She's taking on Big Oil. But when her star witness is arrested for bank robbery, the fight for justice becomes a battle for survival.
Environmental attorney Jo Turner is building the case of a lifetime, suing World Petrol, one of the country's largest refineries, for toxic emissions linked to rising cancer rates along the Houston Ship Channel. Her crucial evidence comes from Dr. Tori Nelson, a respected physician and Jo's college crush, whose research exposes devastating community health impacts.
But just as the lawsuit gains momentum, Tori is arrested for a shocking, high-profile bank robbery. Jo knows it's a setup. Someone is trying to silence Tori to bury the findings that could bring World Petrol down.
As Jo races to prove Tori’s innocence, she uncovers a chilling conspiracy that reaches deeper than she imagined. With Tori's freedom, career, and the lives of an entire community at stake, Jo has a walk away or risk everything.
She's never been good at walking away.
"Original, clever, deftly written, and a simply riveting read...A consummate legal thriller...the stuff of which high-tension movies are made." —Midwest Book Review
"With masterful pacing and a twist that will leave you breathless, Grayhall keeps readers guessing at every turn." —Michelle Cox, author of The Henrietta and Inspector Howard series
Grayhall's prose is clean, precise, and emotionally intelligent. She writes with the clarity of a scientist and the empathy of a novelist." —San Francisco Book Review (5 stars)
Patricia Grayhall is a retired medical doctor. Her debut memoir, Making the Rounds; Defying Norms in Love and Medicine was an instant success, garnering a starred review in Kirkus Reviews and was among Kirkus' Best 100 Indie Books of 2022.
The memoir won many awards including two first place Best Indie Book Awards, It was also a Reader’s Favorite Award, and Firebird Award first place winner, a Nautilus Award second place winner, and a Nancy Pearl Best Book Award, Golden Crown Literary Award, American Book Fest Best Book Award, and Canadian Book Club Award finalist.
Patricia has published articles in Queer Forty, The Gay and Lesbian Review, The Millions, Lesbian Game Changers, and Seattle Magazine, among others. Podcast and NPR interviews appear on her website.
In 2023, Patricia pivoted to fiction, a pandemic project, publishing a romance novel with her partner, Golden Years and Silver Linings
Her most recent book, is a novel, A Place for Us.
Her current project is a thriller.
Patricia splits her time between Seattle and Vancouver Island, where she and her partner enjoy other people’s dogs, the noisy jostling of seals on the dock, the playfulness of otters, and the occasional sighting of an orca or black bear.
Jo finds herself at the centre of a scandal involving World Petrol, who she is building a case against for the toxic emissions they have been producing linked to increased cancer rates. Her friend Tori, ends up arrested for a bank robbery, and it is a race against time for Jo to prove her innocence when she uncovers it is linked trying to silence Tori’s scientific findings that prove what World Petrol have been doing.
This was wild and completely filled with unexpected and shocking twists and turns that made it such an exciting thriller. We are introduced to Tori and Jo, when they meet up again after years, and despite having a partner back home, Jo is taunted by old feelings between her and Tori, who also got married and went her separate way. Everyone in their lives, especially Tori’s becomes a suspect in Jo’s investigations into how Tori has been framed, and any of them could be responsible. I was completely invested in Jo’s passion and determination to help Tori, even though she was torn by staying as long as she did. There was a worry there would be conflict of interest because of the case with World Petrol and their work crossing over and them knowing one another. It was obvious how much Jo was struggling with that, but she couldn’t just give up on Tori.
This story was so intertwined in how their separate things were connected and boiling up to being something much bigger. Tori appeared to be struggling with all the pressures and the thought that World Petrol were out to get her, and she had me convinced she was in serious danger and people were trying to harm her. It all got to such a point I was scared for them, but Jo was brilliant at her job and I had every faith in her finding out the truth. How she did was the complete surprise though!
It is difficult to share too much about thrillers without giving away all the secrets and full story, so I’ll leave it there, but this was a great thriller. Really entertaining and laced with unrequited and unrealised feelings between Tori and Jo that threatened so much for both of them as well.
From beginning to the end it keeps you guessing and invariably. WRONG.A very good read. I certainly recommend it. As I said a twisted of a tale with lots of ins and outs.
Framed: A Thriller by Patricia Grayhall sounds like a gripping, intelligent, and emotionally charged legal thriller that blends corporate corruption, environmental justice, conspiracy, and personal stakes into a highly compelling narrative.
One of the novel’s strongest hooks is its timely and socially relevant premise. The lawsuit against a massive oil refinery tied to rising cancer rates along the Houston Ship Channel immediately gives the story real world urgency and moral weight. Environmental thrillers with authentic legal and scientific foundations are increasingly resonating with readers, and this premise feels especially powerful because it combines corporate greed with deeply human consequences.
Jo Turner also sounds like an excellent thriller protagonist determined, morally driven, emotionally layered, and unwilling to back down even when the risks escalate. Her role as an environmental attorney fighting a seemingly untouchable corporation creates natural tension from the very beginning, while her personal connection to Dr. Tori Nelson adds emotional depth beyond the legal investigation itself.
The setup involving Tori’s sudden arrest for bank robbery is particularly effective because it instantly transforms the story from a courtroom battle into a dangerous conspiracy thriller. Readers are immediately forced to question who is orchestrating the setup, how far powerful interests are willing to go, and whether anyone connected to the case is truly safe.
Another major strength appears to be the emotional and psychological dynamic between Jo and Tori. The history between them gives the story an added layer of vulnerability, longing, trust, and emotional investment that elevates the suspense. The inclusion of LGBTQ+ representation within a high-stakes legal thriller also gives the novel broader appeal and emotional richness.
The conspiracy element sounds especially compelling because it appears to escalate gradually from corporate intimidation into something far darker and more dangerous. Thrillers work best when protagonists uncover truths larger than they initially imagined, and Framed seems to build that escalation effectively.
The praise comparing the book to “high-tension movies” feels fitting because the premise naturally lends itself to cinematic pacing corporate coverups, false accusations, environmental crimes, courtroom conflict, and a race against time all create strong momentum and suspense.
What also stands out is the balance between intelligence and accessibility. The legal, medical, and environmental aspects appear grounded and believable without sacrificing emotional intensity or fast pacing. That combination often creates the most satisfying thrillers because readers feel both entertained and intellectually engaged.
At its core, this feels like a story about courage about refusing to abandon truth even when powerful systems attempt to crush it. That emotional foundation gives the suspense real impact.
Ok. But wait. The twist. Whoa! AYFKM?!! I NEVER saw that coming! Frankly speaking, I read a lot of thrillers/crime as it's the genre I love. But I must say, it caught me by surprise at the end there!
I really didn't expect the curveball from this particular plot - a scientist and a lawyer against Big Oil, mixed up in the usual environmental health conspiracy, corporate espionage, lawsuit, a court trial, the usual suspects in these kinds of premise/trope. Grayhall was largely formulaic in this trope, structured it well (although I'm not too sure about how the nature of the verdict but I can understand why...won't elaborate more because...spoilers!) with all the ingredients of suspense and intrigue. It's like a page taken out of a John Grisham book, just to give you some perspective.
That's why she totally blindsided me in the end! Whiplash, I felt like, tbh! To say that Patricia Grayhall sneakily pulled the wool over my eyes is truly an understatement. I won't expand any further because...spoilers. But I must say, well played, Grayhall. Well played. I loved that ending! An instant change from 4 to 4.5 stars. End of.
Another unexpected turn of events, which I was really, really hoping for throughout the story....one that I reckon isn't a popular one to have in FF/sapphic fiction, I won't say more...actually happened! I was pleasantly surprised, relieved, I might add! Made me appreciate this story, the dynamic of the characters, even more!
Honestly, the twist, alone, is WORTH a read or a listen! No kidding! Well done, Patricia Grayhall!
Think Karen Silkwood, but with a cunning twist at the end, as environmental attorney Jo Turner and her college roommate Dr. Tori Nelson launch a dangerous battle against a Texas oil company whose toxins are poisoning its employees and the local environment.
This was a well-written and well-plotted legal thriller. I especially enjoyed Jo’s ethics, and her conscious reflections on the ethics of her choices, uncommon in this genre.
It’s set in 1985, so it's quaint and nostalgic in its depiction of federal government agencies: The Environmental Protection Agency had not yet been captured by industry; the NIH is still awarding generous grant funding based on scientific merit.
Cool cover, too.
As an aside, I am curious about why Patricia Grayhall writes under a pseudonym. She’s published a memoir about breaking into medicine as a woman and a lesbian in the 1960s, but the fact that she’s not using her real name even though she is retired from practice gives me slight pause. Also, her photo -- I assume it's her real-life portrait -- is prominently displayed on her books and her website, which seems odd for someone using a pseudonym. If anyone has theories, or knows the why of this, please do tell.
When two college friends reunite to work together, things take a turn that might affect more than their work. Jo Turner, an environmental attorney, came to Texas to both find plaintiffs for her case and work with her college friend, Dr. Tori Nelson. The work Tori is doing in her cancer research could be exactly what Jo needs for her case. They have a complicated past, but are coming together as friends and to work together. Things take a dramatic turn when Tori is arrested by the FBI for robbing a bank. A conviction could seriously impact the reputation of her research. While Jo is in Texas, she helps Tori secure legal representation, and together they investigate who might be trying to frame Tori. The story is full of surprises, both concerning Tori's case and the mysterious events happening around them. This is the first book I have read by this author, and the ARC was provided by Hidden Gems.
An entertaining story of corporate greed versus ordinary people. This legal and medical thriller focuses on a lawyer building a case against the oil industry in Texas. She uses medical evidence gathered by a medical doctor doing extensive research and building her own case against the corporations that have polluted this particular part of America. The women are old friends and almost lovers which makes the plot personal as well as a story of capitalism’s persistent pursuit of profit over people. Early in the story, the doctor is accused of a serious crime, arrested and goes to trial, building reader sympathy and leading the reader in a particular direction. There are plenty of twists and turns, some predictable and some not, and the moral center takes a sharp unexpected turn late in the novel. Regardless, the story is an excellent reminder of the flaws and foibles of capitalism—especially its abuse and neglect of the average person.
Framed by Patricia GrayHall is a thriller about our FMC named Jo and is a legal thriller. Jo is embroiled in a case involving World Petrol, a huge company in the world that she is finding Cancer cases being linked to their toxic and dangerous emissions. She has a friend and former crush named Tori, who is a doctor who has been arrested for something that she did not do and is being framed for the crime as Tori has been trying to help with proving World Petrol is the worst company for giving people cancer. I really liked the dynamics between Tori and Jo and hearing about their past, which is helping Jo try to help her friend. Jo finds out the truth in the end, which I have to say was a bit surprising to me! I think that the author did a good job of twisting the story in an unknown direction with that ending surprise and you should read this one if you like well written characters and like a bit of romance between women you will enjoy this one.
This was such a different kind of thriller than what I usually pick up.
Set in 1985, it blends legal, medical, and environmental themes in a way that feels really grounded and realistic. I honestly went into this thinking I might not connect with it—but I was pleasantly surprised.
This is definitely more plot-driven than character-driven, with a strong focus on uncovering the mystery. The writing has a slightly medical tone at times, but it didn���t take away from my enjoyment.
There are a few twists along the way, but the real surprises hit toward the end—and I didn’t see those coming.
It’s one of those books that’s a little hard to categorize. It almost reads like historical fiction in some ways, but not in a traditional sense.
If you’re looking for something a little different from your usual thriller, this is worth checking out.
Suspense, danger, intrigue, and a little romance fill the pages of this medical/legal thriller guaranteed to keep you wondering, OMG, what’s next? Of course, I was emotionally invested in the well-being and legal defense of Dr. Tori Nelson, the dedicated physician who risked it all to treat her patients, while researching the industrial environmental toxins causing so many of them to become sick and die. To further complicate her life, Dr. Tori needs to choose between two potential love interests, and I was torn as to which partner I wanted her to pick! Don’t relax too soon, as Patricia Grayhall has added some exciting twists to this one!
Wow, is all I can say. In movie form I would be sitting at the edge of my seat yelling at the screen telling Tori to testify and save herself. This story also shows where there are so many things that are wrong about companies that don't care about workers and spewing chemicals into the air. We have an administration that has rolled back all the regulations it took just to get from the 80's until the present. I could go on about that but the kicker at the end is the reason a person needs to be ready to lose sleep when starting this book.
As an avid reader of Mysteries and Thrillers I was happy to find a good sapphic thriller. For once I didn't have to imagine or hope for LGBTQIA+ characters. Set in 1985 it had a little Silkwood and a little Erin Brockovich vibe going on. It kept me on my toes with the twists and turns. Figured out some of the plot but totally missed the who really did it at the end. Well written characters and she really pulled on those emotional strings in this book. Worth the read.. Looking forward to reading more of Patricia Grayhalls books.
This thriller, Framed, will keep you glued to the pages. Fast paced, excellent character development, and a plot that twists and turns throughout the book. The medical and legal material is accurately presented and its obvious that the author did serious research into "Big Oil". Framed is a clever, intriguing thriller that will surprise you over and over again.
Patricia Grayhall definitely knows how to keep you on your toes with this one. It’s got a great, slow-building tension that makes the "framed" hook feel really personal and high-stakes. The writing is super smooth, making it easy to just fly through the chapters while you try to piece everything together. It’s a solid, atmospheric thriller that’s perfect for a rainy afternoon when you want a mystery that feels smart but still totally approachable.
She is bringing the oil company to justice for deadly emissions which is having devastating consequences on the people near them. The scientist who found them is arrested for murder and she knows they are trying to silence him. It is a fast read so see how she gets on I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great thriller
I am so glad I read this book this is the 1st for this author I guess couldn't put it down it caught me from day 1Love the storyline the characters were great it kept me up at night I'm so glad I read this book I recommend this book And you will be surprised
Framed is a clever romp of a read that’s packed with suspense, romance, and social relevance. Every page pulls you deeper into the ride, and then just when you think you’ve reached the finale, the unexpected ending bowls you over. A captivating story from start to finish.
Framed is a well-written, riveting read, and an important subject. I was captured from the beginning by the well-drawn characters as they found their way through relationship challenges and chase scenes to fight corporate greed and do right by their clients. Reader beware: plot twists!
This thriller hooked me from page one and did not let go. The character development, plot twists, and social issues woven together captivated me and the big twist at the end blew me away. I highly recommend this book.
I really enjoyed this. The story had me wanting to know more all along the way. The study was what pulled me in. The bank robbery kept me interested and the ending was not expected at all!
Framed is well written and held my attention until I finished it. Well executed story with great characters. I hope the author continues this as a series