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Fog Hides the Fury
HOUSE OF UNHAPPINESS
The mansion on Telegraph Hill had been the scene of many tragic deaths. Arlene Dade's parents had moved away from it because of its overwhelming air of gloom and darkness. Now they too were dead, and the house was hers. Would it bring another tragedy to her, or could it hold the chance for a bright new life?
She didn't know. And she had many doubts about her new husband, the dashing but unpredictable Alan Caswell. Did he love her, or was he merely using her as a key to unlock a hidden fortune? Did the fog outside hold menace...and was there a worse, more sinister fog within?
The mansion on Telegraph Hill had been the scene of many tragic deaths. Arlene Dade's parents had moved away from it because of its overwhelming air of gloom and darkness. Now they too were dead, and the house was hers. Would it bring another tragedy to her, or could it hold the chance for a bright new life?
She didn't know. And she had many doubts about her new husband, the dashing but unpredictable Alan Caswell. Did he love her, or was he merely using her as a key to unlock a hidden fortune? Did the fog outside hold menace...and was there a worse, more sinister fog within?
- GenresGothicGothic Romance
221 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 25, 2019
I must stop feeling surprised by how well-written gothic mysteries are. “Fog Hides The Fury” was fantastic! If not for world references, Arlene Dade was exceedingly relatable and would not have sounded like she was coming to us from 1967. Even so, it felt like the Telegraph Hill house is what contributed antiquity rather than our modern protagonist; a university graduate, next learning her family’s business upon her inheritance of it. Like so many in this genre, an aunt raised her after an accident killed her parents. Also, she agreed to marry a stranger quickly.
The similarities conclude there and I can praise yet another great piece of work for differing on many fronts, from common story elements. Further to sitting on the board of directors of her Great-Grandfather’s literal shipping company and conceiving lucrative improvements, she was an heiress who attended public school and university with the general population and had a first love, prior to a husband. She impressed me later by not being in a hurry for any further romance. There was an enticing mystery about a code in a diary, a letdown being that she did not spend time solving or digging for it. She questioned whether or not to trust a purportedly self-sufficient husband. Foreshadowing was exaggerated in the beginning and there are several chapters of acclimatization to Arlene’s lonely but loved life. However, it is not wasted, for we know her very well when the action begins.
Paula Minton is a penname of Paul Hugo Little. I gave four stars because a treasure hunt should never be a side note and no one would lack the intrigue to explore ceiling and cellar of a house with history. The evildoing lacked a believable motive but San Francisco’s flair was conveyed artfully, as a real city.
The similarities conclude there and I can praise yet another great piece of work for differing on many fronts, from common story elements. Further to sitting on the board of directors of her Great-Grandfather’s literal shipping company and conceiving lucrative improvements, she was an heiress who attended public school and university with the general population and had a first love, prior to a husband. She impressed me later by not being in a hurry for any further romance. There was an enticing mystery about a code in a diary, a letdown being that she did not spend time solving or digging for it. She questioned whether or not to trust a purportedly self-sufficient husband. Foreshadowing was exaggerated in the beginning and there are several chapters of acclimatization to Arlene’s lonely but loved life. However, it is not wasted, for we know her very well when the action begins.
Paula Minton is a penname of Paul Hugo Little. I gave four stars because a treasure hunt should never be a side note and no one would lack the intrigue to explore ceiling and cellar of a house with history. The evildoing lacked a believable motive but San Francisco’s flair was conveyed artfully, as a real city.
February 19, 2026
I need more Gothics in my life.
July 4, 2017
Decent prose for a pulp, but the plot was SO SLOW. And after a tepid build-up, there was no reward with an epic finale -- it was essentially "yup, your suspicions were right!" followed by a two-page confrontation. Where's the twist, the excitement, the nail-biting reveal?! Not here. >:P The house, at least, had some presence -- unlike the characters, who became more & more bland as the story progressed.
I'm willing to try this author again, but that will be the last chance I give Paula Minton. I'm not jaded enough to demand every pulp attain the heights of WTFery & goffick affectation of masters (Banis, Daoma, & Lynch, to name 3 faves). Not everything needs satanists, occult, seances, ghosts, tarot, or a conservatory of man-eating plants. But I *do* expect things to happen. I expect some tension. I expect the heroine to actually fear for her life.
...Alas, this one included slim-to-naught of such essential ingredients.
I'm willing to try this author again, but that will be the last chance I give Paula Minton. I'm not jaded enough to demand every pulp attain the heights of WTFery & goffick affectation of masters (Banis, Daoma, & Lynch, to name 3 faves). Not everything needs satanists, occult, seances, ghosts, tarot, or a conservatory of man-eating plants. But I *do* expect things to happen. I expect some tension. I expect the heroine to actually fear for her life.
...Alas, this one included slim-to-naught of such essential ingredients.
May 22, 2025
3.5⭐️ rounded up for enjoyment (I gobbled it up in two sittings on the same day). Until this book,my experience with mid-century pulp fiction has been in the form of mysteries, like Agatha Christie. I went into it expecting a quick, gothic-lite book written with the cultural lens of the 1960s, which is what I got, but I had a lot more fun than I expected.
The FMC is an orphaned heiress ingenue whose loneliness in life is eased by a whirlwind romance with the grandson of her grandfather's late business partner-turned-enemy. She and her new husband move back into her desolate childhood mansion, which was the basis for the families' quarrel. Can she trust the man who professes to love her or is he secretly plotting to steal what his grandfather felt was rightfully his?
This book is definitely a coming-of-age story versus a romance or mystery. It excels at the gothic literary genre conventions with its lush descriptions, creepy house, suspicious new husband, doe-like heroine, and strong moral theme. In typical gothic literature fashion, it's a slow start, setting up the FMC's history in great detail. Once you hit the midpoint, though, it zips along like any good pulp book. The writing isn't a masterpiece, but it's comfortably solid. I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys gothic vibes and an easy pulp read with a likeable FMC.
The FMC is an orphaned heiress ingenue whose loneliness in life is eased by a whirlwind romance with the grandson of her grandfather's late business partner-turned-enemy. She and her new husband move back into her desolate childhood mansion, which was the basis for the families' quarrel. Can she trust the man who professes to love her or is he secretly plotting to steal what his grandfather felt was rightfully his?
This book is definitely a coming-of-age story versus a romance or mystery. It excels at the gothic literary genre conventions with its lush descriptions, creepy house, suspicious new husband, doe-like heroine, and strong moral theme. In typical gothic literature fashion, it's a slow start, setting up the FMC's history in great detail. Once you hit the midpoint, though, it zips along like any good pulp book. The writing isn't a masterpiece, but it's comfortably solid. I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys gothic vibes and an easy pulp read with a likeable FMC.
September 29, 2021
Fog Hides the Fury, Paula Minton, 1967
My favorite quote: “I could snap my fingers and suddenly the gray strands of fog would begin to curl around my body in a strange and mystical garment.”
Notable characters: Arlene Dade, a young woman who inherits a house of unhappiness; Alan Caswell, the handsome with mysterious intentions
Most memorable scene: The discovery of the old diary
Greatest strengths: Atmosphere
Standout achievements: This book, along with others of its genre, proves that scary stories don’t need torture chambers, ax-wielding maniacs, demonic possession, gross-outs, or jump-scares to be effective
Fun Facts: Paula Minton is a pen name for Paul Hugo Little, who wrote 700 historical fiction, romance and erotica novels, often under female pseudonyms
Other media: N/A
What it taught me: This book sent me down a rabbit-hole where I learned all kinds of things about the writing and publication of books during various time periods. Most notably, I learned that when this book was written, it wasn’t believed that the audience would accept any kind of romance written by a man, so male authors frequently wrote under female pen names, which still happens today
How it inspired me: All the creepy fog in this book gave me an idea for a new ghost for the Thorne & Cross gothic series, The Ravencrest Saga. The ghost has yet to make an, ahem, appearance (that place has altogether too many damned ghosts!) but she is stored away and ready for her close-up just as soon as the time is right …
Additional thoughts: When Tamara Thorne and I first began writing together, we quickly agreed that we wanted our first collaboration to be a gothic. We didn’t know then that it would become a series (The Ravencrest Saga) that was still continuing to this day, but I’m happy to say that it is and that I love it now more than ever. Tamara and I both love this genre and are grateful to books like this one for all the inspiration they’ve lent us
Haunt me: alistaircross.com
My favorite quote: “I could snap my fingers and suddenly the gray strands of fog would begin to curl around my body in a strange and mystical garment.”
