Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg picks up about a year after the events of Malibu Burning. This second book in the series also works in Eve Ronin, and her partner, Duncan Pavone. It is also a really good read.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department arson detectives Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker have pretty much finished at one fire scene where the fire crew is pulled off to go fight a house fire in the nearby Twin Lakes housing development. The house is unoccupied. There is also plenty of ground fuel, thanks to the weather. If firefighters don’t stop the fire now, it could go through the housing development, get into the bordering Santa Susanna Pass State Park and then take off for nearby Calabasas and the Santa Monica Mountains. The last time the fire roared through the Santa Monica Mountains, Sharpe and Wlaker barely escaped with their lives.

Sharpe, as senior investigator and still teaching Walker, insists they have to check out the house fire. Walker doesn’t see much point, as they have not been called in to investigate, but Sharpe wants to see it because fire guys flush away evidence and won’t know if it is arson or not.

When they arrive, they find firefighters hard at work fighting a fire that has fully engulfed the two-story home. The house is completely empty and yet is burning like crazy. Power had only been turned on that morning and there were no workman inside or around it. In fact, nobody had been working on it. The weather was fine as it was dry and clear. So, the questions are—What caused the fire and what caused it to spread so fast and burn so hot?

While the crew works, Sharpe and Walker look at a nearby home that is identical to the one that is burning. Sharpe has some questions after the house tour, questions that are reinforced when Captain Guyette tells him it must have been an electrical as there were multiple ignition points also over the house next to the electric sockets, light switches, and lighting. Sharpe isn’t buying it.

Not that he can investigate much right now, as he and Walker are suddenly pulled off to go to a house fire in Calabasas where there is a body.

LASD Homicide Detective Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone are also there and waiting for them. The four gear up and go into the house. It is believed that Patrick Lopresti was home alone and is the dead person in the fire. The question Eve wants to know is where he got murdered, killed himself, or was committing arson and screwed up?

That question is soon answered in an unexpected way and becomes one of two complicated storylines in the book. The first being the house fire scene they were working before being pulled here.

Ashes Never Lie is the second book in the Sharpe and Walker series and a very good read. Complicated and fast moving it roars along at a rapid pace to a satisfying and explosive conclusion. In short, a fun read, and very much well worth your time.


Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4gjCcm5



My reading copy was a digital ARC from the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, by way of NetGalley.



Kevin R. Tipple ©2024

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Ashes Never Lie (Sharpe & Walker, Book 2) by Lee Goldberg
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 286 / Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers
Release Date: September 17, 2024

In the first book in the Sharpe & Walker series, Malibu Burning, I thought it was strange that the series was about the arson investigators rather than the exciting and charismatic criminal Danny Cole. And sure enough, this second story featured Sharpe and Walter as the leads and even had a special guest tie-in of Eve Ronin from Goldberg’s other series. But alas, these are not leading men. This arson story included a biological toxin, a comic convention, and superhero costumes, yet still did not really hold my interest. I’ll go back to waiting for that Danny Cole series.

Thank you, @NetGalley for my gifted copies.

Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg is a gripping thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The story revolves around arson investigator Walter Sharpe and his partner Andrew Walker, who are trying to solve mysterious fires in new housing developments. When a man’s body is found in the ashes of a separate fire, detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone join the investigation. The twists and turns in this book are non-stop, leading to a surprising conclusion as the team uncovers an arsonist's clever tricks and a larger scheme.
Goldberg does an excellent job weaving the characters' stories together, creating an intense mystery that leaves you on edge. I particularly loved how the team worked together to outsmart the arsonist.
If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers with complex investigations and high stakes, this is definitely a must-read!

The second Walker and Sharpe outing. A new development house goes up in flames as they investigate another house burns to the ground only a body is discovered in comes Ronin and Pavone. All four join forces to investigate. Lots of twists in this excellent well plotted thriller. Keeps you hooked till the end. Thanks to Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley for this review copy.

Blazes be blazin'.

Ashes Never Lie welcomes back the arson detectives, Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker, in this second addition to the Sharpe & Walker Series. You must grab Malibu Burning #1 (2023) in order to get the full flavor of this partnership. Ashes Never Lie does read as a solid standalone though. But, hey, get in on the ground floor as this series takes off.

Sharpe and Walker have now partnered for over a year together. Sharpe is a seasoned investigator who is twenty years older than Walker. Walker is an ex U.S. Marshal who wears a Stetson hat and promised his wife, Carly, that he's backing away from the dangerous stuff npw. Memo to Carly: The dangerous stuff is still following your hubby. Beware.

There's a car fire on historical land in the Chatsworth Nature Preserve in San Fernando Valley. It's also a ceremonial ground for the Chumach tribe. Watch where you step with endangered foliage as well. A complex investigation in a complex area.

Next comes a big ticket investigation when a corpse is found in a burned out home in Calabasas. This brings in the L.A. County Sheriff's Department with homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan "Donuts" Pavone. (If you're in a reading slump, get unslumped with Goldberg's Eve Ronin Series. Oh, so good.) Our reader antennae goes up in nano seconds at the thought of these four detectives working together on a case. WoWzers!

The flames continue as break-out fires and unexpected explosions are getting their attention in a model home development not far away. Sharpe and Walker fear for the safety of those already in occupied homes in the vicinity. Just who is responsibile for all this? And most of all, why?

The life of a reader usually includes some expected hits and some expected misses. With Lee Goldberg, it's hits ringing out all the time. There's a reason why he has "Gold" in his last name. Goldberg has us readers flippin' pages with laugh-out-loud moments. (We need more of that in this knotted up world of ours.) The flame is lit in this one. Grab a seat and toast your marshmellos to a just right moment.

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.

Lee Goldberg combines a couple of different character arcs in Ashes Never Lie. Detective Eve Ronin crosses cases with arson investigators - Sharpe and Walker.

"Vacant homes in a new development are going up in flames. While Walker and Sharpe are investigating, they get called to another house. Except this one has a body in it. Eve and her partner, Duncan, are also called to the scene to investigate. The four investigators end up chasing an arsonist, a swindler and someone with a terrifying secret."

Goldberg has an easy-to-read (or listen) writing style. This is crime fiction, but there's a layer of humor running through the story from hilarious characters to insane situations. There are several storylines but Goldberg never gets bogged down and brings them all together. The scene at Comic Con alone makes this book worth it.

Don't miss this wildly, entertaining story from Lee Goldberg.

If you enjoy crime action thrillers and well-done series cross-overs, then look no further than Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg. Vacant homes going up in flames, a dead body, and plenty of suspense are just the beginning of an action-packed story. This is the second book in the Sharp and Walker series, but it also features Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone.

Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker are arson detectives with the same department. Sharpe is brilliant at his job, methodical, observant, and self-confident. However, he tends to speak his mind and isn’t diplomatic when dealing with others, Walker craves action and the independence he had as a US Marshal. He’s bored and uses humor and honesty to gain trust. Ronin likes action and excitement and tends to be impatient. She’s also not afraid to take on the establishment. Pavone hasn’t retired so he can look out for and protect Ronin.

The author’s writing style continues to hook me quickly with a twisty plot combined with humor, great characters, and excellent world-building. The plot is absorbing and intriguing with a storyline that packs a punch. The fast pace and sense of urgency kept me rapidly turning the pages.

Overall, this is a tense, gritty, atmospheric, and engaging novel with wit, suspense, action, and some great twists as well as some violence. It is fast-paced and action-packed. If you enjoy excellent crime thrillers and police procedurals, then I recommend that you check out this one.

Thomas & Mercer and Lee Goldberg provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for September 17, 2024.

3.5 stars
I reviewed the previous book and wasn't sure if I would continue on, but I'm a sucker for a series so here we are. I am pleased to report that I liked this one much better. There is a lot going on with the plot, but it makes complete sense in the end, I promise. I felt that the characters are starting to come into their own (less cartoonish), and I am interested in where this series can go from here. The addition of Eve Ronin was genius. I could see this being a really good TV series.
I will recommend this series to others.

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

This brings together the detectives from two of Goldberg's series in a fast paced and twisty read where an arson investigation opens up bigger questions. Goldberg clearly likes his characters and Los Angeles. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is atmospheric and entertaining. And even better, it works as a standalone.

Thank goodness! I have read several books this week and was getting so disappointed that there wasn't one book that stood out. They were all just "meh" and I was beginning to worry that it was all me. Well, now I can say that I finally read a book that not only kept me interested and intrigued, but it made me laugh. I totally enjoyed this book.

This is the second book in this series - about 2 men who are "arson detectives" for the LACPD. Sharpe is a brilliant fire investigator who has been on the job for a REALLY long time. Walker is a fairly new arson investigator, having moved over from the US Marshall's at the request of his wife. They just had a new baby and his wife had been really nervous about the danger that he constantly faced as a "hunter of men". Walker, on the other hand, is not taking the transition as well. He misses the adrenaline and the rush that came with the job and is having a hard time making everyone else think that he is happy in his new job.

