leahralph's review against another edition
3.0
A tongue in cheek thriller that wasn’t my cup of tea but would definitely appeal to those who enjoy satire. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc.
latas's review against another edition
4.0
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.
mrsboyko's review against another edition
4.0
Ian Ludlow books are ridiculous in the way that James Bond is ridiculous. If you're in the mood for that, great. Do not read if you are looking for realism in your books. Escapism, yes. Realism, no.
rpmiller's review against another edition
2.0
Lots of satire. I did chuckle every 10 pages or so.
Not sure why no date read, but I'm adding one now, 6/18/2022
Not sure why no date read, but I'm adding one now, 6/18/2022
rjgibson2806's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
tashadandelion's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
When my husband and I took a long car ride earlier this month, we decided to listen to this on audio, because I'd enjoyed the first Ian Ludlow Thriller, True Fiction, and he had this next in his audio queue. We laughed our way through a few hours of it, and I recently finished it up, mostly listening while cooking dinner. If you like Carl Hiaasen novels, you're bound to like these as well. In this installment, Ian stumbles across a complex plot to wag the dog in which Russian operatives are Up to No Good. Margot, the intrepid author-handler from Book 1, has advanced in her CIA training and saves Ian's butt more than once in this 3rd episode. Ronny, the kooky star of Hollywood & The Vine, Ian's revived TV show, continues to shine in his lovably insane way. The dialog continues to be LOL-hilarious. If you want something lite, fun, and funny, this series is perfect.
3no7's review against another edition
4.0
“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.
canada_matt's review against another edition
4.0
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/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
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/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
laniesweet's review
3.0
"Fake Truth" isn't an amazingly done story. It's often predictable and uninteresting. I wished it was a little more interesting overall but it's just okay.
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