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Framed
It's not every day you bleed to death... Things have started to turn around for Jonathan Curtis. He's out of jail and staying clean. When a car restoration job shows up, it's right in Jonathan's wheelhouse. This could be the first step in his dream of opening his own auto-body shop. A dream that shatters when the job turns deadly. For Kris Boland, acting is what brought her to L.A. But when she rebuffs the sexual invitation of a top producer, her career begins to head south. Then her friend is arrested for a murder she is sure he did not commit. It's got to be a frame. Or does it? Somehow, Jonathan and Kris find each other, becoming the only hope each has of setting things straight before an innocent man is convicted ... or before a killer stops them both.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2018
140 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
James Scott Bell
132 books1,036 followersJim is a former trial lawyer who now writes and speaks full time. He is the bestselling author of Try Dying, No Legal Grounds, Presumed Guilty, Glimpses of Paradise, Breach of Promise and several other thrillers. He is a winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Inspirational Fiction, and was a fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine. He has written two books in the Writers' Digest series, Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure and Revision & Self-Editing.
Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and numerous writers conferences. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver.
Series:
* Shannon Saga (with Tracie Peterson)
* The Trials of Kit Shannon
* Ty Buchanan
Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and numerous writers conferences. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver.
Series:
* Shannon Saga (with Tracie Peterson)
* The Trials of Kit Shannon
* Ty Buchanan
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 22, 2021
An entertaining novella from James Scott Bell, of whom I am a big fan. Bell does the whole LA/Hollywood scene very well as usual. An interesting twist is that the hero in this book is basically a moron, but a lovable moron caught up in mystery and romance.
March 11, 2018
I've been a fan of James Scott Bell for many, many years. This one mixes the grit of his Mike Romeo thrillers with the heart of some of his earlier works. I love that combo. The staccato plot keeps things moving quickly with some of the twists and turns we've come to expect from Bell. A great weekend (or any day) read.
November 23, 2022
Witty dialogue and unexpected twists fuel this feel good suspense novella set in Hollywood
Framed is the story of two people living parallel lives that suddenly intersect due to a murder mystery in the heart of Hollywood. Jonathan Curtis is a typical LA loser, small con, and heroin addict trying to go straight. Kris Boland is a budding young actress from New England trying to make it in the film industry without compromising her ethics and integrity. Their lives become intertwined when a famous Hollywood dancer is murdered and Curtis is framed for the crime. This novella has so many interesting twists and turns that to try to describe the plot in any detail would spoil it for the rest of you. Suffice to say, despite setbacks and a disfiguring explosion, the two of them end up together at the end in an atypical happy ending... atypical by Hollywood standards but not atypical if you have read James Scott Bell's work before.
I enjoyed this novella mostly because I love the way it ended. However, I do have problems with James Scott Bell's writing style. He is an absolute master at dialogue. And I love realistic dialogue. But this novella lacks descriptive prose. And that is a sin I have trouble forgiving. Well-written descriptive prose creates atmosphere and that is absolutely lacking in this story (and in most of Bell's body of fiction). The emphasis on witty dialogue probably feels good to people who don't read much and watch too many sitcoms and stand up comedians when they should be reading. But serious readers like me will feel like something is missing.
I also prefer a bit more gravitas in a murder mystery. No one in Bell's stories ever seems serious or dangerous to me. The story feels a bit too much like one long, ironic joke. There was enough suspense to keep me reading but not enough thriller to make me worried about the way things might turn out.
As Bell self-publishes most of his fiction, he can afford to publish a novella length story. I love novellas and view their disappearance from the marketplace with some alarm. I think most of the popular novelists pumping out 500-page commercial tomes are simply bloated storytellers. I miss the short story marketplace, also. And to make matters worse, there are a few typos, incomplete sentences, and at least one character who was called primarily by his first name, suddenly being referred to by his last name... and I almost lost track of the character as a result. I also think having two different characters alternating the first person POV every other chapter was confusing.
All that being said, Framed is an original plot and I absolutely love the way things wrapped up. Kris Boland's take-no-prisoners attorney father may be the best character Bell has ever created.
So despite my critical comments, this is well-worth a read.
