After dozens of Hollywood apartment buildings erupt in flames during a single night of terror, arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker are assigned to catch the serial torcher and end his spree. But then a catastrophic fire destroys a major freeway, crippling the city and forcing Sharpe and Walker to take on another massive case.
Desperate for help, they know exactly who to call: homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone. Together the four detectives must quickly figure out whether the freeway disaster was a tragic accident…or the work of a mastermind with a horrific plan.
As the investigations collide, an old foe with a revenge scheme enters the fray, igniting a race against time to stop a conspiracy of deception, corruption, and murder.
Hidden In Smoke‘ is the third book from Lee Goldberg featuring L.A. arson investigators Sharpe and Walker. It also features homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone and Danny Cole, the criminal mastermind with a heart of gold from the first Sharpe and Walker book, ‘Malibu Burning’
Like its predecessors, it was an entertaining mix of action-packed thriller, ingenious mystery and larger-than-life characters who made me smile.
It was a fast-paced, energetic, often funny book that combined two complex arson investigations with a heist on a high-tech museum of bizarre curiosities and a clever sting operation on a very bad man.
The Heist and Sting part of the book was the work of Danny Cole and his strange but talented associates. I thought bringing him back was a wonderful idea. I’m hoping that there’s a chance that he’ll get his own spin-off series – a sort of Raffles-with-attitude (and a conscience) series.
As always. I enjoyed Lee Goldberg’s ability to use bizarre facts and incidents from real life to create exciting and surprising plots. Most of all, I loved the way he’s turned the characters from the Eve Ronin books and the Sharpe & Walker books into an ensemble cast who I know will always make me smile.
I’m already looking forward to the next Eve Ronin book, ‘Fallen Star‘ coming out in October.
Mike Finn's Fiction 
Hi, Mike,
I couldn’t agree more with your review. I’ve read all three of these in the series now (plus other Lee Goldberg books) and have thoroughly enjoyed them. Lots of action, great dialogue, likeable characters, and others not so likeable. Clearly, Goldberg has written screenplays, because it’s just so easy to imagine so much of the action. I also enjoy how some necessary social commentary is integrated into the story.
I’d just finished reading “Hidden In Ashes” (right before your review showed up in my inbox). It was fun and refreshing after I’d read a couple of more intense and/or serious books (one of which was “Rose/House,” upon your recommendation).
I don’t comment too often, but please know that I consistently read your reviews and other postings and appreciate all your comments and the time you take to post them.
Thanks.
Rose
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Hi Rose,
It’s good to hear from you and to know that you’re reading my posts. I’ve only recently discovered Lee Goldberg’s novels but I’ve yet to read one I didn’t enjoy. I went back and tried one of his Mr Monk books. That was fun but I’d rather follow his new characters. Have you read ‘Calico’?. It’s not like his other books. It’s about a guy who indvertantly gets sent back in time.
I hope you enjoyed Rose/House and I hope you’ll continue to enjoy this site.
Thanks for commenting
Mike
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