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!

In Ashes Never Lie, worlds come together as Sharpe and Walker meet Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone in an incredibly fun and entertaining novel that juggles multiple mysteries brilliantly. I think a lot of these reviews are just me praising author Lee Goldberg at consistently and quickly turning out quality novel after quality novel, as he's done it again. I love this fictional universe, and all the players have become favorites in a short time. So excited to see where we go next, I'll be there.

Special Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.

So hard to put down! I have read co-authored books with Lee Goldberg, but this was my first solo author read by him. WOW! I could not put this one down, and although it was the second in the series, I did not find myself overly "lost" in connecting with the characters or their histories. I definitely recommend, and will be reading the first book for sure.
Highly recommend for those whom enjoy mysteries, and looking for a new take on detectives. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy.

This was a great read with lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I really enjoy the interplay between Sharpe & Walker and can't wait to see what they get up to in book 3 of this series! Lee Golberg is on my always-reads list and he never disappoints.

#AshesNeverLieSharpeWalkerBand2
#NetGalley

After getting called to an arson scene that will be a jurisdictional nightmare, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department arson detectives Andrew Walker and Walter Sharpe are more than happy to leave and instead investigate an ongoing fire in a new housing development. It’s but one of a series of arsons set in the million-dollar new homes, with one eventually revealing the body of a crispy corpse.

Also called to the scene are homicide detectives Duncan “Donuts” Pavone and Eve Ronin, the latter of whom came to fame – and early promotion – after her videoed arrest of a famous actor. The younger halves of their respective investigative partnerships, Walker and Eve, find an unexpected bond as they enthusiastically embark on a case that leads them to a terrifying toxin, incels, and a new use for coffee makers.

This was the crossover readers have been waiting for, as Walker, Sharpe, Duncan, and Eve are a hilarious and amazingly effective investigative combination. Jaded but extremely intelligent, Sharpe and Duncan tend to be the more calculated halves of their partnerships, sprinkling in cynical barbs with their insightful observations. A former U.S. Marshall sidelined by injuries, Walker still dons the cowboy hat that has Eve teasing him with references to Walker Texas Ranger (the Chuck Norris version, not the remake). She herself carries the baggage of having a streaming series based on her life, as well as having busted corrupt deputies and crossing the Blue Line. The focus remains mostly on the team of Sharpe and Walker, the latter of whom struggles between his love of action and his psychologist wife’s concerns for his safety now that they are new parents.

Novels by Lee Goldberg always excel at weaving in witty dialogue and wry humor, using the author’s experience in the entertainment business to satirize its inherent absurdity. Here the detectives find themselves at a California sci-fi Convention where their attempts to blend in will delight fans of superheroes and a certain television series. The humor and fantastic characters are matched by an investigation that depicts the details of arson investigations, weaving in clues of fire ignition points, sparking, and traces of accelerants. Readers will learn as much about arson and the motivations behind it as they will be entertained by the characters’ interactions in this action-packed, extremely entertaining thriller.

Audiobook Note by Lorie Lewis Ham:
I had the pleasure of listening to this on audiobook and I second everything that Cynthia said, plus that the actors on the audiobook did a wonderful job of bringing this story and these awesome characters to life! Can’t wait to read/or listen to the next books!

The second book in the Sharpe and Walker series, this time the author has added Ronin and Pavone. Both end up working different crime scenes then turns out to be the same case because of course Walker and ex-U.S. Marshall are seeing more and Ronin is right with him. This is an exciting story that blends both stories of the characters and this adds to a very entertaining book. A very good and very much worth the read.

Good cop and firefighter story. Quick read with some twists and turns. Would recommend if you like detective stories.

I love this series and was thrilled to get my hands on the newness installment. This one started off a bit clunky though. I’m glad I stuck with it because it found it’s path and the rest of the book was a blast (no pun intended). The writing is witty and fun, the twists well timed. This was a quick, suspenseful read!

Wow, I devoured this book in a single day! It’s a gripping tale of two fire investigators who stumble upon a new housing development plagued by infernos. Amidst their investigation, they discover a house engulfed in flames, containing a dead body. The book masterfully weaves together three concurrent investigations, ensuring that the narrative never becomes convoluted and maintains a relentless pace. It’s an exceptional read, and I eagerly anticipate delving into more of the author’s captivating works.

Typical to Lee Goldberg, the characters are well described and very likable . The mystery is easy to follow and the twists encourage you to not put the book down. Enjoyed it even more than Malibu Burning.

