This was my initial encounter with a Lee Goldberg novel; however, it certainly won't be my final one! I found myself thoroughly engrossed and entertained by the captivating personas of Walker and Sharpe. The collaboration between Eve Ronin and these two skilled arson investigators proved to be seamless and effective. While this book is part of a series, it can effortlessly be enjoyed as a standalone piece. The narrative offered an abundance of thrilling action, making it a quick and riveting read.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas and Mercer Publishing for the ARC to read and review.

Arson investigation is genuinely not my bag. But. Goldberg delivers (as usual) with a bright, funny, sharply intelligent mystery/thriller/procedural with great characters and scenarios that are riding that line between plausible and exciting in a way that's so, so satisfying.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC..

Ashes Never Lie (Sharpe & Walker, Band 2) by Lee Goldberg is a riveting addition to the thriller genre, showcasing Goldberg’s knack for crafting intricate plots and multidimensional characters. Set against the backdrop of a city plagued by mysterious fires, the novel follows the journey of two dynamic investigative duos: Walter Sharpe, an astute arson investigator, and his partner Andrew Walker, an ex-US marshal with a thirst for action; alongside homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone.

Goldberg masterfully intertwines two seemingly unrelated cases: a series of inexplicable fires in a new housing development and a homicide case sparked by the discovery of a charred corpse. As the four detectives delve deeper, they uncover a web of deceit that threatens to consume the city. The narrative is propelled forward by the urgency to unmask a cunning arsonist, expose a colossal fraud, and track down a fugitive harboring a deadly secret.

The author’s expertise in blending high-stakes action with complex investigations shines through in this novel. The pacing is relentless, mirroring the ferocity of the fires consuming the homes and the intensity of the detectives’ pursuit of the truth. Goldberg’s prose is sharp and evocative, painting vivid scenes of destruction and the emotional toll of the chase.

What sets Ashes Never Lie apart is its exploration of the characters’ inner lives. Sharpe and Walker, along with Ronin and Pavone, are not mere caricatures of detectives; they are fleshed-out individuals with their own fears, motivations, and moral compasses. Their interactions and growth throughout the investigation add a layer of depth to the narrative, making the reader invested in not only the resolution of the cases but also the fates of the characters.

In conclusion, Ashes Never Lie is a testament to Lee Goldberg’s ability to fuse action, mystery, and character development into a cohesive and enthralling story. It’s a book that will not only satisfy fans of the genre but also appeal to those who appreciate nuanced storytelling.

RELEASE DATE: September 24, 2024
GENRE: mystery
TOPICS & THEMES: crime, fire, investigation, murder, detective story

this wasn't a story for me and i just couldn't care about the characters
i hope other readers have better experience with it
i like the writing

- thanks to the netgalley for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion

I came for the Ronin and stayed for the Walker. Witty banter and an enjoyable crime romp.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC

Ashes Never Lie by L. Goldberg, published by Thomas & Mercer is the second book in the Sharpe & Walker Series. The previous book is Malibu Burning and I recommend to read the books in order.
Arson investigator Walter Sharpe and ex-US marshall Andrew Walker are puzzling over an arson case where homes go up in flames. When a new arson case leaves a body behind they're about to run out of time.
A fast paced, complex story that had me on the edge of my seat. Twisty and full of twists and turns, suspenseful and angsty a great read.

I dove into this book solely because of the intriguing title, and boy, was I pleasantly surprised! The writing, characters, and storyline are top-notch and kept me glued to the pages!
If you're new to Lee Goldberg's series like I was, fear not! While " Ashes Never Lie" stands strong on its own, I'd recommend checking out "Malibu Burning" for the full experience and backstory. Trust me, it's worth it to dive deeper into this captivating partnership.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this opportunity. If you're looking for a thrilling read with great characters, give " Ashes Never Lie" a shot.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

This was a serviceable, expected mystery/thriller. There was nothing I didn't like, in particular, but neither did it keep me so engaged that I wanted to finish in one sitting.

Ashes Never Lie (Sharpe & Walker, Band 2) by Lee Goldberg. Another fully entertaining read, did enjoy having a four person team, especially Walker and Eve interacting together. Did learn quite few interesting facts about arson investigation. Looking forward to Mr Goldberg's next book in either series.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

This book was soo entertaining. I really enjoyed it. I did figure out who did one of yhe main crimes by a comment when the character was introduced, but it didn't ruin the story. This is very character driven and Sharpe and Walker were a kick. Eve is always fun.
I would highly recommend this to my friends Family. Great read.

Lee Goldberg has written a wonderful follow-up to his debut book in the Sharpe & Walker series with Ashes Never Lie. The veteran arson investigator Sharpe is still just as witty and beloved (or bemoaned depending on who he's talking to) and Walker still craves the action that he used to see as a US Marshal. In what starts as a seemingly mundane investigation of a house fire in an empty house in a new development, another house goes up in flames while they are there. The second house though isn't empty and has the owner in it, dead in his car in the garage. Two of Goldberg's other characters from his Ronin series, Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone, are there investigating if the dead body is from a murder or suicide. As they are investigating the body and the fires, they quickly realize that there is far more going on than an easy, open and shut case and that they need to get to the bottom of it quickly or else there are far more people in danger. This was a fast paced, read in one day book for me because just when I thought I was starting to figure things out, there'd be a twist that would change everything and hook me even deeper into the need to finish and know how it ended.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing the advanced copy of this book to read and give my unbiased review on.

Reading Goldberg's books always feels a bit like watching a really good movie. You can just completely lose yourself in the story with full faith that you will be entertained and completely satisfied with the ending (aside from the fact that it's ended, which is always disappointing). I can't say this of all authors, but I can always count on Goldberg for a completely engrossing read.

I was awaiting the arrival of Ashes Never Lie with great anticipation because the first in the series was a great read. Finding out it was a "crossover" with guest appearances from Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone created even more excitement. And the book did not disappoint! It was actually fascinating to see Ronin through the eyes of Walker and learn more about both characters in the process.

Solid storytelling, as usual! Definitely recommend.

In this second book in the series, Walker(the rookie) and Sharpe (the tenured arson investigator) are still learning to work together. Sharpe is trying to develop Walker's skills in evidence identification. After a year together, Walker is beginning to learn the trade, but his background is manhunting with the U.S. Marshals service and he misses the action. They are called to investigate a fire at an empty house in a new subdivision. Walker notices a heating element from a MR. Coffee in the remains of the house that should not be there. While they are investigating another house catches fire. In between they are called to a residential house where the fire includes a body. At this house the team meets homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone who are there to decide if it is a murder or a suicide. The two teams work together to bring the criminals in each case to justice. There is nonstop action and thrilling conclusions. Eve and Walker are active "out of the box" thinkers and nearly get in serious trouble with the other agencies involved. The author has done diligent research and writes with a cinematic quality that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. I have read other books by this author and will continue to read his work.

wowww!!! lee goldberg does it again!!!!! his books are always such a pleasure to read!!! this was actually probably one of my favorites ever from him!!!!!

In their second outing, action-hungry Walker and his crotchety senior partner, Sharpe, have settled into a camaraderie involving continual light mockery from both parties. Things start out as essentially a well-researched procedural about arson investigation with a bantering investigative duo, and then things get crazy. One of their calls brings Walker and Sharpe to the scene of a death being investigated by none other than Eve Ronin and Duncan, another odd couple who have figured out their working partnership. This unexpected bonus leads to a welcome collaboration between the action-oriented team members Walker and Eve, in which they alienate the Feds, go up against a secretive and evil biotech company, try to stop a possibly devastating virus, chase socially inept bad guys, have run-ins with wannabe law enforcement official, and find a reason to wear sci-fi costumes. In short, suddenly it’s an amalgam of about 6 different fan-favorite TV tropes, each of which would normally be its own episode—all great fun and all completely ridiculous. Oh, and it’s a Lee Goldberg novel, so there are entertaining observations about real estate and home improvement in Southern California. This one includes an extra little treat for mystery buffs: pitch-perfect dialogue imitating and gently poking fun at the Spenser/Susan Silverman relationship in Robert Parker’s novels. I enjoyed this fast-paced, over-the-top crossover adventure but found myself wishing maybe the all-plots-at-once wackiness could be toned down a notch, because piling on much more into a single story risks getting a little shark-jumpy, and where do you go from there? I’m a big fan of both of these excellent series, each of which started out with solid procedurals featuring appealing investigators, told with humor and a Hollywood insider’s perspective. Out of self-interest, i hope both continue for many more books.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital advance review copy.

Sharpe and Walker are at it again trying to solve what caused the fire in the home in the new housing development. AS they are working on this case, another home near by also burn. A body is found inside. As they try to get to the bottom of these cases, they engage with Ronin and Donuts. The story is spectator! It kept me turning the pages and engaged to the last page. Lee Goldberg is defiantly on my "just buy the book" list and I believe he should also be on yours! What a great story teller.

"This is the way."

I love Goldberg's Eve Ronin series so imagine my delight that she and Duncan are in this book. It's clearly stated in the synopsis that they're part of things but this was an auto-read for me as soon as I saw the author's name (plus I love the cover) so I was very much caught off guard.

I haven't read the first book in the series and had no trouble jumping in. I will go back and read book one now though.

Ashes Never Lie was fast-paced and super enjoyable! I'm looking forward to more books in this series (as well as Eve's series).

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer.

this was a great sequel in the Sharpe & Walker series, it had everything that I was looking for. It had everything that I enjoyed from Lee Goldberg. It had that element that I've come to expect from other books from Lee Goldberg's writing. The characters were everything that I was looking for and glad I was able get to go on this journey with them. I hope there is more in this series and from Lee Goldberg.

Arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker have intriguing cases to decipher. Uninhabited houses are burning in a new subdivision - who is to blame (a scary case of arson) and how was it done? A corpse is discovered in a house fire - but does the bullet wound mean anything? Arson, insurance scams, dodgy arson investigations, Mandalorian knowledge, unrequited lust and a virus that could destroy humanity are all part of a thrilling addition to the Sharpe and Walker series. One hugely appreciated twist is the inclusion of Duncan Pavone and Eve Ronin from Goldberg's Eve Ronin series. I look forward to more collaborations. I also appreciated the input of Walker's psychologist wife in regard to the cases and motivation.

I will be recommending this book.

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

Walker and Sharpe are back with another southern California fire investigation. A new housing development has just had a house catch fire before the buyer moves in. Walker and Sharpe find that someone has jury-rigged an IED made from a Mr. Coffee. Could it be the homeowner that sued the developer? Or maybe the contractor who was fired for theft? The inspectors are working with detective Eve Ronin, who is the protagonist in another of Goldberg's excellent LA based series. When they learn that many of the fires involve insurance fraud, they set a trap. Then there is another story line about an unstable, disturbed man who has disappeared with a vial of a deadly chemical. Thanks, Netgalley for allowing me to review this advance copy.