I've thought I'd have enjoyed this book more than I had. It might have been another instance of "it's not you, it's me" kind of book. It just wasn't as good at the time as I'd hoped, but as said, it might have just been a wrong time for me to read it.

Oh dear, I really didn't enjoy this book, despite it supposedly having many of the factors that I love in a story - mystery, mm romance, intrigue etc.

Unfortunately I found this novel a drag to read, it could have easily been cut by a third, and would have then at least been enjoyable. Far too many descriptive passages, supporting story lines and unanswered questions which distracted from the two main storylines which were interesting and could have been riveting, if they had been concentrated on and told well.

A pity as this book started with so much promise.

I was given a copy of this novel by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

In any mystery, setting is an important element to the story. The creation of Fogland Point and Old Compton and its history is right out of a "Murder She Wrote" narrative. The setting becomes a character that makes the action so very real. We know, or wish to know, that these places exist. The Hazard family and the other characters that live here are terrifically revealed to have so many secrets and revelations that one falls in love with this extended family. When FTM David returns to Old Compton to take care of his grandmother who raised him and who is suffering from dementia, he steps into a quagmire of murder. I enjoyed the many characterizations of individuals in the town. And the mystery is filled with starts and stops. Nothing more can be asked for a terrific read.

The cover and blurb for Fogland Point initially caught my eye and I’m happy I gave this novel and author a try. Fogland Point mostly focuses on a trans man who returns to his small hometown to help with his ailing grandmother. He subsequently finds himself immersed in a bit of a mystery as an odd chain of events occurs. There is a second chance romance included as well and it was sweet, but it’s definitely not the star of the book. As far as I can tell, this is the author’s first fictional work, but I’m hopeful it won’t be his last.

Fogland Point is told from one point-of-view and really only features a single main character. The secondary characters all range from highly involved to minor roles, but they were well-flushed out and quite vibrant. I was immediately drawn to David’s life and history in Little Compton and found the setting itself quite intriguing. The mystery definitely captured my attention and I loved how many twists the tale took along the way, revealing side stories I hadn’t anticipated. However, I found the pacing and style of Fogland Point a tad off-putting and, as much as I liked many of the details, after a while the random asides, brief recollections of the past, and family lore from generations ago slowed the book so much that I found myself easily distracted. And so, I was completely caught off guard with the major twists that unfolded toward the end. Suddenly I found myself reading as fast as possible to see what else would come to light and how it would all conclude. Fogland Point was certainly a departure from my norm, but not in a negative way; and though I had my ups and downs while reading this novel, I absolutely loved the ending and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good mystery.

This is not a particularly long novel, but it manages to pack a lot of enjoyment and a unique story into those pages.

David Hazard, recently terminated from a university teaching job, returns to his New England home town of Little Compton to help care for his grandmother Maggie, who is descending into dementia. The depiction of Maggie's illness and the reality of caring for her is a strength of the book.

David has lots of baggage to deal with by coming back, including an unfinished relationship with local police chief Billy Dyer. His extended family is the Laughing Sarahs, a group of older women bound by history and affection. His grandmother is one, local salvage owner Constance is one, and their friend Irene is one. The fourth member, Emma, is found dead under suspicious circumstances. David's grandmother discovered the body but nobody believed her when she reported it.

Meanwhile a millionaire and his wife show up in town and events start to pop up. Are these related to the past? Who exactly is the millionaire and who is looking for him? Decades old secrets emerge and things get more and more complicated. And David's life was complex enough already.

This is a difficult book to review because of the great possibility for spoilers. But the book has sweetness, warmth and humor and is a joy to read. This is an author to keep an eye on.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.

Little Compton is east of everything on the northeastern Atlantic coast. The rumor is that it was once part of Massachusetts but they didn't want this grey, foggy little town and gave it to Rhode Island in 1741. History here is long and convoluted, the graveyard which is located in the center of town is filled with centuries of Barrow's and Hazard's, Heckman's, Robies, Godfrey's and Dyer's. Nothing exciting ever happens in Little Compton.

This is a tale about the Laughing Sarah's - Miss Constance Heckman, Mrs. Irene Belcourt, Miss Emma Godfrey and Mrs. Maggie Hazard, all aging matriarchs of the community and the keepers of the stories. Constance is strong and focused. Irene is the sweet one, but all that sugar is mixed with a stout heart. Emma too is kind but always sad, her focus on her lost love, Teddy Johnson, missing in action since Korea. And Maggie, a pip and a half, is now often lost to the heartbreak of Alzheimers. Her grandchild, once Rosalie but now David Hazard, with his new Phd in hand, jobless when his private life hit the rumor mill at the college, comes home to take care of his Grandmother Maggie. And with the help of the Laughing Sarah's he is able to keep her in her home and still a part of the community she has always loved.

And then Emma dies. But was it an accident? Who would murder this sweet little old lady? Sure, she had "a pretty little sum in the bank", but murdered with her own skillet? And thus begins the dance of complex mystery and murder in this small, isolated community. Billy Dyer, high school boyfriend of Rosalie and current chief of police, is doing his all to stay on top of the activities of the community. The rumors of lost confederate gold have re-surfaced bringing an influx of strangers. And the roll of the newly dead just keeps on growing....

I loved the cachets of '50's history. The last pink princess rotary phone. Norman Rockwell plates and ceramic owls. Classic boats. American Bandstand. Maggie's conversations with The Hired Help and dead presidents. This was a book very hard to put down. I will watch for more from this author.

I received a free electronic copy pf this marvelous novel from Netgalley. Doug Burgess, and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

Fogland Point by Doug Burgess blew me away. Excellent writing and intriguing characters, with a quite unexpected bit of romance at the end that seemed very logical. Eager to read more of this author!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is full of unexpected twists. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters and discovering the truths hidden in their pasts. Very well written and entertaining.

How do you know that the book was good?


You read it in an incredibly short time span.

You were not able to put it down and KEPT on reading even in the impossible situation.

You found the story-line extremely entertainment, and you NEEDED to know what would happens on the next page ASAP.

You CARED about the characters like they were your own friends. You laughed with them and suffered with them.

The author suddenly amazed you with a romance story that was totally new in this form for you, even if you thought you were an expert in all kind of romance stuff.

Fogland Point is a wonderful novel that met ALL the criteria. Beautifully written, funny, thrilling and moving.

A mystery book about a family history and family secrets, about complexity of love and a very deep and strong friendship, about a greatest skill of making compromises and taking the right decisions.

Highly recommended!

Golden Girls goes New England

Superbly done. Bravo!

Bodies and Surprises keep raining in, all done with a great pen and a pinch of New England phlegm. Burgess is able to juggle all his balls and not let any drop whilst keeping me engaged there watching. He clears up all the fog bit by bit complete with dashes of humour. The fact that I read this on a busy weekend and turned to it every moment I had is enough to mark it a great read. I find that his treatment of both David and his grandmother to be delicate, loving and true. Having gone through Alzheimer first hand I tend to shy away from reading about it in my books, but this was a stumbling block which this book pushed away with it's gentle but truthful depiction.

Books like this make me appreciate my friends more. I'm glad that I listened when Lena said, come and read this, now. And yes of course I'll read more Burgess.

This was an okayish read. I have to admit this book was not what I expected it to be and that bookcover with its creepy dead hand grabbing for hold put me on the wrong track. While there were some ghosts routed to the place, they don't have a necessary role. So while expecting a horror or at least a mysterious ghost story where the dead come back it was none of that. Fogland Point isn't a bad book though. The characters are very likeable. David is a sympathetic young transman and his not-really-aunts - the three Sarahs - are hilarious. This book is a lot about buried secrets, deep friendship and that fine line between love and hate within the borders of a small coastal town. This book is also a Golden Girls meet Angela Lansbury kind of thing with some very energeting old ladies. I did enjoy Fogland Point in the end, mainly because I liked David a lot, but the story also had some length that did not work for me.