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Jason Hammond Novels #1
Frame 232
During the reading of her mother’s will, Sheila Baker discovers that she has inherited everything her parents ever possessed, including their secrets. A mysterious safe deposit box key leads her to the answers to one of history’s greatest who killed John F. Kennedy? Not only does she have the missing film, revealing her mother as the infamous babushka lady, but she has proof that there was more than one shooter.On the run from people who would stop at nothing to keep secrets buried, Shelia turns to billionaire sleuth Jason Hammond for help. Having lost his own family in a tragic plane crash, Jason knows a thing or two about running from the past. With a target on their backs, can Jason uncover the truth in time, or will this shooter finally make their mark?
Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2013
About the author
Wil Mara
263 books62 followersWil Mara has worked as an author for over 34 years and currently has more than 325 books in print. He has written both fiction and nonfiction, for children and adults. His books have won multiple awards, reached bestseller lists, earned excellent reviews, and been translated into more than a dozen languages. 2005’s Wave won the New Jersey Notable Book Award, and 2012’s The Gemini Virus remained on Amazon’s list of ‘Ten Bestseller Medical Thrillers’ for 14 consecutive weeks. The most recent novel in his disaster series, Fallout, was nominated for the Edgar Award for Novel of the Year. And his children’s nonfiction publications have won countless awards and terrific reviews in all the leading trade journals, including Booklist, School Library Journal, Kirkus, and others.
Much of his work for children has been nonfiction for the school-library market. He also ghostwrote five of the popular ‘Boxcar Children’ mysteries. And starting in 2019, Rosen Publishing released the first of his new ‘Twisted’ series, which has been described as “Twilight Zones for kids.” It became the most pre-ordered fiction series in the company’s history. The first ‘Twisted’ book, The Videomaniac, was released on January 1 and sold through its first printing in less than a month. The second, House of a Million Rooms, was released on March 1 and, just a few weeks later, was chosen as a Main Selection Title by the Junior Library Guild.
Wil was also an editor, administrator, and executive inside the industry for over 20 years, working for such houses as Scholastic, McGraw-Hill, Macmillan, and Prentice-Hall until turning to fulltime writing in 2005. He is an associate member of the NJASL and an executive member of the Board of Directors for the New Jersey Center for the Book, which is an affiliate of the US Library of Congress. He is also the vice president of the Literary Alliance of New Jersey, the host of the ‘Voice of American Libraries’ podcast, and the 2019 recipient of the Literary Lion of New Jersey Award, whose past winners include Gus Friedrich, Dean Emeritus of Rutgers University, and Joyce Carol Oates, National Book Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist.
Wil is also an experienced speaker, presenter, and voice artist, having visited more than 300 schools and other institutions, and done the audio readings for many books, including his 2012 thriller The Gemini Virus. He continues to speak to audiences across the country (including via video) and do voice work as his writing schedule permits.
Much of his work for children has been nonfiction for the school-library market. He also ghostwrote five of the popular ‘Boxcar Children’ mysteries. And starting in 2019, Rosen Publishing released the first of his new ‘Twisted’ series, which has been described as “Twilight Zones for kids.” It became the most pre-ordered fiction series in the company’s history. The first ‘Twisted’ book, The Videomaniac, was released on January 1 and sold through its first printing in less than a month. The second, House of a Million Rooms, was released on March 1 and, just a few weeks later, was chosen as a Main Selection Title by the Junior Library Guild.
Wil was also an editor, administrator, and executive inside the industry for over 20 years, working for such houses as Scholastic, McGraw-Hill, Macmillan, and Prentice-Hall until turning to fulltime writing in 2005. He is an associate member of the NJASL and an executive member of the Board of Directors for the New Jersey Center for the Book, which is an affiliate of the US Library of Congress. He is also the vice president of the Literary Alliance of New Jersey, the host of the ‘Voice of American Libraries’ podcast, and the 2019 recipient of the Literary Lion of New Jersey Award, whose past winners include Gus Friedrich, Dean Emeritus of Rutgers University, and Joyce Carol Oates, National Book Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist.
Wil is also an experienced speaker, presenter, and voice artist, having visited more than 300 schools and other institutions, and done the audio readings for many books, including his 2012 thriller The Gemini Virus. He continues to speak to audiences across the country (including via video) and do voice work as his writing schedule permits.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
May 29, 2018
What an enjoyable read! A fast paced, well researched historical fiction thriller. Based on the assassination of JFK but from an intriguing angle.
August 27, 2019
Sarah Leigh Fogleman (a.k.a. Ally Carter), the American author was quoted as saying:
“I thought about how there are two types of secrets: the kind you want to keep in, and the kind you don’t dare let out.”
The former kind of secret was the theme of this story.
It all began on November 22, 1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. History tells us that one of the witnesses to the president’s murder was a woman who we have since nicknamed, “Babushka Lady.” The name is derived from the headscarf she wore, one similar to those worn by elderly Russian women.
History also tells us that “Babushka Lady” has never been identified.
But in Wil Mara’s fictional world, she is identified as Margaret Baker, a devotee of President Kennedy who skips out on work to take in the historical occasion of the presidential visit.
The headscarf (and coat) were too heavy for such a warm day. But Baker wasn’t wearing them for warmth, she was wearing them as a disguise. She was playing hooky from work and couldn’t afford for anyone to recognize her and report her to her boss, Dr. Lomax that his receptionist was not at work because of John F. Kennedy. Margaret knew that her boss, a demanding and often unreasonable man, would never knowingly allow her to spend even a portion of her workday at the presidential parade for Kennedy.
Dr. Lomax didn’t like President Kennedy, so much so in fact, that when he heard of the visit, he announced to his staff that the best thing that could happen is that Air Force One went down in a fiery blaze.
So Margaret Baker called in sick that day, donned her disguise and waited on Elm Street for the president’s limousine to come into view.
She chose a location that was much less crowded than many of the other streets along the parade route. Most people lined Main Street, since the motorcade would follow this street for many blocks. But the parade had one very unusual part of its route, just when Main Street intersected with Houston Street, the motorcade took a right turn, and then almost immediately made a very sharp left turn onto Elm Street, at Dealey Plaza, just past the Texas School Book Depository…
Most of the parade goers assumed the motorcade would continue straight on Main Street, so Elm was lightly populated.
So there Margaret stood, wearing her raincoat and headscarf and in her pocket a 8mm Paillard Bolex movie camera.
Next, Mara uses his word crafting skill to transport us to the Dealey Plaza of November 22, 1963…
“As the crowd’s roar continued to rise, Margaret reached into the pocket of her overcoat and took out the 8mm Paillard Bolex…she’d bought a virgin reel earlier in the week and loaded it just before she left the house that morning…
The cheering reached a near-deafening pitch, and she switched the unit on. Looking right, she saw the motorcycle flanked procession ease off main and onto Houston…then Kennedy’s 1961 Lincoln Continental appeared…its two fender mounted flags – Stars and Stripes to the left, the presidential seal on the right – flapping madly.
As soon as the president came into view, her eyes locked onto him. It was surreal to see the flesh-and-blood man in such close proximity. He was smiling and waving into the afternoon sunshine. The handsome young king among his subjects, she thought. When he used his left hand to sweep his chestnut hair off his forehead in that familiar way, her heart jumped.
The limo turned left off Houston and started down Elm, rolling ever closer. She was aware of a near-hypnotic feeling of fulfillment, to the point where she was no longer conscious of the Bolex camera in her hand. She might not have remembered it until the president was long gone if not for a woman close to her shrieking,
‘Oh, oh, look at Jackie! Look how beautiful she is!’
Snapping out of the trance, Margaret brought the Bolex up and activated it. Margaret kept the president and his wife in the center of the frame. She’d always had a steady hand and had been pleased with her film work in the past.
Between the sunlight and the unobstructed view, she thought, this should come out really well…
She continued to follow her subject through the lens, waiting for him to turn back, urging him to do so through sheer willpower. Then –
POP!
A sharp, firecracker-type sound echoed through the plaza…
Then the second one, she saw him raise his hands to his throat…
Margaret froze, uncertain what was happening, and the camera kept rolling…
When the third shot arrived, the right side of the president’s head blew out in a gruesome cascade of bone and tissue, she gasped audibly…
She finally looked up, the camera still held in place, and witnessed something that would replay in her nightmares for weeks to come – Jackie Kennedy, resplendent in her pink Chanel suit and matching pillbox hat, crawling on all fours across the trunk…in shocked hysteria, trying to retrieve parts of her husband’s brain and skull…
‘No…dear Lord, please…’
The limo’s engine roared as it picked up speed and zoomed off…
The crowd around her was now migrating to the other side of Elm. Margaret began moving forward, barely aware her legs were in motion. Everything had become dreamy and muted, like being underwater…
What snapped her back to reality was the scatter of red spots on the macadam. The sight of John Kennedy’s blood, like paint flicked off a too-soaked brush, brought her to a halt…
She moved to avoid stepping in it and kept going…
The clips I cobbled together above are but the “Reader’s Digest” version of how atmospheric this sequence was. There were many other mentally “picturesque” moments in this book.
I was also intrigued by the whole idea of very big secrets and the price one pays when they decide to keep them, the burden those secrets place on their life and in some cases the lives of the next generation. Mara spends time on building on this theme in the book.
Aside from that, I was held captive by the powerful pull of this story. Every page, every scene, every chapter had my full attention.
A study in one of the hardest, most unforgiving tragedies in modern history and the ways that the malleable, frail human being is bent and broken against it.
A wonderfully engrossing story from start to finish!
“I thought about how there are two types of secrets: the kind you want to keep in, and the kind you don’t dare let out.”
The former kind of secret was the theme of this story.
It all began on November 22, 1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. History tells us that one of the witnesses to the president’s murder was a woman who we have since nicknamed, “Babushka Lady.” The name is derived from the headscarf she wore, one similar to those worn by elderly Russian women.
History also tells us that “Babushka Lady” has never been identified.
But in Wil Mara’s fictional world, she is identified as Margaret Baker, a devotee of President Kennedy who skips out on work to take in the historical occasion of the presidential visit.
The headscarf (and coat) were too heavy for such a warm day. But Baker wasn’t wearing them for warmth, she was wearing them as a disguise. She was playing hooky from work and couldn’t afford for anyone to recognize her and report her to her boss, Dr. Lomax that his receptionist was not at work because of John F. Kennedy. Margaret knew that her boss, a demanding and often unreasonable man, would never knowingly allow her to spend even a portion of her workday at the presidential parade for Kennedy.
Dr. Lomax didn’t like President Kennedy, so much so in fact, that when he heard of the visit, he announced to his staff that the best thing that could happen is that Air Force One went down in a fiery blaze.
So Margaret Baker called in sick that day, donned her disguise and waited on Elm Street for the president’s limousine to come into view.
She chose a location that was much less crowded than many of the other streets along the parade route. Most people lined Main Street, since the motorcade would follow this street for many blocks. But the parade had one very unusual part of its route, just when Main Street intersected with Houston Street, the motorcade took a right turn, and then almost immediately made a very sharp left turn onto Elm Street, at Dealey Plaza, just past the Texas School Book Depository…
Most of the parade goers assumed the motorcade would continue straight on Main Street, so Elm was lightly populated.
So there Margaret stood, wearing her raincoat and headscarf and in her pocket a 8mm Paillard Bolex movie camera.
Next, Mara uses his word crafting skill to transport us to the Dealey Plaza of November 22, 1963…
“As the crowd’s roar continued to rise, Margaret reached into the pocket of her overcoat and took out the 8mm Paillard Bolex…she’d bought a virgin reel earlier in the week and loaded it just before she left the house that morning…
The cheering reached a near-deafening pitch, and she switched the unit on. Looking right, she saw the motorcycle flanked procession ease off main and onto Houston…then Kennedy’s 1961 Lincoln Continental appeared…its two fender mounted flags – Stars and Stripes to the left, the presidential seal on the right – flapping madly.
As soon as the president came into view, her eyes locked onto him. It was surreal to see the flesh-and-blood man in such close proximity. He was smiling and waving into the afternoon sunshine. The handsome young king among his subjects, she thought. When he used his left hand to sweep his chestnut hair off his forehead in that familiar way, her heart jumped.
The limo turned left off Houston and started down Elm, rolling ever closer. She was aware of a near-hypnotic feeling of fulfillment, to the point where she was no longer conscious of the Bolex camera in her hand. She might not have remembered it until the president was long gone if not for a woman close to her shrieking,
‘Oh, oh, look at Jackie! Look how beautiful she is!’
Snapping out of the trance, Margaret brought the Bolex up and activated it. Margaret kept the president and his wife in the center of the frame. She’d always had a steady hand and had been pleased with her film work in the past.
Between the sunlight and the unobstructed view, she thought, this should come out really well…
She continued to follow her subject through the lens, waiting for him to turn back, urging him to do so through sheer willpower. Then –
POP!
A sharp, firecracker-type sound echoed through the plaza…
Then the second one, she saw him raise his hands to his throat…
Margaret froze, uncertain what was happening, and the camera kept rolling…
When the third shot arrived, the right side of the president’s head blew out in a gruesome cascade of bone and tissue, she gasped audibly…
She finally looked up, the camera still held in place, and witnessed something that would replay in her nightmares for weeks to come – Jackie Kennedy, resplendent in her pink Chanel suit and matching pillbox hat, crawling on all fours across the trunk…in shocked hysteria, trying to retrieve parts of her husband’s brain and skull…
‘No…dear Lord, please…’
The limo’s engine roared as it picked up speed and zoomed off…
The crowd around her was now migrating to the other side of Elm. Margaret began moving forward, barely aware her legs were in motion. Everything had become dreamy and muted, like being underwater…
What snapped her back to reality was the scatter of red spots on the macadam. The sight of John Kennedy’s blood, like paint flicked off a too-soaked brush, brought her to a halt…
She moved to avoid stepping in it and kept going…
The clips I cobbled together above are but the “Reader’s Digest” version of how atmospheric this sequence was. There were many other mentally “picturesque” moments in this book.
I was also intrigued by the whole idea of very big secrets and the price one pays when they decide to keep them, the burden those secrets place on their life and in some cases the lives of the next generation. Mara spends time on building on this theme in the book.
Aside from that, I was held captive by the powerful pull of this story. Every page, every scene, every chapter had my full attention.
A study in one of the hardest, most unforgiving tragedies in modern history and the ways that the malleable, frail human being is bent and broken against it.
A wonderfully engrossing story from start to finish!
June 21, 2018
wonderful
August 17, 2013
On November 22, 1963, America and the rest of the world was indelibly changed by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas’s Dealey Plaza. Over the years, the stigma and sheer incredibility surrounding this event have given birth to conspiracy theories and an abundance of “what ifs”. Despite his own personal belief in the lone gunman theory and Lee Harvey Oswald’s culpability (explained in the book’s Afterword), Wil Mara creates an interesting and evocative fictional account of what could have happened that day. The angle that he pursues in “Frame 232” explores the mysterious and still-unsolved identity of the woman who is now known to history as the Babushka Lady. Consider: If this woman was filming the parade that fateful day, she would likely have obtained the most clear footage available, better than the Zapruder tape. Suppose, then, that as “Frame 232” postulates, she did manage to capture the assassination on film, but never told anyone and kept it hidden away, revealing this dark secret to her only daughter while on her deathbed.
Such is the moral and emotional dilemma in which Sheila Baker unwittingly finds herself. Terrified and confused, she turns to the only person whom she believes is trustworthy—billionaire Jason Hammond, who has spent the past few years using his considerable fortune to solve historical mysteries and to try to forget the tragedy that took away his family and shattered his faith. Embarking on a life-changing and history-altering journey to figure out the truth, the two experience the danger of exposing people and information that some have spent decades to conceal and that some will stop at nothing to keep from the public.
“Frame 232” is a meticulously-researched achievement of historical fiction, aptly published during the 50th Anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. Mara has crafted a thriller that will keep readers awake, not with fears of monsters or goblins but with a paranoia that maybe the men in the shadows really are out to get you. The novel develops at a relentless pace, providing readers with no chance to catch a breath as they are hurled into a frightening and exhilarating world of intrigue and shocking confessions. The story has a Christian backbone that makes this a suitable novel for young adults as well as more seasoned readers, as there is no profanity or lewd images, although the assassination is discussed in necessary detail that some may find disturbing. The Christian element is not overdone or sappy, but is rather delivered in a realistic fashion, so both Christians and non-Christians alike can enjoy this book. The only notable criticism lies in the often implausible carelessness of the protagonists, particularly during the first half of the novel. However, this does prevent the central characters from being too idealistic or impractical and therefore does not significantly detract from the storyline.
Such is the moral and emotional dilemma in which Sheila Baker unwittingly finds herself. Terrified and confused, she turns to the only person whom she believes is trustworthy—billionaire Jason Hammond, who has spent the past few years using his considerable fortune to solve historical mysteries and to try to forget the tragedy that took away his family and shattered his faith. Embarking on a life-changing and history-altering journey to figure out the truth, the two experience the danger of exposing people and information that some have spent decades to conceal and that some will stop at nothing to keep from the public.
“Frame 232” is a meticulously-researched achievement of historical fiction, aptly published during the 50th Anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. Mara has crafted a thriller that will keep readers awake, not with fears of monsters or goblins but with a paranoia that maybe the men in the shadows really are out to get you. The novel develops at a relentless pace, providing readers with no chance to catch a breath as they are hurled into a frightening and exhilarating world of intrigue and shocking confessions. The story has a Christian backbone that makes this a suitable novel for young adults as well as more seasoned readers, as there is no profanity or lewd images, although the assassination is discussed in necessary detail that some may find disturbing. The Christian element is not overdone or sappy, but is rather delivered in a realistic fashion, so both Christians and non-Christians alike can enjoy this book. The only notable criticism lies in the often implausible carelessness of the protagonists, particularly during the first half of the novel. However, this does prevent the central characters from being too idealistic or impractical and therefore does not significantly detract from the storyline.
May 6, 2013
I admit it. I am a fan of historical fiction. I like when the details are there. Correct details. The details that make you feel as if you are standing there. An event where you think of that little "what if" In Mr Mara's Frame 232, he take one of the defining moments of our generation. He finds a small detail and there goes the "what if". I started this book at night and the next morning was done. His(to me at least) trademark of pacing, small details and surprises(as in "gee. I did not see that one coming")make his books come to life. I have read his NFL, and disaster series. He does his research and gets it right. I'm sure that some of the Kennedy assassination conspiracy types are going to start talking about this one. I wont go into any spoilers but buy this one. There are some great twists here. A must read. Thanks Will for a very entertaining book.
March 28, 2013
An intriguing conspiracy thriller with a nice Christian message too. Great combination! Whether you're interested in the Kennedy assassination or not, if you like suspense that makes you think, then I encourage you to take a peak at Frame 232. Only quibble is that some lines of dialogue seemed to be there for the soul purpose of conveying information (i.e. you wouldn't say it like that in real life), but otherwise Frame 232 was a strong novel.
December 2, 2018
An intriguing conspiracy book. Was there another gunman when present when John F.Kennedy was assassinated? The book takes a fictional look at what took place on that tragic day in Dallas. It also introduces Jason Hammond, a billionaire sleuth who digs for the truth in situations when the truth has been intentionally buried. Hammond returns in a second book and will likely become a regular character for the author.
Looking at Frame 232 from a purely fictional standpoint, this book was entertaining and moved at a fairly fast clip. Hammond was a likable and engaging character, as was Shelia Baker, the woman who inherits the famed "babushka lady" film from her mother. There are numerous villains, all with their own agenda, many tangled together in an intricate web Hammond and Shelia slowly unravel. The action moves at a fast clip and the danger is handled with enough adrenalin to keep you flipping pages. I loved the underlying message in this book, especially as delivered by one of the secondary characters.
Looking at Frame 232 from a purely fictional standpoint, this book was entertaining and moved at a fairly fast clip. Hammond was a likable and engaging character, as was Shelia Baker, the woman who inherits the famed "babushka lady" film from her mother. There are numerous villains, all with their own agenda, many tangled together in an intricate web Hammond and Shelia slowly unravel. The action moves at a fast clip and the danger is handled with enough adrenalin to keep you flipping pages. I loved the underlying message in this book, especially as delivered by one of the secondary characters.
April 6, 2025
What a page turner! A bit unrealistic at times, especially for our protagonist, but overall it’s a super fun, fast paced read. Really like the intertwining of a piece of history with a fictional twist. Will definitely be checking out more from this author.
July 9, 2013
So I’ve looked at this book for a long time and never could bring myself to sitting down and actually opening to the first page. Why? I don’t know, really. It could be the cover, the content or just my procrastination gene kicking in. In the end, I did sit down and open the book and I will admit, I didn’t get much sleep for the next couple of days.
What would you do if you were the only person that knew one of the biggest secrets of all time? Would you tell somebody? Would it eat away at you every day? Would you take the secret to your grave? Margaret Baker was faced with that very dilemma when she was in Dallas and filmed something on her camera. Once the news spread about the assassination of President Kennedy, she thought back to her camera and what she may have caught while she was filming. Once she had the film developed, she locked it away in a safe deposit box and never looked at it again. Now Margaret has passed and her daughter, Sheila, finds out that not only did she inherit the house and belongings of her mother, she has also inherited this national treasure. Knowing that there really isn’t anyone that she can trust, Sheila hunts down Jason Hammond and enlists his help. After his initial disbelief, Jason quickly comes to her aid as Sheila’s life is put in danger. Someone knows that the film exists and knows that she has it. Will Sheila and Jason be able to stay a step ahead of those after them? Is there someone that they can turn to with this lost secret? What exactly does the film show? Read the rest of my review and then run to your nearest Christian Bookstore and BUY THE BOOK!
This is not the first book by Wil Mara, but it is his first novel written as a Christian Fiction novel. This novel does everything that I would hope for in a great book. It provided me with entertainment, it embellished on something ‘factual’ to the point of making me do some research myself on that fateful day in Dallas and it left me satisfied and wanting more. It was refreshing to see the main character as a flawed person that was able to return to his faith as the story progressed. I was concerned at the end that there were going to be some big plot holes that were just glossed over (like how Jason could escape from the Coast Guard without facing persecution), but my concern was unfounded.
Is this a "guy's book"? There is so much action and adventure in this book, there’s no way that this could not be considered a great “guy’s book”. With the mix of the historical information provided about the assassination, everybody should pick up this book and dive right in.
What would you do if you were the only person that knew one of the biggest secrets of all time? Would you tell somebody? Would it eat away at you every day? Would you take the secret to your grave? Margaret Baker was faced with that very dilemma when she was in Dallas and filmed something on her camera. Once the news spread about the assassination of President Kennedy, she thought back to her camera and what she may have caught while she was filming. Once she had the film developed, she locked it away in a safe deposit box and never looked at it again. Now Margaret has passed and her daughter, Sheila, finds out that not only did she inherit the house and belongings of her mother, she has also inherited this national treasure. Knowing that there really isn’t anyone that she can trust, Sheila hunts down Jason Hammond and enlists his help. After his initial disbelief, Jason quickly comes to her aid as Sheila’s life is put in danger. Someone knows that the film exists and knows that she has it. Will Sheila and Jason be able to stay a step ahead of those after them? Is there someone that they can turn to with this lost secret? What exactly does the film show? Read the rest of my review and then run to your nearest Christian Bookstore and BUY THE BOOK!
This is not the first book by Wil Mara, but it is his first novel written as a Christian Fiction novel. This novel does everything that I would hope for in a great book. It provided me with entertainment, it embellished on something ‘factual’ to the point of making me do some research myself on that fateful day in Dallas and it left me satisfied and wanting more. It was refreshing to see the main character as a flawed person that was able to return to his faith as the story progressed. I was concerned at the end that there were going to be some big plot holes that were just glossed over (like how Jason could escape from the Coast Guard without facing persecution), but my concern was unfounded.
Is this a "guy's book"? There is so much action and adventure in this book, there’s no way that this could not be considered a great “guy’s book”. With the mix of the historical information provided about the assassination, everybody should pick up this book and dive right in.
July 8, 2013
Frame 232 has such a great premise and deals with one of the greatest conspiracy theories ever.
Remember the Babushka Lady seen on the Zapruder film that unexpectedly captured President Kennedy's assassination? The novel centers on who the Babushka Lady was, what she captured with her movie camera (was there a second shooter?), and what might have happened to her.
And not only to her, but to her daughter, who in the novel, inherits the film.
(photos from the Zapruder film are included on my blog)
Unfortunately, the novel moved into a preachy tone with a lapsed Christian billionaire taking over the best part of the story. Jason Hammond, one of those almost perfect characters, takes the reins and pretty much loses the race for a successful novel.
Jason is still grieving the deaths of his parents and sisters and has turned away from the religion that meant everything to him. That is his flaw. I suppose the only one.
Never mind that his parents died in a plane crash over ten years ago, poor Jason's life has been fatally damaged. Never mind that he is rich beyond belief, handsome, charming, and involved in all kinds of adventures, Jason just can't recover.
Get over it.
What a great idea. What a shame that it turned into something else entirely. Oh, there is plenty of adventure, but it is kind of cheesy, and the characters are never really developed. Jason and Sheila and bad guy stay cardboard with bad dialogue.
A great opportunity wasted, but it does reactivate interest and curiosity about the JFK assassination, who the Babushka Lady was, and why she never came forward.
Oh, remember, this is just my opinion. Most reviewers really liked the novel.
NetGalley/Tyndale House.
Adventure/Christian. July 1, 2013. Print version: 448 pages.
Remember the Babushka Lady seen on the Zapruder film that unexpectedly captured President Kennedy's assassination? The novel centers on who the Babushka Lady was, what she captured with her movie camera (was there a second shooter?), and what might have happened to her.
And not only to her, but to her daughter, who in the novel, inherits the film.
(photos from the Zapruder film are included on my blog)
Unfortunately, the novel moved into a preachy tone with a lapsed Christian billionaire taking over the best part of the story. Jason Hammond, one of those almost perfect characters, takes the reins and pretty much loses the race for a successful novel.
Jason is still grieving the deaths of his parents and sisters and has turned away from the religion that meant everything to him. That is his flaw. I suppose the only one.
Never mind that his parents died in a plane crash over ten years ago, poor Jason's life has been fatally damaged. Never mind that he is rich beyond belief, handsome, charming, and involved in all kinds of adventures, Jason just can't recover.
Get over it.
What a great idea. What a shame that it turned into something else entirely. Oh, there is plenty of adventure, but it is kind of cheesy, and the characters are never really developed. Jason and Sheila and bad guy stay cardboard with bad dialogue.
A great opportunity wasted, but it does reactivate interest and curiosity about the JFK assassination, who the Babushka Lady was, and why she never came forward.
Oh, remember, this is just my opinion. Most reviewers really liked the novel.
NetGalley/Tyndale House.
Adventure/Christian. July 1, 2013. Print version: 448 pages.
June 15, 2013
I was giving the opportunity to review this book, from Tyndale. And because of that, I must mention that Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. That said, my opinions of this book are solely my own, and are not influenced by anyone.
The book, Frame 232, is based on the Kennedy assasination and a frame of footage caught by someone labeled the babushka lady. Sheila Baker discovers, that her mother is the one known as the babushka lady, and that she has left her a piece of film that she must then decide what her mother couldn't decide. To destroy the film or expose the secrets revealed on the film. Deciding that she can't let this piece of history be destroyed, she also understands that the chances of someone hunting her down would be really high to keep the secret contained within from leaking out. Not sure what to do, Sheila does research and turns to Jason Hammond for help. From here, this is where the adventure truly begins.
My first inclination when I was reading the book was whether or not this was a Christian book, then remembered it came from a Christian publishing house. Despite that, the book was not heavily involved with religion. There was just enough, to be able to label it as a Christian fiction.
