Fans of Dick Francis will enjoy this but overall it's just not as good as other books in the Francis library. I was left wanting more depth. Peter Darwin has spent most of his life living abroad, thanks first to his diplomat step father, then to his own diplomatic postings. He returns to his childhood town and everything feels at once familiar and foreign. I wanted more exploration of that. The opening scenes with Vicki bring Peter into the mystery, but then she's largely ignored. The plot runs around between generations (younger people from Peter's memories who did X, those same people now older who are doing Y), and also jumps between the vet practice, race horses, real estate deals, and shady practices, and for me it just wasn't very well tied together. It all makes sense, but I just finished it yesterday and I'm hard pressed to remember it. The dots are connected but not strongly enough for me. The last time I read this (10+ years ago) the final scenes were completely horrifying. They weren't as strong this time around and I'm not sure why. Still, Francis's prose is a delight to read and the characters are interesting. I liked that bride-to-be isn't terribly sympathetic and that even though Peter doesn't understand how she and Ken work as a couple he accepts that they are a couple and leaves it at that. I was very pleased that Peter never ridiculed Annabel's unique taste in clothes. He doesn't say "wow, she's weird" and then come to accept her brand of weirdness over time. He just accepts her whole from the onset and that's a beautiful thing. Profession in Focus: Equine Veterinarian, with a side of DiplomatProtagonist as a Memorable Character: Low. Like most of Francis's protagonists Peter is youngish, thinish, unflappable, capable, with reserves of inner strength. He appears to be a bit more of a flirt than other Francis protagonists; he evaluates and appreciates pretty much every female form he meets. Beyond that? Not much. A typical Francis everyman.Relation to Horses: High. Cheltenham is a racing town, and Peter spends the book practically glued to Ken, the brilliant veterinary surgeon who specializes in horses.Love Interest: Yes.Abrupt Ending: Mostly yes. Most Francis novels end abruptly once the killer has been discovered and/or incapacitated. This one spends maybe two pages wrapping things up so it's not much.
I was recently inspired to go back in time and read this again. I will urge everyone to do the same. You'll find all the best elements of a Dick Francis novel here--the easy writing which isn't easy at all, the strong and likeable lead character, a charming supporting cast, and a clever, intricate plot which requires solving by a detective who isn't quite a detective but goes at it a bit sideways. This book is a little unusual in that it's not the narrator himself who is in it up to his withers, but he does end up that way. This is one of the best suspenseful endings I remember in a Francis novel and it's beautifully written with many memorable passages. I am left remembering how Dick Francis novels used to inspire me to both read and write. What a joy to read this book. It's just so incredibly well done.
What do You think about Comeback (1991)?
This book, like many Dick Francis novels, started out slow, which is kind of comforting to me, as it allows one to get to know the narrator. But as the story progresses, and so does the tension, until it almost becomes unbearable, and you are surprised by the twist at the end! I found the experience very enjoyable. The only distasteful bits of the story were the two instances in which the F-word was used. This always seems out of place to me in a Dick Francis book, because I find the word to be so low and muddy, and I think of Mr Francis as being clean and high class. All in all, I recommend this book to all fans of a good mystery.
—Michael
Another great one by Dick Francis and wife.I never read any Dick Francis books when I was younger because a bazillion books about horse racing had to be boring, right? I was quite wrong. Dick Francis and wife put out about a book a year. In that year, they found a new interest or three, which was/were worked into a well written, yet easy to read, horse based mystery novel. Every time I read a Dick Francis novel I learn about something I never thought I would care about. And that for me is the genius of Dick Francis. This time the variables include the life of the a mid-level diplomat and a veterinary practice. Interesting stuff with a great characters and a good plot.
—Scoats
Great book. Francis is a master mystery writer - literally - and Comeback doesn't disappoint in the least. The plot is different from his other works, which amazes me given his extensive catalog, and his characteristic twists are among the best he's done. Character development is tremendous, and I found myself hoping he brings back the hero in later works, though I believe detective Sid Halley is the only recurring character in the Francis universe. Shame, really, because he's created some great characters in this thriller.
—Andy Vance
