Only Way Out

by Tod Goldberg

A luckless thief’s wrong turn becomes a crooked cop’s fortune in a wild ride of a thriller by a New York Times bestselling author.

Failed lawyer Robert Green has such a good Crack three hundred safe-deposit boxes and sail off to South America with his brilliant, morally flexible sister, Penny. If it weren’t for the damned freezing rain.

In the dying resort town of Granite Shores, cop Jack Biddle is self-appointed king—mostly of bad decisions. Between his family’s crumbling legacy, a wife who just joined the city council, and life-threatening gambling debts, Jack’s looking for a way out. Then he spots a van spinning off a mountain road into the valley below. In the wreckage, Jack finds a very dead Robert, millions in heisted loot…and opportunity.

All Jack has to do is clean up the mess, disappear Robert’s body, make off with the fortune, and not get caught. One hitch is Penny. Another is Mitch Diamond, a wild card ex-con who knows more about the missing fortune than he lets on. Jack, Penny, and Mitch each have an endgame. But there’s only one way out, and they’re crashing headlong toward it.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Thriller Suspense, Ebooks, Crime

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2025

About the author

Tod Goldberg is the New York Times bestselling author of sixteen books of fiction, notably the acclaimed Gangsterland quartet: Gangsterland, a finalist for the Hammett Prize; Gangster Nation; The Low Desert, a Southwest Book of the Year; and Gangsters Don’t Die, an Amazon Best Book of 2023 as well as a Southwest Book of the Year. Other works include The House of Secrets, which he co-authored with Brad Meltzer, and Living Dead Girl, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His short fiction and essays have been anthologized widely, including in Best American Mystery & Suspense and Best American Essays, and appear regularly in the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and Alta. Tod Goldberg is a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside, where founded and directs the Low Residency MFA program in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing Arts. His next novel, Only Way Out, will be released this fall from Thomas & Mercer.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book or watched a movie where there are hardly any likable characters? Usually, you would put down the book or walk out of the theater and say that it was bad. Tod Goldberg has changed all that. Instead, in “Only Way Out”, you will walk away knowing you have read something dark, but deliciously good.

We are introduced to a lawyer that is struggling and has come up with a can’t-miss scheme to escape it all. If only the weather would cooperate. Then we meet a crooked, drug-addicted cop. In over his head in debt with some bad people. Someone is about to lose their head, literally.

Things spiral out of control quickly. Then we have a jump in time. Someone is trying to eliminate all of those who know about the scheme. But a mysterious man by the name of Mitch Diamond keeps throwing a wrench in their plans.

This is my first experience reading a book by Tod Goldberg. I was familiar with his brother’s work and am a big fan. Their writing style is completely different, but both show that dark, twisted sense of humor.

“Only Way Out” has twists, turns, and a lot of people with no redeeming qualities. And you will love every minute of it. This book is a must-read book.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my Nov free selection from Amazon kindle first reads. It had its moments, included some clever wry/dry sardonic/sarcastic humor sprinkled throughout, but I just couldn’t get in to it. Lots and lots of characters, and lots of erratical jumping around in time without notice. I spent most of my time confused about what was happening and not knowing who was who, or who did what to whom, and probably should have just DNF’ed it. Started really skimming towards the end. For me it was a snoozer.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sucked me in right away but then slowed a bit in places, and got kinda hard to keep track of who was who (altho all were shifty characters). Still, good writing and kept me entertained.

[Rob Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So creative and entertaining. I had to remind myself numerous times that the setting was created and not a real place. It was so vividly drawn and imagined, I honestly felt like I had been there before. I especially enjoyed the colorful characters,like a grittier, dirtier, grimmer version of a Carl Hiaasen book. So creative and enjoyable.

[Liisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️½

Only Way Out by Tod Goldberg is a gritty, noir-tinged thriller set in Granite Shores—a dying seaside town once dubbed Losertown, shadowed by the ominously named Suicide Ridge. It’s a slow burn to start, but once the action kicks off, it’s a darkly entertaining ride through crime, corruption, and moral decay.

