One of the things I like most about novels by former jockey and journalist Dick Francis is his ability to weave complex plots.
"Driving Force" is a great example of his ability to do just that. It´s a novel about murder, betrayal, unrequited love, abuse, and revenge centered around a plot to ruin a horse breeder who is - by all accounts - a cad.
The story starts out when one of the drivers who works for Freddie Croft, a former jockey who now earns his daily wage by transporting horses, violates company policy by picking up a hitchhiker. Unfortunately for the driver, the hitchhiker dies in the truck and so his scheme to earn a few extra bob is exposed.
Things really get complicated after that when someone tries to break into the truck late at night. Why? What is the late-night prowler searching for?
Written in a breezy narrative style, with a wealth of information about the racing business, "Driving Force" features some interesting characters in addition to the twisty plot and a surprise ending that I have to admit I did not see coming.
Another excellent read by the late Dick Francis and a novel I highly recommend.

I am working on all of DF books....

28 August 2121

This one doesn't much grab me. The plot is complex, and we learn about horse transportation, which isn't interesting even to a gal who loves a Gantt chart. There's a married woman he pursues who obviously doesn't reciprocate. The hero is brighter than anyone expects and likes champagne and endures a horrible physical ordeal, all familiar Francis tropes. But in this story the social aspect of horseracing feels toxic and hostile to women and Freddie, the amateur dick, is part of that hostility.

Also the name Freddie is unappealing, which fits. He's condescending to his employees, doesn't see the constant sexual harassment of or by his employees as a problem, and he doesn't want to go to the police because they weren't pleasant when they asked him about a corpse.

Really, the problem is that no ending which includes Freddie carrying on won't be happy one.


Library copy
Read for Amateur Sleuth

Not an uninteresting story, but I was disappointed in the end. I was looking for more to complete wrap the story up.

Stories written by Dick Francis usually get my interest from the opening page and keep me there for the duration. This one was no exception.
His books flow well, the characters are interesting and you always learn something from the main character. This time it was horse transportation. (Quite complex!)
I'd read it years ago but happy to read it again.

Rabbits are lethal

Well told as usual with rather too much technology this time which can make the mind off the underlying story

Thriller at its best

An excellent believable thriller with expert knowledge about the subject which keeps you on the edge of your seat. The right length.

3.5 Stars

"Transporting racehorses to the course is big business for ex-jockey Freddie Croft. But when a driver breaks a cardinal rule and picks up a hitchhiker, the results are fatal...for the hitchhiker. Freddie knows that a corpse is bad for business, especially when its trail leads to corpse number two --- and to strange nighttime stalkers and unseen conspirators who are weaving a web of deceit and danger that Freddie might never escape...."
Driving Force by Dick Francis is a crime & investigation mystery with danger, drama, suspense, tension, and complexity- which makes for a very intriguing read.
->2023 Reading Challenge.
->Glennie's Collection
Dick Francis novels were a familiar fixture in our household when I was growing up, as both my parents loved his books. He was amongst the first ‘adult’ reads that I explored at the time, and over the years I have read everything he’s written. I remember every time my mother read one of his books, she'd tell me about him and how he'd gone from being an RAF pilot to being the Queen Mother's favourite jockey, before retiring to become a journalist/writer.
Since my mother passed away over a year ago, I have been making my way through her book collection, finally. I decided to make reading her entire collection a part of my reading challenge for the next couple of years (she has a HUGE collection), as well as a way to pay tribute to my mum, who was such a voracious reader..... Reading her collection of books has stirred up a lot of memories, mostly of our shared love of reading. I am forever grateful that she passed on her love of reading to me.

his esoteric settings and broody plots are right in my wheelhouse

For years I avoided reading Dick Francis thrillers/mysteries. I assumed I wouldn't be interested in reading about jockeys and the horse racing industry. However, this book surprised me! Even though the story was set inside the inner workings of the horse hauling business and almost all of the characters were involved with horse racing, the novel proved to be a page turner. Francis kept me guessing to the end. Bravo!

Still just about four stars but I'd rate this just about at the bottom of my Dick Francis books so far, primarily finding the writing a tad less graceful and a bit slower. But a good mystery nonetheless, with good characters, and of course a fine look at a side of living I hadn't given much though to before. Won't be the first one I'll reread, but definitely glad to have read it. Always love Dick Francis, no matter what.

Another beautifully written mystery from Dick Francis. Most of his books are not part of a series. It is nice to be able to just pick one off the bookshelf without wondering if I am reading them in the wrong order.