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purplepenning 's review for:
The Frame-Up
by Gwenda Bond
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Survival, and even atonement, turned out to be second-best motivations. Tonight wasn't just about stealing [the] portrait; it was about stealing their lives back.
Resist the false expectations of the rom-com/cozy caper title and cover and you'll have a much better chance of enjoying this. The Frame-Up leans a little more gritty than cozy caper and the romance is a nice subplot but not the point. It delivers a coordinated team-heist style adventure with paranormal elements, a bit of mystery, some historical context, big mother-daughter drama, and a found-family core. I like a little my heists with a little more humor, but the main character, the mystery, and the historical backstory kept me engaged.
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting
Minor: Death, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail