Product Description
When a string of kidnappings rocks the horse racing world, Andrew Douglas is brought in to recover the missing-without becoming the next victim. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

The Danger is a good read
This book was my first read of a Dick Francis novel (may he rest in peace). A friend recommended it as one of her favorites, and it didn't disappoint. The plot was exciting and the main character was especially engaging. I did giggle a bit at the prevalent use of telephone booths and running to "find a phone" in today's age of cell phones in every pocket, but other than that, the story was still timely.

I would definitely recommend it.

Tense, tender, terrific
This is Dick Francis at his best. The hero, Andrew Douglas, is a partner in a company that advises families and companies in cases of kidnapping.

Andrew understands the psychology of both kidnappers and victims. He gets involved in ransom negotiations, recovery of the victim and helping the rescued victim reintegrate into ordinary everyday life.

When we meet Andrew, he's working in Italy (his highly specialized profession takes him all over the world). Alessia Cenci, world-class champion girl jockey, has just been kidnapped. The daughter of a rich, devoted father, Alessia is young, beautiful and brilliant. (If you sense the potential for romance here, you are correct!)

There are lots of things to love about this book. The hero is low-key, thoughtful, cool headed in a crisis and wonderfully compassionate - a rock with a soft heart. The methodology of dealing successfully with kidnappers is fascinating, and we see this unfold on more than one case. All the supporting characters are well drawn. And the plot has a symmetry about it that's truly elegant.

In particular, Dick Francis does a tremendous job of portraying the emotional damage a victim of abduction suffers and the subsequent symptoms of posttraumatic stress.

This is not a particularly horsy book, but rather a thriller that feels totally real - and a love story of ineffable charm. I recommended it wholeheartedly.

thrills and chills on the racing circuit

The story of Dick Francis has a Cinderella quality. He was jockey for the Queen Mother of England when he was injured and turned to writing. All his novels have racing as a backdrop.

This is my favorite of half a dozen Dick Francis suspense novels I have read. Andrew Douglas works for Liberty Market, a firm that specializes in advising family members or business associates of kidnap victims. Andrew is called to Bologna when Alessia Cenci, rising young jockey and daughter of a wealthy Italian businessman, is snatched and held for ransom. The case has been bungled by the carabinieri, who besieged the kidnapers at the drop site only to have one of them get away with the ransom, while Alessia remains a hostage. Her father pays a second ransom, and Alessia is dropped off, drugged and naked except for a plastic raincoat. She is in shock and decides to accompany Andrew back to London, where she will stay with a woman trainer she knows from the racing circuit.

They have barely arrived in England when Andrew is called to a seaside resort where another kidnapping has taken place, this time a 3 year old boy, son of the owner of a famous racehorse (coincidence? No, thinks Andrew, and it turn out he is right). Alessia accompanies him and comforts the boy's mother, awash in guilt and the object of her husband's blame and anger. As Andrew and a colorful bunch of Liberty Market associates track down the kidnapers, a warm friendship grows between Andrew and Alessia, who is recovering slowly from the shock of her own kidnaping. The scene in which Andrew and a partner rescue the boy in the middle of the night is one of the most suspenseful I have read.

Again the mastermind of the kidnaps eludes the authorities. As Andrew and his colleagues continue to search for clues, a third kidnap occurs in Washington, D.C. where the president of the Jockey Club has traveled for a race (Alessia meanwhile is there too to ride in the race). Hot on the trail of the kidnaper, Andrew himself is snatched and handcuffed to a tree in a lonely grove. He manages to escape, and along with a sympathetic D.C. cop, closes in on the kidnaper, whose identity is a surprise to everyone.

The Danger is a great read with masterful writing, appealing characters (especially Alessia who starts off irresistibly tender and vulnerable in the wake of her ordeal, and gradually blossoms into the racing champ with style she was on her way to becoming when the story began). There is a low-key romance between Alessia and Andrew that apparently will be consummated after the book closes. Alessia's recovery as a jockey is a subplot that moves alongside the suspense story. The human beings in this novel are intensely alive and sympathetic (except for the hateful crooks and a few like the father of Dominic, the kidnapped boy, though we assume that he has learned a lesson or two by story's end). The racing demimonde provides a colorful and glamorous backdrop for the action. A five-star read.

