While I thought Bone Canyon, the second Eve Ronin novel was terrific, I’ll admit Gated Prey dragged for me. This isn’t the fault of author Lee Goldberg. Eve Ronin and her partner, Duncan Pavone, investigate two messy cases, and I really only found one of them interesting. That’s a matter of personal taste.
Eve is the youngest female homicide detective in the history of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and she’s not popular. She and her partner, Duncan, who is about to retire, are running a 24/7 sting operation, trying to catch the gang responsible for a number of home invasions in gated communities. They’re living in a McMansion, trying to lure the gang with their flashy lifestyle. It works, leaving three people dead. Eve is convinced the sheriff’s department meant to leave her as one of those bodies.
One case behind gates down; one to go. Eve responds when there’s a call that a woman gave birth, and the baby is dead. But, there’s something odd about that scene, and the woman who is desperate to have a baby. While the Sheriff’s Department is congratulating themselves on wrapping up the home invasion case, Eve convinces Duncan there’s something wrong about the case involving the dead baby.
Eve isn’t convinced the three dead home invaders are the brains behind that operation. There are a lot of unanswered questions. She loses sleep over that case, and she has questions about the woman who is in the hospital following the baby’s death. In other words, there are a number of secrets behind those security gates.
As I said, I was much more interested in the home invasion case, and the investigation into the mother of the dead baby didn’t interest me at all. But, my main concern was for Duncan. How often does a retiring policeman really make it to retirement in a series? I’m hoping the next book in the series finds him at home, and not in a grave. As Eve Ronin’s partner, he’s always in danger.
Lee Goldberg’s website is http://www.leegoldberg.com
Gated Prey by Lee Goldberg. Thomas & Mercer, 2021. ISBN 9781542029346 (hardcover), 247p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book.
True. When is he going to retire, and who will partner with the ambitious (and disliked) Eve next? I like Lee Goldberg’s writing, and I sort of like this series without loving it. It’s virtues include short books and a fast pace. But Eve and her odd family aren’t people I have warmed too. This one is on hold for me. Frankly, I prefer the humor of his Monk books and his short series written with Janet Evanovich.
I worry about Duncan, Jeff. I understand that sort of like without loving. I warmed to Duncan, but not Eve, and certainly not her family.
Enjoyed the read and am still good with Eve. Scott and I both liked the book, which we read over the weekend, and thought it read a little bit different than the first two. I think the author is working on the real life tv show for the series so that might have been why it seemed to read different.
You’re right, Kevin. He probably is. I liked the previous book much more, though, than this one.