Malibu Burning is the first entry in Lee Goldberg’s new series, Sharpe and Walker, and it is a well-honed investigative procedural set in the stunning mountains of Malibu, California.
Master thief Danny Cole is just released from prison and focused on a revenge caper with a group of former associates and prisoners. Seasoned arson investigator Walter Sharpe is on the case, joined by Stetson-wearing former U. S. Marshal Andrew Walker. Their at-first reluctant partnership solidifies during the investigation of devastating, arson-induced fires that are threatening Malibu area land, homes and residents. The action mounts relentlessly, building to an exciting multi-chapter, life-and-death denouement in the final 25% of the novel.
There is some very interesting information sprinkled throughout the story about how fires “work” and travel, as well as factoids about incendiary devices, which was key to the story. I like this information because, as a resident of semi-rural Northern California, I live with the daily reality of possible devastating wildfires, especially in the dry season.
The characters are well-drawn and the camaraderie of the investigators entertaining, as well as some clever repartee among the cops and among the gang of thieves. This has all the elements of an excellent action movie, not surprising as Goldberg is a seasoned screenwriter, journalist, author, and publisher with several popular television mystery series in his extensive bibliography.
I recommend this book as an exciting, well-paced thriller, and definitely look forward to more novels featuring Sharpe and Walker!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Fires are burning in the hills around Los Angeles. Arson investigator Walter Sharpe thinks something else is going on but he can’t figure out what. This story is full of action and suspense that kept me turning the pages. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

US Marshal Andrew Walker had been chasing conman Danny Cole for years, but he has finally caught him. Sentenced to prison, Danny requests to be sent to a prison with a convict firefighting team. He and other convicts are defending a fire near a rich man’s house when one of them is badly injured and dies. As the dead man’s family are still paying for his crimes and are even more financially devastated, Danny plans his revenge and his next score for when he is released. Years later, Andrew is now a sheriff’s deputy. Age has caught up with him and he is married with a child on the way. He is working with seasoned arson investigator Detective Walter Sharpe. Wildfires are raging through California, but Sharpe is concerned that some fires were labeled accidental when he believes otherwise. Can they figure out how the fires are starting, Danny’s plans for revenge and the con he is working before it is too late? The discussions between Andrew and Sharpe as they investigate as well as the witty banter between Andrew and his wife adds a touch of humor and sarcasm to this fascinating and complex mystery. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

#FirstLine ~ Two federal law enforcement agents, one from the FBI and one from the DEA, were coordinating the stakeout of the Golden State Bank in Ventura, California, from a vacant third-floor office in the Erle Stanley Gardner Building across the street.

"Malibu Burning" by Lee Goldberg introduces readers to a riveting new series featuring a dynamic duo of arson investigators. In this thrilling novel, Walter Sharpe, a seasoned expert in uncovering the origins of fires, takes center stage as a modern-day Sherlock Holmes of arson. His new partner, Andrew Walker, adds depth to the story, a former U.S. Marshal transitioning into this safer yet equally challenging role, driven by a promise to his expectant wife.

Lee Goldberg, a renowned thriller author, once again showcases his storytelling prowess in weaving a tale that combines suspense, investigative prowess, and the human element. Together, Sharpe and Walker form a captivating investigative team, and their journey into the heart of fire-related mysteries is bound to keep readers on the edge of their seats. "Malibu Burning" promises an enthralling mix of character development and intense suspense, making it a must-read for fans of Lee Goldberg and thrilling crime fiction.

This book starts a new seriesin introducing arson investigators Sharpe and Walker. Sharpe has years of experience investigating fires. Walker is a former US Marshall, expecting his first child and wanting, read his wife wanting, a safer job where his life would not be in danger all the time. Little do they know. Danny Cole is an old aquaintance of Walker, fresh out of jail where he attended the convict firefighters program, and planning a new heist. I've never heard of convict firefighters before, but I googled it and apparently it is a real thing in California.

I learned a lot about arson and fire and some of the investigation methods that are used. The technique that was used to set the fires sounded unbelievable, but was actually tested while the author did a research for this book. Fortunately not everyone has access to the Icarus drones.
The writing style was fun and I generally liked the characters and could understand the reasons for acting like they did. It was great to follow how the heist was planned and how it succeeded. For all the build up I do think the ending was a little rushed, but enjoyable all the same. I look forward to reading more books from this series.

New characters in a new novel from Lee Goldberg.

"Danny Cole has executed his best con yet - stealing money from a cartel kingpin. Unfortunately, his escape plan hits some unexpected bumps and he gets caught. He volunteers for the California Convict Fire Fighters. He sees a friend killed and nothing done to help his family. So when he gets out - he has a plan for revenge.
He doesn't realize that the man that caught him the first time is looking for him again. He can only hope this plan doesn't go up in smoke"

Do you like your crime fiction with a dash of humor. Goldberg tells a story with the terror and urgency of a wildfire. At the same time there are characters that seem a little over-the-top but with an inner decency.
Walker and Sharpe make a good team. This is their first time together so there's a lot of first-date awkwardness. Sharpe is used to working alone and has the office to prove it. Walker wants something safer where he can go home to his wife everynight. He doesn't count on being in the middle of a wildfire looking for criminals.

Goldberg makes the fire one of the characters. You can hear it and smell it and feel the heat. The final act is nuts and full of cartel muscle, con-men, lost strangers and two arson investigators just trying to find the truth.

The pace in this book is incredible. It's easily read in one sitting. Hope we get more Walker and Sharpe stories.

Ebook/Mystery: I really wanted this to be an Eve Ronin book, but it introduces two new characters, arson investigators, on the hunt during roaring fires in California. I guess because I started reading this just days before the Hawaii fires, I slugged along with the story.
I would like to thank Netgalley for a copy of the book.

When he stopped to help an injured man con man Danny Cole is arrested by US Marshal Andrew Walker. Years later after working a a prison firefighter line during his time in prison, Danny is out of prison and Walker has just become an arson investigator partnered with seasoned investigator Walter Sharpe. Little do they know that while investigating more than one fire converging with each other all their paths will cross in an unexpected way. ( I hope this is the first in a series)

This book perfectly describes the feeling and emotions that come from experiencing wildfires. The storyline explains how the fires feed off the winds, to enable such fierce battles to play out each year across Southern California.
It appears that someone wanting to steal, uses the fires to hide their crimes and identity.
The main characters are committed to solving a crime, it seems more than likely that the fires were deliberately lit. Fire investigators are racing against time to find the culprit, the suspense builds as dangerous scenarios become apparent.
I personally found myself thinking that this book didn’t really have anything different to offer, other than the normal bushfire danger story!

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5/5 stars: Goldberg's a long-time favorite author and doesn't disappoint in this debut entry in the Sharpe & Walker series. As always Goldberg's written a fast-faced action-packed procedural, exploring arson investigation as well as a criminal investigation, with plenty of twists and turns. This is a very cinematic read, which isn’t surprising since Goldberg's a veteran TV writer. Goldberg's characters are complex yet remain incredibly likable. The story follows two POVs; the investigators and a conman/thief and his crew. The humor is spot on and adds just enough levity to balance the darker elements. Take care; check out the CWs. Can't wait to read more in this exciting new series.

I received this eARC thanks to Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

A well done, fast paced thriller than never lets up on the tension, Goldberg has created a great new team - this will make a good series. And sadly, it's topical. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg is astounding! It is a fantastic read.

Will Cole and his gang complete the most daring of heists and get out alive?

Andrew Walker
Detective Walker is a former US Marshal and the newest Detective with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department arson and explosives unit. Walker is an investigator, but his true love is the hunt. He loves the thrill of bringing the bad guy to justice. The more danger, the bigger the rush. He isn't big on partners. So, being teamed with Detective Sharpe is going to be a challenge. However, this job allows him to be home every night with his pregnant wife, which is what she needs to stay married to him.

Andrew Walker seems like he should have been a Texas Ranger. He wears a cowboy hat and is quick to draw his gun. Another downside to this position is that he has to wear a uniform instead of his own clothes. I like Walker, even though he comes across as a bit cocky. His instincts when it comes to criminals and their actions are highly developed. I do wonder how long his marriage is going to last. Will he be able to rein in his need for danger?

Walter Sharpe
Detective Sharpe is a seasoned arson investigator who will now be Walker's trainer and partner. Sharpe is a distinctive-looking gentleman with a few wrinkles on his face, earning him the nickname of Shar-Pei. All of his colleagues call him that, but they still respect him. Sharpe is extremely good at figuring out what causes fire and whether they are arson or not. He seems like the guy who takes all the advancement courses and reads all the fire-related books. My take on Sharpe is he is really good at his job, but arson isn't always easy to prove, which makes him continue to learn as much as possible.

Sharpe is a good guy. I like him better than Walker. Although, he isn't as colorful as Walker. Sharpe is clearly the brains and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. Yet, I feel like there is something that he may be hiding. He doesn't give details about his life outside of the job.

Danny Cole
Danny Cole is a con man. Yet, I was immediately drawn to his character. He has a moral code that he embraces and lives by, even though he is brilliant at asset reallocation. He puts himself in harm's way to save people even though he doesn't have to save them. Could they be there because of his actions? Yes, but they could be there because of their choices. He is kind of like a modern day Robin Hood.

Oh, and I loved the Milton Drysdale bit. Seriously, where have these agents been? Classic television!

Mr. Goldberg completely had me rooting for Danny and his gang. I know what they were doing was "wrong", but the circumstances of the heists made me want Danny to excel. Danny has a good heart, and he takes up for the little guy. Yes, he makes a small monetary gain, but...

Five Stars
My rating for Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg is five stars. I love reading Mr. Goldberg's books as they mentally and visually transport me inside of them, where it's like you are part of the action. There are so many moving items in this story. I adore the way Mr. Goldberg blurs the line between good and bad. I highly recommend Malibu Burning.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Sharpe & Walker #1

Although this story is a work of fiction it is a real possibility it could happened. “Malibu Burning” is all about firefighting and investigating the cause and finding the culprit and is the exciting and very captivating new series around police procedural staring Andrew Walker an ex US Marshall and senior investigation Walter Sharpe. This installment has Danny Cole, a prisoner, who joins an unconventional prison release firefighting program where he is teamed up with elite firefighters. But Danny Cole has one thing in mind...his next heist. The plot centers mainly on Danny the con man and what he is planning. The other part deals with the two wisecracking detectives.

The story is written in two different timelines and the chapters shift back and forth between characters I found it difficult to follow a first but when I got the hang of it I understood better what was going on. The banter between the investigators is something else I needed to get used to but eventually I did and found Walker and Sharpe hilarious and in the long run I enjoyed following them. Yes the dialogue is bit tacky at times but also entertaining. Of course the moving plot is over the top it is actually an adrenaline ride one can enjoy once into it. There is so much going on: fire everywhere, drones and ping-pong balls, trees and bushes and houses in flames....vividly said ...what a picture it leaves in your mind especially these hot summer days with all the fires raging around the world.....

This was my first time reading this author and what a treat! I loved the top notch writing, captivating and descriptive scenes that kept the book moving along at a good clip, and the entertaining dynamics and banter between arson investigator Walter Sharpe and his new partner, Andrew Walker, topped it all off quite nicely! The descriptions of the Malibu area and Santa Ana winds were well researched and pretty much spot-on. I would definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book if you haven't checked it out yet. I think it would be fun to see the Sharpe-Walker duo back again in another of this author's novels in the future!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have mixed feelings on this one. I thought the plot was interesting and kept me reading long after I should have stopped, but I felt like the characters of Sharpe and Walker were almost cartoonish. They came to conclusions entirely too quickly and it kind of made me roll my eyes at some points. That being said, I read the majority of this book in my pool in a single afternoon and would recommend this as a good vacation read. Would I continue on with this series? Probably not.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!

Andrew Walker, US Marshal, manages to capture con man Danny Cole during a daring heist. Danny opts to serve his prison sentence as a convict firefighter, helping to fight the annual Californian wildfires. Once his sentence is over, he realizes that a wildfire would be the perfect cover for his next con, which if he pulls it off would not only win him riches, but also allow him to avenge a friend's death.

Meanwhile, Walker has moved to a new position as an L.A. county arson investigator. He is paired with experienced investigator Walter Sharpe, and they start to look into the latest wildfires as there is something suspicious about the way they started.

As several wildfires threaten to converge to create a firestorm, so too do the lives of Cole, Walker and Sharpe.

This was quick paced, thrilling and highly entertaining. Sharpe and Walker are both quick, intelligent and humorous characters, and the spark between them made the book a joy to read. Cole is too soft hearted for his own good, his teammates are all interesting characters, and there are a few drug cartel members thrown into the plot for good measure. This all made for a fun read.

I can't wait to read more about these two investigators.

The first Sharpe and Walker thriller introduces the two main characters who are arson investigators in California. Sharpe is the old veteran. Walker is new to the department after a career with the US Marshals Service. Since his wife is pregnant, he's looking for a job that will let him be home nights and his wife wants him to be in less danger,

It's October which is fire season in California and this year isn't helped when fires are being started by criminals who are determined to loot under the cover of the fires.

The story is told with a variety of flashbacks mixed with the current time. I liked the way the story was told. I liked getting to know a couple of interesting new characters. I also liked the way the story coincided with the Eve Ronin series.

I recommend this one to anyone who enjoyed fast-paced suspense.

Last year, I read Movieland, my first novel by Lee Goldberg. In my review, I said “I tend to enjoy stories where the setting is a character on its own, if you know what I mean (think Jane Harper’s novels set in arid Western Australia. Oh, and BTW, if you enjoy mysteries, you really should check her out — start with The Dry). In Lee Goldberg’s Movieland, while Malibu Creek State Park is both a beautiful location for campers, tourists, and hikers, it’s also a great setting for murder.”

I was totally looking forward to reading Goldberg’s next two books, both scheduled for publication in the last quarter of 2023: Malibu Burning and Calico. When I read that Calico was a combination of mystery and western, I decided to read it first. TBH, I never would have picked it had I read more carefully and seen “Sci-Fi” used to describe it. Not just Sci-Fi, but time travel. For me, that’s not something I have ever really enjoyed. (I think I’m either lacking in imagination or just too analytical or something.) I had enjoyed Movieland so much, I just decided to go for it. I followed it with Malibu Burning (which seemed along the lines of Movieland in terms of setting).

Just as in Movieland, setting is truly a character on its own in Malibu Burning. This time it is the Southern California of my vivid childhood memories, complete with Santa Ana winds, those hot dry spells that are notorious for making people crazy. Master thief Danny Cole wants a huge fire to be a diversion while he pulls off a huge robbery.
As devastating firestorms in burn the hills surrounding Malibu, arson investigator Walter Sharpe and his new partner, Andrew Walker (former US marshal) both suspect that someone set the huge fires intentionally. But why?
The story rolls along, circling around Danny, Walker, and Sharpe. There’s a ton of action and, as was the case in Calico, the other Goldberg book scheduled for release in the last half of 2023, the book seems written with the idea of a move in mind. (And, like Calico, if done right, it should be great). Suspend your disbelief, settle in, and enjoy the wild ride…especially that ending. Wow. Four solid stars, and thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to read this new book by Lee Goldberg. I am new to this author as I just started reading and very much enjoying his Fox and O'Hare series written with Janet Evanovich. As with Fox and O'Hare, this new series, Walker and Sharpe, is very fast-paced. Character development is excellent and I even liked the con man, Danny Cole. Walker is a former Marshal and he teams up with Sharpe, an arson investigator. Danny has gotten out of prison by volunteering to help the firefighting efforts in Malibu California. He puts together a group to steal from the rich in the area of the wildfire. A real page-turner full of great dialogue and action. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

When con man Dan Cole finally runs out of luck and is facing a stretch in prison, he instructs his lawyer to find a way of getting him sent to a specific prison, one from which he can volunteer to be part of the prisoner firefighting service. The service makes up something like a third of the total firefighting force in the state of California and offers an alternative way of serving time to those selected. Cole just doesn’t fancy spending time in an environment where the long arms of the cartel he’s just ripped off can reach in and shiv him whilst he’s showering.

Meanwhile, Andrew Walker has just switched from being a US Marshall to join the LA County Sheriff’s Department. There he will be managed and mentored by Walter Sharpe, an experienced and somewhat maverick old hand. Their brief is to investigate fire scenes when arson is suspected. The pair make up a Stadler and Waldorf combination and their conversations are both deadly serious and also seriously funny. I really enjoyed Goldberg’s introduction of this new law enforcement pairing.

Cole, Walker and Sharpe are set to cross paths when the former is finally released from incarceration, complete with a new and daring plan to rob millionaire houses situated in the hills inland from monied Malibu. An area known to be prone to vicious wildfires. It’s all great fun as the threesome set about their respective tasks and the Santa Ana winds begin to whip up a series of huge fires, setting the scene for a big showdown.

I’ve only recently discovered Goldberg’s novels, which is surprising in itself given the author’s prodigious output. I’m already a big fan of his Eve Ronin series and although this tale is a little over the top in terms of both its action and also its accompanying dialogue, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was horizontal on a Mediterranean beach throughout my short time with this story and perhaps this somewhat enhanced my mood, but I do know that I’ll definitely be dialling in for the next episode in this new series.