This book is deliciously funny. Margo and Ian once again find themselves in the middle of a spy plot. This time Margo is actually working for the Agency and has the means to defend herself. She fights off bad guys with a dildo and fish which astonishes Ian. He is constantly wishing to be cool, suave and physically fit like the lead character in his books. All he has going for him is his great ability with words and making plots work. They say and the funniest things that will make you laugh out loud throughout the story. Excellent plot.

This book is fast-paced action and would likely be an exciting movie. The unlikely duo of Ian Ludlow, author, and his assistant Margo, are on another wild adventure.

Killer Thriller is a fantastic follow-up to True Fiction. It 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.

This was a quick, fun and easy read. This is the second book in the Ian Ludlow series. I had read the first, but it’s not necessary to read it before this one. The main character, Ian Ludlow, is an author of spy novels, he and his ‘assistant’, Margo French are in Hong Kong to provide feedback on a script that is based on one of his novels. Ian is also there to perform research on his upcoming novel and tours various locations around Hong Kong to get a ‘feel’ to realistically incorporate the location into the novel. Unbeknownst to him, the Chinese are watching his every move and believe him to be a spy. Soon Ian and Margo are on the run, using their wits to keep one step ahead of the Chinese. I am looking forward to the next in the series.

Completely implausible and sometimes over the top but you know what- it was a very fun read. I missed the first one so this was a standalone; Goldberg gave me enough info to know what was going on. Ian and Margo have found themselves in a world of trouble with the Chinese, who think he's some sort of super duper spy, which he's not (obviously!). How they get out of this mess, well, it's a hoot. There are any number of world conspiracy/bad stuff thrillers out there right now but this is different. Thanks to net galley for the ARC.

I latched onto this because I generally like Lee Goldberg's writing but this one seemed too far fetched for me to get into. I am kind of off spy thrillers these days.

This was my first Lee Goldberg read, however it won't be my last.

Ludlow. Ian Ludlow. Writes about spies, and now he has been drawn into a real life CIA operation.

What a fun and fantasic ride Killer Thriller was. It does kind of carry on from the first book by the looks of it, however that did not affect my reading of Killer Thriller, as we are given enough background information to get us up to speed.

I love his "partner" Margo. OMG she had me in tears of laughter at times. She was completely unexpected.

I have to say, Ian made the professionals look like idiots at times - and I liked it haha. Sucked in you smug bastards!

You never knew where the next pages of this story was going to take you, and even though you kind of knew how the story was going to end, I couldn't wait to turn each page.

I now need to go back and read the first book, and can't wait to see where this series goes next.

4.5 stars, actually.

Improbable. Irreverent. Amusing. Fun characters. Those are among the words that popped into my mind as I read this well-written adventure "starring" writer Ian Ludlow and his very capable research assistant Margo French (the second in a series). Toss in a few zingers aimed at certain U.S. government leaders (a POTUS who is fond of Tweets that counter what other members of his cabinet say, for instance), and I was hooked from the git-go.

Ian is a successful writer of books featuring hulking Jack Reacher-like hero Clint Straker; in fact, a movie is in production in which an actor with Tom Cruise stature is [mis]cast in the lead role (with appropriate jabs about his inappropriateness similar to those author Lee Child has endured with the casting of Cruise as Reacher). The movie is being funded by a filthy rich Hong Kong businessman, mostly so his beautiful daughter can be the female star. Suddenly, he is kidnapped, and a top CIA official claims the Chinese did the dirty deed.

Problem is, the plots Ian dreams up for his books have a strange tendency to come true in real life; in this instance, his story involves an ongoing conspiracy by the Chinese to take over the United States. And guess what? The Chinese, who really are in the final stages of just such a takeover, get wind of his writing. Thinking Ian therefore must be some kind of spy charged with undoing their plan, they set out to thwart Ian before he can thwart them - scrutinizing every word Ian speaks to identify secret codes (which gets pretty funny).

Ian, needless to say, is oblivious (at least at first) to the reality of his fiction - but the CIA is not. They try, without success, to recruit him as an undercover agent. Taking a different tack, they follow Ian and Margo to Hong Kong, where the Straker movie is being filmed. Their efforts to keep the pair safe are only marginally successful, resulting in a few wild chases and near misses (these, too, can be humorous; at one point, for instance, Margo, a lesbian, successfully fends off would-be killers with her dildo).

And so it goes right up to the end. This is a series, so of course all's well that ends well, at least for Ian and Margo. The whole thing is a clever romp, and I'm already looking forward to the pair's next adventure. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review an advance copy.

Killer Thriller by Lee Goldberg
2 stars
Two dimensional
This is the second in the Ian Ludlow series. The first was True Fiction which was well received, so I expected a decent read.
Ian Ludlow is a writer, much like the author, and in the book is the screenwriter of a film being made on location in Hong Kong so much of the action takes place in the Far East. He is accompanied by his rude and acerbic sidekick, Margo French, who, surprisingly also demonstrates her talents as a martial arts expert. Unknown to Ludlow, he is being tracked 24/7 by the Chinese who think he is a CIA spy. As a result, quite a few of the people who cross his path pay the ultimate penalty yet Ludlow, of course, is spared.
I dislike giving mediocre reviews, but there were times during reading the novel that I nearly gave up in despair. Time is a precious commodity, and once I find myself wondering what else I could be doing, it instead suggests that the answer does not include reading the book in hand.
Good writing transports the reader to another world in which it is OK to suspend belief. Good writing draws in the reader and makes him care about the characters as if they are real people. Unfortunately, I didn’t care about any of the characters and was so easily distracted I found I had to force myself to pick up my Kindle to read some more.
The characters were two dimensional, and at times the dialogue was laughable – much like the action scenes of the film being made. The differences between "goodies" and "baddies" were so clear cut that there was no chance of confusing the two. The plot would have benefitted from several shades of grey and characters who were more complex.
I have been to Hong Kong many times, and the description of the island and of Kowloon was atmospheric and comprehensive. In fact, I found there was so much of it, it became tiresome in places. It was almost as if the author, having written detailed notes, felt obliged to cram in every single piece of information. Very often less is more. (As an aside, all Hong Kong taxis have a security screen protecting the driver so the passengers can't access the front seats).
I am sure I will be in the minority in disliking the book as Mr Goldberg appears to have a loyal following of fans. Reading his bio, he comes across as fun-loving and not taking himself too seriously, so I am sure he will understand that his style will not appeal to everyone and will forgive me for expressing my honest opinion.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Author Lee Goldberg has started a new series about an author who bumbles into international conspiracies. Ironically the main character, Ian Ludlow, is a pen name Goldberg used early in his career.

Killer Thriller kicks off with Ludlow getting ready to head to Hong Kong. A movie is being made about one of his books. The trip gives him the idea to set another book in China so he uses the trip also to research settings for his next story.

Little does Ludlow know his laptop has been hacked and various Chinese officials think Ludlow might be a spy. Details in his book are very close to some real events going with Chinese spies.

A cat-and-mouse game then starts as Ludlow tries to escape the Chinese and also uncover what they are up to. Yet at the same time his assistant Margo might actually be a spy. One more question he needs to answer if he wants to stay alive.

The way Author Goldberg writes Ludlow is fun. This is a guy who has researched a good amount about fights and spy trade. But his life is behind a keyboard. Making his ideas to get out of tricky situations very outside the box.

Overall the story is very action packed. Yet is paced out well. Intermixed with Ludlow’s view are chapters from the view of the Chinese spies. These chapters give context to the overall conspiracy and why they have miss targeted Ludlow as being involved.

This story also has humor. I have met Lee Goldberg a few times and know him to have a quick wit. That wit plays out in the dialogue in this story. More than once I had to chuckle at the quips characters jab at each other.

Anyone looking for some escapist reading I would suggest picking up Killer Thriller when it releases on February 12, 2019.

A free advanced review copy of this book given to my via NetGalley for this unbiased review.

The second book in the Ian Ludlow Thriller series, Killer Thriller is a great read. Humour, sarcasm and mystery, this thriller has engaging characters and a well written storyline that made it a pure pleasure to read. I will definitely be recommending and looking to read more

Ian Ludlow is in the sights of the CIA and international spies once more in this sequel to True Fiction. Accompanied by his sidekick, Margo (with some surprises in store for him!), he's in Hong Kong supposedly to supervise/assist in the filming of one of his novels when he finds himself involved in international intrigue once again.

These novels are pure action and fun. The line between fiction and "real" life is blurred as Ian channels his fictional hero to escape the assassins. There's nothing earth-shattering here and these novels don't complete directly with the traditional spy thrillers, but they are fun and engaging and the witty exchanges between Ian and Margo keep things light and funny yet within the realm of possibility. I loved this book!

If your novels keep coming true, do you try and make them more fantastical or more boring?

Ian Ludlow's latest novel isn't like his previous one. He needed a thriller that had international espionage, a conspiracy that would justify his Clint Straker character getting into life-threatening situations, and preferably a plot that wouldn't come true this time. But his far-fetched plot about a Chinese operation has him and his assistant, Margo French, mistaken for spies and the only ones able to stop an assassination.

I always seem to enjoy Lee Goldberg's thrillers. Whether it be his collaboration with Janet Evanovich (which gets a reference in this book) or his standalone novels, he always manages to make them fun and humorous. Some stories of this sort can fall flat through a lack of tension or poor pacing but neither problem is present in Killer Thriller.

There are quite a few in-jokes in this novel, such as the Evanovich reference, that you may miss if you aren't familiar with Lee and his writing. I don't think this detracts from the novel, but it may have enhanced my enjoyment more than the casual reader.

This is a great novel for anyone looking for a highly entertaining, funny, and fast-paced adventure.

I received an Advanced Review Copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Killer Thriller is the second book in the Ian Ludlow Thriller series. As with the first book, Killer Thriller presents another challenge for novelist Ian Ludlow. For some reason, his books seem to come true. And, in frightening and horrifying ways. This time, as Ian is researching his latest story, a conspiracy is underway to topple the government of the United States. With his somewhat reluctant assistant, Margo French, Ian is on the run from assassins, while trying to save his country from certain catastrophe.

I enjoyed Killer Thriller, although the relationship between Ian and Margo was more aggravating than entertaining. Ian is a likable, albeit reluctant, hero and the plot is interesting and, sadly, even somewhat believable. With a touch of James Bond, plenty of action, humor and an international stage, Killer Thriller is a great way to spend an afternoon.

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

Killer Thriller is the second book in the Ian Ludlow Thriller series. I read it as a stand-alone book and did not feel I was missing pieces of the story or characters. Ludlow is an author with a penchant for writing books that are a little too real for comfort.

In Killer Thriller, Ian’s new book in his Clint Straker series is being made into a movie. When Ian and his friend/assistant/partner-in-crime, Margot, arrive in Hong Kong to work on the movie set and research locations for future books, actions are misinterpreted. Danger and political intrigue ensue in a funny and action-packed adventure that takes us from Seattle to Hong Kong to Singapore to Paris. Ian uncovers a plot to control the U.S. government, and when the CIA won’t believe Ludlow’s assessment of the situation he has to ask himself, “What would Clint Straker do?”

The story is interesting and plausible. The action is James Bond-esque which is always good in my book. The story and action develop at a good pace and neither overshadow the other. Goldberg interjects humor into the story at the right moments which keeps it light and makes it fun to read.

The book is a little more sexually explicit than I like, but most people won’t be bothered it, and it won’t keep me from reading the first book in the series, True Fiction, and looking forward to next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Lee Goldberg scores again with Ian Ludlow in the second novel, Killer Thriller. Ludlow is the unlikeliest hero since Stephanie Plum and a worthy successor to the wild and witty thriller novel. This novel reunites Ian with a depressed Margo French, his sidekick from the first novel. Once again innocent Ian finds his life in jeopardy and is soon on the run to save his life. Margo proves herself again and combined with Ian's imaginative plotting they're sure to succeed and save the world.

Killer Thriller by Lee Goldberg, this is the 2nd book in this series but can be read as a stand alone....this was a pretty quick, interesting read the writing flowed and characters were pretty fleshed out, storyline was good..maybe not as good as the 1st in this series but I am looking forward to seeing where the next book takes us! Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers Thomas & Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC and give an honest review.

Killer Thriller by Lee Goldberg – 5 Stars
Publisher: Poisoned Penn Press
ISBN: 9781503903562

I read the first book in the Ian Ludlow series, True Fiction, last March and liked it. I enjoyed getting reacquainted with the characters and plot in this second book. It was fast paced, clever, and exciting with dry humor that poked fun at the movie industry and Washington officials.
Ian is a regular guy who while writing and selling adventure novels finds himself in a real-life international thriller. The story is so well written that I can almost believe in a conspiracy that China is plotting to take over the U. S.
It had a well constructed believable plot. I enjoyed this novel very much and look forward to finding out what situation Ian and Margo can get into in book three of the series.

Reviewer: Nancy

Ian Ludlow, best selling author of the Clint Straker action series, is back with his erstwhile author escort Margo French in the second entry of Lee Goldberg's latest series, and his writer's imagination has once against thrust him inadvertently into the middle of an international espionage plot to take down the U.S. government.

I'm not going to walk you through that plot, not even its early set-up -- watching it unfold from the start is part of the fun of Killer Thriller. But even more than that, the plot is far less important than how Ian and Margo handle it, as they go with its flow from Seattle to Hong Kong to Singapore to Paris.

In the first entry of the series, True Fiction (which by the way you need not have read to enjoy this follow-up), Ludlow is hired by the CIA, along with other writers, to imagine terrorist scenarios, the idea being that the CIA can then prepare for the most credible of those fictional schemes. When his imagined act of terror comes true, Ian finds his life is in danger, with Margo unwittingly dragged into it with him. What gets them out of it is Ian asking himself, despite being an avowed nebbish, "What would Clint Straker do?" and (reluctantly, because he is after all just a nebbish) doing it.

In Killer Thriller, Ian takes a different approach once he realizes what he and Margo have gotten themselves into. This time it's not what would Straker do, it's what would Ian Ludlow, bestselling author of spy novels, imagine as the best possible story line? The theory being that that is likely the real-life story line (a bit meta-fictional and self-fulfulling, but it works). In a way, that's much more satisfying than him trying to be Straker, since that's who he actually is (Ian, not Straker).

I find myself in thrall to Goldberg's ability as a writer. I only just discovered him last summer and have since read four of his titles (including the two in this Ian Ludlow series -- there is actually an earlier Ian Ludlow series, though not as a character, Goldberg having written his first novel and its sequels under that pseudonym). I listened to the prior three books in audio before reading the print edition of Killer Thriller, kindly provided to me in advance of the February 2019 publication date by NetGalley.com.

For someone writing the present-day version of pulp fiction -- quick-read crime and action tales -- and cranking them out at a mind-boggling pace (around 70 titles in the past 15 years, roughly half on his own, the rest co-written with others) -- Goldberg does a remarkable job with character. Come up with all the clever plots in the world, write the snappiest of dialogue, and it's not going to work if you don't have good characters. Or (saying pretty much the same thing) create some good characters, and a good story and good dialogue will naturally ensue.

Of course it doesn't hurt that Goldberg does indeed come up with clever plots and seems to effortlessly write snappy, humorous dialogue. Together with his ability to base it all on solid characterization, it's a formula that works extremely well, at least for me. I value literary fiction more than anything, even if I do love to mix in good genre fiction (science fiction, mystery, historical, conspiracy thrillers, political and spy thrillers). The best of all worlds is when a good genre writer is also a good literary craftsman, and having read four of his books, I will state unequivocally that Lee Goldberg fits that bill.

Having said all that, I give Killer Thriller four stars (I want to give it four and a half) rather than five. Two reasons:

1. It takes a while for this story to get going. I went back and checked, and the build-up is good, the story is all there, the new characters are well developed and they're fun (especially those involved in the Straker movie). But it's not until about halfway through that Ian and Margo are thrown into the frying pan -- in True Fiction, they're in the fire just about from the start.

2. No Ronnie? What truly elevated True Fiction for me was when Ronnie came in to help Ian and Margo. He was a great character who added a new element to the story right when it was needed -- changed the whole paradigm, in fact, at the exact moment where the plot was in danger of losing steam. Not only does Ronnie himself not make an appearance in Killer Thriller, no one like him enters the picture. That added dimension in True Fiction is notably missing.

But those are minor quibbles. The slow start did blunt my enthusiasm through the first third of the book, but thereafter was forgotten as the pace picked up. That Ian figured this out for himself rather than having Ronnie come in to save his butt, that's OK. Overall, Killer Thriller is an excellent character-based, plot-driven, dialogue-fueled book that does its series justice.

I received an e-galley of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Note: While this is a sequel and second in a series, it can be read as a stand-alone due to recap introduction. Ian Ludlow's paycheck is based on his character, Clint Striker, a freelance for hire who saves the world via James Bond style - but the plots of Ludlow's books seem to keep happening - enter the CIA. Good fast-paced book, While I prefer Goldberg's madcap Fox & O'Hare series, I enjoy his Ian Ludlow series also. 3.5 out of 5 stars.