Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg is both a fire/police procedural and the story of the takedown of a very bad man by a criminal, who was not such a bad man. The two are related through one of the fire investigators, who is one of the few people who know Danny Cole is alive. Andrew Walker is an ex-marshal and the father of a little boy with epilepsy. There is a drug that treats it but it is owned by the very man Danny Cole will go after. All the while, Walker and his wife are figuring out out to pay each month, and Walker and his partner, Sharpe, are working on a series of arsons set over a period of two nights. It doesn’t take too long to figure out who is setting the fires but they have to hand it off when someone sets a big fire under a freeway stack, throwing Los Angles into one big traffic jam. They actually narrow that one down fairly quickly, but there are several bad elements involved, not just the arsonist. Sharpe is the fire evidence guy, Walker tracks them down. And they are good.

A terrific novel, both suspenseful and full of interesting knowledge. As interesting as the Sharpe/Walker investigation is, watching Danny Cole bring about the fall of Slezak was so masterful that I don’t think the pieces of it could be traced. It worked though, bringing hope to thousands of epileptic patients. Well thought out and interesting, the whole thing moved quickly. One had to be paying attention every moment. The pacing was perfect and the plot tremendous. What a terrific read.

I was invited to read Hidden in Smoke by Thomas & Mercer. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #ThomasAndMercer #LeeGoldbert #HiddenInSmoke

Sharpe and Walker return in their third book of this series. Having recently been introduced to this series and enjoyed Malibu Burning and Ashes never lie, I was delighted to have the opportunity to read Hidden in Smoke. I am a fan of any books that have some element of forensic investigation alongside well researched and sharply written storylines. The element of arson investigation is something that really drew me in and has added a novel twist to this series. This book didn’t fail to disappoint with believable characters and storylines from earlier books ensuring a memorable read. I haven’t managed to find another series of books like this one and will be back for more. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Book #3 in the Sharpe & Walker series. Lee Goldberg has many series to his credit. I've read many of them and keep coming back for more. Sharpe & Walker are arson detectives. In HIDDEN IN SMOKE, they find themselves VERY busy when numerous apartment building fires light up the Hollywood skies. A major highway fire closes down the city and ramps up the pressure on the detectives to stop the arsonist before he strikes again. With few clues and the number of victims adding up with each fire, they'll reach out to homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone for help. It's always a plus when your favorite characters from another series show up. With the four investigating, it's only a matter of time before the thrill ramps up and you're locked into the story until the end. Another great 5 star read.

Another twisted and fascinating case for Sharpe and Walker. Walter Sharpe is a dedicated arson investigator a “just the facts” man while his partner, Andrew Walker is a former US Marshal who rarely plays by the rules. Someone is setting fires in apartment buildings, but so far there has been no loss of life. The fires all seem to be in areas where “tagging” was removed. Just as they have a person of interest, they are pulled away to investigate a fire that has shut down a major freeway. In addition to the freeway, a small business area and homeless encampment have been destroyed. Is the same person responsible for all of the fires? The company repairing the freeway has already removed the debris...along with any evidence. Walker has approached a man he dealt with in a previous case for help with a personal concern. The fires, a stolen watch, a murder, the search for the arsonist, and a story laced with outrageously funny and sarcastic dialog. Walker then involves his favorite detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone (another great series by this author). I couldn’t wait to read this third book and you won’t want to miss even one word! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

A series of fires happen in LA on the same night, and after a few days new ones take place in the same areas. Sharpe and Walker are in charge of the case and they find a possible culprit, however, a new fire roars in town, torching a freeway, disrupting transit, torching small business, and pushing homeless people from their "houses" in the underpass. The mayor, the state governor, the Fire and Police departments want to put the one responsible for the fire spree behind bars and S&W are reassigned to work exclusively on the freeway fire. In Japan, Danny Cole, who is supposedly dead, is putting together the heist of a lifetime (and it involves arson) to help a friend and to get revenge for a fallen comrade. The heist, the revenge, and the identification of the arsonist responsible for the freeway fire will happen simultaneously with a most interesting end to the story. Hidden in Smoke is fast-paced, written with a good dose of humor and cynicism, and a must-read for thriller/mystery lovers. Highly recommended!
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Cars in carports are being set on fire across West Hollywood, as well as an abandoned apartment tower, and veteran arson investigator Walter Sharpe and former U.S. Marshal Andrew Walker are on the case. When a devastating fire beneath a major So Cal freeway erupts, they are reassigned, and when a body is discovered, L.A. County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Detectives Eve Ronin and her partner Duncan Pavone are brought in to assist.

While this can be read as a stand-alone, there is a subplot involving a heist with characters and references to a previous installment in the series, so it should probably be read in order. There is also some entertaining crossover character involvement from the author’s Eve Ronin series, along with the addition of Deputy Sharon Carter to develop the cast of characters.

The discovery of the perpetrator was a bit anticlimactic, but the fast pace and the twists made up for that. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer kindly provided me an ARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

What can I say about Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg? It is the third novel in the Sharpe and Walker series, and it is very simply another winner. I must admit that I'm a fan of Mr. Goldberg, a prolific and extremely talented writer. His books are intriguing, funny, tense, at times procedural, character driven, and of course entertaining and engaging. Hidden in Smoke is my favorite Sharpe and Walker novel to date. Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker are LA County Arson Investigators. Sharpe with years of experience is known to be a hard- nosed, arrogant and facts only investigator. Walker is relatively new to arson investigating, and he thrives on the hunt for the perpetrator, not always on the procedure. The two major cases they are investigating seem to overlap, yet they doggedly pursue every clue, and begin to see differences. They add Goldberg characters Detectives Eve Ronin and her partner Dante Pavone to their team when things begin to heat up- they are a great addition to the book. Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Mercer Publishing and Lee Goldberg for the opportunity to read an ARC of Hidden in Smoke; my review reflects my candid opinion. 4.5 stars

This third outing of arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker is cumbersome. There are a number of plots at work. There are a number of fires being set to cars in carports. The fires then spread to the homes above. The pair believe they know the arsonist. Sharpe and Walker catch another case when a fire erupts on the Santa Monica Freeway that causes squatters to evacuate and damages businesses. The pair believe the fire was started on purpose by a man angry that his dead lovers art was painted over. Could it be that simple? The contractor called to make repairs, George Petroni, works fast to clear the area thereby destroying any forensic evidence. Petroni has a history of performing jobs fixing other cities infrastructures. This causes Sharpe and Walker to rethink their previous scenario as to who set the fire and why.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone ( from Lee Goldberg's Eve Ronin series) make an appearance when a body is found. Now the four detectives need to work together and see how it all fits together, or if it all fits together. A character from a previous book, Danny Cole, also returns and interacts with Sharpe regarding the detective's son and of course engage in some less than legal actions.

The book moves along at a good pace, and the author does tie the plots up, but I felt it just didn't quite fit neatly. I would, however, still recommend the book. It has humor, well established characters, and well written dialogue. I love the banter between Sharpe and Walker, one meticulous by the book, and the other ready to go rogue. Can't wait to see what their next case will be!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for an ARC. The review is my own.

This was my first book in this series and I will absolutely be going back to read the previous ones. This was an action packed story, and perfect for police procedural fans. I really enjoyed the relationship between Walker and Sharpe, and the addition of Eve. I've clearly missed a lot of backstory from earlier in the series but it certainly didn't detract from my reading. This was a pretty quick read simply because you keep turning the page to solve the crime.

Sharpe and Walker are arson investigators in the LA County Sheriff’s Office. This is book 3 in the series and can be read as a standalone, but if you want to read the whole series, stop now because the first page of book 3 will spoil the mystery of book 1.

Danny Cole is hiding out in Japan with a new face and a profound sense of boredom when Walker approaches and asks for his help. The book jumps a few months ahead and then goes back to Danny as his timeline nears Walker’s. Walker and Sharpe are investigating a string of fires and are closing in when they are pulled off to focus on a massive fire that has shut down I-10, resulting in staggering traffic gridlock. The reassignment is politically motivated, making matters worse. What follows is a high-wire act as they attempt to solve a case with little evidence and the eyes of everyone on them, bringing in homicide detective Eve Ronin (who has her own series by this author).

This is a fun romp filled with humor, mystery, good detective work, and a world-class heist.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to lovers of police procedurals, action adventures, and heist capers.

Not family friendly due to profanity

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was an interesting book that kept me going. Not a slowdown moment! There were several things going on at the same time, with Walker and Sharpe investigating two separate arson fire investigations, and a flash from the past with Danny Cole, and his escapades. Also Eve Ronin joining in, it is pretty exciting. Lots of action. I highly recommend this series, and suggest you start with the Eve Ronin series first, but you can start with the Walker & Sharpe series. Good books!

Arson investigators Walter Sharpe (the master investigator) and Andrew Walker (the master manhunter) step in when string of car fires are set in a single night, torching the building parked above them and leading a fiery path to a blazing tower of unfinished apartments. They quickly identify the culprit, but before Walker can bring him in, a major freeway underpass is set ablaze, and the pair are reassigned to find the arsonist responsible. The freeway fire has crippled LA traffic, which isn't good at best, and the sheriff wants them to solve the case ASAP to stoke his chances at becoming the next mayor. There is a subplot related to the first book in the series (Malibu Burning) that I won't go into but will say that if you haven't read the first book and plan to, finish it first because Hidden in Smoke will give the ending away. This is a fast-paced thriller with fires, murder, mystery, and a daring heist. The characters are likeable, and Goldberg is a master at witty repartee. I really enjoy the series as a whole, and this book is no exception!

In the third thriller in his Sharpe and Walker series, Hidden in Smoke, Lee Goldberg brings back a character from the first book, Malibu Burning. But, Goldberg and I both want to emphasize that you can start with this book, although it's more fun if you read the first one.

Walter Sharpe is an experienced arson investigator teamed up with Andrew Walker, a former U.S. Marshal who still longs for his days as a manhunter. It's Walker who travels to Japan to track down an old acquaintance who owes him a favor, hoping to set in motion a plan to lower the obscene cost of a medicine for epilepsy. That three-day trip sets in motion an unbelievable con, but it doesn't change Walker's day-to-day job as an arson investigator.

In the middle of the night, the two men are called to multiple scenes of arsons, cars on fire under various apartment complexes in LA. The sheriff gives them unlimited powers, but they take advantage of those powers when one of the freeways becomes the site of another arson fire. As their arson case turns to murder, Walker calls in homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan "Donuts" Pavone.

Once again, Goldberg provides a complex crime novel with characters who are humorous, hard-working and innovative. He even introduces a new police officer who shows potential. And, of course, the return of the character from Malibu Burning adds depth.

You can certainly read all three of these novels without reading the Eve Ronin thrillers. However, Goldberg's two series blend beautifully. If you enjoy thrillers with great characters and a lot of action, try both series. But, don't hesitate to pick up the one you can get this week, Hidden in Smoke.

Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg is another fast-paced, action-packed entry in the Sharpe and Walker series. This time, the stakes are higher with multiple fires, a freeway disaster, and a potential serial arsonist on the loose in L.A. I loved how Sharpe and Walker, who are total opposites, work together so well—their banter and different approaches really keep things interesting. The crossover with detectives Eve Ronin and Pavone was a fun bonus and added more depth to the story. While there were a lot of moving parts and multiple plotlines, it mostly came together in the end. Some parts felt a little messy, but it didn’t take away from the overall excitement. The writing is sharp, and the characters are well-developed and easy to root for. If you enjoy crime thrillers with humor, twists, and great teamwork, this one’s definitely worth reading. I’m already looking forward to the next case!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

4.5 Stars ⭐️

I really enjoyed this book - but I have honestly enjoyed this entire series so far, so I was not surprised. This is the third book in this series that has our MMC's - LASD Fire arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker - involved in a couple of very high profile cases with serial arsonists. After two books, it is crazy that these characters are already so well developed that it is a piece of cake to fall back into this world and just follow along on the journey. And it goes without saying that I really like both of these characters. They are as different as night and day.

An added bonus on this one is that we again have some crossover with another of his active series and we got to see LASD Homicide Detectives Eve Ronin and her partner Duncan "Donuts" Pavone also pulled into their case.

This book has 2 separate story lines going on at the same time. One of them is with an old character from a previous book pulled back into their orbit. While this book could PROBABLY be read as a stand alone, I wouldn't recommend it because you would not really understand who Danny is and why he has the relationship with Sharpe and Walker that he does.

Then, there is a serial arsonist on the loose in LA and there is a MASIVE fire started under an overpass on the I -10 freeway that gets out of hand and ends up closing several overpasses and spaghetti bowl portions of the freeway creating a logistical nightmare for the city. It looks at first as if huge sections are going to be closed down for months and this creates an utter disaster for the millions of commuters who are going to have to deal with detours and are now looking at a normal 20 minute drive taking 5-6 hours. You can bet that things are not going to take long to explode. For this reason, Sharpe and Walker are given carte blanch to do whatever it takes to solve and find the person responsible. Yes, there are political reasons behind the request (more like threats) but they definitely realize that their jobs may be on the line.

But in true fashion, the duo does what they are so good at, and it is non stop action as they start to follow the trail and begin to make unbelievable progress in discovering and stopping the culprit(s)

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinons above are mine and mine alone. This book will be out for publication on April 22, 2025.

All the gang is back in Hidden Smoke by Lee Goldberg.

Everyone should be talking about Goldberg's books. These characters are hilarious and bigger than life. How many writers can make you want to read about arson investigators?

"An arson spree gets Walker and Sharpe looking for the arsonist. A victim brings in Eve Ronin and Duncan. And the fiery destruction of a major LA highway brings in everybody. Mayhem ensues."

Goldberg's writing style is page-turning and entertaining. There are crooked politicians and corrupt public officials and an enforcer named Big Mike. (That chase scene is hilarious) Goldberg also has a side-story going with someone from the last book - running an elaborate con - that is tied in at the end. This can be read as a standalone but every book is fun and hilarious. These are great books when you need a change-of-pace from the usual crime fiction/thriller.

I would love to see these books get the Netflix treatment. More great fiction from Goldberg.

A couple years ago I was introduced to Lee Goldberg’s Eve Ronin series, and those were a gateway to the Sharpe and Walker series. In “Hidden in Smoke” the worlds collide again, and Sharpe and Walker need Eve’s help solving a homicide that is very likely linked to the series of freeway fires they are investigating.
If you have not read Lee Goldberg yet, you need to. They read like a TV show (as they should he does write for TV)!
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer. #HiddeninSmoke #NetGalley

Hidden in Smoke (Sharpe & Walker Book 3) by Lee Goldberg

4 stars
300 pages
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Publication Date: April 22, 2025

Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thriller, Arson, Police Procedural

A series of carport fires trigger Detectives Sharpe and Walker back into action. The fires are breaking out all around the city and at first appear to be random. The sheriff department arson investigators find themselves digging through the dump looking for clues after the fire on Highway 10 takes out an overpass.

Danny Cole, thief and con man, is in Japan after plastic surgery. Walker finds him and makes him an offer. Although the possibility of getting caught is high, he is intrigued and takes the bait.

The story has a good building pace. The characters are developed, and their witty banter makes them more authentic. It is written in the third person point of view. If you like police procedurals, action and adventure, you will enjoy reading this series. The author recommends reading Malibu Burning first but it is also fine as a stand-alone novel.

If you enjoy crime action thrillers and well-done series cross-overs, then look no further than Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg. This is the third book in the Sharp and Walker series, but it also features Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone and adds in Deputy Sharon Carter based out of West Hollywood.

Several cars are set on fire on carports with apartments above them as well as a tower of apartments under construction in a single night. Arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker take the case to find the culprit. When a fire destroys a major freeway through the city, they take on another case. When a body is found, they call in homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone. As they work to determine if and how are the cases related, an old foe with a revenge scheme adds complexity to the story.

Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker are partners. Sharpe is brilliant at his job, methodical, observant, and experienced, and loves the forensics part of the investigation. 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 loves the hunt for the criminal, but not the forensics part of the investigation. They balance each other. Readers get insight into the personal lives of both characters in this book, especially Walker.

Eve is an energetic, ambitious, and compelling main character and someone you can root for. She works tirelessly and has clear goals and good instincts. Duncan is more methodical and thinks about food constantly. He hasn’t retired so he can help protect Eve from corrupt officers.

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. Readers easily become mentally and emotionally involved with the characters as well as the story. Visual and auditory imagery comes through vividly. My biggest quibble is that the culprit was a little too easy to discern.

Overall, this is a fast-paced, compelling, and suspenseful novel with some great twists, a little humor, and some action. If you enjoy excellent crime thrillers and police procedurals, then I recommend that you check out this one. The series is best read in order to fully understand past interactions between the four detectives as well as character growth and backstories. However, the mystery is written so that one can read it as a standalone. I can’t wait to read the next one.

Thomas and Mercer and Lee Goldberg provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for April 22, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Buildings are being burned around Hollywood and Sharpe and Walker are called in to investigate. Then one of the main a major freeway is destroyed and the team wonders if they were all started by the same person or if they have more than one arsonist at work.
The characters were great and kept the story going. There's plenty of action and suspense to keep you guessing. Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer publishing for the chance to review the book.