Framed is the story of two people living parallel lives that suddenly intersect due to a murder mystery in the heart of Hollywood. Jonathan Curtis is a typical LA loser, small con, and heroin addict trying to go straight. Kris Boland is a budding young actress from New England trying to make it in the film industry without compromising her ethics and integrity. Their lives become intertwined when a famous Hollywood dancer is murdered and Curtis is framed for the crime. This novella has so many interesting twists and turns that to try to describe the plot in any detail would spoil it for the rest of you. Suffice to say, despite setbacks and a disfiguring explosion, the two of them end up together at the end in an atypical happy ending... atypical by Hollywood standards but not atypical if you have read James Scott Bell's work before.
I enjoyed this novella mostly because I love the way it ended. However, I do have problems with James Scott Bell's writing style. He is an absolute master at dialogue. And I love realistic dialogue. But this novella lacks descriptive prose. And that is a sin I have trouble forgiving. Well-written descriptive prose creates atmosphere and that is absolutely lacking in this story (and in most of Bell's body of fiction). The emphasis on witty dialogue probably feels good to people who don't read much and watch too many sitcoms and stand up comedians when they should be reading. But serious readers like me will feel like something is missing.
I also prefer a bit more gravitas in a murder mystery. No one in Bell's stories ever seems serious or dangerous to me. The story feels a bit too much like one long, ironic joke. There was enough suspense to keep me reading but not enough thriller to make me worried about the way things might turn out.
As Bell self-publishes most of his fiction, he can afford to publish a novella length story. I love novellas and view their disappearance from the marketplace with some alarm. I think most of the popular novelists pumping out 500-page commercial tomes are simply bloated storytellers. I miss the short story marketplace, also. And to make matters worse, there are a few typos, incomplete sentences, and at least one character who was called primarily by his first name, suddenly being referred to by his last name... and I almost lost track of the character as a result. I also think having two different characters alternating the first person POV every other chapter was confusing.
All that being said, Framed is an original plot and I absolutely love the way things wrapped up. Kris Boland's take-no-prisoners attorney father may be the best character Bell has ever created.
So despite my critical comments, this is well-worth a read.
January 20, 2021
Huge plot hole at just before the halfway point: the MC is walking his dog home. All is good. Then, in the next paragraph, he gets home, expecting doggy to be there to greet him, and the little pet is missing. Erm, was he NOT just walking the darn thing home? This is big because a whole bunch of other stuff rests on this pint.
Waste of my time and money. Fed up and disappointed to say the least.
Waste of my time and money. Fed up and disappointed to say the least.
August 11, 2021
Great thriller novella! You probably have heard the saying "I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet." well the author has his own way of stating this by writing ". . .no matter how bad it is for you there’s always somebody worse off. The only guy who couldn’t say that would be that last guy, the guy who was worse off than anybody. As long as you aren’t him, you shouldn’t flap your gums too much."
September 17, 2021
A short but entertaining novellas. Good characters. A tight and fast-moving plot. Well paced. Tony Boland is the man!
March 24, 2018
Thrilling, intriguing, amusing
This short story packs the deep punch of a fast-moving thriller, the sweet kiss of romance, and the blistering dialogue of pulp masters.
This short story packs the deep punch of a fast-moving thriller, the sweet kiss of romance, and the blistering dialogue of pulp masters.
December 13, 2022
Fast and furious
I don't really care for novellas, but I like reading James Scott Bell, so I took a chance. With no pages to spare, Bell trimmed the story to the necessities, threw in some dead bodies, a pretty girl, an ex con nice guy, some gangsters, a dirty old man, oh, and Tootie. What else could one want for a couple hours of suspenseful reading? Like all Mr. Bell's books, I highly recommend.
I don't really care for novellas, but I like reading James Scott Bell, so I took a chance. With no pages to spare, Bell trimmed the story to the necessities, threw in some dead bodies, a pretty girl, an ex con nice guy, some gangsters, a dirty old man, oh, and Tootie. What else could one want for a couple hours of suspenseful reading? Like all Mr. Bell's books, I highly recommend.
March 25, 2018
Reading this story was a lot of fun as it made me stay at the edge of my seat throughout because I was hooked on it from the earliest scenes.
In the story, Jonathan Curtis has a troubled background, but he is not incarcerated anymore and is trying to stay good and clean. When he sees an ad for an old car restoration on the board in the place he is staying, he jumps at the chance; however, the person who promises the job wants something more. He wants Jonathan to kill a man. When Jonathan refuses, the man threatens him by calling the police and telling them that Jonathan attacked him. Later, things get hairy with this man dead and his house blown away, and Jonathan is in trouble. Added to this are Jonathan’s curiosity, a theater group, adversaries, a young stage actress named Kris Boland, a possible unidentified killer lurking around Jonathan and Kris, a couple of detectives, and several other complications, turning the story into a fast-moving and suspenseful yet hilarious rollercoaster.
The characters are developed just enough for the story’s needs. I especially liked Kris's trust in Jonathan and their collaboration in the story. Although theirs has the feeling of a romance, that romance doesn't cast a fog on the twists and suspense of the story. I appreciate it that the author didn't choose to elaborate on the romance too much and divert the reader's attention.
The pace is lightning fast, and the suspense-filled plot is believable with unexpected twists and Murphy’s Law situations. The point of view changes within the story are very smooth and they help the reader’s assessment of the characters. The dialogue is funny, and the sense of humor of the author shows up at every turn.
Above all, what most attracted me to this story is its author’s relentless backstabbing of his main character, and I said to myself, “For all upcoming writers, here is a good lesson on the proper treatment of a protagonist.” The second most instructive aspect of the story is its directness through the economy of language while expressing adequate information for every situation. In short, it is the author's actual know-how of storytelling that captures the reader’s attention and makes this story a huge success.
In the story, Jonathan Curtis has a troubled background, but he is not incarcerated anymore and is trying to stay good and clean. When he sees an ad for an old car restoration on the board in the place he is staying, he jumps at the chance; however, the person who promises the job wants something more. He wants Jonathan to kill a man. When Jonathan refuses, the man threatens him by calling the police and telling them that Jonathan attacked him. Later, things get hairy with this man dead and his house blown away, and Jonathan is in trouble. Added to this are Jonathan’s curiosity, a theater group, adversaries, a young stage actress named Kris Boland, a possible unidentified killer lurking around Jonathan and Kris, a couple of detectives, and several other complications, turning the story into a fast-moving and suspenseful yet hilarious rollercoaster.
The characters are developed just enough for the story’s needs. I especially liked Kris's trust in Jonathan and their collaboration in the story. Although theirs has the feeling of a romance, that romance doesn't cast a fog on the twists and suspense of the story. I appreciate it that the author didn't choose to elaborate on the romance too much and divert the reader's attention.
The pace is lightning fast, and the suspense-filled plot is believable with unexpected twists and Murphy’s Law situations. The point of view changes within the story are very smooth and they help the reader’s assessment of the characters. The dialogue is funny, and the sense of humor of the author shows up at every turn.
Above all, what most attracted me to this story is its author’s relentless backstabbing of his main character, and I said to myself, “For all upcoming writers, here is a good lesson on the proper treatment of a protagonist.” The second most instructive aspect of the story is its directness through the economy of language while expressing adequate information for every situation. In short, it is the author's actual know-how of storytelling that captures the reader’s attention and makes this story a huge success.
September 13, 2019
“It’s not every day you bleed to death.”
“You don’t get to choose where you’re born or who you’re born to, and no matter how bad it is for you there’s always somebody worse off.”
“Maybe when you got through things, bad things, and come out scarred on the other side, but standing brave and facing things down and not letting them hold you back, there’s extra light that comes from inside.”
My first James Scott Bell book and I’m a fan. This one, though a novella, was a good read that races from scene to scene. Jonathan is a tough guy, ex-con with a conscience, especially after he accidentally kills someone trying to blackmail him. Intrigued yet? I was! I loved the dialogue, the scenery, and the fact that was one of those rare Christian clean but gritty/edgy books. Although the ending was good, I thought it could have done a little better job putting the final touches on it. And there were a few typos. But all in all, I’ll definitely be reading James Scott Bell again.
For more reviews, please check out my blog!
https://wadeurspider01.wixsite.com/we...
“You don’t get to choose where you’re born or who you’re born to, and no matter how bad it is for you there’s always somebody worse off.”
“Maybe when you got through things, bad things, and come out scarred on the other side, but standing brave and facing things down and not letting them hold you back, there’s extra light that comes from inside.”
My first James Scott Bell book and I’m a fan. This one, though a novella, was a good read that races from scene to scene. Jonathan is a tough guy, ex-con with a conscience, especially after he accidentally kills someone trying to blackmail him. Intrigued yet? I was! I loved the dialogue, the scenery, and the fact that was one of those rare Christian clean but gritty/edgy books. Although the ending was good, I thought it could have done a little better job putting the final touches on it. And there were a few typos. But all in all, I’ll definitely be reading James Scott Bell again.
For more reviews, please check out my blog!
https://wadeurspider01.wixsite.com/we...
August 26, 2018
This was a fast, light read that I enjoyed.
I'm new to studying the Thriller genre, but after reading Bell's "Write Your Novel From the Middle," I thought this was a good introduction to it. You can even see Bell's Mirror Moment in the dead center of the novella - where the hero reflects on the central crisis. Will he risk his future to do the right thing, or let an innocent man go down for a crime he committed? What grabbed me immediately was the protagonist's matter-of-fact, everyman voice. His desperation to start his life clean after overcoming addiction served as compelling conflict to drive the narrative.
The ending didn't quite gel, because the antagonist's motive came out of nowhere and the protagonist didn't really have an active role in it. It felt kind of deus-ex. I would have like to see a little more internal change as well. There's nothing particularly deep here.
Reading this made me want to read more of Bell's work. So I say it's worth the read.
I'm new to studying the Thriller genre, but after reading Bell's "Write Your Novel From the Middle," I thought this was a good introduction to it. You can even see Bell's Mirror Moment in the dead center of the novella - where the hero reflects on the central crisis. Will he risk his future to do the right thing, or let an innocent man go down for a crime he committed? What grabbed me immediately was the protagonist's matter-of-fact, everyman voice. His desperation to start his life clean after overcoming addiction served as compelling conflict to drive the narrative.
The ending didn't quite gel, because the antagonist's motive came out of nowhere and the protagonist didn't really have an active role in it. It felt kind of deus-ex. I would have like to see a little more internal change as well. There's nothing particularly deep here.
Reading this made me want to read more of Bell's work. So I say it's worth the read.
March 18, 2022
free ebook
he got out of jail, got clean, went to get a job fixing a mans car at his house. the man wanted him to kill someone and when he said no and got up to leave the man kicked him in the groin. he hit the man once, the man fell, hit his head and died. he wiped all his finger prints and left
but then he felt bad and went to the police to confess. they told him they already arrested someone else who shot the man
he talked to the man they arrested and he told him what happened. he was trying to figure out what was going on and some man in the park came up to him (he rescued the dead mans dog from the pound) and told him to leave it alone and to leave the state.
he met a girl while trying to solve the case. they both got blasted when the dead mans house blew up and killed the neighbor. she got a scar and lost a eye so she wont be a actress. her dad was a lawyer
he ended up with his own car repair place and the girl came over and asked him to dinner
he got out of jail, got clean, went to get a job fixing a mans car at his house. the man wanted him to kill someone and when he said no and got up to leave the man kicked him in the groin. he hit the man once, the man fell, hit his head and died. he wiped all his finger prints and left
but then he felt bad and went to the police to confess. they told him they already arrested someone else who shot the man
he talked to the man they arrested and he told him what happened. he was trying to figure out what was going on and some man in the park came up to him (he rescued the dead mans dog from the pound) and told him to leave it alone and to leave the state.
he met a girl while trying to solve the case. they both got blasted when the dead mans house blew up and killed the neighbor. she got a scar and lost a eye so she wont be a actress. her dad was a lawyer
he ended up with his own car repair place and the girl came over and asked him to dinner
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2023
Pretty entertaining and sometimes gripping short thriller which takes place in the general Hollywood area against a backdrop of B grade movie directors and wannabe actors. As the title suggests, it's a set-up and our main character gets roughed up quite a bit. He's pretty likeable, though, and you're cheering for him even though he's a bit of a rogue.
As for the story, well, the plot has a lot of moving parts - the trouble is the resolution was a bit convoluted and rushed for my taste. It probably could have been longer and the climax and resolution drawn out a bit more so it wasn't so abrupt. Overall, though, not bad. A quick beach or airport read and well-told (has a noir-y feel, as Bell writes pretty good detective stories). Very little bad language which I appreciate. Give his novels a try.
As for the story, well, the plot has a lot of moving parts - the trouble is the resolution was a bit convoluted and rushed for my taste. It probably could have been longer and the climax and resolution drawn out a bit more so it wasn't so abrupt. Overall, though, not bad. A quick beach or airport read and well-told (has a noir-y feel, as Bell writes pretty good detective stories). Very little bad language which I appreciate. Give his novels a try.
February 23, 2024
When I sent my own novel to a publisher, she suggested I read some of the many books on writing by James Scott Bell, and the recommender was right they're fantastic, but when he offered one of his fiction books free, I had to check it out. Now I know why the writing books are so good. This is a great little novella. It's such a page turner that I read it in a day, by staying up way too late. The story follows Jonathan and Kris. He's an ex-con trying to stay sober. She's an aspiring actress trying to find her big break. Their paths cross when a director is murdered and one of Kris' friends is arrested for the crime. Much more than that and I would have to put a spoiler alert on this review. This is a tense thriller of a book, and a quick read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm seeing many more James Scott Bell books in my future, but first I have to finish my manuscript.
May 31, 2018
Jonathan Curtis is out of jail. He gets a car restoration job. It's not the only assignment the owner of the car wants him to do.
Kris Boland is an actress in a sex-crazed industry. She turns down advances and finds herself outside looking in.
Then Kris's friend is charged with murder, a crime she thinks he didn't commit.
I liked this short story. For one, it packed in a lot of action in few words. For another, it created emotions. At times I felt like biting my nails. Mostly I inwardly screamed at the main character to go a different direction. Of course, Curtis couldn't do that. He was too honorable to walk away from trouble.
Kris Boland is an actress in a sex-crazed industry. She turns down advances and finds herself outside looking in.
Then Kris's friend is charged with murder, a crime she thinks he didn't commit.
I liked this short story. For one, it packed in a lot of action in few words. For another, it created emotions. At times I felt like biting my nails. Mostly I inwardly screamed at the main character to go a different direction. Of course, Curtis couldn't do that. He was too honorable to walk away from trouble.
July 20, 2020
With all the terrific "Romeo" books, I was afraid Mr. Bell was going to lose my interest with this novellla without the "snarky" witticisms and terrific quoting of Shakspeare, Aristotle and others. But he kept an interesting plot going in this novella, with appealing characters and a great grasp of Malibu culture! The only problem was.. I wanted more!!! I finished Framed too quickly and I hope Mr. Bell will bring him back in a novel...Or a novel with Johnathon & Romeo??
April 8, 2025
If you want a good, quick read, get on board this author's Train I found this novella to be more sophisticated than YOUR SON IS ALIVE. I do not know inspires Mr. Bell, but it is a gift. His writing mechanics were excellent, and there was no vulgarity, thank you sir.
If I say too much about the plot, the spoiler police will out me. The main character, poor fellow, went to rebuild a car and instead found himself in jail.
Thank you, Mr. Bell, for a good read.
If I say too much about the plot, the spoiler police will out me. The main character, poor fellow, went to rebuild a car and instead found himself in jail.
Thank you, Mr. Bell, for a good read.
July 11, 2018
Another darn good read by JSB!
This is another darn good read by James Scott Bell! This is a very good story about a man, who is really trying to change his life around, who is caught up in the middle of a huge mess. The story will keep you reading and wondering until a great ending comes around!
This is another darn good read by James Scott Bell! This is a very good story about a man, who is really trying to change his life around, who is caught up in the middle of a huge mess. The story will keep you reading and wondering until a great ending comes around!
February 5, 2019
LA Story
Fun whodoneit told by the lead suspect. Everybody’s trying to make it big in Hollywood except Jonathan. He’s just trying to get a job and straighten his life out after doing some prison time. But the job doesn’t turn out to be one he can take. And the Trouble starts there and just keeps building.
Fun whodoneit told by the lead suspect. Everybody’s trying to make it big in Hollywood except Jonathan. He’s just trying to get a job and straighten his life out after doing some prison time. But the job doesn’t turn out to be one he can take. And the Trouble starts there and just keeps building.
July 24, 2020
Great Read
I really enjoyed this book. Very interesting plot, liked the characters and plenty of twists. In fact, too many twists for my liking. Including some that seemed unnecessary and didn’t seem to add anything to the story. Other than that, I’d strongly recommend this book. Great writer!
I really enjoyed this book. Very interesting plot, liked the characters and plenty of twists. In fact, too many twists for my liking. Including some that seemed unnecessary and didn’t seem to add anything to the story. Other than that, I’d strongly recommend this book. Great writer!
March 9, 2021
This story had me riveted from the start. Down on his luck everything just got worse but eventually it all works out and he gets the girl (probably), she came back to see him anyway and things are looking up for him now he cleaned up his act. Some bad things happen then some good things happen and it's almost a fairytale ending. Well worth a read.
October 7, 2022
Typical James Scott Bell - Excellent Story!
As is customary with a James Scott Bell story, you'll get excellent characterization and a nice, tight plot. As a novella, it is a quick read and hit all of my buttons - including a satisfying resolution. Treat yourself to an afternoon or evening of enjoyable suspense!
As is customary with a James Scott Bell story, you'll get excellent characterization and a nice, tight plot. As a novella, it is a quick read and hit all of my buttons - including a satisfying resolution. Treat yourself to an afternoon or evening of enjoyable suspense!
March 19, 2018
An excellent page turner with fast-paced suspense, multiple twists and the unusual ploy of using two first-person narratives of the two main characters. James Scott Bell is a master writer and shows his talent in the short novella.
March 29, 2018
Good airport read
Enjoyed this novel and would recommend as an airplane ride read. Took me a little while to get into the meat of the novel. The plot ( and JSB teaches about plot) was a bit too far out there for me, although the final outcome was topical and understandable.
Enjoyed this novel and would recommend as an airplane ride read. Took me a little while to get into the meat of the novel. The plot ( and JSB teaches about plot) was a bit too far out there for me, although the final outcome was topical and understandable.
April 16, 2018
Full of Twists
This was a great novella. The story was full of twists and kept me interested in what was coming next. I stayed up late to finish the books because the characters needed me more than I needed sleep.
This was a great novella. The story was full of twists and kept me interested in what was coming next. I stayed up late to finish the books because the characters needed me more than I needed sleep.
April 28, 2018
Short book about a man who gets caught up into one dangerous encounter after the other. His sense of honor, or conscience, keeps him pursuing the truth when most humans would let go. I read this one on a whim, and was very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
April 29, 2018
Page Turner!
At first, I didn't think I would like it because the character is no charming hero. At the same time, there's something so likeable about him! By then, I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. Lots of suspense and lots of surprises and a great ending.
At first, I didn't think I would like it because the character is no charming hero. At the same time, there's something so likeable about him! By then, I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. Lots of suspense and lots of surprises and a great ending.
November 9, 2020
Excellent reading!
Great suspense! I love James Scott Bell's books! This was exciting and hard to put down. I read it in one sitting! I love that there is no profanity in his books.
Great suspense! I love James Scott Bell's books! This was exciting and hard to put down. I read it in one sitting! I love that there is no profanity in his books.
March 24, 2021
A total looser? The tally is not in yet! Bell does a fantastic job of bringing together people from many stations in life and weaving them together to make a most compelling narrative. If you don't like this, just give up reading.
October 30, 2021
James Scott Bell is a master of suspense & thrillers. In Framed, protagonist Jonathan is flawed yet heroic and entirely believable. Lots of twists, unpredictable… A great quick read that delves into philosophy and a bit of theology to make it more than a cops & robbers trope. Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews