Framed

Product Information

The first in a gripping crime fiction series by snooker legend Ronnie O' Sullivan, Framed is a fast-paced, tightly plotted thriller.

Starts off gritty, as life in the mean streets of London's SOHO district bring a snooker club owner and a "Family" into tight conflict. Yes also, there were a few cliched moments to be had but, again, mostly in context and totally forgivable. THE SUNDAY TIMES on RUNNING Like a lot of shy people, he can look arrogant and aloof when he is performing, while underneath there's turmoil. I don't know if Ronnie is planning a sequel or maybe even a series of this book but if he ever does do a follow up I look forward to reading it.

Some readers might raise an eyebrow at the use of the label ‘athlete’ in the previous sentence, but I think here it is accurate — the new Masters champion Mark Allen once revealed in a mid-session-ask-the-stars-time-filler that his least favourite food was ‘vegetables’ and his favourite ‘takeaways’, but Ronnie O’Sullivan ran 40-45 miles a week before a dodgy heel forced him to cut down. Although it does flirt with it from time to time, the book on the whole avoids the nostalgic sentimentality that surrounds accounts of the Krays and the Richardsons, although its relationship with the underworld is complicated.

None of these period details ever pays off in any way, nor do they serve to ground the story in any real sense of place and time. Choice Packed with intrigue, action, brutal villains and a beguiling hero, this is a cracking first novel delivered with all the sidespin and clever swerves one would expect from the king of the trick shots! or the one that describes a vanquished hard man "slithering down the wall like a stain" or atmospheric nods like "the pink evening sky was darkening into blood. I have been a big fan of Ronnie O'Sullivan for many years as a snooker player, if he keeps producing books like this then I will become a fan of Ronnie as an author too.I'd hoped that this character, like Ronnie, would be complex - all rock and roll swagger, but with self esteem issues, or even depression. Having said that, I've read less authentic crime thrillers and some of the interplay between the characters is actually done with a bit of heart and, dare I say it, panache. Unfortunately his little brother is easily led, and this time has landed them both in a whole lot of bother. Be advised though that there is a lot of bad language, but for me this made the story more gritty and real. However, the evidence just does not add up and Frankie is convinced his brother has been framed so he sets about trying to find out the truth.