Francis is the best

A vintage Dick Francis in which the hero, Steven Scott, is done wrong and plots to get his own back. Steven discovers that his trainer is cheating him and fires him. The trainer, popular Jody Leeds, curses, yells, threatens BUT does not ask why.

The tale is fast-moving and the reader will find out a lot about horse racing from an horse owner's point of view and a bit about toy-making. Steven will find fast friends and maybe the love of his life.

One of my all-time favorites of Dick Francis' books. It's a very fast read. We dive right into the action, and there is no unnecessary filler as we zip along to the finish. The "good guys" are all likable characters, and Steven Scott is a stereotypical Francis hero: Intelligent, quiet, brave, persistent, unrelenting and intuitive.

Reading this I realised how little I read books about the wealthy, at least contemporary fiction that's centred on the wealthy. I couldn't relate to Steven (or his friends/girlfriend) but it was fun to get swept up in the drama of horse racing, swindling and Steven's attempt to put things to right on his own terms.

I listened to the audiobook of this — no doubt I read it many years ago, though I don't particularly remember it. I certainly don't remember Dick Francis being in any way inaccurate, but this one was! Pretty sure they don't ever tattoo North American TBs in on their lower lip! Haha! And I honestly don't know - did they not do blood-typing on horses in the UK back then?

Oh Dick Francis, how I miss you. I'm sure I must have read this book eons ago, but I read and re read Dick Francis books with relish. One of my favourite authors.

Story. Steven Scott is a brilliant toy inventor, however, not so brilliant when it comes to horse racing. He has placed his horses with a very dishonest trainer, who has taken him for quite a few bob, an enormous amount, actually. When Scott tumbles his game, he pulls his horses out, only to be ostracized by the racing community, who sides with the evil trainer.

However, Scott is not as dumb as they all think he is, with a little help from his friends he is able to turn the tables on the crooks. Though it takes a lot of money, and he finds a little romance on the way. Lovely.

Wealthy toy maker takes revenge on trainer who stole his race horse

Toy maker engineer

I’ll include either the Amazon or the Goodreads blurb, but this was classic Francis from start to finish; second place at that. But to watch a toy maker take on the bad guys was top notch.

A very good Dick Francis novel. I love to see the thought put in to resolving the issue of getting back the proper race horse. I love the deft way that Francis handles the relationship in this story between Steve and Allie. A perfect Francis and a favorite reread for me.

A revenge story that lacked lustre. Romance seemed flat. I just couldn't get interested in any of the characters. The horses brought the most to the story.

I don't think I've read a Dick Francis book before. This one was care of a 'street library' around the corner from where we are staying. It won't be the last Dick Francis I read. :-) Finished easily in a day. Was pulled totally into the story and enjoyed the twist at the end.

AROUND THE WORLD OF CRIME AND MYSTERY
British - 1993
CAST - 2: Steven Scott makes toys and is rich. He decides to get into horse racing: there is no explanation as to why. I'll hazard a guess: he wants to play with living things, but of course the author can't actually say that, as it makes Scott the villain who is supposed to be the good guy. But Scott IS the villain: he doesn't understand the fees, the money, etc., that goes around, that greases the gears. But Scott SHOULD know because that's how the author crafts this world: round and round with toys and round and round the race course then round and on top of the love interest. Francis even says this in the introduction. The novel opens with Scott firing Jody Leeds, Scott's trainer, as Jody has trimmed some money off the top. Of course Jody has! That's the world. Jody is winning a LOT of money for Scott, but poor Scott can't handle it, can't even just have a conversation with Jody, Scott just out and out fires him. So I had mixed feelings about everyone in the cast and didn't much care for anyone. Oh, and then there is Ganser Mays, a bookie who makes a little extra on the side. Shocking, right?
ATMOSPHERE - 2: A little bit about making toys (not enough), a little bit about horse racing (not enough), a little romance off to the side (yawn) and rich guys who want more and more money and will have horses killed without much thought. Rather a cruel world is horse-racing. In earlier Francis books, the horses and their health ruled. But here in later books, Francis seems not to care.
CRIME - 1: Jody Leeds skims a little off the top from a very wealthy man. That's not really a crime, that's how things just are.
INVESTIGATION - 1: No cops, but there are dead horses and a fake census.
RESOLUTION - 1: Stupendously violent for a certain character and, because this character does something pretty awful OUTSIDE the world of horse-racing, he almost deserves it, but Scott is no judge and jury. And the final line is just plain lazy writing.
SUMMARY - 1.4: In the world of this genre, the butler might guzzle and extra pint from the master's cellar. A maid might wear a bit of jewelry then return it. A pair of nice driving gloves may go missing. But no one is slaughtered, no people, no horses. Here, in this book, they are. This guy Scott is a piece of work: he shoulda just stuck to making toys and being the born playboy. Isn't that good enough? He even flies from London to Miami for some hot beach sex. Then horses die. Fun times.