Jack Biddle, a self-deluded, corrupt cop, thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room—and it’s both tense and amusing watching reality prove otherwise. Mitch Diamond is the wildcard ex-con who keeps you guessing, and Penny Green (sister of the unlucky thief) adds intelligence and edge, though I’d have loved to see more of her.

The plot dives into the murky depths of greed, broken systems, and desperate choices. There’s grit, black humour, and a strong sense of place—fitting for a town that feels as lost as its residents.

Not a standout favourite, but a solid, well-paced noir with bite.

Published 1 December 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished reading: November 24th 2025

"Heroes and villians, Mr. Diamond, depend on who tells the story."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***

REVIEW

It's no secret that I have a weak spot for a good heist thriller, and this is probably why the premise of Only Way Out caught my attention immediately. I mean, we are basically talking about a heist gone right, but also wrong at the same time... And I was intrigued to discover how the different characters in play would react to the whole situation. The heist itself didn't play as big as a role as I thought it would though, and this story is mainly a mix between a crime and action thriller with a LOT of shady characters. It also wasn't quite as good as I hoped it would be, although as a whole I'm still glad I read it.

I'm going to keep this review short, because I don't want to give away too much of the plot to avoid spoilers. Like I already said, Only Way Out reads like a mix between a crime and an action thriller, and there is a lot of focus on less than legal business including the heist itself, organized crime and corruption. This sounded like a great formula for a fun ride, but somehow the pace itself was surprisingly slow in parts, and certain things could get a bit repetitive after a while. I just wasn't as on-the-edge-of-my-seat as I would have expected based on the premise, which was a bit disappointing as I was in the mood for something a bit more action-packed.

I think one of the things I struggled with was just how unlikeable every single character in play basically was. Sure, the majority are meant to be shady in the first place, but there is having flawed characters and there is having characters you basically couldn't care less about what happens to them. This made it a lot harder to stay invested in the plot itself, and especially since there were a lot of cliches involved as well. The multiple POV structure and big cast of characters also slowed down the pace even further in points.

I do still like the idea behind this story, and the premise had a lot of potential. I think with more nuanced characters, less swearing and more actual movement in the plot, Only Way Out could have been a lot more engaging. As it is, it almost felt like one of those action movies where you forget what it was about almost immediately after you watched it... You know it was a nice enough distraction, but any in dept questions about the content or plot would draw blanks. This is at least exactly how I felt about Only Way Out after I read it... I do admit that the ending was at least partly satisfying.

In short, if you like thrillers with a heist element and action thriller vibe, are able to suspend your disbelief and don't mind a lot of shady, unlikeable and often one-dimensional characters, Only Way Out might just be the book for you. It had a lot of elements I usually love in my thrillers, but as a whole this story didn't quite hit the mark for me personally though.

[Carrie Esler · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.35
Amazon first read.

Book moved very slow for me in the middle and you begin to despise many of the characters and their terrible life choices . But some of that is what made them interesting. There was a lot to track and it was pretty unnecessarily wordy and some ‘tough guy’ language that wasn’t my vibe (noir crime not always my jam)

I didn’t hate the ending as I think I finally caught on to who the characters were, but I’m not sure I’d pass a test on what actually happened

[Larry Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a heads up from my pal Dennis that there was a Amazon book of the month selection Only Way Out by Tod Goldberg (brother of Lee) that needed my attention… the description sounded good… then when I read the blurbs -solid noir, and comps to Elmore Leonard and Charles Portis! Well that clinched it… click, and moved to the next up in my to read list. I can see elements of the comps to those giants, but Tod seems to use dark humor and irony in his crime story to skewer our species’ proclivities to societal and environmental degradation. Tod seems here to be doing for the Pacific Northwest what Carl Hiasson does for Florida… truly a cringeworthy success of 21st century noir.
I’m now going to add his earlier works, specifically his Gangster quartet to my to do list.

Characters & Highlights —

Jack Biddle. “The problem with being a crooked cop? When shit inevitably goes sideways, you’re on your own. This truth came to Officer Jack Biddle way too late. —He couldn’t go to his friends. Only a few knew he possessed such a . . . fungible . . . moral center, and none knew the extent of his mendacity. Most of his true friends couldn’t even define mendacity. —Jack’s personal cell phone rang. Bobby C. Danny Vining’s collections guy. — The cell. Again. This time it was Danny Vining himself. — The obvious answer was he should probably kill Danny Vining. —Danny being dead wouldn’t solve the real problem—that Jack bet with money he didn’t have and lost, again— Jack Biddle owed . . . someone . . . $200,000 he simply did not have. Never had. Jack Biddle did what he always did: He made a bad situation worse and went ahead and fired up another joint.”

Robert Green. “$489,120. That’s what Robert Green owed the federal government, private lenders, and his sister, Penny, for the right to fail the bar exam. Robert had failed the bar exam in New York, California, and Washington a combined fifteen times. It’s not that he was dumb. The core truth, he’d come to realize, was maddeningly simple: He didn’t want to be a lawyer. — Robert Green was getting out. Getting way out. He was midway up Yeach Mountain in a white van he’d bought for eight hundred bucks. — As far as epic heists go, it was pretty easy. Robert Green was the only person at the law firm of Barer & Harris who knew precisely what was in every single safe-deposit box housed on the sixteenth floor inside the firm’s Grade V vault. —like hanging a neon sign that blinked Hide Your Laundered Cash Here —over a decade ago, Robert Green slid, notch by notch, down the ladder at the firm, until he finally landed, five years ago, on the sixteenth floor, managing the three hundred and twenty-four safe-deposit boxes belonging to the 15clients of the 108-year-old firm. —He called Penny. — She had an answer that sounded almost logical to everything. This was the benefit and the curse of her existence. Penny had an IQ of 216. Graduated high school at twelve. Finished the University of Washington at fifteen. —in People magazine for being the youngest grad student at MIT. The headline? “Goth Einstein,” —In between all that, she’d spent a year working for some Russians as an interpreter. It was typical Penny shit. Always on the edge of criminality, like her entire life was a middle finger to their mother…”

Mitch Diamond. “pulled over beside a sign that said VERY STEEP CLIMB AHEAD 14% GRADE -Mitch took down the passenger window to get a better look—Ice pleated the car. The wind whipped. Leaves, twigs, soggy trash, and dirt -got rammed between the windshield and dash and into the air vent. —yanked whatever all the crap was, -a twenty-dollar bill and two fifties. —checked the soft shoulder for more cash. He didn’t find any. —did find someone’s wedding photo from what looked like the 1950’s —and a torn envelope stamped PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL. —Mitch turned and saw that a Granite Shores Police Tahoe was idling beside his car, window down cop looking at him with crazy eyes. —“I’ll take that,” Mitch handed him the trash. The cop looked at the photo. “Look at that. Probably been sitting by the road for fifty years.” “Boot print is fresh,” Mitch said. The cop tore it in half and in half again, dumped it on the floor of his Tahoe. Weirdest. Did the same with envelope. “You’ll be over the hill soon enough. —I’m here to get you over, if you want get get moving.” Mitch put the cash behind his fake driver’s license. A little lucky money.” —In town, Penny in “Mel’s Cosmics Comics looking for answers. -man in the New Age section…Penny thinking, Okay, he’s going to make his move now. He walked up to the counter, set down a twenty. “You mind letting him know I got two Mack Bolan novels?” “You could just wait.” I don’t want anyone to see my face,” he said. She did strangely. And then he was gone. —“ Didn’t seem like a Mack Bolan guy. He spent ten minutes educating me on the history of Richard Bach.” “You never really know someone until you see their bookshelves,” Penny said. “Isn’t that true,” Corey said. —“Didn’t seem like a Mack Bolan guy. He spent ten minutes educating me on the history of Richard Bach.” “You never really know someone until you see their bookshelves,” Penny said.” —Mitch had Addie drop him off at the comic book shop…told her to find him at the clam chowder spot. —Addie walked into the clam chowder spot— “You’re lat.” “Did you report me missing?” She dug another hunk of bead out. “That’s good.” “Always get the bread bowl,” Mitch said. “That’s my motto.”

Dirty cop. “Jack Biddle came to two conclusions: Number one, he was now a rich person. Cash alone, he had a couple million dollars. Number two: Jack Biddle needed to kill Penny Green. — So maybe . . . he wouldn’t kill Penny. He’d arrest her for the break-in, seize that cash, get the judge interested, hope the heist got discovered by the law firm by then, but if not, surely that boat would have some intel about Robert Green on it, and then Jack could really be the hero. — The boat belonged to Mort Green, Penny and Robert’s dipshit father, an insurance fraud expert—as in, he was expert in burning shit down for insurance money—who pals with Jack’s father, Owen, because they all grew up on the same block, the Pere-a-Dice looked . . . good. New sails. Two satellite domes. A full suite of Garmin navigational computers in the cockpit, all under a brand-new Bimini top — This boat was getting ready to go somewhere. — good time to put one in her, if he was so inclined. But he liked the idea of being a hero. Of solving this whole deal man, there was something fuzzy in his head right now. That one-hitter was coming on strong. It was weed he’d found in one of the van’s boxes, Jack thinking that would be some primo shit, and it was, it was, but maybe it had PCP in it? Or some crystal? He had no damn idea what was happening between his brain and his mouth. Shit. But whatever. Jack Biddle was in it now.”

Well you should be in it now too… Only Way Out… $5 wherever ebooks are sold. My 500+ highlights are visible… but you really should read the book.

[Jan Komrska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert and Penny Green hatch a daring multimillion‑dollar scheme: to rob every deposit box from a prestigious Portland law firm and vanish into Latin America. But fate intervenes. On the road back to their hometown of Granite Shore, Robert suffers a fatal accident.

Crooked local policeman Jack Biddle witnesses the crash. Instead of reporting it, he seizes the opportunity—concealing Robert’s body, erasing the evidence, and claiming the stolen fortune for himself. With Penny arrested and imprisoned, Jack begins extorting the law firm’s clients whenever they dare to reclaim their losses.

Years later, Penny is released. Haunted by betrayal and loss, she is approached by one of Jack’s victims, desperate to uncover Robert’s fate. Drawn back into the shadows of Granite Shore, Penny must confront the truth: her brother’s disappearance, Jack’s ruthless grip on the town, and the dangerous legacy of their failed escape plan.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this was a freebie or really cheap Kindle offer, and sometimes I like those. But this one just wasn't my type. A bumbling, idiotic small-town cop involved with gangsters and a gruesome story isn't for me. The flippant writing style could be funny if you like this type of read.

[Sheila Cohen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just didn't really like this book. It took me a long time to finish because I wasn't that interested. I didn't really care about the characters and the story wasn't very compelling.

[Kenneth J. Olsen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lots of cuss words and nonsense

Don't know why I wasted getting to the books end. If there was a plot it went over my head. Not sure if a zero star rating is allowed because it deserves a big zero!

[Stanley McShane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read his full review on Rosepoint Publishing.

Penny Green was required to work with a criminal element that held her at the threat of death. There seemed to be no way out.

Those hired to “Protect and Serve” were no help whatsoever. Work with them or expect a bullet in the back of the head.

Jack Biddle has been the Chief of Police in Granite Shores for two decades and has been controlled by the criminal element. He knew where all of the bodies were hidden and how many of the citizens owed him special treatment. Near the end of the book, he finds himself on the wrong side of some very vindictive people.

This book highlights some of the cruel elements that run some of the coastal cities. Gritty, unlikable characters, tends to the profane. 3.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own

[Wendi Flint Rank (WendiReviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.netgalley.com/book/634520...

[Michael Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second book by Goldberg (I loved Gangsterand) and it isn’t what I was expecting when I read the blurb. It’s a really good yarn, though, and, like the earlier one, it rather reminds me in its style of Duane Swierczynski. That is, it’s a story about a crime (well, a whole bunch of crimes) but it’s not a whodunnit, because we know who done what from the outset. It focuses instead on “what happens next and will anyone face any consequences?”

There are four focal characters. The first we meet is Officer Jack Biddle of the small coastal town of Granite Shores, Oregon, and the crookedest cop or many miles in any direction. His old man was the crooked police chief (and so was his grandfather before that), so he learned everything from experts. He busts drug dealers on their way from Canada to California, steals their money, confiscates their product, and sells it on. He spend two tours in Iraq and is very good at clearing houses because he really enjoyed charging in and shooting up the place, and he has occasionally contracted as a hit man to what passes for organized crime in his part of the state. Moreover, his wife just got elected to the city council sand has her eye on their mayor’s job, so his future is looking pretty good.

Second is Robert Green, the second-smartest person ever produced by Granite Shores, who had no trouble getting through law school, but has flunked the bar exam sixteen times (to the annoyance of his mother, a noted judge). He could pass it, but he just doesn’t care, so he ends up working for a big Seattle law firm, managing the several hundred safe deposit boxes they provide to their shadier customers. After many years on the job, he; s had enough so he devises a plan to make himself rich by cleaning out the boxes -- all of them -- and blackmailing the box-holders with the incriminating documents he knows are in there. (After all, he has spreadsheeted all of them as hey came in over the years.)

Third is Robert’s younger sister, with an IQ over 200, who has traveled the world for some time as a translator at meetings of international crime figures (she’s fluent in a dozen languages, including Russian, Arabic, and Mandarin). She’s tired of that, so she’s joined her big brother as the outside person in his big plan, and they’ll disappear off across the ocean together. But terrible weather crossing the mountain pass outside Granite Shores causes Robert, in his van packed full of stolen cash, documents, and assorted artifacts (including several cremation urns) to run off the road, down a steep slope, and into a tree at high speed, which results in him literally losing his head. So Robert’s out of the picture, not, right? Don’t you believe it. Because Jack witnessed the whole thing.

The fourth player is Mitch Diamond (not his real name), who did time in San Quentin and has many skills and talents and is now the head of security for the law firm noted above. So he’s trying to find Robert, whom nobody by Jack Biddle knows is dead. He’s a man of mystery whose story we don’t learn until he comes into the picture fifteen years later, when Penny is released from prison. (What? Read the book.)

At the beginning, you think this is going to be the usual sort of caper story, but there’s nothing at all “usual” about it.” The plot is complicated and perfectly paced, the characters are multifaceted with complex motivations, and while there are no actual Good Guys among them, really, there are a couple of them whom you will root for (while checking over your shoulder). The dialogue, especially the wry banter, is very well written. I will definitely be hunting up more of this author’s work.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an avid reader, my tastes generally focus on history and biography, as well as fiction that includes legal-themed novels, sports and historical epics. But there are times when I like to take a break from heavy reading and enjoy a less demanding experience. So occasionally I venture into a black comedy thriller with a cast of hustlers, schemers and other characters who can only exist on the pages of a crime noir novel.

One author I know who will take me on the adventure that I need to recharge my reading life is Tod Goldberg. His latest book is a welcome addition to a long list of thrillers that are enjoyable because they do not take themselves too seriously.

