Murder by Design: A Thriller

by Lee Goldberg

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller

239 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 1, 2026

About the author

Lee 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.

Reviews

[Dave]

Goldberg, who has literally written dozens upon dozens of books, has taken a sharp turn from his popular Eve Ronin LAPD series, and tapped into a less serious, albeit still deadly, turn. This is billed as the first in his Edison Bixby series, featuring a former LAPD detective, who following a gunshot to the face, lost control of his verbal abilities and is known for spouting out rude offensive remarks. He is now an insurance investigator and just does that for giggles as he is fabulously wealthy and doesn’t need to work. He lives in a mansion (forget the price) with a Swiss Family Robinson/ Willy Wonka backyard.

The story is told through the eyes of one Wally Nash, a struggling character actor known for embarrassing commercials, who is hired on as Bixby’s assistant and can’t believe what he’s gotten himself into.

Bixby views the world through planned design and instantly can see through a crime scene and is fascinated by how for instance malls are designed. The main plot is the death of a woman who falls to her death down a mall stairway at the nearby Woodland Hills mall, but Bixby quickly discerns that it was no accident. Indeed, it was death by design.

If you take your murder doused liberally with tongue-in-cheek humor, this is your ticket.

[LindaPf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Goldberg, who has brought us LA Sheriff’s Department superwoman detective Eve Ronan and clever fire investigators Sharpe and Walker, creates a new primary detective character who is a “sickeningly wealthy, painfully handsome, irritatingly brilliant, outrageously self-absorbed, and infuriatingly manipulative detective,” Edison Bixby. Bixby experienced a gunshot wound to the face, when he was an LA homicide detective, which scrambled his brain (traumatic coprolalia), giving him unfortunate verbal uninhibitedness. After a 100% criminal case closure rate and distinguished career with the police department, he’s now an insurance investigator, albeit a star in this field, too.

Edison is currently accompanied by a reasonable sidekick, Wally Nash, who is really a bodyguard for Bixby’s mouth when he spontaneously spouts unabashed insults and nasty observances. Nash is an unsuccessful but optimistic method actor, taking temporary commercial ad jobs for inspiration until the “big break” happens. Bixby might be that break.

Wally is our narrator, so we encounter Bixby’s faux pas through Nash’s somewhat jaded and actor-trained eyes. Their insurance cases include deadly accidents (or maybe intentional murderous cons) and Bixby has an informational inside-track because he’s in a love-hate “situationship” with homicide detective Bridget MacGregor. Bixby is also an opponent of dysfunctional design, arguing that some physical design or architecture will eventually kill you. The first suspect is a staircase and later light switches, letter openers, and unmanned cars are examined by Bixby.

We have a very original, often obnoxious primary character, whose actions are blunted by Wally, who is the right amount of lovable and self-absorbed as Bixby’s companion. The book is subtitled Edison Bixby #1, so we’re pretty much guaranteed the return appearances of these two characters. I’m definitely looking forward to repeat performances! 4.5 stars

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

[Lata · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been fortunate to receive the last five Lee Goldberg releases as ARCs through NetGalley well before publication, and the best part is I never even have to request them, they’re available for immediate download. I appreciate the author’s generosity, but even more, I love that every book turns out to be a gem. I’ve rated all of them five stars, and this new series is no exception.
After reading countless murder mysteries and detective thrillers, I often wonder how authors keep coming up with fresh ideas. With Lee Goldberg, creativity seems endless. Having read and enjoyed all the Monk books, I was eager for more. Edison Bixby isn’t Monk, but he’s close and maybe even better.
Bixby is a retired cop now working as an investigator for an insurance company. Like Monk, he can identify the killer within minutes of arriving at a crime scene. His retirement was due to a head injury that left him with a “superpower” of sorts: he speaks his mind without filters. Enter Wally Nash, a struggling actor who becomes Bixby’s assistant, tasked with smoothing over the feathers ruffled by Bixby’s bluntness. In reality, Nash isn’t great at that job, but he plays a Robin to Bixby’s Batman. And yes, Bixby is super-rich like Batman, complete with gadgets and a fleet of cars.
Nash is a method actor who dives into roles with imaginative backstories, adding humor and charm to the narrative. Bixby solves multiple cases in this book, and what makes it stand out like all Goldberg novels is the attention to real-world details. The design aspects are explained clearly without feeling like a textbook (unlike some overly technical novels). Another plus: the book packs several murders into just 220 pages without unnecessary filler, melodrama, or gore. No animals or children are harmed, and there’s no dragging heartbreak subplot.
This is why I love Lee Goldberg’s writing: fast-paced, clever, and entertaining. Other authors could learn that word count and gratuitous blood don’t make a better story.
Absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for more!

[Pam Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read one other novel by Lee Goldberg (Fallen Star 2025 – from an LA Detective series), and since I liked it, I decided to try this new series by Goldberg featuring Edison Bixby, a wealthy, insurance broker with a traumatic brain injury. The injury is pertinent to the story as Bixby is now impulsively rude and forthright due to being shot in the head!
In Murder by Design, Bixby is actually not the narrator of the story, but rather B-rated actor, Wally Nash, who has been hired to try to keep Bixby from offending everyone he meets, is our hero. Bixby is brilliant and so to keep him on the job, Wally must “babysit.”
The first case for the duo involves the death of a woman in a shopping mall who falls down a flight of stairs. Tragic accident or murder? Bixby comes up with a wild story of murder which no one is buying – he has faith in “design” and believes that life can be manipulated simply by arranging the world around the victim.
At first it WAS hard to see the fall down the stairs, with no one else around, as a murder. But this very witty and fun mystery novel is clever not only in the dialogue but also in defining murder and how they are investigated. The banter between Bixby and Wally kept me entertained, but the story’s main theme of the design of buildings and life structures as central to fate kept me reading.
My rating: 4 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review.
Murder by Design will be published on May 26, 2026.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the start of a new series by Lee Goldberg, and we are introduced to Edison Bixby, a brilliant LAPD homicide detective with an unmatched clearance rate, now an insurance investigator. Bixby was forced to retire after being shot in the head, causing a medical condition that makes him unable to “filter” his thoughts before speaking, leading to some rude and embarrassing comments. He’s joined by a struggling actor, hired to be Bixby’s “apologist “ when Bixby speaks out of turn. His latest case is investigating a death at a shopping mall where a woman falls down the stairs, resulting in her accidental death , but Bixby is convinced it’s a diabolical homicide. The concept for the series is somewhat unique with Bixby’s unnatural talent for seeing things that others don’t, and combined with his unusual condition makes for an interesting storyline. Unfortunately I just didn’t care for the plot, and Bixby’s character was a little much for me. But there’s plenty of humor in Goldberg’s trademark style that keeps the book afloat and makes for an entertaining read. I just couldn’t get invested in the characters or the plot enough to truly enjoy it, but other Goldberg fans (and I count myself amongst them) may be pleased. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Valleri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hang on to your hat! Murder by Design is a new series written by one of my favorite authors. Meet Edison Bixby. He's wealthy, handsome, and, due to a traumatic brain injury, impulsively rude. He’s also a brilliant insurance investigator who solves baffling crimes. Enter Wally Nash: a struggling actor hired to keep Bixby from offending everyone he meets, when all Nash wants is his big break!

Their first case involves a woman who falls to her death at a shopping mall in front of numerous witnesses. Video evidence suggests it was an accident, but was it?? Murder by Design feels a wee bit lighter on believability, and a wee bit heavier on humor than the pervious books I've read written by Mr. Goldberg ... not that that's a bad thing! This book has wonderful new characters, and Bixby's mansion makes me swoon!! I truly hope this author never, ever, stops writing.

BIG thanks to #ThomasAndMercer, for providing this book for consideration and review via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Murder by Design has an expected publication date of May 26, 2026.

#LeeGoldberg #Mystery #Suspense

[Reading Xennial · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book by Lee Goldberg that I’ve read. I enjoyed my time reading this and I plan to check out more of Goldberg’s previous books. This had more humor than I expected from what I got from the blurb, but given the circumstances I suppose I should’ve seen it coming. Edison Bixby is a retired detective due to an injury in which he was shot in the face which resulted in a brain injury that affects his verbal inhibitions. He says whatever he’s thinking no matter how rude. I had my jaw on the floor and giggling a few times with some of the things that came out of his mouth. The story is told from the POV of a sidekick Wally Nash who is trying to become famous through acting, but took this job for the time being. This book gives me the feels of a reimagining of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. I think that’s mostly because Bixby is a genius with solving crimes and his poor sidekick has to smooth things over. I like this book quite a bit and I would recommend it to people looking for a new take on a whodunnit.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read this early. The opinion in this review is my own.

[Mike Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wizard of Wit proves again he is also The Master of Mystery with this wonderful whodunit. Readers worldwide will be thankful Lee Goldberg is such a prolific writer. Murder by Design is a laudable launch of a new series featuring the world's greatest rude detective (as Edison Bixby would tell you if he was writing this review) and the person acting as his trusted assistant (who fortunately happens to be an actor). The idea of architecture as a tool for murder is brilliantly conceived and executed in this book. Will Holmes and Watson, um, er, Bixby and Nash be able to solve the murders? Part of the fun is the way Bixby's mind works. The other part of the fun is the Goldberg humor we've all come to know and love. I'm trying to remember the last time I laughed out loud as many times as I did while reading Murder by Design. The crime solving part of the book is equally entertaining. The reveal of mastermind is one I didn't see coming. Read this book and you'll agree that Lee Goldberg books are the gifts that keep on giving. Now let's hope Edison Bixby 2 is right around the corner!

[Steven Netter · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books

Murder by Design is original and fresh, amusing and cheeky, deadly and thrilling, and completely engrossing. The kind of book that you read in one sitting, sleep be damned. Because it’s so relentlessly entertaining and captivating that you cannot stop until you see how it all ends. Lee Goldberg has outdone himself, delivering a murder mystery that demands to be read and will end up being ranked at the top of any serious list extolling the best books of 2026.

You won’t read a murder mystery that’s more fun, witty and clever than Lee Goldberg’s Murder by Design. Fascinating characters, playful dialogue, well-executed points of view, and a completely different way of looking at murder investigations. It’s suspenseful, intriguing and has a Holmes and Watson vibe to the Bixby/Nash relationship that can best be described as awesomely weird. It's magnificent!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Clever New Twist on the Whodunit

Murder by Design has a clever premise with the idea that everything is designed to make us act certain ways, even (and maybe especially, at least in this book's case) architecture. The actual murder plot seemed a bit shaky throughout but the big reveal paid off in the end.

It definitely took me a while to warm up to the characters. For the first several chapters, I found it hard to connect with them, but by the end of the book they'd grown on me enough that I was glad I stuck with it. The dynamic between the two men starts to settle, and I can see how it could become stronger as the series continues.

I'll admit I still prefer the Eve Ronin series, but Murder by Design was solid enough that I'd likely pick up the next book to see how this series develops.

A good read with an intriguing hook. Good for readers who enjoy mysteries built around clever concepts and unconventional problem solving.

[Joanne Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review the first book in a new series, "Murder By Design" by Lee Goldberg.

And they're off! Edison Bixby is possibly one of the strangest characters to come along in a long time - severely injured by a gunshot to the face which left him with a Traumatic Brain Injury, nonetheless he solves mysteries that others cannot. Using the design of the world around him, he sees connections and consequences.

