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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5⭐
This book was entertaining and held my attention but there were more than a few things that bothered me:
- the sheer number of times that the author uses the words 'then' or 'and then.' I get it, things happened chronologically, you don't need to repeat it
- The twist was really underwhelming and came out of nowhere with no breadcrumbs that make you go back and think "ohhhh that's what that meant"
- repetitive dialogue and thoughts : "Detached. Calm." Tell us again about how there's a chain of murders, I think I forgot. Please stop talking to your imaginary friends if all you're going to do is repeat what you just thought to yourself 🤦♀️
- I was expecting it to spook me at least a little but I was disappointed by how little spookiness there was. I think it got drowned out by all the talk of trauma and strained relationships. It's fine to include that in a thriller but this just didn't hit the spooky thriller threshold for me
dark
reflective
tense
slow-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
Solid if grisly and not that creative. Lacked a sense of place.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the first of Alex North's books that I read physically instead of via audio and I think that did it a disservice. He's a great writer and his plots are intriguing but they are slower than I typically like my thrillers to be. So I had a hard time getting into this.
The reveal that Dan's dad was alive and that the current killer wasn't one of the Man Made of Smoke's victims but that child's father who blamed all those people for not saving James was surprising.
I do wish we got more of an explanation for why the original killer was so able to move about so unnoticed and if it was because of something about him or the lack of attention in society.
Basically it was a good enough book but took me far longer to get through than it probably should have considering how short it was.
Oh, a quote I liked: "A conversation without a focus has the potential to find one."
The reveal that Dan's dad was alive and that the current killer wasn't one of the Man Made of Smoke's victims but that child's father who blamed all those people for not saving James was surprising.
I do wish we got more of an explanation for why the original killer was so able to move about so unnoticed and if it was because of something about him or the lack of attention in society.
Basically it was a good enough book but took me far longer to get through than it probably should have considering how short it was.
Oh, a quote I liked: "A conversation without a focus has the potential to find one."
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Good read, darker than the others.
dark
mysterious
sad
Very moody, very crime
This book really draws you into the ambiance, and it is deeply unpleasant, gray, and morose. It reminds me of that gray British island in Department Q.
I liked where the author chose to describe, but mostly leave out, the violence so that your brain can fill in the gaps, but also because killing children is awful.
Thechain of victims felt a little hokey to me.
Sarah was there because why??
This book really draws you into the ambiance, and it is deeply unpleasant, gray, and morose. It reminds me of that gray British island in Department Q.
I liked where the author chose to describe, but mostly leave out, the violence so that your brain can fill in the gaps, but also because killing children is awful.
The
Sarah was there because why??
dark
mysterious
slow-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:
N/A
The Man Made of Smoke is the third Alex North novel I have read. It is the first one that I did not like. I thought the pacing was slow and found myself going days without picking it up. I did not like the flashbacks with the different POV’s. Every time I was getting interested in Dan’s story, the next chapter would be from his father or the young boy. I also never really connected with the characters or the story. I thought Dan was kind of boring and robotic and I understand the reasoning why he was written that way, but it doesn’t make him an interesting character. I thought the ending was a little lackluster. While I didn’t guess who the killer was, I was disappointed by the big reveal. It made sense but didn’t wow me. I would say give it a try, my mother really liked it. But don’t hesitate to DNF if you want.
Stars: 2.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice: 0
Eyeroll: 1 🙄
Genre: Thriller
Series: No
Format: Hardcover
Narrator: NA
Narrator Rating: NA
Cliffhanger: No
Stars: 2.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice: 0
Eyeroll: 1 🙄
Genre: Thriller
Series: No
Format: Hardcover
Narrator: NA
Narrator Rating: NA
Cliffhanger: No
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated