The constant suspense kept me reading.
A great thriller with never-ending dangers. My favorite aspect was that the climax was "okay" but the feeling of "he could've died just now" takes an extra second before it hits you. That delayed gut-punch feels so real, as if adrenaline really did finally flush itself out from my system and realization dawns on me. Win has some really good (and badaxx) friends on his side.

I really liked the overall story line of this book but for some reason I could not connect with the characters. Jon Lindstrom wrote a good book but he was fantastic at narrating his own book. I honestly don’t think I would have finished it without his fantastic narration. His voice was perfect for his book!! I recommend this book if you love a good adventure with a happy ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a copy of this book.

Note: Audiobook Review

I’ve watched Jon Lindstrom on General Hospital for years so when I saw that he had written a novel, I immediately put it on my TBR. Since I’m a recent audiobook convert, I had no idea that he had narrated a few of my favorite Blake Crouch books. When I saw those on his credits, I had to listen to this one since I’m familiar with his GH character’s soothing psychiatrist voice (well also serial killer but…). He can act, he can narrate and he can write! The story read with the fast-moving action of a Hollywood thriller.

I especially enjoyed the characterizations in this book. The story follows Win, now an older actor in Hollywood with complicated family issues. When his granddaughter is dropped off at his home by a stranger claiming to have kidnapped his daughter, the girl’s mother, with an ominous message, Win jumps into action calling on Hollywood connections for advice and assistance. Lindstrom shines in the incorporation of insider knowledge lending an authentic but gritty quality to the story.

While many of the relationships as well as people that Win has connected with during his time in the movies are shallow and characterized by greed, several people have genuine connections and warm friendships that he can call on in his hour of need. One of those relationships that I enjoyed in the book was with Teddy, a former New Orleans police officer that served as a police consultant on a movie he made back in the day. Teddy gave Win a sounding board for his concerns for his family and advice on how to move forward.

Though I found most of the characters well developed, I did find the plot and motivations behind the kidnapping to be basic and the villains were not the sharpest tacks in the box leading to some not well thought out shenanigans on their part.

Recommended to those that enjoy a good main character in a Hollywood setting.

Thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for a copy provided for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this story and all the different perspectives in the book. I really like the characters and how everyone was scheming to get what they want. This was an edge of the seat ride that moved quickly and was engrossing.

I enjoyed this audio presentation. of Hollywood Hustle written and Narrated by the
Author, Jon Lindstrom.. Not every Author would be able to write a debut novel and
also serve as the Narrator, but this is very well done on both counts. I cannot think
of another voice I would choose for this story.
When a ‘no longer’ Hollywood wealthy actor awakens to his granddaughter holding
news that her mother, and the troubled daughter of his has been kidnapped, for
ransom, his world begins to fall apart. Sure, he had money, but he had to use it,
which infuriates him now…But aside from his home and a few assets, he’s not a
good bet for a gang of criminals…
WHO do these people think he IS, and how do they think he’s a wealthy man?
This story has answers to these and more questions that kept me attached to’
my iPod, completely engrossed in both the voice and the story being laid out.
The story absolutely reads Old Hollywood, and there are interesting tid-bits
scattered through out the story.
This is a debut novel and I would absolutely read a sequel! I think there could also
be standalone material that would be great to read. I recommend this to folks
who like well crafted suspense and crime thrillers with great characters.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley Audio for the download of this
book for review purposes.

Thank you Dreamscape Media for allowing me to audibly read and review Hollywood Hustle on NetGalley.

Narrator: Jon Lindstrom

Published: 02/06/24

Stars: 3

This debut novel had highs and lows. The synopsis drew me in and I was good with the story, writing and characters until Lindstrom started with the profanity. Early on I thought what a shame, this could have been a good first adult thriller. The kidnapping is straightforward. Father and daughter both drug addicts makes the background current. There is what appears to be the standard early in life death. Nothing gruesome.

The main character has two friends that help him. I liked that in this stressed environment they were smart. There was no childish bantering. It felt topically realistic. They were responsible and reasonable, and I appreciate these type of characters.

Around 60% the story went south for me. I heard blah blah blah. Lindstrom is tying loose ends up and preparing for the ending. I was bored and confused. These chapters (all short) were just rushed. I did rewind and tried a second time and had the same results. This weakened the ending that I did like; a simple reminder, this is his debut novel.

The author narrates the book. While I enjoyed his performance to a point, I think a professional narrator could have helped get me through the 60% blah blah blah.

I'm game to read a second by this author.

Hollywood Hustle drew my attention with its blurb. A washed up actor who had battled alcoholism. He wasn't very close to his daughter but still saw her and his granddaughter periodically. During his time in acting, he'd made some good connections, including a stuntman and detective that he'd kept in contact with. When his daughter is abducted by what appears to be a gang and they obviously are looking for a ransom, he will need all the help and friends he can find.

This book had great potential but moved a bit too slowly for me. I feel like it revisited some of the information repeatedly even when it wasn't needed. I still liked it but would have enjoyed it more if it had a little more zip to it.

AUDIOBOOK: The audiobook was more enjoyable because the author did his own narration. As a person with an acting background, he did a wonderful job. The audiobook was by far more enjoyable that reading it on my own. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the ebook and audiobook.

The writing places you right in the heart of the action, seeing these characters, even feeling their anxiety. You’ll bite your nails while cheering some on and wishing failure upon others. Hollywood Hustle is a must read and you will want to know what’s coming next.

This was a sad but inspiring story and could be a true story. It did have a happy ending, which always makes my day! This was my 1st book by Joh Lindstrom but will not be my last.

#HollywoodHustle
#NetGalley

A roller coaster beginning to end, this is the story of an aging movie star who has one of his movie plots basically happen to him. Drawing on hostage movie tropes and friends in the industry, he is off to try and save his daughter before it’s too late.

I really enjoy books about the industry so this was a good time for me, even though I don’t think I was necessarily the target audience.

Read this if you like: 24, Taken, Gone Girl, Tom Clancy

HOLLYWOOD HUSTLE
Jon Lindstrom, author
Mystery/Thriller

Follow Winston Greene and his two unlikely sidekicks as they desperately search for Winston’s kidnapped daughter while having to protect his granddaughter at the same time. Will the good prevail?

I came at this book with a skeptical mind, but I did a complete 180 turn when reading it. It is an action packed thriller. With all that one would expect from this genre. I would give it a solid 5 out of 5 stars

Jon Lindstrom, a four-time Emmy-nominated actor of General Hospital, Bosch, and True Detective fame, delivers HOLLYWOOD HUSTLE —set in the dark underbelly of the LA film industry a riveting, action-packed debut thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the explosive ending.

Set in Wrightwood, California, 81 miles northeast of Hollywood, we meet Winston Greene, an alcoholic who has been a film star. He wakes up with his six-year-old granddaughter, Amy (Amelia) by his side.

Amy is traumatized and unattended, holding a thumb drive, which contains a video of Win's adult daughter Clare (Clarissa) —the girl's mom, who has been kidnapped by a gang demanding all his movie money for her safe return.

Win's wife died tragically in a car accident years ago after an argument that still haunts him. Winston (Win) cannot tell the kidnappers he has NO money. After his wife died, he let his insurance lapse, and cancer, hospitals, and treatments wiped out all his money and savings. He only has his house and credit cards.

Frantically, he is desperate and puts off the kidnappers as he is afraid to go to the cops since they said they would kill his daughter. His house has some issues, and he will not get much for it due to some problems he discovers and cannot sell it quickly.

He turns to his two best friends for help—a former disgraced LAPD detective, Theodore (Teddy), and a legendary Hollywood stuntman, Grover Washington.

He gets updates from the kidnapper, stating they will send her body in bags if they do not get the money. Frantically, he tries to figure out how to raise the money and get his daughter back safely.

In the meantime, we hear from Clare and the kidnappers—a plan gone wrong. Will she be able to escape before it is too late? We also get the backstories of the characters. All the characters are flawed and have made mistakes. Win is trying to redeem himself and save his daughter and granddaughter.

There’s no easy way out for Winston or his daughter—they are killers and will do anything to get money. They think he has the cash or can get it. He will have to outsmart the kidnappers to get his daughter back alive. (yes, he needs Tommy Lee Jones to help save the day).

HOLLYWOOD HUSTLE is action-packed with a twisty plot and well-developed, deeply flawed characters you care about mixed with humor. Like a Hollywood film, the actor turned novelist (a Hollywood insider) knows his way around LA and includes some fun behind-the-scenes footage of the film industry and mentions of stars. I enjoyed Win's character, and he reminds me of Bosch.

High stakes, high octane, and heart-pounding! Fans of Michael Connelly and Alex Finlay will enjoy this thrill ride. Bosch fans will want to give this a whirl!

AUDIOBOOK: I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by the author (a pro), which bumped the book from 4 to 5 stars with a spectacular narration for an engaging performance for all voices. I highly recommend the audio! I cannot wait to see what comes next.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for a gifted ARC and ALC for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Feb 6, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars (audio)
Feb 2024 Must-Read Books
Feb Newsletter

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media & Jon Lindstrom for an audio ARC of Hollywood Hustle in exchange for an honest review.

I grew up a "soaps" girl, so I knew I had to read this thriller from General Hospital's very own Jon Lindstrom and it did not disappoint. Even better, I love that it was narrated by Lindstrom himself!

This a story that shows us the lengths a parent's love can reach, even for an estranged child.

