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Nerve
From "the best writer in the mystery genre" (Larry King) comes the story of a jockey who discovers that his losing streak is caused by something sinister.
253 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
412 people are currently reading
1132 people want to read
About the author
Dick Francis
548 books1,262 followersDick Francis, CBE, FRSL (born Richard Stanley Francis) was a popular British horse racing crime writer and retired jockey.
Dick Francis worked on his books with his wife, Mary, before her death. Dick considered his wife to be his co-writer - as he is quoted in the book, "The Dick Francis Companion", released in 2003:
"Mary and I worked as a team. ... I have often said that I would have been happy to have both our names on the cover. Mary's family always called me Richard due to having another Dick in the family. I am Richard, Mary was Mary, and Dick Francis was the two of us together."
Praise for Dick Francis: 'As a jockey, Dick Francis was unbeatable when he got into his stride. The same is true of his crime writing' Daily Mirror '
Dick Francis's fiction has a secret ingredient - his inimitable knack of grabbing the reader's attention on page one and holding it tight until the very end' Sunday Telegraph '
Dick Francis was one of the most successful post-war National Hunt jockeys. The winner of over 350 races, he was champion jockey in 1953/1954 and rode for HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, most famously on Devon Loch in the 1956 Grand National.
On his retirement from the saddle, he published his autobiography, The Sport of Queens, before going on to write forty-three bestselling novels, a volume of short stories (Field of 13), and the biography of Lester Piggott.
During his lifetime Dick Francis received many awards, amongst them the prestigious Crime Writers' Association's Cartier Diamond Dagger for his outstanding contribution to the genre, and three 'best novel' Edgar Allan Poe awards from The Mystery Writers of America. In 1996 he was named by them as Grand Master for a lifetime's achievement. In 1998 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List of 2000. Dick Francis died in February 2010, at the age of eighty-nine, but he remains one of the greatest thriller writers of all time.
Series:
* Sid Halley Mystery
* Kit Fielding Mystery
Dick Francis worked on his books with his wife, Mary, before her death. Dick considered his wife to be his co-writer - as he is quoted in the book, "The Dick Francis Companion", released in 2003:
"Mary and I worked as a team. ... I have often said that I would have been happy to have both our names on the cover. Mary's family always called me Richard due to having another Dick in the family. I am Richard, Mary was Mary, and Dick Francis was the two of us together."
Praise for Dick Francis: 'As a jockey, Dick Francis was unbeatable when he got into his stride. The same is true of his crime writing' Daily Mirror '
Dick Francis's fiction has a secret ingredient - his inimitable knack of grabbing the reader's attention on page one and holding it tight until the very end' Sunday Telegraph '
Dick Francis was one of the most successful post-war National Hunt jockeys. The winner of over 350 races, he was champion jockey in 1953/1954 and rode for HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, most famously on Devon Loch in the 1956 Grand National.
On his retirement from the saddle, he published his autobiography, The Sport of Queens, before going on to write forty-three bestselling novels, a volume of short stories (Field of 13), and the biography of Lester Piggott.
During his lifetime Dick Francis received many awards, amongst them the prestigious Crime Writers' Association's Cartier Diamond Dagger for his outstanding contribution to the genre, and three 'best novel' Edgar Allan Poe awards from The Mystery Writers of America. In 1996 he was named by them as Grand Master for a lifetime's achievement. In 1998 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List of 2000. Dick Francis died in February 2010, at the age of eighty-nine, but he remains one of the greatest thriller writers of all time.
Series:
* Sid Halley Mystery
* Kit Fielding Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews
March 16, 2017
This, the second novel by Dick Francis, was first published in 1964, and like most of his books, this one is set in the world of British horse racing. The protagonist, Rob Finn, shares all the usual characteristics and the same sort of frustrated love life as the typical Francis protagonist. He's quiet and self-effacing, which often leads people to underestimate him. But underneath, he's clever and resourceful and he has a steely resolve that does not bode well for anyone who would do an injustice to Finn or to someone he cares about.
As the book opens, Finn is a struggling young steeplechase jockey trying to work his way up the ladder to better mounts and more success. It's a tough climb, made even harder by the fact that someone is spreading stories about some jockeys that may or may not be true, but which nonetheless are causing them to lose their jobs. One fired jockey even commits suicide.
When Rob becomes the target of false rumors, though, he doesn't chuck it all and kill himself or leave racing for another profession. Rather, he begins an investigation in an effort to clear his own name and those of his friends. It's a very dangerous undertaking and he's up against an especially determined opponent. The result is a very tense story that has the reader turning the pages rapidly.
Re-reading the first Francis novel, Dead Cert, I was a bit disappointed because the book didn't seem to be up to the standards I'd come to expect from Francis. But this one is spot-on and makes me glad that I decided to work my way through his novels again.
As the book opens, Finn is a struggling young steeplechase jockey trying to work his way up the ladder to better mounts and more success. It's a tough climb, made even harder by the fact that someone is spreading stories about some jockeys that may or may not be true, but which nonetheless are causing them to lose their jobs. One fired jockey even commits suicide.
