Gated Prey

by Lee Goldberg

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781542029360
Publisher:	Thomas & Mercer
Publication date:	10/26/2021
Series:	Eve Ronin , #3
Pages:	268
Sales rank:	452,270
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Lee Goldberg is a two-time Edgar Award and two-time Shamus Award nominee and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels. He has also written and/or produced many TV shows, including Diagnosis Murder, SeaQuest, and Monk, and he is the cocreator of the Mystery 101 series of Hallmark movies. As an international television consultant, he has advised networks and studios in Canada, France, Germany, Spain, China, Sweden, and the Netherlands on the creation, writing, and production of episodic television series. You can find more information about Lee and his work at www.leegoldberg.com.

Editorial Reviews

08/16/2021

Hollywood decadence and duplicity are at the heart of bestseller Goldberg’s entertaining third outing for Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy Eve Ronin (after Bone Canyon). With her partner Duncan Pavone (“a fat man in his late fifties”) just weeks away from retiring, a wrongful death lawsuit hanging over her head, and an agent shopping around a TV series loosely based on her life, Eve is finding it increasingly difficult to do her job, which includes apprehending a gang responsible for a series of violent home invasions in gated communities. When posing as affluent homeowners almost gets Eve and Duncan killed, she discovers that some of her coworkers may be attempting retribution for her recent takedown of a group of corrupt cops. A woman in one of the gated communities who seemingly gave birth at home to a stillborn baby further complicates matters. Lively descriptive prose enhances the tight plot of this episodic crime novel, which reads like a TV show in narrative form. Columbo fans will have fun. Agent: Amy Tannenbaum, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Lee Goldberg

Gated Prey

“The seamy side of California dreaming…Goldberg not only ties up…but links some of Eve’s investigations in ways as disturbing as they are surprising.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Lively descriptive prose enhances the tight plot of this episodic crime novel, which reads like a TV show in narrative form. Columbo fans will have fun.” —Publishers Weekly

“A great series…Eve Ronin continues to dazzle and show her gritty side as she progresses in the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.” —Mystery and Suspense Magazine

“Goldberg finds the perfect balance of treachery and resolve in the strong female character of Eve Ronin. She is a force to be reckoned with that all criminals will hate to come face-to-face with and one that is deserved of the big screen.” —Chris Miller, Best Thriller Books

“Violent crimes and desperate criminals and homicide detectives, oh my! Lee Goldberg delivers an intriguing, fast-paced, satisfying novel in Gated Prey.” —Steve Netter, Best Thriller Books

“This is going to be a must-read series for me year after year. Eve is such a badass character who will stop at nothing to see that justice is done.” —Todd Wilkins, Best Thriller Books

“Lee Goldberg aims high and hits the mark in Gated Prey…Goldberg is every bit the equal of Michael Connelly when it comes to pulling no punches and packing a wallop on every page. Superb reading entertainment.” —Providence Journal

“Another suspenseful, fast-paced yarn with engaging characters.” —Associated Press

“Gated Prey begins, moves and ends at the speed of a bullet. Goldberg has a knack for adding subtle character nuances into his series, and here we find Eve and partner Duncan Pavone more complex than ever.” —The Mountain Times

“A fast-paced mystery with interesting and well-developed characters. Lee is a very skilled writer who always manages to throw in some witty dialogue to lighten things up.” —Kings River Life Magazine

“Great characters all around, a couple of gripping cases, and a breakneck pace—all par for the course for this series. If you haven’t jumped on the Eve Ronin train—now’s the time.” —The Irresponsible Reader

“Readers will be rewarded with an entertaining plot, cinematic writing, strong empathetic characters, and plenty of red herrings.” —Bookmarks Magazine

“It’s safe to say, three novels in, that Lee Goldberg has successfully launched a new series that could easily put him in the police procedural company of Ed McBain, Joseph Wambaugh, and Michael Connelly…there’s a solidity to all of the author’s characters, good, evil, and in-between. Be prepared to spend hours riveted to [Eve’s] relentless quest for answers.” —Mystery Scene Magazine

