have haunted Dan Garvie since he was a boy. When Dan is summoned home because of his father's disappearance he will face many "ghosts" as he tries to solve the mystery of what happened to his dad. Recommended to fans of the author and a good mystery.
Thanks to publisher and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my take.

Alex North does it again with an amazing physiological thriller. It was a little bit creepy. I really enjoy Alex North’s books and can’t wait to read more. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for my honest review. The narrator was great.

Thank you to @celadonbooks and @macmillan.audio for the complimentary print and audio copies of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

SUMMARY: When eleven-year-old Dan Garvie receives a plea for help from a young boy, Dan chooses to ignore the desperate call. Years later, Dan is tormented by thoughts of the boy's tragic fate and the lives lost to the notorious Pied Piper Killer. When Dan’s father mysteriously disappears, he is thrust into a new investigation that uncovers another murder, compelling him to confront his painful past.

MY THOUGHTS: Alex North has quickly become one of my favorite thriller writers! After enjoying THE WHISPER MAN and THE ANGEL MAKER, I was thrilled to receive both a gifted print copy and an audio version of his latest work.

While I typically hesitate to use overused adjectives like "riveting," I must say this dark tale genuinely deserves the label! It delivers the chills and unexpected twists that any thriller enthusiast will appreciate. The story unfolds through dual timelines and multiple perspectives, primarily focusing on Dan Garvie and his father, John.

One aspect that stood out to me was the character development, particularly how Dan grapples with his past choices. The emotional depth adds a layer of complexity that enhances the suspense.

Overall, this is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. I highly recommend it!

If you choose to listen to this one, I found parts of the audio version to be confusing at first. There were multiple perspectives and they switched without making a distinction. However, as I came to know the characters, it was easier to make the distinction.

I'm usually here for a good serial killer story but I tried twice to get into this one and just couldn't push through to the end. I'm not sure if it didn't translate well on audio or the characters weren't grabbing me but for whatever reason I had to DNF about halfway through. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Another creepy, atomospheric thriller from this author! I love how he is able to not only have a compelling mystery at the heart of the story, but also genuinely scare me at times. A new favorite from Alex North.

The cover of Alex North’s newest book - The Man Made of Smoke - promises a dark tale.

As a child, Dan witnessed a serial killer. It has stayed with him all these years. He’s now a criminal profiler. When his father dies, Dan heads back to the small island that he grew up on. He’s sure there are secrets and memories and more that he needs to uncover to finally have answers.

There are most definitely some dark spaces in this book! Alex North has written yet another story that will have you turning on the lights after the sun goes down - and making sure the locks are on…

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Some books are better in audio format for me. This was definitely the case with The Man Made of Smoke. The narrator was Shane Zaza. He has such a rich and velvety tone to his voice. It’s low and he never has to raise it. The listener is drawn into the story. Those tones are very effective in describing the crimes and the perpetrator.

Another great listen from Alex North! And a great performance from Shane Zaza.

This was só good but terrifying. The author always manages to delivery a great story although horrífic.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillam Áudio for the free ARC.

Thank you Netgalley, Alex North, and Macmillan Audio for the chance to review this ALC. I really have to be in the right mood to start a thriller, because once I start, I know I won't want to stop because I'll need resolution. And let's just say, life's commitments were not happy with me when I started this book, because it held true... I did NOT want to stop listening. Not only was the story enthralling and left me spiraling over theory after theory, but the narration by Shane Zaza was impeccable. I felt connected to the characters and like I was trying to get in the head of the killer the whole time (unsuccessfully I might add). This book made me really think about how many people walk around completely unnoticed in their lives and how by looking the other way or not stepping in when we suspect someone needs help, we're doing a massive disservice to society as a whole.

As a child, Daniel Garvie witnessed something that has haunted him for his entire life. He now practices as a psychologist in a prison for dangerous offenders. He receives a call that his father is missing, so Daniel returns to the island where he grew up. This novel is definitely a serial killer mystery/thriller, but it is also a fabulous character study. The tension builds from the very beginning and kept my interest until the end. Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook.

Really enjoyed this one! My first by Alex North and I thought it was really well done. It was slow in the beginning, but it picked up. It reminded me of a criminal minds episode. I liked the internal monologue the main character had with himself, it showed more of his depth. Overall, I would definitely recommend!

Thanks to #NetGalley and @McMillanAudio for providing me with the audiobook ARC of The Man Made of Smoke.

Now that that’s out of the way, kids, today’s lesson will be centered on how to handle disappointment after months of anticipation. LITERAL MONTHS! Sorry to raise my voice it’s just that I found out about this book in February and, just like with Head Cases, thought “oh look here comes a slam dunk 5 ⭐️ uhhhhhhh no. There was more excitement however, when I received the audiobook a few weeks early, and I was ready to pop in the ol air pods and be scared when it got dark out because this Man Made of Smoke!

Then I started to listen and, oh no, do I not like this author’s writing style? Is this book kinda giving me a #seriallillerlivesmatter vibe? Why do I not feel any tension in the story?

All that to say the book never pulled me in, I didn’t care about or even understand the reveal, and this has forced me to rethink the type of “thriller” I enjoy.

Sorry to be harsh, but this one just didn’t work for me.

"Nobody sees and nobody cares." These are the words that the Man Made of Smoke says to a young Daniel Garvie after a run in at a rest stop years ago. Shortly after, it's discovered that this man was the Pied Piper serial killer. Dan grows up to become a criminal profiler, desperate to understand these criminal who rip apart peoples lives. His father, James, a retired policeman has also spent many years affected by the Pied Piper and looking into the cold case. When it seems James has died by suicide Dan is finally forced to return home and try to piece together the clues his father left him. Alex North is a master of creepy suspense, a slow burning mystery that deals with grief and guilt. This is North's best novel since his debut and is sure to be one of the top thrillers of the summer, if not the year. Narration was fantastic.

Wow! What a chilling and horrifically heart-breaking book. Any time you deal with the death of children in any shape, form or fashion, I can't help but feel for those fictional families. That carried through into this book. Even though it is primarily a horror/mystery book, it also tells a story about human nature and the guilt and pressure we place on not just one another, but ourselves.

I've read several books by Alex North and they always grab my attention and keep me hooked until the end. This one was no different. I was mesmerized by the way this story was woven together. Very inventive.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: This audiobook was great. I felt like I was dropped into the story - - which wasn't always a good things since it was so spooky. The narration made it so easy to immerse myself in the plot and I was able to shut out the rest of the world and just listen. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the ebook and audiobook.

The premise of this was intriguing, but I struggled with the buy-in. I didn't necessarily like any. of the characters and the pacing was a bit too slow for me. I finished because I genuinely was interested in figuring out how it ended, but even that was just okay for me. It's entirely possible. that this. book just wasn't for me and I was not the intended audience. that being said, if you're excited for this one you should still give it a read!

This is one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve listened to in a while! If you’re into stories about serial killers and profilers, definitely give this one a shot. It’s told from multiple points of view and jumps between timelines, and is executed really well. The suspense builds slowly but it totally pays off with a great ending.

I also really enjoyed the narration

Alex North just knows how to write a good serial killer book! Solid from the beginning and it doesn't let up. The vivid descriptions and imaginative storytelling create an immersive experience. Some might find the pacing a bit slow in certain parts, but overall this is a thought-provoking read and leaves a lasting impression.

I enjoyed the multiple timelines/POVs and overall eerie feeling in this book but it was a bit too much of a slow burn for my taste.