Alex North has established himself as a master of psychological thrillers with his previous works The Whisper Man, The Shadows, and The Angel Maker. In his latest novel, The Man Made of Smoke, North delves even deeper into the psychological trauma that haunts us from childhood, crafting a narrative that is both emotionally resonant and deeply unsettling. The book expertly balances suspense with poignant explorations of father-son relationships, making it perhaps his most accomplished work to date.
The Shadow of the Past
At its core, The Man Made of Smoke follows Daniel Garvie, a criminal psychologist who works with incarcerated killers. When his father apparently commits suicide, Daniel returns to the island community where he grew up—a place he’s spent his adult life avoiding. The narrative unfolds between the present day and flashbacks to a formative moment in Daniel’s childhood: an encounter with a serial killer known as the Pied Piper at a roadside rest area.
North’s talent for creating atmosphere is on full display from the opening pages. The island setting feels both claustrophobic and exposed—a liminal space where the past refuses to stay buried. The community itself is insular and suspicious, much like the one in The Whisper Man, but with an added layer of isolation that heightens the tension throughout.
“Nobody sees. And nobody cares.”
This haunting refrain echoes throughout the novel, serving as both a description of society’s apathy and a disturbing mantra that connects past and present. It’s a testament to North’s skill that such a simple phrase carries increasing weight as the story progresses.
A Masterclass in Character Development
Daniel Garvie is possibly North’s most complex protagonist yet. His professional mantra of remaining “detached” and “calm” serves as both his greatest strength in his work and his greatest weakness in his personal life. As readers, we experience his gradual unraveling as he confronts not only the mystery of his father’s death but also the unresolved trauma of his childhood.
North excels at portraying the complicated relationship between Daniel and his father John. Their dynamic feels authentic in its messiness—full of unspoken words, missed opportunities, and the quiet love that persists beneath layers of mutual disappointment. As the story unfolds, the parallels between father and son become increasingly apparent, each harboring guilt about their shared past from different perspectives.
The supporting characters are equally well-crafted. Sarah, Daniel’s childhood friend, provides both emotional grounding and a connection to his past. Fleming, the local police officer with a history of bullying Daniel, embodies the island’s refusal to let anyone truly escape their history. Even the patients Daniel treats in the prison are rendered with empathy despite their horrific crimes, reflecting North’s nuanced understanding that, as Daniel repeatedly states, “there’s no such thing as monsters.”
A Layered Mystery That Defies Expectations
What sets The Man Made of Smoke apart from standard thriller fare is its refusal to follow predictable patterns. The central mystery begins as an investigation into John Garvie’s apparent suicide but expands into something far more complex and disturbing. North deftly weaves together multiple timelines and perspectives, creating a tapestry of interconnected trauma where the lines between victim and perpetrator blur.
The plotting is meticulously crafted, with revelations that feel both surprising and inevitable. North plants clues from the earliest chapters that only make sense in retrospect, rewarding attentive readers without ever feeling manipulative. The investigation unfolds gradually, with each discovery raising new questions about the nature of the crimes and the identity of the perpetrator.
Shortcomings Among the Strengths
Despite its considerable strengths, The Man Made of Smoke occasionally stumbles in its pacing. The middle section, particularly as Daniel investigates connections between victims, contains repetitive scenes that could have been streamlined. Some readers might find the psychological exploration occasionally slows the momentum of the mystery.
Additionally, while North’s prose is consistently strong, there are moments when the themes are stated too explicitly through dialogue or internal monologue. The novel’s meditation on guilt and responsibility occasionally crosses into territory that feels didactic rather than organic to the story.
The reveal of the antagonist’s identity, while psychologically sound, may strike some readers as following too closely in the footsteps of North’s previous work. Those familiar with his earlier novels might anticipate certain twists before they arrive.
Psychological Depth Beyond the Genre
Where The Man Made of Smoke truly excels is in its psychological insight. North demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of trauma, exploring how childhood experiences shape us and how the coping mechanisms we develop can both protect and harm us. Daniel’s journey from emotional suppression to confrontation with his past feels authentic and earned.
The novel’s exploration of guilt is particularly nuanced. Each character carries their own burden of responsibility—for actions taken and not taken, for words spoken and unspoken. North suggests that while we cannot erase our past failures, we might find redemption in facing them honestly.
The father-son relationship at the heart of the book provides its emotional core. Both Daniel and John struggle with expressing their feelings, each believing they’ve failed the other in fundamental ways. Their parallel journeys toward understanding and forgiveness give the novel a depth that transcends its thriller components.
A Distinctive Voice in the Genre
Alex North’s writing style continues to distinguish him from other thriller authors. His prose balances literary quality with page-turning suspense, creating moments of genuine emotion amidst the tension. Descriptions of the island landscape are particularly evocative, with the natural world often reflecting the characters’ psychological states.
The structure of the novel—divided into five parts named after the stages of grief—provides an elegant framework for the emotional journey. North handles multiple timelines with confidence, creating a narrative that feels cohesive despite its complexity.
Fans of North’s previous works will recognize his thematic preoccupations:
- The lingering impact of childhood trauma
- The blurry line between monsters and men
- The ways communities can both protect and destroy their members
- The power of facing our deepest fears
However, The Man Made of Smoke feels like a culmination of these themes rather than a repetition.
How It Compares to North’s Previous Works
While The Whisper Man remains North’s most commercially successful novel, The Man Made of Smoke represents a maturation of his storytelling abilities. It lacks some of the supernatural elements that characterized The Shadows, focusing instead on the very real horrors of human psychology.
The novel shares DNA with works by Tana French, particularly in its exploration of how place shapes identity, and Stephen King’s character-driven horrors. Readers who enjoy Jane Harper’s atmospheric mysteries or Michael Robotham’s psychological depth will find much to appreciate here.
Final Verdict: A Haunting Journey Worth Taking
The Man Made of Smoke is a powerful addition to Alex North’s growing body of work. It succeeds as both a gripping thriller and a moving exploration of how we carry—and potentially overcome—the traumas of our past. While it occasionally loses momentum in its middle section, the emotional payoff of its conclusion more than compensates.
Strengths:
- Richly developed characters with complex relationships
- Multiple timelines that enhance rather than complicate the narrative
- Psychological depth that elevates the thriller elements
- A satisfying conclusion that balances justice with redemption
Weaknesses:
- Occasional pacing issues in the middle section
- Some thematic elements that feel overstated
- Plot points that may feel familiar to readers of North’s previous works
For readers seeking a thriller that offers more than surface-level suspense, The Man Made of Smoke delivers a haunting experience that lingers long after the final page. It’s a reminder that the most terrifying monsters aren’t supernatural beings but the shadows we carry within us—and that facing those shadows is the only way to truly escape them.
This review of “The Man Made of Smoke” by Alex North reflects my personal analysis after reading the complete novel. If you enjoyed North’s previous works or appreciate psychological thrillers with emotional depth, this book deserves a place on your reading list.
