I've been on a Francis marathon reading frenzy -- catching up on the four or five novels that I have missed since they have been either co-written or under Felix's byline. This was definitely the best! The pace was fast, the heightened suspense, the clever plot and the revisiting of a favorite protagonist (unusual with the Francis books) was a nice touch. Good for Felix -- I look forward to more and more and more! I discovered Sid Halley, former steeplechase jockey turned private investigator, first on PBS and then in the Dick Francis books, which I read avidly years ago. Through them I learned a lot about British racing tradition and about steeplechase in particular. This one, and audiobook, was written by Francis's son. It is a good read, concerning Halley's being asked to look at the possible large-scale fixing of races and then being dragged unwilling in to investigating on the sly when someone tries to extort a false report out of him. Parts were very exciting and the characters were well-drawn (and, in the audiobook version, well articulated). The main weakness was too much dependence on my having to understand how betting operates in the UK - the difference between odds and the tote board, for example. And I thought the tying up of loose ends needed more. but I still enjoyed revisiting a character and his life that I knew probably 30 years ago.
What do You think about Dick Francis's Refusal (2013)?
I have enjoyed the stories and I like the Sid character. I had forgotten now violent these can be.
—Mano....
I read it right through, except for sleepy-time, to find out what happened.
—ckishore72
Great - certainly takes after his dad!! Waiting for more, language better.
—kara