ONLY WAY OUT begins with a well-planned heist. Over the past 10 years, Robert Green has failed the bar exam in New York, California and Washington a total of 15 times. His graduation from Harvard Law School allows him to be employed by Baer & Harris, a prominent law firm in Seattle. They maintain a vault where clients are able to store valuable and sometimes illegal property in safe-deposit boxes. Green has decided that he will remove a large number of the boxes and sail off to South America with his sister, Penny. It is a well-executed plan foiled only by freezing rain and dangerous road conditions.

After the opening pages establish the crime, readers jump ahead 15 years to a community on the West Coast where the safe-deposit box theft has become something of a legend. Think D.B. Cooper, who parachuted out of a plane with $200,000 in 1971. Neither he nor the money has ever been found.

One man who knows what happened is Jack Biddle, a small-town police chief who came upon Green as he was fleeing from the theft and driving to the Pacific Ocean to meet Penny. Biddle is aware of Green’s fate, but he is doing his best to hide the evidence in order to keep the proceeds from the heist for himself. It is a perfect opportunity for him, but crimes like this often draw the attention of others hoping to get a share of the pot.

One such person is Mitch Diamond, an ex-con who knows something about the disreputable activities at Baer & Harris and would like to get his hands on the money. He focuses his efforts on Penny, who will make an enviable and humorous antagonist for him.

ONLY WAY OUT is an entertaining adventure with not too many murders, a lot of sharp repartee, and a just ending. If you are looking for that kind of reading experience during these long winter months, then this is the novel for you.

Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman

[Steve Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reads like an old Elmore Leonard crime novel, and that is intended as a high compliment.

The characters are gritty, the dialogue is realistic and the story is intriguing.

One thing I really liked is the unusual sentence structure with a few words chopped off here and there but with the thoughts still easily understood. It gives a folksy, informal feel and sounds like a gangster telling a story.

A crooked cop, a crooked security guard and a bored child prodigy all grown up now interact in a twisted tale that feels well thought out and original.

Unscrupulous characters store valuables in hundreds of safety deposit boxes housed at a law firm. With an unscrupulous security guard in charge on the night shift, their valuables are anything but safe.

The villain comes up with what is supposed to be a foolproof heist scheme, which will set up him and his genius sister for life.

The only problem is an even greater villain, the crooked cop, is waiting to foil their plans and take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hijack their scam.

To further complicate matters, a mysterious ex-con is watching and can't wait to step in.

In this story of bad guys and bad gals, you'll have problems deciding who to root for because there really isn't a good guy, but it doesn't really matter because you'll be entertained anyway, and you may feel a bit sorry and sad when it all ends.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dark, edgy thriller is full of unlikeable but colourful crooks and members of organised crime. Gritty and inventive it is permeated with a twisted sense of wry humour that makes for a very entertaining read.

The action centres around a small crumbling coastal town in Oregon, Granite Shores, known as ‘Losertown’ to its occupants. Robert Green, a smart but struggling lawyer has come up with a brilliant scheme to steal a fortune and get away with it. He has roped his genius, but bored sister, Penny into organising their getaway plan.

The heist goes well, but the only problem is that Robert never meets up with Penny, who is then arrested by the town’s crooked cop, Jack Biddle. But of course, that is not the end of the story.

Some years later, an ex-con called Mitch Diamond arrives in Granite Shores trying to figure out what happened to Robert and the goods and money he stole and that’s when things start to get really interesting.

Don’t be put off if you find the start a little slow, while all the players are introduced, the action will soon ramp up, but you will need to pay attention to who all the bad guys are to keep up with what is going on in this very cinematic and wickedly delectable thriller. 4.5★

With thanks to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for a copy to read.

[Michael Martz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed Tod Goldberg's "One Way Out". From the quirky characters, to the creatively fun plot, to the breezy writing peppered with droll humor, it was reminiscent of the best of Crais, Leonard, and Hiaasen all wrapped together with a bow.

The story line was creative in a criminal way, which drove a plot too complicated to explain without spoiling (suffice to say it’s a sort of a DBCooper situation that has gone sideways or, better in this case, downhill). But to me it was the characters that really stood out. Let's see, there's the brilliant scion of a prominent Oregon family who graduated from Harvard Law but flunked the bar 15 times, his sister with an IQ of 216 but with sociopathic tendencies, a 'fixer' for a law firm who's operating with a fake name and multiple homicides under his belt, the local sheriff who's ex-military and has severe money and illegal drug problems.... and so on. It's a bunch of people who you'd probably avoid in real life but who come together to make an outrageous story.

If you're a fan of any of the above-mentioned novelists (Robert Crais, Elmore Leonard, or Carl Hiaasen), you owe it to yourself to check out "Only Way Out". It's a blast!

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Green has plans buy robbing 300 safe deposit boxes he will be able to escape Losertown with his sister and start a new life. Robert is an unlucky thief and things don't go his way. Penny is left wondering what happened to her brother. The action centres around a small crumbling coastal town in Oregon, Granite Shores, known as ‘Losertown’ to its occupants. Robert Green, a smart but struggling lawyer has come up with a brilliant scheme to steal a fortune and get away with it. He has roped his genius, but bored sister, Penny into organising their getaway plan. Goldberg’s writing is sharp and he keeps the pace moving. The characters are all flawed and morally gray. Even with all Penny’s faults, Jack Biddle, the drug-addicted cop at the center of it all, didn’t seem nearly clever enough to be running a long-term con. The characters were all morally compromised to the point where I couldn’t root for anyone—or even care who stole from whom. It’s hard to stay invested when everyone’s just a shade of shady. 3.5 rounded up. Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley for the opportunity.

[Cristina Comeau · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Only Way Out is clearly a well-written and carefully constructed novel, but it ultimately just wasn’t the right book for me. The prose is sharp and controlled, and it’s obvious a lot of thought went into both the characters and the structure.

That said, the overall tone is very bleak, heavy, and intentionally monotonous. The noir atmosphere leans hard into inevitability and emotional distance, which left me feeling more drained than engaged. While I can appreciate what the author was doing thematically, I struggled to connect with the story or feel invested in where it was going.

This is the kind of book that will likely work well for readers who enjoy slow, grim crime fiction that focuses more on internal reflection than plot momentum. I can recognize its strengths, but for me, it simply wasn’t the right fit.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[viktoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only Way Out is a fast-paced, tense read that keeps the pressure on from the start. It has that gritty, high-stakes feel where you can tell early on that things are going to spiral — and they do.

Tod Goldberg does a great job creating an atmosphere that feels uneasy and unpredictable. The story leans heavily into moral gray areas, tough decisions, and the consequences that come with them. I found myself wanting to keep reading just to see how far things would go and how the characters would handle the situations they were in.

The pacing is strong, and the tone stays consistently dark and suspenseful without feeling overdone. This is the kind of book that would appeal to readers who enjoy crime fiction or thrillers that focus more on tension and character choices than flashy twists.

Overall, Only Way Out was an engaging and solid read that kept my attention and delivered a gripping experience.

[J Kromrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the best mystery novel I have read in years!

I loved everything about this book, it has some many themes running through it, it is about a devious small-minded selfish local cop (Jack Sh*t, who repeatedly earns this nickname) and a genius brother and sister team who steal a fortune in ill-gotten gains from lifelong criminals (including organized crime members) only to have circumstances turn insidiously against them.

This story evolves like poetry in novel form, and I will continue to read anything ever written by Tod Goldberg, he is a marvelous author, and this story is pure gold for mystery and police procedural fans.

I would gladly rate this novel TEN stars if I could, and a symbolic standing ovation from this happy reviewer. When this book is released I am purchasing copies for my family members and friends.

[Joanie Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted plots that are also funny in a twisted way. The sheriff of Granite Shores has a big ego and even bigger gambling debts that he is contemplating about while getting high on the mountain above the town when he sees headlights crash just below him. What he finds is a mangled body and a van full of stolen loot. There are more boxes than he can count, but he does know they could be the answer to his problems. He just has to make it all disappear. And he does for fifteen years. But being the greedy man he is, someone has been tracking the schemes the sheriff has been conducting all these years and is ready to finish it. There are so many sub plots that it keeps you reading to see if any of them are successful. Absolutely loved this book...
(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy)

[Kris the retired librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is a must read for any thriller fan or any reader in the mood for a massively entertaining story. A hapless lawyer who engineers a lucrative heist dies before he can enjoy the fruits of his labor, leaving his sister Penny to take the fall. A crooked cop with delusions of grandeur and a gambling problem finds the loot and keeps it. After serving her time, Penny just wants to be left alone. But a stranger approaches her about finding the loot and finally discovering what happened to her brother. Penny’s determined to find out what really happened or die trying.

Goldberg’s writing is sharp and he keeps the pace moving. The characters are all flawed and morally gray. Even with all Penny’s faults, I still liked her and was rooting for her. There’s dark and absurd humor throughout the book. It all adds up to a flat out fun read. I can definitely seen this one being made into a movie or a limited series.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only Way Out is a dark story where there's not much difference between who is in the right side or the wrong side of the law. A man who could not make the bar exam devises the heist of a lifetime together with his sister. Both have high IQ but cannot find their place in the world. A crooked cop who believes that killing people to meet his parochial needs is the same thing as killing people during the war, and he wants to be recognized as someone who is the best but is drugged most of the time. Their worlds will collide in a dark, sometimes upsetting, sometines funny way, till the killings stop and someone goes to jail whilst others will live the good life.
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Greg Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative Caper But Sometimes Confusing Story Lines

I believe all the threads came together by the end of this creative tale, but I have two points that knock off one star: no real l y likeable character and an unnecessary plethora of f-bombs. Why do crime and mystery author's believe this makes their characters come across as hardened or tough?

Goldberg mentioned any mistakes should be excused because this is fiction but I can't let this one pass. In chapter 24 Addie was holding a SIG Sauer 226 but Penny could tell the safety was still on. Smart girl ... except the Navy SEAL SIG Sauer 226 does not have a manual safety.

[Scott Lovelace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wild ride. Can something go so smoothly yet go horribly wrong?  Robert Green planned and executed the perfect heist. What he didn't plan on was the weather and a curvy mountain road. Welcome to Granite Shores and meet Jack Biddle, a corrupt police officer.  Jack witnesses Robert Green crash on his way to Granite Shores and recovers the merchandise stole from safety deposit boxes that were stored by a prestigious law firm. Jack decides to blackmail and ransom the rightful owners of the safe deposit boxes. Things go well for several years until they don't. This was a very fun fast paced read, filled with twists galore.

[Brea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Only Way Out is a well-crafted noir that showcases sharp, controlled prose and a carefully structured narrative. The writing is deliberate and atmospheric, leaning into a bleak, introspective tone that emphasizes moral ambiguity and inevitability rather than fast-paced action. On audio, Johnny Heller delivers a steady, polished performance that adds tension and gravitas to the story, complementing the author’s restrained style. Together, the writing and narration create a cohesive, moody listening experience that will especially appeal to readers who enjoy thoughtful, character-driven crime fiction with a dark edge.

[Jim Sands · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crime doesn't pay...or does it?

This story was emotionally all over the place for me as I read it. A lot of frustration as in "you've got to be kidding". Then anger at a cop who was a bully and criminal yet seemed to get away with the most outrageous acts. A wife who was in a high ranking office but had to be deaf, dumb & blind so just as guilty as her immoral husband. A girl who admitted to her mistakes but was imprisoned unjustly and spent her life just trying to survive and find her brother not knowing he was dead the whole time. A criminal who tracked her down, could always manage to find her & helped her when she needed it the most.