Book Review: True Fiction by Lee Goldberg

True Fiction
by Lee Goldberg

I’ve enjoyed the writing of Lee Goldberg ever since the 1980s, when he was a writer/producer on such popular television shows as Murphy’s Law, The Cosby Mysteries, SeaQuest 2032, Diagnosis Murder, Monk and Psych. His writing tends to capture the “snappy” back-and-forth patter that I’ve enjoyed in TV action-adventure dramas.

In addition to writing 15 “Monk” novels, 8 “Diagnosis: Murder” novels, and co-authoring the first five “Fox & O’Hare” novels with Janet Evanovich, Goldberg has had five series of original novels (so far), and True Fiction is the first in one of those series. It came out in 2018 and it already has a sequel, and a third volume coming later in 2020.

In True Fiction, the central character is depressed thriller writer Ian Ludlow, creator of the “men’s adventure” series featuring ultra-heroic Clint Straker. After having survived two recent accidents that left him with an destroyed home and a broken arm, Ludlow is on a book-signing tour in Seattle for his latest Straker novel. A terrorist attack occurs, involving a civilian airliner crashing into a Hawaiian resort, leaving hundreds dead and thousands injured. Ludlow recognizes the events as a plotline he had suggested when working temporarily for a government security think tank. When he discovers that all the other authors who had taken part in the think tank are now dead, all under mysterious circumstances, he believes the CIA is trying to kill him to cover up his involvement in the terror attack’s true origins.

Ludlow goes on the run with Margo French, the young woman who was supposed to escort him to all his bookstore appearances. Margo’s not happy about it, but she’s now being targeted by the same sinister forces after Ian, so she doesn’t have much choice. Eventually, they team up with an eccentric former actor — the star of one of the TV shows Ian used to write for, Hollywood & Vine. Together, they have to figure out how to stay alive and take the fight to the people who are after them. Will mild-mannered, out-of-shape Ian Ludlow take on the persona of his tough-guy novel’s main character? Tune in to find out.

I enjoyed True Fiction, but the juxtaposition of a 9/11-like event and the comical, cheesy dialog of most of the characters made this a completely silly novel in the end. If you’re looking for some mindless action-adventure with some witty banter…you’ll probably enjoy this. If you’re looking for a serious, complex thriller…you probably won’t.

I’m also a fan of the types of TV shows that Ian Ludlow wrote for (“Hollywood & Vine” – featuring a cop that’s half-man/half-plant) — cheesy, high-concept silliness, like Manimal, The Sentinel, Cop Rock or Mann & Machine. So, seeing Goldberg poke merciless fun at that genre was great.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the TV series Castle. I was reminded of that series, featuring a mystery/thriller writer assisting the police, as I read this. Although — “Richard Castle” was a charismatic and confident character, and Ian Ludlow is more of a flustered “every-man”. Still, the concept of a mystery/thriller writer involved in a real-life mystery/thriller plot is similar.]

[ official True Fiction page on the official Lee Goldberg web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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