Gated Prey (Eve Ronin, #3)

by Lee Goldberg

A simple sting operation takes a violent and unexpected turn for Detective Eve Ronin in a gripping thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detective Eve Ronin and her soon-to-retire partner, Duncan Pavone, are running a 24-7 sting in a guard-gated enclave of palatial homes in Calabasas. Their luxury McMansion is a honey trap, set to lure in the violent home invaders terrorizing the community. The trap works, leaving three intruders dead, a body count that nearly includes Eve and Duncan.

Eve’s bosses are eager to declare the case closed, but there are too many unanswered questions for her to let go. Was the trap actually for her, bloody payback for Eve’s very public takedown of a clique of corrupt deputies? Or is there an even deadlier secret lurking behind those opulent gates? Eve’s refusal to back down and her relentless quest for the truth make her both the hunter…and the prey.

• ISBN10: 1542029368
• ISBN13: 9781542029360
• Publish Date: 26 October 2021
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Thomas & Mercer
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 268
• Language: English

Reviews

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

I was thrilled to receive an ARC for this. I loved the first two books in the series and was shattered to find the third book wouldn't be available for ten months. I was checking Netgalley weekly to see when the ARC's would be available and I was thrilled to be approved. And the book itself didn't disappoint.

Eve Ronin is back and raring to fight crime and give justice. Unfortunately her fellow officers still mostly don't like her, her superior officers definitely don't and the police department as a whole is ready to sacrifice her for public opinion. I like Eve a lot but she has zero social skills - she really needs to find a way to do her job and not piss off everyone she meets. Like the last two books it continued to annoy me that Eve still seesaws between political savvy and political ignorance. Fair enough if you don't want to play the game, but don't sit back and pretend you don't understand it.

Jen made a few appearances contributing her motherly wisdom - some of which was actually decent advice for all Eve dismisses her. I kind of want to see Jen create and take over Eve's social media accounts. I'm sure it'd be hysterical. Burnside also appears and I'd love to learn more about her. Duncan continued to be an amusing and steadfast partner. Duncan was more outspoken in this one, more willing to stand up for his beliefs and throw his weight behind Eve to get justice the closer he gets to retirement. It made for some interesting confrontations with their fellow and superior officers.

One thing that did irritate me was the focus on food. It felt like every time anything happened they had to stop and eat and make fat jokes. And frankly the cliche of the fat cop who eats and stains all their shirts got old fast. I could've done without.

The mystery though was fantastic. The plot was fast paced and complex and had me riveted. I guessed some parts and totally missed others. Everywhere Eve stepped there were clues and crimes and I was hooked. I loved Eve's dedication to slogging through video footage and crime reports and the way she worked towards solving the case.

Another fantastic addition to the series and I can't wait to read the next one.

4 stars.