Frame Shop: Critiquing Another Writer Can Be Murder

by Donald J. Bingle

Harold J. Ackerman thinks his latest cat mystery proves he is the best writer in the Pleasant Meadows Writers’ Guild and Critiquing Society, not that the motley assortment of poets, poseurs, and wannabe writers in the PMWGCS provides much competition. But then Gantry Ellis, the NYT best-selling author of the Danger McAdams mystery thrillers, joins the group and wows everyone. Still, Harold hopes to leverage his connection to the famous author into a big break, agreeing to help his mentor with some crime research between contentious critique sessions. Soon, though, his efforts lead to murder ... and then more murder. From its lurid, over-the-top prologue to its quirky addendum, Frame Shop delivers fun, intrigue, and variety to its readers, whether they are long-time mystery fans or aspiring writers attracted by its writers' group setting.

Says B.R. Robb, author of both River Ghosts and An Assassinated Man: "Well now - that was a whole lot of fun! Don Bingle's Frame Shop is a book every reader needs now and then, like the tasty dessert of an easy-reading yet intelligent serio-comedy after forcing down the dry, heavy tome we were supposed to like."

Frame Shop is a 42,000 word mystery/thriller set in a writers' group. Unlike a traditional who-dunnit, Frame Shop mixes violence, humor, and occasional writing advice in a format that will keep mystery lovers, aspiring authors NaNoWriMo participants, and established writers turning the pages. Donald J. Bingle is an oft-published author of books, novellas, and shorter stories in the mystery, thriller, science fiction, fantasy, horror, steampunk, romance, comedy, and memoir genres, as well as a frequent panelist and author of articles on writing and writers' groups. He is a full member of the International Thriller Writers, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Horror Writers Association, International Association of Media Tie-In Writers, GenCon Writer's Symposium, Origins Game Fair Library, and St. Charles Writers Group.

Genres: Mystery

187 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2014

About the author

Donald J. Bingle (sometimes credited as Don Bingle) is the author of Frame Shop, a mystery thriller set in a suburban writers' group, Net Impact, a spy thriller which incorporates real-world conspiracy theories, Wet Work, the follow-up adventure to Net Impact, GREENSWORD, a dark comedy about global warming, and Forced Conversion, a military science fiction novel set in the near future. He is also the co-author (with Jean Rabe) of The Love-Haight Case Files, an urban fantasy about the legal rights of supernatural creatures in a magical San Francisco. He has also written a variety of short fiction in the fantasy, science fiction, horror, and comedy genres, and also in gaming material, including stories in the Dragonlance and Transformers universes and in a variety of DAW themed anthologies. Many of his published stories have been collected by theme in his Writer on Demand TM series. He was the world's top-ranked player of RPGA Classic roleplaying game tournaments from 1985-2000.

Reviews

[R.W. Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant Meadows Writers Guild and Critiquing Society, Harold, Bryce, Myrtle, Felicity, Carl, Bob, Minx and newbie Gantry, the members. Harold hooks up with Gantry to do research for him with Guy, the hitman. When the details of Guy's M.O. came up, they decided Harold should write the plot of the next hit framing someone else. It was successful, so Guy had Harold write for more hits. Although the plots worked perfectly, Harold still got criticism from the group. Bryce stumbled on an article in the paper about one of Harold's plots. Gantry did some research which led him to suspect Harold's involvement with several murders. Guy was tired of Harold's manipulation so this was going to be the last plot. Best laid plans....

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Met the author at the Elgin Literary Festival and picked up a few of his e-books. The ensemble of characters and dynamics of this story will be familiar to anyone who has done time in a creative writing class or a writing critique group. Funny, well written, and with more suspense and intrigue than you’d expect given the premise. Should appeal to fans of Donald Westlake, Christopher Moore, and Bill Fitzhugh.