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. 

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone are assigned to investigate a murder at the Park, which Detective Pavone thinks might be a recurrence of sniper attacks that went on before Detective Ronin joined the force. 

There have been seven victims in the past fourteen months,  so there should be a task force or something, right? But the bosses refuse to see a connection. The two detectives are stonewalled, threatened, and ordered to keep quiet. 

Ronin and Pavone are on their own in the wilds of Malibu Creek, where they have to fight to make it out alive, in addition to solving the murders. Good thriller, lots of fun especially for a SoCal refugee! Thanks to Thomas &  Mercer and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for this review. BTW this is #4 in a series, and I liked it so much, I went back to the beginning and am working way through the series. Four stars, maybe should be five…