Lee Goldberg, author of the Eve Ronin novels, takes us back to the same area of California for Malibu Burning, a fast-paced, sometimes humorous story of a con man on a collision course with an arson investigator and his new partner.
October is fire season in southern California when the Santa Ana winds whip up any stray embers, enlarging fires, and threatening homes. That’s just what master thief Danny Cole is hoping will happen. He spent his recent prison time working in the state’s volunteer convict firefighting program. Now, he’s going to combine his skill as a thief with his anger and intent to avenge the death of a friend, a fellow convict in the firefighting program who didn’t need to die. He gathers together a team to take advantage of a massive fire in Malibu. And, if he has to make that fire larger, he will.
Walter Sharpe is a brilliant arson investigator. He’s determined to find the source of every arson, but he’s not popular with fire departments who often ruin the crime scene, or don’t want to call a scene arson. Sharpe doesn’t care. He’ll dig in until he finds the truth. When his new partner walks in wearing a cowboy hat, Sharpe doesn’t know what to make of former U.S. Marshal Andrew Walker. With a few lessons, though, Walker could become useful. And, when fires build, Walker goes looking for someone who might have a reason to want those fires to accelerate. Maybe a former con named Danny Cole.
I love a good con novel. And, Danny Cole has one fatal flaw. He doesn’t want to see innocent people get hurt. His attempt to save someone is what landed him in prison the first time. Sharpe, Walker and Cole could be heading to a final showdown in the middle of a fire.
I also love Lee Goldberg’s sly humor. I probably miss some of it when I’m reading his books. I didn’t miss the names that Cole uses when he wants to meet with someone. Templar is one. He uses Murrow when he pretends to be a reporter. They feel like inside jokes.
If you can appreciate a story of a caper, a fire, and law enforcement, and see the humor in it, you might enjoy Malibu Burning.
Lee Goldberg’s website is https://leegoldberg.com/
Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg. Thomas & Mercer, 2023. ISBN 9781662500671 (hardcover), 304p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I read a galley from NetGalley in order to write a review for a journal, with no promises of a positive review.
Goldberg is an underrated writer. He wrote the Monk TV tie-ins. I think most of his work is actually set in Southern California.
He is, Glen. I really enjoy his recent books. And, I’m looking forward to his next one, due out late this year.
For whatever reason, my library still doesn’t have this listed, even though the publication date is tomorrow. Odd, as they have a lot of Lee Goldberg’s books. It is on my list for sure.
By the way, I still haven’t gotten that Ann Cleeves story, so it looks like I won’t.
I’ve seen other dates for the Lee Goldberg book, Jeff, so don’t give up!
I filled out a Request to Purchase with ISBN, etc. so we’ll see.
It’s odd because they have a ton of his books. I loved his Monk books.
Kevin Tipple says release date is now Sept. 1, Jeff. Thomas & Mercer keeps moving the release date. So, maybe I jumped the gun with the review, but this was the original date. Too bad for them, but it gives you time to get it.
This read was moved back to September 1. I reviewed it back in February and while the author seemed okay with my review then, somebody with the publisher reached out and was very snippy about it. Silly me, they had not limited me when I got the book, so I thought I was okay. Pretty sure I have jeans older than the person was who reached out to lecture me like I was four.
A few weeks later, they started moving the date. They have moved it several times. The current date is September 1.
By the way, we still can not see what the Dallas Library System has thanks to the ransomware attack that hit City systems on May 3rd. I am tired of seeing the below message on the library website at http://dallaslibrary2.org/
“Due to a citywide ransomware attack, the library’s catalog and most public computers are unavailable.
Library cards can be issued in person.
Do not return library materials you have checked out.”
The link in the above message that one can see on the library website takes one to where the City shares very limited info on what is going on and has been done to fix things. That has not been updated since May 31st.
Annoying and ridiculous.
Well, too bad, Kevin. If they keep moving the release date, how are any of us to know? I posted it when it was originally scheduled. Oh, well.
You’re right. That’s sad that they can’t update the message on the website. I’m sorry about your access to the library.
Access came back Friday with no warning. I now have 73 items overdue and came getting auto generated warning emails. lol
Oh, geez, Kevin. Kind of funny, really.