We're back with Eve Ronin and her partner, Duncan Pavone. This time they're in the mega-rich area called Hidden Hills, which is a private, celebrity enclave of white-picket-fences and horse trails that seems to exist in a dream world. The deputy sheriff who rules over Hidden Hills wears cowboy boots, a cowboy hat, and takes his job VERY seriously! When Eve and Duncan get a call that a reality show celebrity named Kitty Winslow has been shot and killed, we're off and running!

Dream Town by Lee Goldberg is a gripping crime thriller that follows the journey of Eve Ronin, a dedicated detective striving to uncover the truth behind a series of mysterious murders in a small, seemingly idyllic town. The novel masterfully combines elements of suspense, intricate plot twists, and well-developed characters, keeping readers on the edge of their seats throughout. As the fifth installment in the Eve Ronin series, this book showcases the author's ability to craft a captivating narrative that enthralls readers from start to finish.

Lee Goldberg has written another great book in his Eve Ronin series. Eve Ronin was promoted to detective after the cell phone coverage of her arrest of an action hero movie star went viral. Now her life has been turned into an action hero television series. As the filming adaptation of her first cases keeps interfering with her present, she can't help but feel bothered by situation. When Eve and her partner catch two new cases, life gets even stranger. The star of a reality show is killed in her gated community home and hours beforehand, several bodies were discovered in parkland adjacent to the community. Eve's past is being turned into a television show, and her case involves a family whose present life is completely scripted. She is constantly trying to convince people that "it is not the same".

Goldberg uses his experience as a former scriptwriter to lampoon the industry with an insider's accuracy. Consequently, the world is filled with realistic detail and Hollywood Dream Town neighborhoods are brought to life. Although I found that the mystery was predictable and guessed the who in the who-done-it, but I enjoyed the storytelling along the way. I would recommend this book for mystery fans and readers who enjoy an insider view of the television and movie industry. Although this book could be read as a stand-alone, it can be appreciated more if one reads at least the first book of the series.

I received access to a temporary ebook from the publisher through Netgalley, but the opinions sited in this review are entirely my own.

Another great addition to Eve Ronin’s story. I like the pacing of Goldberg’s novels: not too fast that it’s hard to keep up or miss out on backstories, but definitely not slow. I like the characters and have enjoyed learning more about Eve as the series progresses.

Dream Town is book 5 in the Eve Ronin series from Lee Goldberg.

"Eve and her partner are called to the murder of a reality TV star in Hidden Hills, a gated enclave of the rich and famous. There are also some bodies found in a nearby nature preserve. Eve discovers a disturbing connection between the two.
Eve and her partner try to find the killer while Eve dodges the film crew making a show about her cases."

Goldberg has an easy-to-read writing style and many of his charcters have a sarcastic sense of humor. It looks like some characters are stereotypes but Goldberg adds some layers.
There's an interesting blend of Hollywood and crime fiction with a dose of humor. Can totally be read as a stand-alone.

Another fun read from Goldberg.

Reading a new book in a series you've been following for at least three or four installments is sort of like getting glimpses into the life of old friends. And that's exactly what it should be, IMHO; you want the continuity of familiarity tinged with a few surprises - none of them, in the case of the mystery/thriller genre, life threatening to the characters you've come to know and love (or even, in some cases, dislike intensely).

Such is the case with Los Angeles Sheriff's Department detective Eve Ronin and her near-retirement partner, Duncan Pavone (this is the fifth book in the series; for those who missed the earlier editions, it stands alone fairly well, but as always, I suggest starting to read any series from the beginning, or as close to that as possible). The setting here is mostly in the uber-rich area of Hidden Hills in Los Angeles County - no doubt gorgeous, although nothing much about the place has much appeal to a Midwestern-through-and-through gal like me.

Eve's life has remained pretty much a mess, although she does have a fairly steady man in her life and is at least on speaking terms with her mother and father (both of which, though, could change at any given moment). Her much-publicized detective skills are being documented in a reality TV show, much to her chagrin (though in fairness, she agreed to let it happen). Her mostly estranged father is producing it, with her mother in a prominent role. But for her part, Eve tries to keep her distance.

Crime, though, still gets her attention; this time, the star of another popular reality show filmed in Hidden Hills becomes a murder victim in the family complex. Exterior cameras catch sight of masked mauraders leaving the scene - suspected to be members of a local Chilean gang. Meanwhile, Eve's main squeeze, forensic anthropologist Daniel Brooks, is engaged in finding and identifying bodies buried on a preserve not far from Hidden Hills. These, too, may be gang members - or not and may be related to the reality star's demise - or not.

