The untold story is sometimes the most important… Working as an investigative reporter and celebrity host on American Outrage, Jake Carlson’s life is out of control. His job is uncertain, he’s recovering from the death of his wife and his adoptive son, Sam, is not adjusting well.

Jake doesn’t have enough to go around. Trying to be everything to everyone, father and son occasionally exchange harsh words. Feeling ignored, thirteen year old Sam asks dad to find his real mom. When a series of unexpected, dangerous and mysterious events unfold, their bond of love becomes the only link.

Jake’s search for truth begins while on assignment. Close to the town where Sam’s adoption took place, he stops by the old office. The investigation turns discouraging when the space is occupied by a travel bureau. Jake inquires about the adoption agency, but no one seems to know anything. When he returns the next day, the travel agency has disappeared!

Many miles away, Sam is at home with the housekeeper. Frequently he calls dad for the latest information, but Sam still feels left out. When Jake runs into a dead end, Sam comes up with valuable information off the internet, and then he vanishes. Panicked, Jake blows a vital interview for American Outrage and endangers his job. But when Sam shows up in Jakes motel room, things take a risky turn.

Jake has been threatened, chased and shot at. Utilizing past friends and FBI contacts he stubbornly pursues all leads. Fearing the worst, he arranges for Sam to stay with a relative. However, when his dad goes missing, Sam won’t give up and starts a search on his own.

The web of deception is ever expanding. Falsified documents, white baby markets and high society cover-ups make the truth difficult to untangle. Who can be trusted? Who has the real answers? Will Sam want to hear them? Worst of all, who will become the next severed head and two hands in a bowling bag?

American Outrage is full of suspense at every turn. Hang on and fasten your seatbelt! ( )

Quick read, I could have probably finished in two evenings. Not a breakneck speed like Patterson, but just fast enough. The story is a bit dis-jointed, and a ton of unbelievable, but interesting and entertaining nonetheless. As far as the character of Jake was concerned, I really couldn't determine which real life character he was modeled after and I think that kept me from being too concerned with some of his actions. The one thing I really liked was how Green got in the correct pronunciation of difficult character names without it being obvious. That was very clever and much appreciated. ( )

As host of the TV news show American Outrage the widowed Jake Carlson is an expert at digging up the truth behind the real story. When his teenage adopted son, Sam, asks Jake to track down his birth mother Jake grudgingly agrees. Sam has been acting up in school lately and Jake thinks finding his birth mother might bring Sam some peace.

The further Jake digs the more he reveals shocking evidence of crimes including illegal baby trafficking and a long line of cover ups in one of New York's wealthiest political families. Jake and Sam get caught up in a dangerous game with players who will stop at nothing to keep the truth from being revealed.

I enjoyed listening to the abridged version of American Outrage and thought it was a great story but just a little too predictable. I saw situations coming from a mile away and even correctly guessed the ending but I still felt that it was worth my time. Jake is endearing as the caring Dad who is trying to do right by his son and Sam is an annoying know-it-all with a "potty mouth" but Green makes it work within the story line.

What I also liked about the story is that when all was said and done, Jake got a taste of what it was like to be on the opposite end of the media spectacle. This was my first book by Tim Green and I liked it well enough that I'll be on the lookout for more by him. I recommend this one for action lovers. ( )

Picked up this audio book in the library and upon returning home was disappointed to find that only 11 LT members had it in their library. However, I am happy to report that while the writing was not particularly impressive; the story did hold my interest.
The book tells the story of an adopted teen boy who after the death of his mother asks his father to assist him in the search for his birth mother. The search takes them on a dangerous adventure that includes Albanian hoods, an underhanded senator and a blood thirsty rival at Jake's (the boy’s father) TV show, American Outrage.
I have listened to books which are much more popular like the Evonovich series which I found much less interesting. ( )

Tabloid journalist who endangers himself and his son in a tangle with an old political family and Albanian organized crime. ( )