The partnership itself is wonderful to experience. The two of them are really funny. Sharpe is so brilliant at what he does, but he is completely lacking in the social skills department. Walker, while full of character, is not used to not being an expert in his field and is also not used to the actual monotony of the everyday duties of his job. And the criminals are too easy to catch.

What makes this book so great is that we actually have a crossover with another series that Mr. Goldberg has currently going on. The two of them pull up to a house fire that has a dead body in it and meet Eve and Duncan, who are the homicide detectives on the case. Eve Ronin is a LACPD Homicide Detective and the lead of the Eve Ronin Series (which if you haven't read this series, you need to go out and find book 1).

It appears that this house fire is the event that sets off an entire new case involving a Biotech company, a potential deadly virus, and the FBI. The four of them make a really good team and Eve and Walker immediately hit it off as partners. Eve and Walker are both eager to dive into the case, even though they may or may not have the correct jurisdiction. They both can't seem to just turn the case over to the FBI especially when it becomes apparent that they are coming up with better results.

This book is extremely fast paced and really, really interesting. There are several cases going on at the same time and the addition of Eve and Duncan only make things better. There are several instances where we have a huge tension build up and I loved every minute of it. After having 4 or 5 books in a row this week that did nothing to excite me, it was wonderful to jump into this world with these characters. The writing, the setting, the cases......all of it was so well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book will be out for publication on September 17, 2024.

3.5 stars rounded down.

WARNING: it's another unpopular opinion review!!

I really should stop requesting sequels when I haven't started a series yet... Especially if it's a new-to-me author. I've been meaning to try Lee Goldberg's writing for quite some time now though, and I loved the sound of the arson investigator angle of this series. Sadly, my experience with the first Sharpe & Walker book wasn't completely positive, and now that I've read this sequel I've come to the conclusion that his writing or at least his crude and often sexist humor just isn't for me.

Like I mentioned before, I really like the premise of this series. It's not often that we get to join arson investigators during their job in crime thrillers, and I definitely loved this aspect in both books. One of the two lead characters being an ex-US marshal also added a nice touch, as it gave credibility to his suspect hunting skills. In Ashes Never Lie we once again get to see both types of investigations, which made the plot feel more dynamic. I did like the cases a bit more this time around, as there was a bit more focus on the arson investigation this time around instead of a wildfire battle.

That said, things definitely get farfetched and over the top along the way, and especially when it comes to the motivations of the suspects and their background. It caused more than one eyeroll, and especially when certain aspects were clearly supposed to be funny... The thing is: I really disliked the humor used in Ashes Never Lie. I have no issues with dark or sarcastic humor, but this was just way too crude and often sexist and demeaning. It really started to grate on me, and it also made it harder to warm up to the characters. I know humor is personal, and most people do seem to enjoy it, but for me it was a real turn off.

I did like the introduction of the new character duo with Eve and Duncan (I understand Eve Ronin has her own series), and I liked what especially Eve added to the dynamics. Especially Sharpe was even harder to like in this sequel though, and I think this also had to do with the humor used. There were quite a few stereotypes involved in general, both physical and with the way the characters behave. It often felt almost petty and definitely demeaning in certain cases as well.

After having read the first two books of this series, I'm pretty sure that Lee Goldberg's writing and his use of crude humor just isn't for me. It's a shame, because I did love the arson investigator angle! I seem to be in the minority though, so definitely don't give up on my account if you don't mind this type of humor. There is a lot of action and suspense to be found along the way, that's for sure!

Great plot, good characters, fun humorous remarks
This book checked all the boxes for a great read!
Walter Sharpe is an experienced arson investigator for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. His partner Andrew Walker is rather new to arson investigation but as a former US marshal is not new to law enforcement. In Ashes Never Lie they investigate two strange situations. In one case they discover a home in flames and the owner’s body dead in the ashes. In the second a series of fires in a housing development under construction raises questions about what or who is behind all the fires. As the pair begin their investigations it becomes clear that neither is a straightforward situation, and the more they investigate the more complicated it gets.
The plotting is well done. The findings are interesting, not predictable in any way, but credible. I was hooked and did not want to put the book down. There are several “Wow”s in my marginal notes.
Adding to the enjoyment provided by the plot were the characters. Sharpe and Walker are nicely drawn and likable. I could imagine them living down the street. As the investigation seems to be leading to more than simple arson, they are joined by homicide detective Eve Ronin and her partner Duncan Pavone, and it is fun to see the interaction between the cooperating but also competitive pairs. If the name sounds familiar, Eve Ronin is the protagonist in another series by Goldberg. Walker’s wife Carly, a psychologist, has a cameo role in the book and offers some interesting perspective on a suspect.
Despite the bleak details of the cases Sharpe and Walker are investigating, Ashes Never Lie provides plenty of opportunities to smile and occasionally laugh out loud, especially in the interplay between the characters. A good example occurs when Walker comments on a fairly harsh act by Sharpe, who says, “I am not doing this job to be loved”, to which Walker responds, “Then you’re succeeding brilliantly”. There was even humor in the Author’s Note at the end.
After I was impressed by the enjoyable book I was also impressed to read in the Author’s Note about the EXTENSIVE research Lee Goldberg did on arson investigation. Goldberg apparently did not stint on accuracy just because he was writing fiction for pleasure reading.
This is the second book in the Sharpe and Walker series. I have not read the first (but certainly plan to after reading this one), but I did not feel at any disadvantage, so feel free to jump in at number 2.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer.

Sharpe and Walker are back in book #2! They are investigating a couple high end house fires in a new neighborhood. This case end up being anything but easy to solve. While they try to solve this series of house fires, another home is buring with a body inside. Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone respond to this one and the four team up to solve the fires and murder.

I loved that Eve and Duncan showed up to work with Sharpe and Walker! Two books into this series and I am hooked! Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC!

I read most of Lee Goldberg’s books and love the Eve Ronin series. I received this book and hadn’t read the first in the Sharpe and Walker series, so I read that one first and enjoyed it immensely. The second book was just as good.

Sharpe and Walker and comedic gold and adding in an appearance by Eve and Duncan took it to the next level. Multiple mysteries are happening in this one, arson for the fun of it, arson for profit, and arson for due to a lie.

The procedural aspects of the book provide all the information you need without being dry and boring. Sharpe is an arson-investigating genius and his interactions with firemen are gold. Walker’s wife Carly is also immensely entertaining.

I look forward to seeing more of Sharpe and Walker and the trouble they will get into next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Lee Goldberg for the eARC.

This was gripping from the moment I started the book. This story follows 3 law enforcement officers as they take down several tangled webs across LA. This book has fantastic police work and a wonderful world in which they operate in. I could not put this book down. There is such riveting descriptions of fires, what can be used to cause them, and even how to put them out. This was like all the best police shows in one.

I'd been waiting for 'Ashes Never Lie' to come out ever since I finished the first Sharpe & Walker book, 'Malibu Burning' in August 2023. I had the book on pre-order for its release on 17th September 2024 so when I got the opportunity to read an ARC in advance of the release date, I dived in.

I had great fun with 'Ashes Never Lie'. I'm a Lee Goldberg fan but even so, this book exceeded my expectations. It was fast-paced, action-packed and completely engaging. Perhaps best of all, it has an Eve Ronin crossover that results in Walker and Ronin teaming up in a spectacular takedown that results in another viral Eve Ronin video, this time with her dressed as Wonder Woman.

I love the humour and the larger-than-life characters in Lee Goldberg's books but what I admire most are the clever, surprising but reality-based plots that drive the action. There's a lot going in 'Ashes Never Lie'. More happens in the first half (140 pages) of the book than most writers manage in a 500-page novel and yet it didn't feel rushed or confusing.

Sharpe and Walker investigate two very different arson-related crimes in 'Ashes Never Lie'. One has an epic, "unleash the apocalypse "scope worthy of a Michael Chrichton novel, The other has a domestic focus but has a lot more fireballs and explosions along the way to finding the guilty party. Both cases have scary, off-beat but believable bad guys and both bring Sharpe and Walker and Ronin and Pavone together to solve them.

Both plots benefit from Lee Goldberg's usual attention to the technical details. Both rapidly escalate from well-grounded (and in once case quite gruesome) starting points to something dangerous, explosive and unexpected.

Teaming up Walker and Ronin in these scenarios is like throwing gasoline on the fire. You know you need to stand well back and enjoy the show. Even then, I wasn't prepared for the tense, cinematic finale which kept me on the edge of my seat, grinning with amusement while still caught up in the action.

Will somebody PLEASE, PLEASE. PLEASE make this into a TV series? It would be so good (although I bet the books would still be better).

Anyway, If you're a Lee Goldberg fan, you're in for a treat with 'Ashes Never Lie'. This is Lee Goldberg at his best.

Book Review: "Ashes Never Lie" by Lee Goldberg

I just wrapped up Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg, and it was exactly the boost I needed. After a bit of a reading slump, this book was a breath of fresh air. The writing is smooth and easy to follow, making it perfect for getting completely absorbed in the story. The characters are all likable, adding a lot of warmth to the mystery. I found myself genuinely chuckling at some of the witty dialogue and twists. It was so engaging that I couldn’t help but look up more of Goldberg’s work before I even finished this one. If you’re in the mood for a mystery that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking, this book is definitely worth picking up. Did I mentioned I read it almost completely overnight but had to force myself to go to bed (at 2am?)

Arson investigators Andrew Walker and Walter Sharpe are kept very busy investigating suspicious fires. The first they investigate is a burnt-out car which was used in a robbery and was burned in an area that is a jurisdictional nightmare.

While they are looking at that one, they follow the fire department to another suspicious fire at a new housing development which has been dealing with protests from various environmental groups. The fire chief says it was a fault in the electrical system, but Sharpe disagrees.

The third fire has a body which brings in Eve Ronin and her partner Duncan Pavone which leads to Ronin and Walker working together to discover why the victim committed suicide in such a thorough manner.

Then there is a second spectacular fire at the housing development which leads to the discovery that quite a few of the houses had been set up with bombs in the walls. There are suspects in that case including a disgruntled homeowner who went bankrupt and a shady contractor who was stealing supplies.

Meanwhile the spectacular suicide leads to a company making biological weapons of mass destruction and the possibility of a very unplanned release of the virus. Ronin and Walker are pushed aside by the FBI, Homeland Security and a number of other government entities, but they continue to investigate on their own even going so far as to attend ComicCon in costume.

This was a fast-paced and engaging thriller. I enjoyed the witty dialog and the strong relationships between the partners. I liked the way Walker is getting used to his new job as an arson investigator and I liked the chance to visit Eve Ronin again.

I love crime fiction, it’s the perfect palate cleanser and I will enjoy most of these books just because I love the mystery built within them. This series is my first arson type, and I’m hooked. I love Sharpe and Walker together, they have the perfect partnership because they give each other shit, but their skills balance out so well.

Walker and his wife are adorable, I hope we see more of Carly and her psychology background in future books. The introduction of Eve was perfect to add a feminine touch to the boys partnership, but also to the investigation.

The arson storyline running along the dangerous biohazard release was good, I had never seen two separate storylines running concurrently in a mystery book but this one did it well. Can’t wait to see what comes next from Lee Goldberg!

Lately, I've been reading everything Lee Goldberg writes, so I couldn't pass up the chance to dive into the second installment in the Sharpe and Walker series. These books are always a fantastic ride, and <i>Ashes Never Lie</i> was no exception.

Once again, Goldberg delivers exactly what I expected—an exhilarating blend of humor and suspense. I genuinely enjoy Goldberg's style, which balances lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek storytelling with a robust, well-crafted plot. The story doesn’t take itself too seriously, with the protagonists constantly exchanging witty banter, yet the plot itself is anything but superficial. This combination makes for an ideal reading experience.

The plot is intricate and thoroughly engaging. Veteran arson investigator Walter Sharpe and his partner Andrew Walker find themselves probing the origins of several fires in California. What starts as seemingly unrelated incidents soon weaves into a more complex investigation. Adding to the excitement, we see the return of another beloved detective duo from Goldberg's universe—homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone. The meeting of these two pairs was inevitable, yet somehow I never saw it coming. They fit together so perfectly that their collaboration was an absolute highlight. The friendship that develops between Walker and Eve is especially wholesome, and now I'm craving a series featuring all four characters. There's so much potential in this team!

In this book, Sharpe and Walker truly shine, with their characters fully fleshed out beyond what we saw in the first book. While their dynamic might remind me a bit of Eve and Duncan, that's not a bad thing—it speaks more to their relationship than their individual personalities. And I have to say, I absolutely adore Walker's wife, Carly. I hope she continues to play a significant role in future investigations.

The pacing is fast and full of twists, just as Goldberg has accustomed us to. The story ramps up to a great climax, showcasing the full potential of the main characters. Every thread is tied up in a satisfying conclusion, leaving you eager for more.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a gripping story with humor and plenty of action. While reading the first book in the series isn’t strictly necessary, familiarity with the Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone series will boost your enjoyment—seeing them pop up in this story is a real treat. However, the book also works well as a standalone.