Another old favorite re-visited! I love the gadgets and learning about gemstones in this story. I found the ending a bit abrupt and I missed the lead up with lots of clues to solving the mystery. Still a great read and a favorite!

Interesting story of horse racing, gem sales, and missing diamonds. The plot isn’t great as 80% of the novel is the protagonist finding weird things and going yeah this is weird. However, the protagonist is likable and it is worth sticking with to see how he gets out of the mess he’s in. Plus, there’s some insights into the world of selling gems which isn’t mind blowing but is at least engaging. If you like mysteries that aren’t whodunnits this is worth a read.

Jockey Derek Franklin is recovering from a steeplechase injury when he receives word that his brother is in the hospital and not expected to survive. Greville Franklin dies from his injuries – the result of being too close to scaffolding when it collapsed – and Derek learns that he has inherited Greville’s entire estate, including his gemstone business. Greville was extremely secretive and Derek has a battle on his hands to sort out the business. Although Greville’s employees assert that the business never handled diamonds, a local jeweler is asking when the diamonds will be delivered and the bank advises Derek that that there is an outstanding loan, advanced for purchase of diamonds, to the tune of $1.5m US. Can Derek unlock all the secrets and keep the business solvent?
Typical Dick Francis format. Enjoyed it but it wasn't one that pulled me along the way some of the others do.

Derek Franklin is a steeplechase jockey and now the new owner of a gem business that he recently inherited from his brother who passed away after a tragic scaffolding accident. Derek has been forced to take time off from jockeying since he broke his ankle and so he is no match for the mugger who steals his brother's personal items as Derek is leaving the hospital. And once the gem office is broken into and ransacked, as well as his brother's home, Derek begins to suspect that they are not random attacks. He learns pretty quickly that they are looking for the diamonds that Derek's brother recently purchased for a loyal client. The $1.5 million price tag of the diamonds means that Derek needs to find them quickly or else the business will be in financial trouble. The issue is that the diamonds were not kept in the office vault, as the gem business did not deal in diamonds. And it isn't obvious where they were kept since Derek's brother was distrustful and loved gadgets, puzzles and secret codes so finding the hiding place will prove difficult. Eventually Derek finds that 25 of the 100 diamonds were sent to be cut but that 5 of them were discovered to be replaced with cubic zirconia. Where did the switch happen? Derek figures out that the loyal client was the one who made the switch and that Derek's brother knew it. Derek forces him to give the diamonds back and feels that with at least 25% of the diamonds found the company will not go under but will have to make some drastic changes to remain solvent. Meanwhile, Derek is also dealing with his brother's race horses, Dozen Roses and Gemstone. As a jockey, Derek is not allowed to own horses. Dozen Roses is a better horse so he wants to sell him to owners that his trainer knows but the current trainer is incensed and wants to sell him to a different owner instead. Once Derek sees the horse he knows why the trainer was so mad - he had gelded him without his brother's permission. Derek removes the horse immediately and puts him in his own trainer's stable where routine vet work is done to ensure horse's health before the sale. The issue is that the tests revealed that the horse had traces of cocaine in his system, proving that the old trainer was giving the horse the drug as a performance enhancement. Unfortunately this revelation almost gets Derek killed and he reinjures his ankle as a result. He realizes that he'll have to take more time off from racing and decides to work full time at the gem shop until he can race again. He finally finds the diamonds in the last place he thought to look - in the false bottom of a can of shaving cream in his brother's bathroom. Another fun novel from Francis.

I've grown to like Francis's genteel/British slant on crime fiction...though this one is a little TOO precious at times. Still, the writing and moral compass both point in the right direction.

While I'm not a fan of Dick Francis this one was significantly more fun than the last one I read, though still not the world's best read. It was much better paced, but there were so many things that were heavily focused on that felt irrelevant.

I find the way he writes romance tedious. Especially in this book it felt unwarranted and honestly, didn't make sense in my opinion. And yes, I understand horses are his gimmick, but there was literally no reason for that theme in this. It could have been covered by any other situation and felt shoehorned simply for the purpose of adding horses.

After some pondering I've realized what I dislike about his protagonists. They're all infallible, and know everything. Their instincts are perfect, and there is no puzzle too difficult for them to solve. It's unrealistic, and makes them into pretentious assholes. Their resolve is unmatched by anyone else and for that, I can't connect to the character.

I found there were good moments in this book, but they were immensely overpowered by the bad.

One of my favorite Dick Francis novels. Between the gemstones, the gadgets, the mystery, and the brotherly relationship this always engages both my attention and my heart.

Rediscovering classic Dick FRANCIS

Somehow missed this one. As always a great story and perfect example of Francis’ skill in researching unusual occupations. This time gem dealers. Another time glass blowing - Shattered.

Due to the Coronavirus lockdown. No socialising other than phone calls and FaceTime sessions means I have plenty of time on my hands. An easy page turning read is great escapism from the sad bad news on radio or TV.

I doubt (hope!) I don't need to introduce the late, great Dick Francis to anyone on this site... he was one of the great English novelists of the later years of the 20th century. If you read this novel, easily one of his best, you'll see why.

Like nearly all of his books, this tale is tied closely to Francis' passion: horse racing.

Derek Franklin, the protagonist, is a reasonably successful jockey, currently recovering from a recent fall (which damaged his ankle) when he receives a call telling him that his elder brother Greville has been involved in a freak accident and is unlikely to live to tell the tale...
Greville duly passes away, leaving all his worldly goods (chiefly his business in gemstone dealing) to Derek.

So begins Derek's journey into his little-known brother's world, which will prove to be much more difficult and dangerous than he could ever have envisaged. It will take all his wit and ingenuity just to survive long enough to start unravelling the mysteries Greville has inadvertently left him to solve if he hopes to both keep the business solvent...and stay alive!

Absolutely riveting stuff which will enthrall readers... get yourself a copy.

Fab reading

As usual Dick Francis has pulled it off. Absolutely loved this book. Definitely gripped me whilst reading it. Hard to put down but way to easy to pick up. Good plot and brilliant twists.

I read many of this authors books about a decade ago. I enjoyed every one of them and am just entering them as read on good reads to consolidate items form other sources so I can track which I have already read. Quick reads, interesting stories.