The premise pulled me in—a PI with personal baggage, a missing goldendoodle, and a suspicious death in a seemingly idyllic California town. I appreciated the social commentary woven through the narrative, and Sonny is a compelling protagonist with a clear voice.

That said, the pacing felt slow and the mystery didn’t quite grip me. I found myself putting the book down and not feeling the urge to pick it back up. While there’s strong thematic depth here, it just didn’t hold my interest enough to continue and I decided to dnf.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance copy.

I didn't realize this was a series. I'm not usually a fan of those. Hall is one of my favorite authors but this just wasn't for me. I prefer her stand-alone books.

The mystery of this book takes a little time to unfold but once it did I was hooked! I love a town with secrets especially when our main character is an outsider is responsible for uncovering them to get to the bottom of a crime. I loved our main character. She was a strong heroine and with the reveals at the end I am very interested to see where this series goes.

This is my second time trying this author and unfortunately I think her style is just not for me. I kept reading for the mystery, which was interesting enough, though even when the main mystery is solved there are a lot of loose ends hanging around for the next book. I think the author has an unusual voice but it doesn't mesh with my brain. She tends to use long and very specific metaphors, and they would pull me out of the story as I tried to parse them. I really wanted to like this because I love adding mystery writers to my roster, but this one I'll have to pass on.

Reading Fog and Fury was the first time that I have read a book by Rachel Howzell Hall, and it definitely will not be the last. Fog and Fury was a very relatable and exciting thrill ride from beginning to end. It’s about former LAPD Detective Alyson “Sonny” Rush, who is forced to leave the job she loves in the big city to become a Private Investigator in a small town called Haven. And although it is a small town, the people are no different than those she left behind.

Quite frankly, this story could have happened anywhere. The fact that it’s a small town that’s allegedly one letter away from being Heaven just makes it more intriguing. Sonny moves to Haven thinking that she will be able to start a new life with her rich boyfriend while working with her godfather Ivan as a PI. Well, everything goes to crap fairly quickly and Sonny’s first case looking for a “lost” dog turns into a search for the person who killed a star high school football player who had also recently left the big city to start a new life with his parents. This tragedy pits Sonny against all of her new neighbors, and she uncovers numerous secrets during her investigation. One of the biggest secrets has to do with her boyfriend, and that complicates things. In addition, the powers that be insist on keeping up the facade that nothing bad happens in Haven because they are looking to become the next destination city. Sonny proves to be a very smart, witty, and unwavering person, so it was easy to root for her. Her love for her mother and dedication to finding the truth was commendable.

The mystery was solid, and it took me a while to figure out whodunnit. Rachel told a great story and truly made me feel like I was right there in Haven. I am looking forward to seeing what other great characters she has created.

What can I say.. on the plus side, the fog-laden setting enhances the mystery and mood, drawing readers into Haven’s deceptive calm. Sonny’s nuance—her flaws, fights, and fierce loyalty—makes her a character readers will root for.
Despite this the first half was too gradual and the build up took a while. The conflict with race and privilege also did not paint this story in the best light. The worst part of this was the expectation of full conclusion. Most thrillers and mysteries I read have an “unfolding” in the end where all cards are revealed but this one was left with a cliffhanger as apparently there will be another book. This is very disappointing as I prefer standalone thrillers except where the stories are not connected. For this I must lower the raising to 3 stars overall. The book had a mix of great performance and then not so great.

Thanks to the author and netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters while not likable were great. I think it gives depth. Great pacing and so well-written.

FOG AND FURY – A Haven Thriller – by Rachel Howzell Hall

‘Living here three days now, and I’d only seen a leisurely pace in Haven, people ambling by with nods and smiles, unhurried by the racing doom-clock that sometimes dictated life in Los Angeles. Behind this idyllic facade, though, evil lurked.’

Marcus—My Heart!

FOG AND FURY is a pretty good slow-burn whodunit. Thriller? Not so much until the ending, which includes a reveal that shocks me more than our main character, it seems. I hope that all is revealed in Book Two.

‘This was a slow death, and if I crossed one too many times, that would be that. I’d never be me again. No more rides upon the River Styx. No more banks. No ferryman to make sure I stayed upright and navigated from one hell to the next. I wouldn’t know when he’d collect his last coin and blow up the exit. That last trip . . . that’s what I feared. When the truth of what—and who—Haven was shimmied in all her wicked glory.’

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing, for providing me with an eBook ARC at the request of an honest review.

After leaving the LAPD, Sonny Rush moves to Haven, California to take care of her ailing mother and join her grandfather's PI business. Her first case is not what she was expecting when she is enlisted to find a missing godlendoodle named Figgy. She also has a run in with her cheating ex that just happens to be one of Haven's most prominent and wealthy citizens. Sonny soon learns that Haven is not all it seems and there is something very dark and dangerous going on.

I really enjoyed this book. The plot was very fast paced. It had a good mix of personal story and mystery. The plot and mystery had so many layers and twists. I was never quite sure where it was going to go next. Sonny is a great character. She has flaws but really cares about her family and job. Rachel Howzell Hall is an excellent mystery writer. I have read a few books before this one and look forward to reading more in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

This was an unexpected read. It follows Sonny who relocates with her mother to what she thinks is a peaceful city to join her godfather PI business. She doesn't think a crime can occur in this town but things take a surprising turn and I will tell you that this book is well written and thrilling . I absolutely enjoyed this read.

Fog and Fury is a tightly plotted, atmospheric and tense thriller.
After 10 years with the LAPD, with a homicide closure rate of 85%, Sonny Rush is pushed off the force and finds herself moving to the small coastal town of Haven, "one letter away from Heaven", with her mother (showing early signs of dementia) reluctantly in tow. Sonny has taken a job at her godfather's growing PI agency, but looking for a missing goldendoodle is something of a come-down. When a local teen is found dead on a popular hiking trail, Sonny clashes with her boss, who doesn't want her working his case, as well as with many of the locals in this insular town that doesn't want the outside world (and potential investors) to know anything bad ever happens in Haven. I thought the characters were well developed and the story provided some good twists. A lot seemed to happen right at the end of the book, which basically ends with a "to be continued", which was kind of annoying. That being said, I would have read the next installment of the series without the cliffhanger as I liked the characters and thought the mystery was well done.

This one pulled me in with its atmosphere—moody, fog-drenched, and full of tension. Hall really knows how to set a scene, and the setting almost felt like a character itself. The mystery was layered and kept me guessing, though I’ll admit the pacing dipped a bit in the middle.

The main character was flawed in a way I appreciated—real, messy, and hard to pin down. Some of the side characters didn’t leave as strong an impression, but the emotional weight of the story still landed.

It’s not a fast-paced thriller, but if you like your mysteries with a slow burn and a strong sense of place, this one’s worth the read. Not perfect, but definitely memorable.

I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating, fast-paced book!
Great ending! I was excited to know there will be a sequel next year.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If Rachel Howzell-Hall writes a detective/PI novel, Ima read it. I have missed Lou Norton so much, so getting a reasonable facsimile in Sonny Rush is just gonna have to do! Now everyone cross your fingers and pray that we get more than a few books in this new series. I'm intrigued by what happens with Uncle and her (was married but now suddenly not married) beau.

This is my first read from this author and I'd have absolutely no problem picking up another of her books. The writing style is different for me but I was completely engrossed in the story and the mystery of who did what to whom. Sonny is on the edge of destruction and not necessarily of her own making and moving to idyllic H(e)aven seems like a great idea, especially since her long time boyfriend lives there. All is not as it seems in this beautiful coastal town as she soon finds out and things start to get very murky. Not all secrets and mysteries are solved but the main one that THIS story is about does get solved. But more is lurking and I look forward to the next Haven Thriller story

Rachel Howzell Hall delivers a dark, atmospheric tale in Fog and Fury that blends crime, suspense, and speculative intrigue with sharp prose and a relentless pace. The story unfolds through a fog of secrets—both literal and emotional—as the protagonist navigates a dangerous landscape filled with shifting loyalties, buried truths, and simmering tension.

The lead character is tough, flawed, and utterly compelling—exactly the kind of woman you'd want leading a story like this. Hall's writing is vivid and visceral, with dialogue that crackles and moments that linger. If anything holds this back from a perfect five stars, it's that the plot occasionally dips into overly familiar territory, and a few threads could’ve used just a bit more resolution.

Still, this is a bold, satisfying read that’s both smart and full of heart. Hall fans will not be disappointed—and newcomers will quickly see what all the buzz is about.

Fog and Fury is book one in the Haven Thriller series by Rachel Howzell Hall.
I enjoyed this book as it was fast reading and more twists than I thought possible.
An extremely well written suspense story with an intricate plot and skillfully drawn characters. It’s a real page turner with twists and turns that seem to spin out of control. The ending was just amazing.
I can’t wait to read book two Mist and Malice.

Fog and Fury is the first novel I have read by Rachel Howzell Hall and it will not be my last.
This is the start of a new series about a small town called Haven where newcomer, Sonny Rush, has moved to with her mother to escape Los Angeles and the bad memories that are there. She is no longer a police officer but has become a private investigator in this town alongside her dad's old partner, Ivan. Her first case is to find a missing dog, but this town that is shrouded in fog is also shrouded in mystery and Sonny finds herself tangled in a web of deceit and many dark secrets.
Sonny is a strong character in a town full of people with things to hide. The main story I had pretty much figured out who really was behind everything, but this did not take away from my enjoyment of the story.
The book did end with a cliff hanger and there was quite a few things that needed resolution and clarification that will keep me looking out for the next book to see where life in Haven takes Sonny and her mother.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Set in the idyllic small (fictional) town of Haven, the sleepy coastal town nestled in the fog, Sonny moves from Los Angeles to join her godfather in the PI business. This will be cake compared to the ten years she spent as an LAPD officer.

Sonny first case- find Figgy, a missing Goldendoodle! As she begins to investigate and meet her new neighbors, Sonny is set on a collision course with her ex and a dead teen!

Can Sonny solve both the cases before Haven’s secrets destroy her?

This is book 1 in the Haven thriller series and it certainly leaves you hanging. This was a slow burn but Im definitely interested in seeing where the series goes in the future.

The setting is a character in itself, the characters are divided between like and loathe and you will have unanswered questions in the end but hopefully you will enjoy the twists and turns (unlike the drive on the winding roads!).

I love a fierce FMC who is relatable and a thought provoking read. If you can get through the conflicts and politics of a small town, I think you’ll enjoy this thriller. You’ll have to read and decide for yourself!

Thank you to author, Rachel Howzell Hall, Publisher Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Good read with a strong lead character and some solid small-town drama. A little slow at times and some twists were easy to spot, but I still enjoyed the story and the vibe.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy!