Staged by John M. Green

When a Hollywood star is killed live on stage, the entire cast falls under suspicion … Can a disgraced journalist and a rule-bending detective with a PhD in AI crack the case?

A Sydney Opera House production of The Rocky Horror Show ends in tragedy when a stage prop kills Hollywood star Dane Cooder in a spectacularly gruesome fashion. The whole theatre, including his wife and co-star Angelique Swan, watch in horror.

The death is ruled an accident, but Dick Sonntag, disgraced journalist with online gossip site WTF, disagrees. Sonntag is in the audience that night and investigates further. He launches a smash-hit podcast about the celebrity death and, due to the public outcry, the case is reopened.

At the same time, a small boy is kidnapped and held for ransom.

Detective Harry Stiles is brought in to lead both cases. She despises Sonntag: the last time they crossed paths, he derailed her investigation involving police corruption. Will Harry’s artificial intelligence skills help them pin down the culprits this time?

As the investigations unfold, Sonntag and Stiles uncover affairs, dark secrets and blackmail against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour.

Staged is an electrifying, fast-paced crime thriller for readers of Jack Heath and Benjamin Stevenson.

An electrifying, fast-paced crime thriller for readers of Jack Heath, Benjamin Stevenson and Richard Osman.

About the Author:

John M. Green is the author of Double Deal, The Tao Deception, The Trusted, Born to Run, Nowhere Man and Framed. He left his day job as a banker two years before the global financial crisis – enough of a lag so no one could accuse him of starting the whole mess! Today, he straddles writing, business and philanthropy. He’s a director of several organisations, listed and unlisted, including cyber-security, financial services, professional services, engineering, publishing and not-for-profits. He lives in Sydney with his wife, the sculptor Jenny Green.

28 Jan 2026
 

Staged by John M. Green ISBN 9781923390546