book cover of The Man Made of Smoke
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The Man Made of Smoke

(2025)
A novel by

 
 
"So well written and neatly plotted that it will appeal even to readers who usually shy away from this sort of thing." ―New York Times

The latest gripping serial killer thriller from the
New York Times bestselling author Alex North.

Dan Garvie’s life has been haunted by the crime he witnessed as a child—narrowly escaping an encounter with a notorious serial killer. He has dedicated his life since to becoming a criminal profiler, eager to seek justice for innocent victims. So when his father passes away under suspicious circumstances, Dan revisits his small island community, determined to uncover the truth about his death. Is it possible that the monster he remembers from his childhood nightmares has returned after all these years?

With his signature shock and suspense, Alex North brings us
The Man Made of Smoke. In turn emotional, introspective, and utterly terrifying, this is a story of fathers and sons, shadows and secrets, and the fight we all face to escape the trauma of the past.


Genre: Horror

Praise for this book

"Creepy, compelling and so fiendishly tricky, I couldn't put it down. Another surefire winner from the king of haunting!" - Natalie Chandler

"Balancing his trademark hint of the supernatural with very real fears, this is a book full of regret and grief, but most of all heart. I loved Dan - I was swept up in his story, riding the wave of his uncertainty and worry." - Sam Holland

"Alex North has done it again. He has managed to craft a serial killer thriller with strange beauty, big heart and seemingly effortless elegance. The Man Made of Smoke was in equal parts terrifying, creepy, thrilling and moving - a book you want everyone else to read immediately because it's so damned good. Alex is simply master of the sub-genre." - Marnie Riches

"A haunting, atmospheric story about the long shadow evil casts on all it touches. Truly a white-knuckle read from start to finish." - Tracy Sierra

"Alex North mixes the emotional with the thrilling so expertly. Just a mind-blowingly tense and brilliant read." - Louise Swanson

"It is a rare talent to be able to write a compulsive thriller with such heart. The Man Made of Smoke is a rare gem that is both terrifying and heart wrenching, bittersweet and hopeful, nightmarish and deeply, deeply human. Written with skill and intelligence, and told with empathy and nuance, this is a novel that's not to be missed. I loved every word." - Rebecca Thorne

"I tore through this gritty tale of guilt, grief and the ghosts that haunt us. The twists are exceptionally well executed, the emotional through line compelling, and the mercurial baddie is genuinely unsettling. With this book, Alex North dares to peer into the darkest corners of the human psyche, and the results are eerie and moving in equal measure. If you loved The Whisper Man, you'll love this, too. Nightmares guaranteed!" - Josh Winning

"Creepy and atmospheric from the first page, The Man Made Of Smoke is as well-written as it is tense. There were whole pages where I held my breath. It tugs on the heart strings too. Love it." - Rachel Wolf


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