You are in for an exciting ride that will take you from Italy to England to the United States.
My brother is perhaps the world's biggest Dick Francis fan, but
to date, I have read little by the author who builds horse racing
into all his stories . . . however after listening to THE DANGER,
I may well change my thinking.

As noted in the book:

* Kidnapping is a fact of life. Always has been, always will be.
Extorting a ransom is an age-old pastime, less risky and more lucrative
than robbing banks.

This thrilling novel centers around the work of Andrew Douglas,
a partner in the firm of Liberty Market Ltd. whose job is both to
advise people at risk how to avoid kidnapping and, also, to help
negotiate with kidnappers once a grab has taken place . . . the
ultimate goal is to get the victim back at the least possible cost.

What I liked about THE DANGER was that you didn't have
to be a horse racing fan to enjoy it . . . thought that sport
features prominently in each of the kidnappings, it didn't
matter if you knew little about the subject. . . you'll still be in
for an exciting ride (pun intended) that will take you from
Italy to England to the United States.

Kidnapping is Risky
Andrew Douglas recovers kidnapped victims and desperately tries to educate his clients as to how they can protect themselves. His list jams up as Alessia Cenci, a wealthy jockey, the child of a Derby winning jockey and one of the top bass of the jockey club disappear near the same time. Are these related events or do they connect in a sinister pattern. The character of Alessia reminds me of Patty Herst and the front page news for months until she was returned.
A good swift suspense mystery, which highlights a little known occupation and it dangers both to the victims and the operator.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS. ... Read more

Product Description
From his extensive experience as a Steeplechase rider, he and John Welcome—a fellow best-selling writer—have gathered 28 of the most classic horse racing stories around. The authors range from Arthur Conan Doyle and Beryl Markham to John Taintor Foote and Francis himself. Damon Runyon’s “Pick the Winner” introduces us to the unforgettable, ironically named Hot Horse Herbie and his ever-loving fiancée, Miss Cutie Singleton. In her “Pullinstown,” Molly Keane brilliantly evokes racing among the Anglo-Irish gentry. Horse loving readers will definitely judge this a winner.
... Read more

Product Description
When a string of kidnappings rocks the horse racing world, Andrew Douglas is brought in to recover the missing-without becoming the next victim. ... Read more

Product Description
In Dead Cert, steeplechaser Alan York knows well the dangers of the sport.

But when his best friend and rival takes a fall in the middle of a race, Alan discovers that his death was no accident.

Nerve is the story of a struggling young jockey named Rob-a misfit in a family of accomplished musicians-who discovers that his troubling losing streak is caused not by a lack of skill or confidence, but by something far more sinister.

For Kicks finds Australian horse breeder Daniel Roke resisting an exorbitant sum of money to investigate a scandal involving drugged racehorses. But after another investigator dies mysteriously, Roke agrees to fill his shoes-and learns that men who give drugs to horses are capable of doing much worse to human beings. ... Read more

Product Description
When former jockey Dick Francis turned to writing, his novels were a success right out of the gate. Now readers can learn more about his suspenseful stories and the fascinating worlds in which they take place-not only horse racing, but many others, from flying to filmmaking, from gemstones to glassblowing. Meet the man who has won three Edgar Allen Poe Awards, the title of Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master, fellowship in the Royal Society of Literature, and Malice Domestic's Lifetime Achievement Award-and add to your reading pleasure with:

€ Book-by-book synopses, little-known facts, and quotes
€ Francis's stable of memorable characters-from Sid Halley to Mr. Kitchens to Professor Guggenheim
€ The "beautiful, marvelous creatures" who run through his novels-from Admiral in Dead Cert to Zingaloo in Whip Hand
€ Websites on horseracing, the many novels, and the author himself
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent Dick Francis guide!
Very well organized guide to Dick Francis novels. It includes a 2002 interview with Dick Francis after his initial retirement in 2000 following his wife Mary's death. This companion guide is much better than one produced more recently by Stephen Sugden (called A Dick Francis Companion: Characters, Horses, Plots, Settings and Themes). While Mr. Sugden's guide may be relatively thorough it appears to insert too many personal opinions (for my taste at least) and at times provides too much detail to be used as a companion guide. Do yourself a favor and find a copy of this book written by Swanson & Dean and hope that it becomes available as an e-book.

Dick Francis Reader Companion
As a long-time reader of Dick Francis books, I am very happy to have been able to get this book, one for myself and another for a friend who is also a Francis fan. The book arrived promptly and in great condition and is being enjoyed right along! Amazon is the way to shop!

Unique venue for recapping Francis' large body of work
good recap; but I did notice that spellings of names were not consistent with previous printed editions of the Dick Francis work....I do not know if the spelling transisitions happened in conversion from hard to paperback or just over confidence in author's ability to spell as Francis did.

recognition of one of mystery greats
Almost fifty years ago, highly successful jockey Dick Francis left horse racing to write mystery novels that in many cases used his former occupation as a milieu.Over the next four plus decades, genre fans continually loved his works that have led to multiple awards including a life achievement and grandmaster status. When his companion, his beloved wife Mary died a few years ago, Mr. Francis finally slowed down his incredible high quality annual production of great who-done-its.

THE DICK FRANCIS COMPANION provides further recognition of one of mystery greats as well as giving readers a deep look at his works since the 1950s, his memorable characters, an exclusive and interesting interview with Mr. Francis, and of course links to horse racing.Though clearly for fans of the author, this biography with its emphasis on the novels and a recent anthology is a Triple Crown winner (so the finish line is stretched across the ocean as Mr. Francis raced in England) for those readers who know a sure bet.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Product Description
Henry Grey takes a dirty, demanding job transporting racehorses by air. But when he discovers that he's actually transporting something altogether different, he has to call upon every ounce of resourcefulness he has to land with his life intact. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

An early favorite
Henry Grey is the heir to an earldom, and he hates it. He doesn't believe anyone likes him for himself, and so he rarely makes a friend. Tidy, methodical, controlled and secretive, he's a man of the fewest possible words.

He's also a man of many talents - a quite good amateur steeplechase jockey - and an even better amateur pilot. His acquaintances in the racing world have no idea he can fly, and his acquaintances at the flying club have no clue he races.

His family desperately wants him to marry a rich girl to shore up the family fortunes. And one day he rebels. Quitting his respectable desk job, he becomes the head groom for a company that transports horses - at considerable loss of pay and prestige. This is the final humiliation for his family.

Henry likes his new job, which still leaves him free days for racing and flying. Unfortunately, he's landed at a company that's not what it seems. Even more unfortunately, he's entirely too observant and begins to notice suspicious goings on.

How Henry gets in and out of trouble is the substance of the plot, which also allows for a hot romance with a charming young woman in Milan. First published in l966, the book is a bit dated politically, but I enjoyed this window into the past.

As things heat up for Henry, it's a pleasure watching him gain confidence and take a few chances on friendship and love. He is now one of my favorite Dick Francis heroes.

I found myself getting angry when the book was about to end. I wanted more! I envy the reader who is at page one. You have a great story to look forward to.

Excellent
I have been reading a lot of Dick Francis lately as sickness has meant a lot of time in bed. His books are always very easy to read and crack on at a great pace. I particularly enjoyed this book and in fact liked the more open ending - unusual for Francis who usually wraps up very neatly.

RIP Dick Francis - you will be missed.

Horse Racing
When you read a Dick Francis novel you know that you are not only getting a great read but you are also getting a book written by a writer who knows his subject. Dick Francis was one of the world's greatest jockeys. Talk about horses and racing - he knew his subject. He was also Queen Elizabeth's and her mother's rider for many years. A great athlete!

