Francis, Dick

Average customer rating:

Unfortunate - the magic is gone
SID HALLEY IS BACK!
Wonderful!
4th of series
Pleasant read and lots of fun

Under Orders
Dick Francis
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0399154000
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Book Description

"Sadly, death at the races is not uncommon. However, three in a single afternoon was sufficiently unusual to raise more than one eyebrow." It's the third death on Cheltenham Gold Cup Day that really troubles super-sleuth Sid Halley. Last seen in 1995's Come to Grief, former champion jockey Halley knows the perils of racing all too well-but in his day, jockeys didn't usually reach the finishing line with three .38 rounds in the chest. But this is precisely how he finds jockey Huw Walker-who, only a few hours earlier, had won the coveted Triumph Hurdle. Just moments before the gruesome discovery, Halley had been called upon by Lord Enstone to make discreet inquiries into why his horses appeared to be on a permanent losing streak. Are races being fixed? Are bookies taking a cut? And if so, are trainers and jockeys playing a dangerous game with stakes far higher than they are realistic? Halley's quest for answers draws him even deeper into the darker side of the race game, in a life-or-death power play that will push him to his very limits-both professionally and personally.

Customer Reviews:

Unfortunate - the magic is gone.......2007-06-24

I own every Dick Francis novel in print - my immediate impression, which unfortunately lasted throughout the book, is that the style and content of this book is significantly different than in his other novels. This is the first book that was actually mundane. The dialogue, usually so pithy, creaked. The well known characters basic essence, their traits, their manner of speech and habits, significantly changed from the previous Sid Halley novels. The usual manner of introducing new characters, of fleshing them and their personalities and appearances out in such a creative way that you didn't realise it was happening, has been traded in for the most basic descriptive text. The appeal that characters usually have, was entirely missing. In short, the magic was gone.

Many theories have been raised over the part others may have played in Dick Francis' novels - the basic story line of this novel was the one thing that may well have been consistant with his past novels, but the clever and concise writing style that gave the story such life appears to be gone, and for one, I found this novel sorely lacking without it.

SID HALLEY IS BACK!.......2007-06-07

Sid Halley mysteries (the former jump jockey turned P.I.) are my favorite Dick Francis novels by far. UNDER ORDERS is such a meaty book, I read it twice to be sure I missed none of the nuances. Francis takes you from the country horse barns and the steeplechase races of Cheltenham, to flying down the M40 in his Audi towards the swirl of London. Big Ben, House of Lords, Downing Street, Victoria Station, the Thames...you'll feel like you were just there, without the long flight. His meticulous research provides an interesting peek into English political shenanigans as Parliament wrestles with the Gambling Bill; struggling to regulate racetracks, casinos and online betting. There's also a snapshot of the sometimes bumbling and over-officious police officers of London.
Get ready for a tangled mystery that is loaded with danger for Sid's gorgeous new girlfriend, Dutch beauty Marina, as she becomes a whipping post for people who want Sid to back off his investigations. Francis handles this new romance with grace and a touch of humor, very refreshing. His dialog is witty, true-to-type and absolutely believable. Following Sid Halley as he single-handedly (pun) sorts out murders and race-fixing, while still trying to protect his scientist girlfriend from the backlash, is a great adventure. I love the author's subtle, laid-back way of walking you right into the hair-raising scary before you're prepared for it. Dick Francis is a great master of mysteries; he creates fine entertainment that takes you out of yourself.

Wonderful!.......2007-05-31

Nice to have a new book by Dick Francis, one of the best in the mystery-murder business, and it's hard to resist obvious methaphors such as he sets a good pace and takes the hurdles with ease, but he does. Both. Extremely well.

4th of series.......2007-05-26

In enjoyed this book very much. I hesitated to write this review since so many have gone before...Though it is well known that Francis wrote 3 prior novels with Sid Halley (Odds Against, Whip Hand, & Come to Grief--in that order), it may not be as well known that there are several anthologies of the 1st 3 books: "Win, Place, or Show" 042519972X, "The Sid Halley Omnibus" 033049242X, & "3 Titles by Dick Francis" B000MN3WV4. It might be more economical for a buyer to select one of these vs. buying 3 single books. I'm not a purist, as are many Francis' fans, so I'm not very concerned about some changes in the characters (even Sid) esp. since people change over time. If Dick Francis changes, why can't Sid? However, considering the 4 volumes as a series is somewhat disconcerting. Francis creates some superb supporting characters who appear in one book with considerable possibilities for continuing mention (e.g. Zanna, India, Rachel) & then drops them after a solo appearance. What a shame! Oh well, at least he created one short "series" of 4 books over his over 40 novels--less than 10% though.

Pleasant read and lots of fun.......2007-04-27

It's such a pleasure to read a new Dick Francis book after all this time without one. It's also a nice change to have elegant, intelligent, and deceptively leisurely writing such as is rarely found in American detective fiction. But don't let the seemingly calmness fool you. There is great pacing and plenty of action, it's just well-hidden under a veneer of British decency. Like other Dick Francis books, once you start one it's difficult to put down.

This is another adventure of the non-aging Sid Halley, ex-jockey-turned-detective. It covers the usual suspicious goings-on of double dealings and murder at the racetrack, with the up-to-date plot twists of Internet betting and DNA analysis to keep the subject fresh. My hat is off to the author for doing his research so well. I also loved the wryly comic scene where Halley plants a false story for the local tabloid rag to pick up.

I have a couple of quibbles with this book, namely the Barbie Doll girlfriend who is, of course, blonde, beautiful, brilliant, bed-savvy, and a good cook too. It's a bit much, and comes across as authorial bragging re what a wonderful guy Halley is to deserve such a trophy. I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for Barbie when she does get seriously injured, since she's such an unreal cardboard cutout in the first place. Along with this goes the author's fixation that we, the readers, are as fascinated with the prurient details of Halley's sex life as he is. This seems to be a problem with older male authors who feel they have something to prove, and stands out glaringly against the rest of this well-written and well-mannered book.

But overall, this is one of Dick Francis's better efforts, and well worth the read. I hope we see more from this author, however on in years he may be. Please, Mr. Francis, don't hang up your saddle just yet. You still have a loyal audience.

Average customer rating:

Figure the odds
Popularity must mean terrible
McShane's voice is perfect for this narration
Francis Rides Again
What are the odds of...

Odds Against
Dick Francis
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audiobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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Accessories:

Sony WMFX479 Walkman

ASIN: 0786114924

Book Description

"One of the greatest living suspense wirters."
CBS RADIO''
After a fall from a racehorse that permanently crippled a hand, Sid Halley joined a detective agency. But it wasn't until some two-bit hoodlum drilled a slug into his side that he was sent out on a case of his own. That was where he met Zanna Martin, a woman who just might make life worth living again. But it was even-money that he'd be killed before she had the chance....

Customer Reviews:

Figure the odds.......2007-05-26

I enjoyed this book--it was IMHO a fun read. As usual, DF has an indestructible hero who seems to court trouble but with impeccable morality. It's easy to root for him. The criminals are despicable yet the hero doesn't hate them. DF IMHO manages to keep the reader interested throughout the novel. Of Francis >40 books, this is the 1st in an, at present, series of 4 starring Sid Halley. Halley often has interestingly different relationships with women--in this book with Zanna. Though there is no continuity to later books for the women (except Halley's ex-wife). This book lacks the funny, very creative dialog of some of Francis' later works such as: Halley's description of reporter India Cathcart--"They said she kept a penknife handy for sharpening her ball-points...She trailed me behind her like a comet's tail (Halley's Comet?) while introducing me to no one...The serial reputation-slasher".

p.s. Francis has written 4 Sid Halley novels so far: Odds Against, Whip Hand, Come to Grief, & Under Orders--in that order. The 1st 3 have been anthologized: "Win, Place, or Show" 042519972X, "The Sid Halley Omnibus" 033049242X, & "3 Titles by Dick Francis" B000MN3WV4. Enjoy!

Popularity must mean terrible.......2005-10-31

This book was a nightmare to complete. It is not that it's fully predictable as much as that it presents life as a muddle. While the writer knows his craft, he likes prosaic topics and meaningless, utilitarian scenes. His characters are deader than any murder victim. They slog through, and so do we his poor benighted readers, until the point where the conclusion becomes obvious, and then we skim the rest. Your average television show has more grace than this book. I don't know why this sells so many copies, as it is without any meaning in the context of a normal life and it doesn't add anything. It might be popular for the same reason bad music is, in that it doesn't require a brain and passes the time. If all you want is a distraction from thinking about your imminent death for a couple hours, maybe Dick Francis is the way to go. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend this book at all.

McShane's voice is perfect for this narration.......2002-12-02

I give ***** to the verson read by Ian McShane (avoid the other readers). I enjoyed McShane's read voice. Some actor/readers, try to act took much when they read - I mean males doing higher voices for females are such a pain. McShane give the right tone, a narrator and is it an enjoyed voice that carries you vividly into the world of ex-jockey Sid Halley. Injured in a riding accident, he now is a Enquiry agent/security expert that is looking into the strange accidents happening and Seabury Race Course.

Dick Francis' writing, quite naturally, is excellent, though it is McShane excellent narration that has me listening to this tape again and again. I have given it several times and gifts and recommended it to friends. All have thanked me for the enjoy listen.

Francis Rides Again.......2000-07-23

Francis' third book, written back in the mid-Sixties, though still a great read (curious reference to The Beatles is the only jarring reminder of its time), and a wonderful example of how quickly Francis picked up his new craft. If he was as fluent, smooth, and skillful jockey as he is writer he must, indeed, have been great. This book first introduces Sid Halley, one of Francis' two recurring heroes, the jockey-turned-detective with a damaged left hand. Halley has been drifting through life since his career-ending injury; a further injury (caused by a bullet) and the not so subtle intervention of his father-in-law bring a change to his attitude, a radically different outlook, and a desire to work effectively and properly at his new job. He is badly frightened, and physically damaged ~ two things Francis excells at writing, his fear, especially, is thoroughly convincing ~ but succeeds in both defeating the baddies and renewing his life.

What are the odds of..........1999-03-26

What are your odds not to read the book Odds Against? And what are your odds to stop reading the thrilling pages when you are half way of the book? Finally, what are your odds to finish to book without putting it down? The answer is obvious, none. From a jockey to a private detective along with twisting events with twisting ending, there is no way of telling what will happen next. For those fans that enjoy mystery books, this is one of the books that you can't pass on. In this book, you will find how clever that Sid Halley (a former jockey champion) to end Kraye's (a businessman) plan of taking over Seabury Racecourse. Just make sure that you tell me one thing: What are the odds of Halley spoiling the plot of Kraye and his henchamen?

Average customer rating:

Among the Best of Dick Francis
a GREAT read!

Smokescreen
Dick Francis
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425210251

Book Description

In Francis's "best thriller" (Evening Standard), a movie star must give the performance of his life when he crosses paths with killers while investigating race-horse tampering in South Africa.

Customer Reviews:

Among the Best of Dick Francis.......2007-04-24

This is vintage Francis,a fine example of why Dick Francis' books are so very good. The hero is not a jockey, but an actor. As usual, Francis avoids stereotypes and gives his protagonist some complexity, best shown here in a poignant depiction of family life. Like all Francis protagonists, he's observant, wily, tough, determined, and a guy capable of thinking "outside the box." Technology and politics are dated, of course, but the plot can still hold me gripped from cover to cover, each time I reread it.

There are a handful or so of Francis books that are not set in England. Of those, SMOKESCREEN (set in South Africa) and BLOOD SPORT (in the US) rank among my favorites.

The torture section of this book is absolutely harrowing. You will never forget it.

a GREAT read!.......2006-05-23

This is one of Francis' best books - be prepared to stay up all night! I am a huge Francis fan and have read all of his books, and this definately qualifies among the top three. Hope you enjoy it as much as i did!

Average customer rating:

Marigolds & Bon-Bons
The cover looked nice. (Don't judge a book by its cover.)
Shattered or just lame?
Failed to hold my attention too often
kept me entertained

Shattered
Dick Francis
Manufacturer: Brilliance Audio Unabridged
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 1587880636
Release Date: 2000-09-11

Amazon.com

After 41 novels, most writers run out of energy before the final gallop. But Dick Francis's latest thriller is as good as his earliest. Perhaps it's because this one is dedicated to the Queen Mother, who celebrated her centennial in 2000, and who, like her famously horsey daughter, shares Francis's passion for the races. Or maybe he's just found his stride again, after a few less-than-outstanding starts. Here he does one of his best tricks: lures you into a somewhat arcane area you might know little about and explicates it so brilliantly that you don't even realize how much you've learned (in this case, about glass blowing) while a mystery is unraveled, a crime is solved, and the hero gets the girl.

This time the mise en scène is the glass blowing studio owned by Gerard Logan, friend of the late Martin Stukely, a jockey who takes a fatal fall at the Cheltenham steeplechase during the last race of the century. Still mourning Martin, Gerard is savagely beaten, his workshop ransacked, and his life threatened by a gang of thugs. Investigating, Gerard discovers that the gang includes a domineering woman who's the daughter of Martin's valet and a scientist who's stolen valuable data from the laboratory that formerly employed him. They believe Gerard has possession of a videotape entrusted to him by Martin before his death and that the secrets on the tape are worth Gerard's life.

It's a good set up, with just enough of the usual horse lore and a pleasant love story involving Gerard and a pretty policewoman, neither of which overshadow the taut pacing and the well-worked-out plot. Francis's protagonists may be accidental heroes, but they're not antiheroes; they're usually eminently decent, likable men, and their sense of self is always interesting. Here's Gerard at home, in a break from the action, thinking about the new woman in his heart in a typical Francis love scene: <blockquote>I walked deliberately through all the rooms, thinking about Catherine, wondering both if she would like the place, and whether the house would accept her in return. Once in the past the house had delivered a definite thumbs-down, and once I'd been given an ultimatum to smother the pale plain walls with brightly patterned paper as a condition of marriage, but to the horror of her family I'd backed out of the whole deal, and, as a result, I now used the house as arbiter and had disentangled myself from a later young woman who'd begun to refer to her and me as "an item" and to reply to questions as "we." We think. No, we don't think.</blockquote> And, a few pages later, <blockquote>The speed of development of strong feeling for one another didn't seem to me to be shocking but natural, and if I thought about the future it unequivocally included Catherine Dodd. "If you want to cover the pale plain walls with brightly patterned paper, go ahead," I said.

She laughed. "I like the peace of pale walls. Why should I want to change them?"</blockquote> It may be Francis's English reticence that keeps him, mercifully, from spoiling a good mystery with what other writers consider the obligatory sex scene, or it just may be the mastery of his form that few of his peers approach. In every page of this terrific new book, he's at the top of it. --Jane Adams

Book Description

When jockey Martin Stukely dies after a fall at Cheltenham, he accidentally embroils his friend Gerard Logan in a perilous search for a stolen videotape. Logan is a glassblower on the verge of widespread acclaim. Long accustomed to the frightful dangers inherent in molten glass and in maintaining a glassmaking furnace at never less than 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, Logan is suddenly faced with terrifying threats to his business, his courage, and his life.

Believing that the missing video holds the key to a priceless treasure, and wrongly convinced that Logan knows where to find it, criminal forces set out to press him for information he doesn't have. To survive, he realizes that he himself must sort out the truth. The final race to the tape throws more hazards in Logan's way than his dead jockey friend could ever have imagined.

Glass shatters. Logan doesn't. . . but it's a close-run thing.

Customer Reviews:

Marigolds & Bon-Bons.......2006-04-14

This is only my 2nd Francis' novel. I liked it overall--engaging characters, difficult mystery (though enough clues ARE provided to figure out who the 4th attacker was & who had the tape), very interesting explanations of glass making, & some excitement as well. The connection to horseracing is small, but so what? I especially liked the dynamic among Logan & his assistants as well as his protectors. I think the book is only worth 3.5 stars because of the hard-to-believe ending & Logan's unexplained reticence to involve the police--when he'd recognized some of his attackers--and his girlfriend is a constable. Though sometimes intelligent people do dumb things. Rose was a bit difficult to believe as well. On the other hand, his supporting cast is a trip, especially Marigold, Bon-Bon, & Worthington.

The cover looked nice. (Don't judge a book by its cover.).......2005-07-22

The truth is, this book is a bit silly. I thought this sort of novel was supposed to elicit shivery thrills in the region of the spine, but it gave me more of a dull ache in the back of the head. The plot unfolded painfully as the artist-turned-detective plods after absurd clues, including shoelaces, masked figures in dark alleys, unmarked videos, and strange syringes (oh my). Perhaps the author realized the prose were flagging and decided that a leather-clad-blonde-on-motorcyle is just what a dying plot needs to spruce things up. It is not. At the moment of crisis, this undercover detective turned to comfort in the arms of her beloved before confronting the criminal. Please.

Shattered or just lame?.......2004-05-14

Diok Francis, as I guess everyone knows, is a former jumps jockey who rode horses for the Queen Mother and then became a thriller writer in a second career after he retired from riding.

Most of his books, maybe all, follow a formula. The single male hero follows some occupation that in the earlier books is usually connected with horse racing, but in the later books his heroes branch out. The details of that profession are well researched, as for example with the photographer in Reflex, and usually in some way the knowledge of the hero's trade is woven into the plot.

The hero gets involved accidentally in some criminal conspiracy. As he tries to find out what is going on, he is invariably knocked unconscious at least one time and beaten up another time. Fortunately he never suffers permanent neurological damage.

Somewhere along the line he gets laid. Franciscan heroes do not have time for erectile dysfunction, or Viagra. Francis is not that kind of writer. His heroes' girlfriends get satisfied and they stay satisfied, though we don't get a lot of detail about how this trick is done.

In the end, the villain, who is someone unexpected, is unmasked and all is well with the world.

There--I have just written a precis of all of Dick Francis' novels.

How good is this example of the genre? Not very. What the other reviews here don't tell you is that the plot is extremely lame. If you wanted a horseracing title for this book, there it is--lame.

The stuff about the glass blowing is quite interesting, and is actually the best feature of the book.

The twist here is that we have a violent, psychopathic, homicidal villainess named Rose. Why she is this way is never really explained. Right at the end of the story she murders an inoffensive police officer, who has done her no harm, in a very nasty way. His death is partly caused by the actions of the hero, though I won't reveal any more so as not to spoil everything. However the hero is hardly concerned as he is more interested in getting nookie from the dead cop's partner.

A lot of the plot concerns itself with a highly absurd strand about a videotape that contains stolen scientific secrets that may lead to a cure for cancer. It is all very improbable.

Still Francis was somewhere around 80 years old when he wrote this, so it is remarkable that he is still trying to entertain his fans. Good on him. I hope I will be doing as well if I ever reach that age.

However, I would recommend reading the earlier books in the series first, rather than this one, if this is your introduction to Francis.

Failed to hold my attention too often.......2004-04-01

I'm not a huge mystery reader but do enjoy listening to them on my long drive to and from work. This unabridged audiobook had my attention, lost it, gained it backed and would then lose it again. Could be my distracted mind or it could be that it was just wasn't an interesting mystery? That said, there were several things to like. The protagonist Jarrod, an accomplished glassblower, was enjoyable ~ he's this regular guy with a very interesting (to me) profession who finds himself accosted by dangerous types and suddenly smack dab in the middle of mystery concerning a missing video cassette tape. His character and that of his off beat co-workers and surrounding support system were interesting and the detailed look into the world of professional glassblowing was fascinating. Unfortunately, the facts surrounding the missing tape and the sleuthing that follows to discover what the tape contains just didn't hold my attention and I repeatedly found myself drifting off into my own little world and having to rewind the tape during these sections. Maybe a true mystery aficionado would appreciate this one more than I.

kept me entertained.......2003-08-29

I would give this three and a half stars for the story and one-half star for the bonus of learning a little about glass blowing. I enjoyed the book, but was a little confused about why he didn't have the police arrest the ones that he knew who assaulted him. It would have saved him a lot of trouble, but, I know it's just a book. Never the less, I did enjoy the book. It was just long enough that I could read it in one sitting and it moved right along. The main character's friend dies in a freak accident while riding in a horse race. The friend leaves a tape for Gerard and before he can watch it, it is stolen. Other tapes have been stolen from the home of the victim and more of Gerards. Solving the mystery of the tapes leads to many adventures that keep your interest until the end of the book.

Average customer rating:

Worth rereading
This is one of my two or three favorite Dick Francis' novels
Still great entertainment

For Kicks
Dick Francis
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425194981
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Book Description

Australian horse breeder Daniel Roke had resisted the exorbitant sum of money offered by a suave Englishman to investigate a scandal involving drugged racehorses. But after another investigator dies mysteriously, Roke agrees to fill his shoes--and learns that men who would give drugs to horses are capable of doing much worse to human beings.

Customer Reviews:

Worth rereading.......2007-05-16

I agree completely with the other reviewers. This is a terrific suspense novel that happens to give insight into British racing, the class system and each and every character. While I have read all the Dick Francis books, this is the one that I go back to and reread every year or so. Its quiet, understated tone still builds up to suspense and excitement.

His earlier books (like this one) are the best, as far as I am concerned, and the most recent one or two are not worth reading.

p.s. On a visit to England, I took great joy in going to Newmarket and watching the horses out for practice early in the morning. It felt as if I was in the middle of a Dick Francis book. My husband and daughter, also fans, felt the same.

This is one of my two or three favorite Dick Francis' novels.......2006-09-13

You have to have read a couple of Dick Francis' novels before you understand the author. In a way he stands alone, for as far as I can tell he has not overtly used other writers styles and no contemporary writer has used Francis as a primary influence. All of Francis' books follow a similar arc, from one to the next, you know exactly what you will get. But in a strange way, this is not bothersome, instead it is like revisiting an old familiar and comfortable place.

Francis' books are not in a series format. He only uses the same character for a second time once. In his first ten or so books, he uses a particular jockey to set his story around. And later he finds people of different professions that have racing interests to center stories around. This book, "For Kicks" is from the transitional phase, the late 60's, early 70's. It tells the story of Daniel Roke, a trainer from Australia who is hired to uncover a doping ring that is not being detected through traditional meathods. Its a pretty simple story, and like all of Francis' work it is refreshingly understated. With James Patterson and Patricia Cornwells mamoth body counts and terrorising serial killers, or end of the world scenarios ala Tom Clancy and too many others influencing todays reading lists, its amazing to see how much quiet tension builds up in Francis' stories.

I would highly recommend Francis to anyone. Its a fun world to live in for a while, where all of England revolves around the racing world... every other profesion comes second. I remember how much I loathed the idea of Francis before I first read him and I laugh now at my perception of what his books would be about. I mean, how can one author base a huge series of mysteries on racing horses? Dick Francis does so quite well.

Still great entertainment.......2006-02-26

Intellectuals may scorn him, moderns may call him dated, but they don't know what they're missing. You can always depend on Dick Francis for engrossing adventure with just the right amount of philosophical underpinnings. Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Francis at his best
In The Frame
Artists, art thieves, and counterfeiters
always a good read
Good story

In the Frame
Dick Francis
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 042520958X

Book Description

A successful painter who loves going to the track finds himself in the biggest race of his life as he works to clear his cousin's name-and trap a ruthless killer before the killer traps him.

Customer Reviews:

Francis at his best.......2006-10-10

Dick Francis has written nearly 40 novels now, and In the Frame is in the top 7 or 8 as far as I'm concerned. The hero actually remains a bit of a cipher, but his friend Jik and his wife are two of Francis's really good characters. The information about painting and Australia is interesting, the ongoing joke about betting is pretty funny, and all kinds of images come to mind when I think back on this novel--a spot of breaking and entering while a famous race is detailed on the radio, Jik's wife and her purse, a handful of narrow escapes, the landscape down under. The mystery is good and the humor and wit are sharp.

I'm glad to see that this is being reprinted again--it's one of Dick Francis's best novels, and a good place to start for those who have never read a Francis novel before.

In The Frame.......2006-06-26

Dick Francis was the master of mystery. He always knew how to keep the reader interested until the end of his books. In The Frame is no exception. Charles Todd is an artist who tries to help his cousin. In so doing, this takes him on a trek around Australia to find a thief and killer. This puts his own life and the lives of his friends in peril as well.

Artists, art thieves, and counterfeiters.......2002-07-29

Dick Francis is one of those rare authors who can create a multitude of characters, changing characters from one novel to the next. This makes the stories stand-alone novels which can be read independently. That is a marked contrast to authors who write series of novels about the same character, a practice that often requires reading an entire series to understand the characters.

The present novel is not exactly a whodunit because you can identify the guilty parties (or most of them) early in the game. The main plot is how to track them down and bring them to justice. The chase runs from England to Australia to New Zealand then back to Australia. As usual with this author, there are horses and racing involved including, in this case, the Melbourne Cup. There is an interesting system for placing bets.

The main character, Charles Todd, is an artist who paints oil paintings of horses. There is some interesting side information about the chemical deterioration of oil paints on older paintings, an area where most people are probably not well informed. There is also considerable information about counterfeit paintings. Let the buyer beware. The death of his cousin Donald's wife during a burglary sets Todd on the chase. The main story is fast action over a couple weeks.

always a good read.......2001-12-03

Francis writes the kind of books that you just can't put down. This one is no exception!!

Good story.......2001-08-08

This is a good read, and it is one of the Dick Francis books where you feel like you get a peep into a different world, in this case the worlds or art galleries and Australia. This one has good character and good action, and also has a poignant story of personal loss for the hero's cousin, whose wide is mysteriously murdered.

Average customer rating:

Dick Francis
Intelligent, memorable
Tiddley Pom
Murder on the sports page
Another Francis masterpeice!!!

Forfeit
Dick Francis
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425201910

Book Description

When reporter Bert Checkov falls to his death, his colleague James Tyrone thinks he can prove it was murder. But there's no such thing as a sure thing.

Customer Reviews:

Dick Francis.......2007-02-14

I've probably read all of Dick Francis' many books and always await the next one happily. In between the advent of his new books, I occasionally re-read some old ones with pleasure, which I rarely do except in the case of classics. He writes literature equaling, for example, Eric Ambler's writing in quality.

Intelligent, memorable.......2007-01-21

I had been thinking: Do I really want to read about horse races? I only watch the Kentucky Derby and sometimes two more races, if there's hope for a Triple Crown.

My friend had been urging me to read Dick Francis, and recently recommended Forfeit, which finally I read.

In the book, Francis is always low-key and, as a former jockey, knows his stuff. Suspense is permanent, the plotting intelligent and flawless.

In Forfeit, we follow journalist James Tyrone, as he and his London newspaper colleagues investigate racetrack fraud. The highly profitable criminal organizations pressure racing writers to mislead England's legitimate bettors. The perpetrators are not hesitant to inflict serious bodily harm and worse.

Francis draws his characters carefully. We know them all, sometimes gaining our affection, identifying with their personal struggles. Tyrone cares for his mostly paralyzed wife Elizabeth, who could not survive without a breathing machine.

A major plot mover is a relationship between Tyrone and an attractive university professor, leading to extended complications and threats.

We also meet a stable owner who is dealing with his spacy wife and troublesome sons. We see the bad guys. We are introduced to the horses, especially a central one named Tiddely Pom.

We are in the British racing world. The writing is memorable.

Tiddley Pom.......2006-12-09

This was my first Dick Francis novel. Took a while to get into it, but it was a page turner by the end. 3 stars for those who aren't racing fans.

Murder on the sports page.......2006-04-21

Sportswriter James (Ty) Tyrone covers the racing scene for a British tabloid. A colleague drunkenly offers to give him 'a piece of advice' but before he can remember what it is falls out of a 7th floor window to his death. A tragic accident...or is it. As Ty begins to investigate he uncovers a far reaching conspiracy throughout the racing world. Before he can bring the criminals to justice Ty has to fight for his and his invalid wife's lives.

As always with a Francis novel the reader is taken into another aspect of the racing world (this time it is sports writing). The hero is stoic, bravely bearing up to his deep personal tragedy, (this time a beloved wife crippled by polio) who must endure many trials before he emerges triumphant in the end.

While Francis' work is formulistic it is also quite good. The mystery is cleverly done, the action exciting. The hero is flawed but sympathetic, his situation touching and when he defeats the bad guys the reader is left with a good feeling.

If you are already a fan of the series this one is another winner. If you are new to the series this is a good place to start.

Another Francis masterpeice!!!.......2002-07-24

It's difficult to find a character in contemporary fiction who succeeds so well at living up to his principles with hardly a blink of his figurative eye. In "Forfeit" there is such a character. Confronted with a choice between selling out his integrity and facing hardship, journalist, James Tyrone invariably chooses the hardship and immediately applies his mental resources to overcome the threat. Francis has created a masterpiece of characterization, plot and style in yet another of his fabulous novels. You won't need coffee to stay awake with this one!

Average customer rating:

Slay Ride
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Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425196739
Release Date: 2004-04-06

Book Description

When a champion jockey disappears--right before a big race and the birth of his child--Investigator David Cleveland bets on foul play.

Average customer rating:

Dick Francis with a difference
One of those :)
Lets go to the races
this is a pretty good dick francis,
Ken Reffner's expose of Rat Race

Rat Race
Dick Francis
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425210766

Book Description

In this newly repackaged novel from the master of crime fiction and equine thrills, pilot Matt Shore is hired to fly four racing buffs to the track-and then forced to make an emergency landing just minutes before his plane explodes. Luckily, no one is hurt, but it isn't long before Matt realizes that he's caught up in the rat race of violent criminals who are dead-set on putting anyone who stands in their way on the wrong side of the odds.

Customer Reviews:

Dick Francis with a difference.......2006-08-10

For readers like me who find most of Dick Francis's books a little chilling, this early (1971) entry to his collection is delightfully different from the others. As pilot Matt Shore investigates a series of bombings apparently aimed at one of his passengers, famous jockey Colin Ross, the points of similarity to Francis's later race-course thrillers will be obvious: a manly, laconic hero; race-course settings; a good dose of violence towards the end. But the characters here are drawn with a warmth and humanity too often missing in Francis's later works, and the writer seems truly interested in their relationships. I love the moment when the hard-as-nails trainer suddenly turns on one of the other passengers in Matt's small plane and tells him off for his lamentable self-absorption--only to find that the slightly-crooked jockey she's been at odds with throughout the story is cheering her on; the scene in the attic of a stately ducal mansion, where Matt finds the gentle and kindly, if somewhat befuddled, Duke of Wessex absorbed in playing with his ten-year-old nephew and the model trains they both love; the picnic Matt shares on a riverbank with the famous jockey and his sisters, who generously open their family to include a near-stranger even while they deal with their grief at knowing that one of the young women is fatally ill--all those and any number of other moments lift this from the deadliness of the standard contemporary crime thriller into something more meaningful, and make this a book worth reading, or even reading again.

One of those :).......2006-05-06

This is one of the many great Francis racing-related books. I was hooked to them ever since my sister bought me "Break-in", unaware of what she was doing :). ever since, I've gathered all Francis novels I could find - and liked them all (even if not all are at the same high standards; they are all enjoyable, and this is what I look for in a book). The plots may be similar, and the main characters alike in some ways, but this is exactly what appeals to me - no more weaklings struggling to cope with existence; Mr. Francis gives you the man-for-himself type of hero. And after all, the plots are similar but not identical, and it amazes me what different results can the same recipe produce every time it's being used.
this one produced this:
Pilot Matt Shore tries to get back to an orderly life, after losing wife, a great number of jobs and his peace of mind. As most of us do, he coped by putting all feelings on "freeze". But a series of attempts on his clients' lives and the encounter of a special girl that just might teach him to love again will thaw the ice block and Matt decides to take the matter into his own hands and unravel the mystery of the attacks, so he'll be free to live again.
A great book, strong on relationships and enjoyable to the end.

Lets go to the races.......2006-02-21

This 1971 entry into the Francis string of thrillers introduces us to Matt Shore, formerly of BOAC and currently an air taxi pilot. His passengers are often involved in the racing world, and through them Matt finds himself involved in fraud, both on and off the race course, and murder. Along the way Matt also discovers a family, new friends and romance.

Dick Francis' books are often dismissed as being formulistic. They are. The hero is always connected to the racing world, is alone and/or lonely, has a tragedy in his past, is thrust into some sort of crime conspiracy and always perserves against great odds through his fortitude. Within these limitations though Francis always manages to spin an exciting story, the mysteries are challenging, and the clues are all fairly laid out for the reader to follow. If you have read one of his books before and enjoyed it then you will probably like this one, if you did not like his work before then you will probably not like this one either. Obviously I enjoy his books.

this is a pretty good dick francis, .......2005-04-15

It's kind of strange, but every Dick Francis is pretty much the same. It's strange because only two of his many books have the same lead character. What Francis does is find a profession, research what may pertain to said profession, and then plop his readymade protagonist and story-line into this situation.

