What a creepy and disturbing read

Tense and atmospheric, its a slow burn at first but gradually chokes you in its hold.

It is a serial killer thriller but there are lots of emotions in this and although some of the timelines can be confusing, it whips you along with it.

The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North is a psychological thriller that keeps you on edge with its complex narrative and dark atmosphere. After finishing it, I can confidently say that, on the whole, I did enjoy it, but there were some moments that left me feeling more confused than captivated.

North’s writing weaves a story across multiple timelines and through the minds of several characters, which at times was a bit overwhelming. The shifting perspectives and the voices in Daniel’s head certainly added a layer of complexity, making it harder to piece everything together immediately. While the twists and turns eventually started to make sense, there were moments when the structure felt more convoluted than necessary, leaving me scrambling to keep track of who was who and when events were taking place.

One of the aspects I was hoping for was the classic ‘a-ha’ moment where everything clicks into place—where the identity of the killer or the central mystery is revealed in a way that feels both surprising and satisfying. Unfortunately, this book didn’t quite deliver that. The resolution didn’t have the big, dramatic reveal I was anticipating, which left the conclusion feeling a bit anticlimactic. That said, the overall journey wasn’t unenjoyable. The writing was atmospheric and the slow unraveling of the plot kept me intrigued enough to continue reading, even if the final payoff wasn't as impactful as I'd hoped.

In conclusion, while The Man Made of Smoke had its confusing moments, particularly with its structure and the mental turmoil of the protagonist, I still found it a worthwhile read. If you enjoy complex psychological thrillers that play with timelines and mental states, this book is certainly worth picking up, even if it doesn’t offer that “perfect” thriller ending. It’s a solid, albeit sometimes perplexing, experience.

I was sent this as an Arc reader from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I honestly don’t know how I feel about this book. I found it quite confusing and hard to follow. It just felt very complicated and unrealistic. I was really excited for this but unfortunately it wasn’t a winner for me :(

I have just spent three absolutely terrifying days with Daniel. Daniel witnessed a traumatic event as a child, and, although as an adult he has tried to remain 'detached and calm ' about the event, returning to his home town as an adult after his father goes missing brings back the haunting of his past. What happened to Daniel as a child? Where is his father? Can the wrongs of the past ever be made right?...Read it! (With the lights on, after you have checked that all your doors and windows are locked!!!)

Alex North has once again proved his title as master of suspenseful thrillers, and if he isn't, then he should be.

Dan had a close encounter with a serial killer when he was a teenager. He saw a boy with him, but he hid and hoped he would be left alone. And he was. And for years, he worked with the fact that he was seen as a coward, and so he did what he could as he grew up, and that was to become a criminal psychiatrist to understand their thinking. Years later, he is called home when it is reported that his father has killed himself. Faced with a place he doesn't want to be, and learning about a man he doesn't know. However, learning that his father had found the body of a woman on one of his morning walks triggers something. And it may just pull him back towards a presence that has always haunted him.

A wonderfully twisted story that shakes everything you think you know. A must-read.

I am a huge fan of Alex North (The Whisper Man was one of my top 5 thrillers the year I read it), and he certainly did NOT disappoint with this book!

It sucked me in right from the start. It is a twisty, thrilling story that follows Dan, who was almost a victim of a serial killer when he was little. Now, as an adult, he revisits his encounter to find out who the serial killer and stop him once and for all

A must read!!

Thank you so much to Alex North, the publisher and NetGalley for this arc 🥰

I am a little unsure of Alex North as an author - on the one hand I absolutely loved The Whisper Man, but did not enjoy The Shadows or The Angel Maker, which left me wondering how I’d find his latest novel – The Man Made of Smoke.

When Dan’s father goes missing, he leaves his life as a criminal psychologist behind to explore what might have happened in his old hometown. However, when clues begin to emerge that link to an old case which Dan helped to solve as a child, it becomes clear that things may not be as straight forward as they appear.

I was gripped with The Man Made of Smoke from the outset – the beginning chapter, which describes Dan’s childhood memory of meeting a man and the boy he has abducted is chilling and creepy. I enjoyed the interesting narrative aspect of Dan conjuring his father and even the suspect at times and speaking to them to try and solve the case. This is unusual for a crime thriller and did keep me engaged – although this was perhaps due to the lack of action which would have gripped me in other ways. I can see that this narration style is divisive for some readers, and it does mean you have to suspend disbelief and just go along with what is presented without real evidence.

The narrative is split between the perspectives of Dan, his father John in the past and young boy James. Although the pace slows in the middle, the ending is fast past and climactic. However, I would say I found the ending disappointing - although there are plenty of clues to establish links throughout, the end reveal comes from nowhere, throwing a character that we hadn’t even been properly introduced to into the spotlight. This kind of twist only really works if these types of characters have been integrated into the wider plot, which creates a reveal which is truly shocking. This felt like a twist, but only because there was really no way that a reader could have guessed it ahead of time. I was left with a lot of questions and potential plot holes which were left unanswered.

Overall, The Man Made of Smoke is step in the right direction back to highs of The Whisper Man for Alex North, but the almost paranormal twist may alienate some readers and the ending was disappointing. Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House – Michael Joseph for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely brilliant book that sucked me in from the start about a child that sees something he has no power to change despite being haunted throughout life the history..
Beautifully written in the present and past culminating in a satisfying ending.
The scene was set with typical island isolation and the characters were brought to life in a realistic way,
Chilling and addictive, I will definitely read more from this author!

"Nobody sees. Nobody cares." The words seem innocuous, until you realise they are being said by a child killer, as he leads a young boy through a motorway services. Then, they take on a sinister meaning, and that sets the tone for this intense psychological thriller.
If you've read the blurb you'll know that when the protagonist, Daniel Garvie, was a child he had an encounter with the serial killer known as the Pied Piper. Adult Daniel, now a psychologist, finds himself caught up in an unofficial investigation begun by his father John, a retired police officer.

The story is told across multiple timelines, from multiple POV's. While it starts off slow, rest assured the pace soon picks up, and from that point on, it's edge-of-your-seat reading. There's a sense of menace throughout, but there's a poignancy too.

Anyone familiar with my reviews will know that I like my books dark and disturbing. This one ticked those boxes perfectly. I'm now going to have to circle back and read Alex North's back catalogue.

Thanks to Michael Joseph Books and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

This is a story of murder and evil, but it is definitely different. A serial killer with a history of devastation.
The dreadful details of his actions and plans are shocking but based on a long term plan of a type of revenge.
I found the time line difficult to follow at times but it is important to know the sequence of events.
The second half of the story is gripping as the reader is desperate to learn the answers and the island location feels remote and unwelcoming., adding to the atmosphere.

The plot follows the search for a serial killer by a man who narrowly avoided become a victim of the killer when he was a boy.

Alex North produces a number of well rounded characters, Dan Garvie on whom the story revolves, being particularly well developed.

The first two thirds of the novel seems to follow a fairly well trodden path of driven antagonist following a series of clues towards a suspect. Then the book starts to get a little spooky. Was the supernatural element needed? I think it was as otherwise this novel could have needed an additional volume. Did it work? Overall I would say it did. I would have liked a little more explanation but the author is good enough to get away with it.

I spent much of the novel trying to work out in which country it was set. I decided in the end it was the UK, mainly due to the use of the word "motorway". Substitute the highway in there an this could have been set on the east coast of north America,

A solid 4 out of 5 for me and I will be looking for Alex North novels in future.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

Alex North is one of my favourite writers- The Whisper Man was outstanding.
If you’re looking for a bog standard thriller then this is not for you. It is a complicated , twisting and engaging read.
The start of the book is a bit slow but the storyline needs that as it is a complicated story. From the middle onwards the pace picks up and it is hard to put the book down. especially with the really good twists at the end.
The main character is Daniel Garvie who is now a successful psychiatrist who returns to the island where he grew up after receiving a phone call from the police about his father John, a retired policeman.
The storyline moves from an incident in the past to the present involving the disappearance of young boys and one in particular that Daniel encountered in a service station who he is too frightened to help.
Daniel uncovers other more recent deaths connected to his father’s disappearance and tries to solve the mystery of the past and the present.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this excellent thriller in return for a fair review

This is one scary book to read. I felt a distinct sense of discomfort from the beginning.

Lots of empathy for Dan and John Garvie in the efforts to cope with an earlier traumatic experience when Dan was much younger.

The plot evolved steadily as the main characters evoked their very own but distinctive coping mechanisms.

The other emotion I felt was a deep sense of sadness. No-one escaped unscathed from the many threads in the plot.

The author has created an intense, provocative novel that insisted I turn the pages faster to find out who was behind everything and why.

Alex North is an excellent writer and manages to walk that knife edge of crime fiction and supernatural thriller with ease. He’s particularly brilliant when it comes to ramping up tension and using your imagination to ‘fill in the blanks’.

Ultimately though, with THE MAN MADE OF SMOKE, I wanted to love this book more than I actually did. True to Norths style the beginning of the book is absolutely terrifying. But as the book progresses I felt like the momentum and fear factor kind of cooled off and went into a slow burn.

I found the internal dialogue that David lent into throughout the book allowed for a lot more leaps of faith to become truths. Most of his investigation’ was marred by his own interpretation and analysis as opposed to pure factual evidence.

Overall I enjoyed the book but not as much as his others.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A child in life threatening danger. Do you help? Can you help? As a child himself, Dan Garvie makes his decision and runs. A decision that shapes his future and allows a serial killer to continue his harrowing work. Nobody sees, nobody cares.

The dark imprint left on Dan leads him to become a criminal psychiatrist as an adult. Moving on from that fateful day as best he can, away from his childhood home, Dan finally feels he has left his past behind him - until his Dad, John disappears.

Returning home, Dan pieces together his Dads last known movements. Links to a dead body, links to a missing boy, links to that dark terrifying day. Facing his childhood horrors, can Dan stay strong enough to find his Dad and finally solve the mystery of the past?

My first Alex North read and what a cracker of a book this was ! Jaw dropping beginning followed by a slow burn, then everything comes together. I found myself with my hand over my mouth at times, holding my breath as the story progressed. Dan’s method to enable him to carry on in his search was powerful and brilliantly written. The strength of a bond between child and parent, despite a turbulent past is abundantly clear.

Fantastic writing taking you to a dark place where humans do the unthinkable. I wish the slow burn wasn’t there after such a fast start but it was well worth it. If you like a thriller, I highly recommend this one. Released 8th May 2025, available to pre-order. Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph Penguin Random House UK for the ARC.

This book wasn’t bad but it didn’t blow me away. It has a dark, dreary atmosphere and none of the characters are likeable.

The story is quite dark and touches on a number of societal issues, but none are really explored in any depth. There are quite a lot of convenient coincidences throughout the book and about half way through the story, the main character seems to make an assumption that we, as readers, don’t understand how he reached - I found it odd.

This was an enjoyable read, but the story just felt so totally far fetched and grasping at straws.

Absolutely Chilling!
A fantastic plot, brilliantly written with fantastic characters, thrilling yet devastating and without doubt, a web of despair and lifelong horror that un weaves with each new page.
Five Stars from me.

This book was a mixture of thriller and horror and i dont usually read horrors, but i'm so glad i did. What a rollercoaster of emotions!!
The story kicks off nicely enough with a young boy named Dan, his best friend ( a girl he is starting to have feelings for) and his mum and dad on a holiday. They pull in at a service station where the boy encounters another young boy of similar age in the toilets, bedraggled and filthy with a terrified look on his face, his eyes pleading for help. He is waiting outside a toilet and it becomes clear that whoever is inside is the reason the young boy is terrified. Dan hears a haunting whistling coming from the toilet and as the lock clicks back and the door opens, Dan rushes inside his cubicle, lifts his feet off the ground and sits terrified, shaking, unable to help the poor boy escape the clutches of the man he later learns is the "Pied Piper", who kidnapped and murdered young boys. The young boy leaves behind a photograph that Dan picks up after he's left, and looks at it. After his brain registers what he is seeing he lets out a haunting scream.......................and is never the same again.
the story follows years later as Dan and his father, John, a retired policeman, navigate life after the day that changed their lives. Dan has moved away and John now lives alone on the Island since his wife disappeared, looking through cold cases and walking in the Woods to pass the time. One day John stumbles upon the remains of a woman burned to death and dumped in the woods. Pretty soon more bodies start appearing and then John disappears and Dan is called back to the Island he'd hoped never to return to. As the bodies pile up, it becomes clear that whoever is responsible is sending a message..... you will pay for doing nothing to help that day at the service station. And Dan is next on the list..
Absolutely brilliant read. Haunting, terrifying but with an emotional touch. Loved it, want rewind time so i can go back and read it again for the first time. An absolute must read!!!!!!!!!

This is an excellent read.

Tense and atmospheric, genuinely addictive and often quite creepy, it's an easy one sitting read if you have the time.

It is a serial killer thriller but with tons of heart, some really engaging characters and an isolated feel that adds so much.

Overall excellent. High recommend.

Free courtesy of Netgalley. I have never read a book by Alex North, but I really enjoyed it. I like to read before bed, on my kindle, with the lights off and this wasn't a good idea as any little noise scared me as the book puts you on edge.

The Garvey's stopped for a break at the services on their way home from the Zoo. When Dan the teenager of the family nips to the toilet, he encounters a child, just stood outside a cubicle waiting for someone who was inside whistling but he felt that the child was in danger. He wanted to help the young boy but the whistling stopped and he panicked and hid in a cubicle. The child follows the man out of the cubicle but leaves Dan a photo as he exits. What Dan comes to realise is that he had encountered the serial killer known as the pied piper.

Years later Dan is now a psychologist who works within the prison system. He gets a phone call to say that his dad has committed suicide but they cannot find the body yet. Dan rushes back to the island where his dad lives but all is not as it seems, is the disappearance linked to the pied piper, who was found dead years earlier.

The book looks at the difficult relationship between Dan and his father, after his experience with the pied piper and how the killings have affected people who were involved in the case.

I would recommend this book, the storytelling was amazing