Very different from other crime novels or novels in general for that matter. Exciting, thrilling, sad and original it takes you on a wonderous journey, dragging you by the heels through its tale.

Another exceptional thriller from North, centered around a serial killer known as the Pied Piper, who abducted and murdered young boys several years ago. The story follows a man who had a brief encounter with the killer and a potential victim during his youth. In the present day, it seems that someone is seeking revenge against those believed to have failed in their duty to prevent one particular tragedy. North continues to solidify his reputation as one of the finest in this genre, delivering a story with well-developed characters, strong writing, and a plot twist that genuinely surprises. This suspenseful narrative explores themes of guilt, revenge, and missed opportunities. From start to finish, I was thoroughly captivated

“The Man Made of Smoke” by Michael Joseph is the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page. It’s unsettling in the best way—blurring the lines between reality and nightmare, pulling you into a world that feels just familiar enough to be truly terrifying.

Joseph has a knack for building tension, creating a story that’s not just about fear, but also about memory, loss, and the things we try to forget. The antagonist is more than just a villain; he’s an ever-present force that seeps into the edges of the story, making the suspense almost unbearable at times. But what really makes this book stand out is how much heart it has. Amid the creeping dread, there are moments of deep emotion and character insight that make the whole experience feel meaningful, not just thrilling.

If you love books that mess with your head and keep you glued to the pages, this one is definitely worth picking up. Just be warned—you might find yourself double-checking the shadows after reading it.

The Whisper Man is one of my favourite thrillers so to be approved this arc made my week! Our main character is a criminal profiler who, as a child, had a close encounter with a serial killer known as the Pied Piper. It weighed heavy on him that he couldn’t intervene as a child and save the Pied Pipers last victim, so he was quick to leave the island and dedicate his life to seeking justice for crime victims. When his Dad dies, he has to return to the island and soon realises he died under suspicious circumstances. He quickly picks up a trail his father left him, and sees an old, too familiar pattern. Echoes of the past are suddenly breathing down his neck - ‘Nobody sees, and Nobody cares’. Just like The Whisper Man, this book had some heart in mouth moments, and put a heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was really eerie in places, and sad in others. I enjoyed the MC’s perspective. He was measured, and possessed lots of self control. He had logical thought processes and insights that I enjoyed being privy to. I felt he was competent and there wasn’t a moment I was frustrated with his decision making or choices. I also really liked that the formula for showing the order of events was a back and forth timeline which immediately gave you answers to the present as the next chapter went straight back to the past. Usually a thriller will make you wait until the end to see what happened in the past timeline. I found this style really effective as I was enjoying the sense that these two paths were echoing each other and so close behind each other that they’d eventually join. It kept me completely engaged despite the medium-slow burn, but the TENSION in the last 25%!! 😱 Added a whole star to my rating, my heart was literally pounding in my chest! Crime isn’t normally my kind of genre, and on paper I’d avoid the topic of child abduction/killer like the plague but this author is just an auto buy for me … even if he does make me cry for a fake serial killers fake victims! 😅

3.5 rounded up to 4. I've read Alex North's previous books and I enjoyed them more than this one. I found this book a bit over complicated and I thought the main characters were a bit too introspective. However, it's still a clever plot and Mr North knows how to write a whodunit with twists. It's another good read.

The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North has a byline of 'You never forget the day you meet a serial killer' and this couldn't be any more true than in this chilling and atmospheric thriller.

Dan Garvie was just a teenager returning from a family holiday when at a motorway service station he chanced upon a young boy obviously in distress asking for his help. Dan knew something wasn't right, was scared to his core and wasn't sure what to do and when a fearsome adult seemingly accompanying the child made his ominous presence felt, Dan decided it was easier, and safer to hide, rather than take the risk to help. It was only afterwards when it became clear that he had narrowly avoided an elusive serial killer, known as the Pied Piper that Dan's family realised how close he had come to a violent tragedy and nobody could blame Dan for acting in self-interest. However, when the Pied Piper went on to take more victims, Dan came to blame himself for being too scared to intervene.

Driven by this feeling of guilt, Dan has forged a successful career as a criminal psychiatrist, dealing with the more abhorrent examples of human behaviour, to try and determine why people might act in the most despicable ways. If he can understand this, perhaps he can stop it from happening again in the future and shed some of the guilt he has carried for so long.

When Dan is informed of the passing of his father in dubious circumstances he returns to his childhood home, a remote island community, to put his fathers estate in order and also hopefully to make sense of his passing and answer some of the questions he has about his fathers demise. When he learns that shortly before his death that his father found the incinerated body of an unknown female, Dan begins to piece together clues that lead him to suspect that his father's death may be suspicious and might actually be linked to the childhood events that formed such a part of his adolescence and defined him as an adult.

Suspenseful, and to be honest a little bit terrifying in its depiction of the worst that humanity has to offer The Man Made of Smoke, which is how the Pied Piper is described as being completely anonymous and unremarkable with his ability to move unseen around his victims before he strikes, is as inventive and absorbing a thriller that you will read. It's delicious in its creepiness almost to the point of becoming a horror story, but only because the tension is wrung out with every page turn, and every plot twist is unforeseen and unpredictable.

This is the third novel of North's that I've read and it really feels like he is growing his storytelling skills with every book release. Previous books were easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐ reads, but this has developed into an easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ cracker.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

I was absolutely over the moon to receive an ARC copy of The Man Made Of Smoke by Alex North through Netgalley.

I've read all of Alex North's books The Whisper Man being my favourite so far. This book did not disappoint though.

Found the story to be fast paced, the flashbacks adding extra layers to the story and the whole thing just kept you gripped and guessing until the final chapters.

Excellent book, would highly recommend. Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book

This was amazing from start to finish!!! I had high expectations from the author and boy, did they deliver. Its well written with such a natural, easy writing style that before you know it, you've lost hrs of your day. The premise was interesting and there is so much tension built over and over again. The characters come alive, the setting is so perfectly created that it's like being there with the characters. There are sub plots cleverly woven through the main plot and it all just combines perfectly to make the story really come alive. And as for the twists and turns.... just when you think you know.... nope! And you have to rething everything. So creepy, so eerie, so captivating. I loved it

One of my favorite books of 2023 was *The Whisper Man* by Alex North. I fell in love with his writing style—his ability to seamlessly blend reality with paranormal themes is second to none. He was one of the authors who got me back into reading. So, you can imagine how ecstatic I was to be approved to read his latest novel, *The Man Made of Smoke*, thanks to NetGalley (and as always, all views are my own).

This book follows the gripping story of our main character’s quest to track down a killer, as a crime they witnessed resurfaces in haunting ways. From the very first page, the prologue hooked me and set the tone for an incredibly tense, dark, and suspenseful read. It’s everything you could hope for in a thriller—gripping, emotive, and full of surprises.

I particularly enjoyed the twists; just when I thought I had everything figured out, Alex North threw in a curveball that left me stunned. His writing has a way of making you feel as though someone’s watching you with every page turn. It's chilling and masterful.

The characters, especially the father and son, were incredibly well-written, and I found myself deeply invested in their journey. While I wish the ending had a bit more to it—it felt like it wrapped up a little too quickly—I truly appreciated how everything came together.

Although *The Whisper Man* will always hold a special place in my heart, *The Man Made of Smoke* is a very close second. Another stellar effort from Alex North—well done!

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

The Man Made Of Smoke is an well crafted, expertly written thriller which I very much enjoyed-I don't think the words nobody sees and nobody cares will ever leave me!

With twists and turns aplenty this book will not disappoint if you are a fan of this particular genre.

5 stars from me!

Rounding up to 3 ⭐️

When I saw this book I was really excited, I had really enjoyed The Whisper Man so was keen to start this.

The opening chapter was SO good and the ending actually was pretty decent.

Sadly for me the rest of the book and maybe I will be in the minority here but was a bit meh .. there was a lot of repetition between Daniel and his dad’s POV. Whilst I understand why it just got a bit much.

I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and if im honest the whole middle of the book, nothing was really happening, just a lot of retracing steps constantly.

Again this is my persona opinion and should be taken as just thst, you may love it and I hope you do.

I absolutely will still be reading more from this author, this one just didn’t grab me like I hoped. ❤️

I’m slightly on the fence with this book. Having read and enjoyed previous novels by this author, I was eager to read this and the first part had me hooked. However I found the pace soon dropped off and it didn’t grip me as much as I expected. I did enjoy the creep atmosphere though so would rate it 3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and the author for the chance to review.

Unfortunately not for me as a reader. I could not connect with the story and writing style. Others may enjoy it.

Alex North, known for his psychological thrillers, takes readers on a dark and atmospheric journey in The Man Made of Smoke. This novel blends elements of suspense, mystery, and psychological depth, making it an engaging read for fans of complex narratives and eerie atmospheres.

The story revolves around the disappearance of a young boy, and a central figure, Frank, who is deeply entangled in the haunting mystery. Frank has a personal connection to the case and is forced to confront the secrets of his past, which are inextricably linked to the chilling events unfolding in the present. North masterfully builds tension by weaving a sense of dread throughout the narrative. As the plot unravels, the reader is drawn deeper into a world where nothing is quite as it seems.

North's writing is impeccable, with vivid descriptions that create an unsettling mood. The themes of memory, guilt, and the fragility of the human mind are explored in depth. The pacing is steady, keeping readers on edge, though there are moments where the plot feels a bit slower, especially as the story delves into its more introspective elements.

One of the standout aspects of The Man Made of Smoke is its exploration of the psychological states of its characters. Frank's internal struggles are depicted in a raw and authentic manner, drawing readers into his mind as he grapples with the mystery and his own demons. The characterization is rich, and North excels at portraying complex, morally ambiguous characters.

While the novel’s dark and brooding tone might not appeal to everyone, those who enjoy psychological thrillers that are more focused on atmosphere and character development rather than pure action will find The Man Made of Smoke to be a compelling read. The ending, while satisfying, leaves a lingering sense of unease, keeping readers thinking long after they’ve finished the book.

Overall, The Man Made of Smoke is a haunting, atmospheric psychological thriller that showcases Alex North's skill in creating tension and exploring the human psyche. Fans of his previous works will appreciate the twists and depth, while newcomers may find themselves captivated by the eerie mystery and emotional complexity.

I don’t really have a strong opinion on this one, it was just okay. The first quarter was gripping but the pacing changed and ended up too much of a slow burn for me. The plot in itself was dark and interesting, and not like anything I’ve read before, but I still prefer the author’s previous work, The Whisper Man.

Thank you to @netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my thoughts!

Thank you Net Galley and the publishers of The Man Made of Smoke for the early access approval.

Where to begin….

The cover caught my eye straight away, I’ve also read Alex’s previous novel and I was eager to read this.

What a fantastic book from Alex once again. I loved the pace of the book, the background of each character and also the overall plot was amazing.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I wish Alex every success for publication day. Thank you so much

Now, this was a strange one to review for me. Why? Because even though I didn’t like dislike it, I can’t say I particularly liked it either.

The first 25% had me gripped, I loved the lingering sense of unease and creepiness, it kept me captivated BUT by the halfway point I found the dual POV's starting to grate on me, purely because I felt their was too much repetition of fact. Yes, I know it was from different perspectives, but it basically covered the same details.

I love this author, so I definitely think this one’s on me. I’ve narrowed it down to the simple fact that I didn’t like the main character, Dan! His constant talking to himself and the voices (subconscious) he hears got annoying quite early on. Is he meant to come across as mentally unstable, a little crazy or is he just one of those characters that annoys the hell out of me? 😅

I’m not sure why, but I was maybe expecting more. More what, I’m not sure, but this one just didn’t have the same effect on me that past books by this author have.

For the plot, the creepiness it left flowing through my veins, I give 3⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the ARC

Dan Garvies father has passed away. the events of his death are suspicious and Dan now a criminal psychiatrist,wonders if his death is linked to an experience he had as a child.

This is a dark and creepy read and it is also brilliantly written.

I was scared and quite spooked but it is also a little heartfelt and I absolutely loved it.

Not many authors are able to write such a novel and keep the reader so involved.

It's fabulous

This was a very quick read. It drew me in immediately and I flew through the first quarter. The atmosphere was creepy and rubbed me the wrong way, in the right way.
I loved the development of the relationship between John and Daniel. I liked the over arching plot. I devoured the final quarter.

But it lost me a bit in the middle. The plot progressed steadily, but the John/Daniel narratives sometimes felt a bit repetitive. John's narratives were repetitive in the self-worth, self-criticism aspect. Dan's narratives sometimes covered elements that John's either already had or would go on to explain.
I just found myself skipping over some of Dan's internal I-hear-possible-dead-people conversations and John's pity parties.

But as an overall, I thought it was a good read.

Alex North excels at creepy books, he really does.
This one though, it hits differently.
I felt uncomfortable for a lot of it (in an Im-enjoying-this way) and a sense of dread too.
But also it brought out a few other emotions, for that boy, that father/son relationship.
There were a few surprises along the way , and the plot was paced so well.
It was really rather good.
Since the Whisper man, North has been an autobuy author for me, but he seems to be getting better and better.