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?

This book contains mentions of the death of a child.

It’s a known fact that thrillers are pulse-pounding stories meant to keep you guessing at each twist and turn. However, a truly special thriller is one that feels incredibly propulsive, while also being eerie and haunting at the same time. The Man Made of Smoke is one of those special thrillers. Alex North takes a suspense-filled story to the next level with atmospheric writing and truly terrifying moments.

Many years after escaping a close encounter with a serial killer, Dan Garvie has dedicated his life to helping people through his work as a criminal profiler. He’s moved on from his experience as a child and has decided to focus on the future…until he learns that his father has died under mysterious circumstances. Upon his father’s death, he returns to the small town that he left behind long ago. As Dan tries to uncover the truth about his father’s death, questions begin to arise, and Dan wonders if the monster he faced in his youth has returned.

There’s nothing quite like an Alex North novel, but I would say The Man Made of Smoke has to be his best one yet. This is more than a story about a returned serial killer—it’s a story that tackles the complexity of trauma and the tenuous relationship between a father and son. Equally thought-provoking and chilling, The Man Made of Smoke will have you on the edge of your seat until the final page.