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stella_starstruck's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad. It isn't a great novel, but it does show promise. He gives his father's formula another go.
bofrazer's review against another edition
4.0
Felix has learned well; can't tell Dick is no longer with us. Always good stuff.
abrswf's review against another edition
2.0
How disappointing. The book has the clipped language and racing setting of a Dick Francis novel, but it is an empty shell of a simulacrum otherwise. It is derivative -- the public shooting that starts the book and flight on a horse that ends it are both straight steals from earlier Dick Francis books. And it is filled with cardboard characters, who have none of the complexity or memorability of those in earlier works. Most of all, the book lacks the intelligence, psychological insight, considered morality, careful research, and knowledge base that made the long series of Francis works so fun to read and informative. Cheesiest of all is that Felix doesn't bother to tie up his narrative loose ends at the end of the book -- apparently he thinks he can get us to buy the next book about this dull, forgettable hero. Nope, one letdown s all I'm willing to go for.
caroparr's review against another edition
3.0
The same flaws as all the others, but the same delights, too. Great to come home to after a hard day at work!
katejones's review against another edition
4.0
Dick Francis with a more modern twist. ipod snd smart phone. Page turner that maybe fell a little flat at the end with the pretty abrupt wralping up of loise ends and the solution to the puzzle, but overall I really liked it. Good old DF book. (if written solely by his son - why not use just his own name?)
pennyriley's review against another edition
3.0
More Dick Francis. I realised partway through that I had read this before although I have no record of it. Felix Francis had worked with his father for many years and after his death started writing ‘Dick Francis’ novels alone. It’s a good enough story, the plot is dealt with well, but Felix Francis was never involved in the racing world in the same way as his father (jockey to the Queen) was for so many years, and it shows. Racing is no longer central to the plot – and won’t be in future novels – but more on the outskirts; important but more as a background that a major player. Having not read the Felix Francis books in order (most Francis books are stand alones) it is clear that his first solo effort was not his best. He does get much better and I think it would be hard to tell with some of his subsequent novels whether he or his father had authored them were it not for the slightly less central place racing has in the Felix Francis books
dlperin's review
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jonjeffryes's review against another edition
3.0
Some of writing is a little clunky...but a solid outing for Felix Francis's first solo outing. He keeps the pace moving and even if the outcome isn't completely surprising, it's still a quick, light read.
catherine_t's review against another edition
4.0
At the Grand National, ex-jockey Nicholas Foxton is witness to the murder of his co-worker, fellow independent financial adviser Herb Kovak. No one can understand why anyone would want to murder Kovak, especially in such a public place as Aintree racecourse just before the big race. But then Nicholas learns he's Herb's executor and sole beneficiary of his will... and Herb has left some unusual debts...
What starts off as a seemingly random act of violence quickly becomes a hunt for a ring of international fraudsters, a hunt that could cost Nicholas his life.
It's safe to say that the Dick Francis brand is alive and well. It appears that Felix Francis has the same talents and abilities as his father when it comes to writing a ripping good yarn. Gamble, his first solo outing since the passing of the elder Francis, shows good form, though there is some unevenness at times. Mind you, Dick Francis wasn't completely consistent there, either. The pace is quick, though the author does spend rather more time teaching the reader about the ins and outs of cancer diagnoses than on the main focus of the story. It's still a good read, and there's a heck of a chase scene at the climax.
What starts off as a seemingly random act of violence quickly becomes a hunt for a ring of international fraudsters, a hunt that could cost Nicholas his life.
It's safe to say that the Dick Francis brand is alive and well. It appears that Felix Francis has the same talents and abilities as his father when it comes to writing a ripping good yarn. Gamble, his first solo outing since the passing of the elder Francis, shows good form, though there is some unevenness at times. Mind you, Dick Francis wasn't completely consistent there, either. The pace is quick, though the author does spend rather more time teaching the reader about the ins and outs of cancer diagnoses than on the main focus of the story. It's still a good read, and there's a heck of a chase scene at the climax.