Customer Reviews

Fogs in August

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I didn't know what to expect from this book because it doesn't fit neatly into any genre. It's a romance, it's a thriller, it's the story of a woman's struggle for self-aceptance.

Helms is a master at putting ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. The plot is intense but plausible, and the climax kept me on the edge of my seat for several pages. You may read this book in one sitting, but you'll not soon forget it.

Fogs In August is a suspenseful mystery by Margaret A. Helms about Sarah McCain, a young woman trying to sort out her romantic feelings toward her female roommate and toward her old boyfriend, only to have her normal life turn into a nightmare when a psychotic murderer begins to stalk her. A dual tale of a woman's search for identity while struggling to survive the chilling obsession of a murderer, and deftly written with humor, pathos, and suspense, Fogs In August is highly recommended reading for mystery buffs!

This story took me by surprise. I thought I was reading someone's journey of self-discovery -- coming out of the closet in Mainstreet, U.S.A. But suddenly it morphed into Nightmare on Elm Street. I had a hard time assimilating the twists and turns of genre this story took. I thought maybe someone had sewn the wrong pages into my book. But, hey, I'm not the author and I don't get to make up the story. So even though things got a little too tense for this faint heart, when all was said and done, there was no doubt that this is a very talented writer, original and wonderfully descriptive.

She elicited every emotion in my repetoire and, darn, if she didn't keep me up way past my bedtime because there was no way I could put this book down before I reached the last page.

I am definitely looking forward to her next book.

You could read this book in one sitting. But after the first page, you probably won't be able to, since you'll be making sure the doors are locked and the curtains are drawn. FOGS IN AUGUST is at once a suspense-thriller in the "stalker" genre and a romance with fully realized and likeable characters, including the one who turns out to be stalking the main character, Sarah. Ms. Helms delivers up several delectable dishes, including beautiful and handsome characters, laugh-out-loud or heart-thumping descriptive phrases, and a twisting and turning plot. Her descriptions and similes are so fresh, it's like having a salad in the garden on a warm spring morning. But it's the story itself that gives the reader a lot to chew on, from the odd and touching goings on at the senior center where the main character, Sarah, is the director, to the remodeling she's doing at her family farm, to the delightful characters that populate this book. Gordon, Sarah's best friend, is a gay man who provides a sounding board for Sarah and a shoulder to sometimes cry on. Linda is the beautiful and enigmatic roommate, who propels Sarah into eye-opening introspection. A retired school teacher at the center, who was one of Sarah's teachers, provides unexpected and challenging guidance when Sarah is at her wits end. The very best thing is you don't know who the true villains are because, in this small Southern town, everything is dripping with that Southern charm and overt friendliness, so you don't know who to fear until it's too late!----Ronald L. Donaghe...

This book was GREAT! I am not much of a reader ,however, this book catured my attention from the very beginning! The characters came to life as though i knew them as friends or part if the family. I was able to relate to thier feelings,needs,all that was incompassed in their lives. The suspence kept me on the edge of my seat. You have to read this book!!! It's awesome.

Sarah expects life in a small southern town to be simple--it proves anything but! She's being stalked by a killer and doesn't even know it. While Sarah runs from herself, she collides with an intriguiging divorcee, an old boyfriend, and a former lover. If that's not enough to keep her busy, things really heat up when her stalker decides it's time to move in and "save" Sarah from the "evil" people influncing her life.

If you're tired of the same old romance novels and anti-climactic thrillers, this book is for you! It'll keep you guessing till the very end!

Sarah moves back to her old hometown and starts to renovate her late family's old house. When the newly separated Linda needs a place to live, Sarah sees a chance to earn some much-needed cash, and lets her move in. They become good friends but Sara also starts to have romantic feelings for her roommate. Neither of the two women notices the stalker outside the house, watching Sarah's every move. The stalker is obsessed with Sarah and waits for the right time to claim her.

The book starts out really well and the love story is sweet. It has a great plot and I would love the book if it had a less violent ending. I was unprepared for the stalker's cruelty and the end of the book left me feeling terrible. I would not have read it if I had known what to come.

As a new reader to the genre, I was astounded by how moved I was by the writing in this book. I have read a couple of other books of this nature since and have been highly disappointed. Ms. Helms must have depth, understanding and compassion to be able to express herself in writing so well. I am hoping, as others are, that there is either a sequel to this book or another book to come. What a shame it would be to not see this talent again soon.

Protagonist Sarah runs home to a small town hoping to hide but comes face to face with everything she's running from, her internal conflict of who she really is. She meets and falls head over heels for an enticing divorcee and struggles in silence with her love for a straight woman. Along the way she's tempted by an ex-boyfriend and an ex-love. Tangled throughout the book are peeks through the eyes of an obsessed stranger. This is not only an incredibly well written thriller it also makes you ache for the protagonist and her struggle of coming out to herself and finally everyone around her.
I'm anxiously awaiting this first time author's next book.

Fogs In August is a book I can read over and over. It's funny, sad, and very suspenseful. Sarah is a realistic, fascinating character, and I was completely enthralled by Linda. This new author is worth checking out! I can't wait for her next book.