I really wanted to love What Fire Brings, but it just didn’t land for me. The premise is strong. A thriller set in a wildfire-scorched LA with a journalist-turned-PI as the lead? That setup had me intrigued. But the execution didn’t quite deliver. The pacing was uneven, especially in the middle where things dragged under the weight of Bailey’s repetitive inner monologue. I get that she’s dealing with a lot of trauma, but revisiting the same emotional beats over and over started to feel tedious rather than revealing.

The mystery itself was fine. Nothing mind-blowing, but solid enough. Still, the resolution felt rushed and too clean for a story that wanted to be gritty. And for a book so rooted in atmosphere, the setting didn’t feel as vivid as I expected. The wildfire backdrop had potential to add tension and urgency, but it often felt like window dressing rather than something truly integrated into the plot.

I appreciate the attempt at a modern noir vibe, and Rachel Howzell Hall’s writing style itself isn’t bad. There’s definitely a sharpness to her voice. But overall, this just didn’t come together in a satisfying way for me. I might give her other books a shot, though.

*What Fire Brings* by Rachel Howzell Hall is an intense and gripping psychological thriller that blends mystery with social commentary, offering readers a tense exploration of race, trauma, and justice. Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles in the 1990s, the novel follows Detective Elouise "Lou" Norton, a seasoned investigator grappling with the complexities of her personal life and a case that hits too close to home.

The plot kicks off when Lou is called to the scene of a gruesome double homicide in South LA. What seems like a routine investigation quickly unravels into something far more complicated as Lou uncovers unsettling connections between the victims, their pasts, and the volatile socio-political climate of the time. As she digs deeper into the case, Lou's own buried trauma surfaces, forcing her to confront her past and the personal demons that threaten to undermine her professional resolve.

Hall’s writing is sharp, layered, and laced with suspense. She captures the grittiness of the city and its diverse inhabitants with a keen eye for detail, giving a realistic portrayal of both the characters and the environment they inhabit. Lou herself is a standout character—strong, flawed, and deeply empathetic, making her journey of self-discovery and justice both compelling and relatable.

One of the strengths of *What Fire Brings* is Hall’s ability to blend social issues with the narrative without losing the focus on the thriller aspect. The novel explores themes of systemic racism, police brutality, and the generational trauma that affects not only the victims but those tasked with seeking justice. This layer of social commentary elevates the book beyond a typical detective story, giving it a deeper emotional resonance.

Critics have praised the novel for its taut pacing and Hall’s ability to keep readers on edge. Lou's internal conflict and the revelation of hidden truths add to the sense of urgency that permeates the narrative. However, some readers have noted that the story’s complexity and its shifting timelines can occasionally feel disorienting, especially as the narrative toggles between past and present events.

Overall, *What Fire Brings* is a strong entry in the crime genre, offering a compelling detective story with a significant emotional depth. It’s perfect for readers who appreciate multifaceted characters, high stakes, and a narrative that digs into the heart of social and personal issues. Hall delivers a satisfying, thought-provoking read that will keep readers hooked until the very last page.

I had a hard time getting into this book and staying connected with the characters. I'm not sure if it's just a me issue, or if other people experienced the same thing. At times, I really liked the characters and the mystery going on, and at other times, I just wanted to put the book down and never pick it up again. I think that this book was just not for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. Unfortunately this book was not for me. It was confusing and the time line felt...off.

2.5 stars
In a word, this book was: confusing. It took me a long time to finish this book. I tried the ebook and the audio. The premise was intriguing but the writing/plotting often made me feel like I didn’t know what was happening. I’m usually ok to trust the process but it didn’t ever really click in for me.

What Fire Brings by Rachel Howzell is a fast paced thriller with a variety of characters and a compelling plot. It starts a bit slow until almost half the book but then it picks up. However, i felt like it was a bit difficult to follow the plot at some moments. There were a lot of twists by the end, some predictable and other's not so much. I enjoyed the book, but i feel like it was missing something.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I very rarely DNF books but found this one impossible to get through. Both key components (in my view) were lacking. Factor 1: Character development - even if plot is shaky or lacking, strong characters can make a book worth it. Factor 2: Plot: Shallow characters or ones who act nonsensically can be overlooked if there is an interesting plot driving the story forward.

Unfortunately, this book had neither. The plot was really confusing - I'm still not sure how to put all the pieces together. The characters were very shallow and acted in totally illogical ways, to the point that it distracted from the confusing plot. I spent most of the time reading annoyed at the characters and confused about why I should care about certain things. I love reading because it pulls me out of the day to day and brings me into the world the author is creating. The flaws I outlined, mainly the illogical activity of the characters, was so egregious it often pulled me out of the story. That is the main reason I stopped reading.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish this book because I couldn't connect to the characters and the plot was convoluted.

I could not get into the book and found the writing not to be so great. The storyline kind of lost me at parts so ultimately I dnf'd.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of What Fire Brings by Rachel Howzell Hall in exchange for an honest review. This book was so good and twisty like some of the roads in California. I really liked Bailey and getting to know her throughout the book, and the surprises that kept popping up.

I was curious to check out this new Rachel Howzell Hall novel as I had seen the author's name mentioned in a few different discussions about crime/ investigation type novels.

I went in expecting great things, particularly as I had also picked up at least one of her other books on a Kindle deal.

Unfortunately this one did not hit the mark at all. I try not to DNF books and, I guess, I can give this one at least a small amount of credit in that I was curious to find out what was going on.

But the execution of what was going on was really poor. I've seen one or two other reviews that have compared this to a first draft and I would say that's fair.

The novel opens rather intriguingly, and the security guard's ominous warning gives things an immediately eerie feel (aspects of this conversation contribute to a glaring plot issue later on but I won't give that away here).

The problem here is that the novel tries to do too much. There is too much jumping around with character perspectives. We, inexplicably get snippets from Jack's book instead of just a simple recap from Bailey. Then we get snippets from what seems to be another book but it's from the POV of a real character.

The whole thing is just a mess, in need of a guillotine wielding editor, and asks you not just to suspend disbelief but to fling it completely out the window.

I'll give it some credit for being intriguing enough to finish and, with some tougher edits and a better idea of what it was trying to actually say, it could have been decent.

My thanks to the publishers, via Netgalley for the eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

What Fire Brings by Rachel Howzell Hall was a fast paced, intriguing read with interesting plot points. I absolutely loved the writing and plan to read more from this author.

Rachel Howzell Hall is back with another suspense-filled thriller that’s as gripping as it is unsettling. What Fire Brings takes us deep into the rugged, eerie landscape of Topanga Canyon, where Bailey Meadows, a writer on a mission, has just taken up residence. She’s supposed to be helping thriller author Jack Beckham revive his bestseller magic, but Bailey has another purpose—to find her missing friend, Sam Morris, who was last seen in these dangerous canyons. Overall decent read!

Bailey Meadows has just moved into the remote Topanga Canyon home of thriller author Jack Beckham. As his writer-in-residence, she’s supposed to help him once again reach the bestseller list. But she’s not there to write a thriller—she’s there to find Sam Morris, a community leader dedicated to finding missing people, who has disappeared in the canyon surrounding Beckham’s property.

The missing woman was last seen in the drought-stricken forest known for wildfires and mountain lions. Each new day, Bailey learns just how dangerous these canyons are—for the other women who have also gone missing here…and for her. Could these missing women be linked to strange events that occurred decades ago at the Beckham estate?

As fire season in the canyons approaches, Bailey must race to unravel the truth from fiction before she becomes the next woman lost in the forest.

Once again Rachel Howzell Hall delivers another scorching read. She is one of the authors that I will prioritize over anything going on in my life. I was hooked from start to finish. Will recommend to others.

twisty and fun and i love all the vibes of this. would recommend, tysm for the arc, 4 stars, great thriller.

2.5 ⭐️
This book was not my jam.
Unreliable narrator and all over the place time lines made this a very confusing read.
I also found it too political and I kind of hate Covid books. It’s just too soon.
Sad this one wasn’t for me.

I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis was intriguing and I looked forward to reading it. The story dragged for the first half. I kept putting it down because it wasn't holding my interest. The story was also extremely difficult to follow. I never really knew what was happening. This book wasn't for me.

This book starts out with Bailey Meadows who is a PI in training who goes undercover so of course right away I was pulled in. Bailey goes undercover to a residence program for authors. She was matched with Jack Beckham, whose name just exudes wealth. Jack's family has lived in Topanga Canyon for generations. Jack says he wants to work with Bailey as he is looking to get back on the best sellers list and working with Bailey, he can reach different audience. Bailey is really looking for info on a person name sam.

I enjoyed this story. At certain times, it was a bit all over the place.

Whooaa!
What in the crazy crows balls have I just read! Talking about intense! Yes, I call it that! What Fire Brings by Rachel Howzell Hall had me gripping the edge of my seat. Undercover female detective, Bailey Meadows is all that and more. Add in impersonating writer, murdered body, missing friend and remote location and we definitely had great ingredients of a truly mysterious, dark and twisty serial murder mystery! The plot was awesome and the book was written beautifully. Great read over all and perfect for the season!

3.5 stars, rounded up. What I think Rachel Howzell Hall does so well is capture different LA environs and their personalities. In this one, she also captures the attitudes and impacts of fire in this area, as well as a complicated mystery. Readers should pay a LOT of attention to the details as they go through this story!