I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Malibu Burning
by Lee Goldberg
Series: Sharpe & Walker #1
Published by Thomas & Mercer on September 1, 2023
Setting: Southern California
Genres: Crime Thriller
Pages: 303
Format: Audible Audiobook, Audio CD, ebook, Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback
Source: the Publisher
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For a professional criminal and a relentless arson investigator, fear and revenge spread like wildfire in a an incendiary thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.
Hell comes to Southern California every October. It rides in on searing Santa Ana winds that blast at near hurricane force, igniting voracious wildfires. Master thief Danny Cole longs for the flames. A tsunami of fire is exactly what he needs to pull off a daring crime and avenge a fallen friend.
As the most devastating firestorms in Los Angeles’ history scorch the hills of Malibu, relentless arson investigator Walter Sharpe and his wild card of a new partner, Andrew Walker, a former US marshal, suspect that someone set the massive blazes intentionally, a terrifying means to an unknown end.
While the flames rage out of control, Danny pursues his brilliant scheme, unaware that Sharpe and Walker are closing in. But when they all collide in a canyon of fire, everything changes, pitting them against an unexpected enemy within an inescapable inferno.
Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg is astounding! It is a fantastic read.
Will Cole and his gang complete the most daring of heists and get out alive?
Andrew Walker
Detective Walker is a former US Marshal and the newest Detective with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department arson and explosives unit. Walker is an investigator, but his true love is the hunt. He loves the thrill of bringing the bad guy to justice. The more danger, the bigger the rush. He isn’t big on partners. So, being teamed with Detective Sharpe is going to be a challenge. However, this job allows him to be home every night with his pregnant wife, which is what she needs to stay married to him.
Andrew Walker seems like he should have been a Texas Ranger. He wears a cowboy hat and is quick to draw his gun. Another downside to this position is that he has to wear a uniform instead of his own clothes. I like Walker, even though he comes across as a bit cocky. His instincts when it comes to criminals and their actions are highly developed. I do wonder how long his marriage is going to last. Will he be able to rein in his need for danger?
Walter Sharpe
Detective Sharpe is a seasoned arson investigator who will now be Walker’s trainer and partner. Sharpe is a distinctive-looking gentleman with a few wrinkles on his face, earning him the nickname of Shar-Pei. All of his colleagues call him that, but they still respect him. Sharpe is extremely good at figuring out what causes fire and whether they are arson or not. He seems like the guy who takes all the advancement courses and reads all the fire-related books. My take on Sharpe is he is really good at his job, but arson isn’t always easy to prove, which makes him continue to learn as much as possible.
Sharpe is a good guy. I like him better than Walker. Although, he isn’t as colorful as Walker. Sharpe is clearly the brains and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Yet, I feel like there is something that he may be hiding. He doesn’t give details about his life outside of the job.
Danny Cole
Danny Cole is a con man. Yet, I was immediately drawn to his character. He has a moral code that he embraces and lives by, even though he is brilliant at asset reallocation. He puts himself in harm’s way to save people even though he doesn’t have to save them. Could they be there because of his actions? Yes, but they could be there because of their choices. He is kind of like a modern day Robin Hood.
Oh, and I loved the Milton Drysdale bit. Seriously, where have these agents been? Classic television!
Mr. Goldberg completely had me rooting for Danny and his gang. I know what they were doing was “wrong”, but the circumstances of the heists made me want Danny to excel. Danny has a good heart, and he takes up for the little guy. Yes, he makes a small monetary gain, but…
Five Stars
My rating for Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg is five stars. I love reading Mr. Goldberg’s books as they mentally and visually transport me inside of them, where it’s like you are part of the action. There are so many moving items in this story. I adore the way Mr. Goldberg blurs the line between good and bad. I highly recommend Malibu Burning.
Character Interview with Danny Cole
What compelled you to become a con man?
I’m not a con man — how can you say that? I’m an aspirational entrepreneur.
You seem like a man of integrity. How does that work when you are a thief by trade?
I’m not a thief, I’m an aspirational entrepreneur who specializes in asset reallocation. I have a strong personal, ethical code, and frankly, I don’t know how anybody in any profession can go through life without one. My code may not match yours, or those of my colleagues, but I have one, and I stick to it. That doesn’t make me a man of integrity, I think it makes me a normal person and not a sociopath.
Who would you consider your closest friend?
My profession requires me to travel a lot and not put down any roots, so it’s hard to make lasting friendships. Plus, my lifestyle and profession prevent me from offering that kind of intimacy — to disclose enough about myself and my feelings — to make friendships real and lasting. So, I’d have to say my lawyer and I are close, and I have a few colleagues that I trust, but I don’t have close friends.
Do you think that you will see Detectives Sharpe or Walker again?
Not if I can help it.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
Rich, happy, and satisfied — somewhere warm, without an extradition treaty with the United States.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg.
Until the next time,
About Lee Goldberg
Goldberg broke into television with a freelance script sale to Spenser: For Hire. Since then, his TV writing & producing credits have covered a wide variety of genres, including sci-fi (seaQuest), cop shows (Hunter, The Glades), martial arts (Martial Law), whodunits (Diagnosis Murder, Nero Wolfe), the occult (She-Wolf of London), kid’s shows (R.L. Stine’s The Nightmare Room), T&A (Baywatch, She Spies), comedy (Monk) clip shows (The Best TV Shows That Never Were) and total crap (The Highwayman, The New Adventures of Flipper).
He’s written and produced TV shows in Canada (Murphy’s Law, Cobra, Missing), England (Stick With Me Kid, She Wolf of London) and Germany (Fast Track: No Limits). His mystery writing for television has earned him two Edgar Award nominations from the Mystery Writers of America.
His two careers, novelist and TV writer, merged when he wrote the eight books in the Diagnosis Murder series of original novels, based on the hit CBS TV mystery that he also wrote and produced. He followed that up by writing fifteen bestselling novels based on Monk, another TV show that he worked on. His Monk novels have been translated and published in Germany, Poland, Thailand, Japan, Turkey, and many other countries.
In addition to his writing, he’s worked as an international TV development expert and consulting producer for production companies and major networks in Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
But perhaps he’s best known for his pioneering work mapping the human genome and negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Goldberg lives in Los Angeles with his wife and his daughter and still sleeps in Man From U.N.C.L.E. pajamas.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- Jenz 2023 Beachcombers Mystery RC
- Jenz 2023 Cloak and Dagger
- Jenz 2023 Goodreads RC
- Jenz 2023 Medical Examiner RC
- Jenz 2023 Six Shooter
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