Surprise - all these scenarios get visited and revisited as the connections among them become evident; it isn't till near the end that the truth - which, oddly also is interconnected - sort of smacks Eve right between the camera angles. All in all, another totally enjoyable read - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to learn that by way of a pre-release copy. Good job as always!

I requested this from NetGalley as I was looking for some shortish reads to occupy myself over the Christmas - New Year break. I'd heard of Goldberg but wasn't sure why and made the connection to his career writing for television (etc) AFTER I downloaded this book. That was when I also found out it was the fifth in the series featuring (apparently ambitious) LA Sheriff's Department Detective Eve Ronin.

It didn't matter than I've come into her story part-way through as I connected with Eve from the get-go. Goldberg is obviously used to relying on dialogue because I felt like I was 'there' amidst the action. And the support cast from her older work partner Duncan, to her love interest Daniel and those featuring in the case(s) under investigation here were all interesting... appearing fully-formed and real. And I did chuckle that Goldberg blatantly uses the Kasdashians (sp?) as inspiration for the characters here as the murder-at-hand centres around a family who feature in a reality TV show... and their fame was helped along after the daughter's sex tape was leaked.*

It's that same daughter who's murdered here and there are no shortages of suspects from those she's screwed over. (Literally and figuratively!)

[The murder] overlaps with the discovery of several bodies found nearby in what appears to be a gang's dumping ground and ultimately the two cases meet in an unfortunate vortex of sorts.

This was an enjoyable read and it's very centred around the entertainment industry which Goldberg would know well, as here Eve's estranged father (a TV director) is making a TV series based on her efforts in a previous case. It's attention she doesn't want, but can't avoid.

Goldberg's writing is witty/droll and I enjoyed the repartee between Eve and Duncan. I was reminded of the love I have for JD Robb's In Death series and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series and quite excited that I've got some Eve Ronin to catch up on, and that Goldberg also has a plethora of other books, some based on TV shows I've enjoyed in the past, such as <i>Monk</i>.

3.5 - 4 stars

Dream Town by Lee Goldberg is his fifth book in the Eve Ronin series, the first I have read. I found it to be a very captivating read, with a well-crafted storyline and relatable characters.
Eve Ronin is the youngest homicide detective in the LA County Sheriff Department. She is a hot shot and rising star, however many of her colleagues resent her rapid rise. She and her partner and friend, Duncan "Donuts" Pavone are assigned a case involving the grizzly discovery of 2 male bodies in a local reserve.
Almost simultaneously a young woman, Kitty Winslow, is discovered dead in her home, neighboring the reserve.. Eve, largely because of her profile, and Donuts are also assigned this case.
Kitty is a rap singer and model, and comes from a famous family; her father Caleb, a well-known and respected star of a very popular Western series. The family are now starring in their own reality series. Thus this is a high-profile case and Eve's supervisors want a quick resolution.
The characters are believable, the story is suspenseful and there are a few intriguing subplots. . I also thoroughly enjoyed the humor that the author interjects throughout the book. I highly recommend Dream Town, my first Lee Goldbergbook, definitely not my last. 4.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Mercer Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book, that in no way impacted this review.

This is the fifth installment with the Eve Ronin character. It is not necessary to have read the previous titles but it gives a little bit more of a back story understanding Eve’s reticence about being put in the media spotlight. It is an easy read and timely involving reality shows.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

Just ask reality star Kitty Winslow who has been sporting a huge Pink Panther diamond engagement ring worth over $350,000. Oh, wait. You can't. Seems that Kitty was murdered recently in a home invasion case. Said jumbo rock was taken right off her finger, but Kitty's designer bag by the door and all her other bobbles were left untouched. Who would kill the famous star and why?

Enter Detective Eve Ronin of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department in Lost Hills. Eve is gathering notoriety as Hollywood is currently filming a TV series based on the young detective. It's much to Eve's exasperation. She's just doing her job. Fame is hardly what motivates her. She and her partner, Duncan "Donuts" Pavone, take crime fighting seriously.

Starlet Kitty lived in a well guarded gated community with her family who were constantly in the camera's eye for their reality show. Her father, Caleb, was the now retired lead character in a series known as Saddlesore. Hidden Hills allowed their equestrian estate to provide a studio setting for filming. Everything was perfect except for that ill-fated night when someone broke into Kitty's room and killed her.

Lee Goldberg always writes with a creative style and a wink of the eye. His storylines are clever and well thought out. Goldberg incorporates a snap of humor here and there and some biting snappy dialogue to keep things moving in a rapid fire manner.

Although Dream Town is the fifth book in this series, it reads perfectly as a standalone. Talented writers have the knack for slipping the reader into an on-going series like hand in glove. Goldberg ratchets this one up with Chilean thieves and some unexpected home grown gang members to add layers to this complicated crime. It's a who dun it straight out of fame and fortune Hollywood style. Don't miss it.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to the talented Lee Goldberg for the opportunity.

Dream Town is the fifth book in the Eve Ronin crime fiction series, about a young LA county Sheriff’s Department homicide detective, whose online fame after an incident with a movie star kickstarted her career - but has caused her trouble ever since. I’ve read them all in order, which is helpful but not essential, as each book is a separate mystery and you do get enough backstory to know who’s who. These are enjoyable police procedurals about murder in the world of the celebrity super-rich, with plenty of humour, and a feisty heroine and her affable older partner Duncan battling the politicians both inside and outside their department to see justice served.

The bodies of three Latin American men have been found buried in a reserve just outside Hidden Hills, a gated community for wealthy Hollywood stars, and Eve’s new boyfriend Daniel, the team’s forensic anthropologist, finds evidence suggesting they could be members of a Chilean robbery crew. Then a young reality TV star is brutally murdered the night after announcing her engagement on social media - and flashing an expensive ring which has been stolen. Meanwhile Eve is grappling with the fact that her life is being turned into a TV show - and everyone except her wants to maximise her celebrity status.

This was another well plotted and fast paced murder mystery very much in the style of the Harry Bosch novels, which I love (he is referenced so it’s not a coincidence, and the similarities come across as tribute more than copycat writing so I see this as a positive.) The author has a background in TV and is not afraid to skewer the typical tropes and characters of that world. This features a repugnant media-obsessed family very like the Kardashians (I hasten to add I have never watched a moment of that show, but you can’t avoid hearing about them constantly!) who are more than happy to share their grief with the world if it will boost the popularity of their show.

I really like this series and hope that someone will turn Ronin into a TV show for real sometime - but in the meantime am happy to keep reading about her adventures.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
Dream Town is published on January 16th 2024.

A well done procedural which sees Eve and her partner Donuts walking the narrow lines between reality and reality tv in their effort to solve a murder. This wraps in Chilean gangs, a tv crew, a gated community, and lot of greed- all of it leavened with a touch of humor from Donuts. Thank to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

In yet another impressive display of creativity, Lee Goldberg delivers a fast-paced crime adventure starring hot shot detective Eve Ronin. In a world gone glitz and glam with social media and influencing, privacy becomes a thing of the past.

Ronin has become a household name in Los Angeles, her galavanting and escapades have earned her a show in her name as a larger than life detective. Not really keen on putting herself out there, she sticks to the sidelines and monitors the progress as far away from her father as possible.

While the show is ramping up towards a debut, the Winslow family, a Kardashian-esque family, is left in the wake of a murder of one of their own. While Eve starts following the trail to determine who the murderers are, she’s also navigating a new man and the opening of her new home to her family.

Goldberg channels the new age of social media influences and how they share everything in their lives online creating prime opportunities for criminals. His relentless approach to making Ronin stand out through pure dedication and success is evident as she downplays the accolades and strives for perfection throughout. Duncan “Donuts” Pavone is the trusty sidekick that’s a bottomless pit but provides clever ideas to his Hollywood sidekick.

Goldberg continues to impress and this one hits hard for him as his home in California was recently marked and attempted to be burglarized by criminals. Using that as a launching pad for this fast paced and true to style adventure, you won’t be able to put it down. Goldberg draws you in with incredible scenes and finishes the story with grit and courage. Eve Ronin is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters due to her no-nonsense attitude and cunning detective skills.

Dream Town by Lee Goldberg is the fifth book in an entertaining police procedural thriller featuring Detective Eve Ronin.

The story begins after Eve sells her story to Hollywood and is constantly irritated over how the filming disrupts her life even though she’s not even in it. I loved these scenes because they break up any mundaneness that tends to be inherent in procedurals. Instead, they incorporate an amusing side plot that gave me something else to look forward to throughout the story.

I adore Eve. She is a model FMC. She’s strong, determined, and gets those cozy mystery-like “aha” moments. Her investigations embody her erudite nature, which doesn’t let any stone go unturned, or any clue escape her notice.

The mystery is excellent. I suspected a lot of people along the way, but none of them ended up being the killer of the initial victim. Red herrings are well-placed, the dialogue delightfully witty, and the pace consistently fast from beginning to end: Everything I love in a thriller! Add to that a fantastic main character and an entertaining side plot, and you get one of the most enjoyable stories I’ve read in a while!

We are (re) introduced to Eve Ronin, a LASD detective who is tasked with solving another murder, but it's dealing with a reality TV star shot in her home, which parallels the celebrity status that Eve is getting due to the TV series that is filming based on her and her previous cases. I have to say that the plot was genuinely interesting and Lee Goldberg does a great job of setting the scene, even coming in off on the 5th book in the series. His creativity and ability to captivate was quite entertaining. Lee Goldberg created a fast paced story that had the entertainment and reality check facts within.

Rated up for 3.5 Stars. I think my rating would have been higher had I known this was the 5th in a series with Eve, I do definitely want to go back and read the first 4.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lee Goldberg for a copy of Dream Town eARC in exchange for an honest review. Publication date for Dream Town by Lee Goldberg is 16 January 2024.

“Dream Town” marks the fifth installment in the Eve Ronin series, and while I felt that it may not fully measure up to the previous books, it still offered a really engaging read that kept me entertained.

Our main character, LASD detective Eve Ronin, is back to solve another murder, this time involving a reality TV star brutally shot during a break-in at her home in an exclusive gated community for the rich and famous. Despite suspecting that the case landed on her desk because of her own budding celebrity status (thanks to a TV series being filmed around her), Eve is determined not to let it affect her work. She puts in every effort to uncover the truth behind the murder.

One of the admirable aspects of the author's storytelling is his ability to effectively utilize the setting of the series while ensuring each book delivers a fresh story distinct from the previous books. In this book, the plot revolves around wealthy gated communities and B-list celebrities. Although this particular storyline didn't captivate me as much as previous ones, I genuinely appreciate the author's creativity, consistently presenting readers with new ideas. I'm genuinely intrigued to see what other aspects of Los Angeles County the author will explore next. These books consistently deliver great entertainment.

Readers familiar with the series will find the expected elements: a fast-paced narrative, a well-thought-out plot, and plenty of witty dialogue. It all adds up to a quick and enjoyable read, providing ample entertainment. However, newcomers to the Eve Ronin series can comfortably start here, although there's a certain pleasure in being acquainted with the characters and their backstories.

I can’t wait for the next book in the series. It was a pleasure to reconnect with these characters, and I really enjoyed my time with this book.

Great plot that flowed smoothly with loads of action and suspense. The characters were interesting and had realistic dialogue. I enjoyed the read and recommend it to others.

Eve has more than a murder at hand- she has Hollywood elite, a gated community that it its own city, potential suspects deft at obstruction and her father's film about HER life interfering in the places she has to work in. It's enough to drive anyone batty, but Eve holds it together long enough to start stringing together the clues. But first she has to get past the 'helpful' locals and discover that there is more than one crime being hidden in these hills. A fast page turner, it's a welcome book 5 in the series! Make sure you check out this series, if you're looking for a tough female lead!

Eve Ronin is the youngest homicide detective in the history of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Social media exposure and a kind of blackmail got her the job, but with the help of her partner veteran Duncan Pavane, she has grown into her role.

In her fifth adventure, she is investigating the death of a reality TV star apparently murdered in a home invasion for her jewelry, including her new engagement ring, by Chilean crime tourists. The deaths occurred in an exclusive and wealthy enclave named Hidden Hills where everyone has a horse, and no one locks their doors.

While Eve and Duncan are investigating the murder, the first episodes of the television program based on Eve's life and career are being shot. Her deadbeat dad is directing and her mother who has hung around the edges of television as an extra has a small speaking part. Eve finally caved into allowing the show when she needed money which has allowed her to purchase her own home in an exclusive enclave. She got a really good deal because the home was once a crime scene for another murder Eve and Duncan solved.

Eve and Duncan spend a lot of time in Hidden Hills looking into things and Eve runs afoul of the Sherrif's deputy assigned to the enclave who runs it like an Old West town. Meanwhile her boyfriend who is a forensic anthropologist is called in to examine some bones just outside the enclave. He discovers that the first group of bones were those of young South American men, but the second set was something else.

Throw in a famous rapper named LilGlok9 who was once a member of the Cryps, is a neighbor, and has a reason to hate the victim and the victim's fiancé who is a former child star hoping to make the transition to adult roles and you have a mystery that combines Hollywood fantasy with the gritty reality of Southern California.

I have been enjoying this series. Eve is a complicate character who is self-assured and determined. Duncan is a great sidekick too. Fans of strong female characters and the glitz and glamor of Hollywood will enjoy this one.

Another perplexing case that was full of twists and turns! I was thrilled to reunite with the characters, and enjoyed seeing what they are up to now. The witty banter and the closeness of the dynamic duo is really a treat. The setting descriptions are vivid and feel like I’m being transported to the locale, even in the midst of a midwestern winter, I’ve enjoyed this series and this installment was no exception!