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.
Edison Bixby is a brilliant Los Angeles detective with a 100% case closure rate…until his brash style pisses off the wrong crowd and gets him shot in the face. Surviving the bullet, he now plies his trade as an insurance investigator who uses his knowledge of design principles to see the world in ways others cannot, resulting in solving crimes that the professionals miss. But he still has a big mouth, exacerbated by a brain injury sustained in the shooting. So his employer hires Wally Nash, a middling actor, to become Bixby’s assistant and keep him out of trouble. Together, they get involved in several investigations, including what looks like a tragic accident in a shopping mall that leaves a woman dead. But Bixby sees it differently, believing she was murdered. Now Bixby and Nash must prove a theory no one believes. Namely how a building can murder someone who appears to have simply fallen down a flight of stairs.
You won’t read a murder mystery that’s more fun, witty and clever than Lee Goldberg’s Murder by Design. Fascinating characters, playful dialogue, well-executed points of view, and a completely different way of looking at murder investigations. It’s suspenseful, intriguing and has a Holmes and Watson vibe to the Bixby/Nash relationship that can best be described as awesomely weird. All coming together perfectly to create a memorable reading experience that, in a crowded genre filled with great mysteries, stands tall and offers something different. It’s fantastic and once again highlights the amazing storytelling prowess of Lee Goldberg. Do not miss this book! It’s magnificent.
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Barrington Books
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Murder By The Book
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