The Man Made of Smoke

"Nobody sees. Nobody cares." The words seem innocuous, until you realise they are being said by a child killer, as he leads a young boy through a motorway services. Then, they take on a sinister meaning, and that sets the tone for this intense psychological thriller.

If you've read the blurb you'll know that when the protagonist, Daniel Garvie, was a child he had an encounter with the serial killer known as the Pied Piper. Adult Daniel, now a psychologist, finds himself caught up in an unofficial investigation begun by his father John, a retired police officer.

The story is told across multiple timelines, from multiple POV's. While it starts off slow, rest assured the pace soon picks up, and from that point on, it's edge-of-your-seat reading. There's a sense of menace throughout, but there's a poignancy too.

Anyone familiar with my reviews will know that I like my books dark and disturbing. This one ticked those boxes perfectly. I'm now going to have to circle back and read Alex North's back catalogue.

Thanks to Michael Joseph Books and Netgalley for the digital ARC.