Ashes Never Lie: A Sharpe & Walker Mystery
By Lee Goldberg
Thomas & Mercer
October 2024

Review by Cynthia Chow

After getting called to an arson scene that will be a jurisdictional nightmare, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department arson detectives Andrew Walker and Walker 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. As 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, 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. The 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 superhero 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.

The riproarious adventures of two Southern California Arson Investigators and one kkicking take-no-nonsense-nor-disrespect female Homicide Detective continue intertwined in this second installment of the engrossingly entertaining Sharpe and Walker Series. ASHES NEVER LIE will keep readers on edge and sniffing the atmosphere for signs of incipient danger! Lee Goldberg is an extraordinarily talented writer who always grips the reader by the throat, never turning loose.

A crossover with Walker & Sharpe and their arson investigation & Eve Ronin! Lots of crimes, lots of characters, but I didn't struggle to keep everything organized in my head. I love how Goldberg captures non-Hollywood-LA--- the real people and places of Los Angeles. And pyromaniacs.
It was fun to see Walker and Ronin work together. I'd recommend if you're already into either of the series- if not, I'd start at the beginning and get to know Goldberg's universe first so you can appreciate this book more.
Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced copy!

Ashes Never Lie is a fun and exciting book that continues to follow Sharpe and Walker. I enjoy the wit and humour that comes through every page while the mystery keeps me guessing. Eve Ronin and Duncan make an appearance and work closely with the arson inspectors. There was a great dynamic between the four characters and I’m excited to see more in future books.

I received an arc from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

I was so invested in this book from the beginning. It was interesting, suspenseful and had me glued to it for a short period. I'm not sure where it started going downhill but I finally finished after struggling for almost a month. The story became disjointed and moved in odd directions leading to my losing interest so I won't be recommending it. Hopefully the next Sharpe & Walker adventure will be better. My thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg
Sharpe & Walker #2

Fires, fraud, and the FBI cause issues for Sharpe and Walker as they work on cases that see their team working with the Eve and Duncan of the Eve Ronin series ~ Enjoyed this one!

What I liked:
* The setting that took me back to places I remember from the first two decades of my life in Southern California
* The intersection of the two Goldberg series and catching up with the main characters of both
* The way Walker and Eve worked together with their senior partners to solve more than one murder and arson case
* Learning more about fires, how fires are started, how arson investigators do their jobs, and what motivates a few types of criminal behavior
* The dynamics between the characters – the respect they have for one another, their communication, and their jokes
* That the married main characters are well grounded and love their spouses
* That the story made me think, I cared about the outcome, and was invested in the story
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* That I smiled from time to time
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* That the bad guys were revealed and dealt with by the end of the book
* Knowing that there will be more books in the series to look forward to

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how different some people’s minds be to do the things that some of the characters in this book thought were okay to do

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author/in this series? Yes

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

4-5 Stars

Ashes Never Lie is only the second book I have read by this author. The other, Calico was very different but still with the same easy, fast paced style with characters to warm to. This is the second in the series with Sharpe and Walker, fire investigators, but is absolutely fine as a stand alone book. When brand new unoccupied houses suddenly catch fire Sharpe and Walker are suspicious despite being told it was bad wiring. Their investigation leads them on an unexpected trail and with a dangerous fugitive also at large who could potentially wipe out humanity their task is difficult to say the least. Homicide detective Eve Ronin joins them to assist with their race against time to prevent deaths on a large scale. With interesting insight into fire investigation this well woven gripping story has tension, fear and humour too. Great, believable characters who I’m looking forward to meeting again in the third in this series. Thoroughly recommended.

Thanks to Lee Goldberg, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I read quite a few mysteries and this is the first where the mystery was associated with arson. I liked the characters throughout the book and the banter between Walker and the other characters especially.

I appreciated what I view as realism within the story – most everything seemed real and appropriate to what arson investigators would do, although there is some dramatic license taken where needed.

This is the second in the Sharpe & Walker series and can be read independently of the previous book.

Recommended.

This is my first novel by this author and I thought it was very well written. I had seen so many positive reviews on his books and I thought this would be a good start since this is only the second in a new series!

I really enjoyed the interaction of the characters and the relationships that they are continuing to forge.

Walter Sharpe is a seasoned arson investigator and he now has a new partner - Andrew Walker. Andrew was previously a U.S.Marshall but came to this new job because his wife was hoping this new post would be “safer” for Andrew”.

The case in this novel involves a vacant home in a new housing development that erupted into flames with no obvious cause. While they are just beginning to investigate this case, another home quite a distance away is burned to the ground. However in this case they find a corpse!!

As this is now a murder investigation, Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone - homicide detectives, are called in to help solve these crimes.

There is constant action in the novel and it takes all four characters working together to untangle what is going on here.

This was a puzzling mystery and it kept me turning the pages. I finished it in two sittings.
This book checked all the boxes for me, a great mystery, a plot and investigation that made sense and great characters.
I will definitely be reading the first from this series and look forward to whatever comes next from this author.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

How come I've never read a Lee Goldberg book? I can't believe I've been missing out on all the fun all these years!

This was a fast-paced, nonstop police chase with quick one-liners and spirited dialogue. Although there's definitely a "male" feel, there are strong female leads who are right there in the thick of the action. It was a nice break from all the female-centered fiction and drama I usually read.

Even though in some ways it's the typical cop book, it has some expanded elements because Sharpe and Walker aren't ordinary cops, they're arson investigators. They keep us on our toes as they analyze how a fire breaks out and spreads, which leads to incredible information gathering that helps them find the crooks. It's fascinating to listen to them explain all of the details, things everyday readers would never notice.

There are a few investigations going on at once, and nothing is what it seems to be. I enjoyed following the cops around the greater Los Angeles area as they zero in on the bad guys.

There are some deeper elements, too, although they're side points. Should we feel bad for a thief who stole to pay his wife's medical bills? Or a young man who didn't have what it takes to make the firefighter cut and is desperate to show that he's made of something? Or a socially awkward person who has had enough of not getting what he wants out of life?

Walker's wife is a psychologist, and she's constantly giving us the emotional side of things.

Apparently, Golberg wrote a whole series based on the Eve Ronin character, and fans will be happy to see that she plays a major role in this book.

4 stars for this great ride. Can't wait to read the next installment!

Thought this was a simple story about arson investigators? Think again! This was quite a wild ride, and such an enjoyable read. The banter is always so good, and literally made me laugh out loud! If you’re a Lee Goldberg fan, then you’ll see some cameos from some beloved characters from another series. I can’t wait for the next book!

3.5 stars

This was a nice detective mystery! It wasnt mind blowing by any means but it was entertaining. The beginning was a little slow and I don't think it helped that I haven't read the first book. I think it would have helped to have a little more information on this duos background but I wouldn't say it was NEEDED to read the first one.

I liked the fun references that I knew and recognized. It was definitely a multi faceted case. It started with one thing and then turned into something completely different. Overall not a bad story line! Just felt slightly predictable and monotone in my opinion

I enjoy this series, but prefer the Eve Ronin series, so I was pleasantly surprised when Eve was in this Walker & Sharpe series! The characters were great, besides the usual, but some of the very unusual "bad guys". I thought this was a bit more intriguing than some. I liked getting to know Walker's wife. She definitely adds to the series, great character. highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg. This is the 2nd book in the Sharpe and Walker series. Lee Goldberg has done it again! I couldn't put this book down! Walker and Sharpe are two characters that I hope have many more stories to come in the future. Well done!

Holy Cow this was good! Three amazing story lines woven into a fast-paced story that I could not put down. Not to mention Eve & Dunkin get to investigate with Sharpe & Walker. Loved everything about this story. Great writing, great characters, and interesting stories. One of the villains is so unexpected (which is so good). Cannot wait for the next one!

Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg is the second book about two investigators Sharpe and Walker series.
What a great book! It's a fast-paced, enjoyable read, i could not put it down.
It's a must-read for everyone who enjoys thrillers.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Lee Goldberg novel and I must say, this was not one of my favorites. Every time I though it was going to ‘get there’, it didn’t. It doesn’t stop me from looking for more of Lee’s books to read. Could it be because he is a mainstream author I have high expectations?

The dialogue seemed forced. The back and forth banter seemed mean spirited, by the tone of the writing. I know it wasn’t meant that way.

We seemed to be all over the place and there was more than one bad guy doing bad things.

We have the politics of different police forces trying to run things, and that read true.

