Enjoyed this one very much, another great suspense thriller from author Lee Goldberg. Never disappoints, highly recommend!

I absolutely love this series! While it can be a bit over the top at times, it never fails to deliver an entertaining and engaging read. Dream Town is a police procedural that stands out with its compelling characters, fast-paced plot, and intriguing elements, including murder, skeletal remains, and the fascinating dynamics of a reality show family.

One of the great things about this book is that it can be enjoyed as a standalone, though having read others in the series, I can confidently say they've all been five-star reads. Mr. Goldberg's writing is both smart and witty, effortlessly drawing readers into the story with his sharp prose and clever dialogue.

I particularly loved the moment when Eve references a saying from the fictional Harry Bosch: "Everybody counts, or nobody counts." It adds a layer of authenticity and connection for fans of detective fiction.

Overall, Dream Town is a thrilling addition to the series, blending humour, suspense, and well-crafted storytelling to create a memorable reading experience. If you're a fan of police procedurals with a touch of flair, this book is sure to delight!

Lee Goldberg is one of the finest mystery/thriller writers in the game. His attention to detail in his settings are second to none. I could not stop reading this and finished in two sessions. Can't wait for his next book.

The author's writing style hooks quickly, leading to an action-filled conclusion. The story is suspenseful with twists and turns, though most mysteries were predictable, there were still a few surprises. Readers become emotionally involved with the characters and plot. The absorbing storyline addresses themes like justice, community, family, corruption, and integrity, blending forensics and solid police work. This tense, gritty novel is fast-paced and engaging with wit, suspense, action, and violence. Fans of crime thrillers and police procedurals should check it out. The series is best read in order for background context on Eve's cases. Looking forward to Eve's next adventure.

Hidden Hills is a private celebrity enclave of white picket fences and horse trails that seems to exist in a dreamworld. But when reality superstar Kitty Winslow is killed within their gates and corpses are found in the vast state park outside them, LASD detective Eve Ronin realizes there is a deadly, razor-thin line between what’s real and what’s imagined. Eve discovers that Kitty’s surreal on- and off-camera life, a blur of fact and fantasy, shockingly mirrors her own as she struggles to investigate the killings, wade into a music industry war, and battle a vicious Chilean gang—all while her life is being turned into a fictional cop show directed by her estranged father. Eve’s grip on reality and the case is strained to the breaking point as the slayings continue, the media frenzy reaches a fever pitch, and the only inescapable truth she can see is death…and it’s coming for her. This is an amazing series and certainly not your average police procedural. Reads well as a standalone. Looking forward to more Eve.

3.5 stars
This is the first book I have read in the series and I enjoyed the mystery and I like the characters. I plan on reading the remainder of the series. While I think it can be read as a standalone, I would recommend starting with book 1 for the character relationship development.

What I liked: Eve in general is a great character. Her growth & talent are obvious in this book. The relationship between Eve and Duncan is still one of my favorite pairings. I’m so glad they’re still partners! Eve’s budding relationship makes me happy for her. The mystery/murders were well done and thoughtful. I wasn’t able to guess who was behind anything and was kept interested.
What I didn’t like: There was too much of the tv show terminology for me. Others may disagree. I’m not sure how I feel about the TV show dedicated to Eve, but it is interesting to see her grapple with it as well. There seemed to be leas of her family & the other characters we’ve gotten to know. More of them would have been nice. Eve didn’t seem like as much of a badass as in previous books. I don’t think character growth means she needs to lose that. More police work is needed. “Aha” moments are okay, but seem to happen frequently.

Overall, a very solid and engaging read. This was a good addition to the series. I hope it continues soon because I’ll happily keep reading. 3.75 stars rounded to 4.

I've come to be a big fan of Lee Goldberg's Eve Ronin series over the last few years, so I was very excited to get my hands on a copy of Dream Town. I loved it! I was a big fan of the characters and the storyline was fun and fast. I couldn't decide who to root for!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Another great read by Lee Goldberg in the Eve Ronin series. I have enjoyed each of these. Great characters, great story, and great pacing. The right mix of suspense and humor. Can't wait for the next in the series. #DreamTown #NetGalley

Dream Town by Lee Goldberg
Eve Ronin #5

Dream town for some but a nightmare for others is my conclusion at the end of the book. I wonder if Eve is finding it dreamy, difficult, deadly or some other adjective that begins with “D” as Eve and Duncan tackle their next cases that may overlap before the end of the book.

What I liked:
* Eve: dedicated, competent, focused, intelligent, sees connections, growing in her profession, outspoken but can be tactful, conflicted about the new TV series based on her life, is searching for balance between her professional and personal life, beginning a relationship with Dr. Daniel Brooks
* Duncan: a good man, father figure to Eve, a good mentor, seasoned detective, supportive, smart, decades on the job, great detective, loving husband and father, perfect job partner for Eve, interesting, and has a sense of humor
* The way Eve and Duncan worked together as a team
* Daniel: forensic anthropologist, intelligent, driven, excellent in his field, attracted to Eve and potentially a perfect love interest for her – want to see how things work out
* Seeing Eve’s family again and catching up on how they are doing
* The police procedural aspects and watching how Eve and Duncan found then followed leads
* That the persons responsible for the crimes in this story were found and dealt with and there were no loose ends.
* The plot, pacing, writing, and setting where I spent many of my formative years
* Knowing that there will be another book to look forward to.

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The mindset, behavior, entitlement, and disconnect with reality some characters exuded
* Knowing that though this is fiction, there are people as evil as those in this book

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely.

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

5 Stars

This is the fifth book in the Eve Ronin series and probably my least favorite, especially given how great Lost Hills was. While it had the trademark humor of the earlier books and some amusing banter between Eve and her partner, Duncan, overall I found the story slow to start and at times, I questioned how Eve arrived at her conclusions.

I would definitely recommend reading the series in order and despite this less-than-enthusiastic reading, I look forward to Mr. Goldberg's next book. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.

This was just okay. I have read all the other books in the series and liked them. This just didn't hit me the same way as the others. There was heavy talk on the TV show and reality TV in here that I was just kind of bored of. Eve really got on my nerves with all her complaining. I feel like we've moved off solving the actual crime in this series and are focusing more on the movie/TV industry. I'm not sure I will go to the next one in the series because of this reason. I'm definitely in the minority on my opinion though.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

Isn't it lovely that reading allows you to travel to different destinations ? This book Dream Town by Lee Goldberg, the fifth book in the Eve Ronin series takes you to LA - but not LA proper to LA county and more accurately to Hidden Hills - a town and gated community in LA county. So far so real - as for the fiction, in this book the gated community is home to reality show super star Kitty Winslow and her family. When Kitty is murdered the case and all the ensuing publicity fall to super star detective with a TV show to her name Eve Ronin, who despises the stardom and the TV show made after her own story but is still hated by most of her colleagues - who feel not completely unjustified that she has jumped the line through using her stardom - but that doesn't make her a bad detective, or does it ?
This is a series that is great for fans of police procedurals, badass female characters, and stories with great pacing - Lee Goldberg started out as a screen writer (Monk was his work for example) and he knows how to tell a story and keep you engaged. You can, of course, jump in at any book, the mysteries are contained to one in each books but the character development and overarching storyline will just be so much better if you start with the first book Lost Hills - it was published January 2020 so it's not as if it's that old, or is it ?
This book is a KindleUnlimited title (so is the whole series) if you have a subscription it might be worth a try !

Dream Town is Lee Goldberg's 5th book in the fun, fast paced Eve Ronin series. You have to admire a novel that's able to focus on frighteningly relevant issues & murder one minute, while making the reader laugh out loud the next. And Lee Goldberg succeeds in this seamlessly.

Hidden Hills is a gated villiage for the rich and famous. It boasts that small town feel, complete with horse trails, just outside of LA, California. Then not only is there a gruesome murder of a famous reality star within the town but human remains are discovered within the state park right next door.
LASD detective, Eve Ronin, and her partner, Dunkin soon discover that Kitty’s reality show is anything but. And as they investigate her murder, they find themselves learning more than they ever wanted to know about something called burglary tourism. Will this be the clue that breaks this case wide open?

I love this series. It is not my normal genre, but I really enjoy it. This story was definitely unique, I think the twists it took were so bizarre, they were good. This story has a great plot, interesting characters, and best of all Dunkin. If you are looking for a great weekend read, this is it. Enjoy!

This was an enjoyable murder mystery taking place in the Hollywood hills. The officers in this story are looking for a Chilean mob that are robbing and killing people in exclusive gated communities. It kept you wondering what was going to happen next. I would recommend to everyone.

This book is part of a series (something I didn’t realize until I was halfway through). It works as a standalone but I feel I would’ve gotten more out of it if I’d read the previous installments. Overall it was entertaining with a fast paced plot, interesting setting, and witty characters. All in all a good read. I’ve added the first four books in the series to my TBR.

3.5 rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the arc.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher, Thomas and Mercer, for an ARC.

I hate starting a book that's part of a series, so I downloaded books 1 through 4 of the Eve Ronin series. Found myself thoroughly enjoying them all, particularly since I miss my old stomping grounds of the Calabasas area ...

Dream Town, the 5th book in the series, was as enjoyable as the others ... just right for a dreary winter or a warm sunny beach day.

Since I enjoyed Lee Goldberg's Calico so much, I was excited to read Dream Town, even though I hadn't read the first four books in the series. Fortunately, references to past events made it possible to read this book as a standalone. The protagonist, Eve Ronin, was the youngest in the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department history to be promoted to homicide detective, which hasn't endeared her to her coworkers, nor does the fact that a TV series based on her experiences is currently shooting. The exception is her partner, Duncan, who has delayed his retirement and is therefore able to share with Eve the benefit of his experience.

The juxtaposition of Eve and Duncan's latest case, the murder of a reality-show family member in an ultra-affluent LA-area gated community and the fictionalized TV series directed by Eve's despised father and featuring her mother in a tiny speaking part is fascinating. And the depiction of the reality show family's reactions to the murder, which is quickly worked into the storyline of their show, is an engrossing subplot.

Eve's character fluctuates between superheroine-like escapades and almost self-loathing, as she tries to make sense of her own reality. I particularly enjoyed the occasional laugh-out-loud bits of repartee between Eve and other characters which provide a welcome break from the darker atmosphere. The murder investigation has many twists and turns, and there is a dollop of romance as well. It's enough to convince me to seek out earlier books in this exciting series.

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.