(one in a series of Dick Francis reviews in which I try and separate all those rather similar titles, and in which I try not to give away plotlines)
The book:
John Kendall has written several books on how to survive in the wild, but he now really wants to switch to fiction. To improve on freezing in a garret, he takes on a temporary job of writing Tremayne Vickers' biography; Vickers is a trainer of race-horses. Kendall moves into the trainers' home in Berkshire, and soon his survival skills come in handy - as apparently someone else is using his books to set traps; men-traps...
The writer:
Dick Francis served in the RAF in World War II and was a professional jockey afterwards; he was Champion Jockey, but hung up his professional boots and turned to writing thrillers. He died in 2010. This was his 29th thriller, from 1990.
My opinion:
A solidly good Francis, 4.5 stars out of 5. The usual clarity of writing, with a large cast of characters who you get to know personally in a very clever way; no "now *who* was that again" with Dick Francis. In an almost casual manner also much info on a trainers' life, on the English class system, the countryside, survival skills. All combined with Francis' excellent style, his essential decency, and a cracking yarn with a complex crime puzzle (and a special solution)
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