Gotta remember this is an ARC and there may be changes made, writing tightened up. The characters and mystery were fleshed out but it had an amateur feel to it, maybe a rushed feeling that I sure don’t expect from a mainstream author. That being said, I’ll still have my eye out for more of his work.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg.

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Ronin and Pavone Join Sharpe and Walker

Sharpe and Walker arrive at the scene of a car fire in the Chatsworth Nature Preserve. Sharpe goes to inspect a burnt Camry. Walker and the fire captain joke about the protected species that will require reports to numerous environmental and endangered species agencies. The fire chief gives Walker the license plate, who runs it. Sharpe looks around. He says that it is arson. Gas was splashed around the inside and lit with a road flare. The gas can is right over there. Sharpe tells Walker that there are only three reasons that a car is set on fire: revenge, profit, or involvement in a crime. Walker tells him that it was reported stolen this morning by the owner. It was used a short time later in a bank robbery. Sharpe states that this is an FBI case now. They see smoke in the distance and decide to investigate.

This novel has three interwoven threads. The first is the Twin Lakes arsons, in which finished homes become fully engulfed in flames shortly after the power is turned on. A second arson crime spree is discovered during the Twin Lakes arsons. The last thread involves a strange arson suicide. The significant positive of this novel was the joining of Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone in the investigation of the strange arson death. Their participation was not limited to this thread. This thread trips across National Security, and the FBI takes over the investigation. Walker does not understand the meaning of no in pursuing this investigation, which leads to much interagency conflict. Twin Lakes investigation is complex, and every advancement seems like finding a jigsaw puzzle piece that does not seem to fit anywhere. All these elements grabbed and held my attention until the end.

Walker and Ronin are like two peas in a pod. Their interactions form a B-storyline. As Walker transitioned to being an arson investigator from being a US Marshall, in his heart, he enjoys interviewing people and chasing criminals. He bonds with Ronin, and the two start to work together. At the arson scenes, Walker takes on the role of teacher to Ronin to explain what the scene is telling them. The reader will see that Shape does more than investigate arsons and argue with a fire captain. When Ronin and Pavone were introduced, it made me smile. The smile stayed until I finished the novel.

This novel has a few aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading. Intimate scenes are nonexistent. Vulgar and rude language is present but at a low level. Some scenes could erupt in violence, but none of them do so. This is the second novel in this series, and the Ronin and Pavone series has five novels, so all these characters come with much background. I have read them all but found nothing to stop someone from reading this novel first.

The most significant reason I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel was the addition of Eve Ronin and Dunkin Pavone to the storyline. I could not stop reading. The next novel in this series is already listed on Amazon, and I am going to have a hard time waiting. I highly recommend reading it. I rate this novel with five stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Thomas and Mercer. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Thomas and Mercer, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

"What I'm saying is, there is no escaping risk."

Mr. Goldberg is one of my very favorite authors, as in "I'll bet even his grocery lists are interesting and funny to read!" I was so, so happy when I read that Malibu Burning was going to become the first in a new series!! Ashes Never Lie is a fantastic sophomore follow-up!

This time out, newly built vacant homes are mysteriously bursting into flames, challenging detective partners Sharpe and Walker. Then another home miles away burns to the ground, with a dead man found in the ashes, sitting in his recliner. Can they be related? THEN they stumble upon an arson-related swindle! Not to worry. All of the storylines were fascinating as well as easy to keep track of. I did my happy dance when Ronin made her appearance. She and Walker made the perfect comedic/detective team!

The amount of research into arson the author had to have made in order to write Ashes Never Lie must have been staggering!!

HUGE thanks to both #ThomasAndMercer and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of #AshesNeverLie. This is the second book in the #SharpeAndWalker​ series, with the expected publication date of September 24, 2024.

#LeeGoldberg #WalterSharpe #AndrewWalker #EveRonin #Arson

Ashes Never Lie was a perfect, high speed procedural based novel. This is the second book in the Sharpe and Walker series. It worked well as a stand alone but after reading this I purchased a copy of the first book in the series, Malibu Burning. I have read some of Goldberg's Eve Ronin books and I was happy to see the character crossovers. Overall this book was fun and there was lots of action and several cases that were solved. I am excited to both go back and read book 1 in the series and also any later additions.