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SAM HAS BEEN FRAMED FOR MURDER. HIS ONLY HOPE? INDIE!
Meet retired cop, Sam Prichard.

Sam Prichard has recovered from his last mission to save the world, and is back to being a normal private eye. Suddenly, he's got three seemingly unrelated cases, but the clues keep leading him to the same places and people. He's decided there's something fishy going on, but then he wakes up and finds that one of his clients is dead, and he is the only possible suspect!

When he's arrested for murder, Sam knows there's only one hope: Indie! Between her own special computer skills and her courage, she's the only one who can figure out just who framed Sam for murder, and set up three other people for their own deadly falls!

See why people are calling it "the next Jack Reacher" yourself by scrolling up and downloading your copy today!

287 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2015

896 people are currently reading
245 people want to read

About the author

David Archer

190 books504 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

David Archer was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. He is a fiction author and novelist, writing in the mysteries and thrillers genre. His approach to writing is to hit deep, keep you entertained, and leave you wanting MORE with every turn of the page. He writes mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels, all of which are primed to get your heart pumping.

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5 stars
489 (48%)
4 stars
367 (36%)
3 stars
122 (12%)
2 stars
22 (2%)
1 star
15 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Profile Image for Jenny.
2,337 reviews73 followers
May 3, 2018
Framed is book four of the Sam Prichard Mystery Thriller Series by David Archer. On the return from his honeymoon, Sam Prichard caught three cases that at first Sam Prichard did not believe were related to each other. However, this was not the case, and more Sam Prichard investigates the connections became evident with devastation consequences to himself. The readers of Framed will continue to follow the twist and turns to find out what happens to Sam Prichard.

Framed is the first book I have read of David Archer and I did enjoy reading it. I will differently read other books in this series. I laughed and cried while reading Framed. I loved the way David Archer made one of his characters Sam Prichard a country music singer and also included videos of Sam's songs that he sang with his band. David did a fantastic job in portraying his characters especially Sam Prichard mother-in-law Kim Perkins. I like David Archer writing style and the way he describes his settings and plot of Framed.

Framed highlights the problems and consequences of hypnosis and drugs if misused by practitioners. The Readers of Framed will learn about being a private investigator.

I recommend this book.
1,493 reviews4 followers
November 23, 2021
Again way over the top and very simple. I started this series so I am going to continue but the first book got me hooked and the rest have been a disappointment.
Profile Image for Norm Davis.
418 reviews5 followers
April 2, 2019
I'm giving this pretzel plotted gumshoe musical 3.1415926535 stars and recommending it as if it is a 5 star blockbuster to lovers of mysteries or people who know what an Edgar award is.

It is a very fast paced private eye detective novel that feels a bit like Father Knows Best, Mayberry R.F.D, or The Brady Bunch. I don't know how to explain that comparison. Hanging out with Sam Prichard, Indie and Kenzie while investigating mysteries rife with danger and intrigue is like playing Monopoly with a few of your good friends. It's entertainment. It's fun. You may or may not lose sleep with it but only because you won't mind returning to be with your friends again tomorrow. Ok then…

*Warning* contains spoilers related to Sam Prichard novels 1-3. How can you not write a spoiler about book 4 in a series? I'll try not to ruin your enjoyment of the earlier books.

In our last Sam Prichard novelette Sam and Indie's honeymoon goes sideways, ultimately leaving one of our beloved regular characters dead and Sam in the hospital in a coma. We start this novella with life getting back to normal at the Prichard estate.

The book is called "Framed".

Right now, March 2019, there are very persistent tax preparation software advertisements showing on TV every 7½ minutes. It is even more simplistic than Choice Hotel's "Badda Book. Badda Boom. It is "Free Fr Free Free". Then repeat, vary with three Free's, then back to the partial free again. There's a variety of these commercials with the exact same dialog.

Why the commercial talk in discussing the name of the book? Well it is Framed, Fra, Framed, Framed. More might be a spoiler. Make note, "Framed" is a good title for this one.

After preliminaries suitable for the fourth book in a series, Sam turns his attention to all the calls on his answering machine that he missed while in a coma, while recovering, and while enjoying his second attempt at a honeymoon.

Listening to the requests for assistance, Sam discards several "spouse cheating" calls but does take interest in a number of cases, all seemingly unrelated.

One woman wants Sam to find out where her soon-to-be Ex-husband is hiding his millions. If she's right and if Sam and Indie can dig up the hidden assets, they may have a seven digit payday with less than an afternoon's work.

A missing wife also sparks Sam's interest. The husband is desperate to find his wife. He tells Sam that he thought they were happy. There was a sudden change in his wife's behavior, then weeks later she vanished. He is additionally concerned because the police are now asking hostile questions about his missing wife. The potential client needs Sam to find his wife or find out what happened to her.

Another is a call from jail. It's from a guy who has slaughtered his family with a hatchet.

The fellow in jail is an unusual case because he doesn't want Sam to prove him innocent. He loved his family dearly. He never drinks or uses drugs yet police found sedatives and alcohol in his blood. The steroids they might have suspected due to his physical stature could not be found in his blood.

The client can not recall the slaughter despite being covered in their blood and the hatchet covered with his bloody fingerprints. He wants Sam to discover how and why he killed his beloved family. Having seen the overwhelming evidence, he has no doubt he killed them.

Let's go sideways for a bit on this review…

This book may be classified as a "Gumshoe Musical". Movie "musicals" have never been terribly appealing to me. I've watched my share and won't berate them, but if I had a choice between some classic musical movie and cartoons, I'd probably go with cartoons despite my lack of interest in cartoons. They're both low on my "interesting things" list. So when I previously discovered that David Archer is writing "Gumshoe Musicals" in novel and audiobook format I didn't know what to think.

I did investigate this "Gumshoe Musical" phenomena. While listening to the audiobook, at the appropriate place, the songs start up as if you were listening to an Orson Wells radio drama and the station took a break to play one of the top ten list songs. I hadn't been reading along, but found my ebook and checked: there it was…

"...and then Sam said, “You got it, now let's do it!” (Click to listen) "

Followed by lyrics in the ebook. They actually have the song in the audiobook, lyrics included.

If you happen to be reading the ebook on your computer, tablet, or smart phone, the link goes to the song that is otherwise playing on the audiobook.

I've listened to "dramatized audiobooks" where a troupe of readers make the book sound like a "play", but I think David Archer is a pioneer in the "ebook musical". Or on audiobook, I christened it "Gumshoe Musical".

To clear up any confusion, Sam is a part-time singer in a local band and the music is a natural part of the book... the band is practicing before a weekend engagement. So the musical thing isn't entirely "out of the blue".

Onward. Oh... the music is pretty good too.

Framed. Fra… Framed. Framed is what all Sam's cases have in common. The woman wanting her share of money from the soon to be ex-husband is involved in "framing" if only to fairly collect her half in the divorce settlement. The missing woman turns out to possibly be connected to the soon to be ex-husband. Mr. "the nicest guy in the world" bodybuilder in jail for slaughtering his family is so likable that only he is convinced he killed his family.

To keep the framed theme intact, and plug Same Prichard novels, the Private Investigator, Sam Prichard himself lands in jail. What's that most popular term these last few years, "It's complicated".

Luckily he gets the same jail cell as his bodybuilder client who murdered his wife. Sam's an ex-cop who was forced to retire due to a crippling, job related gun shot wound, and he's really not in shape to be an ex-cop in jail. Perhaps that's the one good thing happening to Sam. The big man doesn't want Sam killed in jail before he learns why he slaughtered his family.

If I have sparked your interest in Sam Prichard's world I suggest you start with The Grave Man. There is a prequel to the series "Fallback" but it is basically the first chapter of "The Grave Man".

I noticed that if I liked Sam Prichard that Goodreads recommends Doc Savage... The Man of Bronze AND Hard Luck Hank Screw The Galaxy, which I also really enjoyed, so maybe Goodreads can nail down good recommendations once you've written a few reviews.

I read Framedin two sessions. Starting on March 27, 2019 08:29 AM, I finished on March 29, 2019, at 1:29 AM. The audiobook runs just over 5 hours, so that's probably how many pages it is as well.

3,079 reviews13 followers
December 8, 2025
“Framed”, fourth in the 'Sam Pritchard' series, sees our hero recovering from the OTT events in “Love and War”.
Fresh from saving America from ruination he's back to being a run of the mill P.I.
He picks up a couple of cases pretty quickly - a man who murdered his entire family but can't remember anything, a missing wife, and a woman who wants to know where her husband has squirrelled away his assets.
On the face of it there is nothing to link them, but linked they are.
There's a certain amount of suspension of disbelief involved in the way the plot develops - personally I have my doubts that the mind-altering technique describes could be quite so dramatic in such a short period of time (or, for that matter, that it could be used so often over a period of years without a single person 'coming to their senses')
The novel also covers Sam's budding career as a C&W singer and composer - the lyrics are provided and there are links to the songs online. It's not for me.
And then there is the elephant in the room - Beauregard (a spirit guide who speaks through Sam's mother-in-law). It seems an unnecessary addition to the series.
3 Stars.
Profile Image for Amy.
1,911 reviews10 followers
July 20, 2020
Another great book in the series. I feel like I say that a lot but honestly it’s the truth. I love Sam Prichard and Andy and McKenzie are amazing as well. The plants are really well thought out and very interesting and unique. Makes me think twice about going to see a dentist I’ll tell you that… Especially one that uses Hipnosis. I had never heard of that before so it’s an interesting thought. I like the end of the book as well because it leads in very nicely into the next sequel. Looking forward to reading that of course because it sounds interesting.
Profile Image for Troy.
151 reviews21 followers
August 3, 2024
After book 3, I stated that I wasn’t overly excited about this storyline but I’d continue on in the series and see where it led. Both Sam and Indy (Indiana) are pretty interesting characters, but the villain in “Framed” is given rather a ridiculous ability and as another reviewer stated “it’s over the top” to which I totally agree. I’ll probably reluctantly pick up the Sam and Indy saga again at some point, but am going to return back to Archer’s Noah Wolf series and continue with that for the time being.
Profile Image for Steve.
446 reviews42 followers
October 27, 2018
Prichard's time a singer turns out not to be a single book experiment. And the songs intercut into the previous audiobook were just the beginning. The gimmick was repeated in this release.

This book was interesting, though everyone in Sam's town seems to be susceptible to posthypnotic suggestion. The plot device is first used to great effect, then overused, then run entirely into the ground. Still, the story was compelling and the pages kept turning. I'm enjoying the series.
413 reviews6 followers
February 10, 2021
Framed

Framed book 4 in the Sam Pritchard series,has a very interesting storyline. Sam and Indie come back from their Honeymoon and take on three separate cases, that turn out to be connected. A serial killer has figured out how to combine drugs and hypnosis to get people to do whatever he tells them too. Sam underestimates him and finds himself in jail charged with First Degree Murder and he doesn't remember anything. Great storyline and great ending.
7 reviews
June 29, 2019
Sam Pritchard series

I have enjoyed this series so far. The author is becoming more detailed so I am able to get a better picture of the activities going on in the story. The first few books were very cut and dry but the writing is becoming more engrossing and detailed like I’m watching a movie. Keep it up.
29 reviews
May 4, 2021
Concern

I love this series of books and enjoy all the characters. I just started getting concerned about Sam when I began noticing a behavior of Indie's. Though perhaps "playful" she has hit, kicked, punched and pinched Sam throughout the last couple books. I will continue enjoying the series and hope that Indie calms herself down! 😊
395 reviews4 followers
June 10, 2018
Once again an excellent read with a dynamite ending. It was hard for me to put this one down. Kudos to David Archer for a job well done. Now to get the next books in the series. Sam Prichard needs me to keep an eye on him, his wife and daughter.
838 reviews1 follower
July 18, 2018
Just finished the fourth of these books. Same complaint, too many I love you be careful the plot in this one is also quite good until Beauregard the Civil war ghost reappears with advice. So ok book but I’m finished with this author.
Profile Image for Rita Spillman-Bills.
72 reviews1 follower
March 26, 2019
Sam Prichard

I am officially a can of David Archer. I read the Noah Wolf series, started the Sam Prichard, and love 💘 the option to listen 🎶 to the songs. What a wonderful blessing for me.
10 reviews
March 3, 2020
Sam and Indie are facing a domineering control killer.

Sam is not the big hero in this book. Indie takes that role. This makes their teaming up a good thing. The ghost also plays a small but important role. This is a fun book to read.
Profile Image for Mimi Davis Hopkins.
676 reviews4 followers
September 15, 2020
Listening to Beauregard

I had to ship writing a Review on the book before this one, because i couldn't wait to get started on this one. These are some of the best written books i have read! They all have great and well defined characters,and are filled with intrigue.
7,765 reviews50 followers
January 13, 2021
Intriguing plot having learned of strange happenings to them after they have seen their dentist, one that using hypnosis . It ranges with a dentist set on revenge, murder, sex and people were being framed. When Sam got three cases, and couldn’t believe they were connected. When he finds himself in the same cell with a guy he was defending of murder and now he too was charged with murder, A warning came a little to late, now how to prove what is happening,
377 reviews3 followers
April 26, 2021
Framed

I have to admit I'm hooked. Mr. Archer covers every type of case there is. From home security to being drugged and unconscious. I'll be getting his next book as soon as I finish this review!
131 reviews
October 20, 2022
Interesting characters and inventive plot

The plot and organization of this book is masterful. I particularly enjoyed the character of Beauregard, the ghost, as it added a bit of humor to an otherwise heavy story. Well done!!
Profile Image for Rosemary Hughes.
4,192 reviews23 followers
June 6, 2024
On return from their belated honeymoon, Sam finds three possible cases on his answering machine. Each one is different scenarios, but as the duo dives into the data behind each case, there is so many similarities it's frightening.
16 reviews
October 29, 2017
Wish the story was longer. I would like less of the next book because it is short already. I do like Sam's character line and the introduction of Bauguard.
282 reviews2 followers
December 23, 2017
Guess I like Sam Pritchard stories...just got #5-8 of the series.
58 reviews
August 18, 2019
4 down

Book 4 in this series & another good storyline. Can't wait to get book 5 and read that & subsequent ones
317 reviews2 followers
April 12, 2020
Brilliant

Oh yes, these are such compelling books, how can one person wrote such fantastic books. A wonderful author, would definitely recommend.
17 reviews4 followers
September 23, 2020
I couldn't figure out how Sam pritchard was going to get himself out of this mess and it was brilliant
258 reviews2 followers
November 17, 2020
Framed

Sam is hired by three unrelated people whose cases seem tied to a dentist who uses hypnosis in his practice. Things grow stranger the longer Sam and Indie investigate.
Profile Image for Angela.
8,551 reviews122 followers
March 8, 2023
4 Stars

Framed (Sam Prichard Mystery Book #4) by David Archer...

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