Movieland (Eve Ronin, #4)

by Lee Goldberg

Malibu Creek State Park is a beautiful locale for campers, tourists, hikers, and Hollywood. For Detective Eve Ronin, it’s a backdrop for murder in a riveting thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.

For decades Malibu Creek State Park was the spectacular natural setting where Hollywood fantasies were made. But when a female camper is gunned down, it becomes a real-life killing ground. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone are assigned the case…which Duncan fears is the latest in a series of sniper attacks that began long before Eve came to Lost Hills.

Seven victims over fourteen months…and top officials still refuse to see a connection. Eve and Duncan are stonewalled, threatened, and ordered to keep quiet. But Eve won’t back down. She’s no stranger to intimidation or corruption—she’s had a target on her back from day one at Lost Hills station.

Despite finding no evidentiary links between the shootings, Eve and Duncan follow their instincts into the shadows of Malibu Creek, where it’s not enough to expose the secrets and break the conspiracy of silence. They also have to make it out alive.

• ISBN10: 1662500653
• ISBN13: 9781662500657
• Publish Date: 21 June 2022
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Thomas & Mercer
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

*ARC provided by Netgalley for a honest review. Thankyou Thomas and Mercer.

Another great addition to the series, Movieland sees Eve and Duncan investigating a string of random shootings, the latest of which results in a homicide. Eve is still her abrasive self but is left playing peace keeper when Duncan is inspired to fight crime the Eve Ronin way - irritating everyone, refusing to stick the scripted lines and valuing the truth over looking good - albeit with less life threatening injuries. It was highly amusing to see Eve getting a taste of her own medicine.

The crime was interesting and the mystery had me on the edge of my seat. Like the last three books, this was a solid and complex case with twists and turns and varied motivations. I loved that Duncan was busy leading the way in this one and I was distraught at this being the last book he features in. I was glad to find that won't be the case! He'll return! As per usual though he was food obsessed, although I was giggling at the idea of him visiting Eve strictly for the hospital jello.

I loved Jen and Duncan ganging up on Eve and I adored that this book demonstrated that there are actually positive aspects to Jen and Eve's relationship - the first three books leaned pretty heavily into the actress mother who was busy chasing fame and fortune trope. Jen is awesome, she cracks me up with her advice for Eve.

Eve still has a crap relationship with the police force but I liked that she made more of an effort in this one to play nice with her fellow detectives. Even if she sucks at it. It was pretty funny her congratulating Biddle and Garvey and then turning around and solving the case, proving them wrong and making them look terrible. But I did feel sorry for them too - I mean ever since Eve appears they've been getting shown up - even when they're busy trying to do solid police work. On the other hand they're pricks. True to form, she see-sawed between political savvy and total ignorance. Although she does better when running interference for Duncan - I would've liked to see more of that present in her own negotiations. But it was interesting to see her limitations and justifications.

Overall an enjoyable read, another solid addition to the series and unfortunately one more long wait for the next book. 4 stars.