Customer Reviews

Frame-Up

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A fantastic legal thriller that will keep you on the edge of your chair throughout. I couldn't wait to get started and was not disappointed in the least. The writer obviously knows his characters and tells a tale of murder and mayhem that will fascinate the reader until the last page.

Our hero is Michael Knight, a graduate of Harvard Law that started his practice at the U.S. Attorney's office and then went with a distinguished Boston law firm and then Michael and his mentor, Alexis Devlin who is a well-known trial attorney start their own firm, Devlin and Knight, to work the other side of the coin and take criminal defense cases. John McKendrick, who is Michael's closest friend from law school goes the opposite way and becomes involved as an associate attorney of a infamous mob lawyer. Michael always hoped that John would change his ways but sadly, before this could happen John is killed in a car bombing that might have been orchestrated by, who else?, the mob. After this tragedy three men who had grown up together in Boston meet for the first time in many years. They are Matt Ryan, who is now a priest; Dominic Santangelo, a mafia don and Lex Devlin, Michael's law partner. Devlin and Knight are asked to defend the alleged murderer who turns out to be, who else?? The don's son. The lawyer's agree after much hesitation. In planning the defense, Michael is pulled into an art fraud that takes him from Boston to London to a cosmopolitan Amsterdam and into the innermost world of international art crime. As Michael hastens to work his way into the world of valuable art and dangerous but worthless crooks he learns that these heartless criminals will stop at nothing to keep him away from what he seeks.

I was really into this book from start to finish. This book is a sad story of brotherhood that was once close and now broken. Speaking of finish, the author gave readers a complete surprise at the end. The book is very fast paced and the writing is first class. Frame Up is a worldly and mysterious read with an intriguing hero and a plot that doesn't quit. Of course, according to my daughter, who is also a reviewer, my favorites are always the mob and Nazis (WWII era). And this book certainly didn't let me down on that score. No Nazis but, you can't have everything!! Looking forward to the next book by this author.



Mary Lignor, reviewer for [...]

Great book. Great character. Some books are not good to the last page. This is good to the last page.

Look out John Grisham....you have some stiff competition. Frame Up is a fast, furious and totally enjoyable read. Read the other reviews if you want to know the story...I will just tell you that it is worth every cent and a great book. Start with Neon Dragon the books stand alone but read better if you do them in sequence, helps with the character flow. Good writing, solid mystery and a District Attorney we all love to hate. Keep it up John....I see movies in your future.

I started reading this and did not put it down until I finished it to my wife's dismay. The plot has more twists than a corkscrew. Just when you think you've figured out what is going on, something happens to keep you humble and lead you down another path. And, as a guide to the instability of power in an organization like the mafia, it can't be beat.

John Dobbyn's Frame Up is an exceptional legal thriller. The characters are engaging and the plot has amazing twists and turns. Dobbyn proves that a good thriller can be written without foul and inappropriate language. This book will keep you up at night! Highly recommended.
Marty Simons

Michael Knight and John McKedrick were best friends since childhood, and graduated together from Harvard Law. Unfortunately, while Michael joined the U.S. Attorney's office, and later became partners with legendary trial attorney Lex Devlin, John became the only associate to a mob lawyer. On their way to dinner one evening, Michael saw John killed in a car bombing just before Michael was to get into the car.

Meanwhile, Lex is reunited with his childhood friends - Matt Ryan, now a priest, and Dominic Santangelo, a Mafia don. Dominic's son is soon arrested for John's murder.

While Michael is still recovering from his injuries, Lex persuades him to defend the suspected bomber in court. As he reluctantly prepares his defense, he is drawn into a high-stakes art fraud.

Frame-up was written by John F. Dobbyn, a professor of law at Villanova Law School. His obvious knowledge of trial law is apparent in this book. Dobbyn keeps the story moving at quite a fast pace, throwing in a few twists and turns along the way.

Fans of a good suspense will enjoy trying to figure out just who did put the hit on John, why, and who is next.

Frame Up

Friendship and the life choices we make are the basis for John F. Dobbyn's "Frame Up." Boston lawyers John McKedrick and Michael Knight have been best friends since childhood, yet John chooses to defend clients with ties to the mob while Michael is a straight-arrow lawyer working for legendary attorney Lex Devlin, his mentor.

John is killed and Michael seriously injured in a car bombing of dubious origins. Mob boss Dominic Santangelo's son is charged with John's murder and he wants Lex to defend his son. Friendship again comes into play here as Dominic and Lex were close friends as young men, along with Matt Ryan, former fighter turned priest.

But the story centers on Michael, out to find John's killer. His unlawyer-like efforts lead him to discover John's involvement in an art fraud of international proportions all while dodging several attempts on his own life.

Dobbyn has created a cast of engaging characters in this crime thriller. Michael is a worthy hero and readers will be rooting for him. The fast-paced mystery offers a bit of romance, too. I thoroughly enjoyed Dobbyn's "Frame Up" and hope to read more of Michael Knight's escapades. I would recommend this book to all mystery lovers.

Author John F. Dobbyn's sophomore novel paints an exquisite portrait of his writing style's consistent sophistication and intelligence. "Frame-Up" has a Grisham-worthy plot, brilliantly vivid detail, and unforgettable characters. Just try and put this one down; I could... but only to pick it right back up again!

"Frame-Up" revisits attorney Michael Knight - a junior partner of a renowned trial lawyer, a proud resident of the city of Boston, and the best friend to fellow attorney - and now, car bomb victim - John McKedrick. Although Michael knew of the unscrupulous mafia connections his friend's business kept him tied to, he always thought that John would leave it behind in a less-violent manner. In a cruel twist of fate, Michael is asked to represent the very man accused of his friend's murder - a man with high-level mafia connections and a committed plea of absolute innocence. Once past his initial reluctance, Michael jumps into this man's defense head first and quickly finds himself in the deep end of an intricate - and international - conspiracy. With shocking discoveries at each step and an explosive ending you won't even see coming, "Frame-Up" is Oceanview Publishing's newest masterpiece.

John F. Dobbyn writes a smart legal thriller at a language level well above what is considered `typical' for fiction. His plots and subplots are seamlessly woven together with impeccably clear details, bringing his characters and the charming soul of Boston to life. Even his descriptions of the local cuisine were so realistic that they made my mouth water and my stomach growl. The story's legal twists and turns combined with heart-pounding action will please any John Grisham fan and could very conceivably be worthy of the silver screen.

"Neon Dragon" author John F. Dobbyn releases his second Michael Knight novel entitled, "Frame-Up". A picture perfect example of what a legal thriller should aspire to be, "Frame-Up" gives any Grisham book a run for its money. I always love it when authors add a bit of local flavor into the mix and Dobbyn's tastes of Boston won't disappoint even the oldest and most established of locals. My newest favorite!

The book jacket is an eyecatcher, probably the most powerful I've ever seen. A thick golden frame signicant of money and Old Masters
encloses two urban buildings,one glass fronted with a hint of fragility, the other as tipped as the Tower of Pisa. This is a world that's out of joint and it is bisected by a tall, red paint brush dripping blood red paint that splashes on the expensive frame.

The scene is set for a novel of suspense, intrique and danger. The reader is plunged into this world immediately, a world of fearless lawyers, Mafiosi, international art thieves and hapless victims with whom we can all identify, everymen who are neither good nor bad, heroic or villainous,but people like us who are basically one of the good guys, but, hey, everyone has a bit of larceny in his soul. Such a character is Professor Denisovitch of Harvard University,an art historian,appraiser and sometime artist himself.

The good guys from Frame Up will be recognizable from Dobbyn's earlier short stories and his novel, Neon Dragon. The protagonist is Michael Knight, a young lawyer, endlessly inventive, utterly fearless, his mentor and boss is Lev Devlin and his friends are mostly graduates of Harvard, like himself. These characters reveal different facets of themselves from book to book, offering the reader, who thinks he knows them, jolts of surprise.

Mike knows the streets of Boston like the back of his hand, every watering hole and fine restaurant as well as the small out of the
way places that have spectacular views or great lobster to offer.
But, as elsewhere, there is corruption here, violence and, most of all greed. Michael's search for answers takes him to London and Amsterdam, into the heart of one of the great mysteries of our time. It is a riveting mystery novel, but much more that that, a glimpse into the hearts and souls of its characters.

In Frame Up former professor of law, author John F. Dobbyn shows his understanding of lawyers. His main character, Michael Knight is thrown into danger when he is hurt at a car bombing but his best friend John McKedrick, a lawyer is murdered. Michael was in law school with John and is now a law partner with Lex Devlin who is like a father to him. They are both thrown into solving John's murder when Devlin's childhood friends, Matt Ryan, now a priest and Dominic Santangelo, who became a Mafia con, ask for a meeting. Santangelo's son, Peter has been charged with John's death. Reluctantly, Devlin agrees to represent Peter though he sets clear boundaries with Santangelo. Little do Devlin and Michael know what is ahead.

Michael becomes more involved with other members of the Mafia and John's girlfriend as he tries to unravel the truth behind John's murder. He knew John had been involved with a seedy man but he had no idea how dangerous it would become. Michael finds out this murder has ramifications not just in Boston but there are international connections.

This mystery keeps you guessing as Michael tries to unravel what really happened to his friend and gets sucked into the world of priceless art. Along the way he encounters many thugs, his old art history professor, and a Russian Mafia leader. Devlin continually gives him counsel to stay out of it but Michael just jumps in further. He thinks quickly on his feet and is not afraid to get to the truth even when he faces danger. He is likeable and I was rooting for him the entire time. This book is definitely a page turner reminding me of John Grisham's legal thrillers and Robert Ludlum's international crime thrillers. I highly recommend it and would love it if Dobbyn would write more books about Michael Knight.