A Lonely Hero
This is one of the earliest of Dick Francis' many wonderful novels. Henry Grey, the hero of Flying Finish, is not only a viscount, but he rides as an amateur steeplechase jockey. He is mysterious to his friends and family and refuses to knuckle under to anyone, not even to his matchmaking mama who wants to marry him off to a rich heiress who will restore the family fortunes. Henry works for a company that transports horses by air, thus combining two of his loves--horses and flying. He takes flying lessons when he is not traveling as a groom. Despite his busy life, Henry is closed off and lonely, an introvert who is sleepwalking through life making the easy choices. I couldn't help but wonder how a person with so many walls between him and the world could fall in love so quickly with an Italian woman with whom he seems to have little in common.
Nevertheless, Francis has done a fine job with the plot and the action. Villains scheme to smuggle, cheat, and murder. By the time Henry works out what is going on, his girlfriend may be dead and he is in danger of being shot. After a chilling encounter with a sociopathic killer, Henry escapes and manages to save a friend as well as the horses aboard the plane.
I have only one complaint about this book and that is the abruptness of the ending. I would have liked another page or two to have the loose ends wrapped up.

Sky High Stakes
Dick Frances never writes the same story twice though he does use a winner take all formula. Henry Grey is the heir to an Earldom and to escape a deadly path ordained by his existence he takes a job flying an airplane that transports horses.
The planes are as elderly as his father and poorly maintained, but when he discovers the true nature of his flights he fights back with all the fearlessness of honor betrayed.
His efforts are hampered by a sadistic goon who uses cruelty to hid his hatred of the different.
The main story takes place high in the sky with "George" flying the plane as Henry fights for his life, the Italian girl he has learned to love and the horses in his care.
A good read from an author who has given us many mysteries of unfailing suspense.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and QUALIFYING LAPS. ... Read more

Product Description
A wanna-be jockey accepts a job in his father's campaign for Parliament--and realizes that politics can be the most perilous horse race of all.Amazon.com Review
One of the most impressive aspects of Dick Francis's long and celebrated career (he's won three Edgar Awards,the Silver Dagger, the Gold Dagger, a Cartier Diamond Dagger, and was namedthe 1996 Mystery Writers of America Grand Master) is the freshness that hebrings to each of his novels. Though every one of his 30-plus works offiction has drawn from some aspect of the world of horses, Francis turnsthis constraint into a powerful source of inspiration. In 10 Lb.Penalty Francis adds several new arrows to his quiver.Hisprotagonist, Ben Juliard, narrates the tale in a vivid first person thatbegins in his insecure late teens instead of the settled middle age of the usualFrancis hero.Also, Ben's relationship with horses is more of a fadingdream than an active reality.The book begins with Ben's expulsion fromVivian Durridge's stables; he's removed with a false accusation of gluesniffing.But as Ben soon discovers, it is, in fact, his powerful father'smachinations that are behind his ill fortunes. The elder Juliard is"standing for Parliament," and the bachelor candidate needs his son by hisside for a year of campaigning if he hopes to win.Ben accedes to hisfather's wishes.He almost always has, but he soon finds that his "gapyear"--his year before entering college--is going to be a nightmare. OrindaNagle, the widow of the recently deceased Hoopwestern MP, and hercompanion, Alderney Wyvern, resist George's campaign from the start.Then,Usher Rudd, a muckraking journalist, turns his vitriol to George.Whenan attempt is made on George's life, he and his son find themselves insidea vigorous tale of suspense that takes several narrative years to sortout.

Francis's lucid prose is the driving force in this political mystery, andthe realistic rendering of the complicated father-son relationship betweenGeorge and Ben adds a sophistication and weight that marks the author'sbest fiction. --Patrick O'Kelley ... Read more

Customer Reviews (57)

A bit of a letdown, but basically still a winner from Dick Francis
As has been noted, horse racing is not as much part of the plot here as is usual for Francis, and the action and mystery are subdued, but this is still a well plotted story with the usual good guys and hateful bad guy.Just don't expect the usual tension and suspense.

Charming father-son saga
Dick Francis is good at writing about fathers and sons. In this case the father, George Juliard, was too young at the death of his wife to raise his son Benedict. And so Ben grew up not knowing his father, a situation about to change as Ben approaches his eighteenth birthday.

George, who has made piles of money in the City, is going to stand for Parliament. Never having remarried, he needs Ben's smiling presence during his campaign to lend him the respectable aura of a family man. To achieve this, George has to lure Ben away from the dream of being a jockey. The fact is, Ben has limited ability and will never be one of the greats.

Dick Francis himself won over 350 races and served as jockey to HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, for four years. He did achieve greatness in the racing world - and went on to become a world-class mystery writer as well. So it's interesting to observe Francis' empathetic portrayal of a young person who must accept his limitations and discover his true strengths.

The plot revolves around Ben's adventures helping with the campaign and outsmarting his father's enemies. Ben combines a methodical cleverness with a brash willingness to throw himself into danger in defense of others. Both father and son are morally upright, which could be boring, but in fact they somehow make niceness seem multi-faceted and attractive.

So yes, I enjoyed the book very much and recommend it. I will soon have read every book available by Dick Francis, and I'll move on to the ones written in collaboration with his son Felix. There's another interesting father-son story!

Psychology
Benedict Juliard, aspiring jockey, is dismissed by his employer Sir Vivian Durridge for suspected drug use.Benedict is seventeen.Benedict's father wants him to go to Exeter University.Until the term begins, Ben is to help get his father elected to Parliament.Ben's father is not married and needs a presentable family member to show the voters.

Although a neophyte, George Juliard is an excellent campaigner.He is a wonderful speaker and a quick study.One of the political helpers tells Ben that good politician remember names.Also, he is advised not to buy stamps since all electoral expenses must be disclosed after the election.

The first mysterious incident is a gun shot.At such an early stage, it isn't clear that Ben's father is the intended victim.Benedict finds out the identity of disappointed office seekers, Ben's father having been selected by central party officials to run in the by-election, in order to ascertain whether anyone has a motive to injure the candidate.It seems that George Juliard is seen as a usurper by some of the voters.Benedict has a logical mind.He is also useful to his fatheris cause because he has psychological acumen.

A book by Dick Francis is like a cunning device.All the parts fit and tone is carried out smoothly from beginning to end.

excellent
the book was inexpensive, arrived in a very short amount of time and in excellent condition.First rate service and product.

No Penalty Here.Reviewer: Renee S.NY.C.
I skipped this book because of the reviews, but it bothered me that there was a Francis book that I hadn't read.IMHO the reviews were overly harsh.The story was good, the characters were likeable and the depictions of British politics were fascinating.While I always enjoyed Francis' racing stories, the glimpses into various other occupations that have appeared in many of his later books have always taught me something I didn't know before - never to the detriment of the story.In fact my two favorite Francis books are only peripherally about horses and racing, "Straight," about a gem dealer and "Longshot," about a survivalist travel writer.I like the horses but it is Dick Francis' writing that brings me back every time. This book was no exception.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
very good book ... Read more

Product Description
Dead Ringer appeared in the November 1956 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction.

There was nothing, especially on Earth, which could set him free—the truth least of all! ... Read more

Product Description
Steven Scott had no horseracing experience, but with the guidance of his trainer and the prowess of a beautiful black hurdler named Energise, he has brought home several wins. But his winning streak comes to an end when he discovers trouble in his own stables--trouble that could bring about his own termination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

High Stakes
The book was not in good shape. The sellers discription of the shape the book
was in, was not acturate at all.

Dick Francis Revisited
Great book - I hadnt read it in a number of years and realized it was one of the few Dick Francis' books I didnt have
in hardcover so bought it.It was definitely worth the re-read and investmentClassic Dick Francis.

Misplaced trust
Stephen Scott, wealthy owner of several racehorses, puts his trust in his trainer, and gets cheated coming and going. Trying to get some proof, however, is almost the death of him.

As Stephen takes measures to see justice done, he acquires a whole new group of friends he can, in fact, trust, including a possible future wife. He engineers a complicated operation for getting back a stolen horse that's as neat as a mechanical toy. And in fact, Stephen is an inventor of mechanical toys and gadgets.

In High Stakes the racing world becomes symbolic of a larger world where criminals and con-artists seem to get more sympathy than victims. Perhaps because Dick Francis has an axe to grind, the story seems a bit more contrived than usual. Nonetheless, this is a book that's hard to put down, as is true of all the Dick Francis novels I've read to date (a considerable number).

And the reader will pick up interesting bits of information, like how horses get chipped knees and how to get an unconscious person drunk.

So I'd recommend High Stakes, but perhaps not as a first choice.

High Stakes
I must have read this book 10 years ago.I will read it again.I want to own all of D. Francis's novels.

excellent read
Just discovering this author and am delighted to read anything he writes so far. This one is another great title I highly recommend. ... Read more

Product Description
A closed-door enquiry has found a jockey guilty of the lowest possible crime--throwing a race for money. His reputation scarred, he's begun his own investigation--but asking the wrong questions just might get him killed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Horse racing
When you read a Dick Francis novel you know that you are not only getting a great read but you are also getting a book written by a writer who knows his subject. Dick Francis was one of the world's greatest jockeys. Talk about horses and racing - he knew his subject. He was also Queen Elizabeth's and her mother's rider for many years. A great athlete!

Win or die trying
Jockey Kelly Hughes and trainer Dexter Cranfield are accused of rigging a race. The enquiry by Jockey Club Stewards that should have cleared things up instead turns out to be a nightmare of distortion and false evidence. Both men lose their licenses and are warned off racing.

Cranfield's first impulse is to shoot himself. He's a snob and can't bear the disgrace. Kelly Hughes, however, is a fighter. He finds Cranfield's gun, unloads it and vows to set matters straight. He'll get their licenses back, or die trying.

As Kelly looks into the matter, he takes more than one beating and endangers his life, as do all Dick Francis heroes. But on the plus side, Kelly gets to know Roberta Cranfield, the snobbish trainer's gorgeous, aristocratic daughter.

The reader can look forward to scandalous doings in high society, shocking examples of treachery for pride or pay - and some interesting insights into how good jockeys win races.

All in all, I found ENQUIRY to be an excellent Dick Francis, with well drawn characters from every social class.

My 1969 copy is falling aprt
My copy is the British 1969 edition and I've read it so many times I need a new one. I've been a fan of Francis for many years and particularly I like the interaction between Kelly and Roberta.

Warned Off
Kelly Hughes, jockey and Dexter Cranfield, trainer are warned off---barred from racing. The secret enquiry is a frame, but how does Kelly Hughes prove it?
The hunt takes him into blackmail and vicious revenge yet provides a girl to keep the story moving. ENQUIRY by Dick Francis is a deftly plotted work that moves as fast as the pace of the horses. The crossing of class boundaries in this book does not work as well as other Francis's stories, but it is an early career book, which may explain some of the awkwardness.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and QUALIFYING LAPS.

Excellent Mystery
The story of Enquiry begins after a jockey, Kelly Hughes, and a trainer, Dexter Cranfield, have been stripped of their licenses and banned from any association with racing.Thanks to a flashback, we learn the hearing was pretty much a kangaroo court and the pair was framed for intentionally throwing a race.Hughes decides to find out what really happened and starts digging into things.Along the way, he starts to get chummy with Cranfield's daughter, making for some interesting cross-class romance.From there, things proceed to resolution in a pretty straightforward fashion for a mystery.

Enquiry moves along at a quick pace, and is not a long book at 264 pages.Kelly Hughes is the main character and he's honest, fairly courageous, and reasonably intelligent.He's no detective but he is determined to keep digging until he can find out who set him up.It doesn't take long for you to get firmly in his corner and stay there.The supporting cast is also interesting.It was definitely a nice touch to show the class snobbery between aristocracy and laborers.

This book is a good read and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a mystery.Either first time readers or established fans of Francis should be pleased with what they find here.I can't point out any real flaws in the book because it didn't suffer from any.Buy it, read it, and enjoy it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Different from Dick's other Books
Ok, I buy this book for my wife because she's read every other book by Dick Francis and only had a couple left to read. I didn't realize this was a biography.

My wife thought it was interesting at first, but became bored less than half-way through.

I imagine if you like horse racing, you'll find the story of this jockey's life interesting. But for my wife, who usually loves Mr. Francis's fictional books with murder and mystery, this was just too dull of a "real" life.

