The first 100 pages of this book was solely devoted to developing the cast of characters. It was important for the story, but I felt it dragged on too much before we even knew what the crime was. There was a subtle reference to a missing girl, but the juicy bits don't hit until well into the 100s of pages. From there, the story proceeds nicely and the twists were unexpected. I also did not guess the culprit, which was a big plus. The ending could have been more satisfying, but it fit with the characters.

I liked this mystery. This author may be my replacement for Sue Grafton mysteries. I read all but one of hers (I savor them and really hate to finish the last one)and enjoyed them immensely. Sorry that she passed away. This book was a quick read, not "heady", good writing and kept me reading. This is the type of book I love for vacations. That is if I ever get to go on one again. :-)

John Kendall, a 32 year old starving writer living in the cold attic of a friend's aunt, accepts the offer to move to the country to live with a very successful horse trainer, Tremayne Vickers, and write Vickers' life story. Soon John becomes an accepted member of Vickers' extended family: son Gareth (15); son Perkin (late 20s) and his wife Mackie; secretary Dee-Dee (36); family friends and horse owners Fiona and Harry Goodhaven; champion jockey Sam Yaeger; and Fiona's cousins Nolan and Lewis Everard.

The discovery of the bones of a former stable "lad", Angela Brickell (17), brings Detective Chief Inspector Doone into the Vickers' midst.

Earlier John had published a series of survival books/pamphlets for different climes (jungle, desert, sea, ice, wilderness). The skills he learned in writing those books would help him survive his time in the country writing Vickers' biography.

Longshot was the first book I’d read by Dick Francis. The descriptive writing and sentence structure brought scenes to life and conveyed emotion that caused the reader to deeply care about the characters.

John Kendall started his literary career publishing survival guides. He struggled to become a successful writer in a crowded world of great authors. Writing fiction was his passion and he was on his way to publishing his first real novel. Upon a chance meeting with a champion racehorse trainer, he embarked on an unexpected path that led to a new literary opportunity and a complicated murder mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Does John use the survival skills he wrote about in his books to stay alive?

John was smart, witty, and had a contagious personality that played a big part in the unfolding of the plot. His loyalty and pleasant approach to making honest, viable decisions made him an admirable character.

Longshot starts off a bit slow. But once the drama and murder mystery entangles a small village in a whirlwind of “who-done-it”, you won’t be able to put this book down.

Any mystery by Dick Francis is a sure shot

I have loved all the Dick Francis books, in fact, my birthday coincided with the release of his novels,
So his latest hardback was my birthday present to myself every year once I discovered Sid Halley in the seventies. Felix is keeping the tradition alive.

Far from being the best book by Dick Francis, but an enjoyable way to pass the time if you are on a long journey. Strangely, the passages about more or less routine life are better than the somewhat "by the numbers" bits of adventure and derring do. The plot doesn't make much sense, and we are left with loads of loose ends, while the motivation of the killer remains obscure. Worse, after one cunningly planned murder attempt, his next effort has his fingerprints (metaphorically speaking) all over it, and any halfway decent detective would point their finger at him straight away. The central point of view character is a frustrated fiction writer who wants to be taken more seriously; is this a clue that Francis was beginning to feel trapped in a mould by the time he wrote this one?

Another of my favorites from Dick Francis. As usual, he provides some insight into an interesting subject outside of the racing back drop. In this case it was extreme survival skills. I really enjoyed how the main character is forced to use his knowledge about "roughing it in the wilderness" to survive against a human adversary. Classic Dick Francis with a sort of "Most Dangerous Game" undertone. Loved it!

The ever reliable Dick Francis delivers another great story, with a strong and resourceful lead character as the impoverished author who moves to the stables of a successful racing trainer to write his biography and gets sucked into a mystery.

I'd rate it about 4.3 if I could. Writer moves in with racing family. As with many of Francis's books, the main character is a nice guy who is logical, pragmatic, resourceful and he saves the day. When I've had a string of not-so-satisfying mysteries, I go back to Dick Francis to lift my spirits and enjoy a book. I miss you, Mr. Francis. This one turned out to be a first-time for me, though. I don't know how I missed it. Thoroughly enjoyable and I did NOT pick figure out the villain in advance!

Another wonderful Dick Francis tale that is full of intrigue and keeps the reader guessing about the perpetrator of the crimes until the very end. The characters are interesting and resourceful. John Kendall is a budding writer who needs some money and so he take a job to write the biography of Tremayne Vickers, a famous horse trainer. He ends up moving into Vickers' house, but his arrival coincides with the discovery of a dead stable worker and all of the family members are under suspicion and Kendall finds himself embroiled in the mystery.

I always enjoy a Dick Francis read. Intelligent and sympathetic characters, good stories, well defined settings. These are books I tend to read. And reread. The audible version is this older Bolinda release with good narration and decent production values.

Even though I read this years and years ago, I had forgotten the plot. Dick Francis never disappoints! His characters are fully developed and his plot is intricate. Never sure “who Dunnit” until Mr Francis chooses to reveal.