Ashes Never Lie is the second installment of the arson investigation series starring Sharpe and Walker. It’s set in the same world as Goldberg’s Ronin & Pavone detective series, so we get to see some overlap of the same characters from both series. I enjoy these books because they are always quick, full of action and creative. This installment is no different. Thrilling crime procedural!

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

Vacant homes in a new housing development are erupting into flames in broad daylight with no apparent cause. It’s a perplexing mystery for dogged arson investigator Walter Sharpe and his restless new partner, Andrew Walker, an ex–US marshal who craves action.

But as they puzzle over the blazes, another home miles away burns to the ground, leaving a man’s corpse in the ashes and homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone demanding answers. The burn patterns and charred body tell Sharpe a bizarre story that only creates more questions for Eve. So the four detectives team up to find the answers. Their investigation into the two unrelated cases leads to one shocking discovery after another.

Now they must gamble their lives to unmask a brilliant arsonist, crack open a massive swindle, track down a desperate fugitive with a terrifying secret, and race against time to save thousands of people from an agonizing death.

Very intriguing story. Will recommend to others. Cannot wait to read more from the author.

Fast paced, suspenseful read. Lots of action and different things happening all at once. Are they all related, or are they all separate incidents that have nothing to do with each other?

The dynamic/banter with the characters was really great and really entertaining, keeps you really interested.

You do not need to read book 1 of the series to read this one (I didn't, I didn't even realize it was a series).

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer publishing for my DRC.

Fast paced, suspenseful and action packed with some twists and humour, all things I've come to expect from this author. This was an entertaining page turner.
Arson Detectives Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker are interesting characters and work well together. I also liked that they teamed up with Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone. It made for some interesting dynamics.
I look forward to reading more of this series.

Another great read from Lee Goldberg. Great characters, great story, great pacing. The book manages to merge two different series together easily. Can't wait for the next book from Lee Goldberg. #AshesNeverLieSharpeWalkerBand2 #NetGalley

This action-packed mystery sees the detective team of Ronin and Duncan teaming up with arson investigation team Walker and Sharpe.

New houses in a development are mysteriously bursting into flames, which frustrates the arson investigators and puts them at odds with the firefighters, whose job of fighting the flames can disturb evidence the arson investigators need intact. But, when a body is found in a burned out house, the homicide detective team joins the investigation. Their investigations lead them to some shocking discoveries, which could put the entire population of the area in danger.

This is a good solid entry in the Eve Ronin and Walker and Sharpe series, in which all the characters team up to solve the crimes. I've read other books in this series and each is a stand-alone, but references previous tales. I liked how both teams came at this investigation in their own way, and shared their information to come up with the suspect. It was just enough tension to keep the reader's interest all the way through the entire story. There were some good details given about the procedures the detectives used, which made the story believable and realistic. I liked learning about the arson investigators' job. It was interesting to see how they were able to trace the origins of the fires. The science behind it was fascinating.

A very suspenseful novel and great police procedural too. This entry in the series brings some of our favorite characters together to solve the mystery. I loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy in exchange for my opinion.

Ahhhh the combo book we've all been waiting for - Eve and Duncan meet Sharpe and Walker. And it absolutely did not disappoint. This was a fast-paced thrill ride with the beautiful pairing of Lee Goldberg's two dynamic duos when the four team up to solve a rash of arsons. I would absolutely recommend this one.

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

An arson mystery that moves at a quick pace as tension mounts to a satisfying conclusion. I especially liked learning more about fires and arson investigations.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ASHES NEVER LIE is a novel by author Lee Goldberg, and the 2nd novel in the “Sharpe & Walker” series that the unlikely pair of arson investigators that is made up of a former U.S. marshal who had changed his career path to hopefully have a peaceful life devoid of the perils he’s experienced as a marshal, and a cantankerous veteran investigator who is an expert at investigation involving arson who begrudgingly teaches his partner investigative skills but not without criticism and sarcasm.

Walter is the aged veteran and Andrew is the ex-marshal who become interested in not only the first apparent arson, but a string of similar house fires that seem to follow a pattern and possibly involving a serial arsonist, but it might not be as simple as that and they dig deeper into the houses that have burned and who could benefit financially as a result.

Great story that balances the slow developing investigation with the action of the chase and subsequent criminal behavior of those being investigated.

5 stars.