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Staged
When a Hollywood star is killed live on stage, the entire cast falls under suspicion … Can a disgraced journalist and a rule-bending detective with a PhD in AI crack the case?
A Sydney Opera House production of The Rocky Horror Show ends in tragedy when a stage prop kills Hollywood star Dane Cooder in a spectacularly gruesome fashion. The whole theatre, including his wife and co-star Angelique Swan, watch in horror.
The death is ruled an accident, but Dick Sonntag, disgraced journalist with online gossip site WTF, disagrees. Sonntag is in the audience that night and investigates further. He launches a smash-hit podcast about the celebrity death and, due to the public outcry, the case is reopened.At the same time, a small boy is kidnapped and held for ransom.
Detective Harry Stiles is brought in to lead both cases. She despises the last time they crossed paths, he derailed her investigation involving police corruption. Will Harry’s artificial intelligence skills help them pin down the culprits this time?
As the investigations unfold, Sonntag and Stiles uncover affairs, dark secrets and blackmail against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour.
Staged is an electrifying, fast-paced crime thriller for readers of Jack Heath and Benjamin Stevenson.
A Sydney Opera House production of The Rocky Horror Show ends in tragedy when a stage prop kills Hollywood star Dane Cooder in a spectacularly gruesome fashion. The whole theatre, including his wife and co-star Angelique Swan, watch in horror.
The death is ruled an accident, but Dick Sonntag, disgraced journalist with online gossip site WTF, disagrees. Sonntag is in the audience that night and investigates further. He launches a smash-hit podcast about the celebrity death and, due to the public outcry, the case is reopened.At the same time, a small boy is kidnapped and held for ransom.
Detective Harry Stiles is brought in to lead both cases. She despises the last time they crossed paths, he derailed her investigation involving police corruption. Will Harry’s artificial intelligence skills help them pin down the culprits this time?
As the investigations unfold, Sonntag and Stiles uncover affairs, dark secrets and blackmail against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour.
Staged is an electrifying, fast-paced crime thriller for readers of Jack Heath and Benjamin Stevenson.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2026
About the author
John M. Green
14 books30 followersWhen it dawned on John that what got him up in the morning was writing, not his day job, he quit the job. That was after 30 years in executive life. He was then an executive director in a leading investment bank. Earlier, he’d been a partner in 2 major law firms, and a director of a publishing house. ABC Radio says John's thriller-writing has "the sophistication of John le Carré and the pace of Jeffrey Archer."
His novels are: Nowhere Man, a financial thriller with a futuristic twist.
Born to Run, a political thriller about a US presidential election that gets derailed by murder, terror & treason.
The Trusted, an eco-cyber-thriller: When saving the planet means destroying it!
John's also a well-known business writer and commentator. His pieces have appeared in a variety of Australian and overseas publications including: ABC Drum Online, Company Director, Business Spectator, The Australian, The Australian Financial Review, The Age, The Bulletin, and the UK’s Financial Times.
As well as writing, John's on the governing council of the National Library of Australia, is a board member of two stock-exchange-listed corporations and not-for-profits, as well as a co-founder of Pantera Press. He lives in Sydney with his wife, a sculptor.
John is currently working on his next thriller, due for release in 2016.
His novels are: Nowhere Man, a financial thriller with a futuristic twist.
Born to Run, a political thriller about a US presidential election that gets derailed by murder, terror & treason.
The Trusted, an eco-cyber-thriller: When saving the planet means destroying it!
John's also a well-known business writer and commentator. His pieces have appeared in a variety of Australian and overseas publications including: ABC Drum Online, Company Director, Business Spectator, The Australian, The Australian Financial Review, The Age, The Bulletin, and the UK’s Financial Times.
As well as writing, John's on the governing council of the National Library of Australia, is a board member of two stock-exchange-listed corporations and not-for-profits, as well as a co-founder of Pantera Press. He lives in Sydney with his wife, a sculptor.
John is currently working on his next thriller, due for release in 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 20, 2026
I enjoyed Staged—it’s a quick, easy read that kept me turning the pages without too much effort. The premise is a great one: a Hollywood star is killed live on stage during a production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Sydney Opera House, and what initially looks like a tragic accident quickly turns into something much more sinister. The story builds around a disgraced journalist and a detective forced to work together, uncovering secrets, blackmail and competing agendas as the investigation unfolds
It’s an entertaining setup, and the pacing is one of the book’s strengths. The short chapters and shifting perspectives make it readable—you can easily get through big chunks in one sitting.
There are also some genuinely clever, satirical moments. The book takes aim at celebrity culture, media sensationalism and the way public narratives are “staged” and manipulated, and those elements give it a sharper edge than a standard crime thriller.
That said, it didn’t quite stick with me. While I enjoyed it at the time, it’s ultimately a bit forgettable and not a standout in the genre. One thing that grated was the heavy use of real-world references—brands, technologies, current trends (that kind of very “topical” or referential writing). At times it felt overdone and a little annoying.
I also wasn’t fully sold on the writing style. It’s distinctive, but in places it felt a bit clunky or self-conscious, which interrupted the flow for me.
Overall, Staged is a fast-paced, entertaining thriller with some smart, satirical touches—but while it’s an enjoyable read in the moment, it doesn’t leave a lasting impression.
It’s an entertaining setup, and the pacing is one of the book’s strengths. The short chapters and shifting perspectives make it readable—you can easily get through big chunks in one sitting.
There are also some genuinely clever, satirical moments. The book takes aim at celebrity culture, media sensationalism and the way public narratives are “staged” and manipulated, and those elements give it a sharper edge than a standard crime thriller.
That said, it didn’t quite stick with me. While I enjoyed it at the time, it’s ultimately a bit forgettable and not a standout in the genre. One thing that grated was the heavy use of real-world references—brands, technologies, current trends (that kind of very “topical” or referential writing). At times it felt overdone and a little annoying.
I also wasn’t fully sold on the writing style. It’s distinctive, but in places it felt a bit clunky or self-conscious, which interrupted the flow for me.
Overall, Staged is a fast-paced, entertaining thriller with some smart, satirical touches—but while it’s an enjoyable read in the moment, it doesn’t leave a lasting impression.
March 24, 2026
If you love Knives Out style intrigue with the pace and scale of a big international thriller, Staged by John M Green delivers.
Set against the theatrical backdrop of The Rocky Horror Show in Sydney, this novel blends mystery, glamour and high-stakes tension in a way that feels both global and Australian. It has the energy you’d expect from authors like Lee Child and John le Carré, but with a Sydney setting that gives it a fresh feel. It will also appeal to readers interested in AI and the role it may play in our near future, adding another compelling layer to the story.
Green weaves together a smart, fast-moving plot with a cast of intriguing characters, all while building a sense of suspense that keeps you turning pages late into the night. The theatrical setting adds an extra layer of fun and unpredictability, making this feel both sophisticated and wildly entertaining.
John M Green is a bestselling Australian author, and after reading Staged, it’s easy to see why. This is a gripping thriller that feels cinematic in scope.
For fans of clever mysteries, international intrigue, emerging tech themes and page-turning suspense, Staged is a standout.
Set against the theatrical backdrop of The Rocky Horror Show in Sydney, this novel blends mystery, glamour and high-stakes tension in a way that feels both global and Australian. It has the energy you’d expect from authors like Lee Child and John le Carré, but with a Sydney setting that gives it a fresh feel. It will also appeal to readers interested in AI and the role it may play in our near future, adding another compelling layer to the story.
Green weaves together a smart, fast-moving plot with a cast of intriguing characters, all while building a sense of suspense that keeps you turning pages late into the night. The theatrical setting adds an extra layer of fun and unpredictability, making this feel both sophisticated and wildly entertaining.
John M Green is a bestselling Australian author, and after reading Staged, it’s easy to see why. This is a gripping thriller that feels cinematic in scope.
For fans of clever mysteries, international intrigue, emerging tech themes and page-turning suspense, Staged is a standout.
April 6, 2026
As with John M Green's previous novels, "Staged" is another forensically-researched crime thriller and compelling read. Once you start reading a few pages, it's hard to put it down as it's full of suspense and the protagonist is a well-drawn character. Her familiarity in the use of AI technology as a necessary tool in her "kitbag" in intriguing.
March 2, 2026
A great read with a storyline twist I didn’t see coming.
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May 20, 20267.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews