"I intensely disliked my father's fifth wife, but not to the point of murder." I read those fourteen words, and I was hooked! That is the compelling first sentence in this standalone novel by the master storyteller, Dick Francis. This book has convinced me that I want read all of his work, which is a massive collection of horsey based writing! Francis uses a brilliant concept for the structure or plot, if you want to call it that, of this mystery. Narrated by Ian Pembroke, an amateur jockey, Francis weaves a complicated story about Ian's father Malcolm, an incredibly rich gentleman who makes his money by buying and selling gold. Before Ian will help his father, they must try to mend a three year-long rift in their relationship, tied to Malcolm's decision to marry wife number five, despite Ian's pleas to drop her. Someone has tried to kill Malcolm, shortly after his fifth wife, Moira, has been found murdered at their large country home. Who suspects him of this crime, you say? The police, and most of his family, numbering in the twenties, if you count stepchildren, daughters/sons-in-law, and ex-wives. There are so many members of this family that Francis kindly provides a list of them, at the front of the book! To cope with the threat to his freedom and his life, Malcolm, as he is called by all of his children rather than Dad or Father, decides to spend huge chunks of money on a variety of causes and items. This flagrant spending causes the family members to come running to Malcolm, suggesting that he has gone mad after murdering Moira, and he intends to throw away their inheritance on anything or anyone but them! In desperation, Malcolm turns to his son Ian, afraid for his life and needing help to get out from under his family's verbal and physical attacks. Who among this large group is capable of murdering Moira, and/or Malcolm? Francis masterfully creates detailed personalities for all of the twenty plus members of Malcolm's extended family. The interaction between the ex-wives and their children, step-children and each other, bring to mind a very large knot found within a ball of wool when I am knitting. Unravelling this ball takes patience as I well know, and Francis leads us through this unravelling with elegant detail, vivid characterizations, and considerable suspense. All is revealed, and by book' s end, he leaves you marvelling at his plotting and characterization. A gem of a book! I count myself officially a member of the Dick Francis fan club.
If you think you have a dysfunctional family, read this book. It may make you feel better. This is about Ian and his father. His father has been married 5 times. His last wife was murdered and now someone is after him. After Ian and his Dad have been estranged for years his Dad asks him to be his “body guard”. Someone is trying to kill him and he is scared. Malcolm Pembroke is very rich. The dysfunction in the family is essentially his money and their lack of it. Based on the circumstances of the attempts on Malcolm’s life, he and Ian conclude the murderer must be a family member. So, in addition to keeping Malcolm safe, Ian is also trying to figure out who dunnit? The horse part of this book, (there always is in Francis book), Ian is a Steeplechase rider. AND, Malcolm starts buying horses. I liked this book. I normally do. When the mystery was solved at the end, I thought to myself, How simple that is. Hot Money is money that is used to bet when there is “inside knowledge”. Use that in the search for the truth and you will solve the crime.
What do You think about Hot Money (1989)?
One of my favorites - combines horse trading, gold collection, and the dangers of multiple wives. If anyone gets stars in their eyes about the Jacob Syndrome (4 wives), this book will disabuse them of the notion that people can just move from one honeybee to the other without consequences. Ian is steady and level-headed (really wish the bit about the married girlfriend had been edited out), his father is a vital force but calculating in business, and the combination is good. Pretty sure the author is describing himself, split into two distinct personalities.
—Linda
HOT MONEY - ExFrancis, Dick - 26th bookWith his five ex-wives and the nine children between them, it's no great surprise that spectacularly wealthy gold trader Malcolm Pembroke should preside over a motley clan in constant conflict with one another.But when violent death strikes the least likable of his former spouses, Malcolm himself feels threatened, and he calls on his most capable son, Ian, the family jockey. Ian's task: to protect his father from their nearest, if not always dearest, relatives—and to delve for the final, critical clue in the darkly buried Pembroke past, simmering with the greed, hate, and vengefulness that could motivate blood to strike against blood.This is another of my favorites. Great protagonist and I loved the relationship between him and his father.
—LJ
This was the first Dick Francis book I read and I really liked it. Malcolm Pembroke is an extremly wealthy man, making money by investing in gold and foreign currencies and always getting high returns. His fifth wife was murdered in her greenhouse, and Malcolm has also had his life threatened and he's come to his estranged son Ian to ask for.protection. During a visit to Newmarket horse sales they are very nearly run down in the car park and Ian is worried that the killer may get lucky if he tries again. After Malcom's house is blown up the police begin to believe Malcolm's story and begin to investigate. Ian sends hid father to America while he does his own inquiries, visiting all his half-siblings in turn.It was fun to read about Malcolm's first class lifestyle. Malcolm had had 5 wives, and Ian was his son with his second wife, and he felt the only one that wouldn't lie or cheat him. These are nasty and vicious children, and very jealous of Ian.
—Lorraine
