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thepaigeturner 's review for:
The Man Made of Smoke
by Alex North
⭐⭐⭐ – It started off strong with a gripping premise: a young boy witnesses a serial killer and his victim in a gas station bathroom during a road trip. That scene hooked me immediately. But as the story went on, the momentum faded, and the ending left me unsatisfied and a bit confused.
Dan Garvie has never forgotten the night he froze in fear as a kid, watching something terrible happen. Now he’s a criminal psychiatrist, and after his father’s sudden death, he returns to the island where he grew up. It isn’t long before he realizes the past isn’t as buried as he thought.
What I really enjoyed was the glimpse into Dan’s career as a criminal profiler. The world of criminal psychology is fascinating (think Mindhunter), and I wish the book had explored that side more—there’s definitely potential there for a sequel. I also liked the way the story jumped between different time frames and perspectives; it kept things interesting and added depth to the narrative.
I was left wondering what the story was really trying to solve. The character development didn’t dig deep enough for me to feel truly shocked by the ending—I didn’t see it coming, but I also didn’t get that “OMG!” moment. The ending felt rushed and a bit unsatisfying. Plus, the relationship between Dan and Sarah came across as pretty bland and underdeveloped.
If you’re looking for a genuinely scary read, this isn’t it—I never felt the kind of fear I got from books like The Whisper Man. It played out more like an episode of Criminal Minds—fine for cable TV, but not truly chilling. Overall, it was a decent read, but I think the story could use some tightening and deeper character work.
Dan Garvie has never forgotten the night he froze in fear as a kid, watching something terrible happen. Now he’s a criminal psychiatrist, and after his father’s sudden death, he returns to the island where he grew up. It isn’t long before he realizes the past isn’t as buried as he thought.
What I really enjoyed was the glimpse into Dan’s career as a criminal profiler. The world of criminal psychology is fascinating (think Mindhunter), and I wish the book had explored that side more—there’s definitely potential there for a sequel. I also liked the way the story jumped between different time frames and perspectives; it kept things interesting and added depth to the narrative.
I was left wondering what the story was really trying to solve. The character development didn’t dig deep enough for me to feel truly shocked by the ending—I didn’t see it coming, but I also didn’t get that “OMG!” moment. The ending felt rushed and a bit unsatisfying. Plus, the relationship between Dan and Sarah came across as pretty bland and underdeveloped.
If you’re looking for a genuinely scary read, this isn’t it—I never felt the kind of fear I got from books like The Whisper Man. It played out more like an episode of Criminal Minds—fine for cable TV, but not truly chilling. Overall, it was a decent read, but I think the story could use some tightening and deeper character work.