📖 Overview
Lee Goldberg is an American author, screenwriter, and producer with a prolific career spanning books and television. His work includes bestselling crime novels like "Lost Hills" and "True Fiction," as well as writing and producing for numerous TV crime series including "Diagnosis: Murder," "Monk," and "The Glades."
Beginning as a journalist for the Contra Costa Times and UPI, Goldberg covered local news and police beats while contributing to major publications like the San Francisco Chronicle and Newsweek. His entry into fiction writing came during his time at UCLA, where he published his first novel ".357 Vigilante" under the pseudonym Ian Ludlow.
After co-writing a screenplay with William Rabkin, Goldberg established himself in television, becoming a significant contributor to the crime drama genre. His work spans multiple successful series and demonstrates his ability to craft compelling crime narratives across different mediums.
The author continues to work actively in both television and publishing, maintaining parallel careers as a novelist and TV producer. He is also notably the brother of author Tod Goldberg and has helped shape the modern landscape of crime fiction through his various creative endeavors.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Goldberg's fast-paced plotting and humor, particularly in his Ian Ludlow and Eve Ronin series. Many reviews note his ability to blend entertainment industry insights with crime fiction elements.
Positive feedback focuses on:
- Quick-moving narratives that can be read in one sitting
- Behind-the-scenes Hollywood details
- Authentic police procedure descriptions
- Sharp dialogue and wit
Common criticisms include:
- Characters that some find too shallow or stereotypical
- Plot twists that occasionally strain credibility
- Repetitive descriptions and phrases across series
Ratings averages:
Goodreads: 3.9/5 across all books
Amazon: 4.2/5 average
BookBub: 4.1/5
Notable reader comments:
"Perfect airplane reads - entertaining but not demanding"
"Strong on action, light on character development"
"His TV writing background shows in the pacing"
"Fun but forgettable"
📚 Books by Lee Goldberg
Mr. Monk Gets Even - Adrian Monk confronts his arch-nemesis Dale the Whale while dealing with the return of his first assistant Sharona Fleming.
Mr. Monk Goes to Germany - Detective Monk travels to Germany pursuing his therapist Dr. Kroger while encountering a murder case involving the Six-Fingered Man.
Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii - During a Hawaiian vacation, Monk becomes entangled in a murder investigation while trying to cope with countless phobias in an unfamiliar environment.
Mr. Monk Goes to the Firehouse - Monk investigates the death of a firehouse dog while temporarily staying at Natalie's house.
Mr. Monk Is Cleaned Out - After losing his savings in a Ponzi scheme, Monk must continue solving cases while dealing with severe financial difficulties.
Mr. Monk Is Miserable - Monk's Paris vacation turns into a murder investigation when he discovers a skull in the catacombs beneath the city.
Mr. Monk Is a Mess - A dead body in Natalie's bathtub leads Monk to investigate a complex case involving stolen evidence from police custody.
Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu - During a police strike, Monk becomes acting captain of a homicide unit staffed by eccentric former officers.
Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants - Monk's former assistant Sharona returns to San Francisco when her husband is accused of murder.
Mr. Monk in Trouble - A murder investigation leads Monk to a Gold Rush-era mystery in the old mining town of Trouble.
Mr. Monk on Patrol - Monk and Natalie help Summit, New Jersey's police force after the town's mayor and police chief are arrested.
Mr. Monk on the Couch - Natalie becomes involved in solving a series of deaths while Monk investigates a murdered man found on a couch.
Mr. Monk on the Road - Monk embarks on a road trip with his agoraphobic brother Ambrose while solving crimes along the way.
Mr. Monk Goes to Germany - Detective Monk travels to Germany pursuing his therapist Dr. Kroger while encountering a murder case involving the Six-Fingered Man.
Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii - During a Hawaiian vacation, Monk becomes entangled in a murder investigation while trying to cope with countless phobias in an unfamiliar environment.
Mr. Monk Goes to the Firehouse - Monk investigates the death of a firehouse dog while temporarily staying at Natalie's house.
Mr. Monk Is Cleaned Out - After losing his savings in a Ponzi scheme, Monk must continue solving cases while dealing with severe financial difficulties.
Mr. Monk Is Miserable - Monk's Paris vacation turns into a murder investigation when he discovers a skull in the catacombs beneath the city.
Mr. Monk Is a Mess - A dead body in Natalie's bathtub leads Monk to investigate a complex case involving stolen evidence from police custody.
Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu - During a police strike, Monk becomes acting captain of a homicide unit staffed by eccentric former officers.
Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants - Monk's former assistant Sharona returns to San Francisco when her husband is accused of murder.
Mr. Monk in Trouble - A murder investigation leads Monk to a Gold Rush-era mystery in the old mining town of Trouble.
Mr. Monk on Patrol - Monk and Natalie help Summit, New Jersey's police force after the town's mayor and police chief are arrested.
Mr. Monk on the Couch - Natalie becomes involved in solving a series of deaths while Monk investigates a murdered man found on a couch.
Mr. Monk on the Road - Monk embarks on a road trip with his agoraphobic brother Ambrose while solving crimes along the way.
👥 Similar authors
Janet Evanovich writes humorous crime fiction featuring recurring characters in the Stephanie Plum series, mixing mystery with comedic elements. Her work shares Goldberg's blend of crime and humor, with strong series continuity and character development.
Michael Connelly creates police procedurals centered on LAPD detective Harry Bosch, incorporating authentic law enforcement details and procedures. His work focuses on the Los Angeles setting and police culture, similar to Goldberg's "Lost Hills" series.
David Handler writes mystery series featuring recurring characters and combines elements of humor with detective work. His Hoagy & Lulu series demonstrates the same television-influenced pacing and dialogue style found in Goldberg's work.
Stuart Woods produces fast-paced crime fiction with recurring characters like Stone Barrington, emphasizing action and plot momentum. His prolific output and procedural approach to crime fiction mirror Goldberg's storytelling methods.
Jeff Abbott writes thriller series with complex plots and interconnected character relationships across multiple books. His work demonstrates the same attention to series continuity and blend of action with investigation that characterizes Goldberg's novels.
Michael Connelly creates police procedurals centered on LAPD detective Harry Bosch, incorporating authentic law enforcement details and procedures. His work focuses on the Los Angeles setting and police culture, similar to Goldberg's "Lost Hills" series.
David Handler writes mystery series featuring recurring characters and combines elements of humor with detective work. His Hoagy & Lulu series demonstrates the same television-influenced pacing and dialogue style found in Goldberg's work.
Stuart Woods produces fast-paced crime fiction with recurring characters like Stone Barrington, emphasizing action and plot momentum. His prolific output and procedural approach to crime fiction mirror Goldberg's storytelling methods.
Jeff Abbott writes thriller series with complex plots and interconnected character relationships across multiple books. His work demonstrates the same attention to series continuity and blend of action with investigation that characterizes Goldberg's novels.