*5 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

This was a really good read. Eve certainly put her life and job on the line to get to the truth. Duncan was a real character and he certainly enjoyed his food, but was a good partner for Eve. This book has lots of great characters, I enjoyed it and would recommend.

In the next book in the Eve Ronin series, FALLEN STAR by Lee Goldberg, Eve is the protagonist and Duncan Pavone is her partner. Eve is a detective of the LASD (Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department). She is temporarily suspended after attempting to handle a flash-mob robbery at a makeup store. Paparazzi drones have been buzzing bad-boy rock star Chaz Earle’s house since Chaz’s divorce from Laurel Sweet, and Chaz has been able to crash the drones. I’m curious to see if the two incidents are connected and read on.

I like that some scenes have a playful tone, especially those featuring Eve and Duncan. It’s good to have Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker appear with a walk-over from Lee Goldberg’s Sharpe and Walker series. I am interested in Eve’s relationship with her boyfriend, Daniel Brooks, and look forward to reading future books in the Eve Ronin series. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of FALLEN STAR.

Before I get to the book. I am so happy that there will be a tv show about Eve Ronin, I can't wait to see it. Fallen Star by Lee Goldberg is the sixth book with Ronin but she also appears in the Sharpe & Walker series so don't miss them. I have been a big fan of Goldberg since I discovered his books and it is a pure joy reading them. It's fast paced, thrilling and filled with humor. The character created are some of the best and the power struggle among various people adds something that most authors miss. I think the author is having a great time writing about this city he knows so well and an industry he has an inside view into. This story that starts with a body in a 55 gallon drum soon expands to a rather complicated affair that could mean some bad things for both the sheriff and the mayor. Eve on the other hand is only focused on bringing the bad guys to justice and she does this without regard for ofice politics. I am so glad I found this author and I strongly recommend him and his work to all you readers out ther. I also must thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for making this advance copy available to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Fallen Star by Lee Goldberg. I’ve dipped into both the Eve Ronin and Sharpe and Walker series before, so I was especially pleased to see them cross paths in this book. Goldberg always delivers fresh, clever plots, and this one did not disappoint.

Eve is a brilliant lead, sharp, determined and a perfect foil to the dry humour and world-weariness of her partner Duncan Pavone, who’s coasting toward retirement with chocolate chip cookies in hand. When an oil drum washes up on the beach with a body inside, their investigation quickly spirals into a case full of twists, corruption, and tension that hits uncomfortably close to home.

The subplot around the TV show based on Eve’s life adds a fun layer, especially when her reality proves more dramatic than the scripted version. The pace is quick without stretching believability, and the forensic detail is well researched and integrated into the plot. Solid characters, punchy dialogue and a plot that keeps you guessing—I’ll definitely be back for more.

Another explosive ride with Eve Ronin. This has it all.
A helicopter shot down
Snipers running a mock
Eve is targeted by the sniper and shot
Corruption? Of course there’s corruption.
Eve’s mother…need I say more?
What’s up with Duncan and his retirement? Is it happening?
You’re going to enjoy this one.

Eve and Duncan are called to a crime scene at Malibu beach, where a fifty-gallon drum has washed ashore with a body inside it. The body of someone who is known to them from another case. That is just the beginning of this wild adventure that brings about many different characters into this book. A few from the beginning of the series, along with Sharpe and Mason, are arson investigators. Eve is fighting the higher-ups once again throughout this story, working to find the truth. When you get the book, there are a few surprises that make me wonder about the next book. An excellent story once again.

Fallen Star is the 6th book in the Eve Ronin series, and the novice, and reckless, Detective Ronin and her partner Duncan Pavone are tasked with investigating a corpse found in a five gallon drum that washes ashore. This is a multi-layered plot, with some plot lines a continuation of prior books in this series, but can be read as a standalone. Ronin’s past decisions weigh heavily on her mind as she battles some inner demons as well as the bad guys in another outstanding book by author Lee Goldberg. The interaction between partners here is priceless, the dialogue sharp and witty, and the book moves at a frenetic pace as the plot evolves. This book is as good as any in the series, with an appearance from characters from another series by Goldberg that adds to the fun. This is an enjoyable series and looking forward to the next chapter in Ronin’s career. Well done! I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for providing the copy of Fallen Star by Lee Goldberg. I was happy for a new Eve Ronin book because I enjoyed the earlier ones. This was a slow starter for me; even though a lot was going on I didn’t feel very engaged with it. I still enjoyed Duncan’s eating escapades, and I really craved cookies! I loved the appearances of Walker and Sharpe and how they were part of the investigations. I’m not sure what changed, but at some point I couldn’t put the book down and I sped through the book with the enthusiasm I usually do for Goldberg’s books. 4 stars

Eve’s got problems—big ones. The pressure of the show is getting to her, her conscience won’t let Lansing go, and oh yeah… a helicopter carrying Blake Largo just crash-landed behind her house. It’s chaos, it’s action-packed, and the snappy dialogue had me flying through the pages. I can’t get enough of Eve, Duncan, and Walker—bring on the next one!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

This is a fast paced mystery thriller, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was so suspenseful, engaging and the twists keeps coming and coming!
What a thrilling read!

Thanks for an amazing ARC from NetGalley and the publisher Thomas & Mercer.

The book continues from the previous one with added plots. There are quite a handful of characters and took some time getting my head around. I like the Sharpe and Walker duo and would like to see more of them.

The Eve Ronin books are not my usual type of book selection. Although they are mysteries, police procedurals, action and suspense novels, my genre of choice, the books that I am attracted to are tales of violence, high stakes situations, and offer bleak views of the world. Dark tales with dark characters and dark settings. Yet I must abashedly admit, I have enjoyed each book in this much more lighthearted series. Eve is a likeable, imperfect, female protagonist who makes all the female characters in my usual stories seem hard, jaded, and “one of the guys.” Detective Eve Ronin is 26 years old, the youngest female homicide detective in the history of the LASD. She has a boyfriend (absent and away for this tale) who is a forensic anthropologist, with two siblings, each from different absentee fathers. Her mother is a wannabe actress. Eve lives in an expensive house in an expensive neighborhood that she got a good deal on after there had been murders committed on the premises. She is not very much interested in her wardrobe, eats a lot of frozen chicken pie dinners, and gets along great with her mentor and partner, Homicide Detective Duncan “Donuts” Pavone, twice her age and three times her weight. She and Duncan work out of the Lost Hills police station in Calabasas, on the western edge of the San Fernando Valley in, of course, California.
One of the best things about Fallen Star? Arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker, a former US Marshall, are called in on the investigation. Stars of their own series, Lee Goldberg’s Malibu Burning, Ashes Never Lie, and Hidden in Smoke, Sharpe is invaluable in solving the case in Fallen Star and Walker is Eve’s rescuer. Another great thing? Duncan, who was set to retire, has been reinstated and is once again there to support Eve in her development as a detective and to eat his way through as many McDonald’s, pizza joints, and other dining establishments as possible.
How can you not want to delve in to a story that begins with Eve shopping at a Trader Joe’s with her boyfriend, Daniel Brooks, when dozens of hooded masked people drive up in the parking lot of the Ultra store (wondering if this is good or bad free publicity for Ultra) and enter the store to conduct a smash-and-grab robbery. Eve shoots out a tire or two on every other getaway car, then waits with her Glock and badge out as the flash-mob spill out of the beauty supply store, filled bags in hand, running to their cars. Discovering their blown tires, some run on to the freeway causing traffic collisions and other dangers to the public. Capt. Mel Dubois is none too pleased with Eve, telling her she should have called it in and that she discharged her gun without cause and that she is suspended until internal affairs conducts their investigation. Duncan reminds her that three captains have left the police station since Eve started there.
Should Fallen Star be your first Eve Ronin book, it will help to expand upon Eve’s somewhat impetuous behavioral, and let us say, quirks, by explaining that the detective was previously showcased in a viral video of her subduing and arresting action movie star, Blake Largo. This disaster resulted in a promotion for Eve due to the county sheriff’s need to distract the media from ongoing departmental scandals. To Eve’s dismay, but contractual agreement, she is featured as a character modeled after herself and her heroic and daring feats as a detective in a fictional TV show. The show has been on a streaming service for nearly one season and she has garnered many fans who view her as a superhero, Duncan is portrayed as her partner in the show by an actor and Eve’s mother has an acting role.
Gene Dent had been named by Sheriff Lansing in a bribery scandal connected to the mayor and now has been discovered dead in the Malibu lagoon in a fifty-five galllon drum. Dent was a “fixer” who worked for the developer of a large building project. He was on a video taken in Las Vegas giving a Calabasas city councilman a stack of chips as a bribe to vote in favor of building a residential and retail development. Unbeknownst to Dent, the councilman had become an FBI informant who was later killed by his wife, Hallie. Lansing wanted to use the bribery case against LA Mayor Ward Keegan. The mayor accused Lansing of operating a secret task force within his department to seek out his political enemies. It was alleged that the mayor took unreported campaign contributions from a foreign national.
A helicopter crashes on the hillside below Eve’s home in Calabasas. Several of the political figures involved in the scandal are killed in the crash including-wait for it- the movie star Blake Largo. Was it an accident or is it homicide?
Eve faces danger as she tries to solve Dent’s murder as well as the mystery behind the helicopter crash. There is gun play, threatening situations, and plenty of action. The detective proves herself to be clever, fearless, and not easily taken down.
There are many recurring characters in Fallen Star including Eve’s sister and Tom Ross, her boyfriend, Eve’s domineering Mom, Emilia Lopez, the deputy medical examiner and Nan Baker, who heads the forensics unit. All are welcome. There are interesting terms used such as tower dump and interesting facts such as that Eve wears Kevlar underwear. The wisecracks, quips, and repartee, generally provided by Duncan, is a large factor in my enjoyment of the book and if Duncan does indeed retire, I might have to consider retiring from the series. Quite honestly, what I did not enjoy, although I tried my best, was all of the politics. I know that to a certain degree it was a necessary plot device since it involved a past incident with Eve and a corrupt detective who covered up rapes committed by a members of the police force and was discharged. Eve and Duncan had known about the coverup and did not disclose it. With this weighing heavily on Eve, it was an important aspect to the story and to its outcome but the plot regarding the New Positano development and the corrupt politicians just seemed weighty to me.
I looked forward to the next chapter in Eve’s career as a homicide detective to being more action and mystery and less a political diatribe, Duncan needs to be there. McD’s can’t afford to lose its best literary customer.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an advanced copy of Fallen Star. This is my honest review of Lee Goldberg’s book.

I've been a fan of Lee Goldberg since he and janet Evanovich joined forces to write some awesome books together! Fallen Star by Lee Goldberg is a fast paced, smart and thoroughly entertaining crime thriller that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Part of the popular Eve Ronin series, this installment delivers everything fans have come to expect - sharp dialogue, clever plotting and a protagonist you can’t help but root for.

Detective Eve Ronin is as determined and relentless as ever, navigating the glitzy but gritty world of Los Angeles with skill and grit. When the suspicious death of a beloved TV star rocks Hollywood, Eve is drawn into a tangled web of fame, lies and betrayal. Goldberg expertly balances the glamour of the entertainment industry with the harsh realities of police work, creating a story that feels both authentic and full of intrigue.

The plot moves at lightning speed, with plenty of twists and red herrings to keep readers guessing. Goldberg’s writing is crisp, cinematic, and laced with humour making the pages fly by. Eve’s character continues to evolve, and her flawed but fearless nature makes her a standout in modern crime fiction. Fallen Star is an addictive read, perfect for fans of snappy dialogue, Hollywood scandals, and gripping mysteries. Highly recommended.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

A Great high speed suspensful read. This one is full of twists and turns. Constant shocking surprises.
I adored the main characters . The plot was very well written and jam packed with action and terror.
This was a real page turner. You are invested from page one and you hold your breath till the last page.
Jaw dropping moments. Twists. Turns and more
Amazing

I’ve read all six installments in the Eve Ronin series, which makes it easy to pick up on various nuisances and storylines. While this book does cover the history of Eve, reading the previous ones enhances my understanding of Eve, Duncan, and other characters by bringing back their previous stories. Suddenly, a drum washes up on the shore, accompanied by a dead body. A helicopter crashes in Eve’s backyard, and the passengers are also connected to Eve’s past. The book begins a bit slowly to introduce everyone involved, but it quickly picks up and maintains its momentum throughout. Even characters from the Goldberg series, such as Sharpe and Walker, make appearances.

4.5 Stars 🌟

This is the 6th book in this series and it feels like I am enjoying each book more and more as the series progresses. In this book, we not only get Eve and Duncan, but we get lots of crossover with the stars of another of Mr. Goldberg's series (Sharpe & Walker) and get to see Eve (and Duncan) interacting quite a bit with the team of both Walker and Sharpe.

This story involves a bit of the political craziness and corruption that is Los Angeles politics. There is a murder that starts everything off, and before you know it, there are several people connected to this case - people in high places that do not take kindly to being investigated. There is also an event (a helicopter crash in Calabasas) that brought to mind a real life event from a couple of years ago and I was interested to read in the Author's Note at the end that there were details that truly were based on that event.

Anyway, Eve is Eve and she is not afraid to stand up and fight. The one thing that did pull me out of the story a bit is that we got quite a bit of inner monologue and insecurity from Eve in this book. She is going back and forth between feeling like she is a phony - because of the television series that is being filmed about her life - at the same time she is trying to live that life. She begins to question if the TV show is making her change the way she reacts to real life situations. In this episode, she is also battling certain feelings of inadequacies when she learns about a certain result stemming from an investigation that she and Duncan thought was settled long ago. It got to be a bit much for me. But, other than that, I enjoyed the book immensely.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This book will be out for publication on October 14, 2025.

Eve Ronin returns in another event filled thriller/mystery. True to form, there are several twists and turns that make this series such an enjoyable read. Lee Goldberg's "Fallen Star" is another winner.

A body found in a 55 gallon drum turns out to be a man involved in a local bribery scandal, so Duncan and Eve are sent to investigate. Later, when Eve is at home, she hears a loud noise and sees that a helicopter has been shot down nearby. The police arrive as does the NTSB to determine the cause--accidental or murder? The LA fire inspectors Walker and Sharpe (who have their own excellent series written by the author) are helping with the investigation. The helicopter passengers were some well-known local wheeler-dealers, and Eve will learn that some people will stop at nothing to cover up the cause in this exciting police procedural with great banter between Eve and Duncan. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Fallen Star is the latest instalment in Lee Goldberg’s Eve Ronin series. As a long-standing fan of Goldberg’s writing, I was really excited to be able to read this ARC, and find out what Eve was getting up to.

Eve Ronin is a standout protagonist. She’s smart, courageous, funny but not so perfect as to become irritating or smug. She’s that rare woman written by a man that actually feels credible as a human, rather than a pair of boobs with a story arc.

But back to the book. I was excited because the Ronin series is the perfect blend of humour, taut plotting, and action, all set against a glamorous California backdrop, and Fallen Star is no exception. Eve and Duncan are called to solve one murder, when 6 more drop in Eve’s backyard when a helicopter crashes into the hill below her house.

That would be enough on anyone’s plate, but Eve and Duncan also learn that a corrupt deputy they had helped force out of the department is still in fact working for their politically ambitious sheriff, leaving them facing questions about their own integrity at a time when their focus needs to be on the investigations at hand.

Fallen Star is a well-rounded book, with complex characters to balance out the action scenes. While the plot may feel more like it was written for Eve’s TV series than something an actual sheriff’s detective might face, that of course is all part of the things Eve must balance for herself, and it looks like she might also be making peace and learning to separate out the antics her TV alter ego from her own, if only other people will allow her to do so.

In all, the book is satisfying both in its own right as a cracking good story that is pure escapism, and as another building block in the series. I’m hoping acting Captain Beatie gets to drop the acting from her title and become a true mentor to Eve as she continues to fight crime in LA County, and I’m happy that Duncan’s consultancy work will keep him around to challenge Eve’s thinking and derail her eating habits.

I will definitely be recommending this book to people: 5 stars from me.

4 stars. I am a huge fan of the Eve Ronin series. This book is a lot of fun. There are a lot of Easter eggs for past books in the series, so that was a lot of fun. This book involves investigating a mysterious plane crash. The suspects are many in this one, and it is a very fun ride to get to the bottom of what happened. Hollywood and Lost Hills is a huge character in the story, as usual. If you are a fan of the series, please do not miss this one. You will love seeing all of the familiar, and also a few new characters, along the way.