Dick Francis Tribute
Anyone who has read Catch Handle will have guessed that two of my favorite subjects are horses and murder mysteries. Unsurprisingly, the works of Dick Francis, who also combines these themes, are some of my all time favorite reads. As a retired British jockey, Francis had a solid knowledge of horses that wound its way through all of his novels, some to a greater degree than others. However, his trademark seemed to be researching other walks of life to add as themes to each of his novels. His protagonists were often similar - usually mild mannered but highly intelligent observers of human nature. They were sometimes jockeys or sometimes had other primary professions with racing as a hobby. What I loved about his novels was the combination of the familiar, steady protagonists but the unique new lens through which his characters viewed the world in each book. Whether his heroes were investigating wine fraud, flying horse transport planes, buying gold, or cooking for a five star restaurant, Francis never failed to delight.
I have included a brief review of my top four.
The Edge
I would not have expected a spy thriller set in a racing community, but that is what Francis delivers in perhaps my favorite of his books. The protagonist works as an agent sniffing out fraudulent activity in the racing world. The plot takes a fascinating twist as he ends up undercover on a racing train in which passengers are entertained by interactive murder mystery theater. As the stage plot unfolds, the characters have to sort out the fiction from the real intrigue.
Hot Money
An estranged father and son reconnect when the father suspects someone is trying to murder him. The father is an exceptionally wealthy gold trader with no shortage of adult children and ex wives vying for more of his money. This story is a fascinating exploration of family dynamics and all of the resentments and love therein. The son desperately tries to find the identity of the secret assassin as the attempts on his father’s life continue. In the process, he renews his relationships with the eccentric members of his large family.
Dead Heat
This one wins the award for most charming Francis novel in my estimation. I am usually drawn to his protagonists, but there was something particularly endearing about this successful young chef and his longing to find love. As he struggles to solve a mysterious food poisoning incident from one of his events and grapples with the after-effects of a horrific bombing at the races, he also falls head over heels for a young musician.
Longshot
Murder mystery meets survivalist skills. A writer specializing in wilderness survival skills takes a live-in post writing the biography of a well known horse trainer and unwittingly becomes embroiled in a murder investigation. As the hero sorts through the personal life of his writing subject and his family and friends, he unearths all sorts of secrets and becomes the murderer’s next target. I particularly enjoyed the various scenarios in which our hero finds a way to survive against imposing odds with his particular set of skills.