Winston "Win" Greene is our MC. He is a washed up movie star whose world get turned upside down when he finds his 6 year old granddaughter, Amy, in his home when he wakes up one morning. Outside, he find an unsavory character that tells Win that his daughter has been kidnapped & being held for ransom. Win is told that he must give every last penny he has to get his daughter back & cannot involve the police or the kidnappers will kill his daughter & leave his granddaughter without a mother.

What the kidnappers don't know is that Win suffered a devastating illness in his recent past that wiped out his fortune & he doesn't possess the kind of money that they think he does. Desperate to save his daughter, Win teams up with his two closest friends, Grover, a former stuntman & Teddy, a former LAPD detective, to beat the kidnappers at their own game.

There were part of this novel that I laughed at, like the idiotic banter between the kidnappers. I'm not sure if that was intentional, but it cracked me up. But don't let that fool you, they are ruthless killers, although, it's more from stupidity than any actual planning.

I enjoyed the quick pacing of this story & the effortless reading of the writing style (i.e. it was straightforward & easy to follow).

My ultimate takeaway was Win's undying love for his troubled & estranged daughter & his willingness to leave himself with literally nothing in order to pay the ransom; as well has the friendship between Teddy, Grover & Win. Teddy & Grover are the definition of "ride-or-die" friends. I hope everyone has a Teddy or Grover or both in their lives!

This was a solid 4-star read for me.

Talk about a fantastic, edge-of-your-seat, gritty read! Thank you Jon Lindstrom for taking me out of my comfort zone with HOLLYWOOD HUSTLE! This awesome story is not my usual genre but when I first found out about it, I knew I had to read it. Lindstrom did a terrific job as narrator. His voice is calm and I was able to distinguish one character from another as he brought them to life. Also, his appreciation for LA noir is evident.

The characters are well developed so we understand the journey that led some of them to their destructive behavior. Win and his friendships with Grover and Teddy are steadfast as well as his sweet relationship with his granddaughter, Amy. Thank goodness for good friends and for HOPE!

I was very lucky to receive an advanced copy of the audio book from NetGalley so thank you very much. Also, thank you to Jon Lindstrom and Dreamscape Media. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you Crooked Lane anions for my gifted copy and the chance to review it honestly.

Winston Greene wakes up one morning to find his granddaughter at his bedside— shaken up, holding onto a thumb drive. Her mother, Winston’s troubled daughter, has been kidnapped by a gang, demanding all of his money.

Hollywood Hustle is tense and fast paced, leaving me wanting more. I absolutely loved the action in this story and would love to see it on the big screen! I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and it had my emotions all over the place… in a good way. This is a debut for Jon Lindstrom and I’m happy to report it was a hit for me! I can’t wait to see what he’ll come out with next. Hollywood Hustle is out 2/6/24!

Happy reading!

This was fast paced and had me on edge the whole wild ride. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Thanks NetGallery!

This could easily be a script for a movie or tv series. The descriptions are detailed and vivid, the characters well defined, and the story full of action. There are a few surprises but for the most part, this is a straightforward narrative that we've seen a hundred times on tv shows. Just because the story is familiar, though, doesn't mean it's boring. The author does a good job of drawing the reader in to see what happens next - - even if it's been guessed. It's an entertaining book to read while curled up by the fireplace.

Great audiobook and narration! I’ve been a huge fan of Jon Lindstrom for years and have enjoyed him in many shows. Getting to listen to his debut novel has been a wonderful opportunity. I have listened to his narration before and to now listen to him read his own work, amazing. The characters and plot were all there, superb. Thanks for this opportunity!

Winston Green is facing the toughest situation in his life, and as a Hollywood Star, he's faced many death defying, life threatening situations. His daughter Clair has been kidnapped for ransom and he needs to scramble to gather the cash to pay off the kidnappers before they kill Clair, leaving her daughter, Amy without a mother. Along with his good friends, Grover, a Hollywood stuntman and Teddy, a disgraced former LAPD officer, they investigate and collect evidence and funds to get Clair back.

Hollywood Hustle is an action packed thrill ride of a novel, filled with car chases, gun battles, and fights that could easily be a Hollywood action flick. It kept me on the edge of my seat with action, but there wasn't a lot of substance, character development or growth, so the story was very one dimension and basic. I definitely enjoyed the change of pace from my normal inspiring and romantic reads, but I doubt it will be a book that I find memorable or recommend often.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of Hollywood Hustle by Jon Lindstrom. It was narrated by the author and I found his narration to be excellent, but then he is an actor. Hollywood Hustle starts out quickly with the granddaughter standing at his bedside alone. He finds out that his daughter has been kidnapped and he is on a mission to find her and save her. I found the book entertaining and very good, depicting what I picture Hollywood to be like, drugs and fast living. Thanks also to Dreamscape Media for the chance to listen to this book. #NetGalley #HollywoodHustle