The Frame-Up (The Golden Arrow Mysteries, 1)

This was a wonderful debut novel that has a ton of pop culture references that I could relate to! I love a female character that is smart, independent, and flawed. The other characters are just as colorful and would love to see Lawernce, her side-kick drag queen friend, get his own novel. The fast pace had me saying to myself, “Just one more chapter” before I turned off the lights. Looking forward to a sequel.

I found the language that people younger than I use a bit difficult to understand, but I enjoyed the book! It was an entertaining fun book and a pretty quick read.

This is not a story featuring a Geek Girl. This is a story featuring a bitter, self absorbed immature poser. She claims to be a geek girl but all of her geek references are from or about things that are only geek with the thinnest veneer of geek culture. All of her many references(and believe me I caught all of them) are about things that long ago became part of pop culture not geek culture. I know this because I have been part of the world all of my life and I am 56 now. This character nor the writer I suspect are only thinly veiled hipsters. So do not read this book if you think it is going to be about real geek culture. If you want to read this book anyway because the mystery sounds like fun. You will be disapointed. The bad guy is all but handed to the reader on a silver platter with all of the heavy handed clues that are given to the reader. So don't read this book for that either. This book is a very clumsy, clunky romance novel and nothing else.

I normally hate it when people say in a book review that they didn't like it because the main character was unlikable. It's usually only directed at female characters which is incredibly sexist. However, MG is a specific type of person that I can't stand in the real world, which made the story difficult to read. She's a geeky mean girl/cool girl. The type that insults anyone that doesn't get all of her obscure references and goes on and on about how she's Not Like Other Girls and doesn't bother with the trivialities the rest of us mortal women busy ourselves with. I seriously cannot stand people like that so couldn't stand reading the book. Characters shouldn't have to be likable, but they should be interesting. She's just a tired stereotype and also probably a Mary Sue.

The Frame-Up by Meghan Scott Molin is a humorous contemporary mystery/romantic comedy with diverse characters: a geeky female main character (Michael-Grace), her straight-laced cop boyfriend (Matteo), and her drag-queen best friend (Lawrence) along with beaucoup geeksters as secondary characters. The tone is slightly snarky, and the pace clips along rapidly, keeping me fully focused on the novel. Most enjoyable is that MG, tired of men trying to change her, has given up on relationships, yet remains a woman fully-functioning on her own. She is courageous and determined, doesn’t wait around to be “saved” by a man, and remains delightfully geeky and, though comfortable with herself, a bit out of place in the real world. The slow-burn sexual tension between MG and Matteo is charming. The blend of romance and mystery is deftly woven. People who enjoy Star Trek, classic comic books, mysteries, and contemporary romances will enjoy this book.

i originally picked this book up at my public library and it very quickly became a favourite book of mine. it’s refreshing to see a stubborn, social-conscious character go through some solid character development but still hang on to what makes her her

I was initially mostly attracted to this book by its cover, and then by the fact that it was marketed kind of as a nerd or geek mystery, which sounded sort of unusual. I usually assume that something described as nerdly is going to be heavy on the science and/or engineering, which is fine with me, since I’m an engineer. But in this case, nerdly meant comic-book/graphic novel culture instead. This turned out to be fine with me also - there is some overlap between comic book/graphic novel nerdliness and science/engineering nerdliness, which a couple of my friends demonstrate quite nicely. I think, however, that even if I hadn’t had a little bit of familiarity with the background, it is nicely described throughout the book, so I think pretty much everyone can “get” it without having to be a big comics fan.

Moving on to specifics, the plot kept me guessing, the characters were fun and fairly well developed, and the relationship between the protagonist and the cop, although a bit predictable, was still fun too. I really like the protagonist, who, like me, is female in a largely male profession, and handles the challenges that poses is a prickly and totally credible manner. (I too, even with multiple engineering degrees, have been asked to get coffee...and might have been a bit prickly myself…) And in the end, the motivation (initial motivation, anyway) for the main criminal turns out to be something much different than I expected, and something that made me think just a little.

Although there are no big cliff hangers towards the end of this book, there is just a little something that hints at the next book to come. But since I had already decided partway through this book to go ahead and buy the next book in the series anyway, a little hook at the end wasn’t going to bother me.

All in all, this is a really nice first-in-series, and I look forward to reading the next one soon.

Please keep in mind that a four-star review from me is really good. I tend to only give maybe 1 in 20 or 1 in 30 five-star reviews – I like to leave a little room at the top (5 stars).

In a word: FUN. A contemporary romantic comedy/mystery is not my normal fare, but I enjoyed this fast-paced, snarky deep dive into geek culture (and managed to get most of the cultural references along the way...which sort of has me worried I'm more geeky than I thought). MG was a spunky, driven heroine supported by a colorful cast of secondary characters who kept you guessing, and Matteo was her perfect foil. She experienced important personal growth throughout the story, didn't wait on a guy to save the day, and yet still seemed delightfully out of her element. I'll be waiting for book two!

I immediately loved MG. From the very first moment she told off the guy in the coffee shop. She said everything aloud that I only think in my head. MG isn't afraid to expose everything, to live life exactly as she wishes, purple hair and chipped nail polish and all. She's a total nerd in the best way. As the only woman in an all male comic book studio, MG experiences the sexism first hand. Defying stereotypes, MG has had to have a tough skin.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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There are some posts I'm not sure how to start. Introductions are probably the hardest part for me (I say this today, tomorrow I'll be struggling with a conclusion). I thought about starting this post this way:

If you liked . . .
* the Dahlia Moss books, but want something less sit-com and more dramedy
* the Kirby Baxter books, but wish that Molly was the star?
* Seanan McGuire's Antimony Price, but wish you didn't have to put up with the cryptozoology?
and/or
* the Castle pilot episode

...then this is the book for you!

But that just seemed frivolous. So I abandoned it.

A chance encounter in a slow-moving coffee shop line and an overheard offhand remark leads to LAPD Narcotics Detective Matteo Kildaire consulting comic book writer Michael-Grace (call her "MG") Martin about an unusual crime. A couple of drug dealers had been tied together and left for the police, a photo printed in the newspaper (or at least an online version of it) reminded MG of one of her favorite comic book panels when she saw it -- a panel from a comic in the Eighties. It turns out that there are additional reasons to tie the crime scene to that particular comic, and the detective could use some help. He's clueless about this kind of thing and is desperate to get any kind of line on the vigilante responsible.

Matteo is concerned for various and sundry reasons that MG and her coworkers at Genius Comics might be a target for trouble (and/or responsible for it). MG is intrigued by the entire thing (and the fact that an incredibly hunky detective is talking to her about it doesn't hurt, even if he is the Muggle-ist Muggle around) -- actual crimes being committed around town by someone very inspired by the comics that shaped her early geekness?

Now, Matteo doesn't want word to get out about a. MG consulting for him; b. the close eye Genius Comics employees are being watched with; c. really anything about the vigilante. So he poses as someone MG's dating, without really consulting her on it. Spending time with her in social settings allows him to investigate her coworkers and friends -- although he really seems interested in getting to know her better.

MG's dealing with several things in her own life -- she's up for a big promotion at work; her side project of designing costumes (for cosplay, and her friend Lawrence's drag queen act) is dangerously close to turning into something more than a hobby; and somehow she has to work in a fake relationship (without tipping off the true nature of things to her roommate or Lawrence).

The chemistry between the two main characters is fantastic -- Matteo comes across as a very nice guy, the kind of person you'd like to think every detective is -- driven, honest, kind. MG's the kind of person I'd like to hang out with -- creative, funny, geeky (although her LOTR views means we won't be best friends). When you put the two of them together they work really well -- on a detective/consultant basis, or as a couple. It's obvious from at least Chapter 2 that the sparks are there, so I don't feel too bad talking about this -- but they do keep it pretty professional. Mostly. Whether they're being professional, or they're in one of their more personal moments, these two are a great pair.

Now while the pair are getting to know each other, the crimes associated with the comics continue to pile up, get more serious and start to involve significant damage and danger to human life. Other than Matteo, the police and the FBI aren't that convinced that MG can really help them. And at least one of her friends becomes a person of interest in the investigation. These two things spur MG to do some independent investigating in addition to her consulting. Which goes about as well as you might think for a comic book writer/would-be fashion designer starring in a comedic novel.

And it is funny. MG is a great narrator -- honest about herself and her foibles; snarky about the foibles (and strengths) of those around her; clever, witty and her narration is chock-full of geek-culture references. Molin tends to over-explain some of MG's references. You don't need to tell me that "Winter is coming," is a Jon Snow line. You can just say it and everyone will know you're talking about Game of Thrones (or Death and Boobies, as MG prefers). I don't remember noticing that later on, I either got used to it or Molin course-corrected. Either way, it's not a major problem.

The story is strong, the culture around Genius Comics is interesting (and rings true), the secondary and tertiary characters are fun -- it's a very satisfying debut novel. I do think that MG's roommate and coworkers could've been developed a bit more. At least we could've spent more time with them, not much, just a little (except the roommate, we could've had more time with him -- but that seemed intentional). But that's about my strongest criticism, come to think of it. There are some scenes that are just fantastic -- Matteo watching the original Star Wars trilogy with MG and her coworkers for the first time is magic. There's a moment in the last chapter that's a little better, too (but I won't spoil anything). Molin can tell a good story and capture small elements well.

I started this by joking around about the kind of people that'll like this book -- but seriously, there's something about this that'll appeal to most. Just thinking of friends/family/workplace proximity associates who read novels -- I can't think of one who wouldn't find something in this to enjoy. My mother would like the interplay between the characters (particularly between MG and Lawrence) and the story, even if she didn't get most of the fandom references; my buddy Paul would like MG's spirit, the mystery, and Matteo; Nicole would dig the mystery, MG, and the fandoms (even if she doesn't share them, she'll get it), MG's design work, too; I've got another friend who'd like the mystery but would roll his eyes at some of the relationship stuff; Rosie would get a kick out of it all, especially MG's voice -- and so on. Okay, to be honest, I can think of one reader I know who wouldn't like it -- between the subject matter, the voice, the crime story -- it'd be beneath her (unless Molin gets interviewed by NPR, then she'd be a big fan). My point is -- there's at least a little something here for everyone to get into, if you don't let any of the particulars of the setting or character get in the way.

Sure, I liked Dahlia Moss/Kirby Baxter/Antimony Price/Castle without any of the conditions that I started things off with -- so this was definitely in my wheelhouse. But more importantly, it was a fun story well told, with charming characters that you want to spend time with. If I'm reading Molin's tweets correctly, we're looking at at least a trilogy with these people -- I'm all in for that, I'm very interested to see where she takes the story and the characters. I fully expect that I'm not going to be alone in my appreciation for The Frame Up.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from 47North