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.

This is my second book by author Alex North. Sadly this book was not for me. The book started off promising with an intense beginning but after a few chapters in, I lost interest, which the audio didn’t help.

I wasn’t a big fan of narrator Shane Zaza. The story was confusing at times on whose POV I was listening to. I tried to enjoy this one and maybe having the physical copy would have helped.

In the book The Man Made of Smoke, author Alex North writes about Dan Garvie who has been haunted by his childhood when he narrowly escaped being taken by a serial killer. He has dedicated his life to helping get justice for innocent victims and profiling criminals. When his father dies, he returns to the island he grew up on to discover answers. Has the killer from his past resurfaced? And can Dan stop him? This was a haunting story that kept my interest. I would recommend this book.

Wow! This book was a ride! It was a very interesting way to present a serial killer mystery having the main character be a prison psychologist. There were major creep factors like the whistling from the killer and the mantra that Dan kept saying to himself....I didn't expect the ending but I did appreciate it. I liked that the story was wrapped up nicely too. Definitely recommend to those who love thrillers and suspense.

Rating: 4 ⭐️
Pub Date: May 13, 2025
How I Read It: 🎧

Synopsis
Dan Garvie has never forgotten the crime he witnessed as a child. He was lucky to escape an encounter with a serial killer in a public bathroom. He’s now a criminal profiler seeking justice for innocent victims, and when his father dies under suspicious circumstances, Dan returns to his small island hometown looking to find the truth about his father’s death. Is it really possible that the serial killer from his childhood is killing again? Nobody sees, nobody cares.

My Thoughts
This is my favorite Alex North book to date! The story was creepy, suspenseful, and kept me guessing and on my toes the whole time. The book has different view points and goes back and forth between the past and present to tell the whole story. I was surprised by the ending, it was not what I was expecting! I thought the narrator was great and did a fantastic job portraying the characters to where you feel their emotions in this psychological thriller.

Themes
🫣 Suspense
🔪 Murder
Kidnapping
Multiple POVs

Ratings
Characters: 4 ⭐️
Pace: 4 ⭐️
Enjoyability: 4 ⭐️
Narrator: 4 ⭐️

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!