Title: THE MAN MADE OF SMOKE
Author: Alex North
ISBN: 9781405945295
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Pages: 400
Source: Private Copy
Neil Garvie can’t move on from a thing he didn’t do, back when he was twelve. He saw the boy. He knew he needed help. But all he could do was hide.
Now with a successful career as a criminal psychiatrist, Neil pours himself into his work, understanding the very darkest of human behaviour. Because, despite what he saw that day, Neil knows there’s no such thing as a monster.
But now he’s got a call. His father, John, a retired police officer, has disappeared, last seen approaching a high cliff, known locally as a suicide spot. Neil can’t believe he didn’t see the signs.
It’s just, the more he looks, the more it seems like there weren’t any signs. In fact, John seemed to be conducting some kind of off-the-books investigation into the mysterious murder of an unidentified woman.
Why didn’t John go to his former colleagues? What did he uncover? Did it drive him to take his own life, or did it drive him into the hands of a killer?
But the most important questions of all are the ones that Neil doesn’t know to ask. How does this modern-day murder connect back to what happened that day when he was twelve? And, this time, when he comes face to face with the darkest killer he’s ever faced, will he have the courage to step out of the shadows and save the people he loves?
Official Summary
13 November 2025
Since reading The Whisper Man, I have tried to get my hands on all of Alex North’s books. He has a rare talent for blending psychological depth with chilling suspense, and The Man Made of Smoke is another haunting, beautifully crafted thriller that lingers long after you finish. This is not just a crime novel — it’s a deeply emotional exploration of guilt, memory, and the monsters we carry within ourselves.
The story follows Neil Garvie, a criminal psychiatrist whose life is shaped by a childhood trauma — something he didn’t do when he was twelve, something that has shadowed him ever since. Now, years later, Neil is forced to confront his past when his father, John, a retired police officer, disappears near a notorious cliff known for suicides. But as Neil digs deeper, it becomes clear that his father’s disappearance isn’t as straightforward as it seems. John had been secretly investigating the murder of an unidentified woman — a case that somehow ties back to the darkness Neil witnessed as a boy.
From the first chapter, North pulls you in with his atmospheric writing style and unsettling tone. The world he builds feels steeped in fog and secrets — both literal and emotional. The sense of unease never quite lets up, and as the threads of the story start to weave together, the tension is almost unbearable.
What I especially love about North’s writing is how human it is. His characters are flawed, vulnerable, and painfully real. Neil, in particular, is a compelling protagonist — a man trained to understand the human mind but unable to escape the shadows of his own. The relationship between him and his father adds a heartbreaking layer to the story, turning this dark thriller into something profoundly moving.
And, as always with Alex North, the twists come when you least expect them. They’re not just for shock value — they’re carefully built and emotionally resonant, making you rethink everything you thought you knew.
The Man Made of Smoke is a slow burn, rich in atmosphere and character, but by the final pages, it grips like a true psychological masterpiece. It’s a story about fear and redemption, about the damage of silence, and about facing the monsters we’ve tried all our lives to deny. Another great read from Alex North, which I cannot recommend highly enough.
Also by Alex North
THE HALF BURNT HOUSE
Katie always looked after her beloved younger brother Chris – until she left him alone for one selfish afternoon, and their picture-perfect family fell apart. Although Chris survived the attack, the scars ran deeper than the ones left across his face. Now they’re adults, and they haven’t spoken in years. Then she gets a call from Detective Laurence Page.
Page is facing an unusually disturbing crime scene. Alan Hobbes, a distinguished and wealthy philosophy professor, has been brutally murdered. Hobbes was living in a sprawling mansion – but one that remains half-ruined by a decades-old fire, wind and rain howling through the gaping, creaking roof.
Page only has one suspect: Chris, caught on CCTV at the house. But he has plenty of questions. What could cause a man as wealthy as Hobbes not to repair his home? Why did he seem to know his death was coming, yet do nothing to stop it? And why was he obsessed with a legendary local serial killer?
But Katie only has one thing on her mind. She knows this is her last, best chance to finally save her brother and make up for her negligence all those years ago.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
My first novel as Alex North, The Whisper Man, was a Sunday Times, New York Times and international bestseller. It has been translated into over 30 languages and is currently being adapted for film. It was followed by The Shadow Friend. My most recent thriller is The Half Burnt House.
Before writing as Alex North, I studied Philosophy at the University of Leeds, worked there in the Department of Sociology and Social Policy for several years, and published ten award-winning crime novels under a different name. I currently live in Leeds with my wife and son.
Thank you for visiting the blog to read my review. Alex North may not be for everyone, but I love his work. If you haven’t read any of his books before, I highly recommend adding some to your TBR, and remember to let me know what you think. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
