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Haze
A town engulfed in flames.
The dying coastal town of Broughlet is being torn apart by wildfires, and the locals suspect arson.
A cult devoted to fire.
The sinister People's Cleansing Light is suspected of setting the blazes.
A missing child.
Amid the choking black smog, Constable Dahlia Turner discovers a horrifying crime - her best friends have been murdered and their son abducted. Finding him will mean confronting the violent past she's spent years trying to outrun.
But as danger closes in around her, can Dahlia uncover the truth before it burns away forever?
'Fast-paced and incendiary . . . I defy readers not to fall for Dahlia Turner, with her troubled past and even more troubled present. This is a wild rise, and Sam Elliott is a writer to watch!' - Hayley Scrivenor
The dying coastal town of Broughlet is being torn apart by wildfires, and the locals suspect arson.
A cult devoted to fire.
The sinister People's Cleansing Light is suspected of setting the blazes.
A missing child.
Amid the choking black smog, Constable Dahlia Turner discovers a horrifying crime - her best friends have been murdered and their son abducted. Finding him will mean confronting the violent past she's spent years trying to outrun.
But as danger closes in around her, can Dahlia uncover the truth before it burns away forever?
'Fast-paced and incendiary . . . I defy readers not to fall for Dahlia Turner, with her troubled past and even more troubled present. This is a wild rise, and Sam Elliott is a writer to watch!' - Hayley Scrivenor
- GenresFiction
413 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Another outstanding debut from an Australian author. We are so lucky to have so much writing talent in this country and Sam Elliot is one to add to that list. Haze is a very clever and unique crime thriller, with twist after twist that just compels you to keep reading,
Set in a small coastal town called Broughlet, Haze has so much happening all the time it is impossible to get bored. We meet Constable Dahlia Turner, who has led a troubled life and has not long returned to town. The place is under threat from multiple fires, believed to be deliberately lit. She is doing to the rounds to ensure that nobody in the threat areas is still in their homes when she comes across a horrific scene and discovers that a child is missing.
Dahlia doesn’t like to follow the rules and do as she is told and gets herself into trouble quite a lot.but she has a big heart and is determined to find the missing boy and discover what happened in his house.at the same time the town is at war,with a local business man and the cult fighting for what they believe is right.
This book had me hooked. You could almost feel the heat from the fires burning on the pages. The author really puts the reader into the scene so well, I really did feel as if I was there. Dahlia is frustrating and makes some terrible decisions, but for the right reasons. I do hope we get another book with her.
Thank you so much to the team at Macmillan Australia for the advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on February 24th and must be added to your TBR.
Set in a small coastal town called Broughlet, Haze has so much happening all the time it is impossible to get bored. We meet Constable Dahlia Turner, who has led a troubled life and has not long returned to town. The place is under threat from multiple fires, believed to be deliberately lit. She is doing to the rounds to ensure that nobody in the threat areas is still in their homes when she comes across a horrific scene and discovers that a child is missing.
Dahlia doesn’t like to follow the rules and do as she is told and gets herself into trouble quite a lot.but she has a big heart and is determined to find the missing boy and discover what happened in his house.at the same time the town is at war,with a local business man and the cult fighting for what they believe is right.
This book had me hooked. You could almost feel the heat from the fires burning on the pages. The author really puts the reader into the scene so well, I really did feel as if I was there. Dahlia is frustrating and makes some terrible decisions, but for the right reasons. I do hope we get another book with her.
Thank you so much to the team at Macmillan Australia for the advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on February 24th and must be added to your TBR.
March 14, 2026
Theres a lot to love about this debut novel from Sam Elliott. Australian rural small town setting, ravaged by wildfires, believed to be deliberately lit. When Constable Dahlia Turner returns to her hometown Broughlet after a hiatus in the big smoke of Sydney.
With fires raging, Dahlia is doing the rounds checking homes to ensure nobody has stayed behind in the threat areas, she discovers two bodies, friends of hers that have been brutally murdered and their young child is missing.
We delve deep into Dahlias background, growing up in the small town, her connections to the local cult and her connections to the community who become potential suspects as the investigation deepens the tension is heightened, I flew through this book in a day.
Immersive, the tension builds with the wildfires raging in the background. It kept me at a heightened state wanting all the answers! Im excited to see what Sam brings out next and hopefully we will see Dahlia again in future books.
Thanks so much to the amazing team at PanMacmillan Australia for my ARC
With fires raging, Dahlia is doing the rounds checking homes to ensure nobody has stayed behind in the threat areas, she discovers two bodies, friends of hers that have been brutally murdered and their young child is missing.
We delve deep into Dahlias background, growing up in the small town, her connections to the local cult and her connections to the community who become potential suspects as the investigation deepens the tension is heightened, I flew through this book in a day.
Immersive, the tension builds with the wildfires raging in the background. It kept me at a heightened state wanting all the answers! Im excited to see what Sam brings out next and hopefully we will see Dahlia again in future books.
Thanks so much to the amazing team at PanMacmillan Australia for my ARC
March 22, 2026
2.5 stars rounded up.
I really wanted to love this one and during reading I would find one or two ideas to increase the rating, but by the end of the book I was underwhelmed.
The characters are somewhat unlikeable and their dialogue stilted. The narrator did not help either, so maybe a hard copy would have been more forgiving. The plot line has great potential, again, for me it flatlined in many places.
Good concept, execution was hit and miss.
I really wanted to love this one and during reading I would find one or two ideas to increase the rating, but by the end of the book I was underwhelmed.
The characters are somewhat unlikeable and their dialogue stilted. The narrator did not help either, so maybe a hard copy would have been more forgiving. The plot line has great potential, again, for me it flatlined in many places.
Good concept, execution was hit and miss.
April 11, 2026
An awesome debut. This is a thriller that is utterly relentless in its pacing and once it starts, it doesn’t let up.
Elliot’s writing style is sharp and confident, and he leans into one of my favourite character types: the investigator haunted by their past. Constable Dahlia Turner has that in spades. She’s brash, dogged, and completely locked in on her pursuit of the truth.
What stood out most is that her tunnel vision isn’t the calculated brilliance of a Sherlock-style detective it’s pigheaded stubbornness. At times, that made her frustrating to follow, especially when she shuts down alternative theories. But it also makes her feel human.
The town itself feels lived-in, with layered relationships and a strong sense of community that adds weight to the mystery.
I really enjoyed this and will absolutely be picking up whatever Sam Elliot writes next.
Elliot’s writing style is sharp and confident, and he leans into one of my favourite character types: the investigator haunted by their past. Constable Dahlia Turner has that in spades. She’s brash, dogged, and completely locked in on her pursuit of the truth.
What stood out most is that her tunnel vision isn’t the calculated brilliance of a Sherlock-style detective it’s pigheaded stubbornness. At times, that made her frustrating to follow, especially when she shuts down alternative theories. But it also makes her feel human.
The town itself feels lived-in, with layered relationships and a strong sense of community that adds weight to the mystery.
I really enjoyed this and will absolutely be picking up whatever Sam Elliot writes next.
March 18, 2026
A pulse-racing and nerve-shredding new Australian crime classic. A small town, a raging bushfire, a cult, complete with heart-pounding pacing from an opening chapter that draws you in and never lets go. The mystery and crime itself is enthralling, but I also loved Sam Elliot's writing. It's vivid, visceral and evokes so much suspense and danger.
March 13, 2026
Woah! What a fantastic debut! This is an Australian novel at its finest 🤩
It is tense, dark, suspenseful, immersive
When a bushfire threatens the community of Broughlet, local Constable Dahlia Turner is tasked with evacuating all those in harms way.
Arriving at her best friends house, she is shocked to find them murdered and their young son Jude missing
As it comes to light that the fires were deliberately lit, locals are up in arms. With the town being home to a Cult who are devoted to fire they now become the key suspects. This causes Dahlia to open up old wounds
But Dahlia will stop at nothing to find Jude as well as those responsible for the fires. Even if it means revisiting her past, that she has tried so hard to move forward from
Haze had me hooked right from the get-go. The fire and tension leapt off the page, and you feel completely immersed in the small town.
Dahlia is such a strong and likeable character. While she doesn’t like to stick to the rules, her plight to find Jude has you cheering for her in every chapter. I really hope there is more of her to come!
Thank you so much Macmillanaus for my gifted copy 🫶
It is tense, dark, suspenseful, immersive
When a bushfire threatens the community of Broughlet, local Constable Dahlia Turner is tasked with evacuating all those in harms way.
Arriving at her best friends house, she is shocked to find them murdered and their young son Jude missing
As it comes to light that the fires were deliberately lit, locals are up in arms. With the town being home to a Cult who are devoted to fire they now become the key suspects. This causes Dahlia to open up old wounds
But Dahlia will stop at nothing to find Jude as well as those responsible for the fires. Even if it means revisiting her past, that she has tried so hard to move forward from
Haze had me hooked right from the get-go. The fire and tension leapt off the page, and you feel completely immersed in the small town.
Dahlia is such a strong and likeable character. While she doesn’t like to stick to the rules, her plight to find Jude has you cheering for her in every chapter. I really hope there is more of her to come!
Thank you so much Macmillanaus for my gifted copy 🫶
March 15, 2026
Okay rural crime fans, there's a new kid on the block, and his name is Sam Elliott. The first thing that will strike you is his fresh voice and unique way of expressing his dialogue and prose. His protagonist, Dahlia Turner, likewise is a one-off. At 6'3" and an ex-body builder she is imposing to say the least. And then there's her dark past that haunts her and threatens to undo her during the course of the book.
There are many threads in this story. Lots of interesting and tantalising details that simmer below the surface, many that will bubble up into sequels, no doubt. In the meantime, we have a fast-moving story just managing to stay one step ahead of the fires ready to engulf the town of Broughlet. Dahlia Turner is a complex cop with a murky past and a messy family. All good material to be carrying on with! And don't expect too many spots where you can have a toilet break. You'll need to plan ahead when you settle down with this one.
There are many threads in this story. Lots of interesting and tantalising details that simmer below the surface, many that will bubble up into sequels, no doubt. In the meantime, we have a fast-moving story just managing to stay one step ahead of the fires ready to engulf the town of Broughlet. Dahlia Turner is a complex cop with a murky past and a messy family. All good material to be carrying on with! And don't expect too many spots where you can have a toilet break. You'll need to plan ahead when you settle down with this one.
April 7, 2026
I love a fearless and flawed FMC, and Haze absolutely delivered.
Meet Dahlia Turner—new constable and already shaping up to be a detective to watch. She’s sharp, messy, determined, and impossible not to root for. The kind of character who makes mistakes but keeps pushing forward anyway… and I’m already invested in where her story goes next.
This is such a solid debut. The short, sharp chapters keep everything moving at a relentless pace—heart racing, tension building, twists landing one after another. I flew through this.
What really stood out though was the atmosphere. The vivid descriptions pull you right into it—you can feel the heat of the raging fires, the sting of the smoke, the suffocating haze. It’s intense and immersive in the best way.
Set in a small coastal town under threat from devastating wildfires, this has all the elements of a gripping crime thriller: murder, child abductions, a cult devoted to fire (yes, really), and that constant race against time—not just to catch a killer, but to survive the inferno closing in.
And I have to mention Florence Fowler—such a great secondary character. The dynamic between her and Dahlia is one I’m really hoping we see more of.
A heart-pounding, tension-filled read that leaves you wanting more. I’ll definitely be watching for what’s next from Dahlia Turner… and from Sam Elliott.
A huge thank you to @macmillanaus and @samuel_james_elliott for the gifted copy.
Meet Dahlia Turner—new constable and already shaping up to be a detective to watch. She’s sharp, messy, determined, and impossible not to root for. The kind of character who makes mistakes but keeps pushing forward anyway… and I’m already invested in where her story goes next.
This is such a solid debut. The short, sharp chapters keep everything moving at a relentless pace—heart racing, tension building, twists landing one after another. I flew through this.
What really stood out though was the atmosphere. The vivid descriptions pull you right into it—you can feel the heat of the raging fires, the sting of the smoke, the suffocating haze. It’s intense and immersive in the best way.
Set in a small coastal town under threat from devastating wildfires, this has all the elements of a gripping crime thriller: murder, child abductions, a cult devoted to fire (yes, really), and that constant race against time—not just to catch a killer, but to survive the inferno closing in.
And I have to mention Florence Fowler—such a great secondary character. The dynamic between her and Dahlia is one I’m really hoping we see more of.
A heart-pounding, tension-filled read that leaves you wanting more. I’ll definitely be watching for what’s next from Dahlia Turner… and from Sam Elliott.
A huge thank you to @macmillanaus and @samuel_james_elliott for the gifted copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Australian crime writers are becoming a little obsessed with fire. There are obviously a good reasons for this as every summer the continent lights up and the communities most under threat are smaller rural and regional locations. This allows for narratives that combine rural crime with a mix of additional threat. So it is no surprise that Sam Elliott’s debut Haze, much like James Delargy’s recent novel Into the Flames, opens with a murder (a double murder in this case) discovered during an evacuation caused by a massive bushfire.
As Haze opens a major bushfire threatens the small coastal community of Broughlet. Constable Dahlia Turner has been charged with making sure local properties have been evacuated in the face of an oncoming fire. Her last stop is that of her best friends – couple Callum and Xavier. She finds the pair dead and their nine-year-old son Jude missing. She quickly decides Jude has been abducted rather than just run away (but how she reaches that conclusion is more than a little tenuous). Turner is soon on a mission to find Jude, but in order to do so she has to confront the town’s two opposing forces – a cult called The People’s Cleansing Light (to which she belonged as a child) that is obsessed with fire as a means to ascend to a higher plane (and hence have the local nickname ‘crispies’), and a local developer and his band of ne’er-do-well sons (who still blame Turner for the death of their brother).
As can be seen from this summary, Turner has way too many connections to every element of the case of the missing boy and yet… she is paired up with Fowler, an out-of-town detective, to try and solve it. Community tensions mount as both sides blame the other for starting the fires and the threat of those fires increases. In amongst this, Turner and Fowler start to understand that Jude is possibly not the first child to go missing from the town and the stakes for their investigation increase.
There is a lot going on in Haze, all of it centred around Turner. She has a dark, personal connections to all of the main players and suspects and is herself a little out of control due to her concern for Jude. This is on top of the fact that even before this series of events she was often shunned, suspected and verbally abused by her fellow townsfolk due to her former connection with the local cult. This gives the narrative a frenetic pacing but might make readers wonder why she came back to the town at all.
A fair amount of suspension of disbelief is required to make Haze work, particularly the ultimate solution to the overarching mystery. But in this regard the pacing helps: event piles on event so quickly that invested readers will keep turning the pages. And Turner can be a compelling, if frustrating protagonist. Elliott leaves some elements of Turner’s backstory deliberately vague and at least one more novel featuring her (Deepfake) is expected next year.
As Haze opens a major bushfire threatens the small coastal community of Broughlet. Constable Dahlia Turner has been charged with making sure local properties have been evacuated in the face of an oncoming fire. Her last stop is that of her best friends – couple Callum and Xavier. She finds the pair dead and their nine-year-old son Jude missing. She quickly decides Jude has been abducted rather than just run away (but how she reaches that conclusion is more than a little tenuous). Turner is soon on a mission to find Jude, but in order to do so she has to confront the town’s two opposing forces – a cult called The People’s Cleansing Light (to which she belonged as a child) that is obsessed with fire as a means to ascend to a higher plane (and hence have the local nickname ‘crispies’), and a local developer and his band of ne’er-do-well sons (who still blame Turner for the death of their brother).
As can be seen from this summary, Turner has way too many connections to every element of the case of the missing boy and yet… she is paired up with Fowler, an out-of-town detective, to try and solve it. Community tensions mount as both sides blame the other for starting the fires and the threat of those fires increases. In amongst this, Turner and Fowler start to understand that Jude is possibly not the first child to go missing from the town and the stakes for their investigation increase.
There is a lot going on in Haze, all of it centred around Turner. She has a dark, personal connections to all of the main players and suspects and is herself a little out of control due to her concern for Jude. This is on top of the fact that even before this series of events she was often shunned, suspected and verbally abused by her fellow townsfolk due to her former connection with the local cult. This gives the narrative a frenetic pacing but might make readers wonder why she came back to the town at all.
A fair amount of suspension of disbelief is required to make Haze work, particularly the ultimate solution to the overarching mystery. But in this regard the pacing helps: event piles on event so quickly that invested readers will keep turning the pages. And Turner can be a compelling, if frustrating protagonist. Elliott leaves some elements of Turner’s backstory deliberately vague and at least one more novel featuring her (Deepfake) is expected next year.
April 14, 2026
This book was provided courtesy of Pan Macmillan Australia, with an accompanying interview with Sam Elliott featured on the literary podcast Date With A Debut, at the Newcastle Writers Festival in March 2026. All views and opinions are of my own, the reviewer.
Mild spoilers below.
Australia’s crime literary space is one that has continued to thrive and deliver great voices over the last decade, and in 2026, it has produced another exciting new voice in Sam Elliott.
Set in the town of Broughlet, Haze follows Constable Dahlia Turner as she investigates the chilling murder of two close friends, with their child, Jude, missing.
With the town on edge due to fires seemingly erupting on all fronts, Turner is in a race against time to not only save this child, but also take on the fearsome underbelly of this town that has ruined so many lives, including her own.
Elliott nails the dread of this scenario: Broughlet is a powder keg, filled with gunpowder, and the conflicting powers that be in the powerful Rochford family, and an unsettling cult on the edge of town, Cleansing Light, that worships fire.
This setting is loaded and screams off the page, you feel the heat, pressure and stress, and it sees the book more than take its place among the great writing of Chris Hammer and Jane Harper.
Central to making it work, however, is Elliott’s creation of Constable Dahlia Turner. This protagonist is a phenomenal, loaded and at times dangerous - her life has been heavily coloured by the machinations of this town, and her refusal to follow the rules plays a major part in it, though I will leave that for the reader to discover.
If you live a tense, thrilling, Australian crime story, you cannot go wrong with this debut. With Turner set to return, it’s clear that Sam Elliott is a name that you'd better get used to hearing in the world of Australian noir.
4.5/5
Booktopia: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/QYKM2x
Date With A Debut Podcast episode at NWF2026: https://dwad.podpixels.com/ep/series-...
Mild spoilers below.
Australia’s crime literary space is one that has continued to thrive and deliver great voices over the last decade, and in 2026, it has produced another exciting new voice in Sam Elliott.
Set in the town of Broughlet, Haze follows Constable Dahlia Turner as she investigates the chilling murder of two close friends, with their child, Jude, missing.
With the town on edge due to fires seemingly erupting on all fronts, Turner is in a race against time to not only save this child, but also take on the fearsome underbelly of this town that has ruined so many lives, including her own.
Elliott nails the dread of this scenario: Broughlet is a powder keg, filled with gunpowder, and the conflicting powers that be in the powerful Rochford family, and an unsettling cult on the edge of town, Cleansing Light, that worships fire.
This setting is loaded and screams off the page, you feel the heat, pressure and stress, and it sees the book more than take its place among the great writing of Chris Hammer and Jane Harper.
Central to making it work, however, is Elliott’s creation of Constable Dahlia Turner. This protagonist is a phenomenal, loaded and at times dangerous - her life has been heavily coloured by the machinations of this town, and her refusal to follow the rules plays a major part in it, though I will leave that for the reader to discover.
If you live a tense, thrilling, Australian crime story, you cannot go wrong with this debut. With Turner set to return, it’s clear that Sam Elliott is a name that you'd better get used to hearing in the world of Australian noir.
4.5/5
Booktopia: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/QYKM2x
Date With A Debut Podcast episode at NWF2026: https://dwad.podpixels.com/ep/series-...
March 13, 2026
I have been really enjoying Aussie rural crime fiction and when I saw a new crime writer with a novel featuring a cult, against a bushfire backdrop I was intrigued! Set in the small, fictional coastal town of Broughtlet, I enjoyed the familiarity of the setting as I’ve spend a fair bit of the on the South Coast. Elliott lures you immediately. He really sets scene with his vivid writing, you could practically feel the heat and smell the smoke of the bushfires. There was a lot going on at times in the novel and the chaos really added to the atmosphere.
We then meet main protagonist Constable Dahlia Turner, who is going from property to property to check on people. The last is her good friends who she finds murdered and their son missing. Dahlia suspects the fires have been deliberately lit and the cult she used to belong to may be behind it. The story then moves to her search to find her friend’s son and we find that there are connections to other cases of missing children.
Dahlia was an interesting character, very well developed and I liked learning more about her connections with the cult and her family. Her methods at times were unorthodox and she makes some frustrating decisions. I liked the way she interacted with colleagues Mia and Detective Inspector Florence Fowler who was brought in to help the investigation.
As mentioned you’re hooked in immediately and the pace is fast the whole way through. I liked the way the case was wrapped up but there were some hints and the end that we may see more of Dahlia in the future. A compelling and atmospheric debut Aussie crime novel with an interesting lead detective, perfect for fans of Margaret Hickey, Shelley Burr, Chris Hammer and Jane Harper.
We then meet main protagonist Constable Dahlia Turner, who is going from property to property to check on people. The last is her good friends who she finds murdered and their son missing. Dahlia suspects the fires have been deliberately lit and the cult she used to belong to may be behind it. The story then moves to her search to find her friend’s son and we find that there are connections to other cases of missing children.
Dahlia was an interesting character, very well developed and I liked learning more about her connections with the cult and her family. Her methods at times were unorthodox and she makes some frustrating decisions. I liked the way she interacted with colleagues Mia and Detective Inspector Florence Fowler who was brought in to help the investigation.
As mentioned you’re hooked in immediately and the pace is fast the whole way through. I liked the way the case was wrapped up but there were some hints and the end that we may see more of Dahlia in the future. A compelling and atmospheric debut Aussie crime novel with an interesting lead detective, perfect for fans of Margaret Hickey, Shelley Burr, Chris Hammer and Jane Harper.
April 13, 2026
There is something pretty special about reading debut books.
The characters you are introduced to....Hello Dahlia Turner.
The scenery, the feel, the story.
This one has it all.
Instantly you are dropped into a fiery and thrilling ride with Dahlia.
She is checking on the towns residents, making sure they have left before the fires engulf them.
Her car has been rammed on the way to her best friend's house, and when she gets there, her life changes.
Her friends have been murdered and their son is missing.
Her only thought now is to find him.
But, with the town about to be engulfed by the fires, and a simmering war between the resident cult (who just happens to be devoted to fire) and the local rich family who like things their way, Dahlia is torn between her job and her heart.
And to make it even worse for Dahlia, her past is coming back to hurt her and there is nothing she can do to stop it.
The way this book delivers the powerful punch that shocked me, well, that was so damn satisfying!
Dahlia's history is one I expect many will feel deeply, maybe not the same way she lived it, but it will ring bells in a lot of ways.
Sam's depiction of Dahlia is one that will have her firmly set as a favourite Police woman, and one that hopefully makes more appearances in future books. And unlike so many other female detectives, cops, fbi agents, this one is tall! Which is so bloody refreshing. 👏👏👏👏
The characters you are introduced to....Hello Dahlia Turner.
The scenery, the feel, the story.
This one has it all.
Instantly you are dropped into a fiery and thrilling ride with Dahlia.
She is checking on the towns residents, making sure they have left before the fires engulf them.
Her car has been rammed on the way to her best friend's house, and when she gets there, her life changes.
Her friends have been murdered and their son is missing.
Her only thought now is to find him.
But, with the town about to be engulfed by the fires, and a simmering war between the resident cult (who just happens to be devoted to fire) and the local rich family who like things their way, Dahlia is torn between her job and her heart.
And to make it even worse for Dahlia, her past is coming back to hurt her and there is nothing she can do to stop it.
The way this book delivers the powerful punch that shocked me, well, that was so damn satisfying!
Dahlia's history is one I expect many will feel deeply, maybe not the same way she lived it, but it will ring bells in a lot of ways.
Sam's depiction of Dahlia is one that will have her firmly set as a favourite Police woman, and one that hopefully makes more appearances in future books. And unlike so many other female detectives, cops, fbi agents, this one is tall! Which is so bloody refreshing. 👏👏👏👏
March 28, 2026
WOW! Im having a bad insomnia night but the upside is ive just finished #Haze by @samuel_james_elliott what an absolute #BELTER of a novel this is!
From the opening pages that are anxiety giving, I was totally hooked. I adored the main Character of Australian Police Constable Dahlia Turner, she has a brilliant & unique back story that runs throughout the book and is integral to the plot. She was just a very loveable chrachter who will stay with me for ages. And also Detective Fowler definitely needs a mention because I loved her too and they have a great dynamic.
And exceptional and explosive thriller that was cleverly plotted and felt like I was watching a movie instead of reading! I hope there will be a book two with Dahlia in she's way too good a chrachter NOT to!!
As always IMO Aussie Crime Fiction is simply the best and I am now a HUGE Sam Elliott fan!!!
Superb book, I cant recommend enough! ... for info I brought mine from eBay as its not released in the UK ( it needs to be @panmacmillan ! )
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ thrilling read!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
#Bookstagram #CrimeFictionFan #DahliaTurner
From the opening pages that are anxiety giving, I was totally hooked. I adored the main Character of Australian Police Constable Dahlia Turner, she has a brilliant & unique back story that runs throughout the book and is integral to the plot. She was just a very loveable chrachter who will stay with me for ages. And also Detective Fowler definitely needs a mention because I loved her too and they have a great dynamic.
And exceptional and explosive thriller that was cleverly plotted and felt like I was watching a movie instead of reading! I hope there will be a book two with Dahlia in she's way too good a chrachter NOT to!!
As always IMO Aussie Crime Fiction is simply the best and I am now a HUGE Sam Elliott fan!!!
Superb book, I cant recommend enough! ... for info I brought mine from eBay as its not released in the UK ( it needs to be @panmacmillan ! )
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ thrilling read!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
#Bookstagram #CrimeFictionFan #DahliaTurner
April 15, 2026
Haze is an atmospheric crime novel that immerses you so deeply into the action you will feel like you’re surrounded by searing fires right from the opening scene, giving the already complex and propulsive plot a sense of urgency that’ll make you sweat 😰🔥
Dahlia (our protagonist) is a no-nonsense cop with a troubled past and a creeping sense that all is not as it seems in the small coastal town where the novel is set.
The central mystery of the missing child, as well as the intertwined lives of the characters, propels the narrative forward amidst the glare, the heat, and the sizzling bitumen to reveal jaw-dropping twists.
I really loved @sam descriptions of place and setting, so visceral, like this one: “The sky was a slab of meat, seared by the relentless fires, scorched to char in parts, still bloody and pink in others.” 🥩🔥
And of course I loved the (fictionalised version of the) NSW south coastal town setting, this time the beautiful Broulee.
Dahlia (our protagonist) is a no-nonsense cop with a troubled past and a creeping sense that all is not as it seems in the small coastal town where the novel is set.
The central mystery of the missing child, as well as the intertwined lives of the characters, propels the narrative forward amidst the glare, the heat, and the sizzling bitumen to reveal jaw-dropping twists.
I really loved @sam descriptions of place and setting, so visceral, like this one: “The sky was a slab of meat, seared by the relentless fires, scorched to char in parts, still bloody and pink in others.” 🥩🔥
And of course I loved the (fictionalised version of the) NSW south coastal town setting, this time the beautiful Broulee.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is one of the most original crime novels I’ve read in a long time.
Constable Dahlia Turner is door knocking properties to ensure residents of Broughlet have evacuated ahead of a raging fire when she stumbles across a horrific crime, and discovers her best friends' child is now missing.
Haze isn’t just tense - it smoulders. The embers practically burn off the page. Sam Elliot’s descriptions are so vivid you can feel the heat in your lungs and taste the ash. It’s intensely atmospheric without ever compromising on pace.
The twists are properly twisty, and the ending is a genuine surprise but it’s earned. The clues are there. Once you know, you can trace the trail backwards and understand how the puzzle pieces click into place.
I can’t wait to see what Sam writes next.
Thank you Pan Macmillan for an early review copy.
Constable Dahlia Turner is door knocking properties to ensure residents of Broughlet have evacuated ahead of a raging fire when she stumbles across a horrific crime, and discovers her best friends' child is now missing.
Haze isn’t just tense - it smoulders. The embers practically burn off the page. Sam Elliot’s descriptions are so vivid you can feel the heat in your lungs and taste the ash. It’s intensely atmospheric without ever compromising on pace.
The twists are properly twisty, and the ending is a genuine surprise but it’s earned. The clues are there. Once you know, you can trace the trail backwards and understand how the puzzle pieces click into place.
I can’t wait to see what Sam writes next.
Thank you Pan Macmillan for an early review copy.
