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Dead Heat
Max Moreton is a rising culinary star and his Newmarket restaurant, The Hay Net, has brought acclaim. But two disasters fall. Food poisoning fells banquet attendees, and a bomb explodes the private boxes at a race, killing guests and employees.
342 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 2007
107 people are currently reading
1157 people want to read
About the author
Dick Francis
535 books1,249 followersDick Francis, CBE, FRSL (born Richard Stanley Francis) was a popular British horse racing crime writer and retired jockey.
Dick Francis worked on his books with his wife, Mary, before her death. Dick considered his wife to be his co-writer - as he is quoted in the book, "The Dick Francis Companion", released in 2003:
"Mary and I worked as a team. ... I have often said that I would have been happy to have both our names on the cover. Mary's family always called me Richard due to having another Dick in the family. I am Richard, Mary was Mary, and Dick Francis was the two of us together."
Praise for Dick Francis: 'As a jockey, Dick Francis was unbeatable when he got into his stride. The same is true of his crime writing' Daily Mirror '
Dick Francis's fiction has a secret ingredient - his inimitable knack of grabbing the reader's attention on page one and holding it tight until the very end' Sunday Telegraph '
Dick Francis was one of the most successful post-war National Hunt jockeys. The winner of over 350 races, he was champion jockey in 1953/1954 and rode for HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, most famously on Devon Loch in the 1956 Grand National.
On his retirement from the saddle, he published his autobiography, The Sport of Queens, before going on to write forty-three bestselling novels, a volume of short stories (Field of 13), and the biography of Lester Piggott.
During his lifetime Dick Francis received many awards, amongst them the prestigious Crime Writers' Association's Cartier Diamond Dagger for his outstanding contribution to the genre, and three 'best novel' Edgar Allan Poe awards from The Mystery Writers of America. In 1996 he was named by them as Grand Master for a lifetime's achievement. In 1998 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List of 2000. Dick Francis died in February 2010, at the age of eighty-nine, but he remains one of the greatest thriller writers of all time.
Series:
* Sid Halley Mystery
* Kit Fielding Mystery
Dick Francis worked on his books with his wife, Mary, before her death. Dick considered his wife to be his co-writer - as he is quoted in the book, "The Dick Francis Companion", released in 2003:
"Mary and I worked as a team. ... I have often said that I would have been happy to have both our names on the cover. Mary's family always called me Richard due to having another Dick in the family. I am Richard, Mary was Mary, and Dick Francis was the two of us together."
Praise for Dick Francis: 'As a jockey, Dick Francis was unbeatable when he got into his stride. The same is true of his crime writing' Daily Mirror '
Dick Francis's fiction has a secret ingredient - his inimitable knack of grabbing the reader's attention on page one and holding it tight until the very end' Sunday Telegraph '
Dick Francis was one of the most successful post-war National Hunt jockeys. The winner of over 350 races, he was champion jockey in 1953/1954 and rode for HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, most famously on Devon Loch in the 1956 Grand National.
On his retirement from the saddle, he published his autobiography, The Sport of Queens, before going on to write forty-three bestselling novels, a volume of short stories (Field of 13), and the biography of Lester Piggott.
During his lifetime Dick Francis received many awards, amongst them the prestigious Crime Writers' Association's Cartier Diamond Dagger for his outstanding contribution to the genre, and three 'best novel' Edgar Allan Poe awards from The Mystery Writers of America. In 1996 he was named by them as Grand Master for a lifetime's achievement. In 1998 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List of 2000. Dick Francis died in February 2010, at the age of eighty-nine, but he remains one of the greatest thriller writers of all time.
Series:
* Sid Halley Mystery
* Kit Fielding Mystery
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 470 reviews
January 9, 2008
A very interesting read, for one particular reason: this can't be Dick Francis. All the surface pieces are here that indicate a Francis novel: the the understated tone, the careful plot, the (yawn) quietly brilliant protagonist. And yet all of the essential elements that make Francis so GOOD, that extra layer of... substance, are absolutely missing. The wry, unassuming humor, the deft characterizations, the simple insights into people and situations. Nada. If you really like Dick Francis, you might want to avoid this novel; it will give you the willies. Kind of like meeting up with an old friend who's just had a lobotomy.
December 29, 2020
I have said on several occasions that I have never read a bad Dick Francis novel. I am not sure that I have now. I suspect that there is more Felix than Dick Francis in this one. I gave it three stars because, compared to a mythical average mystery novel, this one is at least a little better.
October 8, 2007
I'm not a horse racing fan, but I am a fan of good writing, and Dick Francis is one of my top all-time favorite fiction writers. He's a master of the cliffhanger chapter endings that keep me turning the pages until I've finished, to the detriment of sleep and chores getting done. This book is no exception. I'd heard he's retired from writing, but apparently his son persuaded him to keep it up; Dead Heat is a collaboration of the two of them. Excuse me, but I've got to get back to the book ...
October 1, 2019
Easily the most boring book bearing the Francis name.It appears to be mostly the work of his son,Felix.The book hardly ever comes to life and the tedium stretches on for over 400 pages.
March 4, 2020
Pretty good mystery thriller which starts with a bang - a mass food poisoning at a Newmarket event, followed by something even more deadly! Chef Max Moreton looks to investigate the evident mystery/conspiracy. What appears to be the start of handing over the reigns (pun intended) to his son, this Dick and Felix conspiracy thriller cum mystery set in the horse racing world, feels just like any other Dick Francis work, knowledgeable about the subject matter, but with limited characterisation. 5 out of 12
June 14, 2025
Year before last I re-read all my Dick Francis books in order of publication because I was afraid he would stop writing after his wife's death. Last year he produced Under Orders, much to my gratification and pleasure, since Sid Haley is one of my favorite characters. But Dead Heat, written with his son Felix, is Dick Francis and better. I could hardly put the book down and was thrilled at the end to find an advertisement for the next book, Silks. Now I can stop worrying. Dick Francis will continue. I enjoyed the food in this one, since it is about a chef who gets into a lot of trouble through no fault of his own, unless you count his trying to find out who food poisoned so many people at one of his dinners, since he got the blame. Great story. I particularly enjoyed the music descriptions.
May 17, 2009
This was co-written with his son Felix--meaning Dad did the outline while Felix did the writing with Dad looking over his shoulder. It's an okay mystery, but the pacing and feel is just slightly off. Sometimes there are too many information dumps that slow the pace and others, everything is there, but just doesn't quiet gel. When Dick Francis' name is over everything, you expect certain things from the book, and this one just doesn't quite deliver the goods.
While I don't expect Felix to be exactly the same writer as his father--it's almost impossible anyway--he needs to learn the craft better if he wants to continue his father's legacy. And given that he's writing under daddy's tutelege, it appears he does. He needs to pace better, give a more believable romance, and make us care just a little bit more. I hope he learns these things before his father dies.
While I don't expect Felix to be exactly the same writer as his father--it's almost impossible anyway--he needs to learn the craft better if he wants to continue his father's legacy. And given that he's writing under daddy's tutelege, it appears he does. He needs to pace better, give a more believable romance, and make us care just a little bit more. I hope he learns these things before his father dies.
August 4, 2012
What is there to say about Dick Francis? As I think about all of his books (yes, this review covers all of his books, and yes I've read them all) I think about a moral ethical hero, steeped in intelligence and goodness embroiled in evil machinations within British horse racing society - either directly or indirectly. The heroes aren't always horse jockies, they can be film producers, or involve heroes engaged in peripheral professions that somehow always touch the horse racing world.
But more than that, Francis's heroes are rational human beings. The choices made are rational choices directed by a firm objective philosophy that belies all of Francis's novels. The dialogue is clear and touched with humor no matter the intensity of evil that the hero faces. The hero's thoughts reveal a vulnerability that is touching, while his actions are always based on doing the right thing to achieve justice.
Causing the reader to deeply care about the characters in a novel is a difficult thing to do. No such worries in a Francis novel. The point of view is first person, you are the main character as you read the story (usually the character of Mr. Douglas). The hero is personable, like able, non-violent but delivering swift justice with his mind rather than through physical means. This is not to say that violence is a stranger to our hero. Some of it staggering and often delivered by what we would think of normal persons living in British society.
You will come to love the world of Steeple Chase racing, you will grow a fondness for horses, stables, trainers and the people who live in that world. You will read the books, devouring one after the other and trust me Dick Francis has a lot of novels (over 40 by my last count).
There are several series woven into the fabric of Francis's work: notably the Sid Halley and Kit Fielding series.
Assessment: Dick Francis is one of my favorite writers. I read his books with a fierce hunger that remains insatiable and I mourn his death.
But more than that, Francis's heroes are rational human beings. The choices made are rational choices directed by a firm objective philosophy that belies all of Francis's novels. The dialogue is clear and touched with humor no matter the intensity of evil that the hero faces. The hero's thoughts reveal a vulnerability that is touching, while his actions are always based on doing the right thing to achieve justice.
Causing the reader to deeply care about the characters in a novel is a difficult thing to do. No such worries in a Francis novel. The point of view is first person, you are the main character as you read the story (usually the character of Mr. Douglas). The hero is personable, like able, non-violent but delivering swift justice with his mind rather than through physical means. This is not to say that violence is a stranger to our hero. Some of it staggering and often delivered by what we would think of normal persons living in British society.
You will come to love the world of Steeple Chase racing, you will grow a fondness for horses, stables, trainers and the people who live in that world. You will read the books, devouring one after the other and trust me Dick Francis has a lot of novels (over 40 by my last count).
There are several series woven into the fabric of Francis's work: notably the Sid Halley and Kit Fielding series.
Assessment: Dick Francis is one of my favorite writers. I read his books with a fierce hunger that remains insatiable and I mourn his death.
December 19, 2016
5 stars if only for no other reason that I couldn't put this down. I have this nagging feeling I've read this before, but it turns out I only remembered one of the protagonists and not their motives, which gave me a nice surprise. The plot twists started from the beginning, and built into a delicious climax. I would have preferred slightly more resolution, but what there was made me smile.
November 9, 2012
Together, son and father, Dick and Felix Francis, managed to concoct more than one mystery prior to the death of the late, great jockey and mystery novelist. Dead Heat manages to aggregate the successful ingredients of previous Francis mysteries (lay person in fascinating profession forced to solve a mystery, events and deaths moving ever closer to the protagonist lay person, interests in the fairer sex (I don’t recall a female protagonist in Francis’ work) that may or may not work out but feature fortuitous circumstances, psychological horror, and a cause behind the events/murders which wouldn’t normally be expected to touch the protagonist) and continue to provide solid pacing, plausible red herrings, and satisfying conclusions. If there is any major difference in the works of Pere Francis and Pere et Fils Francis, it seems to be in the body count that keeps increasing in the latter works.
That does not mean, however, that son Felix has replaced the psychological pain of his father’s earlier novels with the cinematic, special-effects violence of a shallower age. The deaths seem logical and consistent with the villains. The mystery in Dead Heat is rather of broader scope than many of the situations encountered in the earlier works. In fact, part of the beauty of Dead Heat for me is that fact that I kept presupposing a more provincial cause while the father and son authors kept pushing me to consider a more pervasive (and, in reality, more logical) cause.
Dead Heat begins with a catastrophe of cuisine. The chef who has catered a major event is himself stricken with food poisoning, as are many of his guests. When he discovers the source of the food poisoning, he begins to look everywhere but the right place for the perpetrator. Yet, even before his search begins, he experiences what seems to be an international terrorist attack. Then, at this point, his search leads him into a cascade of disasters which seem to become progressively worse. Indeed, the psychological horror is there as the protagonist has to consider how to proceed without endangering the lives of his business partner, his staff, his mother, his possible love interest, and his brother’s family. And to make matters worse (or, from my perspective, better) the sauce of suspense is reduced further with the protagonist going through something of a career/life crisis that has nothing to do with the centerpiece of the mystery. In short, Dead Heat is like the best of Dick Francis’ novels, emotionally engaging.
Now, as an amateur reviewer, I realize that my rating for this novel is not in synch with most professional reviewers. Indeed, it was a long time before I picked up one of these co-written efforts because I assumed (and you know what that does) that the quality would be as watered down as the difference between the protagonist chef’s restaurant in the novel and a chain restaurant in one’s local strip mall. In all fairness, I believe the professional reviewers were blinded by their limited expectations. Dead Heat does have a lot of the masterful ingredients of any Francis novel and I devoured it just as readily as I might have devoured some of the wonderful meals described in the novel.
That does not mean, however, that son Felix has replaced the psychological pain of his father’s earlier novels with the cinematic, special-effects violence of a shallower age. The deaths seem logical and consistent with the villains. The mystery in Dead Heat is rather of broader scope than many of the situations encountered in the earlier works. In fact, part of the beauty of Dead Heat for me is that fact that I kept presupposing a more provincial cause while the father and son authors kept pushing me to consider a more pervasive (and, in reality, more logical) cause.
Dead Heat begins with a catastrophe of cuisine. The chef who has catered a major event is himself stricken with food poisoning, as are many of his guests. When he discovers the source of the food poisoning, he begins to look everywhere but the right place for the perpetrator. Yet, even before his search begins, he experiences what seems to be an international terrorist attack. Then, at this point, his search leads him into a cascade of disasters which seem to become progressively worse. Indeed, the psychological horror is there as the protagonist has to consider how to proceed without endangering the lives of his business partner, his staff, his mother, his possible love interest, and his brother’s family. And to make matters worse (or, from my perspective, better) the sauce of suspense is reduced further with the protagonist going through something of a career/life crisis that has nothing to do with the centerpiece of the mystery. In short, Dead Heat is like the best of Dick Francis’ novels, emotionally engaging.
Now, as an amateur reviewer, I realize that my rating for this novel is not in synch with most professional reviewers. Indeed, it was a long time before I picked up one of these co-written efforts because I assumed (and you know what that does) that the quality would be as watered down as the difference between the protagonist chef’s restaurant in the novel and a chain restaurant in one’s local strip mall. In all fairness, I believe the professional reviewers were blinded by their limited expectations. Dead Heat does have a lot of the masterful ingredients of any Francis novel and I devoured it just as readily as I might have devoured some of the wonderful meals described in the novel.
June 20, 2011
Rising chef Max Moreton is a rising star until his customers start coming down with food poisoning. He vows to clear and protect his name.
September 24, 2020
I had never read a Dick Francis mystery and I was not disappointed. I was puzzled from the beginning. I began to have a suspect but not a motive. It was near the end when I was right about the motive but not much else. That is my kind of story, one that keeps me guessing.
It might have been just a bit slow getting to the mystery but there were so many other interesting facts and characters, it was not a problem.
Well written with well developed characters and interesting settings.
It might have been just a bit slow getting to the mystery but there were so many other interesting facts and characters, it was not a problem.
Well written with well developed characters and interesting settings.
February 14, 2018
The big puzzle here is why I continued listening to this CD set. While it purports to be by Dick Francis, it was most likely mostly by his son Felix who, sad to say, is no Dick Francis. The usual torture, frustration, blood, and flimsy romance, but it was about a restrateur rather than racing, although horses did have something do with the incredibly unlikely plot.
And there was a bit of esoteric horse information toward the end that "enabled" the plot.
Sheesh!
And there was a bit of esoteric horse information toward the end that "enabled" the plot.
Sheesh!
August 15, 2019
Yikes this book was sexist, racist, clumsy, plodding, and at points laughably bad (e.g., the line about how it's improbable that a chef would use cocaine because the heat of a kitchen and drugs don't mix. K.)
June 27, 2021
As a horsewoman, I thought to read all of the Dick Francis books. I have read quite a few. I stopped for awhile after reading his “Wild Horses”. Bad, very bad ending. This one written with his son. Some gore, but a good mystery. I did figure out where the title came from too.
May 26, 2019
Another good reliable Dick Francis book, this one written with the help of Felix Francis. Our hero is a chef, whose outside catering at Newmarket races ends in tragedy and mystery
September 8, 2025
I didn't guess who was trying to kill Max nor why.
An enjoyable bubble-gum listen overall.
Extra: some bawdy sentences and comments.
An enjoyable bubble-gum listen overall.
Extra: some bawdy sentences and comments.
January 12, 2013
This Heart-pounding, nail-bitingly exciting story will have you reading in a feverish frenzy to get to the end!
Highly acclaimed, bestselling author Dick Francis returned after a six-year absence with ‘Under Orders’ much to the delight of both avid readers and horse racing fans alike. His exceptional writing-style, detailed and intricately woven, cleverly crafted plots fueled by such dramatic, intense narrative is outstanding. As a horse racing enthusiast, Dick Francis is an author who stands-out above all the rest as a master of his craft, taking the ‘sport of kings’ to a wider-readership than ever before with his crime/ thriller novels. Fast-paced and brimmed full of unexpected twists and turns that have you sat on the edge of your seat in suspense throughout, this book is one that I have re-read many times and which is a firm favorite. Not only appealing to those interested in the Racing game, Dick Francis’ books appeal to such a wide-readership as those who enjoy well-written narrative with a bite; that is great for an enjoyable read and something that you can dip into anytime.
Dead Heat is set against the backdrop of Britain's famed Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, with Max Morton working in the Newmarket restaurant ‘the hay net’. He is a young, rising culinary star whose widening circle of admirers and great acclaim gives him bold aspirations as a chef. However, when on one particular occasion that his dining guests fall prey to severe food poisoning at a private catered affair, Max’s reputation takes a hit as well as his shuttered kitchen. If things couldn’t get any worse a bomb explodes in one of the racecourse’s private boxes, killing some of Max’s trusted staff together with many of the guests. As the survivors are rushed to the hospital Max is left pondering over recent events and his career that is now in tatters…complete with romance, violins and a cacophony of culinary crimes this spectacular story professes Francis’ greatness.
This page-turner is a fantastic read that you can read in a rush (adding to the drama in the book), or at a more leisurely pace as you tuck into cucumber sandwiches whilst watching the 3.15 at Cheltenham with your girlfriends. Fantastic fiction at its very best this book magnificently merges together the racecourse with a crime investigation, beautifully captured by the quantity of detailed research that makes this story so compelling and believable. All of Dick Francis’ books you can envisage as something ‘real’ for it is his personal perspective on racing and his life experiences that make his work more than just fiction, but something so tangible that it has depth, meaning and truth-drawing clarity. Dead Heat is just spectacular and which I highly recommend as an enjoyable, gripping read.
Highly acclaimed, bestselling author Dick Francis returned after a six-year absence with ‘Under Orders’ much to the delight of both avid readers and horse racing fans alike. His exceptional writing-style, detailed and intricately woven, cleverly crafted plots fueled by such dramatic, intense narrative is outstanding. As a horse racing enthusiast, Dick Francis is an author who stands-out above all the rest as a master of his craft, taking the ‘sport of kings’ to a wider-readership than ever before with his crime/ thriller novels. Fast-paced and brimmed full of unexpected twists and turns that have you sat on the edge of your seat in suspense throughout, this book is one that I have re-read many times and which is a firm favorite. Not only appealing to those interested in the Racing game, Dick Francis’ books appeal to such a wide-readership as those who enjoy well-written narrative with a bite; that is great for an enjoyable read and something that you can dip into anytime.
Dead Heat is set against the backdrop of Britain's famed Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, with Max Morton working in the Newmarket restaurant ‘the hay net’. He is a young, rising culinary star whose widening circle of admirers and great acclaim gives him bold aspirations as a chef. However, when on one particular occasion that his dining guests fall prey to severe food poisoning at a private catered affair, Max’s reputation takes a hit as well as his shuttered kitchen. If things couldn’t get any worse a bomb explodes in one of the racecourse’s private boxes, killing some of Max’s trusted staff together with many of the guests. As the survivors are rushed to the hospital Max is left pondering over recent events and his career that is now in tatters…complete with romance, violins and a cacophony of culinary crimes this spectacular story professes Francis’ greatness.
This page-turner is a fantastic read that you can read in a rush (adding to the drama in the book), or at a more leisurely pace as you tuck into cucumber sandwiches whilst watching the 3.15 at Cheltenham with your girlfriends. Fantastic fiction at its very best this book magnificently merges together the racecourse with a crime investigation, beautifully captured by the quantity of detailed research that makes this story so compelling and believable. All of Dick Francis’ books you can envisage as something ‘real’ for it is his personal perspective on racing and his life experiences that make his work more than just fiction, but something so tangible that it has depth, meaning and truth-drawing clarity. Dead Heat is just spectacular and which I highly recommend as an enjoyable, gripping read.
January 22, 2016
This is really a 31/2 star, though I was tempted to give it 4. First, let me say how much I love Dick Francis books. It's been a long time since I read one and I had forgotten how fun they are to read. From the very beginning I was into the story and eager to find out what was going to happen next. Second, let me say that this was a audio book and I had some issues with the audio portion that may not have bothered me as much with a reading book version.
Quick synopsis: Max Morton is a well-liked chef who has his own restaurant named the Haynet. He had catered an event at a horse race and most of the guests ended up with food poisoning, including him. He still had to cater the next day as well and managed to get himself there, only to have a bomb go off and kill a bunch of people. So he's dealing with being sick, almost blown up, accused of poisoning guests, restaurant being closed, and notice that he's being sued. So he starts investigating.
He learns that uncooked kidney beans is what got everyone sick, but he hadn't put kidney beans in any of the food, so he knows something is going on. He meets with the woman suing him (Caroline) and seems to immediately fall in love with her (and vice versa). Side note: I'd love to know if Caroline really was saying "oh goody" in the book. Cause in audio form it sounded ridiculous.
There is a lot of investigation and action (Max's car brakes are cut and he hits a bus, his house burns down, and his arm is broken with a polo mallet) and ultimately Max discovers that drugs are being smuggled around the world in metal balls placed inside female horses. Somehow money is laundered this way as well (I really didn't understand the money laundering aspect). Big gun showdown at the end but Max and Caroline survive. He opens a new restaurant in London and the two become engaged.
So some of my issues: there were almost too many action scenes. It was just a bit much. I had some issues with the Caroline story development. I wonder if it would have read better, because while the audio narrator was fantastic for his male characters, he was horrible reading for the female characters. They all came across as ridiculous prudish old ladies. So it was hard to take the Max and Caroline exchanges seriously. Oddly enough, I enjoyed the restaurant angle more than the horse-racing angle of the story. Oh, and Caroline had her viola (which they called Viola) and Viola's importance was highly emphasized. So in the final gun battle scene, taking place in a restaurant and she's coming from the kitchen, WHY did she use Viola to whap the bad guy? Why not grab a pot or pan?
Still, It was a fun read and it makes me want to find another Dick Francis story.
Quick synopsis: Max Morton is a well-liked chef who has his own restaurant named the Haynet. He had catered an event at a horse race and most of the guests ended up with food poisoning, including him. He still had to cater the next day as well and managed to get himself there, only to have a bomb go off and kill a bunch of people. So he's dealing with being sick, almost blown up, accused of poisoning guests, restaurant being closed, and notice that he's being sued. So he starts investigating.
He learns that uncooked kidney beans is what got everyone sick, but he hadn't put kidney beans in any of the food, so he knows something is going on. He meets with the woman suing him (Caroline) and seems to immediately fall in love with her (and vice versa). Side note: I'd love to know if Caroline really was saying "oh goody" in the book. Cause in audio form it sounded ridiculous.
There is a lot of investigation and action (Max's car brakes are cut and he hits a bus, his house burns down, and his arm is broken with a polo mallet) and ultimately Max discovers that drugs are being smuggled around the world in metal balls placed inside female horses. Somehow money is laundered this way as well (I really didn't understand the money laundering aspect). Big gun showdown at the end but Max and Caroline survive. He opens a new restaurant in London and the two become engaged.
So some of my issues: there were almost too many action scenes. It was just a bit much. I had some issues with the Caroline story development. I wonder if it would have read better, because while the audio narrator was fantastic for his male characters, he was horrible reading for the female characters. They all came across as ridiculous prudish old ladies. So it was hard to take the Max and Caroline exchanges seriously. Oddly enough, I enjoyed the restaurant angle more than the horse-racing angle of the story. Oh, and Caroline had her viola (which they called Viola) and Viola's importance was highly emphasized. So in the final gun battle scene, taking place in a restaurant and she's coming from the kitchen, WHY did she use Viola to whap the bad guy? Why not grab a pot or pan?
Still, It was a fun read and it makes me want to find another Dick Francis story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2018
Not one of his/their better ones. Just not as well written as the older Dick Francis books. Missing that special humor & cleverness.
Actually, a second read, which I didn't realize for quite awhile. Tells you something about the book, I suppose.
Actually, a second read, which I didn't realize for quite awhile. Tells you something about the book, I suppose.
September 30, 2022
3.5 stars. The first book I read that is a collaboration between Dick & Felix and while it was fine there was definitely a certain spark missing. Dick's protagonists have a certain flair, they are very suave and debonair. Our protagonist in this book, Max, is a bit edgier, bordering on crass when it comes to his observations of women. Not sure if they were trying to go with modern sex appeal or what but it sounded off for a Francis book. Not to say that his previous book never had romance, they did, but it was always a bit more subtle and implied rather than such in your face observations as commenting several times about a woman's legs. Anyway, the story itself centered on Max who is a chef who had many guests fall ill with food poisoning one night and a bomb go off at lunch the next day. This book is only loosely tied to horse racing as each event took place at a race track. When the tests come back showing that the food poisoning was due to undercooked kidney beans, Max knows that his food was sabotaged since he did not serve kidney beans in the meal. It is looking more likely that the food poisoning was tied to the bombing as several who became ill were unable to attend the lunch and were therefore spared. Then Max knows that he is onto something when his car brakes are tampered with, causing him to collide with a bus, and then his house is burned down. Things take a weird turn when he discovers that a man at the lunch is also involved in polo. He imports a large number of horses each year which Max figures out are being used to smuggle drugs. Long story short, the bombing was to teach the man a lesson from the ringleader of the operation because he discovered that he was skimming money from the drug operation. But he still wants to kill Max because he knows too much. But Max is saved by his new girlfriend, Caroline, who is a viola player suing him for the food poisoning incident. She uses her viola to knock out the bad guy, giving Max time to subdue him and call the cops. Why she had to use her instrument when she was in a restaurant kitchen that had frying pans and knives I do not know.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2008
Got this one at the library for beach reading as I've long had a soft spot for Francis' horsey tales. Darned if I didn't jump the gun and read the thing long before toe touched sand. Happily, there are plenty more quick-paced thrillers at the library that I can lug to the beach.
I have to say that this wasn't one of Francis' best. Perhaps his son as co-author has something to do with that, or perhaps it was simply that Francis hasn't fully returned to form after a long hiatus after his wife's death. Whatever the case, this was pretty lackluster. His hero never seemed to be that fully fleshed to me, and, worse, I simply didn't care much about his predicament. While all the typical Francis elements were in place (perhaps a bit too predictably), something just felt.... off.
On the other hand, I did read this pretty much straight through, which one could argue is the hallmark of a Dick Francis novel. It's a page turner, but it was the "who-done-it" that kept me going, not the fact that I was rooting for the chef/hero. Usually it's Francis' tough-as-nails and morally upright loner heroes that are the biggest appeal, even though everyone admits they're all pretty much cast in the some mold. Should I be so hard on the fact that this one seems less appealing? At times I found him downright unlikeable. He was quite the cold, calculating, self-absorbed yuppie, in a lot of ways.
