Bone Canyon Eve Ronin, Book 2 by Lee Goldberg

When a wildfire hits the Santa Monica mountains, it doesn't just burn trees and houses.  They find human bones in the aftermath.  

Thomas & Mercer and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published January 5th.

A partial skull is found in the blackened ground.  As they continue searching the ground, they find that two women are dead.  Eve learns there was another woman with the younger woman and she tracks her down.  The lady talks to her and gives the clothes she was wearing that night but she doesn't want her name brought up.

Eve goes along with her assumptions with how it happened.  She knows the girls were raped and that it was cops that did it.  They were surfing, the girls started talking to them and drinking and then they passed out.The men took advantage of the situation.  But Eve is a cop, too, and no one wannts her to pursue the men.  She does anyway.

They try to discourage her by ruining her car with dog poop and urine.  They run her off the road in her rental car trying to kill her.  And she still persists despite the threats.

Then she realizes they are not the killers of the women. 

The killer was a surprise.  I didn't think he was a suspect.

This is a good mystery with lots of twists and turns.  It's a good thing her partner is there.  He helps protect her.

You won't be bored.

The Scam: A Fox and O'Hare Novel by Janet Evanovich, Goldberg Lee

Nick and Kate are back and they have an even bigger idea of how to take down the bad guys.  The only problem will be not letting the bad guys get them...

Bantam Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published September 15th, so you can snag a copy then.

This is a fun series to read.  Their actions are outrageous, improbable and very dangerous.  With that and a dash of romance, what more do you need?  OK, Kate does have a crazy father who loves explosives.  She also has contact with more than one pirate, actor and the like.  So they can do some pretty good cons.  This one is the biggest yet.

They are pretending they are "whales", folks with lots of money to drop on a gambling table.  Dropping a million each will definitely get a casino owner's attention.  They know he's laundering money in his casino and they want in on the action.  They intend to take him down.

Before it's done, a food wagon has blown up, a truck has blown up, an Audi has blown up, the Japanese Mafia gets involved, a major drug dealer gets involved and there's lots of shooting.  It's a busy, exciting story and Nick and Kate get out alive.

However, Nick is missing at the end.  Who took him and why?  I'll be reading the next book to find out!

The Job: A Fox and O'Hare Novel by Janet Evanovich, Lee Goldberg

Special Agent Kate O’Hare and charming con man Nicolas Fox are on a case together again.  They challenge each other's intelligence and have sparks flying between them romantically.  They also work on impossible cases.  What's not to like?

Bantam Dell and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published mid-month, so make a note to grab a copy.  If you haven't read the first book in this series, you should.  This duo is a great team and it's a fun read.

When Kate gets called in and told Nicolas is back to his thieving ways again, she knows it can't be true.  The face that is showing is his but these are all crimes he's done before and he wouldn't return there.  That's not enough of challenge for him.  So who is doing it and why?  It's someone who needs Nicolas' help.

Kate is bounding across countries, dealing with all sorts of various nationalities, and finding Nicolas in her room when she hasn't invited him and didn't even know he was in the area.  When he's just showered and is only wearing a towel, it's hard to resist the temptation before her.  She does, but how long will be able to say no?

They set a con to draw an evil man to the surface.  They pretend they have found very valuable old coins; they want to sell them.  The man they are seeking has had plastic surgery and is no longer recognizable.  His greed is, though, and they know he will want this treasure.

The whole thing is risky and deadly but they do it.  It helps if you have friends like Kate's Dad and his buddies.  Ex-special force folks have secret talents and unusual supplies.

All in all, this is a good romp in the wilds with mercenaries, thieves, and even an FBI agent.  You won't be bored.  I'm anxious to read another in this series.  Evanovich and Goldberg do a good job of writing together.

The Chase by Janet Evanovich, Lee Goldberg

Nicolas Fox is a thief.  He's very good at it and doesn't want to stop.  When he gets caught, he convinces the FBI to let him go undercover and work with the sexy detective who caught him on special assignments.  They work to retrieve artwork and put the wrong-doers in jail.  It's really almost too tempting for Nicolas to leave other genuine items in place but he gets to work with Kate, so it's not all bad.  At least it wasn't for a while.  Going after the former Chief of Staff and head of a private security firm is not easy...

Net Galley and Bantam Dell allowed me to download an ebook of this story for review (thank you).  It goes on sale tomorrow, so drop by your local bookstore and pick up a copy.

I like both the main characters.  Nicolas acts almost like a fox.  He's sneaky, slips in here and out there, and he's quick.  He also is hoping to sleep with Kate.  Kate is being very business-like, doing her job, stretching to disguises and role-playing to help Nicolas with his theft, and she's trying to ignore the romantic interest between them.  

This is a fast paced story with very real danger present.  Stealing from a collector and staying alive is a challenge.  The private security firm has mercenaries and natural killers on staff.  The boss has his own air support and missiles.  But Nicolas has friends to help hide him during the theft and Kate has her father and his friends to help protect them during a confrontation.

I enjoyed the banter between the characters and admired how the authors worked out the details of the plot.  It's believable, has political consequences if they fail, and it easily keeps you reading until the end.  I'm ready for the next book in this series.

McGrave by Lee Goldberg

Mr. Goldberg has done it again; written a story that kept me glued to my seat and turning pages to see what his quirky character would do now...

He sent me this novella for review (thank you) and it is available on Amazon now.  If you have Amazon Prime, it's free.  Even at full price, it's a bargain.

If you enjoy stories about rough cops or PI's with their own agenda and their own ways of doing things, you'll enjoy the McGrave character.  His nickname is "Tidal Wave".  Before the story ends, you'll well understand why.

McGrave accidentally gets caught up in a heist of millions of dollars of rare art and collectibles and foils it.  Unfortunately, all the bad guys/gals don't die.  The one left kills his bulldog and threatens his family.  McGrave doesn't take that threat idly and follows the criminal to Berlin.  He may not be a cop anymore, but he still has his mission; nobody threatens his family. What he gets up to in Berlin is dangerous and humorous at the same time.

This story is a wild ride and great fun to read.  Lots of action, lots of character flaws, and you're rooting for McGrave to win.  Why don't you buy a copy of this tale and see how it all turned out for him?  I bet you'll be watching for another story about "Tidal Wave".

Happy reading.

Watch Me Die by Lee Goldberg

He's bored and wants a little more excitement in his life.  Sitting in a security shack and watching cars and cameras isn't cutting it.  So a chance to play private investigator sounds intriguing...


Mr. Goldberg sent me a copy of this for review (thank you).  It was previously published as The Man With the Iron On Badge, but it has been republished under this title and with a new cover.


One thing Mr.Goldberg seems to do in his stories is take quiet, unassuming men into abnormal situations.  The experiences always change the men into something else; sometimes bad, sometimes good but they change.  This author imagines situations that would never occur to me. I'm always anxious to see just what he's come up with for the new story.  And I haven't been disappointed yet.


This begins innocently enough:  A resident of the complex he provides security for asks him to follow his wife during his off hours and find out where she goes and what she's doing.  Harvey is no ball of fire, but he'd love to emulate Travis McGee and get a boat and the babes that McGee does.  So he decides this is his perfect opportunity to get started in the field.  Of course, he buy real cheap supplies from the money the husband has given him and doesn't know what he's doing, but how hard can it be?


Harvey is actually headed down a road to horror, but he doesn't understand this yet.  The horror started years ago and is still tangible and the people involved all have ties to each other.  And Harvey walks into the middle of it with no knowledge about the cause, danger or consequences.


This is a fast paced story with all kinds of secrets that finally come to light as Harvey continues his investigation.  Mr. Goldberg grabs your attention and drags you down the black hole to the solution of the case.  It also has a very ironic ending.  


Why not get yourself a copy and see if you could have imagined this ending?  I sure couldn't...


Happy reading.

Remaindered by Lee Goldberg

Kevin is an author and his first book was a big hit.  However, his next two books didn't do so well...


The author sent me a copy of this short story for review.  Mr. Goldberg has the ability to sneak a little something extra into his stories.  There is always some odd angle, some play on words, some little twist to his plots that makes them more fun to read.  You never know exactly how the story is going to end.


Kevin has fallen so far from grace in the book world that he's doing book tours on his own in places like K-Mart.  That's bad.  But he's hoping for something better.  What he finds is a collector...


This story has a play on words and a unique ending.  I don't believe you'll be disappointed.  And, the best part?  You can get access to a short film of the story for free.


Here's a note from Mr. Goldberg:

"The Kindle and Nook releases contains a link to a free, private, streaming video of  the Remaindered short film, written & directed by me, and shot late last year on location in Kentucky, using entirely local talent. The film is currently playing the festival circuit and has already been screened as an official selection of the Beaufort International Film Festival, the Big Island Film Festival, the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, The Beverly Hills Shorts Festival, and the Derby City Film Festival, where one of our stars, Sebrina Siegel was a finalist for Best Actress."

Here's a great way to get not only the story but the movie both.  Check it out, you should enjoy them both.

Happy reading.

The Blood Mesa by James Reasoner

Matt Cahill can never go anywhere without running into Mr. Dark...


Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin put together the Dead Man series and are working in collaboration with other authors to continue this chilling story.  The new story will be available in July.


This story was of particular interest to me because it was set in New Mexico.  The Anasazi Indians are part of New Mexico history and since no one really knows what happened to them, they fit well within the bounds of this supernatural thriller.


Matt feels the call of the mesa and knows trouble is there, so it's his next destination.  When he meets two doctors of archaeology who are having truck problems, he finds they are going there also and that they need a mechanic and general handyman.  He fixes the truck and since it aligns with his desire to get to the mesa he says yes.


Everyone is excited about the dig but Matt.  He tries to warn the doctors that they are on a dangerous site and there may be things there unseen, but the fever of the hunt is upon them and they ignore him.  


These stories always contain overwhelming horror and an intense fight of good versus evil.  This one is even more dramatic because it's played out on top of a mesa.


If you like stories that chill you, the Dead Man series will do that for you...


Happy reading.

The Walk by Lee Goldberg

Imagine barely surviving the "big one" in Los Angeles; what would you do after you crawl out from under the car?


Mr. Goldberg is running a promotion this week (it will be ending soon) to celebrate selling almost 20,000 copies of this story and he provided me with a copy for review (thank you).  See the bottom of this post to find out how you can get TWO stories for the same 99 cents!


Marty Slack is a TV network executive who really is a "slacker".  He's not the most motivated person, he's sacrificed some of his own goals to keep his wife happy, and he's infertile.  But he's getting by.  And then a monstrous earthquake hits Los Angeles and his life and his values get turned upside down.


This is the story of one man trying to deal with what his senses tell him after a disaster.  Unless you've lived through one yourself, you have no idea how you will react.  Some take charge, some panic, some cringe in the corner, some just give up.  It's a truth inducing moment to see what you can control, what you can do, and how you will survive.


The author takes you on Marty's journey from downtown to his home.  He goes through hell on the way there and he's a different man at the end, but he persists.  How he deals with the fear and horror around him makes a very ironic ending.


I really enjoyed this read and suggest anyone who likes reading about end of the world as you know it crises or psychological war in your mind will like it, too.


From Mr. Lee Goldberg: 


It was two years ago today that, at Joe Konrath's urging, I began my "Kindle Experiment" by making my out-of-print book THE WALK available as an ebook. I've sold close to 20,000 copies of THE WALK since then...and to celebrate, and in a blatant to attempt to propel THE WALK into the top 100 on Amazon for the first time, I am selling the book for just 99 cents for the next week. 

But to make the offer even sweeter, and to promote my original ebook series THE DEAD MAN, anyone who emails me proof of purchase (atlee@leegoldberg.com) will get a free copy of FACE OF EVIL. That's two books for just 99 cents. 

Here's the link to THE WALK on Amazon...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Walk-ebook/dp/B002BSHHTQ

If you've forgotten what Face of Evil is about, read my review here:  http://bkfaerie.blogspot.com/2011/02/dead-man-face-of-evil-by-lee-goldberg.html

Mr. Goldberg's stories are entertaining and generally make you think about them after you've read them.  Here's a great opportunity to read TWO of them for less than a buck.  How can you go wrong?

Happy reading!

The Dead Man: Hell in Heaven by Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin

Matt is back.  And so is the Dark Man...


This is the third story in this series and was just published at the first week of May.  Mr. Goldberg sent me a copy for review (thank you).  It's available in paperback or ebook form.


Matt just barely escaped from his enemies in the last story in this series, and his journey doesn't get any calmer this time around.  He's on a motorcycle going over the North Cascades Highway when he decides to stop for fuel and food and a rest from riding the bike.  He finds a small side road that has a sign indicating a town called Heaven, and he pulls off the main drag and heads into town.  He should have kept going...


There are horrors in the town of Heaven.  Beings you can't imagine, inbred psychotic monsters and more.


One thing about these stories, once you start one, you won't move until you've finished it.  They are fast paced, nasty reads that are best during daylight hours.  And I sure enjoy reading them.  


Why not pick a copy of all three and follow Matt on his journey to find out what his purpose in life is?  It's quite a ride.


Happy reading!

The Dead Man Face of Evil by Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin

He thought his life was over when his young wife died from cancer.  Then he got caught in an avalanche and really knew it was done.  But then he woke up...


Lee Goldberg provided me with an ePub to review this story (thank you).


This is the first in a series of horror stories that will have you sitting up straight in your chair as you read along.  Matt is just a normal young man who has lost his wife and his way in the world.


He hesitantly starts dating again and agrees to go skiing with Rachel.  She's an excellent skiier and he enjoys watching her form and skill.  Unfortunately, he is not as good as it as she is, so when the avalanche breaks loose, he's lost...


The authors are skilled "horror writers" and tell you just enough to make you read more, and faster.  The ideas they use are not ones you come up with while sitting around drinking tea and eating cucumber sandwiches.  I'd enjoy meeting Mr. Goldberg and seeing if he looks as warped as his mind.  And if Mr. Rabkin came along, that'd be even more fun!


This is definitely not a boring read.  You race through the story waiting to see what evil what will pop up next and the words flow well.  I don't read a lot of horror stories, but I sure enjoyed this one.  And I want to see where the story goes from here.  It's just beginning...


The ebook is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwoods. Soon it will be available in the iPad store and, next week, in trade paperback as well.  I'm sure this novella will make your heart beat a bit faster.  Why not pick up a copy and get involved in this new series?


Happy reading!