Small town secrets, betrayals, lies, infidelities, abuse, and racism weave through a complex mystery with multiple subplots and memorable characters. Gripping and addictive ... you may figure out some of it, but not all. Some closure at then end, with a tease to be continued.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer books for this ARC for review. This is the first book in a thriller/detective series and I’m into it! I have not read any books by this author before and this was a good one to start off with. Sonny Rush just moved to Haven, California after 10years on the job with the LAPD. She is now a PI and it should an easier gig than what she was doing in LA, but before she knows it, she’s run into her wealthy ex in town, found a teenage dead body and things are getting more complicated and mixed up by the minute!! I will definitely be continuing with this series as I enjoyed reading about the mishaps of Sonny and the interesting town of Haven.

This was a strong start to the Haven Thriller series, it had that elmeent that I was looking for and was engaged with what was going on. The characters had that feel that I wanted and enjoyed how they were used in this story. Rachel Howzell Hall wrote this perfectly and was glad everything worked well overall.

This is the beginning of a new series and honestly I'm here for it! Alyson has made a bad impression and someone out there is not a fan of all her questions..so she starts getting threatening messages. So many questions left unanswered regarding the killers identity.

Fog and Fury by new to me author R. Howzell Hall is the first book in the new Haven Thriller Series.
An unptdownable pageturner that had me in suspense from start till the last page. 4.5 stars.
Blurb: She’s a new PI in a beautiful seaside town. It’s dirtier than it looks—and more dangerous too.
After ten years on the force, LAPD cop Sonny Rush relocates with her elderly mother to peaceful Haven, California, to join her godfather’s burgeoning PI business. What crimes could possibly happen in a town nicknamed “Mayberry by the Sea”? Sonny’s first case: find Figgy, a missing goldendoodle last seen sporting a Versace collar. At least scouting out a dognapper gives Sonny a chance to get to know her new neighbors.
Forty-eight hours in town and Figgy’s disappearance entangles Sonny in an unwelcome reunion with her ex, one of Haven’s wealthiest citizens. And when the body of a teenage boy is found along a popular hiking trail, Sonny is drawn into a web of strange beyond anything she ever saw in LA.
Then comes a local’s warning: question everything. Haven hides secrets that could destroy its idyllic facade. Or destroy Sonny first.

When I saw that this new book by Rachel Howzell Hall was the start of a series I was very intrigued. She's been writing great standalones but I was excited by the possibility of a new series. Book one does not disappoint. Sonny Rush, former LAPD and new PI, arrives in a seemingly perfect small town called Haven ready to start a new chapter in her life. Her godfather's PI business gives her a chance to regain her confidence her own investigative skills. However, her first case is to find a rich family's missing dog, which she finds underwhelming. Nonetheless she asks about the dog around town, hoping to meet her new neighbors. What she doesn't expect is the twisted secrets that lie underneath the town's facade. When a local teenager is found dead on a nearby walking trail Sonny can't help but ask questions. Why is the local paper not reporting about the death? Was the death a homicide or suicide? She so0n finds out that Haven is hiding dangerous secrets and perhaps dangerous people. I love Rachel's books and this one ends on a cliffhanger, setting up book 2. Sonny is a memorable, complicated character who hooks the reader from the first chapter. I can't wait for the next one. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

If intrigue and fearlessness are your thing, look no further!
A former LAPD Homicide detective finds herself in an interwoven whose-done-it, with so many well thought out plots that leave you hanging! I loved the daring, sassy, and headstrong MC; and the townspeople with their own dark stories unfold just enough to wonder but not enough to ruin future books in this series.

The main story line, a murdered 17 yr old POC that everyone wants to sweep under the rug, is relatable and moderately easily to figure out half way through the book. But the writing style and characters still keep you hooked. In a town that is not what it seems to be, who will come out on top?

Definitely a 3.75 or 4/5 star book. I really enjoyed this ARC from Howzell Hall, and Thomas & Mercer Publishing!

Sonny Rush has left the LAPD to work for her godfather as a private investigator. She has moved to the small town of Haven. She is dumbstruck to discover that someone she happens to know very very well lives there. That fact, however, is not a pleasant surprise. Neither is her first case. Finding a missing dog. Is this what Sonny’s life has become? Trying to care for her elderly mother and following leads generated from missing dog posters?
Not exactly. The death of a teenager draws her into this town that is hiding many many secrets. I wasn’t a fan of her maybe ex-boyfriend, but I was a fan of the mystery surrounding Haven.

Alyson Rush is a former police officer and a current PI, living in a new told and trying to start over. She gets her first case and starts to discover some interesting secrets in town. This drew me in right away and kept my attention. It was a fun book to read!

Fantastic thriller by an auto buy author for me. the ending made me gasp and hope for more with this FMC los angeles police detective turned private Investigator moving to a small town with lots of secrets and badly behaved characters. Unputdownable!

Rachel has made her mark in the psychological thriller genre and this was an amazing book to add to the list. She knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat and guess whats going to happen next.

The characters in "Fog and Fury" are well-developed and complex, with rich backstories that add depth to the narrative. Hall's protagonist is a compelling and relatable hero, whose flaws and strengths make them feel fully realized.


If you're a fan of mystery, suspense, or crime fiction, then "Fog and Fury" is an absolute must-read. Hall's writing is engaging, atmospheric, and utterly captivating. Be prepared for a gripping and immersive reading experience!

Fog and Fury" is well-received for its gripping storyline, dark tone, and sharp writing, though a few readers have mentioned that some twists could be more tightly executed. For fans of psychological thrillers, it seems like a promising choice

I liked this book, it was good! It was very action packed and it had a lot going on at times. I think it was interesting with a good amount of suspense and thrill which helped make the pacing great. It did have lots of twists and turns, some unexpected, and it was a great read. I liked it!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Oh, author, you are giving!

This is the start of a new series and I am so here for it!

The author gives us a lovely little heaven of a town. It’s just picture postcard perfect…on the surface. But under that surface? Oh, the rot!

Sonny, our MC, is delightful. Some people don’t like the author’s characters, but I think this one will sway those naysayers. She’s still strong and feisty, but she’s also vulnerable and relatable – and her mom! I love her!

The relationship is…interesting. I have opinions on Mr. man here, but I’ll let you read the book for yourself.

Now – certain readers may find there to be too much talk of race and politics. Those readers can go read something else. The main character is one of 5 (sort of) Black characters in this isolated little town and, yes, race will play a role.

An excellent book and the start to a fabulous series. Next book, please!

• ARC via Publisher

Alyson “Sonny” Rush has just moved with her mother to Haven, California, a long way from Los Angeles and her work as an LAPD homicide detective. She’s working as a PI and her first case is a missing dog. It may sound tame, but there’s a lot more going on than she ever expected. There’s also a case she’s not assigned to involving a teenage football star whose life was tragically cut short. Even though she’s warned off by her boss, she’s not going to let that stop her from digging deeper – especially when the local police write it off too quickly as suicide.

She’s barely in town for a few days when someone decides they don’t like all her questions and they begin sending her threatening messages. Looks like no one wants to ruin the picture of perfection (one letter away from Heaven!) that is the town of Haven. But the lengths they are going to confirm that there are numerous dark secrets people would kill to protect. Will Sonny get answers before she becomes the next victim?

I believe this is the start of a new series and I’m thoroughly hooked! There are many questions left unanswered that I’m dying for resolution on. Although the answer to the big one in this book was pretty obvious to me and I think the author left too many clues regarding the killer’s identity.

The characters are diverse and down to earth and watching Sonny’s mom, Val, battle her loss of memory is heartbreaking. And leaving off with what we just found out about Ivan? Not fair! There’s plenty to look forward to in the next book of this series and I can’t wait to read on!

I really enjoyed this and flew through it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!