However, it was the story itself that drew me in. It captured me from the first page all the way to the end, making it harder to put down, wanting to find out what was going to happen. For me, there was enough suspense, drama and intrigue. Plus enough reality to make it a truly enjoyable read. I enjoyed the historical aspects and the plot, kept me intrigued.
The book, Frame 232, is based on the Kennedy assasination and a frame of footage caught by someone labeled the babushka lady. Sheila Baker discovers, that her mother is the one known as the babushka lady, and that she has left her a piece of film that she must then decide what her mother couldn't decide. To destroy the film or expose the secrets revealed on the film. Deciding that she can't let this piece of history be destroyed, she also understands that the chances of someone hunting her down would be really high to keep the secret contained within from leaking out. Not sure what to do, Sheila does research and turns to Jason Hammond for help. From here, this is where the adventure truly begins.
My first inclination when I was reading the book was whether or not this was a Christian book, then remembered it came from a Christian publishing house. Despite that, the book was not heavily involved with religion. There was just enough, to be able to label it as a Christian fiction.
However, it was the story itself that drew me in. It captured me from the first page all the way to the end, making it harder to put down, wanting to find out what was going to happen. For me, there was enough suspense, drama and intrigue. Plus enough reality to make it a truly enjoyable read. I enjoyed the historical aspects and the plot, kept me intrigued.
August 15, 2013
I have to say this one was a big disappointment for me. The subject matter, of course, is certainly timely. And as conspiracy theories go, the story itself isn't really necessarily a bad one. The writing style was good enough, although I doubt I would ever read another book by the same author.
Why? I began to feel like I was being preached to toward the end. It seems clear that the author and publisher have a decidedly Christian agenda. That's not necessarily bad, but in a story like this, it can present more than a few problems, I believe.
It all just seemed so terribly constrained. For some, I suppose, that will be as it should be. But then the reality of the story itself suffered in my opinion. The lengths to which the author went to avoid ever using any profanity or anything at all that might be deemed offensive was in the end, offensive itself. In the end, I just couldn't buy the protagonist's response to what was happening.
If you write about something that's gritty and utterly ugly, then the story should be that by nature. This tendency to avoid the story, which is still 50 years later one of the world's great mysteries, cost the book dearly. Write another genre, but leave this kind of thing to writer's who are not afraid to present the story.
Not recommended...
Why? I began to feel like I was being preached to toward the end. It seems clear that the author and publisher have a decidedly Christian agenda. That's not necessarily bad, but in a story like this, it can present more than a few problems, I believe.
It all just seemed so terribly constrained. For some, I suppose, that will be as it should be. But then the reality of the story itself suffered in my opinion. The lengths to which the author went to avoid ever using any profanity or anything at all that might be deemed offensive was in the end, offensive itself. In the end, I just couldn't buy the protagonist's response to what was happening.
If you write about something that's gritty and utterly ugly, then the story should be that by nature. This tendency to avoid the story, which is still 50 years later one of the world's great mysteries, cost the book dearly. Write another genre, but leave this kind of thing to writer's who are not afraid to present the story.
Not recommended...
September 1, 2013
I was very surprised by this book. I've never really enjoyed historical fiction but I could not put this down.
I was 6 months old when Kennedy was assassinated and other than my mothers notes in my baby book I really never thought about how it changed America or how it could have happened. Very good book. I hope to see more from this author.
I was 6 months old when Kennedy was assassinated and other than my mothers notes in my baby book I really never thought about how it changed America or how it could have happened. Very good book. I hope to see more from this author.
November 30, 2017
Fasten your seatbelts! Wil Mara’s Frame 232 is a full throttle ride taking the reader back in time to the moment when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Fast forward to the present when Sheila Baker is given a key to her now deceased mother’s safe deposit box which contains a film reel that shows new details of the event, as well as new, but unidentified, players. Someone with a stake in the outcome cannot and will not allow these new facts to come to light. Sheila enlists the help of Jason Hammond, a billionaire whose hobby is getting to the bottom of mysterious events. Luckily, he has the resources that Sheila will need in order to get out alive. With assassins on their tail, Sheila and Jason must discover the truth and report it to the right people, before someone disposes of them. This book had my adrenaline pumping and I could not put it down until I found out the truth!
September 10, 2017
With the passing of Sheila Baker’s mother, comes a secret that will change history. A key to a safe deposit box unearths answers to the age old question, who really killed JFK. Enlisting the help of Jason Hammond, billionaire sleuth, they will uncover secrets meant to be buried, keeping them on the run and quite possibly in the hands of the wrong people.
I love a great thriller and this book did not disappoint. I was kept on the edge of my seat, not wanting to put it down. Character development left me picturing who could play which parts as I felt this would make a great action flick. Often the ending can tend to feel rushed, however, not this time. The ending felt complete and satisfying. I am excited to see this become a series with more of Jason Hammond in the future!
I love a great thriller and this book did not disappoint. I was kept on the edge of my seat, not wanting to put it down. Character development left me picturing who could play which parts as I felt this would make a great action flick. Often the ending can tend to feel rushed, however, not this time. The ending felt complete and satisfying. I am excited to see this become a series with more of Jason Hammond in the future!
December 13, 2017
Frame 232
A very interesting alternative version of Kennedy's assassination. Fast paced well-written book.It grabbed and kept my attention from the beginning until the end. I will read more by this author.
A very interesting alternative version of Kennedy's assassination. Fast paced well-written book.It grabbed and kept my attention from the beginning until the end. I will read more by this author.
March 18, 2021
If you like conspiracy theory stories this one is really good?
Sheila's mom is the Babushka Lady! Kennedy's assassination happened almost 20yrs before my own birth, but I've always been fascinated with the story/event.
This book is complete fiction, but quite a page turner.
Sheila's mom is the Babushka Lady! Kennedy's assassination happened almost 20yrs before my own birth, but I've always been fascinated with the story/event.
This book is complete fiction, but quite a page turner.
April 7, 2023
This was a hard book for me to finish. The plot was good , fast paced and feels like you are watching a movie with how detailed it is. Too many characters involved so I find it hard to keep up. But overall it was a good read.
February 15, 2017
A great read indeed. Totally speculative fiction, but Mara did a great job with the "what if" of the Kennedy assassination. Quick, clean read, finished it in one day.
December 12, 2018
7/10
As speculative fiction about the Kennedy assassination, it’s entertaining, original and generally well-told.
As speculative fiction about the Kennedy assassination, it’s entertaining, original and generally well-told.
March 15, 2020
Interesting take on one of the many conspiracy theories about JFK's assassination. The storyline was unique and well-written. Will definitely recommend this to friends.
December 17, 2020
good read
February 1, 2021
A novel about the Kennedy assignation from a different perspective. Very interesting read.
February 4, 2023
Very entertaining.
January 16, 2024
Great book!! Loved it so much!
July 4, 2025
I was really excited to read this one because i was obsessed with the assassination of John F. Kennedy, however, as i continued the book, i had no desired to pick it up anymore. It was not enticing enough for me to finish and i only have a few chapters left to read. Maybe i need to give it another chance, but definitely not now.
October 8, 2025
Enjoyable story about the Kennedy assassination, making a convincing argument for a case for government agencies involved in the plot to kill Kennedy.
March 20, 2026
A very interesting fictional take on who was responsible for the Kennedy assassination.
April 2, 2014
I was giving the opportunity to review this book, from Tyndale. And because of that, I must mention that Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. That said, my opinions of this book are solely my own, and are not influenced by anyone.
The book, Frame 232, is based on the Kennedy assasination and a frame of footage caught by someone labeled the babushka lady. Sheila Baker discovers, that her mother is the one known as the babushka lady, and that she has left her a piece of film that she must then decide what her mother couldn’t decide. To destroy the film or expose the secrets revealed on the film. Deciding that she can’t let this piece of history be destroyed, she also understands that the chances of someone hunting her down would be really high to keep the secret contained within from leaking out. Not sure what to do, Sheila does research and turns to Jason Hammond for help. From here, this is where the adventure truly begins.
My first inclination when I was reading the book was whether or not this was a Christian book, then remembered it came from a Christian publishing house. Despite that, the book was not heavily involved with religion. There was just enough, to be able to label it as a Christian fiction.
However, it was the story itself that drew me in. It captured me from the first page all the way to the end, making it harder to put down, wanting to find out what was going to happen. For me, there was enough suspense, drama and intrigue. Plus enough reality to make it a truly enjoyable read. I enjoyed the historical aspects and the plot, kept me intrigued.
Here are some questions asked of the author, and his answers.
*How much research did you do for this project?
An unbelievable amount. I spoke with assassination experts, read literally hundreds and books and articles, pored over countless photos…you name it. My goal was to write a fictional story around the established facts rather than alter the facts to serve the story. Thus, I had to know pretty much everything. I ended up loading my brain with more data than I really needed…but I didn’t mind.
*What have you learned about the real Babushka Lady?
She was wearing an overcoat, glasses, and a head scarf (i.e., a babushka), and was standing about thirty feet from the limousine when the president took the fatal shot. Most assassination experts believe she was also holding a camera—very possibly a film camera. If so, and if she had a reasonably steady hand, then she probably took the best moving images of the assassination; even better than the famed
Zapruder film. Plus, she was standing opposite Zapruder, which afforded her a unique angle. And yet, we don’t know her name, and her film has never surfaced. And here’s the most important part about her in relation to Frame 232—she was a real person. I didn’t invent her to serve the story. If you do a Google search, you’ll find her.
*What do you have planned for your future Jason Hammond books?
Jason will be tackling other high-profile (and, later on, some lesser-known) mysteries as the series progresses. Readers will also get to follow his ongoing struggles as he rebuilds his faith and gradually assembles his ‘new normal.’ Plus, we’ll further explore the lives of those around him (including a budding love interest, who will appear in the second book). It’s also worth noting that not every book in the series will follow a strictly linear chronology. The one I’m writing now, for example (The Nevada Testament) begins about six weeks after Frame 232. The one I’ll write after that, however (Gardner Island), occurs before the events of Frame 232 and will feature, among other things, some of Jason’s darker and more harrowing moments.
The book, Frame 232, is based on the Kennedy assasination and a frame of footage caught by someone labeled the babushka lady. Sheila Baker discovers, that her mother is the one known as the babushka lady, and that she has left her a piece of film that she must then decide what her mother couldn’t decide. To destroy the film or expose the secrets revealed on the film. Deciding that she can’t let this piece of history be destroyed, she also understands that the chances of someone hunting her down would be really high to keep the secret contained within from leaking out. Not sure what to do, Sheila does research and turns to Jason Hammond for help. From here, this is where the adventure truly begins.
My first inclination when I was reading the book was whether or not this was a Christian book, then remembered it came from a Christian publishing house. Despite that, the book was not heavily involved with religion. There was just enough, to be able to label it as a Christian fiction.
However, it was the story itself that drew me in. It captured me from the first page all the way to the end, making it harder to put down, wanting to find out what was going to happen. For me, there was enough suspense, drama and intrigue. Plus enough reality to make it a truly enjoyable read. I enjoyed the historical aspects and the plot, kept me intrigued.
Here are some questions asked of the author, and his answers.
*How much research did you do for this project?
An unbelievable amount. I spoke with assassination experts, read literally hundreds and books and articles, pored over countless photos…you name it. My goal was to write a fictional story around the established facts rather than alter the facts to serve the story. Thus, I had to know pretty much everything. I ended up loading my brain with more data than I really needed…but I didn’t mind.
*What have you learned about the real Babushka Lady?
She was wearing an overcoat, glasses, and a head scarf (i.e., a babushka), and was standing about thirty feet from the limousine when the president took the fatal shot. Most assassination experts believe she was also holding a camera—very possibly a film camera. If so, and if she had a reasonably steady hand, then she probably took the best moving images of the assassination; even better than the famed
Zapruder film. Plus, she was standing opposite Zapruder, which afforded her a unique angle. And yet, we don’t know her name, and her film has never surfaced. And here’s the most important part about her in relation to Frame 232—she was a real person. I didn’t invent her to serve the story. If you do a Google search, you’ll find her.
*What do you have planned for your future Jason Hammond books?
Jason will be tackling other high-profile (and, later on, some lesser-known) mysteries as the series progresses. Readers will also get to follow his ongoing struggles as he rebuilds his faith and gradually assembles his ‘new normal.’ Plus, we’ll further explore the lives of those around him (including a budding love interest, who will appear in the second book). It’s also worth noting that not every book in the series will follow a strictly linear chronology. The one I’m writing now, for example (The Nevada Testament) begins about six weeks after Frame 232. The one I’ll write after that, however (Gardner Island), occurs before the events of Frame 232 and will feature, among other things, some of Jason’s darker and more harrowing moments.
August 8, 2013
The time had come, she decided, to rid herself of this burden, to take the steps necessary to put the matter to rest once and for all. And the first step, she knew—against every instinct and desire—was to watch that film.
During the reading of her mother’s will, Sheila Baker discovers that she has inherited everything her parents ever possessed, including their secrets. A mysterious safe-deposit box key leads her to the answers to one of history’s greatest conspiracies: Who killed John F. Kennedy? Not only does she have the missing film, revealing her mother as the infamous babushka lady, but she has proof that there was more than one shooter.
On the run from people who would stop at nothing to keep secrets buried, Sheila turns to billionaire sleuth Jason Hammond for help. Having lost his own family in a tragic plane crash, Jason knows a thing or two about running from the past. With a target on their backs and time running out, can Jason finally uncover the truth behind the crime that shook a generation—or will he and Sheila become its final victims?
Frame 232 by Wil Mara is an interesting and truly mind-boggling novel that explores the possibilities of what and who really did lie behind the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The plot line is an exciting combination of mystery, conspiracy, redemption, and lurking danger. The author did an excellent job swirling together different yet connected plot lines and preparing the reader for the revelation of the truth as the characters dug deeper into the past. The topics and themes of the novel were well developed and clear, and they included being honest, seeking forgiveness, and trusting God even in the midst of pain and heartache. I liked how the characters discovered aspects of these truths throughout the novel, yet were not 'perfect' at the end. They all still had areas surrounding these topics where they could grow in their understanding through their beginning or growing in their relationships with God. The narration of the novel was in third person, but the central point of view of the chapter varied from chapter to chapter. This did cause the story to become fractured at times because the point of view changed so often, but it also added to the reader's overall knowledge of the plot as the novel progressed.
The characters of the novel were realistic and relatable. Both Sheila and Jason had their faults, their past heartaches, and their own unique strengths. They worked well together, and their strengths and weaknesses complemented each another and helped make them more realistic to the reader. The other minor characters were different and added to the story tremendously.
Overall, I really enjoyed Frame 232. The storyline was unique and very interesting, the characters believable, and the themes and topics convicting. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a suspenseful, 'conspiracy' thriller with believable twists.
If you enjoyed this review or found it helpful, please check out my blog, http://hearttoheartbooks.blogspot.com for more of my reviews.
During the reading of her mother’s will, Sheila Baker discovers that she has inherited everything her parents ever possessed, including their secrets. A mysterious safe-deposit box key leads her to the answers to one of history’s greatest conspiracies: Who killed John F. Kennedy? Not only does she have the missing film, revealing her mother as the infamous babushka lady, but she has proof that there was more than one shooter.
On the run from people who would stop at nothing to keep secrets buried, Sheila turns to billionaire sleuth Jason Hammond for help. Having lost his own family in a tragic plane crash, Jason knows a thing or two about running from the past. With a target on their backs and time running out, can Jason finally uncover the truth behind the crime that shook a generation—or will he and Sheila become its final victims?
Frame 232 by Wil Mara is an interesting and truly mind-boggling novel that explores the possibilities of what and who really did lie behind the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The plot line is an exciting combination of mystery, conspiracy, redemption, and lurking danger. The author did an excellent job swirling together different yet connected plot lines and preparing the reader for the revelation of the truth as the characters dug deeper into the past. The topics and themes of the novel were well developed and clear, and they included being honest, seeking forgiveness, and trusting God even in the midst of pain and heartache. I liked how the characters discovered aspects of these truths throughout the novel, yet were not 'perfect' at the end. They all still had areas surrounding these topics where they could grow in their understanding through their beginning or growing in their relationships with God. The narration of the novel was in third person, but the central point of view of the chapter varied from chapter to chapter. This did cause the story to become fractured at times because the point of view changed so often, but it also added to the reader's overall knowledge of the plot as the novel progressed.
The characters of the novel were realistic and relatable. Both Sheila and Jason had their faults, their past heartaches, and their own unique strengths. They worked well together, and their strengths and weaknesses complemented each another and helped make them more realistic to the reader. The other minor characters were different and added to the story tremendously.
Overall, I really enjoyed Frame 232. The storyline was unique and very interesting, the characters believable, and the themes and topics convicting. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a suspenseful, 'conspiracy' thriller with believable twists.
If you enjoyed this review or found it helpful, please check out my blog, http://hearttoheartbooks.blogspot.com for more of my reviews.
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