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dick francis

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A high-class, transcontinental horse-racing junket should be an idyllic getaway for the super-rich.

But one passenger on this train is a sociopath, a genius at blackmail and criminal corruption—and he plans to take everyone for everything they've got.

368 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1,1988

This edition

Format
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published
August 2, 2005 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN
9780425204399
ASIN
0425204391
Language
English

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About the author

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dick francis

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Dick Francis, CBE, FRSL (born Richard Stanley Francis) was a popular British horse racing crime writer and retired jockey.

Dick Francis worked on his books with his wife, Mary, before her death. Dick considered his wife to be his co-writer - as he is quoted in the book, "The Dick Francis Companion", released in 2003:
"Mary and I worked as a team. ... I have often said that I would have been happy to have both our names on the cover. Mary's family always called me Richard due to having another Dick in the family. I am Richard, Mary was Mary, and Dick Francis was the two of us together."

Praise for Dick Francis: 'As a jockey, Dick Francis was unbeatable when he got into his stride. The same is true of his crime writing' Daily Mirror '

Dick Francis's fiction has a secret ingredient - his inimitable knack of grabbing the reader's attention on page one and holding it tight until the very end' Sunday Telegraph '

Dick Francis was one of the most successful post-war National Hunt jockeys. The winner of over 350 races, he was champion jockey in 1953/1954 and rode for HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, most famously on Devon Loch in the 1956 Grand National.

On his retirement from the saddle, he published his autobiography, The Sport of Queens, before going on to write forty-three bestselling novels, a volume of short stories (Field of 13), and the biography of Lester Piggott.

During his lifetime Dick Francis received many awards, amongst them the prestigious Crime Writers' Association's Cartier Diamond Dagger for his outstanding contribution to the genre, and three 'best novel' Edgar Allan Poe awards from The Mystery Writers of America. In 1996 he was named by them as Grand Master for a lifetime's achievement. In 1998 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List of 2000. Dick Francis died in February 2010, at the age of eighty-nine, but he remains one of the greatest thriller writers of all time.

Series:
* Sid Halley Mystery
* Kit Fielding Mystery

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Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
38(38%)
4 stars
26(26%)
3 stars
36(36%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
audrrie
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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A really enjoyable murder mystery from Dick Francis in which we know who the villain is, but the hero has to get the evidence to be able to convict him. Tense, edge-of-the-seat stuff, set in Canada mostly on a train travelling across that huge nation, it seems to be reminiscent of Agatha Christie and also Hamlet!
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Shidoooo
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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So much fun to read! A creative and engaging mystery with a unique twist-you know who the villain is from the start, but you are trying to figure out what he's going to do next. Also loved the setting.
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mistavv
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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A not particularly interesting account of an investigator attending the trial of a murderer. The chemistry between the lead pair was lighthearted and fun, but nothing much beyond that.
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Nao004
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery! A friend lent it to me since it involves a cross-Canada (well, Toronto to Vancouver) rail trip and Mr. G and I are leaving tomorrow, travelling VIA Rail Winnipeg to Vancouver. This book has really put me in the mood. It's the second Dick Francis I've read and I expect I will read more whenever I want some easy reading. Tor Kelsey is an undercover investigator for the English Jockey Club and Julius Apollo Filmer is a racecourse villain likely responsible for the murder of a groom. Unfortunately the airtight case broke down when the witnesses were initimidated. Filmer has threatened to get back at the international racing world. In Canada, a Great Canadian Mystery Race Train is being promoted to increase interest in Canadian racing. Horses, owners, racegoers, crew, and a cast of actors will journey together and races will be held in Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. When it comes to the attention of the Jockey Clubs that Filmer has bought a place on the train, Tor Kelsey is sent to observe and hopefully prevent any unwelcome events. He takes the part of an actor for the staged mystery, pretending to be a dining car waiter. This was a good-paced mystery, suspenseful and with just a touch of romantic interest. A very entertaining read!
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TrenchKamen
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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I would say this is second-rate Francis, but even second-rate Francis is pretty darn good. Tor Kelsey is a rich young man with no remaining family who grew up in the racing world. He takes a job with the Jockey Club doing security (more like intelligence) work because he is an “invisible man” able to blend in anywhere and observe. And then they put him on a Mystery Race Train across Canada to keep an eye on a villain who has escaped before.

The book is just a bit overstuffed: there’s the train, racing, AND the actors playing out a mystery for the passengers’ entertainment. Plus a cross-Canada travelogue. I felt the research was more obviously dumped in here than is always the case with Francis (but maybe I just noticed it more because the setting is somewhat familiar—I haven’t taken the train across Canada, but my parents have). Some of the details of working on the train crew are fun, but did I need to know the measurements of Union Station in Toronto or how many km/miles it is across Canada? No, I did not.

Still there is lots to enjoy here. Tor is the usual unassuming, intelligent and decent Francis hero, uncertain if he’ll be able to rise to physical heroism when called on (he does, of course). And there are some interesting supporting characters, including Mrs Baudelaire, an elderly lady who acts as his messenger system when he’s on the train, and his boss, Brigadier Catto. Others seem more like caricatures.

My reading experience was enlivened by the library patron who had scribbled caustic comments in the margins. S/he is right that I’ve never heard a Canadian say “eh?” as much as George the conductor (but he’s great) and that some of the privileged characters are let off the hook for their bad behavior. I can’t say I share this reader’s annoyance with Francis heroes, though, even if they are a little too good to be true. Tempted to award a 4th star for the fun this person added to my reading, even if you really should not deface library books.
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Galizur
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Let me say first off, Dick Francis is one of my all-time favorite authors. He has written a couple stinkers, and a few mediocre books and quite a few good ones. But at his best, no author I know can bring a character to life as he does. His best books are among the best I have ever read.

This is one of the great ones. Set against the backdrop of horse racing and the Canadian Railroad System, our hero Tor uncovers mystery and mayhem aboard the Canadian Transcontinental Mystery Race Train. He is charged with defeating the as-yet-unknown plans of a violent gangster if he can do so without ending up dead.

Hugely recommended for racehorse lovers, train lovers and anyone who loves a really well-written mystery.
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Cookiefanatic
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Another amazing mystery by Dick Francis. We are on familiar turf (horse racing), yet the setting is far away, on the `The Great Transcontinental Mystery Race Train.'' in Canada. Notice the words 'Mystery' and 'Race'?
The train from Toronto to Vancouver carrying racing horses, their owners, race enthusiasts and actors who stage a mystery onboard.
The setting alone deserves 10 *.

Ironically the Hero Tor Kelsey stands out as a perfect undercover detective as he can blend unobtrusively with the surrounding.
Here, the crime hasn't yet happened. He is there to stop bad man from doing any mischief.

The book was published in 1988, so obviously the technology and communication methods are dated. But it was fascinating to read how cumbersome the communication modes were. For eg, how do you communicate between 2 trains moving on the same track? How does the detective on board the train convey his findings to his boss who is on another continent?

Dick Francis deserves all the praises for coming up with unique mysteries even though they have a common thread of horse- racing. We learn new information in every book. He doesn't even repeat his heroes, though they have very similar endearing traits. That's what I like about stand alone books. Pick up any book without bothering about how the characters evloved.

Dck Francis is now firmly on the top of my Favorite Authors list. I was never interested in horse racing (still I am not), I have always enjoyed these thrillers.
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Gangankuroi-sama
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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If I tell you that I am reading a book that has a mystery on a train, then I am sure you will end up saying that I am reading Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. Because Agatha Christie's book is so iconic, you can't help but draw parallels between the overall plot line of Dick Francis' book.

Obviously if you had an option of reading an Agatha Christie book, then read that and avoid this book altogether; you will not be missing out. This is an easy read, but the ending and overall plot are predictable and sadly not the best. I will not recommend it, as it will be better to read or even re-read a much better book.

Book Summary
Tor is a wealthy guy who can do anything he wants, so he chooses to be a private investigator. He has a flair for disguises and works with discretion.

To promote Canadian horse racing, they have created a transcontinental mystery race where the participating horses, along with their owners and caretakers are traveling by a luxury train across Canada. There will be horse races along the way and then a final race at the end.

But a blackmailer has made it his mission to spoil all the fun. To ensure nothings goes wrong in the trip, Tor is sent to the train disguised as a waiter. Will Tor be able to spoil all the villains plans? You can read and see.

Even if you don't enjoy the book, you will enjoy the descriptive scenery of Canada and will wish to be in a train just like in the book. It sounds extremely fun and adventurous if there is no nefarious villain trying to spoil everything.
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