The gift that Francis has is that as a reader I really don't mind that I have seen this plot and character twenty times before. The authors prose is elegant in its way and it allows the reader easy access to a world that is fascinating to visit. Whenever I think of Francis as an author I think of Cocteau, the French director who built worlds where poets were the rock stars of society. Francis does this with jockeys. Every time you open up one of his books, the jockey is on the highest echelon of culture even if the other characters don't realize this.

Rat Race is either a fine place to start on Francis if you have not read him before, or it is one of his more captivating short novels if you are looking for a next title in the series. If you want his best book in my opinion, try 'In the Frame.'

Ken Reffner's expose of Rat Race.......2003-04-22

To begin with, I would first like to say that Rat Race was a much better mystery story than what I had first expected it to be. While it could have been much better, it was not a complete waste of time. This is a book that frequently centers on horse racing, which I despise, so you may want to keep my prejudices in mind while reading my opinions.

Rat Race slowly begins with pilot Matt Shore flying passengers to a horserace for a little airline company named Derrydowns. Matt was taking over for another pilot who had left the job just a week before. On his fist flight to the races Matt found out that other pilots despised him just because he worked for Derrydowns. He also found out that one of his passengers was the famous jockey, Colin Ross. Colin became one of Mattýs permanent costumers. Everything was going well with Mattýs job until he had trouble with one of the planeýs steering cables on a trip home from the races. He then made an emergency landing to have the airplane checked out. The disgusted crew was suddenly jolted by an explosion at of nowhere as they walked from the plane. Luckily, though, no one was close enough to be injured. Right timing and chance seemed to have been the only thing that saved them.

After much questioning from the Nazi-like Board of Trade, Matt was reprimanded and then decided to search for answers to the explosion. As a result he made an astonishing find: one of his passengers was an explosives expert! The ýchanceý that saved his life was now thought to be a deliberate ploy by one of his own passengers riding in the plane with him. Was this loose maniac planning to take Colin Rossý life? Maybe someone had made a bet on Colin Ross to win or lose a race and needed that bet secured. But why would he blow up a plane with no one in it.

As time passed Matt forgot about the explosion because of the fact that he met Colin Rossý sister, Nancy, and became infatuated with her. The story then turns into a boring romance between Matt, Nancy, and her doped-up ex-lover. Fortunately, the story picks up again when Colin is in another near-death plane incident. This time Nancy, who is not very experienced, is flying. The same man who hid the explosives on Mattýs plane has now sabotaged her plane. With all electrical devices not working, she is done for in the cloud-filled sky. Luckily her lover, Matt, finds out about the plot and manages to find her in the sky in his own plane and guides her to safety.

Matt now knows who has sabotaged the planes both times but is unable to have him arrested. He also finds out that others are involved. Other peoplesý lives are in danger but he cannot tell them without looking like a fool because he has no solid proof. Even more disturbing is that the crooks know that Matt knows about their scheme. Which side will come out victorious in the end?

Was this book worth reading? No. There was not enough excitement or enough suspense. Nor was the plot original. It was the same story of two lovers falling in love, some kind of event splitting them up, and they finally live happily ever after in the end. While I suppose this sort of ýfairytaleý type of story is possible, it is highly unlikely. For example, Matt is invited to move in with Colin and Nancy in the end. Colin is very rich, so the rest of Mattýs life is a breeze. I am sure this sort of thing could and does happen, but for the most part, only in dreams.

Book Description

A hard fall took hotshot jockey Sid Halley out of the horse racing game, leaving him with a crippled hand, a broken heart, and a desperate need for a new job.

In Odds Against, he lands a position with a detective agency. His first case brings him up against a field of thoroughbred criminals, and the odds against him are making it a long shot that he'll even survive.

Whip Hand finds Halley haunted by his glory days, although he still finds a certain satisfaction in solving a case. Hired by the wife of one of England's top racehorse trainers, Halley needs to figure out why her husband's most promising horses have been performing so poorly, and winds up haunted by more than just memories.

In Come to Grief, Halley becomes convinced that one of his closest friends-and one of the racing world's most beloved figures--is behind a series of shockingly violent acts. No one wants to believe that Ellis Quint could be guilty, so the public and press are turning their wrath against Halley instead. Now he's facing opposition at every turn-and finding danger lies straight ahead.

Customer Reviews:

Dick's back in the saddle again........2007-01-11

Win, Place or Show brings back one of my favorite protagonists and a gripping storyline. I enjoyed this book as much as I've enjoyed one in a long time. With the exception of Shattered, I've always found it difficult to put down one of Dick Francis's novels. This was a good adventure.

horseworld.......2007-01-04

As usual Dick Francis is up to date with his book(s).
Whatever the story, it will keep you reading. If you are an horselover you feel even more love fir it.

Unexpected.......2006-08-31

I didn't realize that this was an anthology of three stories that I had previously read but I enjoyed re-reading all of them.

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