Murder by Design

This thriller duo is the most fun I’ve had reading in months.

A detective who can’t stop insulting people + the broke actor hired to apologize for him = chaos.

Murder by Design by Lee Goldberg grabbed me on page one.

Edison Bixby is brilliant, wealthy, and thanks to a traumatic brain injury, has zero filter. Whatever he thinks, he says. He was a decorated detective until his condition cost his department millions in lawsuits, so they pushed him out. Now he works as an insurance investigator, taking on cases where you genuinely wonder what these people were thinking.

Enter Wally Nash, a struggling actor with one job: trail Bixby around and apologize to everyone he offends. The two of them are a ridiculous pair and I had so much fun watching them work.

What sets this book apart is the angle on the crimes. Every case ties back to design: how buildings, spaces, and environments are built to shape how people behave. It’s such a fresh hook for a thriller.

Bixby’s house is basically its own character. It’s this wild architectural fever dream. And yes, there’s a treehouse in the backyard that cooks you a full hot breakfast if you pull the right vines and levers. Bizarre? Absolutely. But it works because the whole book is built around the idea that design shapes experience. Goldberg’s author’s note says the house is inspired by two real storybook-style homes in the LA area. I went down a full rabbit hole looking at photos. So cool.

The pace doesn’t quit, the twists hit, and the Sherlock-and-Watson energy between Bixby and Wally is just pure fun. If you like mysteries that are clever without being stuffy, grab this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Out June 1. Thank you to Megan Beattie Communications for the gifted ARC.

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About the Author

Lee Goldberg is a screenwriter, TV producer, and the author of several books, including King City, The Walk, and the bestselling Monk series of mysteries. He has earned two Edgar Award nominations and was the 2012 recipient of the Poirot Award from Malice Domestic.

For more information on Lee and his books, visit his website.