Malibu Burning

In this twisty crime yarn from bestseller Goldberg (Movieland), a cop and a criminal match wits in the California heat over the course of eight years. U.S. Marshal Andrew Walker apprehends master thief Danny Cole after Danny fleeces a cartel boss for a million dollars. Instead of sitting in prison, though, Danny becomes part of California’s volunteer convict firefighting program and lives in a low-security camp in the woods. While working a fire one day, his best friend on the team is killed. Eight years later, Walker has joined the L.A. County Sheriff’s arson department, and Danny, having served his time, hits the streets with a plan to avenge his friend’s death and pillage mansions left vulnerable during wildfire season. He gets his old gang of criminals back together, sets the plan in motion, and soon finds himself on a collision course with Walker and his relentless new partner. Goldberg’s well-drawn characters will keep readers rooting for both crooks and cops, and he hangs everyone’s fates on a clever, complicated con. The result is as explosive as a wildfire. Agent: Amy Tannenbaum, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Sept.)