The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond ~ a Review

by MK French

Dani Poissant's mother is the world's most famous art thief, using magic to get the job done. As a teen, Dani turned her mother over to the FBI. Now an adult, Dani is approached for a job only her mother and the rest of the crew could pull off, and she hopes this can help her reconcile with her mother and the rest of the old gang. Even with magic, it's an impossible heist, especially when she's given just a week to do it and more stakes than she ever knew.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

February 2024; Del Rey; 978-0593597736
audio, ebook, print (352 pages); mystery 

Magic in this world is the subtle, manipulative kind. Dani's mother Maria could persuade anyone to do what she wanted, and Dani can paint anything that she sees and convince people it's the original if she has the same age material to work with. Ten years after turning in her mother, Dani still churns with guilt over turning in her mother to the FBI. The crew she ran with had been like family and froze her out, so it takes Maria's work to get them to help Dani. Maria wants the job to go through, as her benefactor Archer wanted a particular painting stolen. He can't touch it directly, Maria is in prison, so Dani will have to do. The short timeline has many complications, and Dani learns exactly what is at stake and why the painting is so important. 

I enjoyed the touch of the supernatural in the heist story, as well as glimmers of second-chance romance and a found family coming back together. I liked Dani and her wonderful dog Sunflower, and cheered on her successes over the course of the novel. It was such a fun book, I had to keep going to find out what happened next. 

Buy The Frame-Up at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever. 

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