Thank you Netgalley, Rachel Howzell Hall and Thomas & Mercer for the ebook. This was a pulse pounding fast paced page turner with twists and turns you won't be able to keep up! I loved the psychological aspect and honestly the ending had my mouth hanging open!

Bailey Meadows is a newbie PI on an undercover mission to find out if the successful thriller author Jack Beckam has something to do with missing women in Topanga Canyon. She is posing as an aspiring writer participating in Beckam's writing programs he is organizing on his estate surrounded by tick Santa Monica Mountain woods where fires often spontaneously start and destroy everything in their way...

Things I liked:
-This is an amazing premise for the novel, especially coming from a thriller author. There is something meta about the whole thing I assumed she had a lot of fun with.
-I love the way RHH writes dialogue. There is along scene of conversation between Jack and Bailey on a trip and, my god, it says so much when you go back and read it again after finishing the novel.
-The whole mystery and the twist in the middle of the huge fire was just a great way to finish the novel.
Things I wished were done a bit differently:
-I have a soft spot for RHH's books. I own all of them and not all of them are my favorite, but I always love to read them, if that makes sense. There is something wonderfully messy about her characters and her writing. Like a screen with too many opened tabs there is a lot of disconnected information thrown at reader without any sense of organization, cut of sentences and lines of thinking abruptly abandoned left to hang there... I know it can be jarring for some readers, but I love that about Hall's characters and their thinking process. I just trust her to lead me where she wants and often it's worth my time. This messy, raw writing is one of her charms, but in a novel like this it's extra accented because our main character, Bailey, is an unreliable narrator. Not even she knows what's happening or what happened to her.For example, you get a random info she is stabbed and you get confused because you wonder why is she on this job- things like that. Because of her condition she tends to slide into paranoia and we have those scenes that read like they are a lot more then they are because she feels like they are. It's not easy following her thought process, no matter how realistic it sounds. With all of that said, I feel like it was not necessary for this premise. There was so many things happening already, a perfectly set up stage... and this was just clouding the whole mystery at the center. With an added natural disaster like fire which brings a whole another level of vibe and thrill, it just was too much. I imagined the story without it and the way mystery unfolded proved it could stand on its own. So, there.

All in all, a fine offering from RHH, but not one of her best.

“Things, people, disappear in forests like this, disappear and no one would ever know, or even figure out where to start looking.”

What Fire Brings is the tenth novel by American author, Rachel Howzell Hall. Bailey Meadows is pleased and a little nervous about becoming the writer-in-residence on the Topanga Canyon estate of famous author, Jack Beckham. An emerging writer would be thrilled even though Jack has chosen her because she’s black, and that fits his need for diversity, equity and inclusion. But Bailey isn’t actually an emerging writer: she’s trying to qualify for her private investigator’s licence, and is undercover, with a manufactured writing history, and work not her own.

Bailey has been sent by her agency boss, Avery Turner, to look for any trace of another PI, Sam Morris, missing since she went to Topanga six months earlier. Was Sam looking for another missing woman? Was she looking for her mother, Theresa Morris, missing eighteen years? Sam had a reputation for successfully finding missing women, and maybe that didn’t suit everyone…

Bailey has been warned that cell phone cover and wifi will be patchy, but she’s equipped with some gadgets to record what she hears, she takes copious notes, and has a list of things, places, dates and people she needs to check out. Sam was seeing a psychiatrist. Did she have a psychotic break, or go into a dissociative fugue? Did Sam leave voluntarily, meet with an accident, encounter a wild animal or a nasty person, or did Jack Beckham, or someone on his estate, have a hand in her disappearance? And can Bailey pull this off?

While trying to pick up clues, Bailey is distracted by footsteps and noises around her cabin, dead air phone calls, strange text messages from unknown numbers, low-battery smoke alarm chirps, and she is still recovering from a mugging that left her with a stab wound, for which she’s trying not to swallow too many Percocet.

She encounters a dishevelled old woman who appears out of the woods with an enigmatic message, a security guard who might not be, there’s the threat of fire, and fliers for a woman missing six years, all of which she can only research when the wifi momentarily kicks in.

She already knows about other women who have gone missing in the area, but from chats with Jack and his staff, it seems that two women closely related to Jack and his father also mysteriously disappeared.

Howzell Hall’s latest is very twisty, and no one is who they first seem to be. Bailey’s narrative is supplemented with journal entries, fliers, evidence and crime reports, and extracts from novels. The reader is soon wondering is Bailey a reliable narrator, or is she being gaslighted?

And even though Jack turns out to be a toxic male (no surprise there!), his discussions with Bailey on writing and the author experience offer a perspective that certainly feels authentic, doubtless because of Howzell Hall’s own experience. Her protagonist’s inner monologue is often blackly funny, she’s smart and gutsy, making this a tense, gripping page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

Honestly I had no idea what was happening. This was super confusing from the start. It felt like someone telling a story and their friends on the sideline throwing in random tidbits that aren’t that important. I found the writing disjointed and the storyline confusing at all points.

Liked the idea of this but not the execution. The ending makes sense but getting there was absolutely unhinged. I only kept reading to see this all turned out so I guess that’s a bonus.

An undercover job that becomes a survival mission for herself. At the same time, going undercover to investigate Bailey and the dangers involved at the canyon. It's a fast-paced novel with great characters that pull you in from the beginning. A plot that has you thinking this could have happened. Bailey's character is charming and so likable that you don't want the story to end.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to more by Rachel Howzell Hall.

This story will have you hooked and will definitely keep you guessing with all the twists in the book.

This book just is full of all kinds of thriller and suspense vibes and everytime you think you have it figured out you don't as everything looks as though you know what it is well you won't.

The end reveal will have you thinking about this book after you are done reading it. This has a great plot, great insight and the characters are so complex will have you wanting more from the author.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

I’ve read one of Rachel Howzell Hall’s novels before, so I was interested in checking out her latest thriller.

What Fire Brings, the story of Bailey Meadows, who’s investigating the disappearance of a woman at the residence of a thriller writer. It provided a nice starting point, which immediately plunged the character into an unfamiliar setting with people she might or might not be able to trust. With the low to no internet access or phone service, despite being in Topanga Canyon on an expensive estate—not far from L.A.—the setting had an almost isolated atmosphere to it. Not going to lie: it was an interesting set up, especially with how quick the story introduced the players and pointed toward its overarching mystery.

And it was thrilling, for the most part. For me, however, the middle of the story got a little shaky; especially after how much I enjoyed the way Hall set up the circumstances of the mystery and Bailey’s motivation. At times I was frustrated with her, especially where it seemed there wasn’t much progress being made on the disappearance she was supposed to be investigating. And it felt a little like some clues just kind of fell into place or were a little muddled (there was a reason for this, so I’m glad I stuck with the story). That being said, What Fire Brings was highly readable with a couple of big—and very smart—twists toward the final stretch of the book, which made all the pieces click together. Nothing was as it first appeared. And, ultimately, the story was far more sinister, dark, and tragic than I initially suspected.

So despite the few aspects about the book I was lukewarm on, overall what was good about What Fire Brings outweighed the rest. And, ultimately, I liked this thriller.

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Thomas & Mercer) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

This book is a bit of a wild ride, and one that will leave you questioning everything ... including what exactly is going on! It's hard to talk about the story without giving a lot away, but let's just say that I frequently found myself confused while reading this book. Which made it a little hard to get into. The last quarter of the book was very fast-paced and gripping though, and it wraps everything up. If you like unreliable narrators and plots that that leave you guessing and questioning every character, this might be the book for you!

A huge amount of words for a small plot. It's not unpleasant to read at first, as the writing itself and the characters are very good. But instead of getting clearer, everything turns into a real mess, before the not very surprising ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy. Unfortunately I could not get into the storyline of What Fire Brings. I made it to the 12% mark and had little interest in the storyline. I spent the entire time confused on what was going on.

"A writer's search for her missing friend becomes a real-life thriller in a twisting novel of suspense by the New York Times bestselling author of These Toxic Things.

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."

But her investigation could become a True Crime bestseller depending of she makes it out alive...

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. Quite the twisty thriller from an author who stays original and never disappoints. Held me from start to finish.

Know that this is slow in the beginning but then, then it gets more interesting. Bailey is pretending to be a writer but she's really at Jack's to explore the canyon where her friend Sam went missing, Turns out though, that more women have disappeared over time and Bailey finds she's in danger. This has a few good twists and I liked Bailey's voice. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

What Fire Brings by Rachel Howzell Hall is a riveting thriller that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go until the very end. Set in the remote and treacherous Topanga Canyon, this novel follows Bailey Meadows, who has taken up residence in the home of bestselling author Jack Beckham. But Bailey isn't there to write; she's on a mission to find Sam Morris, a community leader who has vanished in the surrounding wilderness.

The canyon is no stranger to danger, with its drought-stricken forests, looming wildfires, and lurking mountain lions. As Bailey delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers a chilling connection between Sam's disappearance and a series of women who have gone missing in the same area. Could these incidents be linked to dark secrets from the past, buried within the Beckham estate?

With longer chapters that immerse you in the suspenseful atmosphere, What Fire Brings keeps you guessing at every turn. As fire season looms, Bailey races against time to untangle the truth before she becomes the next victim of the unforgiving wilderness.

Rachel Howzell Hall's masterful storytelling and skillful pacing make What Fire Brings a must-read for fans of gripping mysteries. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

ARC by NetGalley and the publisher.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Bailey Meadows is a private investigator in training who recently relocated to Topanga Canyon. She may have gone to the remote Southern California area as a part of a writers-in-residence program for famed thriller author Jack Beckham, but her real motives have a little to do with writing a book. Bailey is looking for the missing founder of a nonprofit. One that actually helps other families find missing loved ones. Yet now owner Sam Morris is the missing person herself. Bailey begins searching for Sam in the dangerous canyons she was last seen in, particularly the area around Beckham‘s estate. Strangely enough many other women over decades have gone missing in this very same location. Could this all be connected? As Bailey frantically searches for answers, she begins to wonder if she may end up being the next missing woman.
What Fire Brings is a psychological thriller that takes the reader on a wild ride through the treacherous canyons of Southern California as we follow the clues of missing women with our FMC Bailey. I will say the beginning of this book was a bit of a struggle for me to get through as it was on the slower side till about 35% in. I also found some writing style choices to not necessarily work for me. As it came off as rather choppy with the story unfolding through police reports, flashbacks, dreams, thoughts from the past missing women, and then of course mostly from Bailey who at times was very scatterbrained. I can appreciate the authors intentions behind these creative stylistic choices when it came to the FMC though as they did tend to showcase Bailey’s frantic searching in an immersive way. Once I became use to these stylistic choices though I did begin to enjoy the book and the plot more. The last quarter without a doubt had me turning pages as many of the twists were beginning to reveal themselves, some of which I did not see coming. Overall What Fire Brings was a unique thriller that fans of slow burn mysteries will without a doubt enjoy.
What Fire Brings comes out June 11th, 2024.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I got to 20% and unfortunately had to DNF. I struggled to get into this one because it felt all over the place. The writing style felt choppy and didn’t really make sense in places. I think the story had alot of promise and some parts had my attention. But when the story reverted back to the choppiness it lost me again. I may give this one another try later but it just wasn’t holding my attention right now.

This felt like trying to solve a mystery using someone else's brain.

You get the hint in the beginning that the main character may be under some type of psychological distress, but it's never really acknowledged or explained. As the story proceeds, you're limited to knowing only what the character is able to understand. If she can't remember something, you can't remember something. If she reads an article out of context, you read it out of context. If she can't process new information, you can't process it. This structure, at times, could be confusing to read, but I was always "getting it" just enough to stay intrigued.

Ultimately, this was a standard thriller plot made more interesting because of the way it was told. The characters and setting were also stronger than other books of its type. Suspension of disbelief was too high for me to love this, but otherwise a solid read.

This was not a book that wowed me. I thought the storyline was a great idea and very different from the usual books I read. However, this just didn’t hold my attention, and I found myself putting the book down after reading for just a little while. I honestly just didn’t enjoy it.

What Fire Brings
ARC - Pub Date June 11, 2024

I love a good mystery, especially one with a remote setting but the first third of this book was a little tough to get through. I did not love the writing style (choppy sentences and confusing sequences) and felt like the main character was very difficult to connect with. The story follows Bailey Meadows, an aspiring PI, who is “undercover” at a writing retreat, trying to find a missing woman.

About 60% of the way into the book I was ready to DNF because I disliked the main character so much and thought the story was really dragging with that said I am happy I did not DNF. The ending is very gripping and I loved the twists! I also came to not despise the MC by the end of the novel. This is a good thriller overall but be prepared for a slow start. Also, the cover is beautiful!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this!