Taking a step beyond Sid Halley, Jeff Hinkley is a trained intelligence agent working on behalf of British racing, so when illegal drugs start showing up in unexpected horses, the racing authorities set Jeff on the trail.That part of the book was great, full of the little details that made me love the Dick Francis books so much, and with enough intrigue to keep you going. Unfortunately the subplot was resolved far too easily, and the ending let me down: it was very abrupt, and I couldn't even remember who the bad guy was when the identity was revealed. But I'd still read it again! (And a note to the publisher: Please stop "fixing" British books for the American market. I promise you, most Americans are smart enough to figure out what different words mean. A character living in London does not deal with a realtor, drive on a freeway, talk on a cellphone to his mom, take out trash or wear pants except underneath trousers. If you can stop "fixing" these books, I'll start buying them again.) Someone is blackmailing folks in the horse racing business. Horses are being drugged and a bookmaker was murdered in front of everyone at a race. Undercover investigator Jeff Hinkley tries to help the British Horse Racing Authority get to the bottom of it. Sadly, Felix is not Dick. His characters are less sympathetic and he does not have the skill for the spare style of writing that we were accustomed to.
What do You think about Dick Francis's Damage (2014)?
Good book with several intersecting plot threads, all nicely sewn up in the end.
—cutiebear
A good one! So glad Felix is continuing in his fther's footsteps.
—gabby
