Blood Sport (The Dick Francis library)
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Product Description
Review
From the New York Times bestselling "master of crime fiction and equine thrills."
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
A thriller in which an investigator is on the trail of a stolen Derby-winning stallion after a mysterious chain of events.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Gene Hawkins, investigator, suffers from 'the fat black slug of depression' and is on the edge of doing away with himself. He doesn't really want to know about the third stallion of international standing that has disappeared in kentucky, or about the boat trip on the Thames above Henley that his boss invites him on; but rather abruptly he becomes involved anyway, with the disappeared horses, and with a charming lass, too.
Francis' flair for painting a real, complete person in a few paragraphs, widely separated; his spare, effective, seemingly effortless style; his great stories, his way of creating and keeping up the tension, the emotions; the detection/solving of puzzles; it is all very well done, as always in this period of his writing (this book is from 1967). One star taken away because I felt that the depressed bit was taken a bit too far, overshadowed the story too much; but a most enjoyable book anyway.
Francis' flair for painting a real, complete person in a few paragraphs, widely separated; his spare, effective, seemingly effortless style; his great stories, his way of creating and keeping up the tension, the emotions; the detection/solving of puzzles; it is all very well done, as always in this period of his writing (this book is from 1967). One star taken away because I felt that the depressed bit was taken a bit too far, overshadowed the story too much; but a most enjoyable book anyway.
Format:Paperback
Another great character created by Francis. Enigmatic hero whose character (apart from his deep depression) and background is only revealed bit by bit. This makes for another puzzle to work out as well as the plot.
Not all ends are tied up either, in the best Francis tradition.
Personally I think that this one of the best of DF's books,I read it twice straight off, not because it was so difficult to follow but because it is so good.
Our hero is fascinating as bit by bit a picture of his character is built up and his struggle against depression becomes almost a thriller in itself.
Not all ends are tied up either, in the best Francis tradition.
Personally I think that this one of the best of DF's books,I read it twice straight off, not because it was so difficult to follow but because it is so good.
Our hero is fascinating as bit by bit a picture of his character is built up and his struggle against depression becomes almost a thriller in itself.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
13 reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Excellent-but not the usual Francis fare.
3 Feb 2002
Format:Paperback
Dick Francis has earned a well deserved reputation as one of the best suspense writers around--based more on his writing skills and character development that any real talent for suspense. This is because virtually all his books, regardless of character and milieu, follow a well developed formula. By the third or forth Francis book one has a pretty good feel for how things will proceed. His average books are well enough crafted to keep your attention, his better books--such as Banker, Reflex and Proof--grab you by the throat and won't let go till you are done.
Blood Sport is a significant departure for Francis. The formula is gone, the action aspects of his work take back seat to a much more cerebral style and the main character is far from the iconoclastic, self reliant individualist we normally expect from Francis.
Gene Hawkins is a "screener" for the British Government-essentially a "mole" hunter. He is also suicidal-his previous relationship has shattered and left the man a psychological mess. He has sublimated his troubles into his work-until now. Faced with a mandatory three week leave his boss, fearful for his employee's life-sets him onto the trail of the thieves of one of his pals thoroughbred race horses in America.
What follows is one of the more bizarre, compelling chase stories I have ever read. It is also the most unusual novel Francis has written to date.
Not all Francis fans will like this book-as the previous reviews will attest. However, I found the story very compelling and felt more of a real connection to the characters than is the norm with a Francis novel. I also found it to be more of a true suspense novel than is usually the case with Francis.
I urge Francis fans to give it a try.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Suicide presented in a very realistic way
15 Feb 2002
Format:Paperback
Considering it is a 1967 publication, Blood Sport portrays a man who suffers from depression and from a person (me)who also has and does can say the portrayal is very realistic. I'm amazed Francis could write like this in the mid-60's and wonder a bit now if Dick didn't go through some bouts of depression because you almost have to to portray it correctly. A worthwhile read for more than one reason. Aches, cold feet, full of malaise, life seeming worthless and confusing...Francis knew what he was talking about.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Inspiration for the depressed
21 Mar 2006
Format:Paperback
I recently finished rereading Blood Sport again--it's either my third or fourth read of the book. I think I've reread only 1 other Francis novel, so clearly this novel speaks to me a great deal. This is because the hero is suicidal and finds ways to live. The hero is depressed, yet he is able to live by drawing on anger that anyone would deprive him of the right to live or die. I will not spoil the ending of the novel, but I will say the hero finds a better and more powerful reason to live the rest of his life without considering suicide. Another key character also suffers from depression; she is able to find a new career in life and improve her life a great deal. Romantic love does not play a significant role in either character's battle with depression. If you have ever experienced depression, I recommend this book. It will distract you from your life with its plot that (even after almost 40 years) is still gripping, but more importantly this book offers some great messages about the value of human life, friendship, and the nature of love that may inspire and comfort you.
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