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Eve Ronin #6
Fallen Star
A spiraling case of betrayal, corruption, and murder could destroy Eve Ronin if she exposes it
A fifty-five-gallon drum washes up in the Malibu Lagoon stuffed with the corpse of Gene Dent, the key player in a bribery scandal that ensnared several local politicians. LASD detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone know the case—and all the likely suspects—well. Just as they begin their investigation, the sheriff publicly reveals evidence linking the crime to LA’s mayor.
But Eve and Duncan realize the bombshell allegation, true or not, arises from corruption within the sheriff’s own office…because they helped cover it up years ago. If the sheriff goes down, so will they.
Eve is agonizing over her moral dilemma when a helicopter crashes in the hillside below her Calabasas home. It’s not a coincidence. Eve soon discovers among the twisted wreckage and dead passengers shocking connections to her own past…and they lead straight to a fight for her life.
A fifty-five-gallon drum washes up in the Malibu Lagoon stuffed with the corpse of Gene Dent, the key player in a bribery scandal that ensnared several local politicians. LASD detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone know the case—and all the likely suspects—well. Just as they begin their investigation, the sheriff publicly reveals evidence linking the crime to LA’s mayor.
But Eve and Duncan realize the bombshell allegation, true or not, arises from corruption within the sheriff’s own office…because they helped cover it up years ago. If the sheriff goes down, so will they.
Eve is agonizing over her moral dilemma when a helicopter crashes in the hillside below her Calabasas home. It’s not a coincidence. Eve soon discovers among the twisted wreckage and dead passengers shocking connections to her own past…and they lead straight to a fight for her life.
303 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2025
767 people are currently reading
2694 people want to read
About the author
Lee Goldberg
158 books2,112 followersLee Goldberg is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over forty novels, including Malibu Burning, Calico, Lost Hills (the first novel in his acclaimed "Eve Ronin" series), 15 "Monk" mysteries, five "Fox & O'Hare" adventures (co-written with Janet Evanovich), and the new thriller Ashes Never Lie, the second in his "Sharpe & Walker" series.. He's written and/or produced many TV shows, including Diagnosis Murder, SeaQuest, and Monk and he co-created the Hallmark movie series Mystery 101.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
September 19, 2025
The sixth book in the Eve Ronin police procedural and crime thriller series,
Fallen Star,
is suspenseful, full of suspects, and includes betrayal, corruption, and murder. It’s largely set in and around Calabasas, California. Los Angeles County Detectives Eve Ronin and her partner Duncan Pavone are called to the Malibu Lagoon when a drum is found with the body of Gene Dent in it. Dent is a key person in a bribery scandal that affected several local politicians. Just as they begin their investigation, Sheriff Richard Lansing publicly reveals evidence linking the crime to Los Angeles’ mayor, Ward Keegan. Eve is agonizing over a moral dilemma when a helicopter crashes in the hillside below her Calabasas home. Among the dead passengers are connections to Eve’s past.
Eve is an energetic, ambitious, and compelling main character and someone you can root for. She is relentless, intuitive, and has a sense of responsibility to get justice for victims and their families. Her selfless concern for others comes through in each novel. However, she can also be reckless and impatient. She continues to be a flawed protagonist who has shown some growth. Many of her co-workers feel she didn’t earn the promotion to detective. Additionally, the way she challenges things and asks questions sets others on edge and affects them and her. Reading the first five novels in the series provides the reasons for this added drama. Duncan’s character continues to gain depth. He has a great sense of humor, loves food, and is a terrific counterbalance to Eve’s recklessness and inexperience. Several secondary characters from previous novels show up in various supporting or antagonistic capacities, along with several new ones to lend a freshness to the story. These include Sharpe and Walker from another series by this author.
The author’s note at the beginning of the novel states that there are spoilers for previous novels in this one. If you plan to read the whole series, I recommend starting with book one. Not only will you avoid the spoilers, but you will get important information on Eve’s background and growth, and you will see how relationships grow and change over time.
What an action-packed start to this crime novel! The author’s writing style continues to hook me quickly, and the story builds momentum that leads to an action-filled conclusion. The storyline is gripping and kept me engaged from start to finish. It’s suspenseful and there are twists and turns as the team works to discover the criminals responsible for the deaths. The novel shines a light on politics, law enforcement, corruption, greed, power, and much more. However, that ending got to me. I expected it would come eventually, but didn’t want it to happen. Where will the story go from here in the next novel?
Overall, this is a tense, entertaining, and engaging novel with wit, suspense, action, and some great twists as well as some violence. It is fast-paced and action-packed. Parts of the story feel so realistic they could be part of a headline today. If you enjoy excellent crime thrillers and police procedurals, then I recommend that you check out this one. I am looking forward to finding out what happens in the next novel.
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. The publication date is currently set for October 14, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.41 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Eve is an energetic, ambitious, and compelling main character and someone you can root for. She is relentless, intuitive, and has a sense of responsibility to get justice for victims and their families. Her selfless concern for others comes through in each novel. However, she can also be reckless and impatient. She continues to be a flawed protagonist who has shown some growth. Many of her co-workers feel she didn’t earn the promotion to detective. Additionally, the way she challenges things and asks questions sets others on edge and affects them and her. Reading the first five novels in the series provides the reasons for this added drama. Duncan’s character continues to gain depth. He has a great sense of humor, loves food, and is a terrific counterbalance to Eve’s recklessness and inexperience. Several secondary characters from previous novels show up in various supporting or antagonistic capacities, along with several new ones to lend a freshness to the story. These include Sharpe and Walker from another series by this author.
The author’s note at the beginning of the novel states that there are spoilers for previous novels in this one. If you plan to read the whole series, I recommend starting with book one. Not only will you avoid the spoilers, but you will get important information on Eve’s background and growth, and you will see how relationships grow and change over time.
What an action-packed start to this crime novel! The author’s writing style continues to hook me quickly, and the story builds momentum that leads to an action-filled conclusion. The storyline is gripping and kept me engaged from start to finish. It’s suspenseful and there are twists and turns as the team works to discover the criminals responsible for the deaths. The novel shines a light on politics, law enforcement, corruption, greed, power, and much more. However, that ending got to me. I expected it would come eventually, but didn’t want it to happen. Where will the story go from here in the next novel?
Overall, this is a tense, entertaining, and engaging novel with wit, suspense, action, and some great twists as well as some violence. It is fast-paced and action-packed. Parts of the story feel so realistic they could be part of a headline today. If you enjoy excellent crime thrillers and police procedurals, then I recommend that you check out this one. I am looking forward to finding out what happens in the next novel.
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. The publication date is currently set for October 14, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.41 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
September 8, 2025
4 stars for book 6 in the Eve Ronin series. Both my wife and I enjoy this series. I have read the previous 5 books in the series. This book would work as a stand alone, but you will better understand the relationships between the characters if you read the series in order. Eve and her partner, Duncan Pavone, solve two murders in this book. The first is a real estate developer being investigated for corruption, Gene Dent. The second involves a helicopter crash near Eve's home. They do solve both cases with some surprising plot twists.
Eve gets attacked and almost killed, but survives, a recurring theme in this series. Her partner Duncan constantly urges her to stop taking unnecessary risks. I like the book's humor along with the mystery.
One quote, describing Eve and Duncan eating dinner: "Eve was working on a crab salad, because she was determined to eat some vegetables despite Duncan's unspoken disapproval. He felt that money spent on vegetables at a restaurant was being thrown away, especially at a buffet."
Thank you Thomas & Mercer for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#FallenStar #NetGalley
Pub Date Oct 14 2025
Eve gets attacked and almost killed, but survives, a recurring theme in this series. Her partner Duncan constantly urges her to stop taking unnecessary risks. I like the book's humor along with the mystery.
One quote, describing Eve and Duncan eating dinner: "Eve was working on a crab salad, because she was determined to eat some vegetables despite Duncan's unspoken disapproval. He felt that money spent on vegetables at a restaurant was being thrown away, especially at a buffet."
Thank you Thomas & Mercer for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#FallenStar #NetGalley
Pub Date Oct 14 2025
June 12, 2025
A body found in a 55 gallon drum turns out to be a man involved in a local bribery scandal, so Duncan and Eve are sent to investigate. Later, when Eve is at home, she hears a loud noise and sees that a helicopter has been shot down nearby. The police arrive as does the NTSB to determine the cause--accidental or murder? The LA fire inspectors Walker and Sharpe (who have their own excellent series written by the author) are helping with the investigation. The helicopter passengers were some well-known local wheeler-dealers, and Eve will learn that some people will stop at nothing to cover up the cause in this exciting police procedural with great banter between Duncan and Eve. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
December 1, 2025
I’m really enjoying Goldberg’s interlinking series involving cops (Eve Ronin & Duncan ‘Donuts’ Pavone) and arson investigators (Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker). All of his main characters are deftly drawn, and each book is a well-crafted mystery in its own right. It’s a little over the top at times, but I mean that in a good way. The stories are dramatic, the baddies are either ruthlessly grim or people in power hiding in plain sight. But the main attraction for me remains the interaction between the author’s returning crew. It’s the mix of drama and fun that keeps me coming back for more.
Here, Ronin (a cop who has risen to detective status as a result of an event very early in her career being filmed and then ‘posted’ by a bystander) busts up a flashmob robbery in typical maverick style bringing her, once again, into conflict with her boss (a new boss this time). This episode involves Russian mobsters, corrupt politicians, foreign investors, and crooked contractors - and a body washed up on a beach in Malibu, stuffed into a 55-gallon drum. Yes, it’s action and intrigue all the way.
Note: the author warns in his forward that there are some spoilers in this story for readers who haven’t yet read previous titles in these series, so it really is best if you read these books in order.
My thanks to Thomas and Mercer for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Here, Ronin (a cop who has risen to detective status as a result of an event very early in her career being filmed and then ‘posted’ by a bystander) busts up a flashmob robbery in typical maverick style bringing her, once again, into conflict with her boss (a new boss this time). This episode involves Russian mobsters, corrupt politicians, foreign investors, and crooked contractors - and a body washed up on a beach in Malibu, stuffed into a 55-gallon drum. Yes, it’s action and intrigue all the way.
Note: the author warns in his forward that there are some spoilers in this story for readers who haven’t yet read previous titles in these series, so it really is best if you read these books in order.
My thanks to Thomas and Mercer for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
July 31, 2025
Before I get to the book. I am so happy that there will be a tv show about Eve Ronin, I can't wait to see it. Fallen Star by Lee Goldberg is the sixth book with Ronin but she also appears in the Sharpe & Walker series so don't miss them. I have been a big fan of Goldberg since I discovered his books and it is a pure joy reading them. It's fast paced, thrilling and filled with humor. The character created are some of the best and the power struggle among various people adds something that most authors miss. I think the author is having a great time writing about this city he knows so well and an industry he has an inside view into. This story that starts with a body in a 55 gallon drum soon expands to a rather complicated affair that could mean some bad things for both the sheriff and the mayor. Eve on the other hand is only focused on bringing the bad guys to justice and she does this without regard for ofice politics. I am so glad I found this author and I strongly recommend him and his work to all you readers out ther. I also must thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for making this advance copy available to me.
December 26, 2025
A lot of my favorite authors' books are getting released in Oct 25 - John Grisham, Michael Connelly, Steve Cavanagh, Caimh Mcdonnell, Anthony Horowitz and Lee Goldberg. I feel lucky to have received the ARC of Fallen Star this early, reducing my wait-induced stress by a few Pascals. The verdict is 5 * once again.
It's so good to see the author has maintained the high standards and consistent with the portrayal of the characters. I love every one of them - Eve Ronin, Duncan donuts, Sharpe, Walker, Nan and even Sheriff Lansing.
Duncan is a friend I too would like to have, he always has Eve's back. I hope he doesn't die of obesity in the next book. Please put him on a vegan diet.
Walker is another friend everyone should have.
The plot gets quite complex with all Ronin's cases coming together. There are some nice twists, moral dilemma and the TV series based on Eve.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting. And please give me more !
I have this question to author. Walker made an appearance in one of Monk's books. Had Lee decided to bring him back as a major character at that point of time?
It's so good to see the author has maintained the high standards and consistent with the portrayal of the characters. I love every one of them - Eve Ronin, Duncan donuts, Sharpe, Walker, Nan and even Sheriff Lansing.
Duncan is a friend I too would like to have, he always has Eve's back. I hope he doesn't die of obesity in the next book. Please put him on a vegan diet.
Walker is another friend everyone should have.
The plot gets quite complex with all Ronin's cases coming together. There are some nice twists, moral dilemma and the TV series based on Eve.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting. And please give me more !
I have this question to author. Walker made an appearance in one of Monk's books. Had Lee decided to bring him back as a major character at that point of time?
November 3, 2025
Fallen Star is book six in the Detective Eve Ronin series set in Los Angeles, about a reckless but righteous Sheriff’s Deputy whose exploits have made her famous (or infamous) enough to have a TV series made about her, solving crimes involving the rich & powerful of LA. While there are continuing plot lines that run through the series, the stories all stand alone and you get all the necessary backstory to enjoy it without having read the previous instalments. This one crosses over nicely with arson investigators Walker & Sharpe from one of the author’s more recent other series.
When a helicopter that was flying over her exclusive Calabasas neighbourhood crashes near her home, Eve is first on the scene. She’s in for another shock when she discovers who the pilot is, and how some of the other victims connect to both her current murder investigation and a brewing political scandal. With so many motives, suspects and potential consequences in play, and her own career on the line, Eve will need more than a little help from her friends…
I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series, and while there’s an outrageous reliance on coincidence and completely implausible action sequences, this was another entertaining romp for our intrepid heroine and her gluttonous sidekick Duncan. I love the relationship between them and their banter lightens up the narrative in a story about corruption, backstabbing and greed. The evolving friendship between Eve and Andrew Walker, rule breaking risk takers, was another highlight of the book. The eventual reveal was far fetched enough to be unpredictable, while conversely I did see the ending coming, because it felt more realistic given what we know about the characters. Looking forward to continuing Eve’s adventures.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. Fallen Star is available now.
When a helicopter that was flying over her exclusive Calabasas neighbourhood crashes near her home, Eve is first on the scene. She’s in for another shock when she discovers who the pilot is, and how some of the other victims connect to both her current murder investigation and a brewing political scandal. With so many motives, suspects and potential consequences in play, and her own career on the line, Eve will need more than a little help from her friends…
I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series, and while there’s an outrageous reliance on coincidence and completely implausible action sequences, this was another entertaining romp for our intrepid heroine and her gluttonous sidekick Duncan. I love the relationship between them and their banter lightens up the narrative in a story about corruption, backstabbing and greed. The evolving friendship between Eve and Andrew Walker, rule breaking risk takers, was another highlight of the book. The eventual reveal was far fetched enough to be unpredictable, while conversely I did see the ending coming, because it felt more realistic given what we know about the characters. Looking forward to continuing Eve’s adventures.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. Fallen Star is available now.
August 6, 2025
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Lee Goldberg, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Always eager to explore the writing of Lee Goldberg, I dove in to explore the latest Eve Ronin thriller. While Eve has never been one to follow all the rules, she pushes the limits on a regular basis. The discovery of a body in a shipping drum opens up a case of murder that implicates many LA politicians who want the victim silenced. However, there is a connection to the LA Sheriff’s Department, which could taint Eve’s own professional reputation. All that and then a jolting event puts Eve Ronin on the defensive and worried for her personal safety. Goldberg delivers another strong novel that supports my ongoing interest in his work!
When a body is discovered inside a large shipping drum, LA Sheriff Department Detective Eve Ronin and her partner, Duncan Pavone, are sent to investigate. The victim, Gene Dent, is a key witness in a bribery case with which both detectives are quite familiar. Many LA politicians are set to be named and their reputations could be tarnished. What Detectives Ronin and Pavone soon discover is that the corruption could go as high as a mayor’s office.
While all this comes across their desk, both detectives know that they were part of a cover-up during the case’s infancy and any implications at City Hall will trickle down to the sheriff’s department. Tense decisions must be made before taking any action. This does not deter detectives from finding a killer, even if they are not sure what should follow.
While Eve ponders what to do next, a helicopter crash close to her home overtakes her time. What is found inside, particularly the passengers, will stir up a great deal of tension from Eve’s past and send the detective on a new and troubling investigation that is sure to create more trouble for all involved. Lee Goldberg delivers another winning novel with the latest in this series.
I have long enjoyed the writing of Lee Goldberg, which reminds me of television shows I enjoy watching. Goldberg’s ability to manipulate the narrative works well for the attentive reader, sending them through all the emotions as the action builds. Characters are well-placed and keep the reader connected to the larger story, especially those who return throughout the series and have crossed over from other Goldberg collections. The plot is crisp and serves to surprise the reader effectively. Many moving parts keep the reader focused on all that is taking place and provides enough twists to ensure nothing is too predictable. I am eager to see what Goldberg has coming up and how he will lure readers in once more!
Kudos, Mr. Goldberg, for ensuring the reader is always on the edge of their seat.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Always eager to explore the writing of Lee Goldberg, I dove in to explore the latest Eve Ronin thriller. While Eve has never been one to follow all the rules, she pushes the limits on a regular basis. The discovery of a body in a shipping drum opens up a case of murder that implicates many LA politicians who want the victim silenced. However, there is a connection to the LA Sheriff’s Department, which could taint Eve’s own professional reputation. All that and then a jolting event puts Eve Ronin on the defensive and worried for her personal safety. Goldberg delivers another strong novel that supports my ongoing interest in his work!
When a body is discovered inside a large shipping drum, LA Sheriff Department Detective Eve Ronin and her partner, Duncan Pavone, are sent to investigate. The victim, Gene Dent, is a key witness in a bribery case with which both detectives are quite familiar. Many LA politicians are set to be named and their reputations could be tarnished. What Detectives Ronin and Pavone soon discover is that the corruption could go as high as a mayor’s office.
While all this comes across their desk, both detectives know that they were part of a cover-up during the case’s infancy and any implications at City Hall will trickle down to the sheriff’s department. Tense decisions must be made before taking any action. This does not deter detectives from finding a killer, even if they are not sure what should follow.
While Eve ponders what to do next, a helicopter crash close to her home overtakes her time. What is found inside, particularly the passengers, will stir up a great deal of tension from Eve’s past and send the detective on a new and troubling investigation that is sure to create more trouble for all involved. Lee Goldberg delivers another winning novel with the latest in this series.
I have long enjoyed the writing of Lee Goldberg, which reminds me of television shows I enjoy watching. Goldberg’s ability to manipulate the narrative works well for the attentive reader, sending them through all the emotions as the action builds. Characters are well-placed and keep the reader connected to the larger story, especially those who return throughout the series and have crossed over from other Goldberg collections. The plot is crisp and serves to surprise the reader effectively. Many moving parts keep the reader focused on all that is taking place and provides enough twists to ensure nothing is too predictable. I am eager to see what Goldberg has coming up and how he will lure readers in once more!
Kudos, Mr. Goldberg, for ensuring the reader is always on the edge of their seat.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 4, 2025
Fallen Star begins with a flashmob robbery, which Eve Ronin stops in a rather unorthodox manner. (My favorite scene in the book!) This leads Eve to wonder if she is becoming the "superhero" character in the television series based on her life, rather than vice versa. This is followed by a 55-gallon drum having been found with a body inside it. And THAT is followed by a BIG BANG - the sound of a helicopter crashing into the hillside below Eve's house. Hang on to your hat because it's a long and dangerous winding road from there. The mystery is twisty right until the end!
Mr. Goldberg is one of my very favorite authors. When I see a new book is about to be released, I don't even need to see what it's about ... it's an auto-read for me! I love that Eve and her partner, Duncan, have appeared in the Sharpe & Walker arson series, and it was great fun for Sharp, Walker (and his HAT) to have appeared in Fallen Star.
I think my second favorite part of Fallen Star was the screenplay titled “Hercules: Licensed to Kill.” What a scream!!
Four stars instead of five because the many mysteries and storylines made the book feel a little overly complicated to me.
One last note. I read that Mr. Goldberg "lives in Los Angeles with his wife and his daughter, and still sleeps in his Man From UNCLE pajamas." Honestly, what an entertaining author!!
HUGE Thanks to #ThomasAndMercer, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Fallen Star has an expected publication date of October 14, 2025.
#LeeGoldberg #StrongFemaleProtagonist #FunSeries
Mr. Goldberg is one of my very favorite authors. When I see a new book is about to be released, I don't even need to see what it's about ... it's an auto-read for me! I love that Eve and her partner, Duncan, have appeared in the Sharpe & Walker arson series, and it was great fun for Sharp, Walker (and his HAT) to have appeared in Fallen Star.
I think my second favorite part of Fallen Star was the screenplay titled “Hercules: Licensed to Kill.” What a scream!!
Four stars instead of five because the many mysteries and storylines made the book feel a little overly complicated to me.
One last note. I read that Mr. Goldberg "lives in Los Angeles with his wife and his daughter, and still sleeps in his Man From UNCLE pajamas." Honestly, what an entertaining author!!
HUGE Thanks to #ThomasAndMercer, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Fallen Star has an expected publication date of October 14, 2025.
#LeeGoldberg #StrongFemaleProtagonist #FunSeries
November 16, 2025
Meh.
Mostly boring and pointless. Kind of amazing when you think how strongly this series has started, but it progressively getting boring and stale. I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that Goldberg, which I love, has published 9 books in the past two years- because the the quality of the book is falling slightly, and he’s getting very repetitive.
This entry is just repetition from past entries- fires, planes and helos crashing down, Eve against the entire world, Eve suffering because of the TV series based on her, Eve bitching and moaning about everything… Oh, and a weird obsession with food. Only in this entry it’s gotten even worse, as Eve’s partner, Duncan, is literally doing nothing but eat, every conversation is somehow turning to be about food, every page there’s a mention of food. I get it, it’s supposed to be a comic relief of sorts, but do you really need to beat a dead horse until there’s nothing left of the corpse every single page throughout the book? It’s not funny. Actually, it’s disturbing thinking about the amount of food this guy is shoveling.. Like a human Hoover… Yikes…
And the case… What a mess and a migraine inducing pile of steaming crap this was. Not only it was too convoluted with too many leads, too many characters and too many motives, but it was also pretty clear Goldberg didn’t know how to get out of the corner he pushed himself into, so her forced three… THREE… I repeat.. THREE… solutions (not to mention he managed to cram a few cases into one to make things veen more convoluted), neither one made any sense whatsoever, but somehow they were all connected and the case(s) was (were) solved…
But the biggest problem is that six entries into the series, and not only there isn’t much of character development and progression, it’s actually stalled. This entry is just filler, but even so it does nothing to develop Eve or Duncan or any of the other characters, any further (unless shoveling food constantly is considered character development). Eve is pretty much at the same place she was when the series started, and in fact, in some regards, she even regressed and even become annoying.
I also really don’t like that Goldberg is forcing crossovers between this series and the Walker and Sharpe series- it feels so forced and un-organic, and even though he insists in the foreword that this entry can be read as a standalone, this entry is crammed with so much references to events in BOTH series that if you haven’t read them previously, you’d feel kinda lost as they have some importance to events in this entry. This is the third crossover, and honestly, it just doesn’t work. I get it that they both operate in the same space, but the three of them together just don’t mix well (and I’ll admit, I really don’t like Sharpe and Walker, and their characters are sop week, that not only Duncan outshines them completely, even Eve’s mom short appearance had more impact than the two of them).
Also, there was a huge missed opportunity here for character growth when
Really doubtful I’ll continue with this series. I’d like to suggest to Goldberg to take a break to refresh and think things through, but as it is he has two more novels that are being published in 2026, one seems to be the first in a new series (yay…….) and the second is a new Eve Ronin installment.
But something needs to change. A light adventure is all good and well, but even this kind of entertainment needs good writing and characters. Cramming pointless action and convoluted cases and stalling the growth of the characters really isn’t the way to go.
And enough shoveling food, for fuck sake!
Mostly boring and pointless. Kind of amazing when you think how strongly this series has started, but it progressively getting boring and stale. I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that Goldberg, which I love, has published 9 books in the past two years- because the the quality of the book is falling slightly, and he’s getting very repetitive.
This entry is just repetition from past entries- fires, planes and helos crashing down, Eve against the entire world, Eve suffering because of the TV series based on her, Eve bitching and moaning about everything… Oh, and a weird obsession with food. Only in this entry it’s gotten even worse, as Eve’s partner, Duncan, is literally doing nothing but eat, every conversation is somehow turning to be about food, every page there’s a mention of food. I get it, it’s supposed to be a comic relief of sorts, but do you really need to beat a dead horse until there’s nothing left of the corpse every single page throughout the book? It’s not funny. Actually, it’s disturbing thinking about the amount of food this guy is shoveling.. Like a human Hoover… Yikes…
And the case… What a mess and a migraine inducing pile of steaming crap this was. Not only it was too convoluted with too many leads, too many characters and too many motives, but it was also pretty clear Goldberg didn’t know how to get out of the corner he pushed himself into, so her forced three… THREE… I repeat.. THREE… solutions (not to mention he managed to cram a few cases into one to make things veen more convoluted), neither one made any sense whatsoever, but somehow they were all connected and the case(s) was (were) solved…
But the biggest problem is that six entries into the series, and not only there isn’t much of character development and progression, it’s actually stalled. This entry is just filler, but even so it does nothing to develop Eve or Duncan or any of the other characters, any further (unless shoveling food constantly is considered character development). Eve is pretty much at the same place she was when the series started, and in fact, in some regards, she even regressed and even become annoying.
I also really don’t like that Goldberg is forcing crossovers between this series and the Walker and Sharpe series- it feels so forced and un-organic, and even though he insists in the foreword that this entry can be read as a standalone, this entry is crammed with so much references to events in BOTH series that if you haven’t read them previously, you’d feel kinda lost as they have some importance to events in this entry. This is the third crossover, and honestly, it just doesn’t work. I get it that they both operate in the same space, but the three of them together just don’t mix well (and I’ll admit, I really don’t like Sharpe and Walker, and their characters are sop week, that not only Duncan outshines them completely, even Eve’s mom short appearance had more impact than the two of them).
Also, there was a huge missed opportunity here for character growth when
Really doubtful I’ll continue with this series. I’d like to suggest to Goldberg to take a break to refresh and think things through, but as it is he has two more novels that are being published in 2026, one seems to be the first in a new series (yay…….) and the second is a new Eve Ronin installment.
But something needs to change. A light adventure is all good and well, but even this kind of entertainment needs good writing and characters. Cramming pointless action and convoluted cases and stalling the growth of the characters really isn’t the way to go.
And enough shoveling food, for fuck sake!
November 25, 2025
The Eve Ronin books are such fun. The story rolls out effortlessly. The humour works. The action is intense. The technical details are shared with a light, often humorous touch. The plot is serpentine and closely linked to earlier books.
You can read ‘Fallen Star’ as a standalone novel but it has spoilers for some of the earlier novels so, if you’re new to Eve Ronin, I suggest you start with the first Eve Ronin book, ‘Lost Hills’ and maybe try the first Sharpe & Walker book, ‘Malibu Burning’.
In 'Fallen Star', Eve is worried that, subconsciously, she's becoming too like the image of her promoted in a TV show loosely based on her life but with action scenes that make her look like superhero. She's concerned that her actions in real life are so on-brand for her TV show persona, that they're inappropriate as the actions of a serving police detective.
The thing is, Eve's actions in real life, no matter how reckless, are just Eve being Eve. Being Eve means a video of her, off duty, using her gun to single-handedly frustrate a flash mob raid on a high-priced cosmetics store goes viral. It means that she's fist on the scene when a helicopter crashes on the hill below her house, and takes charge of what soon becomes a murder case.
This tiime Eve got to be even more herself when she enlisted the help of Walker, US Marshal turned Arson investigator, to set a trap for a sniper, with Eve as bait.
I love Eve being Eve.
You can read ‘Fallen Star’ as a standalone novel but it has spoilers for some of the earlier novels so, if you’re new to Eve Ronin, I suggest you start with the first Eve Ronin book, ‘Lost Hills’ and maybe try the first Sharpe & Walker book, ‘Malibu Burning’.
In 'Fallen Star', Eve is worried that, subconsciously, she's becoming too like the image of her promoted in a TV show loosely based on her life but with action scenes that make her look like superhero. She's concerned that her actions in real life are so on-brand for her TV show persona, that they're inappropriate as the actions of a serving police detective.
The thing is, Eve's actions in real life, no matter how reckless, are just Eve being Eve. Being Eve means a video of her, off duty, using her gun to single-handedly frustrate a flash mob raid on a high-priced cosmetics store goes viral. It means that she's fist on the scene when a helicopter crashes on the hill below her house, and takes charge of what soon becomes a murder case.
This tiime Eve got to be even more herself when she enlisted the help of Walker, US Marshal turned Arson investigator, to set a trap for a sniper, with Eve as bait.
I love Eve being Eve.
April 7, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the opportunity to read and review "Fallen Star" by Lee Goldberg.
Where Eve Ronin goes - trouble follows, and there's no shortage of trouble brewing in this, the sixth book in Lee Goldberg's riveting mystery/suspense/action series featuring (sometimes) renegade Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Detective Eve (Deathfist) Ronin.
When a five-gallon drum washes up containing the corpse of a key player in a bribery scandal that ensnared several local politicians, Eve and her partner Duncan "Donuts" Pavone are on the case. And where this case takes them is a long and winding road, with many links to the past which will keep popping up when least expected.
Eve spends a lot of time conflicted - conflicted because of the 'reality' TV show based on her which has turned her into some kind of super-cop, and which the general public cannot seem to separate from her reality; conflicted because she was, earlier on in her career, party to a cover up that allowed a senior cop to get away with his criminal activity; conflicted because she just cannot help being who she is, even when it gets her into trouble.
Eve is agonizing over her moral dilemma when a helicopter crashes in the hillside below her Calabasas home. It’s not a coincidence. Eve soon discovers among the twisted wreckage and dead passengers shocking connections to her own past…and they lead straight to a fight for her life.
There is a lot going on in this book, and I don't want to inadvertently give anything away. But never fear, the action is pretty much constant and doesn't let up until the very end. The book also has the feeling of an ending of some sort - whether it's an ending for the series, or simply a change, I don't know.
Oh, and Walker and Sharpe also make an appearance to add to the action.
I read this book in one day - not because it's short, oh no, but because I just couldn't stop.
If you've read the other books in this series, you will certainly love this one. And if you haven't, please do. Right now. You won't regret it.
Highly recommended.
Where Eve Ronin goes - trouble follows, and there's no shortage of trouble brewing in this, the sixth book in Lee Goldberg's riveting mystery/suspense/action series featuring (sometimes) renegade Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Detective Eve (Deathfist) Ronin.
When a five-gallon drum washes up containing the corpse of a key player in a bribery scandal that ensnared several local politicians, Eve and her partner Duncan "Donuts" Pavone are on the case. And where this case takes them is a long and winding road, with many links to the past which will keep popping up when least expected.
Eve spends a lot of time conflicted - conflicted because of the 'reality' TV show based on her which has turned her into some kind of super-cop, and which the general public cannot seem to separate from her reality; conflicted because she was, earlier on in her career, party to a cover up that allowed a senior cop to get away with his criminal activity; conflicted because she just cannot help being who she is, even when it gets her into trouble.
Eve is agonizing over her moral dilemma when a helicopter crashes in the hillside below her Calabasas home. It’s not a coincidence. Eve soon discovers among the twisted wreckage and dead passengers shocking connections to her own past…and they lead straight to a fight for her life.
There is a lot going on in this book, and I don't want to inadvertently give anything away. But never fear, the action is pretty much constant and doesn't let up until the very end. The book also has the feeling of an ending of some sort - whether it's an ending for the series, or simply a change, I don't know.
Oh, and Walker and Sharpe also make an appearance to add to the action.
I read this book in one day - not because it's short, oh no, but because I just couldn't stop.
If you've read the other books in this series, you will certainly love this one. And if you haven't, please do. Right now. You won't regret it.
Highly recommended.
April 16, 2025
Another winner! This book picks up right after the last and involves some of the same characters from Movieland, namely the ones involved in the government bribing scandal. The fixer from that case, Dent, who was seen on tape giving casino chips to the city councilman who was later killed is himself found dead, floating in the sea in a barrel. He was shot in the head and the groin and his phone is missing. Their prime suspect is Paul, the rich developer who hired Dent but he has a solid alibi. Then Paul is killed in a helicopter crash in the hills just outside of Eve’s house, along with the actor from the first book who Eve arrested and was the reason why she was promoted to homicide. At first it seems like an accident but then they discover that the pilot was shot by a sniper on the ground. Eve immediately realizes that the hiker she saw in the trail that morning must be the killer. She heads out to check with the victims families and meets with the sister of a rich investor who died on the flight. She says that he made some risky investments with the family money but can’t imagine why anyone would want him dead. As she is driving back home, someone tries to kill Eve and she knows that it is the hiker and that he was working with the victim’s sister. She sets a trap for him and they catch him but he ends up dying in a shootout but not before he says that he didn’t shoot the helicopter down. So who did? It was an actor in Eve’s community who has been shooting down paparazzi drones that have been flying over his house and he thought that they were now using helicopters. In other news, Duncan appears to be really retiring this time but he will still be working on the tv show.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2025
Story 3.75 stars rounded up. Narration 4.5 stars
This is the latest edition of this series about a young homicide detective in California. Her latest case involves a murder that evolves into a murder of several other people. The case is interwoven with the Hollywood portrayal of Eve and her job, although not as much as in the past. She achieved acclaim early on for something that happened to her on the job and that’s the only reason she has made detective so early in her career. She is looked down on by many of the people she works with because of this, well this plus her having a weekly television show written about her. Book one showcases all of this so I’m going to leave it at that other than to say that she’s a very good detective. Oh, and that she manages to get hurt a lot at times.
I really enjoy this series. Having said that, this wasn’t a favorite of the series for me. Because I listened, it was hard to keep up with all the names for victims, bad guys, possible bad guys, witnesses and everyone else in the story. I got a bit lost at times. I think if I had read it instead of listened I wouldn’t have had as hard of a time. Not really the authors fault; that’s on me. Still, I do recommend this series to all readers of police procedurals as well as mysteries.
This is the latest edition of this series about a young homicide detective in California. Her latest case involves a murder that evolves into a murder of several other people. The case is interwoven with the Hollywood portrayal of Eve and her job, although not as much as in the past. She achieved acclaim early on for something that happened to her on the job and that’s the only reason she has made detective so early in her career. She is looked down on by many of the people she works with because of this, well this plus her having a weekly television show written about her. Book one showcases all of this so I’m going to leave it at that other than to say that she’s a very good detective. Oh, and that she manages to get hurt a lot at times.
I really enjoy this series. Having said that, this wasn’t a favorite of the series for me. Because I listened, it was hard to keep up with all the names for victims, bad guys, possible bad guys, witnesses and everyone else in the story. I got a bit lost at times. I think if I had read it instead of listened I wouldn’t have had as hard of a time. Not really the authors fault; that’s on me. Still, I do recommend this series to all readers of police procedurals as well as mysteries.
August 24, 2025
The corpse of a witness in a bribery scheme involving local businessmen and politicians is found encased in a fifty-gallon drum that washes up. A helicopter crashes in the hill below Eve Ronin’s house. Is there a connection? Oh, and there is a Russian mobster, Eve heroically thwarts a flash mob robbery, and the sheriff, who is trying to take down the mayor, is covering up his own scandal.
Eve Ronin is a minor celebrity, as some of her actions in the past were caught on video, went viral, and, much to the consternation of some in the LA County Sheriff Department, led to her early promotion to detective. Much to her dismay, a TV series has been made based on her exploits. She is partnered with experienced detective Duncan “Donuts" Pavone who never passes up the opportunity for food.
This is the sixth in the Eve Ronin series; I have read all of them. Obviously, I like Lee Goldberg’s writing. His books are well-written, fast-moving, with good character development. I particularly enjoy the humor displayed by some of the characters. While the actions and plots may sometimes stretch the imagination, they are never too far-fetched. This would work as a standalone.
I enjoy the crossovers of other of Goldberg's characters that he includes. In this book, Eve has the opportunity to work with Sharpe and Walker, arson investigators from another of his popular series. Eve has appeared in some of the Sharpe and Walker installments.
Incidentally, in a case of life imitating art, work has begun on an Eve Ronin TV series; the network to be announced.
Thanks to @NetGalley and @AmazonPublishing #ThomasandMercer for the DRC.
Eve Ronin is a minor celebrity, as some of her actions in the past were caught on video, went viral, and, much to the consternation of some in the LA County Sheriff Department, led to her early promotion to detective. Much to her dismay, a TV series has been made based on her exploits. She is partnered with experienced detective Duncan “Donuts" Pavone who never passes up the opportunity for food.
This is the sixth in the Eve Ronin series; I have read all of them. Obviously, I like Lee Goldberg’s writing. His books are well-written, fast-moving, with good character development. I particularly enjoy the humor displayed by some of the characters. While the actions and plots may sometimes stretch the imagination, they are never too far-fetched. This would work as a standalone.
I enjoy the crossovers of other of Goldberg's characters that he includes. In this book, Eve has the opportunity to work with Sharpe and Walker, arson investigators from another of his popular series. Eve has appeared in some of the Sharpe and Walker installments.
Incidentally, in a case of life imitating art, work has begun on an Eve Ronin TV series; the network to be announced.
Thanks to @NetGalley and @AmazonPublishing #ThomasandMercer for the DRC.
October 4, 2025
“Fallen Star” by Lee Goldberg is an action-packed 5-star read! LASD detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone are back, picking up right where they left off. The story begins with a dead body in a barrel, moves through layers of corruption and murder, and ends with the bad guys behind bars.
Lee Goldberg does a fantastic job continuing the Eve Ronin series in this sixth installment. Eve is the badass who’s always serious, and Duncan is the guy who’s always thinking about food, but together, there’s no better duo when it comes to fighting crime. I can’t wait for the seventh book in the series!
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, Lee Goldberg, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.
Lee Goldberg does a fantastic job continuing the Eve Ronin series in this sixth installment. Eve is the badass who’s always serious, and Duncan is the guy who’s always thinking about food, but together, there’s no better duo when it comes to fighting crime. I can’t wait for the seventh book in the series!
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, Lee Goldberg, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.
April 16, 2025
Lee Goldberg has created a familiar world with a cast of wonderfully crafted characters to give the reader a thrilling story. His writing is very cinematic Probably because he has been a script writer for many TV Shows such as Monk and Murder She Wrote. In this book Eve Ronin is witness to a helicopter crash on the hillside below her house. Several of the people killed in the crash are also involved in a homicide investigation she and her partner Duncan Pavone are working. The pace is fast as they unravel the clues in both cases. At first the helicopter appears to be an accident until a bullet wound in the shattered skull of the pilot and in the instrument panel indicates a homicide. As one discovery leads to another the reader will be kept guessing until the last page! This is a fabulous read just as all the others in this series. The author does meticulous research and notes in the acknowledgements all the experts who provided information which helped develop the story. Being so creative in his characterization, it was fun to see Andy Walker and Sharpe , the arson investigators from other books have roles in this story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and always look forward to the next book by this author. This book will be enjoyed by people who read police procedurals, have an affinity for California and like non-stop action and adventure.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and always look forward to the next book by this author. This book will be enjoyed by people who read police procedurals, have an affinity for California and like non-stop action and adventure.
April 9, 2025
Ambition is everywhere in the Hollywood’s hills of Lee Goldberg’s ‘Fallen Angel’, where mobsters, producers, crooked cops, and fallen stars yearn for even more. Beattie, Lansing, a diverse cast of suspects, even the dead body in the five-gallon drum—they all want (or wanted) something that is just beyond them.
The paradox of protagonist Eve Ronin such is that she merely wants to be who she is now. External expectations plague her from the complex web of work politics, to her mother’s disparagement about Eve’s looks to the unwanted celebrity that’s come from the TV show about her life.
This is the sixth instalment of the Eve Ronin series and Eve is struggling with self doubt, worried that she has been corrupted by association. The mystery is twisty right until the end. So many bad guys to choose from! Her friends and allies also feature in the book giving the usual warmth and comic touches.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy.
The paradox of protagonist Eve Ronin such is that she merely wants to be who she is now. External expectations plague her from the complex web of work politics, to her mother’s disparagement about Eve’s looks to the unwanted celebrity that’s come from the TV show about her life.
This is the sixth instalment of the Eve Ronin series and Eve is struggling with self doubt, worried that she has been corrupted by association. The mystery is twisty right until the end. So many bad guys to choose from! Her friends and allies also feature in the book giving the usual warmth and comic touches.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy.
April 11, 2025
“Fallen Star” by Lee Goldberg is the sixth book in the Eve Ronin series. Eve is a renegade Sheriff in the Los Angeles Sheriff’s department. Wherever Eve goes a riveting mystery follows, and in this book a five gallon drum washes up on Malibu Beach containing the corpse of a key player in a bribery scandal involving several local politicians. Our heroine spends a lot of time in this book dealing with her personal conflict which is based on a TV show that depicts her as a super-hero cop. Her true longing is just to be an exemplary police officer and her TV persona keeps interfering with her judgement.
When a helicopter crashes next to her home killing everyone aboard the mystery becomes very personal. From here the action ramps up to a complicated and shocking ending. Another fun and enjoyable read!
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 22, 2025
Every year, I read and review just over 100 books (and even on an "off" year, I come within half a dozen of that mark). I've also been extremely fortunate that very few are stinkers - but neither do they all qualify for "knock-your-socks-off" status. It's a real treat, then, to know when I start a book it's going to ring all my happy bells - and books by this author certainly fit into that category. I love the "star" of this one - Los Angeles Sheriff's Department detective Even Ronin (and her partner, Duncan Pavone). This one, the sixth, gets extra kudos in my book for including two characters from another of the author's series - arson investigators Andrew Walker and Walter Sharpe.
A hot-shot detective who's a media darling - albeit an unwilling one - Eve hates that her life has now become the subject of a popular TV series. But somehow, she routinelymanages to get herself into sensational crime scenes - as she does once again at the opening of this book. Worried that the incident will be showcased in a couple of weeks, her concerns get pushed to the background when she gets called to Malibu Beach. There, a 55-gallon drum has washed up filled with the body of Gene Dent, a person with whom Eve and Duncan are very familiar from an old bribery case that involved the mayor of Los Angeles. Depending on the outcome of this one, the way that case was handled could spell career trouble for both partners.
Shortly thereafter, Eve watches a helicopter crash right behind her magnificent home (courtesy of the aforementioned TV show). It explodes, presumably killing everyone aboard - hence the need to call in compatriots Walker and Sharpe to help determine whether or not the crash was an accident. Having them on board always is a treat for me, by the way, because their sense of humor is guaranteed to bring me a chuckle or two every single chapter in which they appear.
The rest of the book follows the crash investigation as well as resolving - hopefully in a positive way - the situation with the guy in the barrel. All the good stuff is in there - political corruption, power (or the desire for it), fraud and more. Details, of course, I won't provide - that would spoil it for others. Resolution comes at the end, but in this case, so does disappointment, at least for this reader (no, I won't give that away, either). All told, it's another satisfying, exciting installment, and of course I look forward to more. Meantime, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get reacquainted with this bunch by way of a pre-release copy.
A hot-shot detective who's a media darling - albeit an unwilling one - Eve hates that her life has now become the subject of a popular TV series. But somehow, she routinelymanages to get herself into sensational crime scenes - as she does once again at the opening of this book. Worried that the incident will be showcased in a couple of weeks, her concerns get pushed to the background when she gets called to Malibu Beach. There, a 55-gallon drum has washed up filled with the body of Gene Dent, a person with whom Eve and Duncan are very familiar from an old bribery case that involved the mayor of Los Angeles. Depending on the outcome of this one, the way that case was handled could spell career trouble for both partners.
Shortly thereafter, Eve watches a helicopter crash right behind her magnificent home (courtesy of the aforementioned TV show). It explodes, presumably killing everyone aboard - hence the need to call in compatriots Walker and Sharpe to help determine whether or not the crash was an accident. Having them on board always is a treat for me, by the way, because their sense of humor is guaranteed to bring me a chuckle or two every single chapter in which they appear.
The rest of the book follows the crash investigation as well as resolving - hopefully in a positive way - the situation with the guy in the barrel. All the good stuff is in there - political corruption, power (or the desire for it), fraud and more. Details, of course, I won't provide - that would spoil it for others. Resolution comes at the end, but in this case, so does disappointment, at least for this reader (no, I won't give that away, either). All told, it's another satisfying, exciting installment, and of course I look forward to more. Meantime, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get reacquainted with this bunch by way of a pre-release copy.
August 3, 2025
I have read all the books from this series so when I saw another on Netgalley I immediately requested a copy as they never disappointed me. I have also read other books by the author and have always enjoyed them, and once again it was good to be back with Eve and Duncan. Walker and Sharpe also appear in the book assisting this great duo. A great cast of characters that Goldberg has developed, and you can see how much he enjoys writing about them and further developing their roles in his books. The relationship between Eve and Duncan is always top notch and the banter between the two adds another level.
This case is intriguing when the body of Gene Dent washes up in a fifty-five-gallon drum in Malibu Lagoon. Dent is a major player involved in corruption and a bribery scandal that involves politicians in the area and Eve and Duncan have their hands full as and the action and suspense pound along at an extraordinary pace. Eve features strongly and I love her character, strong, feisty and a woman on a mission to get justice for those who warrant it. Goldberg has an innate ability to provide quality plots in his books that have great depth and intense storylines that enthrall and engage the reader.
Another great police procedural from the esteemed Goldberg which is always a favourite of mine, a captivating ride that will have you questioning the events, a book that has everything to entice the reader to keep turning the pages.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.
This case is intriguing when the body of Gene Dent washes up in a fifty-five-gallon drum in Malibu Lagoon. Dent is a major player involved in corruption and a bribery scandal that involves politicians in the area and Eve and Duncan have their hands full as and the action and suspense pound along at an extraordinary pace. Eve features strongly and I love her character, strong, feisty and a woman on a mission to get justice for those who warrant it. Goldberg has an innate ability to provide quality plots in his books that have great depth and intense storylines that enthrall and engage the reader.
Another great police procedural from the esteemed Goldberg which is always a favourite of mine, a captivating ride that will have you questioning the events, a book that has everything to entice the reader to keep turning the pages.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.
November 1, 2025
Sixth book in the Eve Ronin series and it just keeps getting better and better! This book could be read on its own by why would you when this series is outstanding! There is also a crossover appearance from another Lee Goldberg series Walker and Sharpe. Another series I love!
If you love a strong female lead police procedural you will love this character and the writing is whip smart.
Her partner Duncan brings the one-liners and he makes a great balance to the seriousness of Eve.
Favorite line “the way things are going, we will find the body of Jimmy Hoffa, Arc of the Covenant and my lost socks at that crash site****Duncan Pavon
The audiobook is narrated by Nicol Zanzarella who has done the whole series and she embodies the character perfectly!
If you love a strong female lead police procedural you will love this character and the writing is whip smart.
Her partner Duncan brings the one-liners and he makes a great balance to the seriousness of Eve.
Favorite line “the way things are going, we will find the body of Jimmy Hoffa, Arc of the Covenant and my lost socks at that crash site****Duncan Pavon
The audiobook is narrated by Nicol Zanzarella who has done the whole series and she embodies the character perfectly!
November 5, 2025
I binged the first five books in this series so fast and I’m thrilled to pick it up again with this sixth book!
Eve Ronin is once again stuck in the middle of that rock-and-hard-place of fame and credibility. The politics are swirling around her and grievances old and new literally crash land in her backyard (practically). She’s thrust into a new investigation, Duncan’s still ride-or-dying, and some friends drop in to help in another fun series crossover.
Still fast, gritty, and intense, with plenty of fast-food stops. Murder, suspense, a whole load of suspects, and the corruption that runs through the whole series get another layer as Eve battles with playing the game and working with lesser evils. We get to dive a little deeper into Eve’s inner conflict and build even deeper character.
Addicting all the way through and wonderfully succinct. Highly recommend.
* I received a free copy from the publisher
Eve Ronin is once again stuck in the middle of that rock-and-hard-place of fame and credibility. The politics are swirling around her and grievances old and new literally crash land in her backyard (practically). She’s thrust into a new investigation, Duncan’s still ride-or-dying, and some friends drop in to help in another fun series crossover.
Still fast, gritty, and intense, with plenty of fast-food stops. Murder, suspense, a whole load of suspects, and the corruption that runs through the whole series get another layer as Eve battles with playing the game and working with lesser evils. We get to dive a little deeper into Eve’s inner conflict and build even deeper character.
Addicting all the way through and wonderfully succinct. Highly recommend.
* I received a free copy from the publisher
October 21, 2025
I liked it, but not as much as others in this series
July 13, 2025
I received a ARC from Netgalley for an honest review of this book. Since I’m an avid reader of Lee Goldberg I really loved this one. As he states in his foreword the characters will be easier to follow if you read Movieland and Bone Canyon but this is also a stand alone. Lee is a master plotter of mysteries. His characters are so real I feel like I know them. He didn’t write Monk and Hallmark mysteries Murder 101 unless he was brilliant. With a strong female policewoman lead this book is a great mystery. Eve Ronin isn’t just any woman. She doesn’t take orders from just anyone. Her partner Duncan is her polar opposite. Ready to retire he wants the easy way but along with Eve they solve a helicopter homicide. I loved seeing how police work a crime and was also fascinated by some of what they can’t do. You won’t be sorry if you pick up Fallen Star but personally I’d read the entire series. #Netgalley
October 13, 2025
This is a fun, interesting story with lots
of characters from the previous books
in this series. The story and characters
are well crafted. For readers new to the
series, you will be able to enjoy this book
as a standalone. For the rest of us this
is a reunion book!
My thanks to Thomas & Mercer for the
download copy of this excellent book
for review purposes.
of characters from the previous books
in this series. The story and characters
are well crafted. For readers new to the
series, you will be able to enjoy this book
as a standalone. For the rest of us this
is a reunion book!
My thanks to Thomas & Mercer for the
download copy of this excellent book
for review purposes.
November 13, 2025
A Different and Interesting Eve Ronin
This novel opens with a classic Eve Ronin arrest. Her captain calls her in. He gives her a dressing-down for how reckless she was. He will not accept any of her arguments because her actions were way outside the guidelines and endangered others. He asks for her gun and badge. He tells her to clear out her locker because she will not be coming back after this. Her partner, Duncan Pavone, calls her and says that if that is true, he would retire and they could become a private eye team. Late that night, she can’t sleep, so she goes to her patio. She notices a drone in her pool. As she is fishing it out, she sees the LA County Sheriff Lansing coming around the corner of the house. From this, a conundrum festering under the surface since the first novel in the series erupts.
Three threads comprise the main storyline. The first is the discovery of a body in a barrel that washed up in Malibu Lagoon. The body is identified as a bag man for a real estate developer and an investor, who the FBI is investigating for corruption with an LA City Councilman. As this investigation progresses, the LA Mayor accuses Sheriff Lansing of operating a secret task force to investigate his political enemies. The second thread starts here. A conundrum that has been festering under Eve’s skin since the first book of this series erupts when she learns the details of this accusation. [Reading the first novel is not required to understand this thread.] Her reactions have a significant impact on both her professional and personal lives. As these two threads progress, a helicopter flies very low over her house as she is to leave for work. There is an explosion. She goes into her backyard and sees that the helicopter has crashed down the hill from her residence. There is a jurisdictional dispute with the FBI, and she calls for help from Andrew Walker, a LASD arson detective with whom she has worked before. He comes with his partner, Walter Sharpe. They help Ronin discover the first pieces of evidence from the helicopter crash. This thread has twists, turns, and a red herring that grabbed my attention. These last two threads were significant in capturing my interest and kept me reading.
There are three B-storylines in this novel. They cover all aspects of Ronin’s character. First is Ronin’s long-term relationship with live-in boyfriend Daniel Brooks. For most of the novel, he is away to a large fire site in Northern California. The second thread is the relationship with her partner, Pavone. This one is much more than just professional. Since her professional and personal life are in turmoil, she relies heavily on his experience and guidance. The third is her ongoing relationship with the sheriff. This thread illustrates the mutually destructive nature of this relationship. These last two threads significantly enhanced my enjoyment of reading this novel.
Certain aspects of this novel may deter some readers from continuing. First, there are no intimate scenes. Profanity is at a noticeable level, but not excessive. Impious language level is low. The only instance of active violence occurred in the first chapter. The only victims were the perpetrators’ vehicles’ tires. The other violence was described after the fact. Even the author in the forward warns that parts of this novel draw on events from the three novels, but he continues that a reader can still enjoy this novel without having read them first. I agree, but this novel contains spoilers for specific events in those novels if you read them after finishing this one.
There were no aspects of this novel that decreased my reading enjoyment. What I liked most about the previous novels was that they were fast-flowing action novels. The conundrum thread adds a level of gravitas to this novel. Additionally, he author used two real events as the basis for the start of the two threads, but the storylines depart from the real events. Both piqued my interest and led me to read this more quickly than my usual pace. This novel is the tenth I’ve read from two series and a standalone novel from this Must-Read author. I highly recommend reading this novel. I have checked two major retailers, and the next novel in this series is listed. I can’t wait. For this novel, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and rate it with five stars.
I received the free, pre-publication e-book version of this novel from Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
This novel opens with a classic Eve Ronin arrest. Her captain calls her in. He gives her a dressing-down for how reckless she was. He will not accept any of her arguments because her actions were way outside the guidelines and endangered others. He asks for her gun and badge. He tells her to clear out her locker because she will not be coming back after this. Her partner, Duncan Pavone, calls her and says that if that is true, he would retire and they could become a private eye team. Late that night, she can’t sleep, so she goes to her patio. She notices a drone in her pool. As she is fishing it out, she sees the LA County Sheriff Lansing coming around the corner of the house. From this, a conundrum festering under the surface since the first novel in the series erupts.
Three threads comprise the main storyline. The first is the discovery of a body in a barrel that washed up in Malibu Lagoon. The body is identified as a bag man for a real estate developer and an investor, who the FBI is investigating for corruption with an LA City Councilman. As this investigation progresses, the LA Mayor accuses Sheriff Lansing of operating a secret task force to investigate his political enemies. The second thread starts here. A conundrum that has been festering under Eve’s skin since the first book of this series erupts when she learns the details of this accusation. [Reading the first novel is not required to understand this thread.] Her reactions have a significant impact on both her professional and personal lives. As these two threads progress, a helicopter flies very low over her house as she is to leave for work. There is an explosion. She goes into her backyard and sees that the helicopter has crashed down the hill from her residence. There is a jurisdictional dispute with the FBI, and she calls for help from Andrew Walker, a LASD arson detective with whom she has worked before. He comes with his partner, Walter Sharpe. They help Ronin discover the first pieces of evidence from the helicopter crash. This thread has twists, turns, and a red herring that grabbed my attention. These last two threads were significant in capturing my interest and kept me reading.
There are three B-storylines in this novel. They cover all aspects of Ronin’s character. First is Ronin’s long-term relationship with live-in boyfriend Daniel Brooks. For most of the novel, he is away to a large fire site in Northern California. The second thread is the relationship with her partner, Pavone. This one is much more than just professional. Since her professional and personal life are in turmoil, she relies heavily on his experience and guidance. The third is her ongoing relationship with the sheriff. This thread illustrates the mutually destructive nature of this relationship. These last two threads significantly enhanced my enjoyment of reading this novel.
Certain aspects of this novel may deter some readers from continuing. First, there are no intimate scenes. Profanity is at a noticeable level, but not excessive. Impious language level is low. The only instance of active violence occurred in the first chapter. The only victims were the perpetrators’ vehicles’ tires. The other violence was described after the fact. Even the author in the forward warns that parts of this novel draw on events from the three novels, but he continues that a reader can still enjoy this novel without having read them first. I agree, but this novel contains spoilers for specific events in those novels if you read them after finishing this one.
There were no aspects of this novel that decreased my reading enjoyment. What I liked most about the previous novels was that they were fast-flowing action novels. The conundrum thread adds a level of gravitas to this novel. Additionally, he author used two real events as the basis for the start of the two threads, but the storylines depart from the real events. Both piqued my interest and led me to read this more quickly than my usual pace. This novel is the tenth I’ve read from two series and a standalone novel from this Must-Read author. I highly recommend reading this novel. I have checked two major retailers, and the next novel in this series is listed. I can’t wait. For this novel, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and rate it with five stars.
I received the free, pre-publication e-book version of this novel from Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
October 11, 2025
Homicide Detective Eve Ronin thwarts a robbery in the most spectacular way possible, much to the ire of her captain and equal delight of the executives involved in the making of the TV show based on her career. Add to that, a body washing up on the beach in a barrel and a helicopter crashing into the hillside near her home, while she uncomfortably ponders…is the show inspired by her dramatic actions when working a case, or is she inspired by the embellished scenes from the show?
This book is as full of twists as it is of suspects, and the author works in appearances from characters from his other series, arson investigators Sharpe and Walker, to assist. And while the references to previous storylines in this series should prompt readers to start from the beginning, it isn’t absolutely necessary. This series just keeps getting better, though, and is becoming one of my favorites, so I would strongly recommend reading them all. Now comes the impatient wait for the next installment!
Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley kindly provided me an ARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
This book is as full of twists as it is of suspects, and the author works in appearances from characters from his other series, arson investigators Sharpe and Walker, to assist. And while the references to previous storylines in this series should prompt readers to start from the beginning, it isn’t absolutely necessary. This series just keeps getting better, though, and is becoming one of my favorites, so I would strongly recommend reading them all. Now comes the impatient wait for the next installment!
Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley kindly provided me an ARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 14, 2025
Fallen Star is the 6th book in the Eve Ronin series, and the novice, and reckless, Detective Ronin and her partner Duncan Pavone are tasked with investigating a corpse found in a five gallon drum that washes ashore. This is a multi-layered plot, with some plot lines a continuation of prior books in this series, but can be read as a standalone. Ronin’s past decisions weigh heavily on her mind as she battles some inner demons as well as the bad guys in another outstanding book by author Lee Goldberg. The interaction between partners here is priceless, the dialogue sharp and witty, and the book moves at a frenetic pace as the plot evolves. This book is as good as any in the series, with an appearance from characters from another series by Goldberg that adds to the fun. This is an enjoyable series and looking forward to the next chapter in Ronin’s career. Well done! I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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