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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Something about this didn’t quite grab me. The alternative perspectives, the imaginary conversations the main character has with his father and various other characters…it wasn’t a particularly thrilling way to learn information.
The “twist” of who committed the crimes didn’t seem well thought out- probably because of the limited number of characters introduced to us.
Just didn’t do it for me!
The “twist” of who committed the crimes didn’t seem well thought out- probably because of the limited number of characters introduced to us.
Just didn’t do it for me!
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The different perspectives were confusing at first; I had to take notes. But once I got settled into the story the flow was easier to follow. Glad it wasn’t predictable.
For my first review, I wanted to read something fresh—so I picked up The Man Made of Smoke, the latest from Alex North. I dove in immediately and was hooked from the start. The novel opens with a gut-punch of trauma, as our protagonist, Daniel Garvie, endures the aftermath of a brutal serial killer encounter. North’s writing shines here—the emotional weight, the fear, the pain—it’s visceral. You feel what Daniel feels, and it sets the tone for what promises to be a dark, psychological ride.
Daniel, a psychiatrist who works with institutionalized criminals, is a richly drawn and deeply tormented character. He’s also grappling with the death of his semi-estranged father, a former detective. North does a great job fleshing out Daniel’s interior world, and the mystery at the core of the novel keeps you turning pages. I genuinely enjoyed this book from beginning to end.
But despite its strengths, The Man Made of Smoke left me wanting more.
Where It Misses the Mark
At its core, this is a story about a psychiatrist trying to profile and catch a serial killer. There are hints of something deeper—Daniel frequently imagines ghostly visions of his father and a shadowy figure—but these supernatural or psychological elements feel underused. The moments that should have given the story its eerie edge are sparse and underdeveloped.
More frustratingly, Daniel’s expertise as a psychiatrist isn’t meaningfully explored. Instead of diving into the killer’s psyche or offering a layered analysis, the book leans heavily on a familiar detective-style investigation. Daniel's emotional arc focuses more on a strained friendship from childhood than on any meaningful growth related to his profession.
There was huge potential here to blur the lines between madness and method, reality and delusion—especially given Daniel’s background. But those threads felt mostly like set dressing.
SPOILERS BELOW
There was a twist that doesn’t earn the twist. The book heavily teases the mystery of Daniel’s father, who is declared dead early on. We jump back and forth between Daniel’s present-day investigation and excerpts from his father’s past. This could’ve been compelling—two parallel minds approaching the same killer from different angles—but in execution, their investigations felt redundant. Both seemed to uncover the same clues in the same way. The “twist” that Daniel’s father is actually alive? I guessed it by Chapter 2.
Even more frustrating was the reveal of the killer. This is my biggest pet peeve in a mystery novel. We never met the killer.
There are no real clues. No chance for the reader to play detective. It’s a classic case of “surprise, it’s a stranger!”—which, for a psychological thriller, feels like a missed opportunity. Great mysteries reward careful readers. This one withheld too much.
And then the finale…
Daniel, his father, and the killer converge in a rushed, anti-climactic confrontation that lacks tension, depth, or emotional payoff. There’s almost no dialogue, no psychological probing—just a random stroke of luck that leads to capture. Even the final prison scene offers no catharsis. The killer, who we just met, is a cipher. We get only Daniel’s internal monologue and none of the chilling insight you’d hope for in a story built around minds like his.
Final Verdict
The Man Made of Smoke is gripping and enjoyable—but ultimately frustrating. It offers a solid setup, compelling writing, and a strong lead character, but squanders its potential by playing it too safe. With a richer exploration of its psychological themes and a more satisfying mystery, this could’ve been a standout. Instead, it’s a decent thriller that left me imagining the better book it almost was.
3 out of 5 stars.
Thanks for reading—even if Nobody did.
Daniel, a psychiatrist who works with institutionalized criminals, is a richly drawn and deeply tormented character. He’s also grappling with the death of his semi-estranged father, a former detective. North does a great job fleshing out Daniel’s interior world, and the mystery at the core of the novel keeps you turning pages. I genuinely enjoyed this book from beginning to end.
But despite its strengths, The Man Made of Smoke left me wanting more.
Where It Misses the Mark
At its core, this is a story about a psychiatrist trying to profile and catch a serial killer. There are hints of something deeper—Daniel frequently imagines ghostly visions of his father and a shadowy figure—but these supernatural or psychological elements feel underused. The moments that should have given the story its eerie edge are sparse and underdeveloped.
More frustratingly, Daniel’s expertise as a psychiatrist isn’t meaningfully explored. Instead of diving into the killer’s psyche or offering a layered analysis, the book leans heavily on a familiar detective-style investigation. Daniel's emotional arc focuses more on a strained friendship from childhood than on any meaningful growth related to his profession.
There was huge potential here to blur the lines between madness and method, reality and delusion—especially given Daniel’s background. But those threads felt mostly like set dressing.
SPOILERS BELOW
There was a twist that doesn’t earn the twist. The book heavily teases the mystery of Daniel’s father, who is declared dead early on. We jump back and forth between Daniel’s present-day investigation and excerpts from his father’s past. This could’ve been compelling—two parallel minds approaching the same killer from different angles—but in execution, their investigations felt redundant. Both seemed to uncover the same clues in the same way. The “twist” that Daniel’s father is actually alive? I guessed it by Chapter 2.
Even more frustrating was the reveal of the killer. This is my biggest pet peeve in a mystery novel. We never met the killer.
There are no real clues. No chance for the reader to play detective. It’s a classic case of “surprise, it’s a stranger!”—which, for a psychological thriller, feels like a missed opportunity. Great mysteries reward careful readers. This one withheld too much.
And then the finale…
Daniel, his father, and the killer converge in a rushed, anti-climactic confrontation that lacks tension, depth, or emotional payoff. There’s almost no dialogue, no psychological probing—just a random stroke of luck that leads to capture. Even the final prison scene offers no catharsis. The killer, who we just met, is a cipher. We get only Daniel’s internal monologue and none of the chilling insight you’d hope for in a story built around minds like his.
Final Verdict
The Man Made of Smoke is gripping and enjoyable—but ultimately frustrating. It offers a solid setup, compelling writing, and a strong lead character, but squanders its potential by playing it too safe. With a richer exploration of its psychological themes and a more satisfying mystery, this could’ve been a standout. Instead, it’s a decent thriller that left me imagining the better book it almost was.
3 out of 5 stars.
Thanks for reading—even if Nobody did.
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated