Frame Up
Author
John F. Dobbyn
Publisher
Oceanview Publishing
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After graduating from Harvard Law with his closest friend John McKedrick, Michael Knight takes a job with his mentor, legendary trial attorney Lex Devlin, while John becomes sole associate of a notorious mob lawyer.
Michael never lost hope that John McKedrick would escape to 'cleaner pastures' -until John is murdered in a car bombing bearing the signature of his questionable clientele. How could two friends who were so close have taken such wildly divergent paths?
In the wake of McKedrick's murder, three men who took their own deviating paths will meet for the first time in forty years. Matt Ryan, a priest, Dominic Santangelo, a mafia don, and Lex Devlin put the past aside to focus on a present concern: Dominic's son has been charged with John McKedrick's murder.
At Lex's urging, Michael Knight reluctantly agrees to represent the alleged bomber. In building a defense, Michael is drawn into a high-stakes art fraud that leads him from the seediest parts of Boston to the sophisticated Amsterdam inner sanctum of international crime.
Reviews
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.
Reviewed on 05/02/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Darcy Odden
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.
Reviewed on 02/15/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Janice Hidey
