by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it from Amazon.

After getting called to an arson scene that will be a jurisdictional nightmare, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department arson detectives Andrew Walker and Walter Sharpe are more than happy to leave and instead investigate an ongoing fire in a new housing development. It’s but one of a series of arsons set in the million-dollar new homes, with one eventually revealing the body of a crispy corpse.

Also called to the scene are homicide detectives Duncan “Donuts” Pavone and Eve Ronin, the latter of whom came to fame – and early promotion – after her videoed arrest of a famous actor. The younger halves of their respective investigative partnerships, Walker and Eve, find an unexpected bond as they enthusiastically embark on a case that leads them to a terrifying toxin, incels, and a new use for coffee makers.

This was the crossover readers have been waiting for, as Walker, Sharpe, Duncan, and Eve are a hilarious and amazingly effective investigative combination. Jaded but extremely intelligent, Sharpe and Duncan tend to be the more calculated halves of their partnerships, sprinkling in cynical barbs with their insightful observations. A former U.S. Marshall sidelined by injuries, Walker still dons the cowboy hat that has Eve teasing him with references to Walker Texas Ranger (the Chuck Norris version, not the remake). She herself carries the baggage of having a streaming series based on her life, as well as having busted corrupt deputies and crossing the Blue Line. The focus remains mostly on the team of Sharpe and Walker, the latter of whom struggles between his love of action and his psychologist wife’s concerns for his safety now that they are new parents.

Novels by Lee Goldberg always excel at weaving in witty dialogue and wry humor, using the author’s experience in the entertainment business to satirize its inherent absurdity. Here the detectives find themselves at a California sci-fi Convention where their attempts to blend in will delight fans of superheroes and a certain television series. The humor and fantastic characters are matched by an investigation that depicts the details of arson investigations, weaving in clues of fire ignition points, sparking, and traces of accelerants. Readers will learn as much about arson and the motivations behind it as they will be entertained by the characters’ interactions in this action-packed, extremely entertaining thriller.

Audiobook Note by Lorie Lewis Ham:
I had the pleasure of listening to this on audiobook and I second everything that Cynthia said, plus that the actors on the audiobook did a wonderful job of bringing this story and these awesome characters to life! Can’t wait to read/or listen to the next books!

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win a copy of Ashes Never Lie, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “ashes” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 16, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.