True Fiction: An Ian Ludlow Thriller

Early in this tongue-in-cheek series launch from Goldberg (The Job with Janet Evanovich), Ian Ludlow, author of the bestselling Clint Straker thriller series, returns to his Seattle hotel after doing a reading at a local bookstore. In the hotel bar, Ian sees a TV report that a commercial jet has crashed into a hotel on Honolulu’s Waikiki beach. He backs away from the bar, fearful that someone’s going to shout: “You’re responsible for this!” Years before at a writers’ retreat, Ian devised this exact terrorist scenario for the CIA to help the government prepare for the worst. He knows how it was done and by whom. Margo French, his minder at the book event, and Ian wind up on a road trip that takes them to Las Vegas and Southern California with assassins in hot pursuit. When Ian and Margo join forces with has-been TV star Ronnie Mancuso, who Ian knows from his script writing days, the wheels truly come off this Elmore Leonard mashed with Get Smart romp. Fans of parodic thrillers will enjoy the exhilarating ride. (Apr.)