Ashes Never Lie
Lee Goldberg
288 pages
Thomas & Mercer
Published September 24, 2024
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Ashes Never Lie is the second book in the Sharpe & Walker series about a pair of unconventional arson investigators with the LA Sheriff’s Department. I had enjoyed the first one, with some reservations, but absolutely loved this one, probably because the author’s other regular series character, Eve Ronin, plays a major role. I don’t think you need to have read any of the books from either series to jump into this one as you get all the relevant backstory.
Former US Marshall Andrew Walker is feeling restless because his role always follows the action rather than being in the thick of it, so when he meets Detective Ronin and her colleague Duncan Pavone at the site of an unusual house fire, he’s only too happy to team up to investigate whether the dead body inside died by suicide or murder. Meanwhile brand new houses on a nearby development keep bursting into flame – is it faulty wiring, angry environmental protesters, or someone seeking revenge? Walter Sharpe is the one man who will always find the truth in the ashes.
As confirmed in his afterword, the author has done a ton of research into arson investigation, and I really liked the way all the details show the various clues which reveal to our heroes what happened. I also adore the bickering but grudgingly respectful relationship evolving between curmudgeonly Sharpe and cocky Walker, and I definitely appreciated the lack of any sexual element to Walker’s new friendship with Eve. He loves his wife and isn’t even tempted by his hot co-worker – so refreshing! There are separate cases here which didn’t all have to be linked, with plenty of clever twists and just the right amount of suspense, and all the plot arcs got wrapped up very satisfactorily. 4.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.
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