“I whipped my head back and forth reading Gated Prey. So twisty, so funny, and so LA—a few of my favorite things. After zooming through these pages, I’ll ride shotgun with Lee any day!” —Rachel Howzell Hall, bestselling author of And Now She’s Gone

Bone Canyon

A Mystery and Suspense Magazine 2021 Best Book of the Year Selection

“Lee Goldberg proves again that he is a master storyteller with this piece. His ability to develop strong plots and use a fast-paced narrative keeps the reader on their toes as things progress. Poignant characters also help keep things enthralling until the final reveal for the attentive reader.” —Mystery and Suspense Magazine

“Goldberg follows Lost Hills with a riveting, intense story. Readers of Karin Slaughter or Michael Connelly will want to try this.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“Goldberg knows how to keep the pages turning.” —Publishers Weekly

“Lee Goldberg puts the pro in police procedural. Bone Canyon is fresh, sharp, and absorbing. Give me more Eve Ronin, ASAP.” —Meg Gardiner, international bestselling author

“Wow—what a novel! It is wonderful in so many ways. I could not put it down. Bone Canyon is wrenching and harrowing, full of wicked twists. Lee Goldberg captures the magic and danger of the Santa Monica Mountains and the predators who prowl them. Detective Eve Ronin takes on forgotten victims, fights for them, and nearly loses everything in the process. She’s a riveting character, and I can’t wait for her next case.” —Luanne Rice, New York Times bestselling author

“Bone Canyon is a propulsive procedural that provides high thrills in difficult terrain, grappling thoughtfully with sexual violence and police corruption, as well as the minefield of politics and media in Hollywood and suburban Los Angeles. Eve Ronin is a fantastic series lead—stubborn and driven, working twice as hard as her colleagues both to prove her worth and to deliver justice for the dead.” —Steph Cha, author of Your House Will Pay

Lost Hills

“A cop novel so good it makes much of the old guard read like they’re going through the motions until they can retire…The real appeal here is Goldberg’s lean prose, which imbues just-the-facts procedure with remarkable tension and cranks up to a stunning description of a fire that was like ‘Christmas in hell.’” —Booklist

“[The] suspense and drama are guaranteed to keep a reader spellbound.” —Authorlink

“An energetic, resourceful procedural starring a heroine who deserves a series of her own.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This nimble, sure-footed series launch from bestseller Goldberg…builds to a thrilling, visually striking climax. Readers will cheer Ronin every step of the way.” —Publishers Weekly

“The first book in what promises to be a superb series—it’s also that rare novel in which the formulaic elements of mainstream police procedurals share narrative space with a unique female protagonist. All that, and it’s also a love letter to the chaos and diversity of California. There are a lot of series out there, but Eve Ronin and Goldberg’s fast-paced prose should put this one on the radar of every crime fiction fan.” —National Public Radio

“This sterling thriller is carved straight out of the world of Harlan Coben and Lisa Gardner…Lost Hills is a book to be found and savored.” —BookTrib

“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

“Lost Hills is what you get when you polish the police procedural to a shine: a gripping premise, a great twist, fresh spins and knowing winks to the genre conventions, and all the smart, snappy ease of an expert at work.” —Tana French, New York Times bestselling author

“Thrills and chills! Lost 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

“Twenty-four-karat Goldberg—a top-notch procedural that shines like a true gem.” —Craig Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of the Longmire series

“A winner. Packed with procedure, forensics, vivid descriptions, and the right amount of humor. Fervent fans of Connelly and Crais, this is your next read.” —Kendra Elliot, Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author

“Brilliant! Eve Ronin rocks! With a baffling and brutal case, tight plotting, and a fascinating look at police procedure, Lost Hills is a stunning start to a new detective series. A must-read for crime fiction fans.” —Melinda Leigh, Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author

“A tense, pacy read from one of America’s greatest crime and thriller writers.” —Garry Disher, international bestselling author and Ned Kelly Award winner

Fake Truth

“A winner from first page to last. Lee Goldberg has single-handedly invented a new genre of thriller. At once nail-bitingly suspenseful and gut-bustingly hilarious…but never less than a pedal-to-the-metal, full-on page-turner. Fake Truth is clever, edge-of-your-seat entertainment that I read in one glorious sitting. And that’s no lie!” —Christopher Reich, New York Times bestselling author

“Timely, satirical, and funny. Lee Goldberg’s Fake Truth is deftly ironic and painfully observant.” —Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author

“Hilariously surprising. The author’s juggling of truth and fiction is almost as dexterous as his hero’s.” —Kirkus Reviews

Killer Thriller

“Killer Thriller grabs you from page one with brilliant wit, sharply honed suspense, and a huge helping of pure originality.” —Jeffery Deaver, New York Times bestselling author

“A delight from start to finish, a round-the-world, thrill-a-minute, laser-guided missile of a book.” —Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author

“Killer Thriller is an action-packed treasure filled with intrigue, engaging characters, and exciting, well-rendered locales. With Goldberg’s hyper-clever plotting, dialogue, and wit on every page, readers are in for a blast with this one!” —Mark Greaney, New York Times bestselling author

True Fiction

“Thriller fiction at its absolute finest—and it could happen for real. But not to me, I hope.” —Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“This may be the most fun you’ll ever have reading a thriller. It’s a breathtaking rush of suspense, intrigue, and laughter that only Lee Goldberg could pull off. I loved it.” —Janet Evanovich, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“This is my life…in a thriller! True Fiction is great fun.” —Brad Meltzer, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Fans of parodic thrillers will enjoy the exhilarating ride…[in] this Elmore Leonard mashed with Get Smart romp.” —Publishers Weekly

“A conspiracy thriller of the first order, a magical blend of fact and it-could-happen scary fiction. Nail-biting, page-turning, and laced with Goldberg’s wry humor, True Fiction is a true delight, reminiscent of Six Days of the Condor and the best of Hitchcock’s innocent-man-in-peril films.” —Paul Levine, bestselling author of Bum Rap

“Ian Ludlow is one of the coolest heroes to emerge in post-9/11 thrillers. A wonderful, classic yet modern, breakneck suspense novel. Lee Goldberg delivers a great story with a literary metafiction wink that makes its thrills resonate.” —James Grady, New York Times bestselling author of Six Days of the Condor

“Great fun that moves as fast as a jet. Goldberg walks a tightrope between suspense and humor and never slips.” —Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author of Elevator Pitch

“I haven’t read anything this much fun since Donald E. Westlake’s comic-caper novels. Immensely entertaining, clever, and timely.” —David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of First Blood

From the Publisher

2021-06-29
A rash of cases sends Detective Eve Ronin, of the LA Sheriff’s Department, into the gated communities of Calabasas, which trap the homeowners with all the evils they were meant to protect them from.

The tale begins with a string of home invasion robberies Eve and her partner, almost-retired Duncan Pavone, have gone undercover to solve. Masquerading as a wealthy couple in order to lure the thieves into targeting them, they succeed all too well, and soon they have three dead bodies to answer for. The LASD gives a medal to Grayson Mumford, the young grocery store guard who shot runaway thief Paul Colter, but makes it clear to Eve that her stock among her colleagues has plummeted even as her flashy style has encouraged scriptwriter Simone Harper to write the pilot for a TV series based on her exploits. Before Eve can get too preoccupied with either shunning she doesn’t deserve or fame she doesn’t want, a routine call to the home of Anna McCaig, who’s just delivered a stillborn child, swiftly escalates to a case of murder. Just to keep the plot boiling, Eve learns that she’s being sued for $10 million by the family of a bent deputy who claims she drove him to suicide at the end of her last case. Will the department, which is also named in the suit, have her back, or will they cut her loose and let her twist slowly in the wind? Against all odds, Goldberg not only ties up most of the loose ends, leaving just a few deliberately dangling, but links some of Eve’s investigations in ways as disturbing as they are surprising.

The seamy side of California dreaming.

Kirkus Reviews