There are books that readers simply cannot put down, while there are others that readers struggle to get through a single chapter without stopping. Decider, by Dick Francis, lies somewhere in the middle ground of these two extremes.

This mystery book, published in 1993, offers a unique spin on horse racing. It tells the story of a family grappling with what to do with an old racecourse. When the stands mysteriously blow up, the family is thrust into a web of mystery as they try to figure out who is responsible.

The plot development in Decider is what elevates the book from being mediocre to truly interesting. The characters in the book are decent, although there isn't much humor to be found. With just a decent plot line, the book would be merely okay. However, the fact that the plot keeps you turning the pages makes it much better. This is evident very early on in the book when the stands blow up out of nowhere, instantly making the plot more engaging. Something this chaotic happening in a short period of time adds a great deal of excitement to the story. Without such a change, the story would be bland and the reader would likely want to stop reading. The same holds true at the end when the mystery is solved. The way Dick Francis keeps the plot interesting throughout is truly remarkable. There are sudden turns and twists that we don't see coming, which keep the reader entertained. The book simply wouldn't be the same without its chaotic plotline.

Dick Francis' mystery, Decider, is an enjoyable read because of its engaging plot. It is a book that can appeal to both kids and adults. The story is not overly complicated, yet it is still interesting enough for older readers to enjoy. This book is great for readers ranging from teens to adults. Although it may not have had the greatest characters, it had a great story that was truly enjoyable for readers.

Lee Morris is a budding architect and engineer who finds himself right in the thick of a bitter feud over a racecourse among the members of a family he has some connection to.

He firmly believes that choice is preordained, that everything is already set in stone and there is little room for deviation. However, when a murder takes place within this volatile situation, he suddenly finds himself in great danger.

Now, Lee must face a series of critical choices. Will he stick to his belief in preordained choice and hope for the best, or will he realize that in this desperate situation, he has to take matters into his own hands and make choices that could potentially change the course of events?

The outcome of these choices will not only determine his own fate but also have a significant impact on the lives of those around him and the resolution of the feud over the racecourse.

I recently completed listening to "Decider" which was penned by Dick Francis and masterfully narrated by Simon Prebble.

Lee Morris, a family-oriented local architect, has finally found contentment in his home when turmoil unexpectedly arrives at his doorstep. The Stratton Racepark is in a precarious situation as the Stratton family is disintegrating. He becomes embroiled in the chaos, whether he desires it or not, due to the fact that his deceased mother left him a significant number of shares that were bestowed upon her by the recently departed patriarch of the family.

What initially seems to be a mere family squabble intensifies when someone detonates a bomb at the park with Lee and one of his sons inside. They narrowly evade the clutches of death. However, the question remains: who is responsible for this act of violence? And, more importantly, can his family ever feel safe if the bomber remains at large?

Simon Prebble provides his customary outstanding narration, infusing the characters with such depth and dry humor that one can't help but admire his talent. He truly seizes your attention and refuses to let go.

In conclusion, "Decider" is an outstanding mystery filled with numerous twists and turns. The characters vividly come to life in your mind, thanks to the perceptive writing and inspired narration. I had great difficulty pausing this book to take any kind of break. It captured my imagination and continued to race forward.

I have a deep affection for all of Dick Francis' books, but this particular one stands out as being above average.

In this novel, we are given a unique perspective of the racing world from the eyes of a small track owner. Sadly, it delves less into the various activities involved in managing a track and focuses more on the snobbish family that owns it.

This family is filled with so many detestable characters that it transforms into more of a mystery "who-done-it." Nevertheless, I found myself completely drawn into the main character. He is intelligent, capable, noble, and an outstanding father.

His qualities make him a truly engaging and likable protagonist, and I couldn't help but root for him throughout the story. Despite the flaws in the family and the mystery aspect, the main character's charm and the overall writing style of Dick Francis kept me hooked until the very end.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a touch of racing excitement and a well-developed main character.

One of these days, I'm going to take the time to list out my all-time favorite Dick Francis stories. And I have a strong feeling that "Decider" will definitely rank number three on that list.

It's not just a wonderful mystery; it's an even more remarkable story about a father and his young sons. Through a complex web of events, Lee Morris finds himself the owner of an eight percent share of a racecourse. This seemingly small share quickly drags him into the highly convoluted politics of the uber-rich Stratton family. The Stratton's are a deeply dysfunctional family, hiding dozens of secrets, some of which are so dangerous that they are worth killing over.

But what makes this book truly special is that, in addition to the classic mystery, you also get the touching story of Lee and his sons. Their relationship is both heartwarming and crucial to the development of the plot. Add to that the fact that Lee is a builder, specifically a restorer of wrecked homes. This aspect provides two score interesting tidbits about the building trade and what it takes to run a successful business like a pub. And, of course, there is an abundance of racetrack lore, just as you would expect to find in any Francis book.

The only drawback of this novel is that, unfortunately, the mystery gets solved and the book eventually comes to an end.

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Ieri mi-am pierdut licenţa.

For a hurdle-racing jockey, to lose one's license and be excluded from Newmarket Heath is like being wiped from the medical register, and even worse.

Cut off from races, dragged away from the racecourse. Moreover, cut off from the stables. Which poses a real problem for me, since I live in one.

Without means of existence and perhaps without a home.

Last night was a real torture, and I prefer to forget those horrible hours of insomnia. Shock and amazement, the feeling that it couldn't have happened, that it was all a mistake... all these lasted until after midnight. And, at least, the stage of inability to believe had had a certain inner comfort. The full understanding that followed, falling like a thunderclap, had none. My life lay around like the fragments of a broken teapot and I had neither the key nor the ability to put it right.

This morning I got up and made myself a coffee, then I looked out of the window at the lads who were pouring into the yard, warming up and setting off for the Downs, and I felt for the first time the bitter taste of being an outcast.

Fred didn't shout at my window as he usually did "Are you going to stay there all day?"

This time I was.

None of the lads looked up... They kept, more or less carefully, their eyes on the ground. And they were also silent. Damnably silent. I watched Bouncing Bernie as he heaved his seventy-two kilograms onto the gelding that I had been riding lately, and the way he let his fat bottom down into the saddle had something that resembled an excuse.

And he too kept his eyes down.

Tomorrow, I guessed, they would be themselves again. Tomorrow they would be curious and they would ask questions. I understood that they didn't despise me. They were understanding. Probably too understanding for their own comfort. And embarrassed. And that, and instinctively quite delicate enough not to look too soon at a total disaster.

After they left, I slowly drank my coffee and wondered what to do next. A painful feeling, very painful, of emptiness and loss.

The newspapers had been stuffed into the letterbox as usual. I wondered what the boy had thought, knowing what he was delivering. I shrugged. Maybe it was better to read what they said, the miserable journalists, God bless them.

The Sporting Life, concise as regards the news, had given us the title of a cheat and a complete treatment.

"Cranfield and Hughes disqualified".

I probably would have given this one five stars but was so disappointed in the ending!

Lee Morris, an architect, is the proud father of six young sons. His love for each of them shines through his story, yet his marriage is unfortunately struggling. Nevertheless, he remains committed to his family, and this commitment is about to be put to the test when danger looms over them at the racetrack.

Lee is distantly related to a family of shareholders through marriage. Due to a tragic past, he has never attended their meetings. However, upon learning that the racetrack is facing either a permanent closing or pointless renovations, which is in his field of expertise, he decides to attend a meeting. The hostility shown by the family might be a little overdone, but it makes the reader root for Lee all the more.

The danger begins when one of Lee's boys discovers a trail of hidden wire at the racetrack. As always, the hero of the novel, Lee, will have to prove his worth and courage.

This is another fast-paced Dick Francis mystery that managed to keep my interest throughout. The story had its moments of excitement and suspense, but the ending left me feeling somewhat let down. Still, it was an enjoyable read overall.

A mystery without a murder. It's a puzzler. Who on earth blew up the stands at Stratton Park Racecourse and what could be the motive? The story is read by the excellent Simon Prebble. And yes, I know I filed it as a paperback and I really don't care, nor do I see why you should.

I first read this when it was newly released and promptly forgot the title. However, certain parts of the story remained etched in my mind. Since then, I've dreamed of a large, open plan house with a loft. Sadly, it remains just a dream, but that's the beauty of fiction. I didn't remember the actual plot details, just the man with his six sons and the wife who adored being pregnant. I had a sister-in-law like that. She loved every moment of being pregnant, being the center of attention. She loved giving birth and the tiny-baby-toddler phase. But then, when the child started kindergarten, she got bored with her "toy" and wanted a new one. Anyway.

This Francis hero is different. Instead of a drifter with daddy issues, we have a definite family man whose marriage isn't going so well. They married young in what Colonel Potter called "the heat of...whatever heat you're in". He married her for her beauty and she for his progenitive prowess. But don't worry, Our Hero is still upright and upstanding. To the extent that everyone and sundry (except The Bad Guy) find themselves opening up and telling him everything. And every single one of them does a double take and wonders, "Why did I tell you all that?" It's so believable. This time, at least the Hero doesn't get tortured, but the bad guy meets a rather horrible end that I could have done without. Then comes a particularly nasty Big Reveal.

I have to admit that on this second reading, I didn't like Our Hero much. Granted, the Stratton family (a group antagonist this time) is so dysfunctional that they make him look good by comparison, mostly because he adores his sons. But his sense of superiority to those around him (founded on what, exactly?) was grating. He openly sneers at the bald man's attempt to find a way not to be bald, as if "real men" were above such concerns. He repeatedly lusts after a lady barber young enough to be his daughter simply because she looks like a younger version of his wife. Yuck. And yet he thinks he's so superior to others? Not really. The last two lines of the book gave it all away. Of course he sired only sons. They are six little parcels of masculine validation. Ugh.

It's not my favorite of his, but still a great story.

There were complex relationships within a fractured family. The protagonist had six sons, and they all lived in a rather unusual situation.

There was also a run-down horse track and its surrounding grounds. Despite the less than ideal circumstances, Lee Morris was a thoughtful and intelligent man.

He had managed to develop strong friendships in his life. I really loved Henry, the tent guy. His character added a unique charm to the story.

Then there was Roger and his wife, the track manager. Their relationship and their role in the story were quite interesting.

And let's not forget the boys who lived with their dad in a bus. Their adventures and the way they interacted with the other characters made the story even more engaging.

Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable read, filled with interesting characters and a captivating plot.

See Nolan's review for a detailed summary of the plot.

How on earth did Mr. Francis manage to achieve such a remarkable feat? He wrote a series of books with such diverse characters that one can't help but wish to befriend them, flaws and all. Take Amanda Morris, for instance. She has a penchant for having kids, and it seems Lee Morris shares the same enthusiasm. (After all, they have seven boys!)

Despite the 178-page complexity of the story, as described in Nolan's plot summary, Lee manages to sort out everyone's mess. And, as expected, the rotten instigator meets a rather unfortunate end. But here's the thing, I'm truly intrigued to see the kind of work Lee does. Ah, well, perhaps that's something we'll have to wait and discover.

3.5 Stars

Decider by Dick Francis is yet another captivating crime & investigation story that is filled with an explosion of excitement, danger lurking around every corner, palpable tension, complex family dynamics, intense drama, mysterious elements, nail-biting suspense, and a web of intrigue.

It is part of my 2023 Reading Challenge and also belongs to Glennie's Collection.

Dick Francis novels were a common sight in our household during my childhood. Both my parents adored his books. He was among the first 'adult' authors I delved into. Over the years, I have devoured everything he has written. I vividly recall how my mother would share stories about him whenever she read one of his books. She'd tell me about his remarkable journey from being an RAF pilot to becoming the Queen Mother's favorite jockey, and finally retiring to pursue a career as a journalist and writer.

Since my mother passed away over a year ago, I have finally started going through her extensive book collection. I have decided to make reading her entire collection a part of my reading challenge for the next couple of years. It's not only a way to fulfill my challenge but also a tribute to my mother, who was an avid reader. Reading her collection has brought back a flood of memories, mostly centered around our shared passion for reading. I will always be grateful to her for passing on this love of reading to me.

The main character in this story is extremely likable, which immediately grabs the reader's attention.

Moreover, there is enough intrigue woven into the plot to make it a real page-turner.

However, the author does tend to go into a bit more detailed descriptiveness than is perhaps necessary. For instance, do we really need to know exactly what the wallpaper looked like?

This excessive detail can sometimes detract from the overall flow of the story.

Another aspect that could be toned down is the level of drama in the privileged dynasty-like family. It seems a bit over the top at times, which might make it difficult for some readers to fully immerse themselves in the story.

Despite these minor flaws, the story still has many redeeming qualities and is definitely worth a read for those who enjoy a good mystery or family drama.

With a few adjustments, it could potentially be an even better and more engaging read.