This was a very good book. Lots of action in it Also love the Fox and O’Hara series he writes with Janet Evanovich

Ian Ludlow and Margo French. Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone. Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker. Proof positive Lee Goldberg is the master of dynamic duos. Malibu Burning introduces the latter pair and they are instantly likeable. Imagine Sherlock Holmes teaming up with James Bond. Goldberg once again uses pitch perfect pacing to propel the narrative forward. His ability to use flashbacks to plant the seeds for what happens in the present day is commendable. Malibu Burning is a page turner, yes. Gripping. Enthralling. And, because it is Lee Goldberg, it's a whole lot of fun. I really hope we see more of this pair because they complement each other so well. It's another Goldberg book which would make a thrilling movie. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion. #MalibuBurning

The hot streak continues, maybe even raised a few degrees in this story (pun intended). With witty, well-conceived characters and a fast-moving plot, the author has once again written a novel well worth reading.

Danny Cole is a master criminal mind. Arson Investigator, Andrew Walker, realizes that Danny is most likely the arsonist responsible for a massive fire running wild in the canyons of Malibu. A tense, action-packed, read-in-one-sitting thriller. Lee Goldberg is in his own league! I received an ARC from Net Galley and the opinions expressed are my own.

BIG thanks to both Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Malibu Burning!!

Expected publication: June 20th 2023

As the most devastating firestorms in Los Angeles’ history scorch the hills of Malibu, relentless arson investigator Walter Sharpe and his wild card of a new partner, Andrew Walker, a former US marshal, suspect that someone set the massive blazes intentionally, a terrifying means to an unknown end.

What a rip-roaring ride Malibu Burning was! It felt so good to lose myself in a book that made me laugh. The pace was fast, and I never got bored. Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker were hilarious together! There was a perfect depiction of the Santa Ana winds, and I loved the con man with a heart of gold. Wonderful book!

I have a request, Mr. Goldberg. Can you pretty please bring Sharpe and Walker back in another book?

Over the years we have all seen movies/books/stories whose plot involves a rag tag group put together to help the government, pull off a crime or perform some heroic act. OCEANS 11, THE DIRTY DOZEN ETC. Malibu Burning is such an effort, with a unique twist.

Prison convicts in California become volunteer firefighters and as such spend little time in cells and a great deal of time risking their lives fighting horrendous fires. One of them ( an expert con artist) realizes that endangered multi-million dollar homes could be robbed during these fires and no one would know.

Once their prison terms have been completed, the group comes together to execute their plan (start the fire and then use it as cover).

A fast paced plot centered around forest fighting, which most of us have never seen, exposes us to a world far from what we already know.

Never mind some of the predictability, it is still an enjoyable and rather quick read.

Prolific author Lee Goldberg maintains his standard excellent writing in his latest legal thriller, “Malibu Rising” — a terrific action-packed tale of two partners who definitely need a sequel or two.

Cowboy-hatted US Marshal Andrew Walker has recently changed careers to become a Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department arson investigator, joining veteran Detective Walter Sharpe. Sharpe’s first lesson to Walker: “Arson is done for a purpose and it’s usually for revenge, money, or hiding another crime.”

Two villains are introduced: the unrelentingly harsh Santa Ana winds due to arrive soon and a criminal from the past. Eight years ago Walker pursued and captured master thief Danny Cole, who finagled his way onto one of CalFire’s inmate firefighting gangs. The story is original and clever as Walker finds himself pursuing Cole again while Sharpe uses his incredible skill set to determine the causes of fires, but this time the pursuit is through flames and near death experiences. Kudos to Mr. Goldberg’s research about firefighting in California! This really was an unputdownable book — even as it was pouring rain while I read this, the author created an immersive world where I could imagine bushes bursting into flames before my eyes (and looking up for drones and ping-pong balls). 5 stars! I hope to see Walker and Sharpe back in a series of their own.

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review! This will also be a Kindle Unlimited release.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Mr. Goldberg said he will never make this mistake because he’s colorblind (his input to my last review of his book “Movieland”!), but, well, well, well, there’s Drysdale (ok, they’re contacts), pregnant Carly, and the crazy lady whose green eyes are fogged with cataracts… THREE green eyed characters!
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO As I learned from his past books, Lee Goldberg really knows the fauna and flora in the Malibu region.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Mercer Publishing for providing a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I got hooked on Lee Goldberg books with the start of the Eve Ronin series and, having really enjoyed those, have gone back and read several of his past standalones (The Walk, Watch Me Die, King City) and he has since become one of the authors where I immediately read new releases since I have loved everything hes written so far.

In this new standalone, he kept up the pattern of home runs. The combination of humor, tension and contrast between wealthy homeowners, wild fires, prisoner firefighters, and con men really hit the mark. I loved how the cops and arson investigators were portrayed and even some of the criminals were likeable and relatable. Goldberg clearly did a lot of research into the technical details of arson and fires and it really shows in both the depth of the plot and cranking up the tension in many scenes.

Highly recommended as a standalone thriller and its a great intro to Lee Goldberg if you havent already discovered him.

Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg -- 5 Stars
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
ISBN: 9781662500671

Like all of Lee Goldberg’s books, this one is fast paced, inventive, and twisty. The dialogue between the two arson investigators is witty. Good people and bad people get what they deserve. It is an overall well told story and was fun to read.

Reviewer: Nancy

The LA cop novel is a peculiarly American art form with an near infinite number of variations. I thought I'd read pretty much all of them. I hadn't. This is an entirely new one for me.

I've always been a fan of Lee Goldberg's books. He spins his tales in low-key, informal, and unpretentious prose which makes them relaxing and pleasurable to read. MALIBU BURNING is no exception to that. I have to say that I think his Eve Ronin series has a bit more depth than this standalone, both with respect to the development of individual characters and the overall sense you get of the workings of the LA Sheriff's Department, but that's a minor quibble. Here's the important thing to say...

Nobody does LA cops better than Lee Goldberg. Nobody. And that's the name of that tune.

Completely unbelievable but one heck of a ride! This was told in exquisite detail, the writing was top notch. This was incredibly fast paced and I was riveted from the beginning. The characters were unique and mixed very well together. While not plausible it was very, very entertaining. If you are looking for an adrenaline ride- this is it!

What’s not to love about this book? It reads like a crime to show - fast paced, lots of action, great characters. I can totally see these characters on screen.

I love the Eve Ronin series by this same author so I was expecting to like this one as well. And, I did. This was just great! Definitely recommend!!

Thank you #netgalley and #Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.

A “Robin Hood” type of conman with a heart of gold. A former U.S. marshal working as an arson investigator while he waits for the birth of his first child. A widow seeking revenge. A jaded detective who has seen too many unsolved cases. Throw in a narcissistic producer, a Russian oligarch, members of a Mexican drug cartel and you have some of the characters that make Malibu Burning a simply sensational read!

Sentenced to prison after a con job goes bad, Danny Cole becomes a volunteer firefighter with other inmates. He’s disturbed by a cruel event but inspired by the empty, evacuated California mansions and the wealth left behind. After he serves his sentence, he gathers his team of criminals to plot a spectacular crime. Meanwhile, arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker are investigating a series of wildfires they believe were deliberately set. Of course, these two separate plots will collide in the middle of one of the worst fires the area has ever seen.

The writing in Malibu Burning is so realistic and visual that you feel the heat of the flames. You see the firefighters creating fire breaks, hear the vibration of the helicopters and try to catch your breath during the breakneck action. Here’s the reason why: Lee Goldberg, an Edgar and Shamus Award winner and TV show writer/producer. The next step for Malibu Burning should be a screenplay. The team of Sharpe and Walker should be a series. And Danny Cole should keep on planning the long cons. Thank you, Lee Goldberg. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lee Goldberg for this ARC.

I was so excited to get my hands on an ARC of this book through NetGalley. Goldberg has become one of my favorite authors, and I’d been biding my time waiting for a new release by re-reading his other books.

This “standalone” (really hoping it’ll become a series) introduces a new cast of characters (some of whom feel like long lost friends from other books) in a familiar setting, with Goldberg’s usual impeccable style. Danny Cole is a con man reminiscent of Nick Fox, from Goldberg’s series with Janet Evanovich. The location and the firestorm are a nod to Goldberg’s Eve Ronin series. And two of the new characters, Sharpe and Walker, are arson investigators whose storylines highlight the depth of Goldberg’s research and his meticulous attention to detail in writing.

Malibu Burning is, at its surface, an intriguing take on the typical Southern California firestorm and what could be happening behind the scenes. But it also highlights CA’s frequent use of “convict firefighters” in a way that has you rooting for the criminals. And for this Southern California girl, the hint of a “dig” at SoCal Edison was also a delight.

It’s a well-told story, suspenseful and thrilling, with plenty of twists and turns. Definitely one to read!

Malibu Burning is scorching. Another riveting story by Lee Goldberg. This story line with arson investigators pitted against a conman waiting for the perfect storm to pull off his what could be his last crime as the flames come baring down.

I am a big fan of Goldberg's and this did not disappoint, I highly recommend this.


Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC

I let out a yelp of excitement when I saw there was a new Lee Goldberg available and this did not disappoint. Witty dialogue, a subtle tie in with another novel, and a con man with a heart of gold? Yes, please. On a completely related topic, you just don't find good heist novels that often, so it's worth picking up for that alone.

5/5 stars! Everyone knows the Santa Ana winds spell trouble. As these tempestuous winds roll into California, they bring with them extreme fires and horrors to match. I loved this story. I have not read many books that focus on arson investigators rather than homicide detectives and it was a great change of perspective. This story was as much of a whirlwind as the swirling fires it depicts, with an increase in heat and pressure as it continued. I was shocked at the ending (in a good way). Would highly recommend it to any crime or thriller readers and will definitely be looking up more books by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily