Syndicate: Dick Francis Novels, Book 13

by Felix Francis

Chester Newton is a successful racehorse syndicate organiser and his company, Victrix Racing, is having its best year yet. When his prized horse, Potassium, wins the world-famous Epsom Derby, Chester is set to become the next big thing in British horse racing.

But one phone call changes everything.

Someone hiding behind a voice scrambler and an untraceable phone is demanding he fixes a race – and they’re willing to go after Chester’s family if he fails to comply.

Chester’s business is the only thing in his life that isn’t falling apart. With his marriage on the rocks and his children growing increasingly distant, he is not willing to let someone destroy the success he’s spent his life building.

Then his daughter is kidnapped and, very suddenly, it’s not just his livelihood that’s on the line. Now Chester must discover just how far he will go to protect his family …

Genres: Mystery, Horses, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Crime

Audible Audio

First published September 10, 2024

About the author

For over forty years, the London University grad helped father Dick Francis (31 Oct 1920 – 14 Feb 2010), ex-jockey known for horse-racing mysteries. In 2007, after 17 years teaching physics, he took on the job full-time. Experience also as international marksman aided research for Shattered, Under Orders, and Twice Shy. Co-author of NY Times bestsellers Dead Heat, Silks, Even Money and Crossfire.
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Reviews

[Kiwi Carlisle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am giving up on Felix Francis. The writing is awkward, characterization poor, and even the racing and horse related scenes fail to engross me. I couldn’t even feel for a supposedly imperiled character. When the typical single sex scene came along, it was so bald, boring, and blunt that I returned the book to my library.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually love a good racing book and have generally enjoyed the Dick Francis / Felix Francis series. This one started off good; however, I did not like the last half of the book. The infidelity element of the book towards the end turned me off and Chester was not a likeable protagonist. The writing style is great though and it reads quickly.

I still like these racing books as a whole, this one was just not one of my favourites.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the ARC.

[Kay Jarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still love the Francis style

This is an entertaining novel about horse racing. I think Felix sounds more like his Dad in this book than in any of his others. That is meant as a compliment. It was very enjoyable and please keep up the good work. I am a fan.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with Dick Francis mysteries in 1962 when I was 14. It was always the perfect match for me as I had my own horses and loved detective series. I think the first words that I must have said as a baby had to be chocolate, cat, and horse.... I have never had too much of any of these things. I would sometimes curse Mr. Francis because I had to get up for the bus at 6 am and I could not quit reading, and reading, and reading. I no longer have horses, but mysteries are my brain candy and Abby Tabby sits on my chest while I read. Now if I could only convince her not to knead with her claws with contentment. I mourned when Dick passed away in 2010. Now at 76 far too many of my beloved authors have passed away or are writing less. Fortunately sometimes the apple does not fall far from the tree. Cases in point: Tony Hillerman and his daughter Anne, James Lee Burke and his daughter Alafair, and now Dick Francis and Felix..... I cannot say that Felix, with this book, equaled the page-turning suspense that Dick would create. I enjoyed learning about the history of the English racetracks, but I pretty much figured out who had to be involved in the "abductions" and threats. I much prefer to be fooled. I still will continue to read the Francis family until I ride off into the sunset. Kristi & Abby Tabby Childless Cat Lady. ***p.s. Dick Francis was a jockey. If you want to read an amazing true-life story check out what happened when he was riding the Queen's horse in the Grand National and winning. There is video..... And you can read Dick's explanation.

[Cristo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm so sad to say this book may well be my final Francis (Felix) book.
Having loved the experience of reading his father's books, I've tried hard with Felix's attempts but they fall way short and this one's the worst.
I skim read much of this book and where Dick could bring his knowledge and the intricacies of racing to fascinating light, Felix just makes it a boring chore.
The story should have been more interesting as there were some twists but overall the book fell flat for me.
And the love interest part was poorly written too. Usually I'm rooting for the main character in a Francis book, but to me, Chester came across as rather wet and unlikeable
An unsatisfying and disappointing read.

[Caroline Magsaysay · Rating 2 out of 5]

HORSERACE BETTING

Not up to par with previous Felix Francis books. He is getting further and further away from the good old British mystery. Too much information about the British style of horse racing and betting, not enough story. Spoiler here.
Rotten kids, spoiled wife who hates horse racing and an affair with an American visitor rounds out an uninteresting book

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chester Newton has built his fortune organizing racehorse syndicates, where top horses are co-owned and managed by several parties. These joint enterprises are high risk and high reward. The stakes only get higher as the syndicates grow larger, and every race means the possibility of complete failure–or ecstatic success. After an anxious morning waiting for the results of the Epsom Derby, the premier flat race in the UK, Chester has an afternoon of explosive triumph–and an evening of total terror. Someone tries to take over one of his syndicates by force and by threats of serious harm to him and his family.
Another well written page turner which flowed when & I was thoroughly enjoying when my enjoyment was spoiled in the second half. I also didn’t warm to Chester but I was glad when he finally got a backbone. Whilst an enjoyable story it wasn’t my favourite
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Jerry B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, easy reading tale about a horse racing syndicate owned by a prosperous but likable and energetic protagonist, Chester. When his daughter is abducted as part of an attempt to fix races, things heat up. About midway through, we uncharacteristically smelled a rat and had a pretty good idea who the perp would turn out to be.

Meanwhile, Chester is going through an interesting time with his long-time wife -- it seems things have devolved into little more than cohabitation. When a flirty race attendee from America takes a shining to him, some fireworks follow that leave Chester full of doubts.

So an interesting, moderately suspenseful story that doesn't take long to read, by a favorite Francis-family author... {3.5}

[Ken Mattes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Francis novel revolving around horse racing and this time focused on Syndicates in owning horses.
The story looks at the extortion of throwing a race of the family of the head of the syndicate will suffer..

[Will · Rating 2 out of 5]

Syndicrap. Would have been 1 if it wasn’t based around Horse Racing.

[Monzell Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Felix Frances book, I think he's getting better, I've been a fan of his fathers book for years. This one has just enough going on to be interesting without to many charectors.

[Monnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've long been a fan of the author and before that his late father, Dick Francis - and even after all those years, for whatever reason, I took a special shine to this book. I even stayed up late one night just because I was at the 90% mark on my e-reader and didn't want to wait till morning to finish it.

My attraction wasn't just the story, although it's a good one; the owner/manager of a racehorse syndicate receives threats to his daughter's life (with actions to back them up) if he doesn't "fix" specific races in which his horses are entered. That part alone captured and held my attention from beginning to end; but sprinkled liberally in the mix were fascinating details about the racing industry, and syndicates in particular (most of which I was clueless about until now).

As a prominent and trusted member of the UK racing community, Chester Newton's reputation is at stake when he finds himself in a most unwelcome situation. After his grown daughter Amanda goes missing - and later turns up drugged but otherwise unharmed - he starts getting calls from an unknown caller that he must follow the caller's instructions or else the next abduction won't end as well. Meantime, his syndicate is doing exceptionally well thanks to a horse named Potassium, who unexpectedly wins the prestigious Epson Downs Derby - just the financial and public relations shot in the arm the syndicate needs to bounce back from its current stagnation. Getting caught fixing a race - or even thinking about it - would bring an end to an illustrious career and life as Chester knows it.

But what to do about it is another matter altogether; he certainly doesn't want to put his daughter's life in danger - nor that of his wife of 25 years, even though they've grown apart over the last several of them, nor Amanda's brother, who comes across as a sort of ne'er-do-well college student with no real purpose in his life.

With Amanda's return, Chester learns the local police have little interest in the case (after all, she wasn't really harmed - just drugged - and she claims to have no recollection of what happened to her anyway). So if he's to learn the identity of the threatening caller and bring him (or her) to justice, he's pretty much on his own. But how to do that without compromising his own values and bringing the professional life he loves to a quick end?

The details, of course, I cannot provide; for that, you'll have to read it for yourself (and obviously, I urge you to do just that). I will, however, happily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of another of this author's wonderful books. And oh yes, ready for the next one when you are!!

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one is just so-so. Way too many asides about race tracks, Royals at Ascot, legalities of syndicates that just seemed to be there to increase the word count. The affair was totally irrelevant to the plot. I guessed the villains right away but there was too little character development to make it seem realistic. I really liked Felix Francis' last book, but this was a let down.

[Hazel Newlands · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Dick Francis and his son Felix Francis books generally, but this is my least favourite by far. No point of the affair, fairly predictable "twists" and unlikeable characters. Very disappointed ☹️

[Traci Hunziker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pretty surprised, actually, about all of the 5 star reviews. Being a huge Dick Francis fan, I was sad to find that I didn't like these characters, and there was way too much explanation about betting, syndicates, etc. The affair seemed pretty silly, too. All in all, a big disappointment.

[Julie Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm such a Dick Francis/Felix Francis nerd that I was always going to be predisposed to enjoy this book but, regardless of this, this is a book that really delivers and is going to be a fabulous read for anyone who loves a racing-based thriller.

Here is the story of Chester Newton, a racehorse syndicate manager who is just about to achieve a dream and get a major boost to his business when one of his horses wins the Derby. His joy is short-lived, however, when the very same day he is contacted by a blackmailer who wants him to start fixing races. How will Chester choose between his family and his livelihood?

So begins a twisting, turning thriller where Chester tries to keep one step ahead of his adversary, keep his family and his business alive, whilst also trying to work out who is behind the criminal endeavour. I have to say, this is one of the tamer plots to grace the pages of a Francis thriller - there are no huge set pieces or shattering explosions as there have been in the past - here the action is all in the ups and downs of the races and the tension between the outward face that Chester has to present to his family and the racing world and his inner turmoil as he wrestles with his problems. But the book is not the less gripping for that.

Seeing an ordinary man (or woman) wrestle with an extraordinary and dangerous situation is the stuff of modern psychological thrillers and Felix Francis manoeuvres through the genre with extraordinary but unsurprising aplomb, after all, he learnt at the knee of the master! Even if you do not know anything about horse racing, syndication or gambling, you will easily be able to grasp the necessary information to understand and enjoy the plot of this story, as all the information you need is explained in easy to understand language. If you are a racing aficionado or an avid reader of racing thrillers (like me), some of this exposition slows down the plot a bit, but I understand the need for it and the bit of patience required in those parts is a fair payoff for the rest of the book.

I have to say, I did guess largely 'whodunnit' before the end, but enjoyed seeing if I was right and how Chester was going to work it out (and it's always gratifying to be vindicated in your guess!) I read the book in two sittings and, the pace of the book, the short chapters and the gripping plot made the time fly by. A great way to spend a wet, September afternoon.

Another great addition to the Francis canon, can't wait for the next one.

[Sue F · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun thriller in the classic Francis style…

I’ve long liked Dick Francis’ books, which always had some sort of tie-in to horses and horse racing. And that made for good, usually somewhat thriller-ish, mysteries. But I liked his books even more for their amazingly detailed backgrounds in a variety of businesses – and most of the time he had a different setting for each book. My mind simply boggles at the amount of research that takes. Sometimes the business was simply racing itself, but more often it was in some other area that was closely aligned to racing, such as transporting the horses to their races, or making the art glass sculptures used for race trophies, or providing the wine and spirits for racing parties. And while reading Francis’ books, I’ve painlessly learned about a lot of different industries, which was just plain fun, and has also helped me in more than one game of Trivial Pursuit!

Syndicate is written by Dick’s son, Felix Francis, and not by Dick himself, who passed away a while back. But it has the same approach: it’s a thriller set in in the high-stakes world of the syndication of horses for racing and eventually, hopefully, if the horse races well, also for stud. Don’t worry if you don’t know exactly what that means going in – Felix explains it all without being boring in the least! And as usual with a Francis book, either father or son, I enjoyed the story, but enjoyed the background setting even more.

Sadly, though, I did have one issue with Syndicate, which was that I found the protagonist, Chester Newton, to be rather unlikeable. (To be fair, he did get less annoying toward the end of the book.) I understand that in theory, main characters shouldn’t necessarily have to be likeable to still have a good book. But when I’m reading genre fiction, it’s usually for relaxation and enjoyment, and I DO want the protagonist to be someone I can empathize with. So Newton’s personality was an ongoing niggle. That was enough for me to take away a star, dropping Syndicate from five stars to four. But since I don’t give five stars easily anyway, four stars means Syndicate is still definitely worth reading. And finally, my thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and to Net Galley for the advance review copy.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 3.5, rounded up, because it was fairly un-put-downable and short. Felix Francis is a worthy successor to his father (and likely to his mother who was reputed to be the writer of many of Dad Dick's books), and he certainly seems to know a LOT about horse racing in Britain, race-tracks, betting, and race horse training. Which he includes in a LOT of detail in this book. It did teeter toward the pedantic on more than one occasion.

Chester Newton runs a syndicate for race horse ownership, and this involves chivvying up potential new syndicate investors, keeping the current investors happy by running their horses in races all over Britain, conferring with trainers and jockeys about training and race tactics, and appearing at said races, necessitating hauling all around the British countryside. There's a lot of description of various racecourses and a good chunk of ink to the Ascot races with everyone in morning dress and big hats.

Newton is good at his business; he's far less successful in his stale marriage and dealing with his two late-teens offspring. Spouse, daughter, and son are all sulky and entitled. Home, albeit familiar from routine, is far less appealing to Chester than his office, standing at the rail, or better yet, in the winner's circle.

Chester's existence - domestic and professional - are imperiled when he begins to receive NO CALLER ID phone calls demanding he fix the outcomes of his syndicate's horses running in various races with threats to his daughter's well-being, apparently validated by her vanishing disappearance from a big party at home. An abduction puts Chester on the horns of a series of ethical dilemmas - agree to extortion, jeopardizing his business and reputation, or not?

As other Goodreads reviewers have noted, the first part of the book was far better than the second, and the marital infidelity sub-theme was flat and forced. What really got to me throughout the book was the vast quantity of alcohol consumed - champagne, wine, beer by the gallons, it seemed, with Chester knocking back a lot and still driving his Jaguar. Those Brit livers must be mighty cirrhotic.

[David Bullock · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are books you love, books you don’t like, books you hate and books that just annoy the crap out of you. This is one of the latter.

Slabs of information seemingly copied from Wikipedia were boring and poorly explained.
The story is basically ok, but almost every character is unlikeable.

A 50+ year old man ‘Chester’ runs syndicates in horse racing for a living. (Not easily possible). He has a fabulous house and drives a Jaguar …. apparently.

It is at this stage you start to think this is an old man’s fantasy novel, not a true reflection of reality.

His children are both totally self-centred and obnoxious. Both lie and cheat almost compulsively. (Wonder where they got that from?)

Yes, there is a convoluted mystery which basically involves his own family ripping him off. (The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree)

His wife doesn’t understand him (sigh) as he goes each day to the races to support clients and trainers.

He meets a 44 year old American divorcee (seems to be a British habit) and of course the first thing she does is rip all her clothes off and say, ‘take me big boy’….. Really?

I cannot understand the fantasy opinion that has her doing that.

Chester is no spring chicken and as described in the novel, lives a totally sedentary lifestyle. His biggest exercise is walking from the carpark most days to the racecourse dining room.
He drinks around a bottle of red wine per day, eats packaged meals and seemingly could not make a salad without a chef instructing him. A sad old macho man.

Based on the story provided in the novel, at my estimate he must be 130kgs+
He never exercises, no long daily walks, no gym, eats nothing healthy and must look appropriately to that. Yet, svelte, nympho American ladies take one look and just rip their clothes off upon meeting him.

My best guess is that they see he is a heart attack waiting to happen and want to be first in line for the proceeds. Nothing else makes sense.

A book that probably says more about the author than anything else.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chester Newton is the organizer of several syndicates for racehorses. He finds the horses, finds the members to invest money, finds the trainers and the races, and then reaps the benefits. He's very successful, makes a lot of money and is very busy. He goes to the races almost every day and has to schmooze with the syndicate members and the trainers, and keeps looking for new investors. So on the day that Potassium, the syndicate's biggest prospect to win the Epsom Cup, his wife is also organizing a huge 25 anniversary party and birthday parties for their two children. What a lot of pressure! Potassium wins the race, but he can't stay and celebrate, has to rush home to help his wife with the huge party. Everything is going well, until his 19 year old daughter disappears. She turns up six hours later in a town 6 miles away, with no idea of how she got there and with drugs in his system. Now Chester is getting threats on his phone to stop certain horses from winning, or she'll disappear again. Chester tries hard to comply, but feels so guilty and afraid he's going to lose his reputation and his livelihood. Finally he refuses, but when the horse loses anyway, he feels relieved.

I was annoyed with Chester for being such a wimp, just folding over and doing what he's told by the police, his wife and his kids. Everyone had him running to comply with their wishes. When he finally took the time to think about what was going on, he suspects who the threatener is, and makes plans to reveal all.

I enjoyed that last half of this book more than the first. Also, there was way too much description of race courses and betting but I'm glad Chester got his backbone back.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this thriller.

[Dlora · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad horse story with lots of details about racing and betting; however, I was annoyed by the poor moral choices of the main character, Chester, who owns a successful racehorse syndicate. During the elaborate celebrations for his twenty-fifth wedding anniversary and the birthdays for his two children, his daughter is kidnapped. The police are less than helpful even though ketamine is found in her system when she finally is found. And then Chester receives a phone call from an unknown number with someone talking in a “squeaky voice” telling him he is to do what he is told “or next time she’ll come home in a body bag.” After several preliminary, testing phone calls, Chester is told what he is to do: “Dream Filler will run on Saturday but he won’t win.” Rather than going to the police, Chester ends up vacillating between hoping the horse will win and hoping he’ll lose, and in fact actually contemplating how to stop the horse somehow. And he just gets in deeper and deeper. Okay, so perhaps his choices are understandable, if not the wisest thing to do, putting his whole career in jeopardy. We all try to protect our children fiercely. His wife is adding to the stress with her hormonal, hysterical attitude; not the kind of loving helpmeet in difficult times, and Chester realizes their marriage is stale and degenerating. So while she is out of town with her parents when her father is very unwell, Chester ends up having an exciting, stress-reducing fling with a visitor to the races from the United States. That was the final behavior that killed my enjoyment for the book. Chester’s lack of integrity created too much of a distasteful feeling for the main character despite a suspenseful plot and a well-written setting.

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Syndicate, like many of Felix Francis’ novels and those of his father before him, may be more interesting for the ancillary details of the protagonist’s profession than the actual story. Oh, the story of the creator/manager of a large horse-racing ownership syndicate who is blackmailed to work against his own interests by an anonymous caller willing to abduct his family members and threaten to kill them does provide a page-turner. And, adding a little mid-life crisis “takes it up a notch” as Chef Emeril Legasse used to say.

There is a noir mix in the plot where the protagonist goes from triumph to potential tragedy. One finds oneself turning pages with a sense of “This can’t work out well.” Yet, one has hope. However, it simply doesn’t seem a good idea to turn one’s back on the police and try to muddle through by oneself. The conclusion doesn’t quite fit the usual noir formula, but it is somewhat fitting. Ah, well. Everyone can’t get what one deserves.

There is a mystery element to this thriller that wasn’t very well disguised. I was relatively certain of the perpetrator from the beginning and was proven correct. There was a perfect “red herring” that one would have liked to have been the baddie, but the motive never made sense. Even when one gets to the end and all is dramatically revealed, one wonders how one could be sophisticated with regard to betting schemes and be so nescient regarding the basics of entering horses in races.

Still, I always enjoy the novels of the late father and his son carrying on a marvelous mystery/thriller tradition. Syndicate is no exception. It is a fast, entertaining read. It didn’t disappoint.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Syndicate by Felix Francis is a solid addition to the Dick Francis legacy, diving deep into the high-stakes world of racehorse syndication. The protagonist, Chester Newton, is a seasoned organizer of these syndicates, where the ownership and management of top-tier racehorses are shared among several parties. This setup brings both immense rewards and significant risks, a balance that Chester has navigated successfully—until now.

The narrative begins with the tension of the Epsom Derby, a premier flat race in the UK, setting the stage for Chester’s rollercoaster day of triumph and terror. The stakes escalate dramatically when Chester faces threats not just to his business, but to his life and the safety of his loved ones. This shift from financial risk to personal danger adds a compelling layer of urgency and suspense to the story.

Felix Francis masterfully captures the intricacies of the racing world, blending them with a thrilling plot that keeps readers on edge. The character of Chester Newton is well-developed, showcasing his expertise and vulnerabilities in equal measure. The pacing is brisk, with each chapter building on the last, leading to a climactic conclusion that is satisfying and thought-provoking.

The Syndicate is a must-read for fans of the Dick Francis series and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted thriller set against the backdrop of the competitive and often perilous world of horse racing. Felix Francis continues to honor his father’s legacy while carving out his own niche in the genre.

[Audrey Haylins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in the day — and I’m talking 30-40 years ago — Dick Francis, steeplechase jockey turned crime writer, was one of my favorite authors. For reasons that escape me, it somehow passed me by that his son, Felix, had taken over his father’s mantle and legacy, continuing this niche series of thrillers set in the world of horse racing.

Syndicate is a brilliant read, all the more so for the author being so intimately acquainted with a sphere that the majority of people know only from the outside. I enjoyed this as much for the glimpses into the dress code and pomp of Royal Ascot as for its gripping, pacey plot.

The story involves racehorse syndicate organizer Chester Newton, whose company hits pay dirt when one of its horses wins the world-famous Epsom Derby, securing a windfall for its owners and boosting Chester’s reputation as a man who knows a winner when he sees one.

Chester’s elation is short-lived, however, as a stranger calls demanding that he throw a race, or else. When his teenage daughter is subsequently abducted, Chester knows the caller means business and that he must find a way to comply with their demands without falling foul of the racing authorities and losing everything he’s worked towards.

This was a quick, easy read, propelled along by short, snappy chapters that invariably ended on a cliffhanger. I loved how Francis added background color by describing race days and the various well-known venues as well as the ins and outs of horse-racing syndicates. In this respect, I found the style very similar to that of Jeffrey Archer’s William Warwick series.

Overall, I found this an exhilarating ride, starting off at a gentle canter and building to a full-throated gallop down the final straight; although I could have done without the romantic subplot, some elements of which seemed out of keeping with the overall vibe.

I’m keen now to take a look at Felix’s backlist and would recommend this series to all fans of cosy crime, especially if you like a flutter on race days.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

With this 2024 novel, I am now current on Felix Francis authored Dick Francis novels - one of my various reading goals for this year.

Following the last novel No Reserve which focused on bloodstock sales, this novel continues the ownership theme by focusing on syndication - which is of personal interest to me as a MyRacehorse microshare owner of multiple horses. I think the content related to the protagonist's role in syndication is some of the best of this novel. I agree with other reviewers that the infidelity storyline was the weakest aspect.

While this is a slim novel by page count (under 250), the typeface is super small. Guessing it would be 350-400 pages if printed in a more normal size typeface. Correspondingly, it seemed to be much more granular in horse racing detail than even the norm for a Dick Francis novel. Even for ardent fans, it might have been a bit much.

I did very much enjoy the ending setting of the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, which I have attended in 2015 and 2022.
If half-stars were an option, I'd rate 3.5 - I liked this one a bit more than No Reserve or Iced.

This book fulfilled the 2024 PopSugar prompt #21 - A book that came out in a year that ends with "24".

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The next ‘A Dick Francis Novel’ from the pen of his son and for many years co-writer. Chester Newton is a reasonably successful owner/manager of racehorse syndicates but with one outstanding flat race horse called Potassium. When he wins the Epsom Derby life for Chester has reached another level. Well written by someone who clearly knows the industry well.

Briefly, Chester’s wife doesn’t want anything to do with the sport or maybe even him any more; son James and daughter Amanda have both left home but on the evening of the win Amanda goes missing and Chester receives a phone call which changes his life and not for the better. What does the caller want? Will he comply with the threats and if not is he prepared to face the consequences?

Not being particularly knowledgeable about horse racing the inside information about the industry was interesting and added to the entertainment value of this thriller. Mixing the excitement of horse racing with race fixing, blackmail and gambling seems a tiny bit obvious but this is very good story and I raced through it (sorry!). My first read by this author and I find I enjoy horse racing novels, who knew. Very enjoyable read.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read some books by Dick Francis and always found the stories intriguing and gripping. I learned something about the world of races and horses.
This is the first I read by Felix Francis and it was an entertaining read that kept me turning pages.
It’s twisty, fast paced, and full of surprises. The characters are well developed and fleshed out, they grew slowly on me and the mood went from unlikable to interesting.
Chester is a man who must fight his own battle as there’s not a lot working in his private life: marriage crumbling, children growing distant. His got his horses and his job.
He could be on the verge of becoming the next big thing in the world of races but things could become dangerous.
This is the start of this intriguing mystery, a page turner that kept me guessing and being surprised by the twists.
I was fond of the description of the world of races as it was well done and a way to learn more about it.
I will surely read other books by Felix Francis, this one is highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Zaffre and Compulsive Reader for this copy, all opinions are mine

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another fantastic read by Felix Francis. This one involves a reasonably wealthy blood stock agent, who also runs syndicates. He’s married, with an adult son and daughter.
He’s bought a racehorse that turns out to be a horse of a lifetime, winning top class races easily. During a party that he threw for his daughter’s 18th birthday, she disappears, believed kidnapped. She did return a few days later, having been drugged. Shortly after her return, which was reported to the police, he receives a phone call, the person using a distorted voice, telling him his horse must loose the next big race, or worse will happen to his daughter.
There follows his own investigations, as the police aren’t too concerned. He does work out who the blackmailer is. The final two chapters are gripping. The blackmailer, to my surprise, was not who I thought it was. As always, the ending is very satisfying and totally believable.
Added to this fantastic story, are details of how Syndicates work, plus the preparation of a horse for a big race, as well as the rules and regs of racing. I always enjoy these details.
Felix Francis’s books never disappoint me. I’m looking forward to his next book, in 2025!

[Jackie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hadn't realized there was another Francis book out until I noticed this on the shelf at the library. With great anticipation I opened to the first page. Sigh.... this did not feel like the usual Francis book. I didn't even like the typeset - then I started searching online and realized Mr. Francis has a contract with a different publisher.

There's been a certain recognizable "style" to the writing of Dick (one of my all time favorite authors) and his son, Felix. A certain economy of words that nonetheless conveyed all a good writer wants conveyed. That seemed missing this time around. I have to admit I didn't even care for any of the family of the main character, much less the main character himself. They all just seemed stiff, wooden and shallow. The front flyleaf used the words "thrilling end". Hah.

Frankly, I didn't even read the entire book. I read over 60 pages, then flipped to the last 20 or so pages to see what was going on. Had already figured out the culprits (spoiled brats that they are) and called it done. I think the next time I want a good book, I'll find an older one by Dick. This one was totally unsatisfying for me.

[Peta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've said before that I enjoy these novels as I have a childhood connection with horse-racing. This one was yet another easy read. The addition of a little mid life sex to this story was not out of place and make it a bit less of a sterile storyline.

Vitrix racing syndicate owner Chester is a workaholic with a wife and two semi-adult children. the long term wife and he have reached the stage of their marriage being a comfortable and platonic relationship. Their kids are moving on with the their lives, showing only a passing interest in their parents.

Out of the blue, Chester starts receiving threatening calls - demanding that horses lose certain races, or else. In the midst of this, his daughter goes missing (abducted) and chester finds a love interest.
It becomes kind of obvious where the threats are coming from but the disappointing aspect of this story for me was the manner in which Chester supposedly discovers who it is and reveals it in a family meeting with a lawyer present.
That part was missing some key details for the reader - it had holes you could fall through.
Nonetheless it was still entertaining.