Sonny leaves the LAPD to live a simpler life with her mother. She begins a PI business that gives her what seems like trivial jobs, like finding a lost dog. But nothing is that simple. When a teenage boy is found dead things become complicated for everyone, including Sonny.

I was excited to be able to grab this book as part of Amazon First Reads and get a copy of the audio from Brilliance Publishing. I love discovering new authors thanks to Amazon.

Inger did a great job bringing Sonny to life for the listener. I flew through this book because I needed to know the whole story.

Thank you Brilliance Publishing, Rachel Howzell Hall and Netgalley for the e Arc of Fog And Fury.

This is book 1 of the Haven Thriller series and what a corker of a book. I have read a few of Rachel books and look the structure of her writing, building plot, storyline direction and character building in the right balance. The book felt medium paced and kept me engaged with the building tension of the case our MFC, Sonny takes on. What looks like a missing dog case soon spirals into a murder investigation. Sonny, is a strong character, having been in the LAPD and then joins a PI service in Haven and just oozes strength and gentleness at the same time. Secrets come out though and we get a great engaging police thriller protocol. Will be looking out for more cases with Sonny!

This book was narrated by Inger Tudor. I haven't come across Inger before as a narrator and loved her voice. She kept the book engaging while injecting enough suspense and tension in the book, in the right places with her voice. She also kept the characters nice and separate which made the audiobook easy to follow.

4 stars

Rachel Howell Hall is an auto-read author for me.

Admittedly, a former cop/PI is not my favorite type of main character, but I felt for Sonny, who's just moved to Haven, California with her mom. Haven seems like it's a little too idyllic (nothing bad ever happens there) - begging the question of what's hiding beneath the surface.

FOG AND FURY is the first in a series, and it did read as such - not because it's too introductory, but because there are a few questions left open at the end of the book. The immediate mystery that is solved within the novel was a bit of a head-scratcher to me, which is not what I expect with a RHH title.

I really liked Inger Tudor as a narrator. She felt well cast and I'd listen to books narrated by her again. There are some interjections in italics in the text that were easier to understand when looking at the text with my eyes (but none of them were crucial to following the overall story itself - think main character reciting a Tennyson poem to herself).

Two stars. I'm being generous.
I really wanted to like Fog and Fury by Rachel Howzell Hall, but I just couldn't. This book was a slog from start to finish, and I honestly couldn't wait for it to be over. It's a shame, because the premise had so much potential.
The main character, LAPD cop Sonny Rush, moves to the idyllic town of Haven, California, to join her godfather's PI business. Her first case is finding a missing dog, which I guess is supposed to be a charming, low-stakes start. But things quickly escalate when a dead body turns up.
The problem is, the story never really takes off. The characters feel flat, and their motivations are murky at best. Sonny's "unwelcome reunion" with her ex is cliché and adds very little to the plot, and the supposedly shocking secrets of Haven just aren't that compelling. The author introduces a lot of different threads, but they never weave together into a cohesive or thrilling narrative. It felt like a mystery that was trying too hard to be a thriller, and it failed on both counts. The pacing is slow, the twists are predictable, and by the time I reached the end, I was more relieved than anything else.

This book was so slow for me, it felt like nothing happened at all until very close to the end. It did not keep my attention or make me what to keep reading.

Fog And Fury by Rachel Howzell Hall in quick, rapid-fire thoughts.

-confusing writing led to a lack of full and complete understanding of the story
-I never could decide if I appreciated Sonny's determined nature or if I found her naivety dangerous
-it was hard to stay engaged throughout the entire book
-the ending is abrupt, although I know this is book one of a new series
-Inger Tudor's voice was a good fit for this type of audiobook

Sadly, I will not be continuing on with the Haven Thriller series.

Thank you NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and Brilliance Audio for the complimentary audio copy to read and review.

Thanks to Brilliance Audio for the gifted audiobook!

I loved meeting Rachel at the LA Times Festival of Books and hadn't tried one of her thrillers yet... so I knew it was time. This was a perfect one to start with! It was so eerie and atmospheric and I felt like Rachel's humor really shone through... I didn't want to put it down! I'm glad this is a series to I can continue!

After ten years with the LAPD, Sonny Rush heads to quiet Haven to work for her uncle’s PI business. Her first job—finding a missing dog—quickly spirals into something darker when a teen is found dead.
Rachel Howzell Hall’s Fog and Fury delivers sharp dialogue, layered characters, and an intense plot wrapped in melodic, addictive writing. She tackles big issues with subtle, powerful moments, and I was hooked from page one.

This book had a cozy mystery vibe and I enjoyed the storyline. ☺️ the characters were entertaining and easy to like and the narration was great to fit the vibe of the book.

This is the kind of brooding, propulsive crime fiction that hooks you from the very first page.

Rachel Howzell Hall masterfully crafts layered, deeply human characters, while bringing the eerie world of Haven to life with cinematic precision. The atmosphere is so immersive, it’s not just seen—it’s felt.

Packed with sharp twists, red herrings, and genuine surprises, this thriller kept me guessing to the very end—and I loved every minute of it. As the first installment in the Haven Thrillers series, it ends with a bang, but I can rest easy knowing Mist and Malice is on the horizon next year.

And that splash of dark humor? Pure chef’s kiss.

Sonny Rush has turned in her badge after 10 years on the LAPD. Now in Haven , California she is working as a PI for her godfather. Sonny's first case is a missing dog and knows that her skills are being wasted on it. When Sonny starts to poke her nose into the death of a high school football player and why the sheriff's office hasn't followed any leads or question his team mates. The more Sonny digs the more someone will stop at nothing to run her out of town. This is a fast paced audiobook that will have you wanting more of Sonny and the other characters in the book. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing, Inc. for letting me listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook.

Fog and Fury by Rachel Howzell Hall introduces a detective-turned-private investigator who relocates to a seemingly quiet small town—only to uncover a darkness beneath its surface. I appreciated the way the novel blends timely social issues with classic mystery elements. That said, it does feel like a setup for a larger series, leaving some threads open rather than fully resolved.

For the most part I enjoyed this story and the plot of where it was going. The small town was intriguing and I was sucked in. But then the pacing really struggled. It took a lot for me to want to pick it up again. When I finally get to the end it's left on massive cliffhangers where it feels like it was just suddenly cut short.

Thank you for this alc

Blurb
She’s a new PI in a beautiful seaside town. It’s dirtier than it looks—and more dangerous too—in a twisting novel of suspense by the Anthony Award–nominated author of These Toxic Things.
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.

This was a great read. It's a small town thriller which I really like! I read the physical book while also listening to the audiobook!
It was an easy read and the characters are well described. This book was medium-paced and had middle long chapters. I really enjoyed this one! The story is good and you want to know how it all ends. It's the beginning of a new series, so I can't wait to the next one. This was my first book of this author but it certainly won't be my last.
I really recommend this one If you like small town thrillers...

I thoroughly enjoyed myself while listening to this audiobook. I think listening to it helped more than physically reading it. I enjoyed Alison as a main character and her baggage but there was a lot left unsaid that should have been resolved in this novel until we reached the next. I also didn’t enjoy how we didn’t spend more time with the parents of Xander as it didn’t feel personal enough. Also the random thoughts and prologue for Xander really did nothing for the story as Alison could have just easily investigated or had conversations with people to pull his life together. The investigation fell flat and I didn’t even enjoy the part about having to save a dog.

Also - too many threads left undone. And a rushed ending to boot? wild

I did enjoy what I read though even with these critiques and I do look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Fog and Fury is the first book in the Haven Thriller series. When ex-LAPD detective Alyson “Sonny” Rush moves to Haven, a coastal town, to care for her ailing mother and to join her uncle’s PI business in town. But Sonny is also there for her own reasons, like to be with her love interest, or so she thought.

Sonny’s first case begins as a frivolous one, find a missing dog named Figgy. What seemed so simple, begins to quickly spiral into a deeper, darker mystery when a local high school football player is found dead on a popular hiking trail. Sonny suspects the story the town’s telling isn’t the whole truth. With Haven’s fog-hiding deep secrets, Sonny digs into a tangled web of wealth, race, dark memories, and justice in a town that isn’t as safe as it seems.

I loved this book right from the start. The fast pace and twists throughout the book. With the cliffhanger ending, I can’t wait for book #2 in the Haven Thriller Series. It looks like “Mist and Malice” publication is expected May 19, 2026. I will definitely be in picking this one up as well. I can’t wait!

Thank you to brilliance audio and NetGalley for this audio arc!

I will admit it did take me a while to get into this story and I almost quit, but once I got into it I had to finish it and I’m glad I did! It turned out to be pretty great!

I thought the narrator did an excellent job bringing the story to life!

I found it tough to stay engaged with this book. It felt like a young adult novel with unnecessary, excessive foul language. The writing came across as chaotic and disjointed, making it hard to connect with the characters or fully grasp the plot. Overall, it just didn’t resonate with me.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to listen to this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

"Fog and Fury" is the first book in the Haven series. This was my first Rachel Howzell Hall book, and I have seen such positive reviews for all of her novels. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I struggled to connect with the characters and had a hard time staying engaged. The murder mystery was interesting, but the rest of the story just didn't hold my attention. I seem to be an outlier, though, so maybe it was just a me thing. I am definitely still interested in reading the author's other books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

The narrator did a fantastic job bringing this story to life! Their performance immersed me in the story and helped me feel more connected to our main character. I'd definitely recommend the audio to anyone looking to pick up this book.