The Man Made of Smoke

Dan describes the men’s restroom in the service station as a liminal space, one of those “places that [are]n’t starting points or destinations, but stopgaps a step sideways from reality, like the crossing points between worlds in a fairy-tale” (7). Why does he compare the restroom to a threshold or a boundary between worlds? How does the text use the motif of liminal spaces to build a particular atmosphere? Use examples from the novel to strengthen your answer.

Discuss the father-son bond at the heart of the novel, focusing on the similarities and differences between Dan and John. How does their bond contribute to the plot and to Dan’s drive to identify the killer and the reason for his rage?

The novel contains many instances of repetitions, mirror images, and parallels. List at least three such instances, and analyze how they contribute to the themes and symbolism of the text.

Among the most chilling aspects of the Pied Piper’s crimes is that the killer roams around the countryside in his camper van, abducting children in broad daylight. What do his actions say about the nature of evil and the indifference of contemporary society? Support your answer with examples from the text.

Discuss the use of supernatural and Gothic horror elements in the text, other than those discussed in this guide, illustrating your answer with examples. How does the novel’s use of Gothic horror elements differ from its use in other novels, such as Ruth Ware’s The It Girl, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, or Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black?

Gill, the partner of Rose Saunders, tells Dan that “someone like […] Rose was never going to be front-page news. Never anyone’s priority” (185). What do the fates of Rose, Abigail, and James say about the roles of the community and media in failing to protect vulnerable populations? What would happen if institutions paid more attention to vulnerable and marginalized people?

The media dubs the serial killer who targets children in the novel the “Pied Piper,” a moniker that sticks. Analyze the suitability of this moniker. Does it trivialize or sensationalize the killer’s crimes? In what ways is it similar or different from real-life criminal monikers like the “Black Widow” or the “Zodiac Killer”?

The novel contains allusions and references to specific fairy tales as well as to universal fairy-tale motifs. Discuss at least three such references, analyzing their contribution to the plot’s themes and atmosphere. How do these references enhance the novel’s development of characters and symbolism?