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.

I loved this one . I like that it included Eve and Duncan from the other series. Goldberg is a master at propulsive plotting and engaging characters and just good writing.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher

Ohh God soooo goood. I love it. I pick this book just because of the title but i never saw it coming. The books the characters the storyline everything is juts wow... I will definitely read and recommend this writer to my friends and followers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Ashes Never Lie", the second book in the Sharpe and Walker series.
For those unfamiliar with this series by Lee Goldberg, Sharpe and Walker are arson investigators who are quite dogged about their work, never giving up until they've investigated every possibility (see Book One - "Malibu Burning").
This outing finds them first called to the scene of a multi-jurisdictional car fire of dubious origin, when they are suddenly called out to a house fire with a fatality and the possibility of wide-ranging, terrifying consequences. At the scene, they meet up with two of Mr. Goldberg's other series characters - Eve Ronin and Duncan "Donuts" Pavone. If loyal readers of the Eve Ronin series ever envisioned them appearing in other series, here you go.
Shortly after that, the team are dispatched to a house fire in a new development - a development that has been plagued by protests from environmental groups - where an about-to-be-inhabited house has been completely devastated. Was it faulty wiring? Was it arson? The FD says the first, but Sharpe and Walker are not so sure, so they dig into the scene and seem to discover something that swings their decision to the latter - and then another house bursts into flames!
This one is an intricate, suspenseful story with more than one plot line. There is also quite a bit of gentle humour and camaraderie (we are brought up to date on Eve Ronin's backstory and current endeavours, we are introduced to Walker's psychologist wife and Walker and Eve even go undercover to a Comicon-type event to capture a potential bio-terrorist/incel).
There are a lot of overlapping investigations in this one, and most (but not all) are finished by the end of the book. Hoping for a third entry in the not-too-distant future.
Recommended. But do yourself a favour, read "Malibu Burning" to get the full effect of the partnership, and some back story. Then, if you like this series, read the Eve Ronin books.

Any new book by Lee Goldberg gets into my TBR by default. And I am so happy that NetGalley has given me the opportunity to read the ARC of his last 3 books (Dream Town, Calico and Ashes Never Lie). Thanks a lot, to NetGalley, the Publisher and the Author for this privilege.

Though this says Sharpe and Walker #2, it has Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone also as major characters. Goldberg manages to maintain a fine balance without messing up the plot.
While Sharpe and Duncan are good at analyzing clues, Walker and Ronin are best when they are on the move, tracking fugitives, cutting through red tapes, going undercover...
I loved the ending when Sharpe pulls up an elaborate and unnecessary stunt to arrest a criminal, having learnt from Walker and Ronin to 'do it in style'!
I have read all 5 books in the Eve Ronin series, but I couldn't picturize her. Now thanks to this book, Eve Ronin will always be played by Gal Gadot in my head 🙂

One wee complaint- the motive for some of the crimes was not convincing enough. Also one loose thread of a charred get-away vehicle. What was it about the bank robbery? Did I skip some pages? Or do we get the conclusion in the next book?

However, everything else was flawless. Though the plot had over the top scenarios, they were all backed by a thorough research. Not only about fires, arson, detective work, but also about the locations, environmental considerations, comic characters, crazy fans for Star Wars and superheroes.
This was very entertaining from the start to the end.

Another big plus for Goldberg's detective story is that the detectives are not the cliched portrayal of the fictional detectives. They don't suffer PTSD (even if they have seen many deaths and may even have caused some deaths). They are not always drunk, brooding and miserable loners. Thank you, Lee Goldberg, for not adding more detectives as psychiatric case studies.
These are pure detective stories, just the way I like them!

There are many things I love about Lee Goldberg's books. He creates fast-action stories with likable (and funny) characters, and while new releases tend to be part of one of his series, new readers can pick up wherever they'd like and not be lost in the plot.

As a loyal reader, I love the additions to the series with the Eve Ronin books being my favorite. Imagine my surprise and utter joy when just a few pages in, I realized that Goldberg was creating a character mash-up! Eve and Duncan (Donuts) join up with arson investigators Sharpe and Walker. What a brilliant move. Ronin and Walker have instant chemistry. Their banter feels natural even though they've just met (my one worry is that this is a sign of Duncan's imminent retirement - because who would make a better partner than Walker?)

Another Goldberg classic.

The crossover event of the century! The dynamic duo's meet in an explosive tale! Lee Goldberg reaches new heights--again! Ashes Never Lie should be the most hyped literary event of the year! I was excited to learn Sharpe & Walker were back for another adventure. I was even more thrilled when I discovered they would be joined by Eve Ronin & Duncan Pavone. What a dream team up! This isn't a situation where there are only a few paragraphs featuring this fantastic foursome. No, this is a terrific tale which requires the skills of these colorful arson and homicide investigators. The reason is we get multiple crimes for the price of one. The question is whether they can solve them all. Goldberg is a master of pacing and it always serves him well. The shared universe these characters exist in has never been more fun. This is another really riveting read from Goldberg. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion. #AshesNeverLieSharpeWalkerBand2 #NetGalley

Arson, murder or suicide. What is it?

Arson investigators, Andrew and Walter, team up with Eve and Duncan to get to the bottom of this mystery.
I'm not with much of the consensus for this book. I didn't find it suspenseful. The characters were okay. And I guess the explanations were too much. It's also my first book by Lee Goldberg. I would have liked things to be intricately placed into the story as it was evident that it was thoroughly researched.

After reading the reviews and its rating, I really wanted to have enjoyed this book more, so I do apologize to the author for the review. I would still recommend this book because even if I didn't enjoy it, I do see that there is a huge fan base that would.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Sharpe & Walker book? Sort of, I guess, but it's at least as much another book in the Eve Ronin series. Maybe, honestly, it's even more another book in the Eve Ronin series than it is a Sharpe & Walker book.

Now don't get me wrong here. I certainly don't mind another Eve Ronin book.. Back when it started, I thought the Eve Ronin series had the makings of becoming one of the great series of California cop novels ever published. Now... well, maybe I think that a bit less.

This is still a solid, workmanlike novel. No question about that. I doubt Goldberg is capable of producing anything that isn't a solid and workmanlike novel. Over the decades, he's produced a huge pile of novels and a ton of episodic television scripts. And therein lies the root of the sense of disappointment I feel with this book.

As the Eve Ronin series has progressed, it's become less fresh and original, and more like episodes in a pretty average 90s television series. Now we've come to this: pretty much 'Mr. Monk Goes to Calabasas.' The plots have become more predictable and the dialogue consists of characters exchanging quips with each other that sound like they were cut and pasted from some old TV script.

Lee Goldberg is capable of vastly more layered and sophisticated work than this. Don't believe me? Just back and read the first Eve Ronin novel. This entry in whatever series it really is doesn't come anywhere close to that standard. More's the pity.

“Ashes Never Lie” by Lee Goldberg was another super fun, action packed book. I am a true fan of this author and this book brings together detective Eve Ronin from her series with Sharpe and Walker LASD arson investigators. The story opens with a man found dead in a burning home in a hilltop development on the outskirts of Los Angeles. There is a well researched arson/murder investigation that touches on bio terrorism and Star Wars. The twists and turns in this story lead to unexpected thrills and danger, that will have you hooked from the very first page!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ashes Never Lie is the latest installment in the Eve Ronin series. She is still teased about her TV series and disliked by her colleagues. This tale depicts all the rivalries between the police department, firefighters (particularly the arson investigator) and the FBI. There is a lot going on in this story — car fires, arson, suicides, murders, biohazards, comic book character conventions and a somewhat ludicrous depiction of involuntary celibates. While much of the book is interesting, it is slow reading and the reader is apt to have a short attention span. Eve Ronin deserves a better fate.
I thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

What I'm saying is, there is no escaping risk.

Mr. Goldberg is one of my very favorite authors, as in "I'll bet even his grocery lists are interesting and funny to read!" I was so, so happy when I read that Malibu Burning was going to become the first in a new series!! Ashes Never Lie is a fantastic sophomore follow-up!

This time out, newly built vacant homes are mysteriously bursting into flames, challenging detective partners Sharpe and Walker. Then another home miles away burns to the ground, with a dead man found in the ashes, sitting in his recliner. Can they be related? THEN they stumble upon an arson-related swindle! Not to worry. All of the storylines were fascinating as well as easy to keep track of. I did my happy dance when Ronin made her appearance. She and Walker made the perfect comedic/detective team!

The amount of research into arson the author had to have made in order to write Ashes Never Lie must have been staggering!!

Now I must leave and and see if I can find one of those grocery lists I was referring to...

HUGE thanks to both #ThomasAndMercer and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of #AshesNeverLie. This is the second book in the #SharpeAndWalker​ series, with the expected publication date of September 24, 2024.

#LeeGoldberg #WalterSharpe #AndrewWalker #EveRonin #Arson

Lee Goldberg is on my short list of authors to read whenever they publish so I was excited to get an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

What do you get when you mix homicide investigation, arson investigation, FBI, US Marshal fugitive searches and Star Wars? You get a fantastic detective novel with conflicting opinions, jurisdictional issues, plenty of action and lots of trade humor. I loved the first book in the series and this one was a great follow up, especially with the interactions between Eve and Sharpe. The story moves fast and certainly takes a twists and turns that lead to multiple story lines coming together in a satisfying ending.

You could probably read this as a standalone, but theres more than a few references to Eve's past and the previous Sharpe & Walker book that might feel out of context if you havent read the previous books.

I didn’t know this was going to be a series and was so thrilled to get an advance reader copy from NetGalley of “Ashes Never Lie” Sharp and Walker #2, by Lee Goldberg, Published by Thomas & Mercer, on Sale 09/24/2024. I enjoyed the first but this can certainly be read on it’s own. Don’t be fooled by the short length of the book, it’s cram packed with action, well researched and explained information about fire investigation. I learned a lot about fires and the conflicts between agencies while the plot keeps you glued to the pages.
The fire prone area around the valleys, canyons and mountains surrounding Los Angeles are sprouting new developments filled with McMansions. The area is under the county Sherriff’s office where Walker and Sharpe are arson detectives. Sharpe is a seasoned and experienced investigator while Walker is still a newbie learning how to read a scene. There are cross-over character appearances from the Eve Ronin series. Donut is a favorite of mine and I thought his character was especially well portrayed in this situation. There’s an elaborate arsonist at work, there’ll be murder, an affair, danger beyond anything you’d anticipate. Buckle up for a wild ride to discover who’s behind all the mayhem. As always these are my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

Walker and Sharpe are after an arsonist who is targeting new homes. Then get brought into a case with Eve Ronin and Duncan. I thought Eve and Duncan were my favorite crime fighting duo, but Eve and Walker might be edging them out! As usual Lee Goldberg brings a great story with a lot of witty banter and laugh out loud one liners. I hope there’s more crossovers in the future!!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg -- 5 Stars
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
ISBN: 9781662512384

I check NetGalley often, waiting for the availability of a new novel by Lee Goldberg because I am certain it will be exciting and well written. His characters are the best part -- they are complex and believable. The interplay between the law enforcement officers is supportive and often witty. Adding Eve Ronin and Duncan to the team worked well. There are several crimes to solve. The ways the team catch the bad guys are clever. Information about fire and arson investigations is worked into the plot without slowing it and am now more educated. I enjoyed every page!

Reviewer: Nancy

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.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a big fan of the Eve Ronin series by Mr. Goldberg and was happy to see Eve and Duncan be an integral part of this story. I like how the author continues to build the chemistry between Sharpe & Walker. Certainly there investigative work behind arsons and the greater Los Angeles locations of the stories provide plenty of fodder, and I look forward to see how this series develops.