One of the absolute best Dick Francis books that I have had the pleasure of reading is this one. It presents a truly dysfunctional family that is constantly at war with each other. Every member has their own personal agenda, and they almost completely disregard one another. That is, except when it comes to upholding the family name. It offers a real and unfiltered look inside a wealthy family's pretense at respectability at all costs. It's almost as if Dick Francis might have known a few such people during his racing career. However, I know that this is a bit of a far-fetched idea. But still, the way he portrays the family dynamics and the complex web of relationships makes it seem almost possible. It's a captivating read that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

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Expanded article:

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All Dick Francis books have a connection to horse racing. Sometimes, this connection may be very remote, but there is always at least a mention of horses. The heroes in his books share many common traits. They are all loveable, resilient, loyal, clever, and humble, the kind of people you would be glad to have as friends. However, the mysteries featured in his books are not formulaic. In each book, we encounter a unique mystery and also learn about an additional trade apart from horse racing. In this particular book, it is architecture. The protagonist, Lee Morris, is an architect who restores ruins, makes them habitable, and then sells them.

Lee Morris is slightly different from other Dick Francis heroes. He is not single; in fact, he has a large family with six sons, and he is only 35 years old. Despite his huge physical stature, he does not use it to intimidate people. He could just as easily be a psychiatric counselor, as everyone seems ready to pour out their troubles in front of him and then wonder why they are sharing their innermost secrets with him.

Apart from the mystery, the interactions between Lee and his sons make for an interesting read. The way he ingeniously turned around the disaster after the bomb blast was truly remarkable. The race course manager refers to it as a miracle many times.

The characterization in the book was excellent. The motivations of each member of the Stratton family were insightful. However, I found Lee's wife, Amanda, quite strange. Even if she didn't love her husband, one would expect her to be worried about her sons who were in the stadium when the bomb blast occurred. Instead, she insists that Lee keep them with him for a few more days!

I thought it would have been better if the wife was dead. She didn't seem to add anything to the plot other than more children, and I don't think she even loves her children.

This is an enjoyable mystery and highly recommended. There are many more Dick Francis books waiting to be discovered, and I might just go on a binge-read of them this year.

I have a profound affection for this particular work.

It marks the first mystery that he has ever penned in which the hero has children. Intriguingly, he bestowed upon the hero a whopping seven children, all of them boys.

On the other hand, he delved back into the theme of an unhappy marriage. The wife is engaged in an affair, and the hero finds himself longing for one as well. After all, one can't have everything.

This work serves as a great example of the significance of the history factor. It is only by carefully studying what the various characters have done that the hero can manage to blackmail his way to safety.

Moreover, it is also a fine illustration of psychological detection. Since the hero has to take into account the numerous members of a large family in order to figure out who the criminal is.

Compounding the difficulty of solving the mystery is the fact that there are multiple crimes and criminals.

There are more typical Francis elements: the older, iron-willed woman who is wealthy and capable of graciousness, a character that the hero comes to like and admire (I can't help but wonder if she is modeled after the Queen Mother?). And there is also the angelic mother, who is unfortunately now dead in this case.

He once again tackles topical issues, namely domestic and sexual violence. And I have a particular fondness for the architecture-related aspects.

Best of all, the hero lives in a barn with his brood.

1 Jan 1998

The best Dick Francis book!

As always, there is the magic of a truly excellent storyteller. In this particular work, we get to learn about a fascinating profession, that of being an architect builder with one's own company.

However, the special treat lies in the inclusion of the 6 brothers (kids) as highly meaningful characters. Each of them has a distinct personality and set of abilities. Their father takes their questions and observations seriously and engages with them in a truly meaningful way.

Who each one of them is elicits a response of love from their dad that is as individual as they are.

My initial thoughts were to express gratitude for the similar behavior of my own parents. And then, it strikingly reminded me of how I perceive God's love for each and every one of us.

It's as if through this story, we are given a glimpse into the depth and individuality of love, whether it's between a father and his children or between God and humanity.

It makes us reflect on the importance of seeing and valuing each person for who they are and showing them love in a way that is specific to them.

This book truly has the power to touch our hearts and make us think about the beautiful nature of love in different aspects of our lives.

Weird book.

The extended aristocratic family that our architect/builder protagonist has managed to avoid for 30+ years is extremely dysfunctional. So much so that many of its members are difficult to tell apart. They are all consumed by hate, envy, greed, sexual perversion, and similar vices, to the extent that they lack any real differentiation.

A few chapters into the novel, the protagonist should already be having several of them arrested for assault and battery on his person. As he works to save the race course, a major family asset, he keeps most of his sons close at hand. However, this is a major error in parenting as these kids are already at great risk from the family. (One son is almost blown up when some family member dynamites the grandstands in the hope that the course will be sold, enriching everyone.)

This is not the only Dick Francis novel in which a protagonist perseveres in a difficult situation when anyone with common sense would simply leave.

By the way, it is ironic that a person like Dick Francis, so highly honored by British society, would so thoroughly debunk the British system of class and noble birth. These people are (mostly) monsters, and those who accept their authority, as our protagonist mostly does, are abetting a corrupt system.

Overall, this novel presents a rather disturbing and complex picture of an aristocratic family and the society that surrounds them. It makes one question the values and structures that are often taken for granted.

I thought I had perused all of the Dick Francis books quite a long time ago. However, a friend presented me with this particular one, and I believe I overlooked it approximately 20 years ago or so!

This time around, it has less to do with the actual racing aspect. The fundamental story revolves around an architect who transitions into a builder and becomes embroiled in a family that is completely focused on safeguarding the family name, despite having dreadful secrets lurking within.

It is an exciting and rapid read that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery or thriller.

One of my other favourites is Lee and his misfit family.

Lee is such an interesting character, full of charm and a unique personality. His family, on the other hand, is a collection of individuals who don't quite fit the traditional mould.

Each member has their own quirks and idiosyncrasies, yet they all come together to form a loving and supportive unit.

I find their relationships and interactions truly captivating. It's like watching a dysfunctional yet beautiful family drama unfold.

Their misfits nature makes them stand out and makes me root for them even more.

I love how they embrace their differences and use them to their advantage.

Lee and his misfit family are a reminder that being different is not a bad thing, but rather something to be celebrated.

They bring a sense of warmth and authenticity to my life, and I will always cherish their stories.

This is a mystery that delves into the dark depths of jealousy. It all begins with decisions made in the distant past, which have now festered and led to an eruption of violence within a family that is currently grappling with difficult choices.

Personally, this is my least favorite among the Dick Francis mysteries. Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that the writing is of a high standard, and the plot is masterfully executed.

However, for me, the majority of the characters lack likability. They seem to be somewhat shallow, lacking the depth and complexity that is typically found in Francis's books. This departure from his usual style is rather disappointing.

Despite these flaws, the overall quality of the mystery still manages to hold one's attention, making it an interesting read, albeit not a favorite.

Architect Lee Morris inherits a partial ownership in the Stratton Park racecourse. This inheritance places him in a perilous position among the feuding upper-class family that is striving to determine the course's fate. Morris harbors a desire to restore the course to its former magnificence. However, the diverse Stratton heirs have their own agendas.

When an explosion shatters the grandstands, the disagreement escalates into violence. Morris then finds himself in a frantic race to safeguard himself and his family from an unidentified culprit.

Sadly, this Dick Francis novel will not be reaching the winning enclosure. It starts slowly away from the stalls and fails to gain any momentum. In fact, it tails off at the end. It is truly disappointing considering Dick Francis has written numerous outstanding novels. The majority of the story unfolds at the race track. Apart from a very brief jaunt to London, the novel becomes stagnant. The characters are one-dimensional, and it's difficult to develop any real concern for them. The plot is extremely weak. I'm afraid this novel is headed for the knacker's yard.

Francis is well-known for writing about horse racing.

However, his recipe for a book also involves mixing in one or two other topics, such as glass blowing, computer viruses, or movie making. These additional topics help to flesh out the characters and make the stories more distinct. I'm certain Francis enjoys researching these extra aspects. Sometimes it takes reflection to determine the topics, while often it doesn't.

In this particular book, the role of an architect/builder is a key part of the story. The architect is the protagonist, and unlike in many of Francis' books, we get a more surface-level view of his life without much detail about his work. The details that were included (regarding explosives and design) weren't overly compelling, and I missed that depth.

The book seemed to focus more on relationships, and the second topic was managing families. Lee, the architect, manages an entire episode with his brood of sons by his side. I was initially worried this might turn into a mystery episode of "The Brady Bunch," but Francis portrays the boys as prototypical Boy Scouts - well-behaved and adventurous.

The work Lee does in the story is related to a dysfunctional and wealthy family of racecourse owners. I've read several Francis books that deal with families, like "Hot Money" and "Longshot," and I prefer them the most. Francis has a talent for navigating family politics and handling family trauma, which he only touches on occasionally in his books.

I think his writing about families allows him to bring some interesting characters to life, such as the grandson here trying to cure his baldness. Francis also, as he often does, includes a beating scene. I've read more than a dozen such scenes in his various books where the protagonist is beaten up. They are always very cringe-worthy. Just once, I'd like to see the good guy beat up the bad guy without getting beaten himself first. I suspect that's not in Francis' story formula. Overall, this is one of the better books.

In re-reading all of the Dick Francis books in a row, I have made an interesting discovery. The hero in every book is basically the same character. This consistency can be a great thing if you happen to like that particular character. It gives a sense of familiarity and comfort as you progress through the series.

This specific book is filled with a diverse cast of characters. However, what stands out is Francis's remarkable ability to keep their stories flowing smoothly. He weaves their narratives together in a way that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

While I didn't entirely love the resolution of the issues between Lee and Amanda, it didn't overshadow the overall enjoyment of the book. Despite this minor drawback, it was still a good read. The plot was engaging, the characters were well-developed, and Francis's writing style was as captivating as ever.