Notable characters: Arlene Dade, a young woman who inherits a house of unhappiness; Alan Caswell, the handsome with mysterious intentions
Most memorable scene: The discovery of the old diary
Greatest strengths: Atmosphere
Standout achievements: This book, along with others of its genre, proves that scary stories don’t need torture chambers, ax-wielding maniacs, demonic possession, gross-outs, or jump-scares to be effective
Fun Facts: Paula Minton is a pen name for Paul Hugo Little, who wrote 700 historical fiction, romance and erotica novels, often under female pseudonyms
Other media: N/A
What it taught me: This book sent me down a rabbit-hole where I learned all kinds of things about the writing and publication of books during various time periods. Most notably, I learned that when this book was written, it wasn’t believed that the audience would accept any kind of romance written by a man, so male authors frequently wrote under female pen names, which still happens today
How it inspired me: All the creepy fog in this book gave me an idea for a new ghost for the Thorne & Cross gothic series, The Ravencrest Saga. The ghost has yet to make an, ahem, appearance (that place has altogether too many damned ghosts!) but she is stored away and ready for her close-up just as soon as the time is right …
Additional thoughts: When Tamara Thorne and I first began writing together, we quickly agreed that we wanted our first collaboration to be a gothic. We didn’t know then that it would become a series (The Ravencrest Saga) that was still continuing to this day, but I’m happy to say that it is and that I love it now more than ever. Tamara and I both love this genre and are grateful to books like this one for all the inspiration they’ve lent us
Haunt me: alistaircross.com
September 5, 2023
Absolutely silly little tale of an heiress in danger, which the reader can see coming ten miles off, "Fog Hides the Fury" takes nearly half its slim length to get to the marry-in-haste/repent-in-haste section of the book that gallops away to its predictable end. Paula Minton (the pseudonym of Paul Little) goes to great pains to let us know that heroine Arlene Dade is not a prude: she sleeps with her new husband right after he proposes to her; and before that, she even sleeps with her first boyfriend, a football star/actor who abruptly enlists in Vietnam and is subsequently killed (perhaps she wasn't that good in bed, after all?). This, despite the fact that Arlene's first-person narration is decidedly prim, if not prissy, despite the year being 1966, as she informs her old maid aunt (whose amorous history we also learn). It is not quite as prurient as Alicia Grace's contemporaneous efforts. The only noteworthy part of this trite example of a late 60s contemporary gothic is the author's obvious familiarity with and love of San Francisco, which is the best part of this one-sitting read.
December 6, 2023
A young woman called Arlene comes of age and inherits lots of money and a big house. Soon afterwards she is swept off her feet by a dashing suitor, who absolutely insists that he is not after her money. Definitely not.
This is a very slight book with a pretty small plot to match. In fact, the first HALF of the book is given over to Arlene's back story. So when the plot finally kicks in, it has to get wrapped up quickly in the few remaining chapters. There were no surprises, but it's written well, and reading it was pleasant enough.
This is a very slight book with a pretty small plot to match. In fact, the first HALF of the book is given over to Arlene's back story. So when the plot finally kicks in, it has to get wrapped up quickly in the few remaining chapters. There were no surprises, but it's written well, and reading it was pleasant enough.
May 13, 2021
*turns book upside down* Where’s the gothic romance? Ah. The last 50 pages.
November 13, 2015
This is a very suspenseful book. It takes a while to warm up, but once it does, you realize that all the backstory on Arlene was needed. There were some sections about ships that dragged a little, but they didn't hurt the story.
Fog Hides the Fury was published in 1967, so I was surprised that there was so much lovemaking and talk of sexual attraction, you don't usually find that in the 1960's gothics.
I couldn't wait to find out if Arlene's Aunt Clara was going to be right about Alan Caswell or not, was he only after her inheritance, or did he truly love her?
Fog Hides the Fury was published in 1967, so I was surprised that there was so much lovemaking and talk of sexual attraction, you don't usually find that in the 1960's gothics.
I couldn't wait to find out if Arlene's Aunt Clara was going to be right about Alan Caswell or not, was he only after her inheritance, or did he truly love her?
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews