Publication Date November 7, 2023
Last year, I read Movieland, my first novel by Lee Goldberg. In my review, I said “I tend to enjoy stories where the setting is a character on its own, if you know what I mean (think Jane Harper’s novels set in arid Western Australia. Oh, and BTW, if you enjoy mysteries, you really should check her out — start with The Dry). In Lee Goldberg’s Movieland, while Malibu Creek State Park is both a beautiful location for campers, tourists, and hikers, it’s also a great setting for murder.”
I was totally looking forward to reading Goldberg’s next two books, both scheduled for publication in the last quarter of 2023: Malibu Burning and Calico. When I read that Calico was a combination of mystery and western, I decided to read it first. TBH, I never would have picked it had I read more carefully and seen “Sci-Fi” used to describe it. Not just Sci-Fi, but time travel. For me, that’s not something I have ever really enjoyed. (I think I’m either lacking in imagination or just too analytical or something.) I had enjoyed Movieland so much, I just decided to go for it.
Just as in Movieland, setting is truly a character on its own in Calico. This time, it’s the Southern California desert rather than the beach…and there are two distinct stories. The story opens with Owen Slader, driving on the 15 between Vegas and LA, and centers on the area around Barstow (including Calico, a ghost town tourist attraction). He encounters a man running into traffic…then he just vanishes. The story about what happened to him includes a ton of information about the California silver rush, which is fascinating. A County Sheriff’s Deputy named Beth, who has been exiled to Barstow by the Sheriff’s Office following her questionable relationship with a co-worker, begins to investigate. In another story (or is it?), a coffin from the 1800s is unearthed, revealing a skeleton…but it has modern dental implants? It looks like Owen traveled back in time. Meanwhile, the man who ran into traffic seems to have traveled forward in time…he is clearly from the past.
It’s an engrossing mystery, and despite my aversion to time travel, I decided to just go with it and enjoy the ride. (And I did). I think it could make a good movie if done right, and I actually hope there are future stories featuring Detective Beth. Willing suspension of disbelief required, but overall it’s one I’d recommend to lots of readers. Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review. Four stars.