As an insurance investigator, Edison is the best; as a human being, his interactions are less than optimal. He has no control over his response mechanism. Enter Wally Nash, would-be actor whose inner life is nothing short of delusional; he treats every interaction like a movie or a commercial. Wally's task is to be an intermediary between Bixby and anyone he interacts with; to explain what the man really meant to say, not what he did say. Quite the task.

On their first case together, Edison is convinced that an accident is actually a murder - one that someone deviously set up. And he goes to great extremes to prove his point.

Highly recommended. If you read Lee Goldberg, you'll enjoy this one. And if you don't - what are you waiting for?

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for providing the copy of Murder By Design: A Thriller by Lee Goldberg. I loved the other books by Goldberg I have read, but this was more of a cozy mystery than I expected, so it took me a while to get into it. I finally did, and I loved how the story explained how vital design is, and how it is more than aesthetics. I really appreciate how much research he did into the principles of good design and usability! While this book wasn’t really my cup of tea, I can see how cozy mystery readers would love it. The quirky characters lend themselves perfectly to a TV adaptation. 3 stars

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wally is an actor who is still awaiting a good role. He takes a temp job as an assistant to Edison, a wealthy former LA cop who works as an insurance investigator. The first case is a claim against a mall where a woman fell to her death on a stairway that should have been blocked off. Was it a tragic accident, or murder? Goldberg writes two of my favorite series (Eve Ronin and Sharpe/Walker) which have tighter, less farfetched, plots (and less humor) than this new one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every moment, cleverly written book, love the gabble between both leads, complimenting each other in various way. Not one boring moment. From his debonair Bond/Bosch, ways to the quirky/ brilliant home and LA feel of it, Bixby is IT. Love the perspective it is written from, a mystery crime mild thriller with some light moments of sarcasm/dark humor/humor, great setting descriptors, great historical rundowns of areas they go to, goes hand in hand with DESIGN being an element to any and everything. And this Bixby series I am all in for.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder by Design
By: Lee Goldberg
Pub Date: June 1, 2026
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Tour: MB Communications
A gritty book involving an insurance investigator who has a unique investigation.
He has an actor as a side kick, who lands working with the investigator. This novel is a fun read, and often made me laugh at the situations and quit witted lines.
The ending came out of nowhere and to say I was shocked is an understatement. So clever.
Thank you MB Communications for having me on tour.

[Becky Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder by Design by Lee Goldberg is the first book with ex detective Edison Bixby and aspiring actor Wally Nash. After Edison sustains a brain injury and needs a minder for his uncensored outbursts, Wally is hired for the job while waiting for his acting to take off. The two then have to solve a case of murder or accidental death while learning to get along. This is a fun book to read and I hope there are many more to come with these two characters.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun mystery with a really original hook. The idea that murders can be carried out through the design is clever, and it kept me guessing. Edison Bixby is a sharp investigator, and his partnership with Wally Nash adds some great humor to the story. Murder by Design is entertaining whodunit. Lee Goldberg did a great job with Murder by Design. If this is turned into a series, add some action to the books.

[T Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not very interesting reading about normal and boring people, so why not write about smart, rich and handsome characters like Mr. Goldberg does? He is very good at telling stories that are linear and easy to read, and with clever plots and great and funny dialogue, this is a very entertaining book.

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm super into the Sherlock/Watson setup, even when it's not as well done as this one. But. There are whole moments when this felt like it could have been fleshed out just a pinch more. Put another way: I would have been deeply comfortable with another 10,000 words (prolly 15,000, honestly).

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

I enjoyed book 1 of Lee Goldberg's new series Edison Bixby. Edison is a dashing, brilliant, wealthy ex-police officer who was shot in the face. With his resulting traumatic brain injury, he makes a lot of rude comments. Enter Wally Nash, an actor, who becomes the sidekick to smooth away the rudeness. While I like Bixby and Wally, I hope we see Eve and Duncan again.