A True Story is a story about the nature of reality and the intrinsic unreliability of perspective. It is allusive literary fiction disguised as a cheap, pulpy crime novel where You, the listener, become the detective and the story itself becomes suspect. Nothing exists outside of the frame of the narrator. No character can have a true voice—only impersonation. The difference between truth and lies becomes meaningless; everything becomes a reflection of itself. It is, then, the job of the astute listener to glean the truth of the misrepresented characters, their soft sorrows, through the broken lens of the narrator—to see things for what they are and not simply for what they seem.

Through the book, we follow the protagonist, John Smith, through a series of events involving crime, deception, and personal turmoil.

The story begins with an unnamed narrator addressing the listener directly, apologizing for breaking storytelling conventions, assuring the listener that he had no part in the soon-to-be unfolding events, and setting the stage for a narrative that promises to be pure and true.

After a false start, John's life is depicted in detail, including his relationship with his wife, Mary, his affair with Bella, and his burgeoning obsession with Donna.

The narrative also explores his interactions with other characters, such as Bruce, Pepe, and Ethelbert, who play significant roles in the unfolding drama, as John becomes involved in various criminal activities, including drug deals, burglaries and insurance fraud.

When the story takes a dark turn, John is left to navigate through these challenges, dealing with the consequences of his actions and the relentless pursuit of Ethelbert E. Ethelbert, an insurance investigator.

The document is rich in descriptive language, character development, and thematic elements, making it a complex and engaging listen with layers of hidden subtext and wordplay to delight the listener.