A completely enjoyable caper, the second in this series by accomplished and undervalued writer Lee Goldberg, whose protagonist here is a mystery writer once consulted by the CIA to dream up implausible-seeming scenarios in the event that terrorists might also have the same idea. Of course, they do, but with the help of his trusty sidekicks - including a survivalist who's part plant, part man - on a once popular TV show - our hero nips it in the bud

Lee Goldberg has crafted an engrossing page turner of a read in Fake Truth. Well worth the time of the read!

The Ian Ludlow books are action-packed, fun, and fluffy reads. Fake Truth, like the two earlier books in the series, are basically silly action movies in novel form, so if that sounds terrible then these books are not for you. This book picks up right where book 2 left off: Ian, Margo, and Wang Mei are in the U.S. after pulling off Mei's defection from China. It turns out she smuggled out an SD card with sensitive info the Chinese government doesn't want revealed. Ian is trying to figure out a plot for his next novel and figures out a real Russian conspiracy to plant fake news in the U.S. media. The story is fun and interesting and Ian and Margo continue to be great characters.

Fake Truth by Lee Goldberg is the second adventure story featuring Ian Ludlow, mystery writter, and his partner from the CIA Margo French. Wang Mei , the heroine from his last book, joins them as they have another adeventure solving a case for the CIA. . Ian's fictional hero is Stracker who solves mysteries and he thinks like him when involved in his real life adventures. This book is easy amusing reading.

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.

Lee Goldberg is a well-known author both of novels and of film scripts and TV shows. I have read some of his earlier novels and enjoyed them. Fake Truth was an exception. This is a mock thriller featuring Ian Ludlow who had rescued a Chinese woman from China and is keeping her hidden to avoid detection by the Chinese. What turned me off about this novel was the scrip within the novel which I found farcical. I lost interest at that point. You on the other hand may find it interesting

3.5 stars! I have enjoyed this series from the start and this continuation of the capers of Ian and Margo (and sometimes Ronnie) is such fun to read.

Ian is now kinda sorta working for the CIA as well as trying to write his next Straker novel. Ian’s imagination continues to be the most dangerous part of him and useful too since he keeps having to renovate his house. 😂 Margo is as badass as ever. Ronnie is still crazy (or maybe we are). I kept expecting more secret agent things from Mei but none yet so far.

Lee Goldberg is the writer behind Monk, the TV series. Did you know?

Anyway, why don’t some arcs have book covers in the ebook copy? So hard to take a decent picture of it now.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer for the advance copy of this book. I enjoy this series a lot!

This wasn’t as gripping as some others. The characters and dialogue were a bit bland but the ending was well done

Thanks for the ARC net Galley

Who are you really Lee Goldberg? I'm betting not really Lee or Goldberg. #3 for me is still good as the "three amigos" Ian (the writer), Margo (CIA Agent), and Mei (actress who defected with a microchip) come up against the Russian "kitchen" that is brewing "fast/fake food". Nice tale that keeps up a good pace. Who are you Lee Goldberg?

Fake Truth is the third book in the Ian Ludlow Thrillers series by Lee Goldberg. Once again, Ian, an author known for his adventure novels, is swept into another adventure of his own. This time he and Margo (his researcher and a CIA operative) help a Chinese movie star defect to the United States. Now, suffering from writer’s block, Ian must save the day when he uncovers a Russian plot to start a war.

What a fun read! I was looking for a book that would provide a break from some of the psychological thrillers that I have been reading lately. Fake Truth fits the bill perfectly. Ian and Margo are such great characters, the plot is interesting, and the action is non-stop. And, did I mention that there are plenty of laughs along the way. It’s a quick read and a great escape.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Fake Truth, number 3 in the Ian Ludlow Thrillers solidifies itself as a solid series in this latest installment from Lee Goldberg. Ian and Margo have returned stateside with their Chinese defector actress Wang Mei. She's taken a shine to Ian that he can't understand but can't resist either. His partner in crime saving Margo is her usual sarcastic strong self and keeps Ian focussed and alive. Presciently stripped from recent headlines Ian stumbles onto a nefarious plan to generate fake news that will jeopardize the US. This fast paced, humorous thriller is a great break from the more dystopian and true crime thrillers on the best seller list. So, take a break and enjoy this rollercoaster ride.

Thank you netgalley for this book, I have read a couple of books by Lee Goldberg and always enjoy them, this was no different.
The tale starts full throttle and whips through the story, the plot is ridiculously entertaining and this was a thoroughly good story

another great romp from Lee Goldberg, as Ian Ludlow returns to save the day once more. While investigating the accidental death of two American tourists he uncovers a Russion plan to start a war., for their own nefarious purposes.. It now down to Ludlow and his CIA partner Margo French to come up with a solution. Fun and easy to read it's a fabulous way to while away a few hours.

The pen is mightier than the sword and the imagination is a powerful thing as Author Ian Ludlow and Margo French, his researcher-turned-spy prove in Fake Truth the latest in the Ian Ludlow Thrillers by Lee Goldberg. This is high energy, clever and tons of fun. I really enjoyed this fast paced, witty romp taken straight from today’s headlines and anxiously await Ian and Margo’s next adventure.

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.

The Ludlow thrillers are books that read like a movie... Which I suppose is exactly the point. Much like the other two books in the series, I could see the plot playing out in real life. The author even states this as such in the author's note at the end.

Ian does a great job of growing into his role as a quasi Bond figure. The plot progresses as a breakneck pace without and filler or fluff. It's an enjoyable book that was hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy to read and review.

Fake Truth is a pretty enjoyable novel. I liked the main characters, and I especially liked the dialogue for the TV show. Very funny. The novel does bounce around a lot, but ultimately it works well. I'd read a sequel.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

“Fake Truth” is the third in the Ian Ludlow series from author Lee Goldberg, and the best of the series so far. It’s a highly entertaining, fast read that pits our hero and his partner, Margo against Russian spies. It’s fast-paced, no fillers, with the sly humor and cultural references that make this series so much fun to read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I hope there’s more Ian Ludlow stories to come. What a great series!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through @NetGalley 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.

These books are so absurd. I know they are written to be absurd, but this is like so extreme. But it’s entertaining as well. I’ll keep reading them as they come out.