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Breaking News
Despite ABS News producer Bill Ramey’s distaste for seamy news stories, he pursues evidence that links Senator Gerald Smith to the disappearance of a beautiful blond coed. Nothing is as it appears and soon Bill uncovers dark secrets that someone would kill to protect. As the news story unfolds Bill Ramey and Senator Smith are swept into the funnel of a media tornado that neither of them can control. Though Bill tries to hang on to his integrity, he becomes one of the players in a dangerous game of media manipulation.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 22, 2013
This review has two parts: First for the casual reader, second for the more avid reader.
For the casual reader: If you read simply to enjoy a good story, this is a great book. You'll be engaged from beginning to end, and probably not want to put it down.
For the more avid reader: If the writing is as important to you as the story, this book may frustrate you a little. Though the plot is well developed, some of the characters are not. A couple fairly important characters are flat and and a bit cliche. Instead of letting us "listen in" on conversations, the authors summarized them, robbing us of the opportunity to get a real feel for each character. The dialogue that does exist is pretty stiff and awkward, including a total lack of contractions. I've never met people who don't ever use contractions in conversation, unless English is their second language.
There are a couple rather contrived plot devices (SPOILER ALERT!) like Bill's boss, Ira, putting the blame on Bill for Marta's fabricated news story. It does make the plot thicken, but Bill has evidence implicating Marta as the fraud. We're left to believe Ira is stupid enough to concoct a second phony news story, believing it won't eventually be exposed, also. His actions are just silly and irrational. It would've been more believable had he taken out a hit on Bill, or at the very LEAST made some effort to destroy the evidence on Marta.
Frustrations aside, I enjoyed the book overall. It was engaging enough that I read it quickly. If you can overlook some minor problems with style and mechanics, Breaking News is actually pretty good.
For the casual reader: If you read simply to enjoy a good story, this is a great book. You'll be engaged from beginning to end, and probably not want to put it down.
For the more avid reader: If the writing is as important to you as the story, this book may frustrate you a little. Though the plot is well developed, some of the characters are not. A couple fairly important characters are flat and and a bit cliche. Instead of letting us "listen in" on conversations, the authors summarized them, robbing us of the opportunity to get a real feel for each character. The dialogue that does exist is pretty stiff and awkward, including a total lack of contractions. I've never met people who don't ever use contractions in conversation, unless English is their second language.
There are a couple rather contrived plot devices (SPOILER ALERT!) like Bill's boss, Ira, putting the blame on Bill for Marta's fabricated news story. It does make the plot thicken, but Bill has evidence implicating Marta as the fraud. We're left to believe Ira is stupid enough to concoct a second phony news story, believing it won't eventually be exposed, also. His actions are just silly and irrational. It would've been more believable had he taken out a hit on Bill, or at the very LEAST made some effort to destroy the evidence on Marta.
Frustrations aside, I enjoyed the book overall. It was engaging enough that I read it quickly. If you can overlook some minor problems with style and mechanics, Breaking News is actually pretty good.
September 14, 2015
Perfect.
Chicago senator, TV shows sometimes called real, informative stories. Political corruption, money in elections. What goes on in the campaign offices. Life lessons. Never skip or forget the beginning story, but cannot make my mind about the ending. Did he or didn't he go?
Chicago senator, TV shows sometimes called real, informative stories. Political corruption, money in elections. What goes on in the campaign offices. Life lessons. Never skip or forget the beginning story, but cannot make my mind about the ending. Did he or didn't he go?
May 24, 2020
I read this book in an afternoon. It was an interesting book and had many twists and turns I didn’t see coming. It was an interesting concept of how fake and sensationalized news happens in the media today. It leaves you wanting the Walter Cronkite days of fair and balanced reporting.
June 27, 2022
Excellent read!!
March 18, 2014
“Breaking News” is a captivating book, full of caricature, satire, stereotype, and raucous action. There are twists and turns in the plot that keep the reader guessing. And, best of all, it reveals what we all suspect about the news media; all is not what it appears.
The authors, writer J.D. Rader and news journalist Michael Gudgell have collaborated on a novel that seems to be based on a collection of real life incidents that involves girls, women and the powerful men surrounding them who get caught under the microscope of public interest and frenetic news coverage. Who can forget Jonbenet Ramsey, Chandra Levy, Laci Peterson, or Natalee Holloway? Gudgell was a journalist who covered these stories and much of what he discovered became material for “Breaking News.” The ensuing story is fascinating for its authentic detail and realistic premise.
Veteran television news producer Bill Ramey gets interested in the disappearance of a beautiful young woman and her apparent ties with a sleazy U.S. Senator, Gerald Smith, who has his hometown of Chicago bamboozled with his charisma and who continues to be elected despite controversy in his private life. A young and talented research assistant continues to uncover more information connecting the missing woman to the Senator and, in the process of working with the researcher, Ramey discovers that another young woman turns up missing with the same ties to Smith. The race is on between TV networks, reporters, and media bigwigs to reveal the Senator’s involvement. The manipulations and motives behind the scramble are carefully outlined by the authors, giving readers an authentic inside look at the broken news system from which we all currently suffer.
Things get ugly when a Russian gun dealer and his thugs get involved, spreading beatings, maiming, and murder around in a frantic effort to maintain their influence in high governmental circles. The Senator, caught in the middle, is slowly drawn deeper into his nasty world of criminal behavior. Then Ramsey discovers an ugly truth about some of the allegations against the Senator and his world also collapses into disgrace and disrespect.
This book will engulf the reader in a world of deceit and misdirection on the part of the media and brutality and death from the bad actors in the Senator’s murky world. It is satirical in its bright light focus, humorous in some of its insight, and entertaining in its presentation. I suggest you don’t miss it.
The authors, writer J.D. Rader and news journalist Michael Gudgell have collaborated on a novel that seems to be based on a collection of real life incidents that involves girls, women and the powerful men surrounding them who get caught under the microscope of public interest and frenetic news coverage. Who can forget Jonbenet Ramsey, Chandra Levy, Laci Peterson, or Natalee Holloway? Gudgell was a journalist who covered these stories and much of what he discovered became material for “Breaking News.” The ensuing story is fascinating for its authentic detail and realistic premise.
Veteran television news producer Bill Ramey gets interested in the disappearance of a beautiful young woman and her apparent ties with a sleazy U.S. Senator, Gerald Smith, who has his hometown of Chicago bamboozled with his charisma and who continues to be elected despite controversy in his private life. A young and talented research assistant continues to uncover more information connecting the missing woman to the Senator and, in the process of working with the researcher, Ramey discovers that another young woman turns up missing with the same ties to Smith. The race is on between TV networks, reporters, and media bigwigs to reveal the Senator’s involvement. The manipulations and motives behind the scramble are carefully outlined by the authors, giving readers an authentic inside look at the broken news system from which we all currently suffer.
Things get ugly when a Russian gun dealer and his thugs get involved, spreading beatings, maiming, and murder around in a frantic effort to maintain their influence in high governmental circles. The Senator, caught in the middle, is slowly drawn deeper into his nasty world of criminal behavior. Then Ramsey discovers an ugly truth about some of the allegations against the Senator and his world also collapses into disgrace and disrespect.
This book will engulf the reader in a world of deceit and misdirection on the part of the media and brutality and death from the bad actors in the Senator’s murky world. It is satirical in its bright light focus, humorous in some of its insight, and entertaining in its presentation. I suggest you don’t miss it.
December 29, 2025
The plot of Breaking News had possibilities, but it was written like a news report. Conversations were summarized. We are told what happened. Everything was filtered through some reporter type of mindset that holds the reader at arm’s length. It was a frustrating read.
April 1, 2014
What a great book! It was a little slow in the first half, but then there were several good twists that kept the action going. The story is of heartache, revenge, and trying to do the right thing. The characters are all appropriately flawed and damaged which makes for great drama.
The main character is a complacent news producer. He's been there, done that, just trying to ride out his career or break the next great story. He is analytical, smart, but worn-out. This makes it perfect for him to question everything that comes into the news room, but also possibly overlook the obvious. His character development throughout the book is typical, yet still intriguing - right up to the very last sentence. As with any great story, his character is dismantled and stripped down to the basics. It's at his lowest point that his is able to "news" MacGyver himself out of his jam with his thorough work ethic and keen analytical skills. This creates a dynamic showdown in the last quarter of the book.
I enjoyed reading the back story of each of the characters because their individual histories really displayed how each got to where they are today. The writing creates sympathy for each even if the reader disagrees with their actions. I especially liked the character of Eva as she is a great balance to the main character.
