Framed by John M. Green

Framed is a fun art-heist thriller that is both a tribute to the genius of Vincent van Gogh and a homage to the plucky perceptiveness of Veronica Mars.

JJ is a meek art conservator and van Gogh superfan from Sydney that finds herself swept into a sprawling international crime syndicate of stolen art, fake identities, and missing appendages.

When JJ takes a photo of her neighbour’s apartment and she spies what she thinks may be a priceless artwork or two, she begins an investigation that will ultimately lead her to reconnect with her estranged father, a detective with a deep knowledge of Sydney’s criminal underground. The plot is therefore a delightful mix of Rear Window meets The Da Vinci Code meets Underbelly, with a sprinkling of Antiques Roadshow on top.

John M Green writes with a fast pace that captivates and intrigues - even when describing tedious art restoration techniques.

Not all the characters are a delight. Some are actually quite repugnant in their villainy and I dreaded every time we returned to them. However, the protagonist JJ makes up for all that with her unique mix of charisma, neuroses, and pop culture references.

Judging from the bombshell last line of this book, I suspect this will not be the last time we hear from JJ. If that’s the case, I can’t wait.

Title: Framed

Author: John M. Green

Publisher: Pantera Press / Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 2 August 2022

RRP: $29.99 AUD