When Rob becomes the target of false rumors, though, he doesn't chuck it all and kill himself or leave racing for another profession. Rather, he begins an investigation in an effort to clear his own name and those of his friends. It's a very dangerous undertaking and he's up against an especially determined opponent. The result is a very tense story that has the reader turning the pages rapidly.
Re-reading the first Francis novel, Dead Cert, I was a bit disappointed because the book didn't seem to be up to the standards I'd come to expect from Francis. But this one is spot-on and makes me glad that I decided to work my way through his novels again.
December 1, 2023
Rob Finn has a love for racing horses but he is odd man out in his family of musicians. He is a jockey on the National Hunt circuit which is one of England’s series of races where horses race while jumping barriers of various types.
Early on he (and many others) are witnesses to a jockey committing a very public suicide at a race course.
"He drove in silence for a while, and then said with an impatient shake of his big head, “No one stands to gain anything by trying to ruin jockeys. It’s nonsense. Pointless.” “I know,” I said. “Pointless.”"
Or is it? Francis lets this story slowly build as we follow Finn’s budding career and his attempts to put things together. This is an early work and my GR friend James Thane and I agree that eventually Francis finds “a formula” for his racing thrillers. But this is an early one that I particularly enjoyed. It has a love interest to balance the violence.
"Most of the time, after so much practice, I could keep my more uncousinly feelings for Joanna well concealed from her; and it was necessary to conceal them because I knew from past experience that if I even approached the subject of love she would begin to fidget and avoid my eyes, and would very soon find a good reason for leaving."
This early effort from author Francis was part of how he built his franchise of thriller/mysteries involving horse racing. Even this early effort show how effectively Francis can tell a story, juggle the elements of mystery, love and thrills…….and equally important – know how to “bring it home.”
Here's the kind of jockey POV that appeals to me: "The utter joy of riding Template lay in the feeling of immense power which he generated. There was no need to make the best of things, on his back; to fiddle and scramble, and hope for others to blunder, and find nothing to spare for a finish. He had enough reserve strength for his jockey to be able to carve up the race as he wished, and there was nothing in racing, I thought, more ecstatic than that."
My previous comments / complaints have been adressed.
Thanks to my GR friend Jan-Maat, much of this has be "adjusted."
I am more amused than frustrated by GR's inability to get this corrected. First they appended my review of Francis' High Stakes to another edition of Nerve. (It is still there)
Then I learned that the site hasn't been able to recognize the difference between the two books.
So, I thought I would write my review on this "other" edition so it would at least be in the right location.
But, did you notice, that it says that this edition was published in 1730...one has to laugh.
RTC
Early on he (and many others) are witnesses to a jockey committing a very public suicide at a race course.
"He drove in silence for a while, and then said with an impatient shake of his big head, “No one stands to gain anything by trying to ruin jockeys. It’s nonsense. Pointless.” “I know,” I said. “Pointless.”"
Or is it? Francis lets this story slowly build as we follow Finn’s budding career and his attempts to put things together. This is an early work and my GR friend James Thane and I agree that eventually Francis finds “a formula” for his racing thrillers. But this is an early one that I particularly enjoyed. It has a love interest to balance the violence.
"Most of the time, after so much practice, I could keep my more uncousinly feelings for Joanna well concealed from her; and it was necessary to conceal them because I knew from past experience that if I even approached the subject of love she would begin to fidget and avoid my eyes, and would very soon find a good reason for leaving."
This early effort from author Francis was part of how he built his franchise of thriller/mysteries involving horse racing. Even this early effort show how effectively Francis can tell a story, juggle the elements of mystery, love and thrills…….and equally important – know how to “bring it home.”
Here's the kind of jockey POV that appeals to me: "The utter joy of riding Template lay in the feeling of immense power which he generated. There was no need to make the best of things, on his back; to fiddle and scramble, and hope for others to blunder, and find nothing to spare for a finish. He had enough reserve strength for his jockey to be able to carve up the race as he wished, and there was nothing in racing, I thought, more ecstatic than that."
My previous comments / complaints have been adressed.
Thanks to my GR friend Jan-Maat, much of this has be "adjusted."
I am more amused than frustrated by GR's inability to get this corrected. First they appended my review of Francis' High Stakes to another edition of Nerve. (It is still there)
Then I learned that the site hasn't been able to recognize the difference between the two books.
So, I thought I would write my review on this "other" edition so it would at least be in the right location.
But, did you notice, that it says that this edition was published in 1730...one has to laugh.
RTC
July 24, 2015
It takes a special kind of passion, a special kind of nerve to do this.
Rob Finn's got it. "Give me a horse and a race to ride it in, and I don't care if I wear silks or...or pajamas. I don't care if there's anyone watching or not. I don't care if I don't earn much money, or if I break my bones, or if I have to starve to keep my weight down. All I care about is racing...racing...and winning, if I can."
Only two years into a career as a steeplechase jockey, Rob has a reputation for being able to handle tough horses--the ones with the bad tempers, the ones who can barely make it round the course without taking a tumble. "I reckoned if I could gain enough experience on bad horses when nothing much was expected of me, it would stand me in good stead if I ever found myself of better ones."
Rob gets his first big break when he's asked to ride a young hurdler for James Axminster, a top-ranked trainer and quintessential professional. The horse, like so many of Rob's mounts, had a vile reputation. "But for some reason the wayward animal and I got on very well." Then Axminster's top jockey takes a bad fall and Rob is drafted to ride the stable's most promising chaser, Template. "He was smooth and steely, and his rocketing spring over the first fence had me gasping...."
But all is not well in the racing world. Bad luck, accidents, and even tragedy seems to be dogging one jockey after another. Is it coincidence? Rob thinks so until it happens to him....suddenly, time after time, his rides turn bad. Favorites suddenly sluggish finishing dead last. And the rumors start....Rob Finn has lost his nerve.
Wonderful pacing, a tight plot, crisp dialog, humor, lots of horsey atmosphere, and a marvelous cast of characters. Dick Francis is a consistent winner.
Content warning PG for violence.
Rob Finn's got it. "Give me a horse and a race to ride it in, and I don't care if I wear silks or...or pajamas. I don't care if there's anyone watching or not. I don't care if I don't earn much money, or if I break my bones, or if I have to starve to keep my weight down. All I care about is racing...racing...and winning, if I can."
Only two years into a career as a steeplechase jockey, Rob has a reputation for being able to handle tough horses--the ones with the bad tempers, the ones who can barely make it round the course without taking a tumble. "I reckoned if I could gain enough experience on bad horses when nothing much was expected of me, it would stand me in good stead if I ever found myself of better ones."
Rob gets his first big break when he's asked to ride a young hurdler for James Axminster, a top-ranked trainer and quintessential professional. The horse, like so many of Rob's mounts, had a vile reputation. "But for some reason the wayward animal and I got on very well." Then Axminster's top jockey takes a bad fall and Rob is drafted to ride the stable's most promising chaser, Template. "He was smooth and steely, and his rocketing spring over the first fence had me gasping...."
But all is not well in the racing world. Bad luck, accidents, and even tragedy seems to be dogging one jockey after another. Is it coincidence? Rob thinks so until it happens to him....suddenly, time after time, his rides turn bad. Favorites suddenly sluggish finishing dead last. And the rumors start....Rob Finn has lost his nerve.
Wonderful pacing, a tight plot, crisp dialog, humor, lots of horsey atmosphere, and a marvelous cast of characters. Dick Francis is a consistent winner.
Content warning PG for violence.
September 19, 2022
Spoilers ahead.
The first sentence in the story is superb. It catches the reader’s attention with the jockey Art Matthews shooting himself in the head in a race meeting in full public view.
Rob Finn the hero of the story is a jockey who gets all the bad horses but sticks at it. He is a steeplechase jockey and suddenly finds that several jockeys are having rumors about them exaggerated. Innuendos about being late to race meetings and unreliable, mental breakdown of one suspected of tipping bookies, accused of betting too much and in his case when he has a string of bad races of losing his nerve.
Maurice a popular racing television presenter is at the centre of the suspicions and who is also allergic to horses. Rob with his cousin work out he is the one who starts the rumors and also has been drugging Rob’s horses to make them lethargic.
Maurice traps Rob and after torturing him leaves him to die. Rob escapes and miraculously wins a race and then traps Maurice and gives him a taste if his own medicine. Great storytelling and the second published novel by Francis.
The first sentence in the story is superb. It catches the reader’s attention with the jockey Art Matthews shooting himself in the head in a race meeting in full public view.
Rob Finn the hero of the story is a jockey who gets all the bad horses but sticks at it. He is a steeplechase jockey and suddenly finds that several jockeys are having rumors about them exaggerated. Innuendos about being late to race meetings and unreliable, mental breakdown of one suspected of tipping bookies, accused of betting too much and in his case when he has a string of bad races of losing his nerve.
Maurice a popular racing television presenter is at the centre of the suspicions and who is also allergic to horses. Rob with his cousin work out he is the one who starts the rumors and also has been drugging Rob’s horses to make them lethargic.
Maurice traps Rob and after torturing him leaves him to die. Rob escapes and miraculously wins a race and then traps Maurice and gives him a taste if his own medicine. Great storytelling and the second published novel by Francis.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2009
There's really something to be said for good old storytelling. I love this guy's characters. They're not quirky or tortured or mediocre in greater measure than anyone else, and yet they're really compelling. Although his books are peppered with sentences like "I shivered from something other than the cold," I'm simply not bothered by it, because his characters are so great and the plot is so fun. Maybe my having started reading him before I had any training in writing allows me to get along so nicely; anyhow I'm extremely pleased to have holed up with this book for two days, neither wanting to stop nor feeling compelled to force myself to stop. The last time I read a book in two days was probably the last time I read Dick Francis.
July 1, 2019
A big thank you to openlibrary.org for making this available as an eBook. Sadly... due to the nature of copyright law, this and many of Mr. Francis' earlier books are unavailable for the Kindle at this time.
Once again Dick Francis brings to vivid life the risky business of an amateur steeplechase jockey. The incidents involving the Tank Carrier and the Jaguar blocking the lane reminds me of the comment made in Goldfinger... The first time is happenstance. The second is coincidence and the third is enemy action. This was Mr. Francis' second thriller and his third published book. His first book being his autobiography as the Queen Mother's jockey. His first thriller and second book was Dead Cert.
Once again Dick Francis brings to vivid life the risky business of an amateur steeplechase jockey. The incidents involving the Tank Carrier and the Jaguar blocking the lane reminds me of the comment made in Goldfinger... The first time is happenstance. The second is coincidence and the third is enemy action. This was Mr. Francis' second thriller and his third published book. His first book being his autobiography as the Queen Mother's jockey. His first thriller and second book was Dead Cert.
March 17, 2016
Easily the best of the 20+ Dick Francis novels I have read thus far. This was the 2nd novel written by Dick Francis (1964) and it is obvious he had improved and honed his writing skills during the 2 year hiatus following his first novel Dead Cert in 1962. Francis was at the top his game with this one. A classic, well-written punchy mystery using the British horseracing industry as a backdrop, and a novel that established Francis as a serious literary player and kick-started a hugely successful 50+ year writing empire.
September 23, 2015
This is the second Dick Francis book that I’ve read and I really enjoy them. They aren’t overly complicated mysteries but they are fast paced and something is always happening. Not to mention his books all have something to do with the horse world….mainly the steeplechase world.
With this being Francis’s second book (I am trying to read them in publication order) I can definitely tell his writing has improved but his style remains in tact. Like his first book, his main characters seems to be a little on the gritty side, boarding on full on questionable, but yet the reader continues to form an attachment to them. His characters are always fully developed and they realize their limitations and their strengths which I like. I also like a story where the good guys win and the bad guys get their comeuppances, there is a clear resolution and the story doesn’t feel unfinished.
I also like that Francis always tries to please female readers with a hint of a romance for the main character. I don’t know that it’s entirely necessary to the plot but it is fun to have a little love interest to break up the horse world and mystery parts as well as show a different side of the main character to the reader.
The dialogue and plot are tight which keeps the plot on track and moving along quickly. Everything has a purpose and advances the ‘mystery’. What I think I enjoyed a lot about this book was that it wasn’t a ‘murder’ mystery but yet it unfolded like it was a murder mystery if that makes sense.
I also really enjoy Francis’s descriptions of the horse racing world. Not just the race courses and the sport itself but the horses themselves. He does an excellent job at making the reader truly feel the power of the horse and the thrill of racing. As a fellow horse person myself, I find it hard to describe what it is about horses that are so thrilling to non horse people……how does one describe the power and elation at clearing a fence on a horse with a mind of its own? It’s extremely difficult for non horse people to understand and even harder to explain…..but Francis is able to articulate that feeling for non horse people so well, his readers can scarcely deny his knowledge and descriptions of the race world and the love that comes with being around horses.
See my full review here
With this being Francis’s second book (I am trying to read them in publication order) I can definitely tell his writing has improved but his style remains in tact. Like his first book, his main characters seems to be a little on the gritty side, boarding on full on questionable, but yet the reader continues to form an attachment to them. His characters are always fully developed and they realize their limitations and their strengths which I like. I also like a story where the good guys win and the bad guys get their comeuppances, there is a clear resolution and the story doesn’t feel unfinished.
I also like that Francis always tries to please female readers with a hint of a romance for the main character. I don’t know that it’s entirely necessary to the plot but it is fun to have a little love interest to break up the horse world and mystery parts as well as show a different side of the main character to the reader.
The dialogue and plot are tight which keeps the plot on track and moving along quickly. Everything has a purpose and advances the ‘mystery’. What I think I enjoyed a lot about this book was that it wasn’t a ‘murder’ mystery but yet it unfolded like it was a murder mystery if that makes sense.
I also really enjoy Francis’s descriptions of the horse racing world. Not just the race courses and the sport itself but the horses themselves. He does an excellent job at making the reader truly feel the power of the horse and the thrill of racing. As a fellow horse person myself, I find it hard to describe what it is about horses that are so thrilling to non horse people……how does one describe the power and elation at clearing a fence on a horse with a mind of its own? It’s extremely difficult for non horse people to understand and even harder to explain…..but Francis is able to articulate that feeling for non horse people so well, his readers can scarcely deny his knowledge and descriptions of the race world and the love that comes with being around horses.
See my full review here
March 15, 2022
Not a bad way to spend the day in bed, reading while sick. Since it was copyrighted in 1967, a lot of the things that might have happened in later novels that Francis wrote, didn’t happen here. But that’s ok, it still works.
That ending should have been slightly different though, and I’m sticking with this opinion.
You can find the ebook version of this novel on Scribd, and possibly even in your local library. And amazon, if you like that website.
3.5 stars, and recommended.
That ending should have been slightly different though, and I’m sticking with this opinion.
You can find the ebook version of this novel on Scribd, and possibly even in your local library. And amazon, if you like that website.
3.5 stars, and recommended.
June 2, 2023
I always enjoy Francis. Another good one.
April 14, 2019
If there is one trait above all else that a jockey needs in steeplechase racing, it’s nerve. Junior jockey Rob Finn has plenty of it. The rest of his family have made it big in the world of classical music, but Rob never fit into that world, instead being drawn to the active and risky world of horse racing. But just when he had caught his big break and was finally getting rides, wins, and the recognition that goes with it, everything comes tumbling down. After a nasty fall during a race, a string of last place finishes just about does him in. They’re saying he’s lost his nerve. But to Finn’s mind, there is something far more devious at play and he is determined to discover its source and get his revenge.
This is the second published work of fiction (1964) by the esteemed Dick Francis. The author was, himself, a champion steeplechase jockey so the horse racing scenes, the preparation activities for each race, and the overall racing business environment always ring true and full of authenticity. I think what I like best about Dick Francis novels is the way they are structured not just as detective or mystery plots, but as genuine stories. This novel, like most of his fictional work, is narrated by the main character which always brings an added feeling of “connection” with him. While I would not have made the same choices as Finn does, he does make rational choices true to his character. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel all the way through.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Dick Francis novel, but this one has jump-started my desire to add him into my regular rotation. Looking forward to a long list of must-reads to come.
This is the second published work of fiction (1964) by the esteemed Dick Francis. The author was, himself, a champion steeplechase jockey so the horse racing scenes, the preparation activities for each race, and the overall racing business environment always ring true and full of authenticity. I think what I like best about Dick Francis novels is the way they are structured not just as detective or mystery plots, but as genuine stories. This novel, like most of his fictional work, is narrated by the main character which always brings an added feeling of “connection” with him. While I would not have made the same choices as Finn does, he does make rational choices true to his character. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel all the way through.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Dick Francis novel, but this one has jump-started my desire to add him into my regular rotation. Looking forward to a long list of must-reads to come.
May 13, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this page-turner of a crime thriller. I was aware that Dick Francis wrote horse racing related crime thrillers but had never read one before. Now I understand why they are popular.
Published in 1964 there are elements of the story that have dated, of course, but if, like me, you can (just!) remember the days with no mobile phones, internet or even colour TV you will appreciate this story all the more. The book evokes the sixties quite well, though this was not its purpose.
The story begins with a death and Mr Francis sets the background nicely. His prose is economical but sufficient to give a good impression of character - a clever skill, so that you know who's who quite quickly. The story then races along (sorry!), becoming more exciting as it goes - a bit like a horse race really.
I knew little about the world of racing but after reading this I feel I know a bit more, so it was somewhat educational as well as very entertaining. Some of the things that happen seem a bit unrealistic though certainly possible but this does not matter, as this is a cracking read that will leave you satisfied and wanting to read another one from the Francis stable.
Published in 1964 there are elements of the story that have dated, of course, but if, like me, you can (just!) remember the days with no mobile phones, internet or even colour TV you will appreciate this story all the more. The book evokes the sixties quite well, though this was not its purpose.
The story begins with a death and Mr Francis sets the background nicely. His prose is economical but sufficient to give a good impression of character - a clever skill, so that you know who's who quite quickly. The story then races along (sorry!), becoming more exciting as it goes - a bit like a horse race really.
I knew little about the world of racing but after reading this I feel I know a bit more, so it was somewhat educational as well as very entertaining. Some of the things that happen seem a bit unrealistic though certainly possible but this does not matter, as this is a cracking read that will leave you satisfied and wanting to read another one from the Francis stable.
January 14, 2016
Four and a half stars for a galloping good read. What I like about Francis' earlier books is that more than just "detective" yarns, they are stories. Each character is three-dimensional, a person with likes and dislikes, with a past and thoughts and ideas. The attention to detail is enormous, unlike some "golden age" mysteries with plotholes you could drive a horse trailer through.
It's interesting that so many of Francis' bad guys are unbalanced, as if the tendency to do evil implied a form of madness (an idea the main character considers throughout the book). I also like the fact that the mysteries aren't just about physical killing; there are many ways to kill a person while still leaving them breathing, as well as the possiblity of driving a person to lose their job, marriage, or life without getting one's own hands dirty--or even being seen as involved. The reason I didn't give this a flat 5 is that I felt the author enjoyed the violent scene a bit too much.
The fact that these books are still popular 50 years on is a tribute to the writer's craft. I know that there has been a hot debate of recent years re:who actually wrote the books, Francis or his wife, but whoever did, the majority of them make riveting reading.
It's interesting that so many of Francis' bad guys are unbalanced, as if the tendency to do evil implied a form of madness (an idea the main character considers throughout the book). I also like the fact that the mysteries aren't just about physical killing; there are many ways to kill a person while still leaving them breathing, as well as the possiblity of driving a person to lose their job, marriage, or life without getting one's own hands dirty--or even being seen as involved. The reason I didn't give this a flat 5 is that I felt the author enjoyed the violent scene a bit too much.
The fact that these books are still popular 50 years on is a tribute to the writer's craft. I know that there has been a hot debate of recent years re:who actually wrote the books, Francis or his wife, but whoever did, the majority of them make riveting reading.
August 4, 2012
What is there to say about Dick Francis? As I think about all of his books (yes, this review covers all of his books, and yes I've read them all) I think about a moral ethical hero, steeped in intelligence and goodness embroiled in evil machinations within British horse racing society - either directly or indirectly. The heroes aren't always horse jockies, they can be film producers, or involve heroes engaged in peripheral professions that somehow always touch the horse racing world.
But more than that, Francis's heroes are rational human beings. The choices made are rational choices directed by a firm objective philosophy that belies all of Francis's novels. The dialogue is clear and touched with humor no matter the intensity of evil that the hero faces. The hero's thoughts reveal a vulnerability that is touching, while his actions are always based on doing the right thing to achieve justice.
Causing the reader to deeply care about the characters in a novel is a difficult thing to do. No such worries in a Francis novel. The point of view is first person, you are the main character as you read the story (usually the character of Mr. Douglas). The hero is personable, like able, non-violent but delivering swift justice with his mind rather than through physical means. This is not to say that violence is a stranger to our hero. Some of it staggering and often delivered by what we would think of normal persons living in British society.
You will come to love the world of Steeple Chase racing, you will grow a fondness for horses, stables, trainers and the people who live in that world. You will read the books, devouring one after the other and trust me Dick Francis has a lot of novels (over 40 by my last count).
There are several series woven into the fabric of Francis's work: notably the Sid Halley and Kit Fielding series.
Assessment: Dick Francis is one of my favorite writers. I read his books with a fierce hunger that remains insatiable and I mourn his death.
But more than that, Francis's heroes are rational human beings. The choices made are rational choices directed by a firm objective philosophy that belies all of Francis's novels. The dialogue is clear and touched with humor no matter the intensity of evil that the hero faces. The hero's thoughts reveal a vulnerability that is touching, while his actions are always based on doing the right thing to achieve justice.
Causing the reader to deeply care about the characters in a novel is a difficult thing to do. No such worries in a Francis novel. The point of view is first person, you are the main character as you read the story (usually the character of Mr. Douglas). The hero is personable, like able, non-violent but delivering swift justice with his mind rather than through physical means. This is not to say that violence is a stranger to our hero. Some of it staggering and often delivered by what we would think of normal persons living in British society.
You will come to love the world of Steeple Chase racing, you will grow a fondness for horses, stables, trainers and the people who live in that world. You will read the books, devouring one after the other and trust me Dick Francis has a lot of novels (over 40 by my last count).
There are several series woven into the fabric of Francis's work: notably the Sid Halley and Kit Fielding series.
Assessment: Dick Francis is one of my favorite writers. I read his books with a fierce hunger that remains insatiable and I mourn his death.
September 25, 2019
DAME AGATHA CHRISTIE AND HER PEERS
BOOK 6
Unfortunately, my library did not have Francis' first fiction, Dead Cert, so I started with this novel.
CAST – 3 stars: Rob Finn, narrator, is an up-and-coming race jockey. He has rebelled against his musical family: Mrs. Olivia Finn, mother, pianist; Sir Trelaway Finn, uncle, conductor and others (mostly outside the novel). He is in love with Joanna, a cousin but unrelated genetically in some way. Maurice Kemp Lowe is a TV show host, the show about horse racing, jockeys, trainers, runs, etc. Among Finn’s fellow jockeys are Art Matthews, Tick Tock Ingersoll, Peter Clooney, Jr., and Grant Oldfield. Trainer Corin Keller and James Axminster, owner of one of the largest stables in England, has 60 horses and is a fan of young Finn.
ATMOSPHERE –4: This setting is new to me, the field of horse racing. The horses, training, stables, jockeys, owners, races, publicity, betting are all rendered nicely. The universe of the villain is done particularly well, his methods and his madness
PLOT/CRIME – 3: The book opens with the shooting suicide of Art Matthews, witnessed at racing stables by Finn and others. Art and fellow jockeys have been mentally and emotionally undermined in several ways. When Finn becomes an overnight sensation, he is interviewed on Kemp Lowe’s show, made to look foolish, and begins an inexplicable losing streak.
INVESTIGATION and RESOLUTION – 2 stars for each element: Even I, knowing little about this world, deducted how the jockeys were turned into losers overnight, one of them losing his job completely. But the motive is the big issue, and that motive is only revealed toward the end of the novel. Finn sets out to redeem his friends and to get revenge on a certain villain, but this redemption and revenge portion of the novel is much too long.
SUMMARY – 2.8 overall. A surprise, as I didn't think I'd enjoy a novel about horse racing.. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author: he did win many awards and he does credit his wife as his co-author.
BOOK 6
Unfortunately, my library did not have Francis' first fiction, Dead Cert, so I started with this novel.
CAST – 3 stars: Rob Finn, narrator, is an up-and-coming race jockey. He has rebelled against his musical family: Mrs. Olivia Finn, mother, pianist; Sir Trelaway Finn, uncle, conductor and others (mostly outside the novel). He is in love with Joanna, a cousin but unrelated genetically in some way. Maurice Kemp Lowe is a TV show host, the show about horse racing, jockeys, trainers, runs, etc. Among Finn’s fellow jockeys are Art Matthews, Tick Tock Ingersoll, Peter Clooney, Jr., and Grant Oldfield. Trainer Corin Keller and James Axminster, owner of one of the largest stables in England, has 60 horses and is a fan of young Finn.
ATMOSPHERE –4: This setting is new to me, the field of horse racing. The horses, training, stables, jockeys, owners, races, publicity, betting are all rendered nicely. The universe of the villain is done particularly well, his methods and his madness
PLOT/CRIME – 3: The book opens with the shooting suicide of Art Matthews, witnessed at racing stables by Finn and others. Art and fellow jockeys have been mentally and emotionally undermined in several ways. When Finn becomes an overnight sensation, he is interviewed on Kemp Lowe’s show, made to look foolish, and begins an inexplicable losing streak.
INVESTIGATION and RESOLUTION – 2 stars for each element: Even I, knowing little about this world, deducted how the jockeys were turned into losers overnight, one of them losing his job completely. But the motive is the big issue, and that motive is only revealed toward the end of the novel. Finn sets out to redeem his friends and to get revenge on a certain villain, but this redemption and revenge portion of the novel is much too long.
SUMMARY – 2.8 overall. A surprise, as I didn't think I'd enjoy a novel about horse racing.. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author: he did win many awards and he does credit his wife as his co-author.
March 30, 2017
Grabbing old favorites off the shelf again... Dick Francis was a British steeplechase jockey who took to writing thrillers and had a nice little second career writing international best sellers from the sixties up through the nineties. Most of his books involve horse racing, and they're dependably entertaining, with plucky underdog heroes, convincingly bad villains, and just enough succinctly depicted violence to make us wince and root for the bad guy's comeuppance.
In this one, a struggling jockey watches his fellow riders fall prey one by one to mysterious mishaps; he susses out the malevolent string-puller behind them and, having survived his own encounter with the scoundrel, devises a wickedly appropriate extra-judicial punishment.
It's not the best thing Francis wrote; there aren't a whole lot of surprises and there is a slightly weird subplot involving the protagonist's unrequited love for a comely first cousin, but it has all the Francis virtures: clear and competent narrative, sharply drawn characters, and all that good horse stuff if you like that.
In this one, a struggling jockey watches his fellow riders fall prey one by one to mysterious mishaps; he susses out the malevolent string-puller behind them and, having survived his own encounter with the scoundrel, devises a wickedly appropriate extra-judicial punishment.
It's not the best thing Francis wrote; there aren't a whole lot of surprises and there is a slightly weird subplot involving the protagonist's unrequited love for a comely first cousin, but it has all the Francis virtures: clear and competent narrative, sharply drawn characters, and all that good horse stuff if you like that.
February 19, 2019
I love Dick Francis books and this was no exception. Already at the beginning a jockey shot himself. Nobody could explain why he did this. The young jockey Rob, who sees the whole thing emotionally from the outside, gets to know the highs and lows of horse racing and decides to get to the bottom of the cause of the misery of his colleagues. He discovers that the horses of these jockeys and his horses have been doped. He's out for revenge and does it in a subtle way. He's in grave danger. His will is stronger than all the pain he suffers.
A magnificently thought-out thriller that gives an insight into the world of horse racing.
A magnificently thought-out thriller that gives an insight into the world of horse racing.
July 16, 2008
Great book... VERY easy read! My Grandma Judy, who is an AVID reader recommended it to me. I am really glad she did! I was thoroughly entertained from page one, it was totally clean, and the murder/mystery plot was both intruiging and fullfilling. Set in England, it was fun to interpret English words like 'bonnet' for the 'hood' of a car, etc... Now I want to shake hands with a jockey and go bet on a Steeplechase!! :)
August 28, 2009
I'm reading Dick Francis' novels according to their published date, so this was his second mystery novel. I must say that compared to his first, "Dead Cert," one can tell that his writing has became better. It seems that he writes with more ease and adds more depth to the characters, scenes and the plot. I've enjoyed reading this book a lot and definitely recommend it to all Francis' afficionados.
June 29, 2011
I love Dick Francis books. I read most of them during high school and college, and now I'm slowly working my way through them again. I think this is probably where I got my addiction to cool, tough, laconic underdog heroes. I don't know who invented that trope, but Francis sure does it well.
January 21, 2025
Solid if a bit old-fashioned. Questionable love interest.
June 8, 2013
Rob Finn is a jockey working his way up in the ranks. Most of the jobs he gets are second rate horses which aren't expected to do well. Then he happens to be in the right place at the right time when a fellow jockey takes a bad fall and breaks his leg. Rob is hired to ride those jobs while the other jockey recovers. After he takes a spill as well, he endures a period when every horse he rides is sluggish. The rumor goes around that he's lost his nerve. Rob sets out to show the real reason.
Re-read in 2013. I think this is one of my favorites of the Dick Francis books I've read. I've read enough now to know that Rob would get himself in a horrible fix that would provide the time to think about what was really going on. My only surprise with this one was how far into the book that came. I can't put my finger on why I liked this one more that some of the others, but I know I do.
Re-read in 2013. I think this is one of my favorites of the Dick Francis books I've read. I've read enough now to know that Rob would get himself in a horrible fix that would provide the time to think about what was really going on. My only surprise with this one was how far into the book that came. I can't put my finger on why I liked this one more that some of the others, but I know I do.
August 24, 2009
I love Dick Francis mysteries. The main characters are fallible, but committed to a code of honor they will not break no matter what pressure is brought to bear. They are resourceful, persistent and unwilling to compromise with evil. They care passionately about the rights of others and defend them. And there's almost always a connection to horse racing.
January 24, 2019
I'm clearly in the minority on this one, but I did not enjoy this book. I think I just don't enjoy horse racing (or any other form of racing) enough to relate to the main character. Rob Finn is an up-and-coming jockey but someone is trying to do him in. If you enjoy horse racing and thrillers, you might enjoy this one. I won't be trying another installment of the series.
May 1, 2010
One of my top three. It's got a little romance in it and great revenge.
September 22, 2017
I loved this book so much I read it in one sitting. I'm definitely going to be reading more Dick Francis books in the future I feel.
May 23, 2021
Character-centric mystery about jockeys and horse racing. I'm not that interested in horse racing, but this author's writing was so good that he really made it interesting. Well-developed characters that I really cared about made the book worth reading. I'll be reading more books by this author.
July 30, 2014
I have been a Dick Francis fan for many years, which is not the same as being a mystery fan, as I read few of them. However, I am a horse person and I have always loved the way he was able to convert a successful career as a steeplechase jockey riding Queen Elizabeth's horses (among many others) into a second career as a bestselling author. The authenticity he brings to everything set around the track just leaps off the page. I actually like many of these earlier books better than the later ones when he had perfected his craft because of that closeness to the track and the horses.
The other thing he does very well is characterization. His characters are always so...mature. No whiners, no quitters, no fly-off-the-handle over-reactors here. They may exact horrific revenge on the bad guy, but it is always a thinking man's revenge, very apropos to the crime. Their guts and dogged persistence in the face of personal demons and pain is very much worth reading about, because society seems to be trending toward the wimpy, empathetic types who roll over from evil without a blink for fear of offending anyone. Give me Francis and his characters' ability to see a thing through to the end.
The other thing he does very well is characterization. His characters are always so...mature. No whiners, no quitters, no fly-off-the-handle over-reactors here. They may exact horrific revenge on the bad guy, but it is always a thinking man's revenge, very apropos to the crime. Their guts and dogged persistence in the face of personal demons and pain is very much worth reading about, because society seems to be trending toward the wimpy, empathetic types who roll over from evil without a blink for fear of offending anyone. Give me Francis and his characters' ability to see a thing through to the end.
July 11, 2014
This has an excellent A-plot, in which Rob Finn, a struggling jockey from a family of musicians, is the target of a plot to undermine his career. This book is impossible to put down starting from the first paragraph, in which a jockey shoots himself in front of Rob.
The B-plot, in which Rob tries to court his true love who won't marry him because they're cousins, is less successful. Francis is a bit hit-or-miss with romance. Some of his romances are fantastic. This one never quite worked for me - Joanna's "totally cousins" objection seemed a bit ridiculous and lampshading it didn't help. I never quite bought their relationship.
But the slow disintegration of Rob's career is nailbitingly readable, even though there's no physical jeopardy until about halfway through. The showpiece action sequence, in which Rob is kidnapped, blindfolded and chained, drenched in water on a freezing night, and must free himself and then race the next day, is brilliantly done. Nice comfort via hot soup afterward, too.
The B-plot, in which Rob tries to court his true love who won't marry him because they're cousins, is less successful. Francis is a bit hit-or-miss with romance. Some of his romances are fantastic. This one never quite worked for me - Joanna's "totally cousins" objection seemed a bit ridiculous and lampshading it didn't help. I never quite bought their relationship.
But the slow disintegration of Rob's career is nailbitingly readable, even though there's no physical jeopardy until about halfway through. The showpiece action sequence, in which Rob is kidnapped, blindfolded and chained, drenched in water on a freezing night, and must free himself and then race the next day, is brilliantly done. Nice comfort via hot soup afterward, too.
June 13, 2016
Finalist 1964 Gold Dagger Award.
Racing related thrillers - Robert Finn watches a fellow steeplechase jockey blow his brains out in the parade ring at Dunstable races, just before a race. As Finn and the other jockeys cope, some better than others, with the stress of their jobs, other incidents lead him to conclude that someone is trying to destroy the lives of jockeys all over England. Finn is not the average jockey. The only child of famous virtuoso musicians, and the single family member to not be gifted musically, he has followed a different path than that of his family's vocation. He has inherited other skills that will help him as he unravels a sad and warped trail. And he has been remarkably successful jockey for a man with only 2 years experience. Soon, he is the next target. A losing streak that lasts weeks threatens his job until he takes it upon himself to do a little sleuthing, and uncovering the identity of the culprit. Now, Finn wants his revenge, and he takes his time setting it up.
Racing related thrillers - Robert Finn watches a fellow steeplechase jockey blow his brains out in the parade ring at Dunstable races, just before a race. As Finn and the other jockeys cope, some better than others, with the stress of their jobs, other incidents lead him to conclude that someone is trying to destroy the lives of jockeys all over England. Finn is not the average jockey. The only child of famous virtuoso musicians, and the single family member to not be gifted musically, he has followed a different path than that of his family's vocation. He has inherited other skills that will help him as he unravels a sad and warped trail. And he has been remarkably successful jockey for a man with only 2 years experience. Soon, he is the next target. A losing streak that lasts weeks threatens his job until he takes it upon himself to do a little sleuthing, and uncovering the identity of the culprit. Now, Finn wants his revenge, and he takes his time setting it up.
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