What I appreciated most was the tie-ins to the big name news stories that tv junkies like me know all about due to the 24/7 news coverage. I chuckled many times and rolled my eyes with the main character because I, too, knew what was going on (especially the characters who wanted their time in the spotlight). I found the ABS position of which stories to air or not air rang true to network news. It was sickening to read some of the comments the ABS local affiliate boss made when determining where the producer/reporter should go and focus on. (sickening = realistic, not bad)
I read this book on a trip - 2 very long travel days with 4 flights. I could have put it down, but I didn't want to! And I had the time to read on, so I did. This book would be a good read for those who enjoy John Grisham. While it's not a legal drama and more of a TV news drama, the character development, the plot line, and the twists are comparable to any of Grisham's books.
The main character is a complacent news producer. He's been there, done that, just trying to ride out his career or break the next great story. He is analytical, smart, but worn-out. This makes it perfect for him to question everything that comes into the news room, but also possibly overlook the obvious. His character development throughout the book is typical, yet still intriguing - right up to the very last sentence. As with any great story, his character is dismantled and stripped down to the basics. It's at his lowest point that his is able to "news" MacGyver himself out of his jam with his thorough work ethic and keen analytical skills. This creates a dynamic showdown in the last quarter of the book.
I enjoyed reading the back story of each of the characters because their individual histories really displayed how each got to where they are today. The writing creates sympathy for each even if the reader disagrees with their actions. I especially liked the character of Eva as she is a great balance to the main character.
What I appreciated most was the tie-ins to the big name news stories that tv junkies like me know all about due to the 24/7 news coverage. I chuckled many times and rolled my eyes with the main character because I, too, knew what was going on (especially the characters who wanted their time in the spotlight). I found the ABS position of which stories to air or not air rang true to network news. It was sickening to read some of the comments the ABS local affiliate boss made when determining where the producer/reporter should go and focus on. (sickening = realistic, not bad)
I read this book on a trip - 2 very long travel days with 4 flights. I could have put it down, but I didn't want to! And I had the time to read on, so I did. This book would be a good read for those who enjoy John Grisham. While it's not a legal drama and more of a TV news drama, the character development, the plot line, and the twists are comparable to any of Grisham's books.
September 8, 2012
A beautiful young woman has disappeared from a college campus and a well-known US Senator is implicated in this disappearance. Television newscasters are in a frenzy trying to find any information on this story. If this sounds familiar, it is - and is the basis of this terrific novel about television news, politics and the lives it impacts.
The story revolves around a veteran television news producer who is working on this story, stumbles across another woman's disapperance involving the same senator and his reflections on what the business has become. Not only because he believes that TV news is more about the sensationalism instead of the reporting, but also because it has affected his personal life, losing his wife and daughter via divorce in the process.
The reader will be riveted to this book for both the development of these news stories and also how Bill's personal issues are intertwined with this story. This reader ended up cheering for Bill through the story, to resolve both professional and personal situations that arise during the novel. It will grab your attention early, move through twists at a fast pace, and keep you reading (and guessing) throughout the entire book. Great read!
The story revolves around a veteran television news producer who is working on this story, stumbles across another woman's disapperance involving the same senator and his reflections on what the business has become. Not only because he believes that TV news is more about the sensationalism instead of the reporting, but also because it has affected his personal life, losing his wife and daughter via divorce in the process.
The reader will be riveted to this book for both the development of these news stories and also how Bill's personal issues are intertwined with this story. This reader ended up cheering for Bill through the story, to resolve both professional and personal situations that arise during the novel. It will grab your attention early, move through twists at a fast pace, and keep you reading (and guessing) throughout the entire book. Great read!
March 14, 2013
This book came to me free from Bookbub. It was near perfect in the mechanics of good writing and so easy to read. The plot was tied up in a pretty bow at the end.
The book is about how television news is delivered to its audience. That news may be important, it may be real, or it may be manufactured. The book shows how we are saturated 24/7 with news. It shows how good people can be hurt by broadcast news, especially on a slow news day, and how the networks report and extort news in order to up their ratings.
The protagonist, Bill, is a decent man wanting only to report the newsworthy truth. Is there such a man? Really?
The reader is led to believe so. I believed it and stood ready to give this book five stars. Then some obscure thought niggled my mind. My copy of the ebook was free, but the book was written for profit. A movie based on this book must be in the works. If not, it should be, because it is written movie ready.
Splat! The niggling thought came to light. Could it be I just read a screenplay?
Bill claimed to know without a doubt who killed Joan Benet Ramsay (sp). Tell me who did it! It isn't fair to withhold such news from the public.
The book is about how television news is delivered to its audience. That news may be important, it may be real, or it may be manufactured. The book shows how we are saturated 24/7 with news. It shows how good people can be hurt by broadcast news, especially on a slow news day, and how the networks report and extort news in order to up their ratings.
The protagonist, Bill, is a decent man wanting only to report the newsworthy truth. Is there such a man? Really?
The reader is led to believe so. I believed it and stood ready to give this book five stars. Then some obscure thought niggled my mind. My copy of the ebook was free, but the book was written for profit. A movie based on this book must be in the works. If not, it should be, because it is written movie ready.
Splat! The niggling thought came to light. Could it be I just read a screenplay?
Bill claimed to know without a doubt who killed Joan Benet Ramsay (sp). Tell me who did it! It isn't fair to withhold such news from the public.
January 24, 2012
Terrance Robbins is running against incumbent Senator Smith for his position. Let’s see who can heap the most dirt on the dirt pile as television reporters race to do the digging and subsequent reporting. If it makes a good story, report it. Hey why bother confirming what you find when it looks good enough?
News researcher Marta approaches producer Bill with some possible dirt she’s found on Senator Smith. A beautiful college student has gone missing. The dirt on Robbins is no longer prime time while Smith maintains his innocence.
This book starts off with a near bang and keeps up a steady pace throughout with lies, misunderstandings, threats, firings, and murder. “Breaking News” doesn’t disappoint.
News researcher Marta approaches producer Bill with some possible dirt she’s found on Senator Smith. A beautiful college student has gone missing. The dirt on Robbins is no longer prime time while Smith maintains his innocence.
This book starts off with a near bang and keeps up a steady pace throughout with lies, misunderstandings, threats, firings, and murder. “Breaking News” doesn’t disappoint.
July 29, 2014
I didn't finish it. I got to chapter 42 and felt like gouging my eyes out. I can't stand to read stories where it's "told" to me instead of helping me "live" it through a character's eyes. Though I knew what the characters were doing, I never got to know the characters. Where was the emotion? Where was the character development? Where was the emotional development?
Oh right. The author stuffed all of these crucial and interesting components into poorly constructed puppets dancing on strings and forced to act out a very boring story line for a waning audience.
When I've reached the point where I want to do anything BUT read the story, I know I'm done. I've reached that point. Moving on ...
Oh right. The author stuffed all of these crucial and interesting components into poorly constructed puppets dancing on strings and forced to act out a very boring story line for a waning audience.
When I've reached the point where I want to do anything BUT read the story, I know I'm done. I've reached that point. Moving on ...
July 22, 2016
Breaking news
Would not be surprised at all that this kind of stuff actually happens. I feel like I see some of it in today's news at times. A news producer gets caught up in the station manager's need for ratings. A beautiful woman is missing, doesn't matter if it can be verified...a senator is involved, could he have killed her...he secretly contacts the producer and threatens him...several attempts have been made...the producer loans his car to his coworker and it kills the coworker when it blows up....the producer discovers the beautiful woman story is a fake....so why the death attempts....a very good mystery
Would not be surprised at all that this kind of stuff actually happens. I feel like I see some of it in today's news at times. A news producer gets caught up in the station manager's need for ratings. A beautiful woman is missing, doesn't matter if it can be verified...a senator is involved, could he have killed her...he secretly contacts the producer and threatens him...several attempts have been made...the producer loans his car to his coworker and it kills the coworker when it blows up....the producer discovers the beautiful woman story is a fake....so why the death attempts....a very good mystery
January 13, 2013
Really great and suspenseful story. Especially toward the end, I found myself unable to stop reading. It was very interesting to get what I can't help but assume is an accurate behind-the-scenes look into the world of media manipulation, wrapped up in a very suspenseful story.
I found myself very engaged in the story, and with the twists and turns, I found myself with very strong feelings toward the characters (both sympathy and disgust). Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good suspense novel.
I found myself very engaged in the story, and with the twists and turns, I found myself with very strong feelings toward the characters (both sympathy and disgust). Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good suspense novel.
April 24, 2011
This book was actually written by someone I know. It was her first book and it's pretty good for a first book. Great inside look at the news media and the feeding frenzy that happens when there is a story and everyone will do anything to be first with the news. A mystery along with a telling expose on the news media. Bill Ramey is a good anti-hero and I can see other books being written with the same character. Not a bad start. I hope the book does well.
January 26, 2012
This book was an entertaining read. Fiction? Yes, yet so true! The narrator is a former print journalist turned TV news producer. He rues the deterioration of his field from news reporting to entertaining. The story includes enough mystery albeit a bit too predictable to keep the reader engaged; but the power comes from the scathing picture of the 24-hour news cycle. I highly recommned this one -- it will make you think at least twice before you believe what you read or see in the news!
January 10, 2013
This was a good book about the news industry. Even as fiction, the book aptly points out the flaws in broadcast news. Sex and intrigue sells over boring news about things such as debt limits and other mundane stuff. The initial part of the book is tied into the ending with a masterful stroke. The ending was strong, but it came a bit quickly after the protagonist's fall from grace. He of course rises again and all is well. I would definitely read another book by these authors.
March 20, 2013
I read another review before I started this book that said some of the characters were plastic. I disagree. I enjoyed everything about this read: the characters who reeled me in...the twists and turns of the plots...the revelations that I didn't see coming. This is a good commentary about the greed and lust of broadcast media to outdo each other with the breaking of sensationalized news and the sordid side ofpolitics.
April 22, 2013
I thought this was an excellent book. Written by a Seattle author, it takes place primarily in Chicago. It really got my "critical thinking cap" working with regard to how broadcast news is shaped by the entertainment needs of the television audience. I finished this the day before the Boston marathon tragedy and I watched the news reports in a different way than I would have before reading this book.
October 27, 2013
Yes, this is your standard thriller as far as the format goes, Short chapters and lots of action. But, unlike many other "thrillers", I found this interesting with its focus on the news industry. It does suffer from some typographic errors that even cursory editing would have picked up. Even so, this was pretty good for a low cost e-book available on Amazon.
August 1, 2014
TV journalism, we discover, focuses on sex and innuendo and enervates its brightest practitioners. This rapidly moving story takes place in Chicago and its tony northern suburbs, carried by the TV reporter (but not newscaster, he would have you know) whose distaste for broadcast journalism deepens as he develops a story bound to affect everyone in Illinois. A good read.
January 24, 2019
How TV news twists work
This book twists and turns but demonstrates how we are manipulated by news broadcasts. Today the broadcasts are not fair or balanced. We are less by celebrities or darlings telling us their opinions. The the time to pursue the real truth. The truth does not come from the internet or TV.
This book twists and turns but demonstrates how we are manipulated by news broadcasts. Today the broadcasts are not fair or balanced. We are less by celebrities or darlings telling us their opinions. The the time to pursue the real truth. The truth does not come from the internet or TV.
June 6, 2013
nice. Gives you a lot to think about while watching the evening news. I've worked in PR before and this whole thing is very believable to me. The media follow each other and even interview each other as sources. Great story.
September 15, 2021
I absolutely loved it
This book wasn’t at all what I expected because it was so much more. It grabbed me from the beginning. At no time was it boring, and there were surprises on every page. I recommend it for readers of thinking mysteries.
This book wasn’t at all what I expected because it was so much more. It grabbed me from the beginning. At no time was it boring, and there were surprises on every page. I recommend it for readers of thinking mysteries.
October 25, 2014
Mystery thriller focussed on tabloid television news, with plenty of twists (maybe slightly too many?)
March 31, 2013
Very good story. Huge twist in the middle that threw the story line in a different direction. Suspenseful to say the least.
May 29, 2012
It was an entertaining read. A dirty politician, a couple of murders or so we think, and TV news as it is shown today. Very modern intrigue.
I think it will captivate both men and women readers.
I think it will captivate both men and women readers.
June 7, 2013
Enjoyable fiction about the sad state of affairs of our media.
August 19, 2013
I got his book free on my kindle. Pleasantly surprised. Good story, easy to read (except for a few mistakes).
April 1, 2014
This is a real page turner. I couldn't put it down.
November 15, 2014
Great read!
This story held my interest and I couldn't put it down. I would love to read more by this author.
This story held my interest and I couldn't put it down. I would love to read more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews