THICKAFOG
BY: CALEB MASON

"THICKAFOG," by new to me Author, Caleb Mason sure got the flavor of Island life in Maine by either visiting, living or researching it. I know a few people who live there, and as it is a neighboring State I've been there throughout my life. The State line entering Southern Maine is about a 35 minute ride if driving and is quite beautiful. My eldest son has a Government job there, which coincidentally I said all his life, that he looked so much like my father who's deceased now, but retired from that same job in Southern Maine. I have a good friend that also lives farther North, also on the Coast which while I was reading this, I thought a lot about his daughter that battled addiction. The Protagonist a guy named Jon, also deals with addiction only the two I thought about were addicted to different substances. Maine is North of where I live but I really think Southern Maine along the Atlantic ocean's coastal area is a beautiful place to live year around. It's where both President Bushes resided in the Summer further North. I realize that this takes place on Archer Island, which I've never heard about before reading this so if in fact, it does exist and isn't fictional resembles the atmospheric foggy cold Winters that I remembered visiting my husband before we got married and had kids, but we were engaged and living together at the time decades ago.

This is a murder mystery but also delves into complex relationships especially between Jon and his father, Bobby who moves in with Jon after leaving Florida in an elderly home where Bobby as some might see it acted out of line with a woman. Jon and his father had not been on the best of terms when Bobby came to live with him at first, but things were improving when Bobby got killed. Was it an accident? Was it a suicide? Was it a murder?

Beyond this being a mystery, the writing by Caleb Mason beautifully evokes an atmospheric setting that is vivid, and explores the us versus them, between some of the inhabitants which could be judgmental especially Bobby's girlfriend's son. Bobby was involved with a woman who was afflicted with the dreaded aspects involved with dementia that too many elderly people face. Her son was suspicious of Bobby's intentions with his elderly mom, and perhaps too concerned about his inheritance rather than his mother's potential well being and contentedness since she's still alive. It was rather sad how her son was more concerned with her money than her quality of life. Which as far as I'm concerned was only her business, and depicted the stereotypical small community of some of the Island's limiting points of view regarding how they viewed interpersonal relationships, Archer Island where some of the Island's inhabitants view people as Summer people who don't live there year around.

People are biologically hard wired by evolution to want to connect all their lives. This was so much more than a murder mystery. This author has created an artistic work of depth that explores the intricate inner emotional dynamics, but has additionally given a murder mystery. If considering reading this, you'll be treated to an immersive, and compelling storytelling by a writer well above average. I could tell before I read this that I would love this as much as I did, and am astonished that this isn't more popular, and it's not something that I've come across more often since this is my kind of novel. It is refreshing to discover his wide range of scope that only those who have lived, and gained the wisdom that comes from the maturity of life experience, or has been exposed to a well rounded education in the appreciation of humanity, that takes some of us both to achieve. Caleb Mason is an author to watch, and I recommend this to readers since I believe it deserves to reach as wide an audience as possible, knowing that it won't appeal to those die hard thriller fans. It offers so much more. I think lovers of Literary Fiction fans will really appreciate this spectacular, and erudite author's talent.

Publication Date: March 4, 2025! AVAILABLE NOW FOR PURCHASE THAT IS THAT RARE BLEND OF BOTH LITERARY FICTION, AND MYSTERY & THRILLERS! AN EXCEPTIONAL AUTHOR!

Thank you to Net Galley, Caleb Mason, and Publerati/BookBaby for generously providing me with my wonderful ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions as always, are entirely my own.

#Thickafog #CalebMason #PubleratiBookBaby #NetGalley

This is a really enjoyable read – which I really enjoyed! More of a family drama than the mystery it is billed as, it’s set on remote Archer Island off the coast of Maine. The story centres on Jon Davis, a carpenter battling alcoholism, who becomes a suspect in a murder enquiry. That’s the mystery at the heart of the book and the thread that runs through it, but essentially the novel is about the characters who live on or visit Archer Island and their interactions. Jon’s life becomes complicated when his father Bobby moves to the Island to live with Jon after he is “expelled” from his assisted living facility, and begins a romantic relationship with Ingrid Backlund, the “Island Queen”, a relationship that creates all sorts of tensions, particularly with Ingrid’s drug dealer son Kevin, who mistrusts Bobby. The novel rattles along at a good pace and sustains the tension about the murder very cleverly. It’s a multi-layered narrative that deals with some serious issues – addiction, dysfunctional families, illness and ageing – but maintains a fairly light touch. There’s a lot of dialogue, which sometimes feels stilted, but overall Archer Island is an interesting place to be and I was glad to spend time there.

More of a drama than thriller. Decent story and characters. Goes back and forth in time which I personally don’t care for.

Overall a decent read that doesn’t make you really think.

Thanks NetGalley for the copy

Thickafog takes place on a small fictional island off the coast of Maine. It tells the story of an alcoholic man who takes in his elderly father. When his father is killed, we learn the deep histories of the members of the town and of the main character. This is a slow paced, singular POV, mystery novel with little suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.

I love the remote setting of a small community on an island off the coast of Maine. Having lived on the coast myself I fully understand the huge variation between life during the winter, and the busy summer tourist season.
The characterisation is particularly impressive - Bobby, Ingrid, Jon, Charlie, Kevin...to name but a few - and I was totally hooked from the very beginning.
The plot has many layers apart from the mystery at the heart of the story. The author comments through his fiction on America's dreadful opioid problem and how this is having a devastating effect even in an isolated community. There is also a very sensitively handled love affair between two octogenarians and the opposition they faced from their adult children.
The narrative is evocative and emotionally poignant written with honesty and integrity creating an all encompassing sense of realism.

A love story set on a Maine island. A mystery with two older characters. An interesting novel where even the island becomes a character in this unique novel.g

Not a pleasant read. Tedious, unreal dialogue with distracting accents that did not add to the story. Preachy narrative, and though I might agree with some of the assertions, I felt it was still preachy and unnecessary to the story.

Definitely not a psychological mystery . This book takes place on a remote island in Maine where the summer months are full of tourists but fall , winter and spring months are desolate . Main character Jon makes his home here doing odd construction jobs . His eighty year old father Bobby who lived in an old age facility returns to live with him and begins a relationship with Ingrid who is just as old , has dementia and greedy children . A gamut of characters who have issues all seem to be suspects in the killing of Jon’s father Bobby . Lots of family drama and the challenges of living in a small community where everyone knows your business is basically the premise of this book.

Thickafog by Caleb Mason is a gripping psychological murder mystery set on the secluded and stunning Archer Island. The story follows Jon Davis, an alcoholic who believes his dependency is a trait passed down from his father, Robert. But Jon’s struggles with his addiction pale in comparison to the storm he’s about to face. When Robert is murdered, Jon is thrust into the spotlight as the prime suspect, especially after his fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. To complicate matters, Jon’s relationship with Robert was always strained, with Jon blaming his father for the divorce that shattered his family. However, living with Robert in adulthood, Jon starts to see his father in a new light, causing him to question everything he thought he knew.

As Jon tries to come to terms with this shift in perspective, he realizes that someone may be targeting him. Could he be the next victim—or even the killer? With the murder weapon’s damning evidence and his complicated past, Jon’s innocence becomes uncertain. Amidst the thick fog that blankets the island, one thing is certain: Archer Island will never be the same once the truth comes to light.

Thickafog is a beautifully written novel that blends suspense with deep emotional exploration. The characters are complex and relatable, each grappling with their own imperfections and inner demons. The tranquil yet haunting setting of Archer Island serves as a perfect backdrop, evoking the peacefulness of an idyllic vacation destination, while also harboring darker, more sinister undertones. Mason’s evocative prose draws the reader in, creating a truly immersive experience. This is a compelling, thought-provoking read, and I highly recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers and atmospheric mysteries.

I really enjoyed this book. I love how it was so psychologically twisty and had lots of suspense. I loved how it evoked so much emotion white reading it. I’m a big fan of this author and would read more of their work!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I loved this book! Caleb Mason transported me to a small island on the Maine Coast. The characters were rich and so believable. I love how the author was educated about Island life and summer people.
Maine in the winter seems beautiful, but filled with darkness.
Don't miss this one!