FALLEN STAR

5 stars out of 5

Every year, I read and review just over 100 books (and even on an "off" year, I come within half a dozen of that mark). I've also been extremely fortunate that very few are stinkers - but neither do they all qualify for "knock-your-socks-off" status. It's a real treat, then, to know when I start a book it's going to ring all my happy bells - and books by this author certainly fit into that category. I love the "star" of this one - Los Angeles Sheriff's Department detective Even Ronin (and her partner, Duncan Pavone). This one, the sixth, gets extra kudos in my book for including two characters from another of the author's series - arson investigators Andrew Walker and Walter Sharpe.

A hot-shot detective who's a media darling - albeit an unwilling one - Eve hates that her life has now become the subject of a popular TV series. But somehow, she routinelymanages to get herself into sensational crime scenes - as she does once again at the opening of this book. Worried that the incident will be showcased in a couple of weeks, her concerns get pushed to the background when she gets called to Malibu Beach. There, a 55-gallon drum has washed up filled with the body of Gene Dent, a person with whom Eve and Duncan are very familiar from an old bribery case that involved the mayor of Los Angeles. Depending on the outcome of this one, the way that case was handled could spell career trouble for both partners.

Shortly thereafter, Eve watches a helicopter crash right behind her magnificent home (courtesy of the aforementioned TV show). It explodes, presumably killing everyone aboard - hence the need to call in compatriots Walker and Sharpe to help determine whether or not the crash was an accident. Having them on board always is a treat for me, by the way, because their sense of humor is guaranteed to bring me a chuckle or two every single chapter in which they appear.

The rest of the book follows the crash investigation as well as resolving - hopefully in a positive way - the situation with the guy in the barrel. All the good stuff is in there - political corruption, power (or the desire for it), fraud and more. Details, of course, I won't provide - that would spoil it for others. Resolution comes at the end, but in this case, so does disappointment, at least for this reader (no, I won't give that away, either). All told, it's another satisfying, exciting installment, and of course I look forward to more. Meantime, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get reacquainted with this bunch by way of a pre-release copy. 

Fallen Star by Lee Goldberg (Thomas & Mercer, October 2025); 298 pp.

HIDDEN IN SMOKE

4 stars out of 5

Wow - the plot of this book, the third in the series featuring arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker, sure has a lot of "legs." I guess that's another way of saying it was much more complex and hard to follow than that first two, at least until I'd passed the halfway point. After that, it everything started to mesh, though, and by the end, I realized how well it's written and how much I enjoyed it.

There are three situations involved from the beginning: the torching of several parking garages at apartments in Hollywood on just one night, a major fire that wipes out a major section of a busy freeway and destroys illicit businesses and homeless camps littered below the overpass, and an old "connection" of Walter's - Danny Cole - who for whatever reason has formulated a plan to steal a $40 million, one-of-a-kind wristwatch from it's high-security location in Japan. Fairly early on, Walter and Andrew are called away from the garage fires to the more potentiallyl devastating freeway - but there's still a possibility the same perp could be behind both.

How Danny fares with the theft - and why he's doing it - I'll leave for readers to learn for themselves. I will say, though, that I'm one of those who, while sympathetic, rarely believe the end justifies the means. And what that means is I lost a little bit of respect for one of the characters in the book even though his actions can be deemed justifiable (and most certainly address an important issue of national concern).

As the freeway investigation begins, Walter and Andrew hook up with Lost Hills homicide detective Eve Ronin and her sidekick Duncan Pavone - always guaranteed to add some spice to the series. When the man suspected of engineering the horrific blaze turns up dead, well, that adds even more intrigue. And that's as far as I'm willing to go to not risk revealing too much - I'll just say alls well that ends well, especially when it leaves an ember or two smoldering and ready for rekindling in the next installment. Soon, please?

Meantime, many thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. 

Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg (Thomas & Mercer, April 2025); 300 pp.

ASHES NEVER LIE

5 stars out of 5

Two series by this author have become favorites of mine: those featuring arson investigator Walter Sharpe and his newish partner Andrew Walker and those with Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Detective Eve Ronin and her partner Duncan Pavone. What a treat it is, then, to find all four in one book!

As the fire-related title suggests, it is Sharpe and Walker who get more of the page time here; they lead off by looking into a fire in an in-progress housing development blaze thought to be accidental, but a common object found in the ruins sparked the investigators' notion that arson may be the case. No one was living there at the time, though, so why would anyone want to torch it?

Shortly thereafter, Sharpe and Walker head to another home devastating home fire - this one with a body inside and Ronin and Pavone outside. The same question arises - accident or arson - until they learn where the dead man worked. Using their best investigative skills, Sharpe and Walker come to some frightening (and subject-wise, timely) conclusions that have great and far-reaching implications far beyond their little part of Los Angeles County.

Of course, I always advise starting any series with the first book - especially since they're all very good - but this one stands on its own quite well. I'm already looking forward to the next installments, so bring 'em on! Meantime, many thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg (Thomas & Mercer, September 2024); 286 pp.