“Lost Hills is Lee Goldberg at his best. Inspired by the real-world grit and glitz of LA County crime, this book takes no prisoners. And neither does Eve Ronin. Take a ride with her and you’ll find yourself with a heroine for the ages. And you’ll be left hoping for more.” —Michael Connelly, #1 New York Times bestselling author“Thrills and chills! Lost Hills is the perfect combination of action … Hills is the perfect combination of action and suspense, not to mention Eve Ronin is one of the best new female characters in ages. You will race through the pages!” —Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author
A video of Deputy Eve Ronin’s off-duty arrest of an abusive movie star goes viral, turning her into a popular hero at a time when the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is plagued by scandal. The sheriff, desperate for more positive press, makes Eve the youngest female homicide detective in the department’s history.
Now Eve, with a lot to learn and resented by her colleagues, has to justify her new badge. Her chance comes when she and her burned-out, soon-to-retire partner are called to the blood-splattered home of a missing single mother and her two kids. The horrific carnage screams multiple murder—but there are no corpses.
Eve has to rely on her instincts and tenacity to find the bodies and capture the vicious killer, all while battling her own insecurities and mounting pressure from the media, her bosses, and the bereaved family. It’s a deadly ordeal that will either prove her skills…or totally destroy her.
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Imagine Sherlock Holmes’ sister working for the LASD. She’s the new kid who got her job through a fluke so she’s determined to prove she’s good at solving murders. Like Sherlock, she notices everything … and makes connections missed by the old guys on the force. She identifies too closely with the two kids killed and brutally murdered in her first case, but it is that identification that leads her to follow the scene no one else accepts. The fire is realistic and metaphorical in this novel that makes me want to ready more by Lee Goldberg. (He, btw, has years of experience writing for TV as well as novels). This one’s a pure mystery; no romance, but the relationship between Eve and her partner ‘Duncan Donuts” about to retire, is refreshing and fun. They learn from each other.
I really enjoyed this. Really evocative writing with a feel of Dashiell Hammett about it and lots of description really made the location a character in this story. Eve Ronin is a strong woman unapologetic about using her notoriety to get the job she wants, and fearless in the pursuit of justice. It’s a great read, and I’ll be reading the rest of the books in the series.
The main character, Eve, is a great character with a rich development. There was a good portion of humorous lines which I really enjoyed. Good dialogue and very action-packed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Goldberg is unique – keeps you reading until the end.
LOST HILLS by Lee Goldberg is first book in the Eve Ronin police procedural and is set in California. In this book, the reader is introduced to Homicide Detective Eve Ronin. When a video went viral of her when she was a deputy for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), the sheriff quickly promoted her to detective. The LASD desperately needed some positive press, but Eve is resented by her colleagues, teamed up with a soon-to-retire partner, and feels pressure to prove herself to everyone. When she and her partner get a call to a home where there is a lot of blood as well as several people missing, she gets the chance to lead a major case. Will she succeed? Will she go back to being a deputy? Whose blood is in the house? Where are the missing people? What really happened?
Eve is a dynamic main character and definitely someone you can root for. She works tirelessly, makes a few mistakes, but has clear goals that influenced the plot. Her motivations seemed believable, with well-drawn and appropriate emotions. As a reader, we begin to understand how Eve’s past affects her actions and emotions on this case. The secondary characters do not have a lot of depth yet, but the relationships between Eve and them seemed believable and not contrived.
Overall, this was an exciting new police procedural novel that introduces us to Detective Eve Ronin. It is dark, gritty, fast-paced and action packed. The imagery (visual, auditory and olfactory) came through vividly. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series which will be published in January of 2021.
What a great protagonist!!
Excellent book! I love the characters–Eve and Duncan. The story kept me interested and eager for more. Can’t wait for the next book in the series. This will most likely become one of my favorite mystery/crime series.
I thought it was written very well, read it over the course of one day.
I loved this book. My only criticism is that it was too short!!
Very good.
I read this book because of its familiar setting, a part of Los Angeles that I’ve visited many times. The author was very detailed in his description. What surprised me was his treatment of the main character and the plot twists. Very straightforward and realistic. And although the end was thrilling, it wasn’t the usual “lady in distress” plot line. She got herself in trouble and then got herself out of it. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
I enjoy Lee Goldbers’ books. This features a strong female character, with a fun partner, good use of dialogue. The mystery was satisfying…detective work clever and logical on Ronin’s part. lPerhaps not a book for the ages but a satisfying one for a few afternoons.
Enjoyed the book
Great read! It had me hooked after the first few pages. I couldn’t put it down! Lee will be a guest panelist at the Alamo Women’s Club Authors’ Faire on May 20th. AlamoWomensClub.org. Tickets will go on sale Feb 28th.
This book was a great read and I didn’t want to put it down. Eve Ronin is determined detective in this fast paced action thriller. She tackles every challenge head on without hesitation. Lee Goldberg used exceptional details describing every location that made me feel as though I witnessed each site and scene first hand. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Being from L.A. I love zooming down the roads with them. Couldn’t put it down, can’t wait for book 2.
What a great read. Great characterization — love Eve Ronin. Fabulous setting. sharp plot and screaming pace.
I love Detective Ronin! She’s a great character with no apologies for her ambition. With the brains to back her swift rise up the police ranks, I’m sure there are more clever mysteries for her to solve as the series progresses.
Phenomenal and bone chilling
This is my first read by this author and I am hooked! It was one of the best Crime Thrillers I’ve ever read. It was packed with grisly details and some of it was hard to read but it painted a vivid picture. Phenomenal start to a new series. I really enjoyed the main character. I look forward to following Eve in her journey. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys True crime fiction.
I received this electronic copy of Lost Hills on January 1, 2020, first in a series titled Eve Ronin, as a December First Reads Prime from Amazon Prime, author Lee Goldberg, and Thomas & Mercer publishers. Thank you all for sharing your’ fine work with me. I have read this modern Las Angeles police procedural of my own volition, and this review reflects my personal opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend Lee Goldberg to friends and family. Though he has done many things in his past, he was responsible for the scriptwriting for ‘Monk’ which five generations of my family have made a point to find time to watch.
And you’re gonna love Eve Ronin, as well. Caught on phone video and then shared on YouTube, Street cop Eve brings down a Hollywood face in front of a crowded eatery after he slaps his date and goes for Eve, dressed in bicycling attire, when she interferes. She brings him to the ground and holds him down for backup. It catches on social media like wildfire, and before long has so many shares and shows the department in such good light that her boss at the LA County Sherriff’s office promotes her to Robbery-Homicide out of the Calabasas station, jumping her in front of several men who felt they should have filled that slot. She is paired with soon-to-retire Duncan Pavone, long of the Homicide Department, a man counting the days and hours until he is out of the workforce forever. He is, however, an excellent teacher of the in’s and out’s of murder scenes, working place relationships, and staying out of the field of fire on the job.
This is an exceptional mystery, with personable protagonists, excellent background and Southern California lore, and a fast pace. I love that there is a wealth of Lee Goldberg tales out there that I can look forward to reading.
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