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Ian Ludlow Thrillers #3
Fake Truth
The only thing more dangerous than fake news is fake truth in this exhilarating thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.
Author Ian Ludlow writes great adventures…but after helping Chinese movie star Wang Mei defect to the United States, he becomes the accidental hero of a real-life espionage thriller. Now he’s stuck with the actress—and suffering a nasty case of writer’s block—when he stumbles into a secret Russian plot using “fake news” to outrage Americans into believing a terrifying lie.
It’s up to Ian and Margo French, his researcher-turned-spy, to discover the connection between a barbaric drug lord in Mexico, a homicidal maniac in California, a rogue citizen army in Texas, a raging TV pundit in New York, and two dead tourists in Portugal…before the president of the United States makes a catastrophic mistake that could resurrect the Soviet Union.
The only weapon Ian has against the global conspiracy, and the assassins who are closing in on him, is his vivid imagination. If his story isn’t a killer thriller, he’s dead.
Author Ian Ludlow writes great adventures…but after helping Chinese movie star Wang Mei defect to the United States, he becomes the accidental hero of a real-life espionage thriller. Now he’s stuck with the actress—and suffering a nasty case of writer’s block—when he stumbles into a secret Russian plot using “fake news” to outrage Americans into believing a terrifying lie.
It’s up to Ian and Margo French, his researcher-turned-spy, to discover the connection between a barbaric drug lord in Mexico, a homicidal maniac in California, a rogue citizen army in Texas, a raging TV pundit in New York, and two dead tourists in Portugal…before the president of the United States makes a catastrophic mistake that could resurrect the Soviet Union.
The only weapon Ian has against the global conspiracy, and the assassins who are closing in on him, is his vivid imagination. If his story isn’t a killer thriller, he’s dead.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2020
1121 people are currently reading
1694 people want to read
About the author
Lee Goldberg
159 books2,127 followersLee Goldberg is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over forty novels, including Malibu Burning, Calico, Lost Hills (the first novel in his acclaimed "Eve Ronin" series), 15 "Monk" mysteries, five "Fox & O'Hare" adventures (co-written with Janet Evanovich), and the new thriller Ashes Never Lie, the second in his "Sharpe & Walker" series.. He's written and/or produced many TV shows, including Diagnosis Murder, SeaQuest, and Monk and he co-created the Hallmark movie series Mystery 101.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
February 2, 2020
Firstly thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and the authors for an ARC copy for a honest review.
My first book from this author, and an author who's name has been on my radar, so pleased to be able to read this author. an established author, television writer and producer.
The only thing more dangerous than fake news is fake truth in this exhilarating thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg!
Author Ian Ludlow writes great adventures…but after helping Chinese movie star Wang Mei defect to the United States, he becomes the accidental hero of a real-life espionage thriller. Now he’s stuck with the actress—and suffering a nasty case of writer’s block—when he stumbles into a secret Russian plot using “fake news” to outrage Americans into believing a terrifying lie.
It’s up to Ian and Margo French, his researcher-turned-spy, to discover the connection between a barbaric drug lord in Mexico, a homicidal maniac in California, a rogue citizen army in Texas, a raging TV pundit in New York, and two dead tourists in Portugal…before the president of the United States makes a catastrophic mistake that could resurrect the Soviet Union.
The only weapon Ian has against the global conspiracy, and the assassins who are closing in on him, is his vivid imagination. If his story isn’t a killer thriller, he’s dead.
A book with a difference, characters that are different, story that is exciting at the same time as been very funny at times, Ian Ludlow seems to me to be very close to the author himself.
An author who was involved in television shows, produced television shows in real life and Ian Ludlow is a character in the book who is an author writing books and television shows....
It reminded me of some of the light hearted series of the 80's, Hart to Hart and yes Diagnosis Murder, Murder She Wrote with added pace , great humour, a clever story, and a real cliche but clever ending.
Good fun, laugh out loud a few times, good story
Found it difficult to score as not as gritty as some books I read, but I did enjoy the fun, humour added into the action, if not over the top sometimes, slightly tongue in cheek.
Four stars, I did enjoy it.
My first book from this author, and an author who's name has been on my radar, so pleased to be able to read this author. an established author, television writer and producer.
The only thing more dangerous than fake news is fake truth in this exhilarating thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg!
Author Ian Ludlow writes great adventures…but after helping Chinese movie star Wang Mei defect to the United States, he becomes the accidental hero of a real-life espionage thriller. Now he’s stuck with the actress—and suffering a nasty case of writer’s block—when he stumbles into a secret Russian plot using “fake news” to outrage Americans into believing a terrifying lie.
It’s up to Ian and Margo French, his researcher-turned-spy, to discover the connection between a barbaric drug lord in Mexico, a homicidal maniac in California, a rogue citizen army in Texas, a raging TV pundit in New York, and two dead tourists in Portugal…before the president of the United States makes a catastrophic mistake that could resurrect the Soviet Union.
The only weapon Ian has against the global conspiracy, and the assassins who are closing in on him, is his vivid imagination. If his story isn’t a killer thriller, he’s dead.
A book with a difference, characters that are different, story that is exciting at the same time as been very funny at times, Ian Ludlow seems to me to be very close to the author himself.
An author who was involved in television shows, produced television shows in real life and Ian Ludlow is a character in the book who is an author writing books and television shows....
It reminded me of some of the light hearted series of the 80's, Hart to Hart and yes Diagnosis Murder, Murder She Wrote with added pace , great humour, a clever story, and a real cliche but clever ending.
Good fun, laugh out loud a few times, good story
Found it difficult to score as not as gritty as some books I read, but I did enjoy the fun, humour added into the action, if not over the top sometimes, slightly tongue in cheek.
Four stars, I did enjoy it.
March 5, 2020
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Lee Goldberg and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.>/i>
Lee Goldberg returns with another novel in his off the wall Ian Ludlow series. While the story reads as a little less than serious, the tale moves well and will keep most readers entertained. As Ludlow is still coming to terms with how his last book predicted a real-life event, he has newly-defected Chinese Actress Wang Mei with him. The CIA are eager to learn a little more and hope that Ludlow can use his astonishing powers to predict yet another international event. However, Ludlow seems to be coming up blank, sufferings from writer’s block and unsure how to solve it. Even some steamy trysts with Wang do not help his writing juices flow any better (no comment on any others, though Goldberg does not spare the reader). Meanwhile, a conservative talking head has been fanning the flames about Mexican incursion along the southern US border, in hopes of creating something even more chaotic. Little does anyone know but Dwight Edsey is actually part of a Russian sleeper cell, trying to create new issues as they infiltrate new fake news. When Ludlow stumbles upon what could be a unite story idea, two American tourists falling to their death while taking a selfie, he and his assistant head to Portugal. What looks like an innocent accident might have more daunting implications on both sides of the Atlantic, but Ludlow will have to find the thing that ties it all together. As he is targeted for what he discovers, Ludlow learns that, yet again, his desire to write a bestseller could have international implications for which he was not aware. An interesting piece that entertains more than it stuns, Lee Goldberg does well to keep he fans satisfied. Recommended to those who like a lighter thriller, as well as the reader who needs something with some corny storylines.
I stumbled upon this series and found it to be perfect for when I need a lighter piece that will still entertain. Lee Goldberg does well to keep the reader in the middle of the story, offering both intrigue and some slapstick humour to balance out some of the larger and more chilling ramifications. Ian Ludlow is again a key character in this piece, finding himself in the middle of a major catastrophe without meaning to. His writing skills have garnered him much praise in the past, though he is looking for more. The reader can see some more of his creative efforts throughout, though he seems also to be tapping into a more physical and superficial side. Goldberg does well to offer different facets of the character, though none of them are especially deep. Goldberg uses other characters to enrich the plot and the storyline, though most of the them remain at the same caliber as Ludlow. This collection of characters complement one another well for this piece, which seeks to tell multiple stories before tying them all together. The overall piece was decent, offering the needed entertainment that I have come to expect with this series. However, there is a superficial nature to the piece, almost a hokey or corny sentiment. While I can only surmise that this is Goldberg does this intentionally, it makes for a harder read at times, as I seek something a little deeper. Still, there is an entertaining value to it all and I suspend some of my expectations in order to enjoy this quick read.
Kudos, Mr. Goldberg, for another great piece that fit nicely into my reading journey this week.
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/...
Lee Goldberg returns with another novel in his off the wall Ian Ludlow series. While the story reads as a little less than serious, the tale moves well and will keep most readers entertained. As Ludlow is still coming to terms with how his last book predicted a real-life event, he has newly-defected Chinese Actress Wang Mei with him. The CIA are eager to learn a little more and hope that Ludlow can use his astonishing powers to predict yet another international event. However, Ludlow seems to be coming up blank, sufferings from writer’s block and unsure how to solve it. Even some steamy trysts with Wang do not help his writing juices flow any better (no comment on any others, though Goldberg does not spare the reader). Meanwhile, a conservative talking head has been fanning the flames about Mexican incursion along the southern US border, in hopes of creating something even more chaotic. Little does anyone know but Dwight Edsey is actually part of a Russian sleeper cell, trying to create new issues as they infiltrate new fake news. When Ludlow stumbles upon what could be a unite story idea, two American tourists falling to their death while taking a selfie, he and his assistant head to Portugal. What looks like an innocent accident might have more daunting implications on both sides of the Atlantic, but Ludlow will have to find the thing that ties it all together. As he is targeted for what he discovers, Ludlow learns that, yet again, his desire to write a bestseller could have international implications for which he was not aware. An interesting piece that entertains more than it stuns, Lee Goldberg does well to keep he fans satisfied. Recommended to those who like a lighter thriller, as well as the reader who needs something with some corny storylines.
I stumbled upon this series and found it to be perfect for when I need a lighter piece that will still entertain. Lee Goldberg does well to keep the reader in the middle of the story, offering both intrigue and some slapstick humour to balance out some of the larger and more chilling ramifications. Ian Ludlow is again a key character in this piece, finding himself in the middle of a major catastrophe without meaning to. His writing skills have garnered him much praise in the past, though he is looking for more. The reader can see some more of his creative efforts throughout, though he seems also to be tapping into a more physical and superficial side. Goldberg does well to offer different facets of the character, though none of them are especially deep. Goldberg uses other characters to enrich the plot and the storyline, though most of the them remain at the same caliber as Ludlow. This collection of characters complement one another well for this piece, which seeks to tell multiple stories before tying them all together. The overall piece was decent, offering the needed entertainment that I have come to expect with this series. However, there is a superficial nature to the piece, almost a hokey or corny sentiment. While I can only surmise that this is Goldberg does this intentionally, it makes for a harder read at times, as I seek something a little deeper. Still, there is an entertaining value to it all and I suspend some of my expectations in order to enjoy this quick read.
Kudos, Mr. Goldberg, for another great piece that fit nicely into my reading journey this week.
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/...
December 27, 2020
The third book in the Ian Ludlow series finds our protagonist with a severe case of writer’s block and Wang Mei, the Chinese movie star he helped defect in Killer Thriller, as a houseguest. When he can't come up with anything his CIA partner, Margo French, tosses a newspaper at him and he randomly picks a couple of stories to investigate and start the ball rolling.
An American couple died in Portugal when taking a selfie, illegal Mexican emigrants are flooding across the border in Texas, a citizen army on a Texas ranch on the border with Mexico fights to stem the tide, an illegal Mexican on the loose in San Diego suspected of being a killer, a TV journalist in New York with his own show and an agenda, a Mexican drug lord. What is the connection? “The Kitchen” a Russian group that uses fake news to outrage Americans.
It falls to Ian and Margo to connect the dots and stop the Russians before the president of the United States makes a mistake that could result in the resurrection of the Soviet Union. While this story was not as good as the first two entries in the series it was still an enjoyable read. If there is a fourth book in the future I would read it. When you are dealing with a series I think it is only natural that some of the books are better than others.
An American couple died in Portugal when taking a selfie, illegal Mexican emigrants are flooding across the border in Texas, a citizen army on a Texas ranch on the border with Mexico fights to stem the tide, an illegal Mexican on the loose in San Diego suspected of being a killer, a TV journalist in New York with his own show and an agenda, a Mexican drug lord. What is the connection? “The Kitchen” a Russian group that uses fake news to outrage Americans.
It falls to Ian and Margo to connect the dots and stop the Russians before the president of the United States makes a mistake that could result in the resurrection of the Soviet Union. While this story was not as good as the first two entries in the series it was still an enjoyable read. If there is a fourth book in the future I would read it. When you are dealing with a series I think it is only natural that some of the books are better than others.
November 30, 2019
Fake Truth is a tongue-in-cheek mock thriller. Third in the series, it features a thriller writer whose real life adventures parallel his stories. Unfortunately, this never really captured my interest.
April 23, 2023
2.5 Stars for Fake Truth (audiobook) by Lee Goldberg read by Adam Verner.
The humor in this book just didn’t work for me. The author in the story was inspired by real events all while the actual author was stealing ideas from real events in a tongue in cheek way.
The humor in this book just didn’t work for me. The author in the story was inspired by real events all while the actual author was stealing ideas from real events in a tongue in cheek way.
April 8, 2020
Day 14 of Lockdown, fourth review, and this was certainly another enjoyably silly action romp spoof in the Ian Ludlow series, about an author whose preposterous plots uncannily predict real conspiracies. This is the third book in the series and while you do get enough backstory to just dive in, the first two are a lot of fun and would give you a much better understanding of the characters. This one is another fast easy read, but either the formula is wearing thin, or too much of the humour was replaced with sex, and I didn’t love it, but I liked it.
Days after the events of Killer Thriller, Ian and Margo have returned home, but their escapades have convinced the CIA that they need Ian to keep creating plots that will help them spot threats to national security. A secretive Russian agency is using hackers and sleeper agents to trigger a conflict between the USA and Mexico by manipulating news stories. Suffering from writer’s block and the not unwelcome attentions of the Chinese movie star he rescued in the last book, Ian travels to Portugal with Margo to investigate the apparent death-by-selfie of a young American couple, but his overactive imagination spots the truth - and hurls them into danger once more.
The key to these books in understanding that they are unashamedly p**s-takes, spoofing the James Bond series (which is repeatedly mentioned) and countless other cheesy action movies. Don’t take them seriously and you’ll enjoy the ride. Ian and Margo make marvellously likeable partners - he’s tubby, uncoordinated and unfit, and knows his limitations while yearning to be his fictional creation Clint Straker. Margo is cool and deadly but still sympathetic.
The multiple antagonists caricature a whole variety of American personalities, including the president while still making a point about how vulnerable we all are to Fake News.
I wasn’t so impressed by the multiple sex scenes and smutty jokes, which were unnecessary and spoiled it a bit for me, but I did enjoy the return of Ronnie “The Vine” Mancuso , complete with tinfoil hat. I hope this isn’t the end of this series as I do like this author’s style. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc which allowed me to give an honest review. Fake Truth is available now.
Days after the events of Killer Thriller, Ian and Margo have returned home, but their escapades have convinced the CIA that they need Ian to keep creating plots that will help them spot threats to national security. A secretive Russian agency is using hackers and sleeper agents to trigger a conflict between the USA and Mexico by manipulating news stories. Suffering from writer’s block and the not unwelcome attentions of the Chinese movie star he rescued in the last book, Ian travels to Portugal with Margo to investigate the apparent death-by-selfie of a young American couple, but his overactive imagination spots the truth - and hurls them into danger once more.
The key to these books in understanding that they are unashamedly p**s-takes, spoofing the James Bond series (which is repeatedly mentioned) and countless other cheesy action movies. Don’t take them seriously and you’ll enjoy the ride. Ian and Margo make marvellously likeable partners - he’s tubby, uncoordinated and unfit, and knows his limitations while yearning to be his fictional creation Clint Straker. Margo is cool and deadly but still sympathetic.
The multiple antagonists caricature a whole variety of American personalities, including the president while still making a point about how vulnerable we all are to Fake News.
I wasn’t so impressed by the multiple sex scenes and smutty jokes, which were unnecessary and spoiled it a bit for me, but I did enjoy the return of Ronnie “The Vine” Mancuso , complete with tinfoil hat. I hope this isn’t the end of this series as I do like this author’s style. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc which allowed me to give an honest review. Fake Truth is available now.
June 5, 2020
Writer Ian Ludlow is stuck. Despite his most recent exploits as an off the books CIA agent, he can’t come up with anything worthy of his next book. So when his CIA partner, Margo French, throws a newspaper at him, he picks a couple of articles at random and they begin to investigate as if Ian’s writer’s imagination was right and there is a connection between them. The scary thing is, they might have stumbled upon something that way, with tentacles that spread from Russia to the US-Mexico border with the news media in between. But what exactly have they found?
I’ve enjoyed the first two books in this series, but this one was a disappointment. While we see the various threads involved in this plot early on, the story still moves too slowly for the first half. Once it does start, we get plenty of action and a great climax. Since this is a loving spoof of the spy genre, I definitely enjoyed some laughs. The characters can be a bit thin, but that’s part of the genre. Unfortunately, so is sex, and there are several sex scenes I really could have done without. The author stages his story in such a way that very thinly disguises his politics, which really pulled me out of the story. I pick up fiction to escape politics, not to have one point of view shoved down my throat. I realize both of the things that bothered me might be selling points to others, but to me, they kept me from fully enjoying the book. I enjoyed the first two books in this series (and the books should be read in order since this one has some spoilers for previous adventures), so hopefully the series will be back to entertaining for the next in the series.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I’ve enjoyed the first two books in this series, but this one was a disappointment. While we see the various threads involved in this plot early on, the story still moves too slowly for the first half. Once it does start, we get plenty of action and a great climax. Since this is a loving spoof of the spy genre, I definitely enjoyed some laughs. The characters can be a bit thin, but that’s part of the genre. Unfortunately, so is sex, and there are several sex scenes I really could have done without. The author stages his story in such a way that very thinly disguises his politics, which really pulled me out of the story. I pick up fiction to escape politics, not to have one point of view shoved down my throat. I realize both of the things that bothered me might be selling points to others, but to me, they kept me from fully enjoying the book. I enjoyed the first two books in this series (and the books should be read in order since this one has some spoilers for previous adventures), so hopefully the series will be back to entertaining for the next in the series.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
March 6, 2020
This is the second book I've read in the three-book (so far) series featuring writer Ian Ludlow and his research assistant Margo French, and it's every bit as delightful as I expected. As with the previous one, I chuckled my way through (with a couple of outright guffaws here and there).
Most of those chuckles came by way of "ripped from the headlines" timeliness, although the author insists it wasn't intentional and he "really made this stuff up." Funniest to me, though, were the references to things gone by like James Bond movies and especially TV game show "Match Game." First aired in 1962 - the year my husband and I got married and soon thereafter became regular viewers - the fill-in-the-blank answers from celebrity panelists were borderline risque, generating feigned shock and raucous laughter from the audience. In today's world? Well, if you want to know how far we've come, just watch a couple of episodes of "Family Feud." Yowser!
Back to the story, Ludlow knows the difference between fact and fiction, but somehow the plots he concocts for his series character, freelance superspy Clint Straker, manage to come true in real life. That hasn't gone unnoticed by the CIA, where the powers-that-be see great potential in tapping Ian and Margo as resources. At the beginning, the pair meet Wang Mei, a Chinese actress who claims to want asylum in the United States. Meanwhile, the Russians are busy running a troll farm to spread propaganda online in an effort to manipulate Americans.
Ian takes Wang on a TV show blitz that ends on a very conservative "news" show, where snarky host Dwight Edny hurls insults that, let's say, don't sit well with the Chinese beauty. When Ian falls victim to a bad case of writer's block while trying to conjure up his latest Straker book plot, Margo decides an investigation of the "accidental" death of a couple in Portugal may be just what the doctor ordered to kickstart Ian's creative streak. Following in the dead couple's footsteps brings some unexpectedly dangerous revelations (if not a spark or two of that aforementioned creativity). Meanwhile, back in the US of A, trouble is brewing on the illegal immigration front as Texas ranchers take up arms to stem the tide in true vigilante fashion - making a Mexican drug lord very unhappy (see what I mean about current events)?
Throughout it all, Ian and Margo try to avoid getting killed before he can finish his next book. Since this is a series, I don't think I'm letting the cat out of the bag by saying they make it to the end, but the devil is in the details. I will say, though, that I enjoyed every page and, in addition to thanking the publisher, via NetGalley, for a pre-release review copy, I leave you with one of my favorite quotes:
Question: "Is there nobody left we can trust?"
Answer: "Not on TV."
Most of those chuckles came by way of "ripped from the headlines" timeliness, although the author insists it wasn't intentional and he "really made this stuff up." Funniest to me, though, were the references to things gone by like James Bond movies and especially TV game show "Match Game." First aired in 1962 - the year my husband and I got married and soon thereafter became regular viewers - the fill-in-the-blank answers from celebrity panelists were borderline risque, generating feigned shock and raucous laughter from the audience. In today's world? Well, if you want to know how far we've come, just watch a couple of episodes of "Family Feud." Yowser!
Back to the story, Ludlow knows the difference between fact and fiction, but somehow the plots he concocts for his series character, freelance superspy Clint Straker, manage to come true in real life. That hasn't gone unnoticed by the CIA, where the powers-that-be see great potential in tapping Ian and Margo as resources. At the beginning, the pair meet Wang Mei, a Chinese actress who claims to want asylum in the United States. Meanwhile, the Russians are busy running a troll farm to spread propaganda online in an effort to manipulate Americans.
Ian takes Wang on a TV show blitz that ends on a very conservative "news" show, where snarky host Dwight Edny hurls insults that, let's say, don't sit well with the Chinese beauty. When Ian falls victim to a bad case of writer's block while trying to conjure up his latest Straker book plot, Margo decides an investigation of the "accidental" death of a couple in Portugal may be just what the doctor ordered to kickstart Ian's creative streak. Following in the dead couple's footsteps brings some unexpectedly dangerous revelations (if not a spark or two of that aforementioned creativity). Meanwhile, back in the US of A, trouble is brewing on the illegal immigration front as Texas ranchers take up arms to stem the tide in true vigilante fashion - making a Mexican drug lord very unhappy (see what I mean about current events)?
Throughout it all, Ian and Margo try to avoid getting killed before he can finish his next book. Since this is a series, I don't think I'm letting the cat out of the bag by saying they make it to the end, but the devil is in the details. I will say, though, that I enjoyed every page and, in addition to thanking the publisher, via NetGalley, for a pre-release review copy, I leave you with one of my favorite quotes:
Question: "Is there nobody left we can trust?"
Answer: "Not on TV."
April 8, 2020
This is the third book in the Ian Ludlow series I kinda think this is stand alone because i have terrible recall of the other two books and had no problem.
This books are just chock full of snark and sarcasm. Which of course means I adore them. This book had several steamy sex scenes which the first two didn't to my error filled recollection.
If you need a break from reality, and who doesn't, this is a fun fast read for grown ups.
This books are just chock full of snark and sarcasm. Which of course means I adore them. This book had several steamy sex scenes which the first two didn't to my error filled recollection.
If you need a break from reality, and who doesn't, this is a fun fast read for grown ups.
April 24, 2020
I really enjoyed winning and reading the Amazon Kindle version of Lee Goldberg's Fake Truth! As the author says, "the blurring line between fiction and reality was a very real problem for me", while he was writing Fake Truth!
In fact, he has written a very realistic and entertaining spy thriller, and I am happy to have been introduced to Ian Ludlow and company. This book stands alone, but my interest has been whetted in catching up and reading the two preceding books in this series, as well as being on the lookout for forthcoming ones.
In fact, he has written a very realistic and entertaining spy thriller, and I am happy to have been introduced to Ian Ludlow and company. This book stands alone, but my interest has been whetted in catching up and reading the two preceding books in this series, as well as being on the lookout for forthcoming ones.
May 2, 2023
Even though I found this an entertaining page-turner, it’s my least favorite out of the three in this series. The story picks right up where we left off at the end of Killer Thriller. Ian has agreed to work alongside Margo and the CIA to write more Straker novels while helping to keep America safe from its enemies. My issue with this one is that it took so long for the story to develop. Even Ian was at a loss for coming up with an idea. But what seems like a huge waste of time ends up pulling everything together and making for a fun race against time to thwart the resurrection of the Soviet Union. I did think the ending was a little abrupt after such a buildup to the story. I was happy to have the postscript at the end to tie up the loose ends in the book, and wrap up the trilogy.
March 19, 2020
Ian Ludlow is the bestselling author of the "Straker" series. That character is a true thriller hero with mad skills with spying and the ladies. Although nothing like his famous character. Ian has become embroiled in a real life thriller. He has helped actress Mei Wang defect from China and she has decided to move in with him. Although having her around has given him certain benefits, Ian has severe writer's block.
Writer's block becomes the least of his worries when he and Margo, his former researcher and now a spy, discover a crazy link between several seemingly unrelated events. They are probably putting themselves in danger again, but they dive right into investigating.
I loved this third book in Lee Goldberg's Ian Ludlow series. There is lots of suspense and action that keep the reader turning the pages. The author's trademark humor is blended throughout the story. I love the character Ronnie who plays an important role again in this third book. He is the star of a TV series that Ian had created, produced and written called "Hollywood and the Vine" about a half-man half-plant to fights crime with the LAPD. Ronnie is a nice guy, but a full-fledged conspiracy nut with the aluminum on his hats and all. He provides laughs and help both. The author pokes a little fun at TV series, but his beloved series "Monk" was excellent writing.
Lee Goldberg is a prolific writer of many series and standalone novels as well as collaborative ones with Janet Evanovich. I will probably never catch up with his back list, but it will be fun trying. I look forward on going on more rollicking rides with Ian and his friends in the near future.
Writer's block becomes the least of his worries when he and Margo, his former researcher and now a spy, discover a crazy link between several seemingly unrelated events. They are probably putting themselves in danger again, but they dive right into investigating.
I loved this third book in Lee Goldberg's Ian Ludlow series. There is lots of suspense and action that keep the reader turning the pages. The author's trademark humor is blended throughout the story. I love the character Ronnie who plays an important role again in this third book. He is the star of a TV series that Ian had created, produced and written called "Hollywood and the Vine" about a half-man half-plant to fights crime with the LAPD. Ronnie is a nice guy, but a full-fledged conspiracy nut with the aluminum on his hats and all. He provides laughs and help both. The author pokes a little fun at TV series, but his beloved series "Monk" was excellent writing.
Lee Goldberg is a prolific writer of many series and standalone novels as well as collaborative ones with Janet Evanovich. I will probably never catch up with his back list, but it will be fun trying. I look forward on going on more rollicking rides with Ian and his friends in the near future.
May 28, 2020
Fake truth is the third in the Ian Ludlow series and continues its path of poking fun at spy movies and action heroes. Goldberg has a knack for over the top action and politically tinged humor.
Each book has been an entertaining read complete with elements taken directly from the news and certainly a liberal dose of humor. He has picked on China and now shifts his attention to the Soviets and their quest to resurrect their former superpower nation. In short, the plot involves disinformation and fake news (how timely, right?) created by the Russians designed to plunge the United States into a war with Mexico so that they might take advantage of the ensuing chaos.
But never fear, with Ian, Margo, and the help of a dissident Chinese actress and a television producer, our trusty heroes will prevail. Ian gets to have plenty of sex while living a real life version of his fictional secret agent character. Complete with plenty of double crosses, the story unfolds itself quickly and satisfyingly. This is entertaining summer reading and nothing more. Look elsewhere for something with meaning or thought-provoking depth. But sit back, pour yourself a drink, and enjoy the escapade with Mr. Goldberg at the helm.
Each book has been an entertaining read complete with elements taken directly from the news and certainly a liberal dose of humor. He has picked on China and now shifts his attention to the Soviets and their quest to resurrect their former superpower nation. In short, the plot involves disinformation and fake news (how timely, right?) created by the Russians designed to plunge the United States into a war with Mexico so that they might take advantage of the ensuing chaos.
But never fear, with Ian, Margo, and the help of a dissident Chinese actress and a television producer, our trusty heroes will prevail. Ian gets to have plenty of sex while living a real life version of his fictional secret agent character. Complete with plenty of double crosses, the story unfolds itself quickly and satisfyingly. This is entertaining summer reading and nothing more. Look elsewhere for something with meaning or thought-provoking depth. But sit back, pour yourself a drink, and enjoy the escapade with Mr. Goldberg at the helm.
April 19, 2020
Ian Ludlow is back and this is not long after the end of the last book, so there is at least one new repeat character we met in the second book along with a few from the first, not the least of whom is Margo. There is a perfectly fine blurb, but suffice to say that someone in Russia has hired an American ex-pat to plot scenarios and to write fake news to feed to a mole in the States. Throw in a barbaric Mexican drug lord, a citizen's "army" on a ranch in Texas and a few other things and you have another fun romp. Once again, I found the first part of the book the weakest link, but it gets better and funnier as it goes on (but of course, no good funny novel is joke after joke or it would cease to be funny).
August 22, 2022
In this 3rd book of the series, the author Ian Ludlow returns to write some bizarre thrillers which have an uncanny ability to turn into reality. This is over-the-top (I have used this phrase in the review of all three books but I can't find a better word for this)
Lee Goldberg blatantly does a mishmash of all Bond movies AND Mission Impossible. I haven't watched any of those movies, but the plot he describes is hilarious.
The conspiracy theory seems ridiculous but some of them made me uncomfortable - like fake news to destabilize USA so that Russia can avoid NATO retaliation when they attack Georgia and later Ukraine ! (This book was published in 2020)
These books are a great stress buster, I only hope his plots don't turn out be true.
Lee Goldberg blatantly does a mishmash of all Bond movies AND Mission Impossible. I haven't watched any of those movies, but the plot he describes is hilarious.
The conspiracy theory seems ridiculous but some of them made me uncomfortable - like fake news to destabilize USA so that Russia can avoid NATO retaliation when they attack Georgia and later Ukraine ! (This book was published in 2020)
These books are a great stress buster, I only hope his plots don't turn out be true.
April 25, 2020
“Fake Truth” by Lee Goldberg is part of the Ian Ludlow series, but new readers easily catch through numerous explanations within the context of the current narrative. Each chapter identifies date, location, and time so characters, action, and complications are easily tracked. The story has multiple geographic settings, and all are sources of crime, espionage, political intrigue, and general nastiness, enough to make one want to wear a baseball cap covered with aluminum foil. The story is told from all points of view so readers see the conspiracy, the plans, and the deception of all participants.
This is the tale of the real becoming fiction and fiction becoming real. The story unfolds in a casual conversation driven narrative. There are two separate story lines; on one hand, “The Kitchen” a terrorist group, plans to manipulate the American people by creating fake news using social media and TV to advance their agenda. On the other hand, Ian Ludlow, film, TV, and novel writer, is out of ideas for the next book in his thriller series. He seeks plot inspiration by investigating the accidental deaths of two American tourists. These two stories become intertwined with disastrous results.
The settings and descriptions paint a colorful, vivid picture for readers.
“Fake Truth” is filled with bad guys who have bad behavior. Truth becomes fiction, and fiction becomes fact. After all, no one tells the truth on television. I received a review copy of “Fake Truth” from Lee Goldberg, and Thomas & Mercer. It was quick to read and quite entertaining. It was filled with unusual twists and turns as the deception unravels.
This is the tale of the real becoming fiction and fiction becoming real. The story unfolds in a casual conversation driven narrative. There are two separate story lines; on one hand, “The Kitchen” a terrorist group, plans to manipulate the American people by creating fake news using social media and TV to advance their agenda. On the other hand, Ian Ludlow, film, TV, and novel writer, is out of ideas for the next book in his thriller series. He seeks plot inspiration by investigating the accidental deaths of two American tourists. These two stories become intertwined with disastrous results.
The settings and descriptions paint a colorful, vivid picture for readers.
“The stone buildings, none taller than four stories, were packed so tightly together that they formed an unbroken wall of rusting wrought iron.”
“Fake Truth” is filled with bad guys who have bad behavior. Truth becomes fiction, and fiction becomes fact. After all, no one tells the truth on television. I received a review copy of “Fake Truth” from Lee Goldberg, and Thomas & Mercer. It was quick to read and quite entertaining. It was filled with unusual twists and turns as the deception unravels.
January 3, 2020
One could simply write, "Lee Goldberg does it again!" And that would be as succinct and accurate a review as one could post about Fake Truth. But allow me to elaborate, as I agreed to do when NetGalley kindly provided me with an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Clint Straker returns as bestselling author Ian Ludlow's James Bond-like protagonist in the third entry of Lee Goldberg's series about the writer whose fictional imagination always seems to presage real-life scenarios.
Well, to be more accurate, the whole thing about fiction presaging real life is part of Goldberg's fictional world centering on the fictional Ian Ludlow. But in this case, with all that is going on in the real world, where politics and truth are being subverted by purveyors of fake news, some from abroad, Goldberg's imaginary scenario is running parallel to reality.
And also in service of accuracy, Clint Straker isn't actually back in Fake Truth -- he is conspicuously MIA, as Ian is suffering writer's block and doesn't know what to do next. His sidekick Margo, now a CIA agent, is likewise stymied by Ian's writer's block, since his Straker plots are supposed to uncover actual plots.
So she comes up with a brilliant idea: take Ian to Portugal to investigate the apparently accidental death of a pair of American tourists and see if that leads to a) a Straker story, and b) a plot against the U.S. And that's as far as I'll go plot-wise. Except to add that Ian (i.e. Goldberg) inventively integrates James Bond movies and the original Mission Impossible TV series into his scenarios.
The result is a fun, fast read, relevant to real world events, with good pop culture references, a worthy entry into Goldberg's impressive and prolific canon. It's better than it's immediate predecessor, Killer Thriller, because Ian's nut-job actor friend Ronnie is back -- his absence was my one beef with that book. He's not as pivotal as he was in True Fiction, but that slack is picked up by the entertaining Chinese actress-defector Wang Mei.
You can't re-capture the revelation of the original idea introduced in the first entry of a series, but in Fake Truth, Lee Goldberg turns the prism to find a new angle into that original idea. If you've read the first two entries, you will not be disappointed -- if you haven't, start at the beginning and work your way here.
Clint Straker returns as bestselling author Ian Ludlow's James Bond-like protagonist in the third entry of Lee Goldberg's series about the writer whose fictional imagination always seems to presage real-life scenarios.
Well, to be more accurate, the whole thing about fiction presaging real life is part of Goldberg's fictional world centering on the fictional Ian Ludlow. But in this case, with all that is going on in the real world, where politics and truth are being subverted by purveyors of fake news, some from abroad, Goldberg's imaginary scenario is running parallel to reality.
And also in service of accuracy, Clint Straker isn't actually back in Fake Truth -- he is conspicuously MIA, as Ian is suffering writer's block and doesn't know what to do next. His sidekick Margo, now a CIA agent, is likewise stymied by Ian's writer's block, since his Straker plots are supposed to uncover actual plots.
So she comes up with a brilliant idea: take Ian to Portugal to investigate the apparently accidental death of a pair of American tourists and see if that leads to a) a Straker story, and b) a plot against the U.S. And that's as far as I'll go plot-wise. Except to add that Ian (i.e. Goldberg) inventively integrates James Bond movies and the original Mission Impossible TV series into his scenarios.
The result is a fun, fast read, relevant to real world events, with good pop culture references, a worthy entry into Goldberg's impressive and prolific canon. It's better than it's immediate predecessor, Killer Thriller, because Ian's nut-job actor friend Ronnie is back -- his absence was my one beef with that book. He's not as pivotal as he was in True Fiction, but that slack is picked up by the entertaining Chinese actress-defector Wang Mei.
You can't re-capture the revelation of the original idea introduced in the first entry of a series, but in Fake Truth, Lee Goldberg turns the prism to find a new angle into that original idea. If you've read the first two entries, you will not be disappointed -- if you haven't, start at the beginning and work your way here.
July 29, 2022
I have to admit that I absolutely love this crazy, over the top, adrenaline filled book series.
To recap…
A TV thriller writer writes crazy, over the top, adrenaline filled spy novels which just happen to reflect real life plots to destabilise global governments; and this particular edition, written incidentally by a TV thriller writer, the plot is that Russia wants to destabilise America so that they won’t be able to stop Russian troops invading Georgia, Belarus and, yes, Ukraine.
Sadly the only unbelievable thing here is that the Russians would decide not to invade because they are worried about the US reaction, NATO retaliation and EU sanctions.
So meta it makes my head spin, in a good way.
To recap…
A TV thriller writer writes crazy, over the top, adrenaline filled spy novels which just happen to reflect real life plots to destabilise global governments; and this particular edition, written incidentally by a TV thriller writer, the plot is that Russia wants to destabilise America so that they won’t be able to stop Russian troops invading Georgia, Belarus and, yes, Ukraine.
Sadly the only unbelievable thing here is that the Russians would decide not to invade because they are worried about the US reaction, NATO retaliation and EU sanctions.
So meta it makes my head spin, in a good way.
April 22, 2020
Fake Truth was an entertaining romp that made me laugh out loud at times. I like Goldberg's fast-paced plotting and breezy writing style, and absolutely loved his novel Lost Hills. The difference between that series and this one, for me, is that I didn't really care about Ian or feel invested in him, as I do Lost Hills' Eve Ronin. I think that is likely because of the glib, humorous style of this series--the action, plotting and humor were great, but this style of writing didn't allow for plumbing the depths of the characters in a way that made me feel deeply invested. Still, Goldberg knows how to entertain.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
September 30, 2020
2.5 stats rounded up.
This was a cross between a Jason Bourne thriller and a Stone Barrington novel. While I've read several of Stewart Woods' novels when I was younger as I began disliking them as I got older. I read the latest (?) Jadon Bourne thriller and my reaction was equally like warm. As this reminded me of both I felt similarly about it. If you like either or both of these characters/authors then you might enjoy this.
This was a cross between a Jason Bourne thriller and a Stone Barrington novel. While I've read several of Stewart Woods' novels when I was younger as I began disliking them as I got older. I read the latest (?) Jadon Bourne thriller and my reaction was equally like warm. As this reminded me of both I felt similarly about it. If you like either or both of these characters/authors then you might enjoy this.
March 22, 2021
Loved it! These characters are so wonderfully developed and have such great lines. Even when you know it's a cheesy line or scene on purpose, it makes you laugh out loud. I really hope there is going to be a lot more Ian Ludlow and friends in the future!
June 7, 2022
Started with book 2, went back to 1 and now 3 and I wish there were more! Goldberg has created a tremendously fun series that is part thrills part humor and I can’t get enough.
April 11, 2020
This is the third book in Goldberg’s Ian Ludlow series, about a thriller novelist whose seemingly-outlandish plots have a bizarre tendency to actually come true. It kicks off shortly after the events in the second Ludlow novel, "Killer Thriller," in which Ian and his assistant Margo (who now works as an undercover agent for the CIA) foiled a plot to assassinate the presidents of France and the U.S. This time around, Ian is suffering from writer’s block and needs to come up with ideas for his next spy novel. What was supposed to be a simple research trip to Portugal winds up thrusting him and Margo into the middle of a nefarious Russian plot, and once again, he will have to rely on his skills as as storyteller to get himself—and the U.S. government—out of a jam.
These books have high body counts and plenty of action, but they’re hilariously tongue-in-cheek, kind of like the mid-period James Bond films Ian is constantly referencing. My favorite running gag in the series is “Hollywood and the Vine,” the atrocious TV cop show about “half-man, half-plant, all-cop” Charlie Vine, which Ludlow once wrote for. (Goldberg has plenty of experience scripting shows of various quality—sure, he penned several episodes of the beloved series “Monk,” but he also put in some time at “The New Adventures of Flipper.”) In "Fake Truth," Ian finds himself back in the saddle, forced to write a script for the show which he describes as “a horrendous piece of shit”: “To get into the right frame of mind, he’d had to get into character and feel as unhappy and creatively unfulfilled as he had when he was writing and producing the show. That feeling still lingered, like the aftertaste of vomiting.”
Goldberg’s books are always so smoothly written and easy to read; even at a time when my attention span often feels fractured, I was able to speed through this novel and enjoy every last page. I even laughed out loud a few times. "Fake Truth" is a genuinely welcome diversion.
These books have high body counts and plenty of action, but they’re hilariously tongue-in-cheek, kind of like the mid-period James Bond films Ian is constantly referencing. My favorite running gag in the series is “Hollywood and the Vine,” the atrocious TV cop show about “half-man, half-plant, all-cop” Charlie Vine, which Ludlow once wrote for. (Goldberg has plenty of experience scripting shows of various quality—sure, he penned several episodes of the beloved series “Monk,” but he also put in some time at “The New Adventures of Flipper.”) In "Fake Truth," Ian finds himself back in the saddle, forced to write a script for the show which he describes as “a horrendous piece of shit”: “To get into the right frame of mind, he’d had to get into character and feel as unhappy and creatively unfulfilled as he had when he was writing and producing the show. That feeling still lingered, like the aftertaste of vomiting.”
Goldberg’s books are always so smoothly written and easy to read; even at a time when my attention span often feels fractured, I was able to speed through this novel and enjoy every last page. I even laughed out loud a few times. "Fake Truth" is a genuinely welcome diversion.
November 20, 2019
I received an e-ARC of Fake Truth from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Fake Truth is the third in the series of Ian Ludlow Thrillers. Ian, Margo French, and Wang Mei are back in the U.S. following Mei's defection from China and Ian and Margo's foiling of an assassination attempt. Now Ludlow is dealing with a case of writer's block and Margo is bored, waiting for Ludlow's next brilliant discovery of a secret plot. In brainstorming for his next novel, Ludlow stumbles over a story that leads he and Margo to the discovery of a Russian spy plot.
Goldberg's Ludlow thrillers are formulaic and outrageous like the Bond novels they harken back to, but they are always a fast paced and fun read. I look forward to the next in the series.
Fake Truth is the third in the series of Ian Ludlow Thrillers. Ian, Margo French, and Wang Mei are back in the U.S. following Mei's defection from China and Ian and Margo's foiling of an assassination attempt. Now Ludlow is dealing with a case of writer's block and Margo is bored, waiting for Ludlow's next brilliant discovery of a secret plot. In brainstorming for his next novel, Ludlow stumbles over a story that leads he and Margo to the discovery of a Russian spy plot.
Goldberg's Ludlow thrillers are formulaic and outrageous like the Bond novels they harken back to, but they are always a fast paced and fun read. I look forward to the next in the series.
May 9, 2020
I listened to this as an audiobook while gardening. Perfect method as, while entertaining, not the strongest or most engaging writing. For something to do, this hits the spot, but don't expect literary excellence. Nice, satisfying twist at the end and always good to have the bad guys get their due.
July 22, 2020
This was a fun, entertaining series. Spy fiction isn't usually my thing, but these are basically a parody.
August 26, 2020
Another enjoyable thriller. Ian, Margo and Mei are quite the trio. Writer, spy and actress aren’t proper enough descriptions for the three.
April 25, 2021
This one is even more over-the-top, and with sex, but I laughed out loud, a lot.
June 14, 2020
A screenwriter/novelist creates an outlandish storyline that helps save the world from war. A new genre - a humorous thriller?
June 29, 2021
The thing you have to know about Lee Goldberg is that he’s a television writer. He’s a machine. He cranks out books and scripts at a pace that would make Usain Bolt envious, and it shows. I don’t mean that in a bad way; after all, Hemingway wrote “The Old Man and the Sea” in eight weeks and won the Pulitzer Prize for literature.
To compare Goldberg to Hemingway, though, would be like comparing Will Farrell to Laurence Olivier. Goldberg is a workhorse, a copy machine, a prodigious producer who will never win a Pulitzer Prize in literature much less a Nobel, but by gosh you’ll buy his book at the Kindle store for $1.99 and enjoy every page.
Reading the Ian Ludlow suspense series, of which “True Fiction” is the first, is a bit like watching theater of the absurd. That’s his genius; the series is ridiculous in a Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum sort of way, but the humor is a tad less slapstick, a bit more of the multi-level, self-effacing variety.
The hero, Ian Ludlow, is a suspense writer who is asked by the CIA to attend a retreat with a few of his peers to brainstorm potential plots that would threaten national security. The rub is that it’s not exactly the CIA and the Ludlow’s plot turns into reality putting him on the run.
“True Fiction” requires the suspension of disbelief, by which I mean you have to be willing to believe the sun comes up in the west and the lunar landing was an elaborate hoax. Ludlow meets his sidekick, Margo French, in Seattle. She’s a dog walker and author escort who sings in local nightclubs hoping to kickstart a music career. It makes sense, then, that a novelist with a broken arm and his dog-walker sidekick are able to out run, out think, out maneuver and out fight the all of the highly skilled, professionally trained assassins the pseudo-CIA sends after them, despite the organization having more access to technology than Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook combined.
The duo flees from Seattle to enlist the help of an actor turned professional paranoia nut Ludlow worked with when he was writing scripts for a detective show called “Hollywood and the Vine,” in which — stay with me now — Hollywood is a regular detective and his partner is half man, half plant.
Therein lies Goldberg’s genius. One of Hollywood’s traditions, and, really, it could be its own genre, is the show-within-a-show formula that worked in everything from “White Christmas” to “Singin’ in the Rain” and at least a trio of Busby Berkeley musicals. Goldberg just gives it a twist; he’s a TV writer and thriller author writing about a TV writer and thriller author who becomes the lead character in his own story.
Got that? Let’s double down. Ian Ludlow, the hero, was also Goldberg’s pen name for his first three mystery novels, which he wrote as a project while studying at UCLA. He picked the name so his books would be on the shelf next to Robert Ludlum’s. It’s a little like sitting in the barber’s chair looking into the mirror across from you that’s facing the mirror behind you. It makes your head spin, but it’s kind of fun.
Goldberg sums it up in the series’ third book, “Fake Truth,” when a conversation at the security agency of another country goes like this:
“Ian Ludlow is a famous author. He writes spy novels, but he’s definitely not a spy himself.”
“How can you be sure?” He was afraid that he’d heard a squeal in his voice, that he was already a soprano.
“It’s clear from the idiotic shit that he writes.”
Also from “Fake Truth,” Ludlow and French referring to Ludlow’s hero, Clint Straker:
“What about telling our story and revealing China’s plot to assassinate the president?”
“I tried using it but every time I added Straker into the mix, it became ridiculous.”
“Straker has always been ridiculous,” she said.
“Yes,” Ian said. “But now I know it.”
“That’s a shame.”
If you missed it, that makes Clint Straker Lee Golberg’s alter ego’s alter ego.
Goldberg keeps his tongue so firmly planted in his cheek it’s astonishing he hasn’t poked a hole through it. If you want an edge-of-your-seat realistic spy thriller, skip right on by “True Fiction” and the rest of Lee Goldberg’s Ian Ludlow series. But if you can suspend disbelief in a big way, you might just appreciate the Rube Goldberg (no relation, probably) level complexity with which the books take jabs at television, spy novels and, well, the people who write them.
At $1.99 and 248 pages for the Kindle edition you’ll invest neither the time nor money required for disappointment, so give it a whirl. By the time you get to the end, you just might find that you’ve fallen for the absurdity’s charm as much as I did.
To compare Goldberg to Hemingway, though, would be like comparing Will Farrell to Laurence Olivier. Goldberg is a workhorse, a copy machine, a prodigious producer who will never win a Pulitzer Prize in literature much less a Nobel, but by gosh you’ll buy his book at the Kindle store for $1.99 and enjoy every page.
Reading the Ian Ludlow suspense series, of which “True Fiction” is the first, is a bit like watching theater of the absurd. That’s his genius; the series is ridiculous in a Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum sort of way, but the humor is a tad less slapstick, a bit more of the multi-level, self-effacing variety.
The hero, Ian Ludlow, is a suspense writer who is asked by the CIA to attend a retreat with a few of his peers to brainstorm potential plots that would threaten national security. The rub is that it’s not exactly the CIA and the Ludlow’s plot turns into reality putting him on the run.
“True Fiction” requires the suspension of disbelief, by which I mean you have to be willing to believe the sun comes up in the west and the lunar landing was an elaborate hoax. Ludlow meets his sidekick, Margo French, in Seattle. She’s a dog walker and author escort who sings in local nightclubs hoping to kickstart a music career. It makes sense, then, that a novelist with a broken arm and his dog-walker sidekick are able to out run, out think, out maneuver and out fight the all of the highly skilled, professionally trained assassins the pseudo-CIA sends after them, despite the organization having more access to technology than Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook combined.
The duo flees from Seattle to enlist the help of an actor turned professional paranoia nut Ludlow worked with when he was writing scripts for a detective show called “Hollywood and the Vine,” in which — stay with me now — Hollywood is a regular detective and his partner is half man, half plant.
Therein lies Goldberg’s genius. One of Hollywood’s traditions, and, really, it could be its own genre, is the show-within-a-show formula that worked in everything from “White Christmas” to “Singin’ in the Rain” and at least a trio of Busby Berkeley musicals. Goldberg just gives it a twist; he’s a TV writer and thriller author writing about a TV writer and thriller author who becomes the lead character in his own story.
Got that? Let’s double down. Ian Ludlow, the hero, was also Goldberg’s pen name for his first three mystery novels, which he wrote as a project while studying at UCLA. He picked the name so his books would be on the shelf next to Robert Ludlum’s. It’s a little like sitting in the barber’s chair looking into the mirror across from you that’s facing the mirror behind you. It makes your head spin, but it’s kind of fun.
Goldberg sums it up in the series’ third book, “Fake Truth,” when a conversation at the security agency of another country goes like this:
“Ian Ludlow is a famous author. He writes spy novels, but he’s definitely not a spy himself.”
“How can you be sure?” He was afraid that he’d heard a squeal in his voice, that he was already a soprano.
“It’s clear from the idiotic shit that he writes.”
Also from “Fake Truth,” Ludlow and French referring to Ludlow’s hero, Clint Straker:
“What about telling our story and revealing China’s plot to assassinate the president?”
“I tried using it but every time I added Straker into the mix, it became ridiculous.”
“Straker has always been ridiculous,” she said.
“Yes,” Ian said. “But now I know it.”
“That’s a shame.”
If you missed it, that makes Clint Straker Lee Golberg’s alter ego’s alter ego.
Goldberg keeps his tongue so firmly planted in his cheek it’s astonishing he hasn’t poked a hole through it. If you want an edge-of-your-seat realistic spy thriller, skip right on by “True Fiction” and the rest of Lee Goldberg’s Ian Ludlow series. But if you can suspend disbelief in a big way, you might just appreciate the Rube Goldberg (no relation, probably) level complexity with which the books take jabs at television, spy novels and, well, the people who write them.
At $1.99 and 248 pages for the Kindle edition you’ll invest neither the time nor money required for disappointment, so give it a whirl. By the time you get to the end, you just might find that you’ve fallen for the absurdity’s charm as much as I did.
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