APRIL 2020 - AudioFile
An ensemble of narrators presents a psychological thriller with twists and turns throughout. Narrators voicing different points of view change with each chapter—adding depth and nuance to the story. Beth Montgomery and her husband, Jay, seem to have the perfect life. But when Beth's former best friend, Cassie, shows up unexpectedly, all the carefully hidden cracks begin to show. The story explores the roles we all play in our personal relationships and the changes and consequences that often result when we are unwilling or unable to remain in those roles. Though the story begins a bit slowly, ultimately it’s fast paced, imaginative, and surprising. K.S.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
★ 12/16/2019
Timid Beth Montgomery and fearless Cassie Ogilvy, the protagonists of McInnis’s exceptional first suspense novel, were roommates one year at Boston’s New England Institute of Music. They became best friends, but something happened that resulted in Beth’s wanting never to see Cassie again after leaving college. Years later, in Los Angeles, Beth appears to have the perfect life—a handsome husband and a beautiful mansion. But she and her would-be film producer husband are drowning in debt, he cheats on her, and she has given up her dream of a music career. Cassie’s life doesn’t even have the veneer of success, and she has just fled the scene of a quadruple homicide, including the death of an undercover LAPD officer, the result of a botched drug deal. Disguised in a blonde wig and carrying a suitcase full of blood-splattered cash, the panicky Cassie invades Beth’s home, hoping to avoid the police and her violent boyfriend. Though each woman thinks she knows the other one, trust issues, deceit, and hidden agendas are at the heart of their reunion. Believable secrets, lies, and twists propel this edgy thriller, a fresh riff on the Gone Girl motif. Agent: Helen Heller, Helen Heller Agency (Canada). (Feb.)
From the Publisher
"Exceptional...A fresh riff on the Gone Girl motif."—Publishers Weekly
"Fans of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl and Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies will find much to love."—Library Journal
"This is a terrific debut for McInnis... She is adept at not only setting the scene but her characters, including Beth's husband, have depth. This is definitely a writer to watch."—The Globe and Mail
"Fast, twisty and totally unexpected. A riveting read!"—Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door
"McInnis is a fine writer and Framed has a double twist I didn't see coming.—Toronto Star
"A heart-stopping thriller that makes you think twice about those you think you know."—FreshFiction.com
"With a narrative that keeps the tension rising throughout, from one twist to another, Framed is going to be one of the more deliciously enticing thriller reads of 2020."—Mystery Scene magazine
"Just when you believe that you have an inkling of what's happening, you're wrong! McInnis has an excellent way of weaving in clues and setting the stage for a blockbuster ending that is positively jaw-dropping."—TheMysterySite.com
"Nothing is as it seems in this story. Or is it? Complete with false leads, superfluous characters serving to distract, a gripping atmosphere and fast-paced storytelling, this book is an extremely engaging and enjoyable read."—TheGirlyBookClub.com
"FRAMED by S.L. McInnis is absolutely sensational! With a stunning blend of brilliant psychological suspense and hard-hitting police procedural, this explosive thriller has a cast of vivid, well-developed characters, a gripping, taut plot with twists in every chapter, perfectly placed clues, and a shocking, fully satisfying ending. It's one of the best thrillers I've read this year!"—Samantha M. Bailey, author of Woman on the Edge
Library Journal
02/01/2020
DEBUT Washed-up piano prodigy Beth Montgomery hates her husband and her life. Deep in debt, she watches him flirt with other women and sink money into a dream project, while she toils away as a music teacher. When her college roommate Cassie Ogilvy turns up, she reluctantly offers her spare bedroom. Unbeknownst to Beth, her old friend is on the run with a bag of cash, has been implicated in an attempted murder, and is wanted by the man she double-crossed. Hard feelings, long-buried memories, and circumstance set Beth and her friend on a collision course culminating in the ultimate betrayal and eventual frame-up. VERDICT Short chapters and engaging storytelling with alternating perspectives make this a quick read. A somewhat predictable resolution is offset by a surprise twist in the final pages. The nonlinear plot might confuse some readers, but fans of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl and Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies will find much to love. [See Prepub Alert, 7/29/19.]—Vicki Briner, Broomfield, CO