... Read more

Product Description
After becoming involved with the Stratton Park racecourse, Lee Morris, a young architect, engineer, and builder, finds himself reluctantly drawn into the deadly infighting among members of the clan that owns the facility. Large first printing. Major ad/promo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

My Favorite
I own almost all the Dick Francis books.I wish there was a Dick Francis collection that was available.I am in the process of trying to fill out my collection in "used" book stores to acquire the ones that are "out of print."

I love his characters, although they are basically the same.I love the strong quiet men who always have great values and persevere against evil.

Of all of his books, however, I think this is my favorite.I love the fact that the hero is a serious, constructive and committed father.His interactions with his children are fabulous!

A hero to everyone but his wife
Horseracing doesn't appeal to me, but I thought I'd try Dick Francis anyway (always running out of things to read). Decider turned out to be a terrific book, and now I'll be reading everything Dick Francis ever wrote.

The book is not exactly a mystery - yet full of mysteries, thwarted violence, unpunished crimes and unofficial justice. Decider presents us with Lee Morris, a big quiet man whose general competence in life makes him instantly likeable to the reader, and a serious threat to plotters and schemers. He engages charmingly with his six sons, builds fantastic houses out of ruins, keeps his cool through fires and explosions, charms us with his subtle sense of humor - in short, a hero to everyone but his wife.

Watching this levelheaded hero outwit the rich and arrogant Stratton family in order to save a racetrack is a surprisingly absorbing reading experience.

Great read with well-developed characters
I generally enjoy Dick Francis's books mostly for their subject matter -- I've loved horses all my life.However, a couple of the books I've read that deal closely with the horse-racing world have been, I thought, a little formulaic, maybe.But this book, as with Straight, was more obliquely involved with the racing scene, and yet I thought it was even better than some of the horsier books.

The main character, Lee Morris, is a young architect/builder, who uses his training to buy and rehab old buildings.He's married with 6 sons.Through an odd turn of events, he has some shares to a racecourse.The patriarch of the majority-owning family dies, and Lee finds himself in the middle of a huge fight among the most dysfunctional family members you'd ever care to have.They resent him for many reasons and are not shy to show it.But Lee is a shrewd judge of character, and he is able to pick out those who might later become allies.

Without really wanting to, he gets sucked into the battle over the fate of the racecourse during the Easter holidays while dragging his 5 oldest sons around on a "ruin hunt" -- looking for his next project.During this time, we learn all about building, destroying buildings, crowd control, and psychology.Lee is always scrutinizing and analyzing his fellow shareholders, and his life depends on getting it right!

I liked the main character very much -- he was extremely bright and introspective.Totally and endlessly awed by his kids (who are pretty cute and bright).Always analytical and observant.The other characters were well developed and witty.The action hummed right along, too.

So even though I'd have liked the book to be more about horses and racing, I have to say I enjoyed it very much, even more than some of Francis's books that are about racing!Great read!

NO WONDER HE'S A LEGEND
Yet another astounding Dick Francis mystery. Lee Morris is an architect/builder, a hands-on kind of guy who likes to get down and dirty restoring grand old buildings. His other obsession is his five young sons ("My wife likes to have babies," he says). When he's left small shares in a racetrack, he attends a stockholders meeting, where he is about as welcome as a skunk at a lawn party. The vicious and wealthy Stratton family mean to chew up and spit out this interloper, and his quiet existence with old buildings and babies literally blows up in his face.

A Minor Inheritence
Lee Morris restores old buildings to family homes and drags his ever increasing family from shelter to shelter as he works. His sons love the upheaval and adventure, but his wife has little regard for her off-springs once they are born.
Lee with the aid of his five elder sons take their family bus to Stratton Park race course to mingle in a dysfunctional family feud. Into this light hearted story Francis weaves a very dark side of family behavior with all of his trade mark fine mystery action, horses, adventure, clues, and the diligent determination of a nice guy protagonist. This is one of a string of fine mysteries by Mr. Francis.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS. ... Read more

Product Description
Kelly Hughes is a jockey, labelled a cheat by a Steward's enquiry. To clear his name, he investigates all those who gave evidence, including the Chief Steward who was being blackmailed. Kelly, helped by Roberta, his employer's daughter, finds out who the real villain is and saves the stables. ... Read more

Product Description
I've read "The Edge" at least a dozen times since it was published and my enjoyment never diminishes. The lead character, Tor Kelsey, is full of charm, wit, and plenty of humility -- his self-effacing ways lead one to wonder how it is he doesn't realize his own attractive nature. The romantic relationship in this book was one of the most realistic ones Mr. Francis has ever written, possibly because the two involved spend enough time together to develop a real rapport (unlike some of his other "romances", where the man and woman meet and suddenly have deep feelings for one another). While "The Edge" is less of a mystery than other books -- we know Julius Apollo Filmer's a bad guy from the start -- the characters are incredibly well-written and the book becomes more about seeing why Filmer does what he does and how he's going to get caught. The Lorrimore family especially was very well-crafted, from the needy and petulant daughter Xanthe to screwed-up teenage son Sheridan to the "money can't buy you everything" father Mercer. On top of everything else, Mr. Francis captures the beauty of the Canadian Rockies and the excitement of traveling by train. I know that before I die I will have to take a train trip across Canada, and that's due to this book.The book is in excellent condition no markings or damage on the book. Book Club Edition ... Read more

Product Description
This is the biography of thriller-writer Dick Francis. Francis is known for setting his novels against the background of horseracing. This revised edition tells how he became one of Britain's leading National Hunt jockeys and a champion steeplechaser, riding as jockey to the Queen Mother. The story of Francis is traced from life in the saddle to life as a bestselling novelist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Sport of Queens
This book was reasonably priced, shipped quickly and in good condition. Very pleased with this purchase!

The real life hero
When I heard about the death of Dick Francis, I had to read his autobiography. It's rather obscure now, and I ordered it used. I found the book thoroughly delightful, and it consoled me somewhat for the loss of the author.

In these pages we see the source of the great passion for racing, the lively intelligence, the workmanlike habits, the wry humor and the basic goodness that infuse all the books of Dick Francis. Although he and his wife Mary did meticulous research for many of his mysteries, his own life and character were the foundation for the freshness and authenticity of his fiction.

The Sport of Queens was first published in 1957, soon after Dick Francis retired from racing. He was at the top of his career - a Champion Jockey who rode the best horses in England and in many races wore the colors of Her Majesty the Queen Mother.

The book covers a lot of ground succinctly: the author's childhood on horseback, his stint in the R.A.F. during World War II flying everything from Spitfires to bombers, his love-at-first-sight, lifetime romance with his wife - and of course his most memorable races, losses as well as wins.

The Sport of Queens is also a treasure trove of information about the daily lives of steeplechase jockeys and the exotic world of racing.

In real life, I never go near a horse if I can help it. But Dick Francis carries me into a fantasy world where I thrill to the speed, power and beauty of a finely bred racehorse. His tremendous skill as a storyteller is amazing, given his equally impressive skill as a jockey.

Few people live two brilliantly successful lives in succession, as Dick Francis did. His ability to chronicle his achievements so modestly is yet another feat.

Get to know the man behind the mysteries.
Found this book in our library and was excited about learning more of Dick Francis.I did get lost at times when he wrote about the race courses, but it was a thrill to get to know him.It is not a mystery, but there aresome questions he still does not know the answer to.He writes a book ayear, and I could read 4 or 5 of his books a year if he could write themthat fast!Nice read.

True insight into the man behind the works
My passion for horses and horse racing was apparent even when I was a child.Dick Francis' books allowed me the experiences I dreamed of through his words.I learned more through his books than I could have anywhereelse in the United States.It is said that truth is stranger than fiction,and Mr. Francis' autobiography is testimony to that!I now own a 5 yearold (retired) Thoroughbred, and Mr. Francis' adventures are in my thoughts!

very informative on the sport
This book is a must have for any Dick Francis or horse racing fan.Thiswas the first book of his that i have read and now i have all of his sofar.What i was looking for was a book to tell me about this little knownsport.Now i know a great deal about it.I'm hoping for a newer versionto tell about what has happened since the book waas written.I read theolder 1950's or 1960's print with the pictures of Devon Loch in the GrandNational.That was what most intrigued me about the story and what madehim fall like that.Like i said this is an excellent book and veryinformative! ... Read more