Alex North is truly one of my top favorite thriller authors. The Man Made of Smoke is another fantastic thriller by him that only proves him to be a master of the genre.
This was a dark, psychological thriller that dealt with the power of guilt, revenge, and justice, as well as with family relationships. I enjoyed Dan’s thoughts throughout the story that he used to try to profile the killer and figure out what happened with his father. The twists were fantastic and I did not guess who the murderer was - an automatic win for me in any thriller. I fell into Dan’s thinking easily - he was very well-written. The character development was great, the cast of characters intertwined wonderfully without being too complex, and the overall plot was dark and twisty and just great. I devoured the last 50% of this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for letting me have an e-ARC of this!

Alex North hits a home run in this dark, creepy thriller about a serial killer and the man who had a brief encounter with him as a boy. But it’s also a story about guilt, the relationship of a father and son, and ultimately forgiveness granted to the child you once were.

Beware that once you start this novel you will not be able to put it down. So grab a drink and a snack and settle in with one of the best thrillers I’ve read in quite some time.

Another home run from Alex North. The Man Made of Smoke is a story of trauma and regrets. It’s about boys and their fathers and those grown up boys and their fathers. It’s about belonging and being seen. It’s also about hiding from everything you fear. And while all of these themes are prevalent, none of them override the absolute thrill ride the story takes you on.

I Really do enjoy his books! The best thing about the book to me is they live on a island, Dan Garvie goes home because his father still lives there and John is told he is missing/Dead. He has either fell or jumped to his death. John learns a lot about his past and how it may be connected to his Dad's death or something in the past. It's suspenseful and hopeful at the same time. We want to learn what happened and what might happen with him and a old friend who is married to the sheriff. Is he going to help at all? So many questions and ideas come about. Great book. Thank you for letting me read early/first NetGalley!

The Man Made of Smoke is a dark, suspenseful thriller about a serial killer seeking justice.
Dan Garvie was just a child when he came face-to-face with a serial killer and one of his victims. That unsuspecting run-in would shape Dan's future, his father's future, and that of many others. The past intertwines with present day as Dan returns to the small island he grew up on when he hears news of his father's suspected suicide. The timeline goes back and forth between Dan and John Garvie (Dan's father and a retired police officer), which was a little disorientating at first. The pacing and character development was very well-done. While there are a lot of books related to serial killers, this one does have a unique plot, and I was not expecting who the murderer turns out to be.
A good creepy tale of vengeance, guilt, and past trauma. Recommend!

The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North is an enthralling exploration of grief, memory, and the shadows of the past. Blending psychological depth with chilling suspense, the novel follows Dan Garvie as he navigates the eerie secrets of his childhood island. North masterfully layers twists and revelations, keeping readers gripped until the final page. This is a haunting tale about facing the monsters—both real and imagined—that shape our lives.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing an eARC of The Man Made of Smoke in exchange for my honest review.

“Nobody sees,” the man says. “And nobody cares.”
An absolute masterclass of how to write a serial killer novel.
Dark, atmospheric, tence, white knuckle read from start to finish.
Alex North is a master of his craft and his books are all masterpieces, and with this new novel he has delivered once again.
I can see this book topping the best sellers chart as soon as it is published on 8 May 2025.
Welcome a new serial killer, The Pied Piper, who even after his death his far reaching impact is still being felt throughout the island and keeping his story alive by the book The Man Made of Smoke by Terrence O’Hare, billed as the definitive account of the Pied Piper killer and the children he took away.
Daniel Garvie comes back to the island when his father goes missing from a suspected suicide and on his return all the past collides with his new life, forcing his hand into an investigation of his own, especially when new murders are taking place.
I don’t want to say something that will give any of the plots or twists away, the book blurb has all the information you need so I won’t say anything else about the storyline and characters, just believe me when I say, this is a must read and that you will definitely want to pre order this book now so you can jump straight into reading it as soon as it is published.
The Man Made of Smoke will be published on the 8 May 2025 and is available to preorder now.
This is definitely high up on my list of top 10 best books I’ve read this year it’s that good!

Dan Garvie has spent his entire life haunted by an encounter when he was a young boy, narrowly escaping a serial killer but not helping the young boy who was a victim at that time. Present day, he has become a criminal profiler, trying to make up for that day as a child.
Similarly, his father, a retired police officer, has passed away under suspicious circumstances that point to the direction of the same serial killer returning with a vengeance.
Dan returns home to investigate his father's death and face the traumas of his past.

**A perfect dark thriller that kept me up at night, but definitely note some triggers in this book that could be upsetting for some.

Alex North is one of my favorites, and it’s yet another great thriller from him. I adore a good serial killer vibe, and Dan is one of my most recent favorite characters to follow along through all of his trauma. Couldn’t put this one down.

Ok, this book was a “clear your schedule” type book for me…from the first few pages I was hooked. It was so creepy, but also so smartly written. Throw in some father son drama, and some unresolved childhood relationships, and it was just perfect.
Dan Garvie experienced a traumatic event in his childhood, and he can’t wait to get off of the island he grew up on.
Now a criminal profiler, he is called back to his home when his father dies. But nothing is as it seems, and sometimes your past comes back to haunt you.

A really great read. I enjoyed the storyline as well as all of the characters. I thought that the premise was engaging, and the book kept me intrigued throughout.