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The Fog Seller
From the creator of the Emmy® Award winning Neverwinter Nights™, a novel with a unique hero, an unlikely love story, and more twists than San Francisco’s Lombard Street. It's not cozy but it's intimate. It's not procedural but it will make you think, which is why it's been honored both as a mystery and as literary fiction. Its influences range from Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep to the Coen Brothers' The Big Lebowski to J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. "Compelling, mysterious, tender and moving... The Fog Seller will charm the mind and warm the heart." --IndieReader, March, 2017.
"The intricate plot is ingeniously executed so that all pieces of the puzzle fit together in the end. Twists and turns that at first appear questionable end up working perfectly... The prose is top notch... The book's distinctively original structure moves the story along briskly. Even what seems like extraneous material contributes to the backbone of the novel..." -- The BookLife Prize (Publishers Weekly), September, 2017
Assassinated: The crusading politician who saved hundreds of San Francisco homes from the bulldozers of a big developer.
Accused: A mysterious young loner who speaks his own unique dialect of English and refuses to answer questions.
Unexpected: A woman who will risk her promising future for a man without a past.
"Compelling, mysterious, tender and moving, THE FOG SELLER adds layers of psychological and emotional depth to what would be, on its own, an intriguing mystery story. The author's web of story is deftly woven, unveiling the protagonist's hidden depths along with the mystery, while a host of quirky, lively, vivid minor characters add color to the scene. Beautifully written, a loving ode to San Francisco and the oddballs that make it the marvelous city it is, THE FOG SELLER will charm the mind and warm the heart." -- IndieReader, March, 2017.
When teacher-turned-deckhand Steve Ondelle is framed for the killing of a San Francisco Supervisor he tumbles into a world of billion-dollar deals and bizarre sexual adventures, a world where hard evidence depicts him as a misfit who turns to murder.
To expose these freshly-minted lies Steve must first make peace with a lifetime of painful truths. He travels from the piers of Sausalito to the penthouses of San Francisco, with unlikely allies like Leonard the Human Statue, Eli of the Coral Reef, The Prophet of Market Street.
And Liam the Fog Seller.
"The intricate plot is ingeniously executed so that all pieces of the puzzle fit together in the end. Twists and turns that at first appear questionable end up working perfectly... The prose is top notch... The book's distinctively original structure moves the story along briskly. Even what seems like extraneous material contributes to the backbone of the novel..." -- The BookLife Prize (Publishers Weekly), September, 2017
Assassinated: The crusading politician who saved hundreds of San Francisco homes from the bulldozers of a big developer.
Accused: A mysterious young loner who speaks his own unique dialect of English and refuses to answer questions.
Unexpected: A woman who will risk her promising future for a man without a past.
"Compelling, mysterious, tender and moving, THE FOG SELLER adds layers of psychological and emotional depth to what would be, on its own, an intriguing mystery story. The author's web of story is deftly woven, unveiling the protagonist's hidden depths along with the mystery, while a host of quirky, lively, vivid minor characters add color to the scene. Beautifully written, a loving ode to San Francisco and the oddballs that make it the marvelous city it is, THE FOG SELLER will charm the mind and warm the heart." -- IndieReader, March, 2017.
When teacher-turned-deckhand Steve Ondelle is framed for the killing of a San Francisco Supervisor he tumbles into a world of billion-dollar deals and bizarre sexual adventures, a world where hard evidence depicts him as a misfit who turns to murder.
To expose these freshly-minted lies Steve must first make peace with a lifetime of painful truths. He travels from the piers of Sausalito to the penthouses of San Francisco, with unlikely allies like Leonard the Human Statue, Eli of the Coral Reef, The Prophet of Market Street.
And Liam the Fog Seller.
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
April 14, 2018
This audiobook was such a pleasant surprise for me. I had no idea of what to expect when going into it and ended up really liking it. The first third moved along at a nice pace as did the last third. There was a part in the middle that was kind of slow though. However there was such a unique unexpected twist. I was blown away. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. The mystery kept me interested and I liked how it kept drawing in new unusual characters. Steve’s character was so well developed. He was extremely interesting. I was drawn to him from the start and wanted to know more about him. Also the narrator was well suited for his character. He did an excellent job. I think that if the pace remained steady and the book was a bit shorter I would have given it 5 stars.
I would like to thank the author/narrator/publisher for generously providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I would like to thank the author/narrator/publisher for generously providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 14, 2017
An engaging book that will pull you through once you adapt to the concept it is written on.
That said it was not my style of story. I was unfortunately not moved by the characters, as most of them remain relatively flat and fill a specific roll and don't break it.
The tid bits you do get of the background are spares and don't build into a cohesive picture of how we ended up here. Unfortunately too many holes to really bond with it all.
