I enjoyed this read. It was a good mystery and I was surprised by the outcome. Didn’t really see that coming.

Catching up with some of the Dick Francis books I seem to have missed - every relaible with good pace throughout - read in one sitting. Diplomat Peter Darwin, on leave between Foreign Office assignments, spends time in his childhood town of Cheltenham and gets drawn into problems in a vetinary practice.

3.5 really. Very good, but not 4 stars.

Peter Darwin, a career British diplomat between postings, is on holiday before reporting to his next assingment in Whitehall, London. He befriends a veterinary surgeon near Cheltenham racecourse. Too many horses have died under the surgeon's hand and Peter sets out to find the causes of the deaths.

After a few odd happenings, Peter Darwin (not related to Charles Darwin) finds himself back in his long-ago hometown with some new acquaintances. Once there, he happens upon a string of racehorse deaths. He is curious and engages in the hunt to figure out what is happening and who is really yo blame.

Th e relationships in this novel are odd including the circumstances around the people Peter meets and befriends. There is also a lot of horse related information and descriptions that dragged on at times for me. But over it was an ok who-done-it type novel that toward the end slightly made me think of Agatha Christie type development.

Story of Peter Darwin (no relation to Charles Darwin). Typical hero gets involved with the affairs of someone he has just met and ends up being their Confidant, Consultant, Trouble shooter, Problem solver and the Best Man. All these within 3-4 days. His newfound friends completely rely on him, I should say even clingy, but he never complains.

His romantic pursuits (there aren't many) are weird. I don't know why they were even there. Strangest was when just after a few minutes after meeting a woman, he asks, 'How about a Bonk' and she immediately agrees. I know DF heroes are all likeable, but this was too much for my liking.
I have read 35 books by Dick Francis, and I thought I knew all I had to know about horse racing. But this one had more to add. It gives lot of information about veterinary practice, how the horses are operated, how they are carried to the operating table. Complete useless information for someone like me who is not at all interested in horses but was very fascinating.

I was excited to learn some trivia like the origin of the word 'trivia'.

This was an enjoyable thriller and must-read for all Dick Francis fans.

Diplomat between postings solves mysterious horse deaths for a vet.

A funny read to me...loved the pacing and story through the first 2/3. The last 1/3 pulled to conclusion quickly without much satisfaction.

Engaging main character, interesting story. The romance with Annabel was a bit far fetched...undeveloped to say a marriage/love within the story. But I liked the overall story and enjoyed the read.

Enjoyed this one also - learned about the work of large animal vets, in the middle of a good story.

Dick Francis oma parimal kujul - lobe, kiire, sarmikas. Hämmastaval kombel on ta suutnud leida järjekordse uue vaatenurga ratsahobuste maailma - põhjalikult tutvustades loomaarstide tööd + peategelaseks on hoopis karjääridiplomaat. Armulugu oli küll suhteliselt tobe ja ebavajalik pisuhänd/ insta-love, aga mitte kõige hullem.

Dick Francis is one of my cozy mystery favorites

A book that I had to concentrate on to enjoy, but nonetheless it was interesting when I got into the plot. A mix of my favourite things…animals and murder mystery.

Liked this book. 1 of 4 from a readers digest book.