Oh, and the romance that takes place between the central character and a viola player struck me as particularly unlikely. The love interest seemed particularly vapid, though I admit that I find *most* love interests so much silly window dressing in any case. (Yeah, enough with the kissy-face... on to the race scenes and car chases!)
I have to say that this wasn't one of Francis' best. Perhaps his son as co-author has something to do with that, or perhaps it was simply that Francis hasn't fully returned to form after a long hiatus after his wife's death. Whatever the case, this was pretty lackluster. His hero never seemed to be that fully fleshed to me, and, worse, I simply didn't care much about his predicament. While all the typical Francis elements were in place (perhaps a bit too predictably), something just felt.... off.
On the other hand, I did read this pretty much straight through, which one could argue is the hallmark of a Dick Francis novel. It's a page turner, but it was the "who-done-it" that kept me going, not the fact that I was rooting for the chef/hero. Usually it's Francis' tough-as-nails and morally upright loner heroes that are the biggest appeal, even though everyone admits they're all pretty much cast in the some mold. Should I be so hard on the fact that this one seems less appealing? At times I found him downright unlikeable. He was quite the cold, calculating, self-absorbed yuppie, in a lot of ways.
Oh, and the romance that takes place between the central character and a viola player struck me as particularly unlikely. The love interest seemed particularly vapid, though I admit that I find *most* love interests so much silly window dressing in any case. (Yeah, enough with the kissy-face... on to the race scenes and car chases!)
August 11, 2008
Oh, boy. Obviously Felix is being groomed to take over the Francis dynasty from his dad, but I think we should just let it end.
This had all the elements you expect in a DF book, but it was just missing...something. The thing I like about the other books is that they are perfectly comfortable--the writing never jolts you out of the story, and the characters behave in a way that makes sense while still being interesting. I never minded them being formulaic, because he always executed it so well.
With this one, I kept cringing at the writing, and wondering what the hell the people were thinking, and plus, the romance was just kind of creepy.
This had all the elements you expect in a DF book, but it was just missing...something. The thing I like about the other books is that they are perfectly comfortable--the writing never jolts you out of the story, and the characters behave in a way that makes sense while still being interesting. I never minded them being formulaic, because he always executed it so well.
With this one, I kept cringing at the writing, and wondering what the hell the people were thinking, and plus, the romance was just kind of creepy.
March 31, 2009
This had a double appeal, with a restaurant owner as the main character with a musician angle thrown in. (I used to own a restaurant and I play French Horn.) I have been reading Dick Francis for many years and have an extensive collection of firsts of his. Although he is now old and fragile, this piece co-written with his son encourages all us fans that he has passed on his talents. There's some interesting info about this collaboration on his website - worth a visit.
December 24, 2009
Cooking won't kill you but those who don't want you around will.
Great guide to the culinary skills of folks who cook in England.
Also great way for a jockey to stay close to the horses and the life of the track.
Dick Francis knows how to stay w/the changes of the Horse Industry and yet still proves that you have to know your subject to be good.
Great guide to the culinary skills of folks who cook in England.
Also great way for a jockey to stay close to the horses and the life of the track.
Dick Francis knows how to stay w/the changes of the Horse Industry and yet still proves that you have to know your subject to be good.
February 12, 2021
Read it long ago when dick Francis was putting out a new book just in time for my birthday every year. I liked his own books better, before he got to the point of needing Felix to help. It was fun to re visit a Francis mystery and character, but I did miss the closer connection to racing prevelent in earlier books.
February 12, 2018
the sense of humour evident in Bloodline has not returned. The plot twists and turns, but dragged slowly for many chapters and seemed unbelievable. The final few chapters brought it all together with an intensity as Max Moreton and Caroline fend off Komarov and a good customer/friend and an employee.
April 13, 2009
Dick Francis books never fail. Same formula perhaps, same type of protagonist, but the settings and individual characters are so well researched that each one is a fresh adventure from which I always learn something new. They're not all about horses!
January 16, 2023
Not as good the second time around. The romance was fine but the mystery made little sense.
January 15, 2017
really enjoyed the book. Very interesting.
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