April 2, 2026
There was just too much going on in this Australian crime fiction. It was set during a raging bushfire which I never really felt threatening, as life (and a multi pronged investigation) seemed none the less to carry on despite this apparent emergency. I thought the characters were a bit one dimensional and didn't feel overly invested in any of them - especially the lead Dahlia who came across a some sort of weird oversized female who was ridiculed at length. I never managed to fully form a picture of either her partner Fowler or her boss Sneed. There were so many characters and storylines it also felt very convoluted and the many injuries she suffered during the course of the novel seemed unsurvivable yet she carried on. There was so much toing and froing that in the end I just wanted it to be over! Sorry but not a winner or me here.
April 4, 2026
A cult.
Fires.
Murder.
A missing child.
This is Haze. A debut novel by Sam Elliott about police officer Dahlia, working in her home town whilst it is ravaged by fires. The fires are suspected arson and there’s no shortage of suspects. When Dahlia finds her friends murdered and their son missing she embarks on what ends up being a journey through her past.
Plenty of enemies. Plenty of suspects. Different motives. Different personalities.
It’s a book that covers a lot as Dahlia tries to work out what is happening, so I just went with it and think this was the best attitude to have.
Thanks to Macmillan for my early reading copy.
Fires.
Murder.
A missing child.
This is Haze. A debut novel by Sam Elliott about police officer Dahlia, working in her home town whilst it is ravaged by fires. The fires are suspected arson and there’s no shortage of suspects. When Dahlia finds her friends murdered and their son missing she embarks on what ends up being a journey through her past.
Plenty of enemies. Plenty of suspects. Different motives. Different personalities.
It’s a book that covers a lot as Dahlia tries to work out what is happening, so I just went with it and think this was the best attitude to have.
Thanks to Macmillan for my early reading copy.
March 1, 2026
Excellent debut.
Fast-paced, full of action and hard to put down.
Our main protagonist is a police constable who was once a cult member. She returns from Sydney to her home town.
Against the backdrop of bushfires burning out of control around the town, Constable Dahlia Turner is purposely driven off the road, finds two of her friends murdered, and their child missing. And that's just the intro to this wild ride.
Lots of surprises, twists and turns in this riveting read.
Fast-paced, full of action and hard to put down.
Our main protagonist is a police constable who was once a cult member. She returns from Sydney to her home town.
Against the backdrop of bushfires burning out of control around the town, Constable Dahlia Turner is purposely driven off the road, finds two of her friends murdered, and their child missing. And that's just the intro to this wild ride.
Lots of surprises, twists and turns in this riveting read.
March 8, 2026
This is another great debut from an Australian author. With a rural setting, the danger of wildfires in the area, a local cult obsessed with fire, and then the discovery of two bodies and the disappearance of a small child this had me hooked from the beginning.
Constable Dahlia Turner is a character with many sides to her, some deeply hidden, and having grown up in this small community she has many connections to all of the probable suspects in this case.
The descriptive writing style draws you into the story and you can feel the fear and tension emanating off the page from those caught in the fires and other threatening situations they find themselves in.
This had twist upon twist I did not see coming and there were characters I really didn’t like by the end of the book.
I hope we get to see more of Dahlia in future books as I think she has a lot more stories to tell
Overall a tense, twist-laden rural thriller that proves this debut author is one to watch
Constable Dahlia Turner is a character with many sides to her, some deeply hidden, and having grown up in this small community she has many connections to all of the probable suspects in this case.
The descriptive writing style draws you into the story and you can feel the fear and tension emanating off the page from those caught in the fires and other threatening situations they find themselves in.
This had twist upon twist I did not see coming and there were characters I really didn’t like by the end of the book.
I hope we get to see more of Dahlia in future books as I think she has a lot more stories to tell
Overall a tense, twist-laden rural thriller that proves this debut author is one to watch
April 9, 2026
A cracking debut that starts with a bang and doesn’t let up until the final fiery page. A double murder, a missing child, hazy characters and a doomsday cult… Constable Dahlia Turner races to solve the murders and kidnapping as bushfires close in and threaten to destroy both the town and the truth forever. Blistering pace and gripping story!
Sam is a debut author to watch!
Sam is a debut author to watch!
March 13, 2026
Lots to enjoy here from new Aussie crime writer.
March 28, 2026
Loved this so much. The suspense! The characters! The twists and turns! Don’t miss this one!!
Did Not Finish
March 29, 2026Worst narration ever!
April 16, 2026
I finished listening to this in the early hours of the morning. A great first novel with some twists and turns to keep you reading.
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