Ok, so I pushed myself back from the edge of my seat a few times. I admit it. It's a good story that will keep you engaged and hoping for survival of the good guys - though you won't always know who they are.

I like a good thriller and story as much as anyone else. You'll root for Clay and those willing to help him like I did. Enjoy this to the last page when you need a little zip and a lot of mystery.

I have been a fan of the Kellerman father and son's Clay Edison series, and appreciate the opportunity to read an ARC of their latest installment, book 5- The Lost Coast. Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, Ballantine Books and the authors; my review reflects my honest opinion.
Clay is no longer a San Francisco sheriff and coroner, he is now a private Investigator. A referral from Peter Franchetti, a very wealthy venture capitalist Clay helped when he was with the sheriff's department, yet not with their knwledge or approval, refers a new client to Clay. Chris Villareal was named executor of his grandmother's estate- not a responsibility he wanted, yet he was committed to doing a good job for the family. One puzzle was a monthly payment in the amount of $135.00 beginning in 1996 to SFRA. At the time of her death she had paid approximately $50,000 yet no one in the family knew anything about it. After investigating many organizations and places, Clay discovers that SFRA represented the Swann's Flat Resort Area. Swann's Flatt with a population of 10, was also home to a finance, a development, a land corporation and more. Clay agrees to investigate how and for what his grandmother's money had been invested. There are many subplots in The Lost Coast that stem from his initial investigation.
I was not as fond of this book as I was of the previous 4. The first two-thirds of the book were slow and rather dull for me. The book improved when another PI Regina Klein joined Clay; at that point the book seemed to exude a new energy and life.
. I was disappointed in the role of Amy, Clay's wife. A professional woman and mother to their two children, who was with him during his time with the sheriff's department, seemed more like a mother hen than a wife. Like the rest of the book, the rational for this behavior became clearer at the end. In closing, the final third of The Lost Coast made it a worthwhile read for me. The ending was satisfying and tied the subplots together fairly well. I do look, forward to a book six in the series, perhaps with Regina Klein in it. 3 stars

This is a thrilling story. The plot sees Clay Edison as the protagonist searching for answers to a baffling mystery. The setting adds to the drama of the story and makes the reader want to turn the pages quickly to see the outcome. The characters are interesting and fully developed as the plot unfolds. This is a great story that readers will absolutely enjoy.

Clay goes on quite the adventure. When a man asks him to help him figure out his grandmother's finances, he discovers that she had been paying for property in a secluded town in Northern California. What he finds disturbs him and he can't find out the information he needs to do something about it. After his visit, he sees a picture of a missing young man. He isn't sure why he is looking at the disappearance, but he does. All the roads lead him back to the secluded town. What is going on there? He involves another colleague in the search, but it puts both of them in danger. Will they find the answers they need? Will they survive the second trip to the community?

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story begins with Clay being notified of a referral for a new client. Clay learns from the new client that he was the executor of his grandmother's estate and he discovered something that looked out of place. After Clay did some research, he learned about a place called Swann's Flat. It seemed that there was a great deal of land on sale, so Clay decided to check the place out. After traveling with the last 12 miles on a so-called road he soon reached it. But as he was driving in, he hit a cyclist Once he brought her to her home, he then started his search.

Clay learned about a scheme where land was being sold, but it was nothing more than just dirt. In addition, the owners were being charged fees for services which were nonexistent. Clay meeting with the individuals who were running this fraud, pretended that he was interested in a plot of land and would get back to them. On Clays trip back, he became interested with regard to a missing person flyer. It seems that an item he spotted was something he had seen on the cyclist.

With this new information, this case took a new direction. To discover Clay's adventures in Swann's Flat, what the flyer search led to, who went with Clay on his return trip and how everything worked out in the end, then you need to read this book.

Clay Edison has left the coroner's office to become a private investigator. He is asked to look into a case of minor financial descrepancies. This simple case of simple fraud explodes into a web of deception, A con game that goes back decades and includes numberous victims.
Clay couldn't have imagined how high the price of truth will be and how deadly it will become. thank you netgalley

The Lost Coast by Jonathan Kellerman and Son is a unique non-formulaic novel that keeps the reader engaged. While the core story line stays on point, there is enough there you don’t see coming. The novel keeps you hooked until the end and is an enjoyable read (as are all Kellerman reads).
I eagerly await the next one.

The Lost Coast by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman is the fifth book in the Clay Edison mystery series. With an intriguing and multilayered plot, the authors give readers a story that is suspenseful, full of fascinating characters, and largely set in a picturesque but secluded area of the California coast.

Clay Edison is now working as a private investigator when a client brings him a potential fraud case. Chris Villareal has been named the executor of his grandmother’s estate and has found a reoccurring charge that doesn’t make sense. Investigating what seems to be a scheme targeting those who are easily preyed upon leads Clay to the remote community of Swann’s Flat, California. The small coastal community doesn’t like Clay asking questions, especially when he also starts investigating a second case in the area.

The story has a deeply involved plot, fantastic worldbuilding, and a remarkable set of characters. The characters are well-defined and Clay’s character was especially dynamic as he responded to events and experienced changes in his outlook. His relationship with his wife and children added another layer of depth to his character. It seemed most of the individuals in the story had agendas. But who is prey and who is a predator?

The setting is incredible. This area is mostly natural and undeveloped with geotechnical challenges that only allows for a very rough, curvy, and steep road in and out of the community. The authors made the spectacular setting come to life, making this reader feel transported to the remote coastal community.

The story lived up to its potential with plenty of deceptions, secrets, and an action-packed ending. Additionally, the book did a great job of revealing the past events. An ever-present threat looming piqued my curiosity and kept me engaged. The evolving quest for answers and the suspenseful twists are sure to delight readers. My biggest quibble is that the pacing was slow in a couple of places in the middle.

Overall, this tense, exciting, and gripping book takes readers through unpredictable moments as the authors provide suspenseful twists in the intricate plot. It’s engaging with an unusual and strange set of characters and a complex plot in a great setting. If you enjoy mysteries, then this is a series to consider. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Clay. While this book can be read as a standalone novel, it contains spoilers if you plan to read the earlier novels.

Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine – Ballantine Books, Jonathan Kellerman, and Jesse Kellerman 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 August 06, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

The latest is the Clay Edison series by the Kellermans explores the scams and bad deals people fall for every day. When a friend of Clay's comes to him with questions about his deceased aunt's financial papers they find a piece of property that she bought years ago. Searching through papers and records without success Clay takes on the investigation of the property company and the land. The premise and the story were eye opening.

Enjoyed, 3.5 stars

Another good book by the father/son Kellerman team. Clay Edison is now a PI, and a case comes his way that is different than his normal cases. A young man, named as executor, finds an inconsistency in financial records he asks Clay to look into it. As the story continues, Clay discovers that there is much more involved than a real estate fraud.

I was caught up in the story from the beginning, and it kept my attention. I felt that it moved along fast while providing just enough detail to support the mysteries. They are all woven together nicely. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

The authors make reading the book come alive. I could picture the land they were talking about and could even picture each character. The storyline begins simply enough by asking Clay Edison, a PI, to find a lost son. From there, the search connects to a land scheme that has gone on for years. Without giving away the story, this connects to several other storylines but I was able to follow all of it with no difficulty. The book ends up with everything connected and nothing left unsolved. It was hard to put down as I had to know what would happen next.

When I read coauthored books, I try to figure out who wrote what. In this novel, by the Kellermans the collaboration is seamless. Fast paced, well written, with just the right amount of description, this novel is a winner! Peppered with interesting characters in a gorgeous setting, it held my interest throughout. This is the 5th book in a series that I'd never read before. However, the book holds up as a stand alone. I thoroughly enjoyed it and do recommend it. It's a really good mystery.

I’ve enjoyed the previous books in this series, and this edition did not disappoint. The main character Clay has moved on from his law enforcement role and takes on what starts as a real estate fraud case. I like a book that effectively layers on a complex mystery and this book delivers on that. I also think the authors do an excellent job showing the complex impact that an investigator’s job impacts a marriage.

This book can be read as a standalone.

Disclosure: I received this book from NetGalley Ballantine Books/ Random in exchange for this
honest review..

By now, I'm well acquainted with coroner-turned-private-eye Clay Edison - this is the fifth book in the series and I haven't missed a single one. I'd have to say the subject matter of this one isn't something I'm personally very interested in, but the story held my interest just fine. Better yet, Clay meets up with a P.I. "buddy" who turns out to be a hoot.

An old friend calls to say a friend of his is serving as executor for the estate of a recently deceased elderly lady, but "things" just aren't adding up; for one thing, payments have been made for many, many years to an entity known only by an acronym - but what it stands for and what the payments signify have proved elusive. Clay agrees, albeit reluctantly, to look into it - and learns the deceased woman owned a home in a remote area of California with initials similar to those of the payment destination. Could it be one and the same? If it is, trouble could be brewing; after a little digging, Clay finds that several disgruntled property owners have taken their gripes against the remote property owners to court.

Early on, it becomes clear to Clay that he needs to visit the property to see what's going on; turns out it's far more remote than he ever could have imagined. It's also clear that what few residents actually do live there are less than hospitable; in fact, he may well have a target on his back. To get to the truth, Clay must put his best sleuthing skills to the test, his weapons at the ready and his eyes on his newfound enemies. The rest of the story follows the investigation through to the bitter end, with plenty of action and a few surprises along the who-can-you-trust scale. All told, it was both an enjoyable and satisfying adventure for which I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

I am a huge fan of this writing team and this character. This outing was full of thrills, lots of twists and a satisfying ending. Hoping for more of Clay and his friends soon.

Clay Edison and Jesse Kellerman, where have you been all my life?!! If Jonathan Kellerman and his son wrote a book, we would get something like "The Lost Coast". As a fan of Jonathan for years and years (I've read everyone of his books), I somehow missed this collaboration. Shame on me!
Clay is no longer a law enforcement officer. He's moved on to be a private detective. When his friend asks him to investigate a possible fraud against his family, Clay opens a Pandora's box and sets off to search the status of resort property in the "city" of Swann's Flat, CA, The city is located along the California coast and the property was purchased years ago. Clay decides to visit the property to see what's what. What he finds is a rundown, rag-tag group of houses and only a handful of full-time residents. He also learns people can go missing after uninvited visits. What an adventure! This books contains much of JK's deep dive into the mystery at hand with a wordier format, a bit slower pace and his usual group of unusual characters. It's all good. It's complex and engaging, hard to put down. My thanks to the authors and publisher for the ARC I received in exchange for my honest opinion: don't let this one get by you. Now, I'm going to start the series from the beginning :)

I'm a big fan of the Kellermans--all 3 of them--so was excited to read this one! Clay used to be the coroner but is now a P.I. and is off to investigate Swann's Flat Resort Area when a client discovers something seems "off" with the huge property that has lots for sale but no one appears to actually live on or develop them. And so begins a landslide of paperwork, devious characters, and thugs who are devious and brutal in their warnings. Non-stop action and humor make this a novel to savor!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

This starts out as Clay investigating a land con but soon he is investigating a missing persons case. My mind occasionally wandered away from the story but I was interested enough to finish it. I thought they should have kept to one story without brining in the missing persons case. It would probably have helped to read the previous books in the series. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Book: The Lost Coast
Series: Clay Edison #5
Author: Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group ~Ballantine. Ballantine Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: August 6, 2024
My Rating: 3.2 stars
Pages: 304

Clay Edison is now a California private investigator; it has been nearly a year since he left his job as the deputy coroner for Alameda County in the Bay area,
In his new role he thought his investigation of a fraud scheme would be quick. The case involves his client’s dead grandmother paying a monthly fee for property she never had.
However, he believes there is more to this and this
Along the way the story changed into a missing person case.

I am a Big fan of Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series. Read #39 " The Ghost Orchid" earlier this year and already anxious for #40.
However, this is only my first in the Clay Edison series and it is #5 – shortly after starting I knew I should have read one of the earlier stories in this series. I will do so and reread this one as my 3 star rating is probably not really fair. Most admit I did have high expectations for this story as I love the Kellermans!

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group ~Ballantine. Ballantine Books for granted me this early uncorrected proof.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 6, 2024.

A fantastic story with plenty of twists and turns. Clay shows how hard being a PI really is and how you never know where a case will lead you.