A little dated, largely for some rather derogatory references to women, but given the era (1976) and the age of the author when he wrote it, I allowed him some leeway. Otherwise, a good plot, great settings (Australia, NZ) and a very good narrator.

Charles Todd is a painter, mostly portraits of horses, and mostly race horses. He travels to visit his cousin and discovers that his cousin has been burgled, all his valuable antiques taken, all his wine taken and his wife murdered. He is totally distraught. Charles stays for a few days then goes back to Heathrow where he has a small apartment nearby. At the races he meets a middle aged woman who had also been burgled and her house burnt to the ground. The only similarity between the two robberies is that both had been to Australia recently and had bought a painting by the artist Munning of race horses. Neither had been declared at customs. Charles goes to Australia to investigate and has a wild two weeks, nearly being killed himself.

I enjoyed this book more than I remembered the first time I read it. I love the way Dick Francis keeps the secrets of the cases quiet until the reveal at the end. His male characters are brave and determined.

Põnev.

When I want a book that I’m guaranteed to enjoy, I reach for Dick Francis.

A lengthy and very dull denouement that goes on and on for chapter after chapter really ruins a book that could have been a middling Dick Francis thriller but is instead one of the least interesting.

Fans of the author (like myself) will find much to enjoy here, but it's just not a very satisfying read.

The last few sentences read like a more typically abrupt Francis ending, but by then it's too late to repair this one. As usual with this author, the secondary characters are vivid and memorably engaging.

[3 stars = I liked it, I may read again]

In the Frame blends painting into the author's favorite topics, horse racing and crime. The criminal side in this case is organized, but the protagonist is wily and clever and has the right sort of friends. Ralph Cosham, the narrator, does a great job. It was an immersive story, to the point that I kept thinking, he could just take a picture of that with his phone, or why does he have to go somewhere to make a call ... before I realized this was the 1970s.

The author peppers his subject matter with details of interest, and I find that a bonus. And if you think modern spam is tricky, trickiness is nothing new, and a story like this provides a partial inoculation to the methods that underlies both the old and the new con.

Who knew painting coyld be so deadly?

Dick Francis knew. Each novel I complete gets me more excired to go to the racecourse and have fun watching the races at Churchhill downs. Watched the Kebtucky derby today and I had fun picking out a horse I hoped would win and he did! 80-1 odds for the horse I chose and what a great painting that finush would make. Another great mystery from Mr. Francis!

As usual, Dick Francis has created sone great characters. Only 3 stars because the plot relied a little too much on coincidence. Charles Todd just happened to be in the right place at the right time and he happened to know two of the victims of an international crime ring.

I've enjoyed all the Dick Francis books I've read to varying degrees, but this one is definitely one of my favorites so far. The story is good, but the main character and his cohorts make the novel. They are likable and funny in an understated way. I enjoyed the camaraderie and repartee even when they were dealing with mayhem.

I didn't know the author(s); (he writes with his wife). I didn't know this was written/published in 1976. While reading, I knew it was somewhere after the 1960s because of a reference in-context and that it was set in more olden times than since I was born, which as vague as that is is a time I like reading about. Add England and Australia and art and a murder (that was NOT cozy) and great writing with the fantastic Ralph Cosham as audiobook narrator and this was a suspenseful and intriguing mystery. Skews more thriller than cozy but doesn't lose focus.

I am so happy there are more "Dick Francis novels" and that now I know about them.

Delighted by a scene where a character and the protagonist are asked to describe a man they saw at the scene and the character has no words other than "smarmy" and insultingly "he looked like an insurance agent" and then the protagonist follows that up with all the words and colors and details of this man and could draw him from memory. He astounds the people asking. His way of seeing as an artist is such an asset and rivals that of detectives.

The character arc of the spouse of the protagonist's friend and her relationship with the protagonist was realistic and relatable and fair.

My complaint would be that somehow the protagonist takes hit after hit and survives. Also, that details are deliberately withheld from the reader with the protagonist knowingly being a bit vague a few too many times, perhaps?

Some language, some slight sexual references. Violent murder and attempted murders. Hostage situations. Depression.

I thought I had read all of Dick Francis' books. I love him because his books are all about horses and horse racing, as well as mysteries to be solved.

Imagine my surprise to discover that (a) I had not read this book and (b) it's not really about horses. Oh it's about horses. Sort of.

In London, Charles Todd, a painter of horses (among other things) goes to visit his cousin and discovers that his cousin's wife has been murdered and the cousin is the suspect.

Charles is determined to find his cousin innocent and that determination sets him off on travels to Australia and New Zealand, he is nearly killed, and his investigations involve a large ring of criminals determined to bilk money from rich buyers, ending up burglarizing homes and, in at least one case, burning the house down.

Charles, his buddy Jik and Jik's bride Sarah get involved in amazing situations that kept me reading until I finished the book.

All the horses in the book are in paintings.

This is a re-read; originally read this long, long ago...long enough that I didn't recognize anything. Fairly typical Francis but less racing than usual. Features art copying/forgeries scam. Fast moving. Good quick read, hard to put down.