Still a good solid story with some horrible villains. Read this time for the 2021 Reindeer Readathon. Rudolph category - stand alone.

The kind of book and author that is normally way off my radar and so a very pleasant surprise to find it such an enjoyable read.

Alexander is one of your creative nonconformist types. Choosing to live a life of solitude in a bothy in rural Scotland, his sole motivation is to paint.
He remains close to his well to do family despite the distance, and has been entrusted with the safekeeping of a ceremonial sword by his uncle ‘Himself’ who is an earl.
He receives a call from his mother in London to say that his stepfather has had a heart attack, and upon arrival becomes embroiled in a whirlwind of drama involving inheritance, a failing family business, and a tangled web of deception and treachery.

This is your archetypal page turner.
All stemming from that most crucial of factors - character development.
The main protagonist is so darn likeable that you’re drawn in instantly to his predicament. And as the story progresses, you find other equally engaging characters that simply enhance the unputdownable nature that surely every author seeks from their readers.

It stretches credulity at times and I did roll my eyes on occasion at some of the more ‘Really?’ moments, but even then I felt like the author was well aware and was writing with a knowing wink, which in turn made me smile too.

I think Francis’ goal was to write a rollicking good story that intended nothing more than to engage and entertain his readership and I think he’s done exactly that.

1 May 1997
19 Sep 1998
21 Dec 1999

This was quite a departure from the normal Dick Francis, so much so that I did wonder who actually wrote it.

The world of horses and horse racing was, as usual present and correct, but it was very much a side show to the actual story that revolved around family heirlooms, a failing family business and the world of an artist. In fact the writing about both the thinking and execution of a piece of art was so precise and well informed it provided a spine to the whole story. I loved some of the little details about how a picture is actually painted and the tiny nuggets of information about art such as the minute pieces of tartan amongst the grass in the painting of Glencoe.

I really enjoyed the book. The plot was fast paced and full of action. The characters comprised a strong hero with a high pain threshold and a good supporting cast of assorted others. I did wonder about the jealous step sister and her explosive husband throwing out threats at every opportunity. Do such people exist?

Nevertheless it was a cracking read from this reliable stable of racing stories.

Alexander Kinloch is just the kind of 'perfect-imperfect' hero Dick Francis is known for creating. Just a bit quirky (devil-may-care clothing, shoulder-length hair but intelligent and quick as can be), he grabs the reader's empathy from the very first.

The four thugs who attack Alexander in the very first chapter won't escape justice (of a sort) as Alexander's artistic abilities help identify who these guys are, but the why's and wherefores are what really take up the rest of the novel. The reader is left guessing the answer to the 'where is it' these thugs are looking for until the author cleverly reveals the cause of all the uproar.

Francis has honed his writing to the perfect mix between variety and realistic characterisation, difficult family relationships, suspense and gut-churning drama (ok I confess I skip over the gut churning parts, but the plot is so fast paced it keeps me reading). The loss of this author (although in part taken up by his son) is only lessened by the number of books he was able to contribute throughout his estimable writing career.

For some reason I normally give Dick Francis books four stars despite the fact that they are uniformly well researched, superbly written and contain hard won truths about human and equine psychology. Happily I seem to have missed this one when it came out and it was a delight, reminding me why he is my most read author.

Dick Francis expanded the role of mystery protagonists from hard boiled Private Investigators and tough cops to a panoply of professions surrounding his world, horse racing. The reader feels that he or she could indeed use their own mix of brains and courage to ferret out crooks and, by out thinking them, put right their crimes.

The hero of To The Hilt fits this mold in that his chief weapons are perseverance, intelligence and a deeply held belief in right and wrong. He can not take on four assailants at once but he can use his brain to see instances that crooks are blinded by their greed and their view of humanity. This was one of his last books and it delivers in every way.

As well as the usual horses, we have in this Dick Francis a brewery in financial distress, a madcap Scottish family, and painting.

A fun read.

The story of young artist Alexander Kinloch begins high in the Scottish mountainside where he prefers to live a life of solitude in what is now termed as an “off the grid” manner. When Alexander is called to his stepfather’s deathbed by his emotionally aloof mother in England, he is hesitant to get execute the assignment given to him, that of saving his stepfather’s company after embezzlement is discovered. Alexander gets to work, not only trying to figure out where the money has gone and rooting out the person responsible, but also guarding the location of a Kinloch family treasure – a jewel-encrusted solid gold hilt which formed part of the ceremonial sword of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Our protagonist, although beaten up rather thoroughly a few times, does not give up and proves to be quite capable in solving the issues surrounding the family business and upholding the family’s honor. Dick Francis proves once again that he is a very gifted storyteller.

Maybe it's not in my top-ten-Francis, but it was very enjoyable. Very likable characters. Unusual location and interesting art milieu. And, I expect to reread it someday. Good book.

Have I moved past Francis? It would seem so.

Either that or this book really was a yawnfest. Not much of a mystery, not much to do with horses at all.

I don't want torture of animals or people, as in the last one I read, but seriously dull this one was. I got tired of the "Himself, the Hilt and the Glorious Scottish Ancestry" drone as well as the painting research recycled from an earlier book.

Yawn.

I'm revisiting old favorites. I pulled Dick Francis' To The Hilt off my shelf to kill time while waiting at an appointment. I'd forgotten what great pageturners Francis crafted. This was one of my favorite books among his many fantastic suspense novels
Alexander Kinloch paints. He paints golf courses (and frustration) for commercial purposes. But he also paints portraits and other subjects for his own satisfaction. Living a solitary life in a tiny stone hut in the Scottish Highlands, he enjoys his quiet solitary life... until four thugs turn up demanding "Where is IT?"
Unsure what they are seeking, but worried they want something he can't give them, Al survives the assault. Then a call from London compels him to head south to support his mother. His stepfather Ivan, head of a renowned brewery, suffered a heart attack, and is in a bad way.
Al soon learns why Ivan had a heart attack: a trusted employee, Norman Quorn, embezzled most of the firm's assets, then disappeared. Fearing private assets, including a racehorse, and the fabled King Alfred Cup--a golden chalice and the model for a racing trophy sponsored yearly by the brewery--will be claimed for sale to pay his creditors, a desperate Ivan asks Al's help to hide these treasures and help fight to keep the brewery going until the embezzler, or the stolen funds, can be found.
Reluctantly Al takes charge, much to the ire of Ivan's blood daughter, Patsy, her violent husband, the brewery's financial manager, and even Ivan's lawyer. Al soon learns the Cup was on its way to him when Al was attacked. Someone knew he was being sent the Cup. But the likeliest suspects--Patsy and company-- would basically be stealing the Cup from themselves. It makes no sense.
When a body turns up that throws the hunt for the embezzler into confusion, Al realizes there is a stone cold killer involved in Ivan's troubles. And Al is now squarely in the killer's sights.
It's time to start reading Francis again. I miss that man so much...!

Perfect way to get into spirit of the Kentucky Derby is to read a Dick Francis novel.