Book reviews: Complex bad guys and good guys star in two new mysteries

‘Malibu Burning’ by Lee Goldberg. Thomas & Mercer, 304 pages, $28.99

The heist mystery — when the theft is the most overriding plot point — is having a resurgence, and among the leaders of this venerable subgenre is Lee Goldberg.
The prolific Goldberg melds the heist with the procedural into a solid plot with fully realized characters in the highly entertaining “Malibu Burning,” which launches a new series.

The heist aspect is supplied by conman Danny Cole. After pulling off the biggest scam of his life, which includes stealing from a vicious drug cartel by setting up a fake bank, Danny almost escapes the FBI by blending into a massive charity bike-a-thon. But he is arrested, and ultimately convicted, after he stops to help another biker he collided with. Danny loves to steal, and is good at it, but his major flaw is his compassion. He could not bear the idea of harming an innocent person.

Goldberg skillfully weaves in Danny’s multi-layered personality without resorting to cliches. Sure, he helps strangers and refuses to turn on his crew, but Danny is no thief with a heart of gold. Always looking for an angle that will benefit him, Danny asks to be assigned to the volunteer convict firefighting program. Danny is willing to risk the danger as he believes it is safer than prison, and those in this program serve their time outdoors with minimum security and are fed excellent food.

Danny proves to be the right fit for the program, but during his eight-year sentence, his best friend in the program is killed. The state refuses to acknowledge the death as work-related, denying his family any compensation. Danny vows to avenge his friend when he is released.

The procedural facet is supplied by arson investigator Walter Sharpe and his new partner, Andrew Walker, a former U.S. Marshal who has a history with Danny.

Goldberg alternates the stories of the arson investigators and Danny’s revenge plan into the tightly wound, action-packed “Malibu Burning.” Goldberg includes myriad lore about how fires are investigated and, when appropriate, arson is proved. “Keen observation and technical knowledge” are the right combination for the investigators.

While it’s natural to side with the investigators and their search for justice, Goldberg delivers a conundrum. The reader also roots for Danny, who has more morals and concern for others than his despicable victims.

Goldberg imbues “Malibu Burning” with strong visual scenes, drawing on his TV background as a writer and producer for many hit series, including “Diagnosis Murder,” “Monk” and “SeaQuest DSV.”

For the children

‘Dark Ride’ by Lou Berney. Morrow, 256 pages, $30

Becoming an adult means accepting responsibility, perhaps planning for a future, maybe thinking of a family or a relationship. At 23-years-old, Hardy Reed, the unusual but effective hero of Lou Berney’s outstanding “Dark Ride,” has done none of those things.

Hardy is the definition of a slacker, whose lack of ambition has earned him the nickname “Hardly.” He’s content to be “ordinary,” with no demands on him. He gets by on gig work, the latest of which is being “a scare actor” in the ghost town attraction of a third-rate amusement park in an unnamed Midwest city. He spends most of his time getting stoned and watching TV with his friends.

But this scare actor is about to be scared into taking a stand. While paying a parking ticket at the municipal building, he sees two children on a bench in the hall, each of whom appears to have several cigarette burns. The condition of the children shocks him into getting involved by setting up an interview with child services. But that gives him little hope of getting the children help, especially after the overworked case worker quits mid-interview. Hardy is surprised at how invested he is in keeping the kids safe, starting his own investigation, putting himself in danger, especially after learning that their father is a sleazy attorney and violent drug dealer.

Edgar winner Berney is known for sculpting fully-realized characters, but this is the first time he has tackled a character so young. Berney delves deep to show Hardy as a three-dimensional character who, for the first time, is proving to himself that he can rise to the occasion. Raised in foster care, Hardy knows well how little power children have. Supporting characters include a government employee who favors goth dress.

Berney’s affinity for plotting leads “Dark Ride” to a solid noir ending.