Fog and Fury

Haven Thrillers, Book 1

By: Rachel Howzell Hall

Narrated by: Inger Tudor

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.

©2025 by Rachel Howzell Hall. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“This captivating blend of angst, mystery, and page-turning suspense delivers a top-notch reading experience.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Enough nuance and complexity to make things feel fresh. Readers will be eager to return to this series soon.”—Publishers Weekly

“A gripping series debut.”—Booklist

If Hall writes a detective/PI novel Ima read it

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.

I Love RHH Mysteries...

I was so excited to listen to this release. I can't say I was riveted. The story line was a little disjointed and slow, but I kept listening for moret The narrator sounds like AI (of which I'm not a fan). I will likely keep up with the series to see what happens, but I'm not as excited as I thought.

I’m hooked!

Great storyline and captivating characters. I cannot wait for the next installation in the series.

Slow To Start, Strong Finish

Ex-LAPD detective Sonny Rush is moving to the small town of Haven for a fresh start for her and her ailing mother. She's working as a PI for her godfather, and her first case is to find a missing dog named Figgy. Then a teenage football player is found dead in the woods, and when the local PD seems to let the case slip between the cracks, Sonny starts to investigate on her own. This book starts out really slow. In the beginning, I was struggling to follow along with the story and figure out how everything pieced together. As the story progressed, I started to get more invested and found it to be more interesting. This did end on a big cliffhanger, and quite a few parts of the storyline are left unresolved. I'm glad I have the second book to go straight into.

This was the first time I've listened to a book narrated by Inger Tudor. This narrator did a great job with the story. I think if it wasn't for the narration, I may have thrown in the towel with this one.

Twist

I thought I had it figured out and there was a twist at the end. The story was less predictable than many others that I’ve read