That said it was not my style of story. I was unfortunately not moved by the characters, as most of them remain relatively flat and fill a specific roll and don't break it.
The tid bits you do get of the background are spares and don't build into a cohesive picture of how we ended up here. Unfortunately too many holes to really bond with it all.
March 7, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. Part murder mystery, part love story with an engaging cast. Not particularly " deep" and a few unanswered plot questions but overall a fun book.
February 19, 2018
I read this book in an afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed it. I love odd characters, and this book did not disappoint. The storyline has more than a few twists (another feature I love) and is not afraid to lose you in the fog (just for a moment). It works as a mystery, but I was more intrigued by the characters and their psychology.
It's the inner dialog of the main character that I found most interesting. Several times, an odd turn of phrase caught my eye, drawing me further into the mind of the character.
If you're one of those people who notice the nameless outsiders fading into the fog, this book is for you. If you're one of those outsiders, celebrate your oddness and enjoy the book. On the other hand, if you usually find yourself more on the oblivious side, one of your weird friends can explain it to you.
It's the inner dialog of the main character that I found most interesting. Several times, an odd turn of phrase caught my eye, drawing me further into the mind of the character.
If you're one of those people who notice the nameless outsiders fading into the fog, this book is for you. If you're one of those outsiders, celebrate your oddness and enjoy the book. On the other hand, if you usually find yourself more on the oblivious side, one of your weird friends can explain it to you.
February 19, 2018
This is probably the most original book I've ever read. I was totally blown away by the twist at about the 50% point. I never saw it coming, although there were a couple of things I was wondering about.
While some reviewers have expressed annoyance at the style, I found it to be true to the point of view and helped a lot with understanding the character.
It's certainly not a typical murder mystery, nor is it a typical love story. Steve is a quirky character and you'll find yourself cheering him on.
While some reviewers have expressed annoyance at the style, I found it to be true to the point of view and helped a lot with understanding the character.
It's certainly not a typical murder mystery, nor is it a typical love story. Steve is a quirky character and you'll find yourself cheering him on.
January 22, 2018
I had a difficult time getting into this story. I found it very slow. When the book finally picked up the pace, it slowed down again. I really struggled to finish. A good book takes a few days at most to finish;this book took me over a month. The story was somewhat confusing. I found my mind wandering only to make following the story more difficult.
September 24, 2018
Chosen by my Book Club
FYI, this book is written like a daily journal. It is strange, but still pulls together nicely at the end for the conclusion of the story. I know that for myself, the reason the main character gets sucked into the case is not something that I would have done. I feel that with my personal experiences, I wouldn't have felt that his situation was odd enough to catch attention to pursue. But as it is, it's not about me and about this character. As you read on you realize that Steve tends to latch onto the smallest detail about something and find out what it means. This all leads to a murder investigation and he is caught in the middle of it due to his curiosity and odd self.
FYI, this book is written like a daily journal. It is strange, but still pulls together nicely at the end for the conclusion of the story. I know that for myself, the reason the main character gets sucked into the case is not something that I would have done. I feel that with my personal experiences, I wouldn't have felt that his situation was odd enough to catch attention to pursue. But as it is, it's not about me and about this character. As you read on you realize that Steve tends to latch onto the smallest detail about something and find out what it means. This all leads to a murder investigation and he is caught in the middle of it due to his curiosity and odd self.
May 14, 2019
This book started out a bit slow for me, but about halfway through there was a fascinating twist that hooked me completely! I couldn’t finish it fast enough after that, and now I’m rather disappointed it’s over....definitely need to look up the author and see what else he has written.
October 5, 2018
Unique and very likable! If you are a fan of San Francisco, you will definitely enjoy it.
May 20, 2019
Honestly, the story was pretty good. Glimpses of the mind of a man who has created for himself 2 personalities. It just was hard for me to get into, only because it’s written as a type of journal, for lack of a better word.
January 7, 2019
An enjoyable read written in a unique way from the viewpoint of different characters. The story has lots of twists and turns and the ability to develop empathy for the characters without being mushy.
February 11, 2024
DNF @ 31%
I don't generally read self-published books, so I was thrown for a loop when I realized shortly after starting The Fog Seller that this is an independently published book. It's technically not self-published, as it was published by Sausalito Media, an independent publisher specializing in books about Sausalito, California (this book prominently features a ferry that runs between San Francisco and Sausalito). However, as far as I can tell, this is the only book to be published under this imprint. The imprint is run by the same group of friends who created a Sausalito tourism website in 2008. Doing this research has successfully made me want to visit Sausalito, so mission accomplished OurSausalito.com.
Even though this was published by an independent imprint and not self-published, it does not seem like it has gone through an official editor. I often wonder if editors actually do their jobs these days - there are too many popular authors with grandiose and unnecessary page counts where someone went far too light on the red ink - but I see now that editors are important, even when they let their authors get away with too much.
One of the biggest red flags here is that the exact height of the characters are described ("Despite being 6'2, blonde and athletic, Paul Strapp is a nice guy."). I find this often in amateur writing - the need to put the specific height of a character. It's fascinating that this is an impulse of new writers. How is it not edited out (even self-edited out)? Presumably writers are also readers and would notice that traditionally published books do not have a driver's license description of characters. Even mass market paperbacks do not give an exact height of characters. So why is it so common among amateur authors?
The narrator, Steve Ondelle, comes across as an autistic person - at least at how people with autism are generally portrayed in novels. However, he comes across as very young and naive -he sounds more like the teenage narrator of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time than the adult narrator of The Rosie Project. Steve Ondelle is in his second career as a ferry operator, after some Awful Event during his teaching career, so he's presumably at least in his 20's/30's. I don't know if it was a conscious choice to portray him as autistic, or if Steve just happens to be written this way. Steve, by the way, doesn't speak in the past tense, which I only noticed when another character calls him out on it (and props to Daglow, I didn't catch Steve using the past tense in his dialogue in the part of the book I read). It is ridiculous that Steve never uses the past tense because of some Traumatic Incident. I thought that perhaps the very specific height descriptions could be part of Steve's idiosyncrasies, but the very first chapter has another character tell him: "That purse looks good on you. It goes with your big green eyes, your soft brown hair, your full six feet of super-sexiness." (which is totally something that a human being would say). So Steve is not the only one describing people like a baseball card.
There are quite a few awkward sentences that needed more editing. For instance: "The PA system, even louder than usual, reminds everyone to gather their belongings and get ready to disembark and that if anyone has forgotten they left their bike at the back of the boat then the place they left their bike is at the back of the boat and they should go to the back of the boat to get it."
There's also fun dialogue like:
"You guys friends of hers?"
"We saw her do a street performance on the ferry and wanted to come see her," Paula tells him.
"So you're friends of hers?"
Paula hesitates. "More like acquaintances."
"So you won't be that upset to hear she's dead."
(Like many lines in this book, I found this unintentionally hilarious. I don't think it was supposed to be funny, but I guffawed).
"Have you taken your medication?"
"I don't take medication." For some reason this question is easy to answer.
The Captain shakes his head. "I know a good doctor you can talk to."
(This question was apropos to nothing during an interview on the crime, and I again found this hilarious.)
I now appreciate the role of a professional editor. I'm sure there are many books that start out very similarly rough around the edges and need many rounds to become polished.
Two more points of contention: the cover 100% made me think this was a historical mystery (am I crazy, or does this man not look like he's from the late 19th/early 20th century given his top hat?!?). It is not. It is definitely contemporary. It is also called "the Fog Seller" but the Fog Seller is a side character! It's Steve's roommate. Maybe the roommate becomes so integral he deserves to be on the cover and have the book named after him, but nearly 1/3 into the book he certainly does not. And so far fog selling (bottling fog and selling it to gullible tourists) has nothing to do with the plot. I am not sure if I've seen a book named after a minor supporting character before.
There were some good lines in the book and it held promise - it just needed a strong editorial hand and several more re-writes to tighten it up (the awkward lines and some plotpoints - like there is no way that a police officer would on his own initiative create photocopies of evidence and hand it back to Steve so that he can investigate himself, wtf).
I don't generally read self-published books, so I was thrown for a loop when I realized shortly after starting The Fog Seller that this is an independently published book. It's technically not self-published, as it was published by Sausalito Media, an independent publisher specializing in books about Sausalito, California (this book prominently features a ferry that runs between San Francisco and Sausalito). However, as far as I can tell, this is the only book to be published under this imprint. The imprint is run by the same group of friends who created a Sausalito tourism website in 2008. Doing this research has successfully made me want to visit Sausalito, so mission accomplished OurSausalito.com.
Even though this was published by an independent imprint and not self-published, it does not seem like it has gone through an official editor. I often wonder if editors actually do their jobs these days - there are too many popular authors with grandiose and unnecessary page counts where someone went far too light on the red ink - but I see now that editors are important, even when they let their authors get away with too much.
One of the biggest red flags here is that the exact height of the characters are described ("Despite being 6'2, blonde and athletic, Paul Strapp is a nice guy."). I find this often in amateur writing - the need to put the specific height of a character. It's fascinating that this is an impulse of new writers. How is it not edited out (even self-edited out)? Presumably writers are also readers and would notice that traditionally published books do not have a driver's license description of characters. Even mass market paperbacks do not give an exact height of characters. So why is it so common among amateur authors?
The narrator, Steve Ondelle, comes across as an autistic person - at least at how people with autism are generally portrayed in novels. However, he comes across as very young and naive -he sounds more like the teenage narrator of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time than the adult narrator of The Rosie Project. Steve Ondelle is in his second career as a ferry operator, after some Awful Event during his teaching career, so he's presumably at least in his 20's/30's. I don't know if it was a conscious choice to portray him as autistic, or if Steve just happens to be written this way. Steve, by the way, doesn't speak in the past tense, which I only noticed when another character calls him out on it (and props to Daglow, I didn't catch Steve using the past tense in his dialogue in the part of the book I read). It is ridiculous that Steve never uses the past tense because of some Traumatic Incident. I thought that perhaps the very specific height descriptions could be part of Steve's idiosyncrasies, but the very first chapter has another character tell him: "That purse looks good on you. It goes with your big green eyes, your soft brown hair, your full six feet of super-sexiness." (which is totally something that a human being would say). So Steve is not the only one describing people like a baseball card.
There are quite a few awkward sentences that needed more editing. For instance: "The PA system, even louder than usual, reminds everyone to gather their belongings and get ready to disembark and that if anyone has forgotten they left their bike at the back of the boat then the place they left their bike is at the back of the boat and they should go to the back of the boat to get it."
There's also fun dialogue like:
"You guys friends of hers?"
"We saw her do a street performance on the ferry and wanted to come see her," Paula tells him.
"So you're friends of hers?"
Paula hesitates. "More like acquaintances."
"So you won't be that upset to hear she's dead."
(Like many lines in this book, I found this unintentionally hilarious. I don't think it was supposed to be funny, but I guffawed).
"Have you taken your medication?"
"I don't take medication." For some reason this question is easy to answer.
The Captain shakes his head. "I know a good doctor you can talk to."
(This question was apropos to nothing during an interview on the crime, and I again found this hilarious.)
I now appreciate the role of a professional editor. I'm sure there are many books that start out very similarly rough around the edges and need many rounds to become polished.
Two more points of contention: the cover 100% made me think this was a historical mystery (am I crazy, or does this man not look like he's from the late 19th/early 20th century given his top hat?!?). It is not. It is definitely contemporary. It is also called "the Fog Seller" but the Fog Seller is a side character! It's Steve's roommate. Maybe the roommate becomes so integral he deserves to be on the cover and have the book named after him, but nearly 1/3 into the book he certainly does not. And so far fog selling (bottling fog and selling it to gullible tourists) has nothing to do with the plot. I am not sure if I've seen a book named after a minor supporting character before.
There were some good lines in the book and it held promise - it just needed a strong editorial hand and several more re-writes to tighten it up (the awkward lines and some plotpoints - like there is no way that a police officer would on his own initiative create photocopies of evidence and hand it back to Steve so that he can investigate himself, wtf).
January 14, 2018
I liked this on a surface level, but I nearly gave up a couple of times midway through. I didn't care about the resolution of the "mystery" at all, but interest in seeing how the protagonist turned out kept me going. I just couldn't get into the story or the writing itself.
December 24, 2015
Great debut novel
Daglow does a great job of bringing our main characters to life and weaves a story that is captivating and delightful. Very much looking forward to his next book.
Daglow does a great job of bringing our main characters to life and weaves a story that is captivating and delightful. Very much looking forward to his next book.
October 2, 2019
The Fog Seller by Don Daglow 9/20/2019 Kindle
It took the author seven years to finish this most interesting first novel. The setting is San Francisco and the main character Steve is a severely introverted deck hand on Sausalito ferry. We learn early through his choppy style narration that his social limitations and total lack of confidence caused him to lose his school teaching job. In spite of his limitations, he gathers a cadre of supportive friends who are fascinating characters. In addition to the ferry support crew and his elderly neighbor lady, Mrs. Tarrow, there is Eli of the Coral Reef, Leonard the Human Statue, The Prophet and especially Liam, The Fog Seller. Liam, who harvests the San Francisco fog in tiny vials, dresses in a tuxedo and offers them to tourists. Oh, and Steven cares for thousands of tropical fish in his tiny quarters.
The book is written as the narrator’s journal. There are jumps forward that tease the reader and backward scenes to explain Steven’s teaching days. I found these a tad annoying and sometimes unnecessary.
The “mystery” begins when Steven turns in a lost pocket book, left by a woman passenger. It contains only a joke book. Steven decides her French accent is an American imitation and he sets out to locate the woman after seeing her in another context. His interest in doing so is simple curiosity. Paula, a marine biologist assists him in his search until she is frightened away when the woman’s body is discovered and Steven becomes a prime suspect. After a night in jail, Police Captain Kreitzer seems to believe Steven’s innocence and releases him. Steven, and Liam the Fog Seller set out to find the truth.
While the plot seems silly, there is an undercurrent of seriousness to the story that captures the reader’s attention. The twists and turns and one especially surprising revelation beg us to continue to the end. While this book is not for everyone, I found it well worth the effort to plug through it. I recommend it for the reader with an open mind.
It took the author seven years to finish this most interesting first novel. The setting is San Francisco and the main character Steve is a severely introverted deck hand on Sausalito ferry. We learn early through his choppy style narration that his social limitations and total lack of confidence caused him to lose his school teaching job. In spite of his limitations, he gathers a cadre of supportive friends who are fascinating characters. In addition to the ferry support crew and his elderly neighbor lady, Mrs. Tarrow, there is Eli of the Coral Reef, Leonard the Human Statue, The Prophet and especially Liam, The Fog Seller. Liam, who harvests the San Francisco fog in tiny vials, dresses in a tuxedo and offers them to tourists. Oh, and Steven cares for thousands of tropical fish in his tiny quarters.
The book is written as the narrator’s journal. There are jumps forward that tease the reader and backward scenes to explain Steven’s teaching days. I found these a tad annoying and sometimes unnecessary.
The “mystery” begins when Steven turns in a lost pocket book, left by a woman passenger. It contains only a joke book. Steven decides her French accent is an American imitation and he sets out to locate the woman after seeing her in another context. His interest in doing so is simple curiosity. Paula, a marine biologist assists him in his search until she is frightened away when the woman’s body is discovered and Steven becomes a prime suspect. After a night in jail, Police Captain Kreitzer seems to believe Steven’s innocence and releases him. Steven, and Liam the Fog Seller set out to find the truth.
While the plot seems silly, there is an undercurrent of seriousness to the story that captures the reader’s attention. The twists and turns and one especially surprising revelation beg us to continue to the end. While this book is not for everyone, I found it well worth the effort to plug through it. I recommend it for the reader with an open mind.
January 20, 2023
murder mystery, well developed story, good surprises, idiosyncratic protagonist, entertaining, feel good, 47
Fair warning, I'm not a regular reader of mysteries, so my comments may be naive.
The Fog Seller is a good, light read for a holiday or the beach. The mystery is well developed and has its share of surprises and sudden turns. The main character has unique idiosyncrasies though they are not well explained ( why isn't he good with questions?) and not consistent (it seemed to me that, his own professions to the contrary, Steve handles questions as well as Liam, Leonard, Emma, The Prophet, or any of the other characters), but his declared idiosyncrasies set him apart from other protagonists and make him interesting.
While the story is creative and engrossing, don't expect brilliant, near-poetic prose like you sometimes find with Margaret Atwood, Octavia Butler, or Ursula K. Le Guin. On the other hand, Don Daglow does us the favor of being concise and efficient. The book's pace matches expectations for a murder mystery - quick and crisp with short chapters that present brief vignettes. The Fog Seller may be plot driven, but at least it's not weighed down with verbosity and wordy self-indulgence like most of Neal Stephenson's more recent door stops ... er, I mean, books.
Whether or not you routinely read mysteries, The Fog Seller shouldn't disappoint. You'll be entertained and left with a smile.
Fair warning, I'm not a regular reader of mysteries, so my comments may be naive.
The Fog Seller is a good, light read for a holiday or the beach. The mystery is well developed and has its share of surprises and sudden turns. The main character has unique idiosyncrasies though they are not well explained ( why isn't he good with questions?) and not consistent (it seemed to me that, his own professions to the contrary, Steve handles questions as well as Liam, Leonard, Emma, The Prophet, or any of the other characters), but his declared idiosyncrasies set him apart from other protagonists and make him interesting.
While the story is creative and engrossing, don't expect brilliant, near-poetic prose like you sometimes find with Margaret Atwood, Octavia Butler, or Ursula K. Le Guin. On the other hand, Don Daglow does us the favor of being concise and efficient. The book's pace matches expectations for a murder mystery - quick and crisp with short chapters that present brief vignettes. The Fog Seller may be plot driven, but at least it's not weighed down with verbosity and wordy self-indulgence like most of Neal Stephenson's more recent door stops ... er, I mean, books.
Whether or not you routinely read mysteries, The Fog Seller shouldn't disappoint. You'll be entertained and left with a smile.
June 18, 2018
This was fun, easy, and well, a little quirky. I confess to scaning a number of the reviews before putting digital ink to cyberspace and, while I cannot quite subscribe to the very high ratings of some of the reviewers - I liked this book.
For me, the structure was no problem - It was even enjoyable. Okay, no one shall mistake this book for a piece by Hemmingway ... There isn't a run-on, complex sentence to be had ...and there is no Gertrude Stein pitter patter of syllabic cadence ... Yes, the structure was an artifice - but heck isn't any structure? I did not mind the two sentence paragraphs ... it all added to drawing in this reader, to the story.
And, that story is a good one ... Not, the plot (that actually, was for me, a bit labored, at times) ... Rather, the story I found in this book was of growth, struggle, goodness, example, sheltering, risk-taking, fragility, iron, sweetness, velvet hammers and a host of other human, foibles, strengths and behaviors. I liked the main character ... I really did (and do!). The consequential behaviors due to his early life are a bit extreme at times and I may have wished for a bit less reticence, but then, that's my problem ... isn't it? The internal dialogues are honest, utterly human (dare, I write, endearing), and I found myself rooting for the guy. I enjoyed the supporting host of characters. They mattered ... and added to the fun. This reminded me of one of those Judy Garland / Andy Rooney movies .... "You write, the music, I'll form a band and we'll put on a show" - sort of spirit ... Or the "everyone has a role to play" a la the big fight scene from Blazing Saddles ... The main character is awash in generous people (even though he may miss it at times.) In some ways, it's aspirational... very "Annie Dillard" ... I wanted to tell him to notice all the flint and tinder around him, and how it all sparks and flames ... what a lovely way to experience one's day. Yep, this was a good read.
For me, the structure was no problem - It was even enjoyable. Okay, no one shall mistake this book for a piece by Hemmingway ... There isn't a run-on, complex sentence to be had ...and there is no Gertrude Stein pitter patter of syllabic cadence ... Yes, the structure was an artifice - but heck isn't any structure? I did not mind the two sentence paragraphs ... it all added to drawing in this reader, to the story.
And, that story is a good one ... Not, the plot (that actually, was for me, a bit labored, at times) ... Rather, the story I found in this book was of growth, struggle, goodness, example, sheltering, risk-taking, fragility, iron, sweetness, velvet hammers and a host of other human, foibles, strengths and behaviors. I liked the main character ... I really did (and do!). The consequential behaviors due to his early life are a bit extreme at times and I may have wished for a bit less reticence, but then, that's my problem ... isn't it? The internal dialogues are honest, utterly human (dare, I write, endearing), and I found myself rooting for the guy. I enjoyed the supporting host of characters. They mattered ... and added to the fun. This reminded me of one of those Judy Garland / Andy Rooney movies .... "You write, the music, I'll form a band and we'll put on a show" - sort of spirit ... Or the "everyone has a role to play" a la the big fight scene from Blazing Saddles ... The main character is awash in generous people (even though he may miss it at times.) In some ways, it's aspirational... very "Annie Dillard" ... I wanted to tell him to notice all the flint and tinder around him, and how it all sparks and flames ... what a lovely way to experience one's day. Yep, this was a good read.
February 1, 2023
3.5 stars. This novel took a while to reel me in, but after a while the epistolary form allowed a glimpse into the workings of the mind of the intriguing MC. And I definitely did not see the major twist revealed about halfway through.
For a debut novel, the author shows an adept usage of the English language. "...the twilight has grown discouraged and been replaced by darkness." The MC, Steve, is admittedly "not like normal guys," "I'm like a puzzle piece packed in the wrong box." But the way the author reveals how Steve's mind works by presenting his journal entries helps us understand and relate to him. "...my ladder in a world where every elevator always seems to be going down."
The mystery unfolds with a plethora of characters, far too many to mentally keep track of as we learn about them only via the narrator's journal entries. Also, at 404 pages, the book would have benefitted from tighter editing and fewer meandering plot lines.
But I do appreciate that the author, who received his bachelor's degree from the same liberal arts college as I did, nodded to his fellow Sagehens with "Apartment 47" on page 283 (paperback edition). Also, Daglow likely named his central character, the unusual man with a penchant for great literature and an an intricate eye for detail, after his mentor there.
For a debut novel, the author shows an adept usage of the English language. "...the twilight has grown discouraged and been replaced by darkness." The MC, Steve, is admittedly "not like normal guys," "I'm like a puzzle piece packed in the wrong box." But the way the author reveals how Steve's mind works by presenting his journal entries helps us understand and relate to him. "...my ladder in a world where every elevator always seems to be going down."
The mystery unfolds with a plethora of characters, far too many to mentally keep track of as we learn about them only via the narrator's journal entries. Also, at 404 pages, the book would have benefitted from tighter editing and fewer meandering plot lines.
But I do appreciate that the author, who received his bachelor's degree from the same liberal arts college as I did, nodded to his fellow Sagehens with "Apartment 47" on page 283 (paperback edition). Also, Daglow likely named his central character, the unusual man with a penchant for great literature and an an intricate eye for detail, after his mentor there.
March 25, 2018
Weird but ultimately good
This was a weird book. Not bad weird or good weird, just weird. Not written in a typical fashion with plenty of strange characters to boot. This general weirdness made it difficult for me to read more than 10-20 pages at a time during the first half of the book. But about halfway through, some things start coming together, both increasing my emotional investment in the story and revealing some reasons for the vibes of weirdness. The book works out the loose ends and ends well. I did feel some of the murder-mystery plot was a bit overzealous and farfetched, but at the same time I really identified with some of the main character’s struggles. All in all a worthwhile book if you can hang in there long enough. I’d love to have a vial of that fog myself.
This was a weird book. Not bad weird or good weird, just weird. Not written in a typical fashion with plenty of strange characters to boot. This general weirdness made it difficult for me to read more than 10-20 pages at a time during the first half of the book. But about halfway through, some things start coming together, both increasing my emotional investment in the story and revealing some reasons for the vibes of weirdness. The book works out the loose ends and ends well. I did feel some of the murder-mystery plot was a bit overzealous and farfetched, but at the same time I really identified with some of the main character’s struggles. All in all a worthwhile book if you can hang in there long enough. I’d love to have a vial of that fog myself.
January 16, 2020
The author seems like a great guy...who loves the Bay Area (which I know very well)...and he shares that love in the book which is genuine.
but the story itself is basically ridiculous and stretches way beyond any sort of reality...maybe he should write fantasy novels or something that involve supernatural powers. not sure...
the staging of the final scenes would require CIA-like coordination. also, the stock option 'claw-back' is something I've never seen...which was ultimately the 'motive' for the actions by the murderer.
I read that it took 7 years for the author to write the book...and that's an incredible commitment and a lot of work...so I'm sorry to be so negative...but I saw all the positive reviews and just feel like readers who typically read higher-quality fiction might be disappointed with the caliber of this literature.
but the story itself is basically ridiculous and stretches way beyond any sort of reality...maybe he should write fantasy novels or something that involve supernatural powers. not sure...
the staging of the final scenes would require CIA-like coordination. also, the stock option 'claw-back' is something I've never seen...which was ultimately the 'motive' for the actions by the murderer.
I read that it took 7 years for the author to write the book...and that's an incredible commitment and a lot of work...so I'm sorry to be so negative...but I saw all the positive reviews and just feel like readers who typically read higher-quality fiction might be disappointed with the caliber of this literature.
October 5, 2017
Written in the form of a journal, the book is a nice attempt to do something different but after a while the blocks of type without regular paragraph indentation and with extra line breaks become irritating and get in the way of the story. There are a variety of interesting characters with good character development. Steve is a pretty quirky guy and so is Liam. There is a good reason for that. Read the book and you'll find out why. There's also a good cast of supporting characters with problems of their own. They are not just cardboard characters but actually add to the story. The author does a good job with the setting making readers taste the San Francisco flavor and actually feel the fog. He obviously knows the bay area well and the reader benefits from that knowledge.
May 21, 2018
Although this book is considered a Mystery / Thriller, I finished the read thinking it was absolutely charming. What made me give this book 4 stars are the characters.
Although it takes some times for these characters to truly "come to life" (about halfway in the book), they begin to become funny and complex individuals who add so much color to the story. What most intrigued me was that these characters--in other books--tend to be the marginalized and the ignored. The Fog Seller uses them to its advantages and adds an edge that I certainly appreciated.
And, while the first half of the book is a bit harder to get through for a number of reasons (listed below), it is an enjoyable read that leaves you a good taste.
The book might be a slower read for the first half because:
1. Steve, the main character, thinks and speaks incredibly strange and you don't really understand why at first (it becomes clearer as you go)
2. Steve starts off as a very dull character (and then... plot twist!)
Although it takes some times for these characters to truly "come to life" (about halfway in the book), they begin to become funny and complex individuals who add so much color to the story. What most intrigued me was that these characters--in other books--tend to be the marginalized and the ignored. The Fog Seller uses them to its advantages and adds an edge that I certainly appreciated.
And, while the first half of the book is a bit harder to get through for a number of reasons (listed below), it is an enjoyable read that leaves you a good taste.
The book might be a slower read for the first half because:
1. Steve, the main character, thinks and speaks incredibly strange and you don't really understand why at first (it becomes clearer as you go)
2. Steve starts off as a very dull character (and then... plot twist!)
January 11, 2025
I don't recall how I came across this book but imagine it ended up on my To Read list for being a mystery (genre I like) set in San Francisco (please send SF-based novels you'd recommend my way!). The book was hard to come by, unavailable in libraries, which I might have taken as a discouraging sign, but I ordered it as a used book. The pleasant surprise came in finding out that it is also a quirky novel - another favorite genre! Not quirky in the way mysteries are often quirky, with the lead detective having some idiosyncrasies, but in a quirky structure and cast of characters kind of way. This will not be every mystery lover's cup of tea, but I definitely enjoyed it, and it was quite satisfying on front of incorporating San Francisco landmarks as well.
April 9, 2018
It was kind of cute. I liked that it took place in Sausalito and San Francisco since those are both places that I am a little familiar with. There are 2 main characters: Liam, the fog seller and Steve (who's very shy and unsure of himself) as well as a number of interesting friends he surrounds himself with such as Leonard (the person who looks like a statue as a way to earn cash), there's Eli (the lover of salt water fish), Steve's friends from the ferry, Mrs Tarrow (a mothering neighbor), Emma and Paula (potential love interests). The story is written as a journal and it's a little confusing and I don't feel like things were completely explained but it had an interesting premise.
March 1, 2019
I loved, loved, loved this book. It got my attention from the first page and kept me enthralled. I found myself highlighting wonderful, creative descriptive phrases throughout. To give many details about the characters could expose one of the mysteries of the book, so I'll just say I loved the main character, Steve, and rooted for him as he struggled to solve the main mystery of the story, the crime he was himself suspected of committing. The book combined humor with heartbreaking insights into loneliness, depression, and self doubt - even the chapter titles were humorous and insightful. I'm a fan of this author and hopes he publishes more novels.
April 16, 2019
Actually giving this a 4.5 rating.
This was a very enjoyable book; it's written in an unusual seemingly-simple voice. This caused me to quickly read on and on. Clever! There is also quite a bit of poetry-within-the-prose, e.g., the title.
Could not figure out the hero (doubling as the narrator) for almost the entire novel, including the final results of the hero's love life. This is one book where the answer to "Who did it?" is not at all compelling compared to the questions of "Who is this guy?" and "What on earth are they planning now?"
I also loved the setting, which is split between San Francisco and Sausalito, CA.
This was a very enjoyable book; it's written in an unusual seemingly-simple voice. This caused me to quickly read on and on. Clever! There is also quite a bit of poetry-within-the-prose, e.g., the title.
Could not figure out the hero (doubling as the narrator) for almost the entire novel, including the final results of the hero's love life. This is one book where the answer to "Who did it?" is not at all compelling compared to the questions of "Who is this guy?" and "What on earth are they planning now?"
I also loved the setting, which is split between San Francisco and Sausalito, CA.
January 4, 2020
The book seems to build at first and then the plot flatlined. Even when the pace was supposed to be picking up, I had trouble staying interested. At times I appreciated that the author was trusting me to pick up on nuances....but others times it felt like he was tapping me on the shoulder to make sure “do you see what I did there?” There are some unanswered plot questions that make me wonder if the story was edited carelessly. And I know not to judge a book by its cover, but this one’s cover is very misleading. Based on the picture I was expecting more “Something Wicked This Way Comes” than the Carl Hiassen, but without a sense of humor, story that we got.
June 3, 2020
I wanted to like this book, but from the outset it felt disjointed to me, I was ready for a Caleb Carr style pace and mystery set in San Francisco but this left me scratching my head and wondering if I cared for the characters enough to keep on reading. Its premise is honest enough, and set in modern day San Fran contrary to the cover picture, but at times the plot had me scratching my head wondering wtf was going on, more than once I found myself rereading (very short chapters) to try and get a grip of what was happening. I dare say other readers will pick this up and love it, that's the beauty of reading, however this one was not for me!.
November 24, 2021
I'm surprised that other readers' average rating is a 3.9, as the book won several awards. I really enjoyed reading it. It kept my interest and was entertaining. I don't normally gravitate to murder mysteries, but was drawn to this one for its setting in San Francisco and Sausalito, CA (I'm from the Napa Valley, now transplanted in OR, so it was like visiting home to me). I was completely caught off guard at the revelation midway through the story. And Don Daglow's style of writing and revealing each character was so creative. I learned so much about them in such few and perfect words. Give it a read!
PS I read the physical book, not through Kindle :-)
PS I read the physical book, not through Kindle :-)
February 25, 2018
The title is puzzling until it isn't.
I love this book. The intertwining of a murder mystery with a story of self-discovery is brilliant. The author's hints have just the right degree of subtlety to bring on a smile of pleasure as the truth slowly dawns on you. I can't say much more without ruining that moment, and the agonizing ones that follow. I'll just add that when I learn that the author has a background in theatre, I see in retrospect how skillfully dramatic the book is. It would make a great play.
I love this book. The intertwining of a murder mystery with a story of self-discovery is brilliant. The author's hints have just the right degree of subtlety to bring on a smile of pleasure as the truth slowly dawns on you. I can't say much more without ruining that moment, and the agonizing ones that follow. I'll just add that when I learn that the author has a background in theatre, I see in retrospect how skillfully dramatic the book is. It would make a great play.
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