In a world carefully constructed for murder, solving crimes takes a keen mind and eye in a witty, clever, and fresh reinvention of the whodunit by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg. Edison Bixby is wealthy, handsome, and, due to a traumatic brain injury, impulsively rude. He’s also a brilliant insurance investigator who solves baffling crimes by figuring out how the design of the man-made world around us makes them possible. Enter Wally Nash: a struggling actor hired to keep Bixby from offending everyone he meets. Their first case together looks like a simple accident. Caroline Crowley took a nasty fall down a staircase at a shopping mall in front of dozens of witnesses. Video clearly shows the deadly misstep. But Bixby is certain she was murdered by design, subtly manipulated into causing her own demise. The mall itself made the crime intentional, if not inevitable. Now Bixby must prove his outrageous theory before a very cunning killer gets others on his hit list to murder themselves, too. Praise for Lee Goldberg Murder by Design “ Murder by Design is original and fresh, amusing and cheeky, deadly and thrilling, and completely engrossing. The kind of book that you read in one sitting, sleep be damned, because it’s so relentlessly entertaining and captivating that you cannot stop until you see how it all ends. Lee Goldberg has outdone himself, delivering a murder mystery that demands to be read and will end up being ranked at the top of any serious list extolling the best books of 2026.” ―Steve Netter, Best Thriller Books “Hilarious and thought-provoking. The mystery itself is complex, and somehow Goldberg balances the humor and drama to perfection. The second book in this series cannot come fast enough, and hopefully a TV series is in the future as well.” ―FirstCLUE “ Murder by Design is the most ingenious mystery I’ve read in years, with more twists than a Wetzel’s Pretzel. Brain-injured yet supremely confident former detective Edison Bixby and likable but self-absorbed actor―is there any other kind?―Wally Nash make for an unlikely but appealing sleuthing duo. But the real magic of this mystery is the way Goldberg turns environments and objects that we take for granted into clues we never would have noticed but for his deft hand. After reading Murder by Design , you will never look at your local mall―or any building, object, et cetera―the same way again.” ―Ellen Byron, Agatha and Lefty Award–winning author Dream Town “Old bones, paparazzi, rappers, sex tapes, the whole nine yards―topped off with a surprisingly Big Reveal.” ― Kirkus Reviews “Fans of fast-paced police procedurals will enjoy Goldberg’s trademark humor and his insight into the entertainment world in his latest Eve Ronin novel (following Movieland ).” ― Library Journal (starred review) “Goldberg overtly offers sly, knowing commentary on the state of today’s media, even as he spins an engaging and exciting police procedural.” ― Deadly Pleasures “Lee Goldberg consistently writes entertaining and engaging stories with relatable characters and plots that feel recognizable, yet fresh. Dream Town is the perfect continuation of the Eve Ronin series―an equal mix of Hollywood theatrics, personal/family drama, criminal mayhem, and investigative prowess.” ―Steve Netter, Best Thriller Books “Goldberg has created a terrific character in Eve Ronin, and he knows how to write a fast-paced thriller mixed with humor and inside jokes with no fluff.” ―FirstCLUE Movieland “Goldberg’s compelling follow-up to Gated Prey is a fast-paced, riveting police procedural influenced by actual events in California. A character-driven series entry that skillfully depicts Hollywood corruption.” ― Library Journal (starred review) “The fourth book in Lee Goldberg’s series is his most ambitious and best realized yet… Movieland is crime writing of the highest order. Goldberg’s style touches on both Michael Connelly and Robert Crais, in whose company he now squarely belongs.” ― The Providence Journal “ Movieland , Lee Goldberg’s fourth novel featuring Ronin, is every bit as good as the first three. The characters, including victims, suspects, and an assortment of lazy, hardworking, honest, and corrupt cops, are quirky and well developed. The depiction of police procedures feels authentic. The writing is vivid and precise. And with startling twists around every corner, the suspenseful tale unfolds at a furious pace.” ―Associated Press “Lee is fantastic at combining clever plotting, humor, and thrills in his stories.” ―Boyd Morrison, #1 New York Times bestselling author “LA noir is real; so is Malibu noir, and no one does it better than Lee Goldberg.” ―Luanne Rice, New York Times bestselling author “Finished this on the plane home. Typically classy police procedural from Lee Goldberg―giving Michael Connelly a run for his money.” ―Ian Rankin Gated Prey “The seamy side of California dreaming…Goldbe