Beth McDade is a detective in a small town in the middle of the Mohave Desert when she catches a case of a pedestrian struck and killed by a vehicle. The man, who appears homeless, is dressed in clothing that would be appropriate for someone in the 1800’s, and that’s just the start of the story! Calico was the name of an old mining town, close to where the accident occurred, and it’s the jumping off point for this delightful mashup - part mystery, part Western, part sci-fi, that is highly entertaining and definitely unique, and will stand out amongst the cookie-cutter plots that we’re used to. There’s tons to like about this book, from the likable but flawed protagonist, to the characters in 1800’s Calico, and a fantastic storyline that will totally engulf you. Another can’t miss book from Lee Goldberg. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Beth McSlut likes to sleep around which is what continues to get her in trouble. Wrong guys and circumstances create a blend of personal defeats. On the upside, this is mere character (or lack of) development and tends to enhance the story line. It is too bad we never get a sense of what she looks like from the author’s perspective.

Speaking of authors, this one is good. The 1880's developmental aspect of this novel surprised me. At first, I thought, "ah fuk, life in the past" and almost DNF'd it on the spot. Glad I pushed on. There were some lapses in the development of Owen and Wendy. Owen suddenly becomes Dudley Dooright from a recently recovered self-absorbed gambler/partier. Wendy manifests the same stalwart personality as Owen with a dollop of common sense and a hot body. Ho-hum.

You are either going to like the constant play on synchronicity or not. I see it as a handy plot device (cheat). If there are subsequent novels to this one, where McSlut gets cast back in time or fights incursions from the past, then I am all for it. This way the balancing of the temporal can be defined.

Lee Goldberg has become on of my most favorite Authors and in between Malibu Burning and Calico,
he has spoiled us all with such interesting, well written stories making the wait for the next
books seem even longer!
I just loved the attention to detail in the desert locale, a part of California even most natives are not
familiar with due to the remote location, long tedious drive from civilization and nearly nothing to
do upon arrival.
Until Mr Goldberg stopped by with the most interesting and detailed time travel tale one could
possibly imagine. It’s really well researched, and he’s clear on which places are real, and which
are from his active imagination-keeping the reader fully engaged and perhaps thinking a bit ahead,
anxious to learn the next secret.
When people disappear while driving East, and find themselves more than lost-lost a century back,
things start to get weird, as the kids would say. And when a ‘fallen from Grace,’ Detective lands in
Calico, the only place she could work after a brush with indiscretion, the cast of folks in this suspense
begin to appear, and on occasion, disappear. The two main characters do a fine job carrying this really
fun book through to the conclusion, which is where I leave; questions and all.
This is time travel, suspense, love, and money, ALL in one book. This book kept me trying to carve
out time to read with little regard for other activities. I also spent a great deal of time thinking about
how I would take this story to its fruition. It turned out that I was patient with my time and let the
brilliant Author wrap things up with a lovely bow and I am completely satisfied with the conclusion.
This book is a treat!
My sincere thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for providing this download title in exchange
for my honest review.

I love the Eve Ronin series and was excited to see something new from Lee Goldberg. I started out not being fond of Beth McDade, but she grew on me. I loved the Owen and Gwen storyline, and how they traversed their circumstances with optimism and humor. Both the police procedural (the medical examiner is hysterical!) and Calico storylines are engaging and keep you invested in what strange events occurred and how it all ends.

Thank you to NetGalley, Severn House, and Lee Goldberg for the eARC.

I came across Lee Goldberg when I found his book Gated Prey. I read the sleeve and was hooked. It was my favorite book of his as I then read Lost Hills, Bone Canyon, and then Movieland. One of the greatest things about Gated Prey besides the story was it was under 300 pages. Fast forward to Calico. When I saw the cover and saw Lee Goldberg wrote it I was excited. Even though it was over 300 pages, I figured I ought to give it a read since it's Lee Goldberg and I love the Eve Ronin series.

The book started off amazingly. It began in Barstow and Yermo which are in San Bernardino County, I lived in Yermo for 2 months and then in Barstow for 5 years. The way Lee described the intersection of Yermo Road and Ghost Town Rd was spot on. I've been on both those roads hundreds of times due to my job. It made reading feel like I was there again but in the story. I've been to almost every place he described in the book multiple times I.E. MCLB Barstow Yermo Annex, Jack In The Box, Peggy Sues, Fort Irwin, Barstow, the courthouse, and the Sheriff's Barstow station. I was disappointed he didn't include Burger Den in the book, as it's on Yermo Road just a bit past the Yermo Post Office.

I really enjoyed the way the story began with the incidents that started the book. I was very disappointed to see the book go back in time. I'm not a fan of time-traveling anything and still am not after reading this book. I read the first chapter from the late 1880s to give it a chance and it was good. After that, it just went downhill with boring details about the lives of the people in the 1880s. It was filled with filler content to keep the story longer than it had to be. I began to skim through the chapters in the past to get back into the present part of the story which kept me interested. The chapters in the 1880s should've all been at least half the size of details.

This book will be a real treat for those who love time-traveling books as the detailed research Lee did was very impressive, as mentioned at the end of the book. When Lee decides to write a book, he does his homework. I'm able to say that as the details he had about Barstow and Yermo were all spot on, exactly as it is. I would give Calico a read if you're OK with almost 1/4 of the story being in the 1880s. If you're not OK with that, I'd suggest giving the Lee Goldberg Eve Ronin series a try as they're all in the present day and all amazing books. Start with Lost Hills.

Lee Goldberg’s Calico might be harder to summarize and review than even Louise Penny’s books. There’s not a good way to describe this book without spoilers, but I’m going to try.

Beth McDade is a former LAPD detective. After the scandal she was involved in, the only job she can get is in the Mojave Desert town of Barstow, where the first responders all hang out at a rundown bar. That’s the dead end for all of them. In 1957, the town that was once an active stop on Route 66 began a long decline when the interstate was built.

Beth was in bed at 2 AM on Feb. 2, 2019 when everything happened after a lightning strike. A naked man ran in front of a motor home and was killed. A man on the way from Las Vegas to California disappeared. There was a multi-car accident on the interstate, and there was some sort of event at both Marine bases, but no one will tell Beth what happened. She’s sent to deal with the man killed by the motor home. But, that’s just the start of her confusion. She and Amanda, the local coroner, are caught up in investigating deaths that could change the future.

I can’t talk about this engrossing crime novel with two timelines. I can talk about Beth McDade, a sex addict who drinks too much and lives in filth. Her lifestyle corresponds with her day-to-day life in Barstow. When she begins her investigation, she’s a cop who just doesn’t care. But, Amanda pushes her to accept what she learns, no matter how unlikely. In the end, Beth changes. She does her job, and discovers the truth. No matter how implausible the truth, she does uncover it. It’s satisfying to see two strong women, Amanda and Beth, take on the establishment.

This was a great story! I loved it so much. I am not a sci-fi fan, so wasn't sure I'd like this time travel story, but it was so well done and believable, that I couldn't put it down. The research on Calico in the 1880's and the desert life back then was great. The present day story was good too, loved Detective McDade, hope to see more. Highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a very different mystery.

An intriguing, unique Lee Goldberg book. Not my usual with the sci-fi twist but well written and engaging.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I have read numerous books by this author, and I have loved all of them, this one is no exception, a very good story that had me flipping the pages as fast as possible. Beth, a policewoman in Barstow CA, is called out late one night to an accident, a man has been hit by a motor home, which killed him. The unusual thing was he was dressed in very old clothes, was very dirty and after the medical examiner took a look at him, he was also suffering from a disease that hasn't been seen since the 1800's. A few days later Beth is called out to another scene, this time the body is in a casket that had been buried on land that was being developed, the casket was over a 100 years old, the body though had a metal implant in the arm and dental work that didn't exist back then. The story goes back and forth in time, to Owen who was on his way to visit his daughter, when he drove through an opening that appeared and was suddenly in the desert. In present day Beth is trying to piece together what happened, and quickly determines that she may be dealing with a time travelling situation, as difficult as that is to believe. I really enjoyed this book, the author put a lot of effort into research (which he details at the end), There is a bit of everything in this book, police procedural, conspiracy, sci fi, and a bit of what life was like living in the desert in the 1800's (not clean, and not pleasant smelling). I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Severn House for the ARC.

Calico by Lee Goldberg

Publication Date November 7, 2023

Last year, I read Movieland, my first novel by Lee Goldberg. In my review, I said “I tend to enjoy stories where the setting is a character on its own, if you know what I mean (think Jane Harper’s novels set in arid Western Australia. Oh, and BTW, if you enjoy mysteries, you really should check her out — start with The Dry). In Lee Goldberg’s Movieland, while Malibu Creek State Park is both a beautiful location for campers, tourists, and hikers, it’s also a great setting for murder.”

I was totally looking forward to reading Goldberg’s next two books, both scheduled for publication in the last quarter of 2023: Malibu Burning and Calico. When I read that Calico was a combination of mystery and western, I decided to read it first. TBH, I never would have picked it had I read more carefully and seen “Sci-Fi” used to describe it. Not just Sci-Fi, but time travel. For me, that’s not something I have ever really enjoyed. (I think I’m either lacking in imagination or just too analytical or something.) I had enjoyed Movieland so much, I just decided to go for it.

Just as in Movieland, setting is truly a character on its own in Calico. This time, it’s the Southern California desert rather than the beach…and there are two distinct stories. The story opens with Owen Slader, driving on the 15 between Vegas and LA, and centers on the area around Barstow (including Calico, a ghost town tourist attraction). He encounters a man running into traffic…then he just vanishes. The story about what happened to him includes a ton of information about the California silver rush, which is fascinating. A County Sheriff’s Deputy named Beth, who has been exiled to Barstow by the Sheriff’s Office following her questionable relationship with a co-worker, begins to investigate. In another story (or is it?), a coffin from the 1800s is unearthed, revealing a skeleton…but it has modern dental implants? It looks like Owen traveled back in time. Meanwhile, the man who ran into traffic seems to have traveled forward in time…he is clearly from the past.

It’s an engrossing mystery, and despite my aversion to time travel, I decided to just go with it and enjoy the ride. (And I did). I think it could make a good movie if done right, and I actually hope there are future stories featuring Detective Beth. Willing suspension of disbelief required, but overall it’s one I’d recommend to lots of readers. Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review. Four stars.

Calico is a richly atmospheric crime mystery/time travel adventure set In the Mojave desert. I enjoyed the descriptions of the landscape and the protagonist detective Beth was a well written, conscientious but quirky character. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

This book has it all. Mystery, time travel and a bit of the old West. Beth is a policewoman in the Barstow desert when a homeless man runs in front of an RV and gets killed. Turns out he is wearing clothes from the 1800 hundreds. Another man disappeared driving down the highway. It all weaves together in a very good book. I highly recommend this book.

Lee Goldberg is high on my always read list, and this is just another example of why. The thorough research was a welcome bonus and didn't impede the slightly irreverent tone I've come to enjoy in his work.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Calico", the new standalone thriller/mystery/western from Lee Goldberg, author of the 'Eve Ronin' series (which I love and have read all).
Now, you might think that that's a strange way to describe a book... but you'd be wrong!
Welcome to Barstow, California in the middle of the desert, where nothing much happens other than the usual petty crime. Beth McDade is a Homicide Detective in exile from LA, where she left in disgrace - but that's really not germane to the story other than it never should have happened.
On February 2, 2029 four seemingly-unconnected things happened: there was an explosion at a military installation in the desert, there was a massive lightning storm (but no thunder or rain), a vagrant was run down and killed by an elderly couple driving through Barstow in their RV (to be known henceforth as Motor Home Man), and Owen Slader - a wannabe chef and social media influencer - disappeared off the map completely while driving through the area on the way to his usual visitation with his daughter.
Detective McDade is tasked with investigating both Motor Home Man's demise and Owen Slader's disappearance.
Shortly thereafter, there is the discovery of a body in a random grave at the site of an upcoming development.
An autopsy on Motor Home Man is puzzling to say the least: he appears to be dressed in 19th Century clothing and was suffering from all manner of diseases; and his body appears to be older than thought possible; and the autopsy on the bones found in the grave reveal two things: the bones are very old and they have modern-day implants and dental work.
I'm not going to go any further into things, but let's just say that this book does something I've never seen before: bends (no, actually breaks) literary genres: it's part police procedural, part western, part conspiracy theory and part time-travel. You might think that that would be extremely confusing - but it's not!
In the deft hands (and radically twisted mind) of Lee Goldberg, it all just seems to work; and it seems plausible.
There are a number of sub-plots which will keep the reader interested, and some very amusing segues. But on the whole I would just say, read the book. If you don't love it, fine - but I think you will.
Recommended.

I am a huge fan of Lee Goldberg’s Eve Ronan police procedural series and when I read the description of this book it sounded very similar. Boy was I wrong! But in a good way. It started out as I expected. Like Ronan. The main character here, Beth McDade, is a former LAPD detective whose career ended in scandal. The only position that she could find was as a deputy in the Mojave Desert town of Barstow, California where the joke is that the interstate only goes one way… away.

The story begins as Beth is called on to investigate the deaths of two men on the same night. The first was a seemingly crazy homeless man who ran out in front of a motorhome. In the second a man traveling from Las Vegas home to Los Angeles disappeared in the same area, only have his skeleton turn up a day or two later in a hundred year old coffin. The ancient bones seemed to match the coffin, but the titanium implants were the very latest technology.

At this point the book turns into two parallel storylines. Beth’s investigation of the two deaths and the story of Owen Slader’s life in an 1882 silver mining camp called Calico that had existed in the mountains above modern day Barstow. It’s a fascinating story rich in period details of what life was really like in the Old West.

As someone who loves police procedurals, “The X-Files” and the history of the old west I really loved this book, especially the way the author skillfully merged the two storylines in a way that kept me guessing as to how it all fit together. There's even an amzaing love story. Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for providing this digital ARC for review.

Unlike many of the other reviewers I had not read any of Lee Goldbergs books before but the name was familiar and the blurb was intriguing.

I'm very glad I requested and was approved because it was a really enjoyable book - a mixture of crime and Back to the Future.

A 21st century detective, banished from LA for a violation of dept. policy is rooted in the desert when a seemingly simple accident on the highway leads to a very complex case which stretches for more than a century.

Beth Dade's character is refreshing and there is, in general, a thread of very strong and believable female characters. The author's continual referencing of her sex drive is a little creepy, a couple of references would've established the character trait and allowed for its role in the narrative.

I'd love to see her in a series but I'm not sure where she could go from here though the author did leave some leeway for her and a colleague to take part in a further exploration of the events in the novel and their repercussions. Fingers crossed.

What I loved about this book is that the landscape and the real life geography of the area play a real part. I was ticked to find many of the places - towns, military bases, observatories, gas stations, etc. easily findable on Google Maps and the desert and its features play a really key part in everything that happens.

The other main characters are likeable throughout and although the denouement when it comes is fairly simplistic, in these days of real life horror and strife it was a welcome relief.

Highly recommended.

Let me say first that I discovered Lee Goldberg through NetGalley, and he's quickly become one of my top favorite authors. I don't normally like cop dramas, but his settings take place in SoCal and are so descriptive, and his characters are highly flawed but very likable. He also gives women the lead role in most of his books, so what's not to love!?

I started reading the book without knowing the plot so imagine my surprise when a few chapters into the latest suspense/crime novel, I realized I was reading what I can only describe as a SciFi/time travel novel. I'm not a SciFi fan and I think a lesser author would have me putting the book down, but I was so drawn in, I couldn't wait to keep reading.

I loved the back-and-forth between the present day and the 1880s, and I loved the ending. This may well be the best Lee Goldberg book yet.

Great action packed adventure with time travel, and a police investigation in the mix. Lots of twists and turns. A fun read. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I’m a big fan of Lee Goldberg’s Eve Ronin series, so I was excited to read Calico. And, I really enjoyed the first few chapters—Beth was a character I immediately liked and cared about (she gave me Stella Gibson vibes and that’s a high compliment). However, once the narrative split into two streams, I began to lose interest. The sections set in the 1880s, for me, lacked realism ( e.g. boom, Owen and Wendy are instantly in love), and I just didn’t find them interesting. The book also seemed overlong. I don’t think I would continue this series, but I am still a big fan of Goldberg, and I appreciated the chance to read an ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Calico - Lee Goldberg
PUBLICATION DATE - 7th NOVEMBER 2023

Lucky enough to receive an ARC of this unique, compelling read and so temptingly close to being a 5 star book!

Two timelines, where the Old West meets 21st Century America - both gripping in their own ways as the battle to uncover the truth unfolds.

It took me a little while to get into the read - with the sci-fi angle not part of my normal go-to material - but once I’d got my head around the concept and the possibilities that this might produce, I was hooked and in for the ride.

Lee Goldberg paints vivid pictures - and recreates scenes which are all consuming, steeped in historic detail and full of life. As the book progresses, the page turns get quicker - and by the end of it, I was dying to find out how it would eventually play out.

Unusual, riveting - and certainly one to add to the Christmas list for 2023!