Plot synopsis: Horse owner Stephen Scott (grown rich though designing toys) ditches his trainer, for fixing races in cahoots with his bookie. The papers and the public turn against him for firing such a nice man. The underdog Scott develops some strange friendships, and there is a lovely romance, too.
Expertly written and with vivid real-life characters, this must be one of Dick Francis' best, ranking up there with the Sid Halley stories. And believe me, thrillers don't get better than that! Francis writes very well, the dialogue is believable, the characters are three-dimensional and believable. These books are as taut as they come, with nary a spare word, and very well-done drawn-out tension scenes. There are some good bits, too, about interaction with horses; th different types of trainers; and the class hierarchy, including the short-cuts in between.
These books are perfect fodder for when you're ill or sorry for yourself: the philosophy is take what comes, and deal with it. There is nothing to beat a good Francis, and this is as good as they come.
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