Fire season in Southern California is something I know a lot about yet I felt this story was just okay.

Jack Beckham has a writers-in-residence program that Bailey Meadows gets into. He is trying to find a new way to amp up his stories and get him on the best sellers list again. However, she is just pretending to be a writer and is actually looking for a woman named Sam, founder of the nonprofit The Way Home.

Once you got past the beginning stages there are twists that keep you into it. The ending did justice to the book.

Bailey Meadows, masquerading as an author, teams up with thriller writer Jack Beckham at his secluded canyon estate to search for her missing friend, Sam. Jack aims to broaden his audience with Bailey's help, but their collaboration becomes complicated by eerie occurrences and limited communication with the outside world. As Bailey delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers unsettling secrets lurking within the estate. Rachel Howzell Hall's "What Fire Brings" masterfully blends suspense with social commentary, delivering a gripping tale of intrigue and character development that will keep readers hooked until the very end.

Another good one by Rachel! In this Topanga Canyon setting, a private eye poses as a writer to solve a missing person case. Lots of surprises that you won't see coming. Great characters.

Eventually, I enjoyed this story and the writing style, even with the slow burn beginning. TBH, it was hard to get into. But I don't like to DNF books, then, there were twists I didn't expect and I stayed. Bailey as a character was definitely an amateur investigator and I found that part fun and messy. If anything, I wasn't big on the ending. There needed to be a little more because it was too smooth.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Thomas & Mercer publishing for the ARC of What Fire Brings by Rachel Howzell Hall in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to read this book because I thought it would be more about the nature of the canyon and the danger therein from fires and predators, with a PI investigating the space around the canyon for their missing friend. Instead, for some reason, we are immediately introduced to Bailey as she has conned her way into a writer-in-residence role to investigate the author owner who may have been involved in a quest for the truth.

DNF at 45% through because I honestly had no idea what was happening. I didn't understand why the writer-in-residence role was necessary to look for a missing person (and how the people checking her in at the kick-off event did not have her on the list? and how there was no sort of verification of any of the writer awards/background she gave them?), and what kind of investigator sets up this sort of long con and doesn't actually read the books of the man she's investigating? And then sometimes the plot switches between the Beckham books and the present and maybe the story Bailey is now planning to write with Beckham even though she is not a writer? Some of the descriptions were just so strange as well - how does someone smell like vitamins? Checked out the last 10% to see what the resolution was and still could not reasonably make the description match the plot or the information given in the first half of the book in any sort of fulfilling way.

This is maybe 3.25 stars. There were parts that were incredibly good and other parts that were incredibly confusing. I felt like I was dropped in the middle of the story and it was so disjointed (which I think was the tone/sense the author was going for). But it was a bit too much. As a result, I had a really hard time getting into the story and it took me forever to read.

I love Howzell’s characters, descriptions, and ideas. I just wish they were organized a bit more. I really wanted to just relax into this book but I couldn’t ever get there. I had to constantly stop to review what I had read or what was happening with certain characters, even through the very end of the book. And some pieces of the story were left completely unexplained/unresolved (that felt like pretty important plot points).

I wanted to like the book, I loved some of the book. And I won't give up on Howzell as an author. But this is one I can't really recommend.

This was my second book by author Rachel Howzell Hall, and wow, I have to say I'm a fan!
The story is told through Bailey's point of view, as she starts her undercover investigation. Bailey is aware of the potential danger all around her, which really lends the story feelings of anxiety and urgency. Bailey is motivated, but also realistic and she knows that if Jack had something to do with Sam's disappearance, then Bailey has walked into a very dangerous situation. She's also quite isolated; cell reception is spotty at best, the wifi is constantly not working, and Jack's estate is secluded. It's easy to imagine feeling paranoid, and Hall translates these feelings so well. I found myself constantly urging Bailey to just leave!

I really appreciated the writing style in this story. Hall writes with an immediacy that really brings the pages to life. There are several moments where Bailey doesn't know what's going on, things are happening in a terrifying blur, and as the reader you're caught up in the middle of it. It's chaotic and stressful and fantastic. It really kept me racing through the pages, desperate to see what was happening and how it would all resolve.

The additional threat of wildfire added its own special terror to the story. I'm from Idaho, and I've seen wildfires and the devastation they bring. I've gazed at fire from a much safer distance than Bailey and felt absolute fear. The characters reassure her, "it's always fire season here" so don't worry until it's time to worry, but I'm with Bailey. Get me as far away as possible!

The first half of the book was a bit of a slow burn for me (no pun intended), as the elements of the story are put into place and we get a real feel for the characters and the general situation. But once the action starts it keeps up at a dizzying pace and the pages flew by. I also had to just stop and marvel at all the little pieces that had been set up during the story. They all came crashing together in a stunning reveal that had me truly impressed.

Bailey Meadows is an aspiring private investigator, and she’s now posing as an “emerging” writer, accepted into a program where she’s paired with famous thriller writer Jack Beckham at his estate. The Beckham residence, located in secluded and dense Topanga Canyon, was where the missing person Bailey is searching for was believed to be last seen. Over the years, other women have also gone missing near the residence, and Bailey tries to find the connection, and the threats are mounting, both from inside the residence and from an approaching wildfire. What Fire Brings has an unusual narrative as the plot unfolds with seemingly random bits and pieces of information, journal entries and police reports interspersed with the story. As the book progresses you’ll understand why, but as you’re reading, this scattered style was jarring and confusing, and really took away my interest as I was trying to decipher the ramblings. Although I’ve enjoyed this author’s prior books, and once the plot comes together it finally all made sense, I had to fight my way there, and that diminished my enjoyment of this book. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Topanga Canyon, California, this thriller follows PI-in-training Bailey as she goes undercover as a writer-in-residence for a famous male author who she suspects had a part in the disappearance of a friend of a friend. One could make a joke about writers and impostor syndrome here- except Bailey is an actual impostor. Her missing person's case is entirely speculative and leaves Bailey feeling very confused- much like I was reading this. Different mediums (journal entries, book entries, newspaper articles) muddled the story and the timeline. The story line and pacing was erratic and all over the place- slow to start, and then unpredictable like the wildfires spreading across Topanga (metaphor, anyone?). There were lots of twists and turns and I appreciate the work and thought that went into this book- as well as the underlying themes- but it was just OK for me. This might appeal more to fans of investigative thrillers or those who enjoy unreliable narrators.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy. This books gets a 3.5 ⭐️ rating from me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Top quality thriller whose main character (a burgeoning private investigator) goes "undercover" in an attempt to find her best friend (who went missing when SHE went looking for a missing family member.

Very well-written, captivating mystery, makes for an enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this book. The main character obtains a writing position with a famous author. The authors first wife i missing his next wife and child are also missing or are they. The storyline is easy to follow, 3 stars

I really struggled with this one and kept wanting to give up on it. I pushed through so I could give feedback but I think what put me off most was my distaste for the main character. Some of the plot points felt convoluted and felt like it was all over the place.

An undercover writer with ulterior motives in a secluded mountain setting… sounds like an amazing premise! Unfortunately, it just didn’t do it for me, and I found myself skimming so much. I had a hard time concentrating or connecting with the FMC. Her narrative was choppy and all over the place, which is maybe how her mind works. Some of this made more sense as the book went on, but this was the epitome of a slow burn. If you can struggle through the first 2/3 of the book and try to understand the narration, the last 1/3 is a roller coaster of twists!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Bailey Meadows has taken the uncommon step of pretending to be an author in order to search for her missing friend. Armed with credentials and social media history, she is able to work with thriller author Jack Beckham in his remote canyon estate. Jack is clear, he wants Bailey to help him reach a more diverse audience and get him back on the best seller list. He seems charming and open and his staff are helpful but don't seem to respect boundaries.

Bailey is a fledgling investigator and is hoping to find Sam, her missing friend who actually investigates missing persons. She didn't realize how intermittent internet and phone access would be. As she prepares to work with Jack she sees shadows and actual people on the estate. She has a lot of trouble contacting Avery, her lifeline outside and her support to become a detective.

