| Title | : | True Fiction (Ian Ludlow Thrillers #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 248 |
| Publication | : | First published April 1, 2018 |
When a passenger jet crashes onto the beaches of Waikiki, bestselling thriller writer Ian Ludlow knows the horrific tragedy wasn't an accident.
Years before, the CIA enlisted Ian to dream up terrorism scenarios to prepare the government for nightmares they couldn't imagine. Now one of those schemes has come true, and Ian is the only person alive who knows how it was done...and who is behind the plot. That makes him too dangerous to live.
Ian goes on the run, sweeping up an innocent bystander in his plight--Margo French, a dog walker and aspiring singer. They are pursued by assassins and an all-seeing global-intelligence network that won't stop until Ian and Margo are dead. Ian has written thrillers like this before, but this time he doesn't know how it's going to end--or if he will be alive to find out.
True Fiction (Ian Ludlow Thrillers #1) Reviews
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4.5 stars for this one.
Hollywood, instead of "rebooting" a franchise for the umpteenth time, adapting another television or Broadway show into a movie, or launching another comic book character, I have your next property right here. Lee Goldberg's newest novel, True Fiction already reads like a movie, combining a little bit of television shows like Castle with movies like the Jack Reacher series. It's a quick read, with appealing characters and a frenetic pace.
Ian Ludlow is an author of a best-selling series of thrillers featuring Clint Straker, a James Bond-esque action hero who always knows how to save the day—and perhaps the world—and, as you might imagine, is quite popular with women all over the globe. But as much as he'd like to think there are lots of similarities with his character, no one would mistake Ludlow for Clint Straker.
"What they saw was a guy on the dark side of thirty with the soft body of someone whose idea of exercise was walking into McDonald's rather than using the drive-through."
When a passenger plane crashes into a busy Waikiki hotel, Ludlow is horrified, because he knows this wasn't just some tragic accident, and he knows who is behind it. He knows because several years ago, he was part of a group of thriller writers tasked by the CIA to dream up the unlikeliest of terror scenarios, ostensibly to help the agency prepare for any potential disaster. During that group meeting, Ludlow was the one who dreamed up how something like this could happen.
After he puts together some facts about recent occurrences in his life, he realizes his life is in danger. With Margo, the woman hired to escort him to a few local book signings, as his only companion, Ludlow must figure out how to stay one step ahead of the shadowy political conspiracy that needs him to disappear. It's not too long before the pair realizes that to survive, Ludlow needs to think like his famous character—which shouldn't be too hard, since he created him, right? But the enemy they face has more resources at their disposal, and they'll stop at nothing to get rid of these dangerous nuisances.
This is a crazy book—even though so much of the action at first glance seems far-fetched, given what's been going on in our world lately, it's scary to think that at least some of this—especially the use of technology to track Ludlow and Margo's escape attempts—might actually be possible. Sure, you probably know how things will resolve themselves, but Goldberg does a great job getting you hooked on the plot from the get-go, and you can't wait to see where the story will go.
I didn't realize how prolific a writer Goldberg is—he's written more than 30 books, including 15 Monk mysteries. This was a terrific introduction to his storytelling talent, and I practically devoured this book. It was great to read a book that felt like a movie, and didn't let up on the action and suspense until the end. Hope to see this on the big screen someday, and I hope there's another Ludlow book on the horizon!
See all of my reviews at
itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at
https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html. -
Lee Goldberg is a very funny guy. He's also a prolific writer with something on the order of five dozen books to his credit, along with a host of television shows for which he has written scripts, and he's brought all of that experience to bear on his newest book, True Fiction, which is a terrific read.
The protagonist, Ian Ludlow, is, like Goldberg, a very successful writer. Ludlow has build a career around a series of novels featuring Clint Straker, an action hero in the mold of Jack Reacher or James Bond. Clint is an incredibly handsome, tough guy who thinks quickly on his feet and who has multiple ways of disposing of the villains who challenge him, no matter how great their numbers. And as scores of women can attest, he's also fantastic in bed.
Ludlow is nothing like his hero at all. He's an insecure schlub who exists largely on junk food and who hasn't had a meaningful relationship with a woman in ages. He's terribly out of shape and couldn't fight his way out of the proverbial wet paper bag. (He's obviously unlike his creator in this respect in that, as anyone can tell from his author photo, Mr. Goldberg is something of an international sex symbol.)
As the book opens, Ludlow is having trouble getting traction on his new book when someone remotely takes control of a passenger plane and crashes it into a hotel on Waikiki Beach. Watching the news, Ludlow is horrified because several years earlier, in an effort to stay a step ahead of the terrorist threat to America, the CIA had gathered together a group of thriller writers and asked them to dream up scenarios that bad guys might use to attack the U.S. Ludlow recognizes this plan as his very own and then discovers that all of the other writers who were at the meeting have had fatal "accidents" within the last few months.
A few weeks ago, Ludlow himself narrowly escaped death when his house blew up. Investigators determined that the explosion was an accident, but Ludlow suddenly realizes that it was no accident at all. Out of nowhere, he's been catapulted into a scenario straight out of one of his own novels.
When the realization hits him, Ludlow is in Seattle on a book tour, accompanied by a feisty young dog sitter named Margo who doubles as a book tour escort. Ludlow and Margo must go on the run in a desperate effort to stay one step ahead of the villains who are in hot pursuit and who are using every modern technological tool to track them down and kill them. Defeating these guys would all be in a day's work for Clint Straker, but sadly, Ian Ludlow is no Clint Straker--or is he? If he and Margo are going to survive, Ludlow will have to dig deep and plot a new scenario in which a thriller writer, rather than his superhero, can rise and save the day.
This is a hugely entertaining romp and a fairly quick read. The book is laugh-out-loud funny and is a great sendup of the thriller genre. Given his experience in television, Goldberg knows how to strip a scene down to its essence and how to keep the action moving at a breakneck pace. Ludlow and Margo are very appealing characters and I loved spending an evening in their company. I'm already looking forward to the second installment in this series. -
Needing a quick read, I turned to this series debut by Lee Goldberg, about which I have heard many good things. When an airplane crashes in Hawaii not long after take-off, the news outlets begin streaming coverage and countless people gasp in horror. However, thriller writer Ian Ludlow is not one of them. Hiding in his Seattle hotel while on a book tour, Ludlow knows that with this event, his life is in imminent danger. Coaxed out of hiding by his author escort, Margo French, Ludlow tells of how the CIA is trying to kill him after an authors’ retreat a few years before. At this event, Ludlow shared a potential plot idea that seems to have been replicated down to the smallest detail. Little does Ludlow know, it is not the CIA, per se, but Blackthorn Securities that has their eye on him and is responsible for the crash. Now it is up to Ludlow, with Margo by his side, to dodge Blackthorn as they zero-in on his location. What started as a fearful writer running for his life has become a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, with only one possible outcome. Fast-paced and with little time to synthesise the info, the reader is taken on this adventure as Goldberg tosses twists at every possible instance. Those who need a good beach read need look no further than Lee Goldberg’s new series.
This is my first time reading anything by Lee Goldberg, though it would seem he is well-established. He has a great ability to portray the ‘author writing about an author’ theme and not make it come across as corny, though does utilise the ‘cat and mouse’ thriller recipe well, injecting a little cheesiness when needed. Ian Ludlow (apparently Goldberg’s nom de plume ?) is an interesting character, established in his writing capabilities yet always looking to stay relevant. His slightly geeky side mixes well with the fear of being caught by the giant bully and the story turns into his using some of the resources he has been able to cobble together as a writer over the years. The story progresses as he gains some courage, but the reader must also remember that some of the stereotypical ‘bad ass geek’ is on display here. Hokey at times, Ludlow does come across as somewhat enjoyable and I did find myself laughing while shaking my head on more than a single occasion. Margo French proves to be a nice counterbalance for Ludlow, as she has somehow been pulled into the middle of this adventure without wanting to be there. A dog-walker and amateur singer, French brings the sass and sarcasm to this party without becoming the helpless femme fatale . A handful of secondary characters flesh-out the wonders of this thriller novel, keeping the story edgy and propelling it towards what is sure to be a bloody conclusion. The story was by no means stellar, but it proved entertaining, which seems to be Goldberg’s goal, as he has written much for television and knows how to keep the audience enthralled. I’ll surely keep my eyes open for more of his work, though cannot rave about how wonderful I found the book or how it is likely some of the best reading I have done all year. Still, if you need something for a trip or lounging by the pool, Goldberg has just what you might want.
Kudos, Mr. Goldberg, for an interesting introduction to the series. I admit, I am intrigued and will see what else you have to offer.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/... -
A quick fun read!!!
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Fun to read.
If you're looking for real true fiction book, this isn't the one. Silly, somewhat eccentric story. Dog walker is his driver, successful writer is being driven around for book signing events. His terrorist scenario he wrote during the CIA event becomes real, and he's being hunted. Couldn't stop laughing in some parts. -
“True Fiction” was my introduction to author Lee Goldberg. I had never read any of his previous books (nor seen any of the television shows he had written), so I had no idea what to expect.
My first reaction was that this book was an over-the-top, totally unbelievable story written by a new author (hadn’t yet seen Mr. Goldberg’s extensive bio) who had spent way too much time searching the Internet for conspiracy stories. As I continued to read, it dawned on me that the author had penned an incredible story, a believable tale that sometime bordered on farce with a plot woven so tightly that I could do nothing but sit back and admire Mr. Goldberg’s balancing act. The result is an adventure/thriller mix with twists and thrills that propel you from one chapter to the next.
While the plot is a five-star element, the characters are just as interesting. Successful author Ian Ludlow is likeable (and Mr. Goldberg’s excerpts of Ludlow’s writing – which demonstrate that Ludlow is a bit of a hack writer – are some of the most hilarious pieces of the book). Sidekicks Margo and Ronnie are active members of the story, providing much more than simple window dressing. While all the indications of a multi-book series are present, the book comes to a distinct and satisfying end.
Bottom line: “True Fiction” is a conglomeration of spy thriller conspiracy and tongue-in-cheek imagination blended into a tightly written story that races from page to page. Mr. Goldberg pokes fun at both the publishing and movie/television industries and pulls it off with a “Who? Me?” innocence that only adds to the book’s charm. Highly recommended. Five stars. -
Ian Ludlow is hoping to work on his next thriller while on his book promotion tour. He sees an airliner crash down on the beaches of Hawaii and realizes he may have caused the event. Years before he wrote scenarios for the CIA showing creative methods terrorists could attack the US. Suddenly he realizes the two near death accidents he had are the CIA trying to kill him.
I enjoyed the first half but I felt this one lost its way. -
Ian Ludlow is a novelist who is on a book tour promoting his latest release. He is in Seattle when he sees on the news that a passenger plane has crashed into a hotel on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii. He realizes with horror that it was his idea. Several years ago the CIA had recruited him along with several other writers to come up with scenarios that terrorists might use to attack the United States. Ian tries to contact the other writers and learns that they have all recently died. He himself has recently had a brush with death. Ian's book tour escort is a young dog walker named Margo. With Margo in tow Ian goes on the run trying to stay ahead of the CIA or whoever it is that wants him dead using every known technology to track them.
The hero in Ian's books is a super spy / action hero named Clint Straker who is tough, handsome, easily disposes of any bad guys, and the women love him. He reminded me of Derek Flint, the movie character played by James Coburn in the movies "Our Man Flint" and "In Like Flint". Ian unfortunately is nothing like Straker. Ian is out of shape, lives on junk food and couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag.
If Ian, and Margo, are going to survive he will have to rely on his ability to come up with ideas to outwit the villains. The book is a laugh out loud, highly entertaining, quick read. It is a spoof of the thriller genre. Much as Derek Flint is a spoof of James Bond. Ian Ludlow is a spoof of Jack Reacher. Having said that it is nonetheless filled with lots of action that will keep you turning the pages.
Lee Goldberg is a prolific writer with lots of credits to his name. In addition to his books he is the screenwriter for several television shows including Diagnosis: Murder, A Nero Wolfe Mystery, Spenser: For Hire, and Monk … to name a few. He knows how to keep the action moving. While this is the first book by the author that I have read it certainly won't be the last. -
A pleasant surprise.
Nothing ground breaking, but very entertaining and with enough of a fast pace to keep the reader engaged, but not so fast that the reader struggles to keep up with the action. I enjoyed it and look forward to the next book. -
In a uniquely original plot premise Will Cross, the head of a major security company poses as a CIA chief looking for imaginative potential 9/11-type terrorist attacks from a small group of thriller writers in the interest of being proactive in defense of the homeland. Ian Ludlow, a successful screenwriter and thriller author suggests a "what if" scenario; terrorists hack the automatic pilot of a jetliner and crash it. Ian quickly forgets the meeting until three years later when a jetliner crashes on takeoff from the Honolulu airport and the other participants in the meeting all recently died of suspicious natural causes. On a book tour, Ian and his publishers escort Margo, run for their lives leading to Ian's realization that in order to survive, he must start thinking about what the Jason Bourne-like character he created for his current thriller series would do in his shoes!
Not only an enjoyably smart thriller from the standpoint of plot development but the characters are engagingly witty while running for their lives from what they think is the real CIA with electronic surveillance, black helicopters, drones with hellfire missiles, assassination teams, and a fully functional war room all aimed squarely at Ian and Margo. The good news is it's book #1 in a new series! -
The idea of this novel is fantastic and what I thought would be a different, but similar, book for #CJSReads. What I got was something completely different than I had anticipated.
I am sincerely baffled on how I feel about this book. Is it satirical? Author Ian Ludlow's writing terrorism scenarios for the CIA start coming true. At least, he thought they were CIA. Ok, let me back pedal a little bit... I know authors do a lot of research for their writing, but this doesn't make them an expert, right? But I was intrigued that the CIA would find an author's point of view one they would take heed with for any potential terrorism that may happen. AHEM. (CIA or not, uh, what?) But, putting plausibility aside, I was highly entertained and very amused. The read is fast, the plot is paced decently (though it does slow down towards the end a bit).
What made me scratch my head a bit was the excerpts from his book thrown in and some gratuitous sex scenes that just kinda came out of nowhere. It may very well have to do with the fact that I just was reading a book that went even further with unnecessary sexual innuendos and scenes that made no sense that the scenes in this book just made that more of an impact. I really don't know. At least all the women had big boobs - even the blow up doll! HA!
As something satirical, I can honestly say that this is entertaining - really just put aside what you might have actually been expecting and go with it. If you do that, this book is a lot of fun. I don't think it quite worked for me.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and Amazon Publishing for this copy in return for my honest review. -
There's something beguiling about a novelist as the protagonist. It's the kind of character that conjures a balance of innocent gullibility and wry observation. Author Lee Goldberg delivers with his character Ian Ludlow, formerly the successful screenwriter of an embarrassingly ridiculous buddy cop TV series featuring Vine who is part plant and his human partner Hollywood (Hollywood and Vine, get it?) Ludlow has gone on to forge a successful series of action novels featuring an undercover agent named Clint Striker, an undercover agent whose sexual prowess would put James Bond to shame. Who needs suave manners when you can put an enemy agent out of commission for three days due to the orgasm you can deliver?
True Fiction opens with a horrific plane crash caused with disturbing enjoyment by a hired assassin lounging on Waikiki beach. He gains control of the plane's autopilot through his laptop and crashes it into one of the nearby luxury highrise hotels. At the same moment, Ludlow is being chaperoned around Seattle by a college dropout named Margo French, whom his publisher has hired for this leg of his speaking itinerary. This gig supplements French's main income source as a dog walker. Goldberg has the sense to resist the cliché or an Ian/Margo romantic entanglement, which heightens the much more interesting relationship of annoyance and dependency that connects them.
Coincidentally, Ludlow has had two recent narrow brushes with death. Only after he learns of the plane crash is he beginning to connect the dots. Three years previously he participated in a private CIA-hosted brain storming session on imaginative terrorist scenarios. The plane crash scenario was his original contribution.
This book was a lot of fun to read. Did particular scenes call to mind films like Enemy of the State, or the clandestine missions of Jason Bourne or Jack Ryan? Of course they did. That only added to my enjoyment of this book. The familiar territory stimulates a sense of both anticipation and surprise. At the same time, the wildly over-the-top villains and improbable twists kept up the fast-paced action. This was another worthwhile summer read. -
"He was a man on the run, though careful not to exceed the fifty-five-miles-per-hour speed limit."
This has all the classic thriller elements: dark conspiracies by shadowy and terrifyingly powerful figures, implacable and inexorable assassins, a beautiful damsel drawn into danger--but instead of the hero being some variant on the archetypal thriller hero I call Bolt Studly (the former Navy Seal/Army Ranger/whatever whose only flaw is that he rushes headlong into danger), we have nerdy TV-hack-turned-bestselling-thriller-writer Ian Ludlow stumbling from one crisis to the other while trying to evade the machinations of the Cabal of Doom. It's a fun, affectionate take-off on the tropes of the genre that kept me chuckling, but also kept me turning pages. Recommended. -
A pleasant mixture of action/adventure and tongue in cheek humor. This novel will bring many conspiracy theory followers to orgasm. It will also cause those who believe in the New World Order to nod their collective heads in agreement. Something for everybody in this one. Even a TV character who made his fame and fortune as a plant (vine) who was a cop. Some laugh out loud humor situations and scenarios.
I recommend this one to any who like a good laugh while they read. -
Highly credible fiction
Given the state of affairs in the world currently, there's not one concept in this book that I found unbelievable.
It hurts to say that, frankly, because good fiction should be at least partially incredible. This IS good fiction, but all too credible.
Well, except for the half man, half plant cop...
Fast pace, likeable and detestable characters, an all-too-believable plot and viola! A great story. -
Action packed and hilarious. This line says it all, “The books were about Michael Sang, an ex-priest turned assassin and restaurateur, who was an expert in all the martial, erotic, and culinary arts.” Don’t miss this witty, tongue in cheek page-turner.
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This is a conspiracy thriller written in a really flippant style. The bad guys are trying to convince the US Government to outsource the activities of the CIA to a third party who don't care about civil rights, illegal surveillance etc.
It's a humorous somewhat dark novel full of vulgar conversations and silly escapades. You can read it with little need for reflection. But you could argue that it does send a muted warning about the growing tendency of our Government to use "contractors" to wage our wars and work with private security companies to track 'persons of interest'!
Shawn Callon, author of The Simon Montfort Series of Spy Novels, wrote this review. -
When terrorists take control of a plane leaving Hawaii and crash it into the island, the entire country is horrified. But none more so than thriller writer Ian Ludlow. You see, he had suggested just the twist on 9/11 that happened here to the CIA a few years back during a brainstorming session to help them come up with worst case scenarios. Within a few hours, Ian is certain that the CIA is out to kill him to silence him. Using every trick in the book – tricks he knows thanks to the books he’s written, Ian flees from his book tour in Seattle with his author escort, Margo French. Will the two be able to survive?
This book doesn’t waste a minute throwing us into this thrill ride and never lets up until we reach the climax. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next, and the book manages to wink at a few clinches of the genre along the way. Ian and Margo were good characters, and another we meet along the way walks the fine line of being a caricature without being unbelievable. Since this is a thriller, there is a bit more language, violence, and sex than in the books I normally read. There is plenty of humor here to help ease the tension. I already can’t wait for the sequel.
Read my full review at
Carstairs Considers. -
Another Great Story
Goldberg is imaginative and a gifted story teller. The characters in this story are unique and wild. The entire story could be true because it is so realistic. Once you start reading you can't stop. The suspense is palpable, with occasional bursts of dark humor. Ian Ludlow is an everyman not a super hero, but his imagination and creativity make him a success. I want to read more about him. -
Chuckle-worthy
Almost self-aggrandizing, this story of an author bailing himself out of trouble by acting like one of his characters is a lot of fun to read. Nasty plots, curious characters, and improbable but inspired methods to deal with it all made for an enjoyable time. -
This is an enjoyable parody of spy thrillers with silly humor (Publicity Hound!--a TV show about publicist who becomes a dog) lightening an actual spy thriller with a typical evil conspiracy.
I got this because the author writes the Mr. Monk books; those are funnier. -
Very boring
A story inside a story of which neither one were interesting. I will not read another book from this author -
I thought my life before becoming an author was exciting. But in this book, the author becomes caught up in a real thriller.
A fun, fast-paced thriller that hits on all points. -
This was a hell of a fun book, adventurous and full of humor! One must suspend reality a bit and just sit back and enjoy the book. I could not possibly read this without picturing Ian Ludlow as Nathan Fillion’s Richard Castle. Both are novelists that seem to get themselves into and out of predicaments without even trying. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of this series. Lee Goldberg has become that author that just doesn’t disappoint, always a good read!
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Lee Goldberg's biggest strength for me is the ease in which he creates characters that the reader is immediately drawn to. This book is another great example, as Ian Ludlow is likable but with quite a few faults the reader will shake their head at.
I can't wait to dive into the second book and anything else from Mr. Goldberg I haven't read yet. -
Not worth the time
Garbage most of the time. I have jumped through do many pages because it was so painful. It rose a bit above one star at some moments but they were exception. I would not pay any money for it
