Outsider: A fast-paced racing thriller of danger and skulduggery

by John Francome

When the odds are stacked against you do you give in or get even?John Francome explores danger and skulduggery on the race track in his racing thriller Outsider. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis' Pulse and Triple Crown.'Thrills, twists and turns on and off the racecourse' - Irish Independent Already a leading jockey in his home country, Jake Felton comes to England to further his career and avoid confrontation with New York's racing mafia. But his plans to combine the life of an English squire with that of a top-flight jockey look like they're coming to a sticky end when he falls victim to a series of accidents that begin to seem all too deliberate. Aided and abetted by typical English rose Camilla Fielding, Jake discovers that he's been targeted by a ruthless and professional killer. And now he urgently needs to find out why...What readers are saying about 'True work of an excellent thriller writing' 'First class read as usual with all the twists and turns you would expect from Francome''Keeps you guessing until the end'

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 28, 1994

About the author

Ex-National Hunt Champion Jockey John Francome is a broadcaster on racing for Channel 4. He lives in Berkshire.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fra...

Reviews

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

First read in 2011: 4 *

On re-read in 2018: 3*
I picked this one randomly of my shelf, believing I had not read it before. After a couple of pages I realised that I had, but read it anyway. Previously I rated it 4 stars, but the plot clearly did not stick. Though I did recognise bits, mostly I felt like I was reading it for the first time. 

The author John Francome is an ex jumps jockey (also a famous face from racing programmes in the UK), who writes horse racing mysteries a la Dick Francis. I have read a couple of his novels, and overall they are pretty fun. This particular one is about a jockey, who realises that someone wants to get him killed and for most of the book he is trying to find out what is going on. 

I found it an entertaining enough read and I sped through it quite easily. This book is so clearly written by a man. I flinched a few times at some rather sexist remarks/sentences. Also, reacting to an attractive woman with a 'twitching groin' made me roll my eyes almost painfully. That and some mild casual racism stops me from rating the book any higher this time around. However, it was a fun read that does what it is supposed to do. It was never supposed to be a literary masterpiece and so I do not judge it as such. 

[Andy Phipps · Rating 4 out of 5]

These ex-jockeys sure know there way round a good thriller. Never disappointed with Dick Francis's efforts and two books into Mr Francome's output I'm likewise impressed with this storyline.
Would have been a good quick holiday read sitting there reading it to the accompanying sound of the waves breaking on the shoreline. I'm easily pleased but wouldn't hesitate to say if I'd read a stinker or if it was a 'hard' read but this was neither just an enjoyable dip into the equine world of racing with it's pacey sub plot to keep you keen.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable but enjoyable yarn. No great twists or turns, but an engaging thriller based in the horse racing world.

[Kathryn Fathers · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as good as Dick Francis. shows it's age as in details regarding men using women sensually. not sure about author would write like that now. we've come a long way since the 90s thank goodness. won't look for more

[Andra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read by one of my favourites. Just the right level of thrill, violence is there but well handled, scary but not overly so and part of the story.

[Paulette · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. It's clearly a Dick Francis knockoff. And really, reading repeatedly about how blood flowed to Jake's groin and his comments on women's physical attributes irritated me immensely.

[Mike Rymarz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable if ridiculously far-fetched, convenient and contrived plot.

[Joanna Reed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely the worst book I've read for awhile. I only gave it 2 stars as I enjoy reading about horses and racing. The main character was far too conceited for me. For the most part this was incredibly boring, predictable and unrealistic.