More and more she is wondering what she is doing there. As the walls close in, you won't be able to stop turning the pages. Howzell Hall has done it again - a thrilling novel that includes layers of social commentary. I loved it, and so will you!
#thomas&mercer #whatfirebrings #rachelhowzellhall

What a book! I thought this was going to be similar to Hall's crime series and, well, it's not! Imagine picking up a book and reading about a third of the book, then turning the book on it's side and reading it from that angle, then turning it and reading it upside for a white, then turn it back correctly to finish it out. THAT'S how I felt reading What Fire Brings. It wasn't that I was lost, I was just reading it tilted, right? And then, just when I had it all figured out and it made sense I read the last page! What the hell was that about!? I don't know, I just don't know. Is this a review or me just rambling. It's review of a book that totally confused me and yet I absolutely loved it all at the same time.
Yes! I recommend it. Yes! I loved it. Yes, there all kinds of political points to be made but why not!? Some of us are beyond sick of boring mysteries that just follow an outline with the names and places change. So, YES, this was great!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this DRC.
Dectective-in-training/writer-in-residence Bailey Meadows has come to Topanga Canyon to help thriller author Jack Beckham write his next book. With missing women and wildfires, no one is who they say they are in this twisty thriller.
I loved the fractured insanity of it! Living in Baily’s head felt so real. I always knew she was hiding something and guessing what she and Jack and the security guard and the cook were all really up to kept me thoroughly engrossed.
#WhatFireBrings #NetGalley

I recently read a short story by Rachel Howzell Hall and really enjoyed the sense of humor in addition to the thrill. This is the first full novel I've read and was hoping for that same sense of humor to shine through. While it didn't, I still did enjoy this book. At times it was a little confusing and hard to follow, but overall a solid thriller read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Bailey has just moved to the remove Topanga Canyon, as a writer-in-residence, learning from Jack Beckham, a best selling author. However, she's not really there as a writer, she is there to find a missing person, last seen near Jack's property. Bailey begins to learn the dangers of the canyon each day and she must race to unravel the truth before she is the next woman lost in the forest. 
I had mixed feelings about this one, as it was very slow to start. But as the story reached the last 25/30%, it seemed to really take off and there were some wild moments there. While I remain divided on this one, the author has become an auto-read for me and I look forward to more by her. 3.5*Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this gifted review copy.

I had a hard time getting into this one, I found myself never wanting to pick it up and being bored, unfortunately I had to DNF this one.

Novel Concept: 5/5
Execution of Novel Concept: 4/5

Title: 5/5
Characterization: 4/5
Dialogue: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Theme: 3/5
Prose: 4/5

Does this pass the Bechdel Test: Yes

My biggest compliment goes to the amount of time and cleverness spent on planting information so that the final act of the book feels intense and interesting and most of all, entirely possible. I think there could be debates about how realistic it is, but a quick google search backs up the most unbelievable parts so at least for me, I bought into it. I especially bought into it because it's well planted.

There wasn't any information that felt like it was coming out of left field when I sat down and thought about the book. I think Kadence and Finley were the hardest for me to buy into, even though all the information is there. I didn't feel like my intelligence was disrespected nor did I feel like Hall tried to shock me for the sake of it. I just...I don't know.

It might have to do with the fact that we just don't get a lot of information about them in relation to the final act of the novel. I wished we could have gotten some more information about them because it just didn't feel believable for me in consideration to the bag guy and their motives.

Margo on the other hand? I LOVED her. I was suspect of her since the beginning and her character and the choices made--fantastic. She was everything I could have hoped for and more.

I'll be honest: I didn't like the ending. It feels like there's a chapter missing. It feels too calm of an ending given all the lore we learn about Bailey. It just didn't feel right to me--not in the slightest. Given the ending of this book, it posits a very important question about an unaccounted for character and honestly, I wanted to know what happened to him? What did the bad guy to do him?

Part of the set up also irks me the wrong way because there's a break in world logic. Avery's email doesn't make sense by the end of the novel. It tells Bailey that she's looking for someone, but given the ending it doesn't make sense for that email to be phrased like that.

There's also some cloak and dagger stuff that feels a little frustrating, but nothing so egregious I feel the need to go into detail because I never truly felt blindsided. At most I would ask, "okay, but if she knows x why is she acting like this?"

But where this book is at it's weakest is the theme. It didn't really feel like the book was saying something, and I think part of that has to do with the strangely calm ending and the lack of depth given to Kadence and Finely at the end. I think this book had potential to really talk about trauma and psychological damage and the way our brains work against us in order to protect us, but it trips right at the finish line. The thriller is still good. I still had a good time, I just don't think the theme quite hit its mark.

This was a great read, and I feel like I was respected as an intelligent reader. My biggest gripe with thrillers are these rugslip twists, these red herring gotcha shock value nonsense because some writers favor "unpredictability" over an enjoyable read. and that is NOT what's happening in this book, and by that alone I can overlook some of the weaker points.