I love Lee Goldberg's writing style, and this book reminded me just how much. His writing is witty and clever, and I am thoroughly enjoying this series. I loved True Fiction, and Killer Thriller is a great follow up to it. I'd highly recommend this and any other Goldberg book.

While I loved the first book in the series(True Fiction) - so much so I jumped right into book 2, pushing aside other things! sadly, Killer Thriller just didn't do it for me...Still well written, still great characters. I really think it just got loaded down with too much detail. It felt drawn out and dull while developing the story which made it hard to stay invested in Ian and care about the faster paced bits later in the book.

This book is extremely enjoyable and unpretentious. It is exactly as expected: a fun, chase-filled thriller. This time Ian follows Margo's lead.

Like an American Johnny English, the comedic-coincidentals never fail to amuse, whilst the plot thickens.

When I read Lee Goldberg’s True Fiction it was a book that was pure fun to read. His second book that once again follows author Ian Ludlow once again had me laughing out loud. Ian writes thrillers with a James Bond-like character who gets involved in situations that tend to come true in real life.

In Killer Thriller Ian is researching his next book in Hong Kong while also doing publicity photos to promote the movie that they are filming around his Straker character. His new book involves a plot by the Chinese to topple the United States. Using the internet in his hotel room, his access is being monitored at a secret Chinese base where they are actually working on a plan to topple the United States. They assume that he is an American agent who must be eliminated. At first Ian is oblivious to the attempts on his life. Once it becomes obvious there is only one thing to do. Ian has to ask himself “What would Straker do?”

Case scenes, a possible assassination, blackmail, kidnappings and snappy dialogue make this book purely entertaining. Lee Gold erg revs up the action as the plot is discovered and continues the pace through the closing pages. This is an entertaining read that will have you looking forward to further adventures with Ian Ludlow.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ian Ludlow, former television script writer and best-selling author writes books that get the attention of the CIA, mostly because they tend to come too close to the truth. Doing research in Hong Kong, it doesn’t take long for Ian and his assistant, Margo French, to become a target for the Chinese government who believe that his relationship with the CIA makes him a high profile spy.

As in the first Ian Ludlow book, the hapless author finds himself in bizarre situations that have terrifying global consequences. Suspenseful, exciting chases, unique characters and an absolutely pleasurable way to pass an evening. Or, well into the night because you won’t be able to put it down.

This is the follow up to True Fiction, which I loved for its bonkers originality, and while the basic idea is the same, this has a completely different setting and even faster paced OTT action. It is not actually due to be published until February 2019, but was approaching the dreaded “3 month” limit on NetGalley (what does happen if you exceed this?), a perfect excuse to bump it up the list.
You do not have to read the first book to enjoy this as there’s a useful recap at the start, but events from it are referred to quite often.

Ian Ludlow, bestselling author of the Clint Straker action series, is back in Seattle promoting his latest book, secretly based on the events of True Fiction, when the head of the CIA offers him a job as a spy. Sensibly turning him down, as he knows his limitations, he goes back to writing, but when Margo French shows up, homeless because her PTSD prevents her from holding down a job, he takes her on as an assistant for his trip to China. A Straker book is being made into a movie, starring short, ageing movie star Damon Matthews, (remind you of anyone?) and Ian has been invited over to promote it. The Chinese spying agency, alarmed that their routine hack of his laptop has revealed suspiciously prescient details of an impending plot to take over the USA, send their agents after him, leading to chase scenes rivalling anything he ever written.

I enjoyed this almost as much as the first book, probably because that one was so unexpectedly funny. This one didn’t have Ronnie/The Vine in it, nor any comparable creations. While still clearly a spoof, full of James Bond references and writerly in-jokes, this was a more straightforward spy/conspiracy thriller.
As before, not great literature but fantastic escapism if you love action movies and tongue-in-cheek ridiculousness.

A good Summertime read novel, with a interesting premise. The characters are very cliché and the plot predictable and not very interesting.

This is just about okay ..usual sort of prejudice about lesbians which excited the writer, this scenario of thriller writer whose books pages real crimes is fun but feels soft of dated with cliche tropes .. fun for some, a bit tired for me!

Ian Ludlow, hack writer extraordinaire, returns with an encore performance that matches his first appearance. Ian is once again thrust into the middle of a crisis, with the fate of the United States (and arguably, the rest of the world) on the line.

While author Lee Goldberg doesn’t share the humorous excerpts from Ian’s novels this time around, he does take aim at the movie industry. Ian’s latest book is being turned into a film, and the industry’s writers scrape away any resemblance of what Ian originally created. Some of the altered scenes are even more over-the-top than Ian’s novels, thus offering some entertaining moments.

Ian’s partner from the first book, Margo French, returns to provide the same humorous tension between herself and Ludlow. Scenes quickly flip back and forth between the different characters and keep the story on a steady pace, eventually finishing with a nail-biting ending.

If there is a weak aspect of this novel, it is the inexplicable use of an actual person. Though Mr. Goldberg never referred to the President of the United States by name, the description left no doubt who he was talking about. As a person who likes to separate fiction from reality, I steer clear of the alphabet channels (CNN, Fox, MSNBC) for news and don’t like to come across it when reading a fictional story. Why the author chose to rehash old news instead of creating someone new is unexplainable. Mr. Goldberg has more than enough talent and shouldn’t need to resort to these tactics for a few cheap laughs.

Even so, when you add up all the powerful elements in this story they can overcome anything. The few references to the first book, “True Fiction,” do not spoil the story for anyone who has not yet read it (and I recommend you read that story also), and both books are standalones. This is a fun, entertaining spy story, told with a light touch and a generous sprinkling of laughter. Four-and-a-half stars, rounded to five.

Clint Striker, freelance for hire is Ian Ludlow's meal ticket. Ludlow has written outrageous terrorist plots for Clint to expose. Strangely these plots tend to come true. Enter the CIA. Wouldn't Ian like to become a world travel researcher for his thriller novels, while also working for the CIA. As Ian says, "author by day, secret agent by night." And so begins a step into the world of money, espionage, murder, kidnapping, and death.
Killer Thriller is a convoluted plot within a plot within a plot story that while complex is easy to follow. Ian and his friend, Margo French, face many obstacles and dangers as they attempt to protect the good and bring the bad to justice. The novel ends with a satisfactory but not perfect conclusion to this plot. However implied is the idea that more plots are in need of diffusing and so we can look forward to Ian and Margo facing more intrigue.
This was an enjoyable novel. Danger was present but not overdone, intrigue was prominent but not unrealistic. The sprinkling of humor was also a plus.
I received an advance copy of this novel from Netgalley. My reviews are unbiased and completely my own. #netgalley #killerthriller

A thriller author writing stories about a thriller author! A very unique approach, a very good story. Mr Goldberg keeps the readers guessing while keeping Ian at least one step ahead of the bad guys. Do not try to watch TV while reading this book, youll miss some clues. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Goldberg books are always a sure deal for the reader. Fabulous story line and a perfect summer read.

I was introduced to Lee Goldberg’s writing through his collection of books featuring the mentally ill, but superb, detective, Adrian Monk. This book is not Monk. It is grittier, more explicit, and more action-packed.

Ian Ludlow is a fiction writer whose imagination is clever enough that it parallels reality — parallels so close that governments, in this case, the Chinese, are out to stop the leaks that are revealing their secret plans to take over the United States government.

The action moves from Los Angeles to Hong Kong to France. Ian has no idea that the plot of his latest (and yet unpublished) novel reveal plans that are already in motion to control the American Presidency. Ian, his CIA sidekick, Margo, and the fictional star of Ian’s books, Slacker, to save both the President and the American government.

The book held this reader’s attention from beginning to end – whether in LA, Hong Kong, or Paris. It required numerous dips into Wikipedia to check maps, historical references, and miscellaneous facts — a sign of a fun book for this reader.

My only concern was the extra grittiness and explicit speech and behavior recorded by the author. Because of this added touch, I am awarding the book 4-1/2 stars rather than the five I might expect to give a book of this caliber. The average reader, if not offended by the explicit and gritty text, will enjoy this book. It should be a welcome addition to the local libraries' bookshelf.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Have read several books by this author and have always enjoyed them. This book was no exception. I recommend this book.

I would say not a cozy but not terribly descriptive violence with relatable characters. Margo knows some moves this time around and is a worthy advasary for ‘the bad guys’. Although the plot is rather far fetched the buying of us companies & land has been true for years. Fun at times and fast moving thriller

Once again fiction meets fact as author/protagonist Ian Ludlow and his able assistant, Margo, become involved in an international thriller. Ian’s storylines are so realistic that the bad guys implement them and scan only be stopped by super skills of Ian’s character, Striker. This time the journey takes us to Hong Kong, but fear not, Ludlow’s trademarked humor and sarcasm travel well.

Killer thriller by Lee Goldberg.
A good read with likeable characters. Ian Ludlow is a writer but his stories somehow comes true. So when he and his assistant Margo French gets picked up by by 2 federal agents who take him to Michael Healy who is director of central intelligence agency.  He wants Ian to become Clint straker.  He will still be a writer travelling all over the world researching his international thrillersbut he will also be working for them. A perfect cover.
Although slow in places I still read it. 4*.

This is the second book in the Ian Ludlow series. I have read them both on Netgalley and i don't know what it is about them, they are just fun to read. There isn't anything specific about the writing or the storyline, but overall I just enjoy reading the books. I have read a bunch of thrillers, crime novels, and a few fantasy but this seems to fall into some different category that I am not quite sure how to explain. I am looking forward to additional books in this series to come out so I can continue following the author/hero Ian Ludlow. Overall, if you are looking for something entertaining, put this book on your list.

I've been a fan of Lee Goldberg since his Fox and O'Hara collaborations with Janet Evanovich, so the Ian Ludlow novels seemed like a good point of entree into his solo works. I adored the True Fiction and found the combination of Ian and Margo a refreshing one. When I saw Killer Thriller, I anxiously marked my calendar for its release date and was even happier to receive an advance copy.
No spoilers, but the reteaming of Ian and Margo, this time in China on the set of the well-intentioned Straker flick, was a definite departure from the US confines, but the chemistry is still there, making them the best part of the book, even when they stumble (or did they?) into the middle of international intrigue. At times the book seemed far flung outside the comforts of the US, and it took some time get get used to the location jumps, but they're regular enough that you fall into the rhythm.

I hope the continuing adventures of Ian and Margo are a long-lived series!