A well executed whodunnit centred around horse racing. Freddie Croft, owner of an equestrian transport company, finds problems starting when a hitch-hiker picked up by one of his drivers dies in the cab. The author, an ex-jockey, knows the industry well. Written in 1991/2 it is very much of the time. Boot discs, floppy back-up discs and the Michelangelo virus evoke some nostalgia, as do the menus. Interesting inclusion of tick borne diseases. It is well worth a read.

I enjoyed this one even though it's not a favourite. Freddie runs a horse-transport business but when dead bodies start turning up at his business he has to solve what's going on before it ruins him. It's got a cracking biological science-related mystery, lots of actual horse stuff, some great characters

See Shorty's and Linda's reviews. Published in in 1994.

I think people's dislike (if you can call it that) of this book is over the lack of caring in Freddie Croft's part. Sure, he's great at scheduling, booking, etc. and he used to ride horses, being an ex-jockey. But there is just too much detail about how to get from one venue to another. Do I care how many miles from point A to point B or whether the trailer is a 8-horse or a 4 horse? How does he FEEL when Jogger, who had been with him how many years, is murdered? Did he even shed a tear at the funeral? What about poor Peterman, who was NOT at all well taken care of; didn't Freddie, a groomsman or someone at his farm, and the phone works both ways, WHAT ABOUT THIS OLD ANIMAL IN PAIN??? I know I'm a softie, but I almost stopped reading and gave up on this book!!
Then when Tessa, who had seemed reasonable up to that point, at the last minute, went crazy and broke up anything in sight, well. The characters are well-drawn, and the ending is a bit of a surprise, but this is not Mr. Francis best book.

Interesting to me on P 52: "Hi ho Silver" [Freddie] said cheerfully, "we've got another couple of lone rangers". There are several other humorous references to lone ranger(s) throughout the book.

typical Dick Francis

Fast, fun, interesting. Always a plot with interest divulged about something, this time it’s keeping a fleet of lorries in the road and transporting viruses. DF is always a good holiday or duvet day read

Gelezen nov. 1996

Excellent

Started as a quick read at lunchtime. Finished the book in time for late tea. Really enjoyable. Thank you Mr. Francis.

Five stars for a Dick Francis?! I know, I'm surprised too. There are definitely a few dodgy moments but they are infrequent and principally are passing outdated ways the hero describes a female character on first appearance.

Otherwise this is one of his better mysteries and if it felt a little obvious in places that's only because I've read so many of his I see the tropes.

This phrase regarding using a Yellow Pages amused me "a bit of yellow-fingers walking" because I'd guess it makes absolutely no sense to anyone under 25.

If you like thrillers and/or horses go ahead.

Nail biting

Another good one from the Francis stable. As usual he keeps his reader guessing to the end. Highly recommended by me. Can't wait for the next.
LA la

This was the first DF I ever read. I enjoyed this one thoroughly and reread it several times. Of course, at the time I didn't know that the hero was just like all other DF heroes - kind, friendly, dealing with everyday issues and villains with clear headed thinking and a resolve of steel. I enjoyed the trademark wry humor and the way DF can make you empathize with the characters. I had no idea about horses or racing and I can safely say that this book gave me the impetus to learn about horses (if not racing). Life is all the more richer for it.

I'm enjoying most of my nostalgic Dick Francis reads, but some stand out more than others, and this wasn't one of those. It's just a good workaday thriller about a retired jockey running a racehorse transport service who finds his horseboxes are being used to bring more than horses home from Europe.

I found this Dick Francis novel a bit slow and lacking the tension that can be found in his better novels. Nothing really happened and I didn't understand the killer's sudden, frenzied hatred of Freddie. However, it was an easy read with likeable characters.