What do you think?
Rate this book
מרוץ עכברים
Matt Shore is a substitute pilot assigned to fly four racing buffs to the track. He quickly discovers that aboard his aircraft is a flurry of secrets, schemes, and sudden violence.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1970
318 people are currently reading
752 people want to read
About the author
Dick Francis
537 books1,255 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
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
January 23, 2018
This is a fairly typical Dick Francis novel. In this case, the loner, withdrawn protagonist is a pilot, Matt Shore, who once flew for BOAC but who is now reduced to flying puddle-jumper charters. It's not initially clear why this is the case. Like a lot of Francis's heros, Shore has also recently been divorced and is very gun-shy regarding women, although inevitably a beautiful and desirable woman will soon be practically dropped into his lap.
Matt flies a party of four to a race meet and only a minute or so after they land, the plane explodes. It's a narrow escape, and luckily no one is hurt. But several other incidents follow and it appears that someone may be targeting a prominent jockey who frequently flies with Matt. As usual, there's a dark sinister force lurking in the background pursuing a foul agenda irrespective of the cost in lives or in property damage. Matt will have to sort all of this out and tame his own demons as well if he hopes to bring the mystery and his own personal circumstances in for a happy landing. Anyone who enjoys Francis's work could spend a pleasant evening with this book.
Matt flies a party of four to a race meet and only a minute or so after they land, the plane explodes. It's a narrow escape, and luckily no one is hurt. But several other incidents follow and it appears that someone may be targeting a prominent jockey who frequently flies with Matt. As usual, there's a dark sinister force lurking in the background pursuing a foul agenda irrespective of the cost in lives or in property damage. Matt will have to sort all of this out and tame his own demons as well if he hopes to bring the mystery and his own personal circumstances in for a happy landing. Anyone who enjoys Francis's work could spend a pleasant evening with this book.
September 20, 2020
Dick Francis was a jack of many trades.During World War II,he was a pilot.Then he was a jockey,then a journalist and finally,a bestselling thriller writer.
His own experiences find plenty of expression in his books.Here,like the author himself,the protagonist is a pilot,ferrying a bunch of passengers to race courses.
Crooked characters get on board.There are bomb blasts and explosions,and the Francis hero finding himself in mortal danger,fights for his very survival.
Published in 1970,another cracking,gripping Francis thriller.Sustained tension and excitement,all the way.
His own experiences find plenty of expression in his books.Here,like the author himself,the protagonist is a pilot,ferrying a bunch of passengers to race courses.
Crooked characters get on board.There are bomb blasts and explosions,and the Francis hero finding himself in mortal danger,fights for his very survival.
Published in 1970,another cracking,gripping Francis thriller.Sustained tension and excitement,all the way.
May 16, 2023
Francis’ fans expect horse-racing action from him and this is often from the perspective of a jockey. Here that isn’t the case.
For those who have read much of Francis’ stories there is a general pattern:
• Our main character is usually a lonely guy, often damaged physically or otherwise.
• There is almost always a love interest involved, even when our main character is not aware/sure that is the case.
• The bad guys are not “gray” but “black” and rarely have any redeeming characteristics.
• Most stories will be more “thriller” than “mystery.”
Our main guy here is Matt Shore, a pilot, who is currently working far below his skills and training flying small planes which shuttle business and horse people between points at short distances. He gradually becomes aware that something dicey is going on between several of his customers. His more direct involvement is assured when his plane explodes (fortunately while no one is inside or near enough to be killed of injured).
I didn’t know that the author and his wife actually ran a similar business for a number of years. I am certain that helped ground this tale in reality. The story works, but I like his “standard fare” a bit better.
For those who have read much of Francis’ stories there is a general pattern:
• Our main character is usually a lonely guy, often damaged physically or otherwise.
• There is almost always a love interest involved, even when our main character is not aware/sure that is the case.
• The bad guys are not “gray” but “black” and rarely have any redeeming characteristics.
• Most stories will be more “thriller” than “mystery.”
Our main guy here is Matt Shore, a pilot, who is currently working far below his skills and training flying small planes which shuttle business and horse people between points at short distances. He gradually becomes aware that something dicey is going on between several of his customers. His more direct involvement is assured when his plane explodes (fortunately while no one is inside or near enough to be killed of injured).
I didn’t know that the author and his wife actually ran a similar business for a number of years. I am certain that helped ground this tale in reality. The story works, but I like his “standard fare” a bit better.
March 31, 2020
DAME AGATHA AND HER PEERS
BOOK 62
Is there ANYTHING Dick Francis hasn't done and/or any subject from whice he can't spin a good story? Granted, we are still in the world of horse racing...but actually, above it in the air.
CAST - 4: Matt Shore, pilot of a taxi-flying service (I had no idea there is such a thing) rises to heroism in this outing. Francis' heroes are just on this side of unbelievable, but that's fine, everyone likes them: Matt provides us with pure entertainment on a 'comfort read' level. Matt can't keep a job, stays in all kinds of trouble, and might be fired from his pilot position throughout the book. Matt's love interest is the lovely and smart Nancy, who is learning to fly as the story progresses. Nancy has a sister, Midge, who is ill. (In this author's "Forfeit" , the hero himself, James, has a wife who is an invalid.) Nancy and Midge live with their brother, Colin Ross, the superstar of the jockey set (a counterpart to Matt, a man heading toward superstardom himself if he can stay alive long enough). Chanter is a rather nasty piece of goods, chasing Nancy, grabbing at her, etc., at the most public of moments. (This would NOT happen in today's novels.) Then there are a couple of villians and they are up to something. But what is it? Very good cast. Almost forgot to mention: A Duke who isn't very smart and sees everyone as nice has a great, family relationship with a nephew and they both love playing with train sets. But the nephew (12 years old) is far more sensitive to the bad guys than the Duke. (I've a feeling the way the relationship is written couldn't be presented as such today, about 50 years after the publication of this book: an uncle and nephew spending a summer together, alone? Nope, unpublishable today. Sad.)
ATMOSPHERE - 5: To me, this is a set/an atmosphere I'm totally unfamiliar with and thus found fascinating. I learned much about planes and flying and, oh, I had no idea of the number of things that can go wrong during a flight. I learned how the richest of the racing world travel from race to race to villainous meetings. Francis knows his subject: he owned and ran, with his wife, a taxi plane service for 7 years then sold the business way back when, but that business is still in operation today (from the introduction). The entire story feels just right: you just know Francis has nailed it. There are 2 brilliantly written thrill/set pieces that could ONLY take place in the world of airplanes, both leading to a final climax involving planes and pilots at a horce race. PERFECTLY executed world providing too me an unexpected education.
PLOT - 3: I can't say much here other than the bad guys are gonna make lots of money and are willing to kill for it. The mystery is 'what' and 'when' and 'how' are the villians gonna get rich quick. And this is, at heart, a typical 'get-rich-quick' con game that we've encountered often.
INVESTIGATION - 4: Matt is on his own to pull himself up and out of the mess he is in. He does have help from the Duke and Nancy and even one of the suspected villains. There are some good red herrings like Larry, Matt's predecessor, has apparently resigned and taking off to Turkey. Did he really? And how far will Chanter go in his chase for Nancy when he realizes Nancy actually prefers Matt? There are just enough red herrings to throw a reader off track from the truth, and a singular absolutely thrilling rescue-in-midair that's as good as any thriller scene I've read. And just when I thought I'd read it all...
RESOLUTION - 4: ...Francis takes us down to a few seconds then...oh, just read the book. This isn't just an explanation of what's going on, but it's one accompanied by a final thrilling scene.
SUMMARY - 4 Stars for 4 reasons: 1) A beautifully portrayed atmosphere new to me and 2) thrill scenes that are among the best I've read in a long time and 3) Matt is the hero we all look for in books and 4) the following exchange:
COLIN ROSS (famous jockey talking to Matt): "...if you don't feel like going on [would you] care to let me take you home for the night? Then you can finish the trip tomorrow. It might be a fine day tomorrow."
MATT: "It might, but I could stay in Cambridge..."
COLIN: "Call your wife too,"
MATT: "Haven't got one."
COLIN: "Oh?" He [Colin] looked at me [Matt] with speculative curiosity.
MATT: "No, not that. Married 12 years, divorced three."
COLIN: "Better than me. Married 2 years, divorced 4."
At this point in the story, we've got a bromance brewing, at minimum. Colin is very famous, very
handsome, but very private (his focus is on family: his sisters Nancy and Midge who live with him.)
And that's the way Francis handles 'that': nice, firmly and people move on. It doesn't bother Matt that Colin sorta wants to know, Matt simply says "No," and has no hard feelings. And that's what regular people do: clarify and move on, issue resolved. It'd be great if everyone had that attitude in today's world.
It's true Francis has a certain formula, but it seems to me that formula is perfected here in the author's 9th "horse racing/crime novel." This was a one-sit read for me, and now I have two go-to-comfort reads: Christie AND Francis.
BOOK 62
Is there ANYTHING Dick Francis hasn't done and/or any subject from whice he can't spin a good story? Granted, we are still in the world of horse racing...but actually, above it in the air.
CAST - 4: Matt Shore, pilot of a taxi-flying service (I had no idea there is such a thing) rises to heroism in this outing. Francis' heroes are just on this side of unbelievable, but that's fine, everyone likes them: Matt provides us with pure entertainment on a 'comfort read' level. Matt can't keep a job, stays in all kinds of trouble, and might be fired from his pilot position throughout the book. Matt's love interest is the lovely and smart Nancy, who is learning to fly as the story progresses. Nancy has a sister, Midge, who is ill. (In this author's "Forfeit" , the hero himself, James, has a wife who is an invalid.) Nancy and Midge live with their brother, Colin Ross, the superstar of the jockey set (a counterpart to Matt, a man heading toward superstardom himself if he can stay alive long enough). Chanter is a rather nasty piece of goods, chasing Nancy, grabbing at her, etc., at the most public of moments. (This would NOT happen in today's novels.) Then there are a couple of villians and they are up to something. But what is it? Very good cast. Almost forgot to mention: A Duke who isn't very smart and sees everyone as nice has a great, family relationship with a nephew and they both love playing with train sets. But the nephew (12 years old) is far more sensitive to the bad guys than the Duke. (I've a feeling the way the relationship is written couldn't be presented as such today, about 50 years after the publication of this book: an uncle and nephew spending a summer together, alone? Nope, unpublishable today. Sad.)
ATMOSPHERE - 5: To me, this is a set/an atmosphere I'm totally unfamiliar with and thus found fascinating. I learned much about planes and flying and, oh, I had no idea of the number of things that can go wrong during a flight. I learned how the richest of the racing world travel from race to race to villainous meetings. Francis knows his subject: he owned and ran, with his wife, a taxi plane service for 7 years then sold the business way back when, but that business is still in operation today (from the introduction). The entire story feels just right: you just know Francis has nailed it. There are 2 brilliantly written thrill/set pieces that could ONLY take place in the world of airplanes, both leading to a final climax involving planes and pilots at a horce race. PERFECTLY executed world providing too me an unexpected education.
PLOT - 3: I can't say much here other than the bad guys are gonna make lots of money and are willing to kill for it. The mystery is 'what' and 'when' and 'how' are the villians gonna get rich quick. And this is, at heart, a typical 'get-rich-quick' con game that we've encountered often.
INVESTIGATION - 4: Matt is on his own to pull himself up and out of the mess he is in. He does have help from the Duke and Nancy and even one of the suspected villains. There are some good red herrings like Larry, Matt's predecessor, has apparently resigned and taking off to Turkey. Did he really? And how far will Chanter go in his chase for Nancy when he realizes Nancy actually prefers Matt? There are just enough red herrings to throw a reader off track from the truth, and a singular absolutely thrilling rescue-in-midair that's as good as any thriller scene I've read. And just when I thought I'd read it all...
RESOLUTION - 4: ...Francis takes us down to a few seconds then...oh, just read the book. This isn't just an explanation of what's going on, but it's one accompanied by a final thrilling scene.
SUMMARY - 4 Stars for 4 reasons: 1) A beautifully portrayed atmosphere new to me and 2) thrill scenes that are among the best I've read in a long time and 3) Matt is the hero we all look for in books and 4) the following exchange:
COLIN ROSS (famous jockey talking to Matt): "...if you don't feel like going on [would you] care to let me take you home for the night? Then you can finish the trip tomorrow. It might be a fine day tomorrow."
MATT: "It might, but I could stay in Cambridge..."
COLIN: "Call your wife too,"
MATT: "Haven't got one."
COLIN: "Oh?" He [Colin] looked at me [Matt] with speculative curiosity.
MATT: "No, not that. Married 12 years, divorced three."
COLIN: "Better than me. Married 2 years, divorced 4."
At this point in the story, we've got a bromance brewing, at minimum. Colin is very famous, very
handsome, but very private (his focus is on family: his sisters Nancy and Midge who live with him.)
And that's the way Francis handles 'that': nice, firmly and people move on. It doesn't bother Matt that Colin sorta wants to know, Matt simply says "No," and has no hard feelings. And that's what regular people do: clarify and move on, issue resolved. It'd be great if everyone had that attitude in today's world.
It's true Francis has a certain formula, but it seems to me that formula is perfected here in the author's 9th "horse racing/crime novel." This was a one-sit read for me, and now I have two go-to-comfort reads: Christie AND Francis.
July 2, 2017
I genuinely found this one a bit hard to follow. Due to some stylistic quirks (sentence fragments galore!), a tendency to bury plot points in boring dialogue, or just because I wasn't really paying attention? Eh, probably a combo platter.
I can tell you that emotionally-wounded pilot protagonist dude was super gay for uber-famous(-but-still-down-to-earth) racing jockey dude. So that was nice.
I can tell you that emotionally-wounded pilot protagonist dude was super gay for uber-famous(-but-still-down-to-earth) racing jockey dude. So that was nice.
June 7, 2019
A great rollicking yarn. Matt Shore a loner, divorced and a pilot working as a taxi pilot for wealthy people between race courses in England. He gets in embroiled in a thriller with first a near miss with a bomb and then a rescue of a sabotaged plane. Which the lovely Nancy is flying.
Easy to read and a good plot with an absentminded, kindly Duke and his nephew. The reason behind the bomb and sabotage is a fraud. Good characters and escapism.
Easy to read and a good plot with an absentminded, kindly Duke and his nephew. The reason behind the bomb and sabotage is a fraud. Good characters and escapism.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2022
In this novel, Dick Francis combines his experience as a racehorse jockey and a pilot (who successfully ran an air taxi service, mostly for clientele involved in horse racing), to present an exciting thriller. His practical knowledge of planes and horses becomes apparent, and it is clear that he doesn’t rely on 2nd hand research. He acknowledges his wife, who was also a skilled pilot.
One of my favorite books about aviation disasters is the short novel The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth, in 'Rat Race' novel, the hero, Matt Shore, does a similar maneuver to shepherd another flight in danger.
This was an enjoyable thriller with a clever plot of multiple murders, bomb scare, insurance fraud and a well-balanced romance.
I love Dick Francis's writing. Even if it is in 1st person, his heroes are modest and very likeable.
One of my favorite books about aviation disasters is the short novel The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth, in 'Rat Race' novel, the hero, Matt Shore, does a similar maneuver to shepherd another flight in danger.
This was an enjoyable thriller with a clever plot of multiple murders, bomb scare, insurance fraud and a well-balanced romance.
I love Dick Francis's writing. Even if it is in 1st person, his heroes are modest and very likeable.
April 20, 2019
I would have sworn that the reader for this audio book was Cary Grant, but it was Simon Jones. Whoever he is, I thank him for reading without emoting or trying to do voices and accents, just reading clearly and well and letting the story carry us along.
This is an oddity in the Francis canon--a mystery (almost) without a murder, and with very little actual racing. Not so much a "whodunit" as "who's up to what, here, and where is all this leading." The main character, again a divorced drifter who refuses (so he thinks) to get involved again in other people's lives, is an air-taxi pilot who just happens to work in the racing triangle of England. The book gets off to a very slow start, but progressively speeds up to the final get-me-out-of-this finish, only to chop off in the middle of Our Hero's famous final scene.
Dick Francis was in the RAF during WW2, but Mary was the one who got her pilot's licence and ran an air taxi for a time. And this book certainly has more of a ro-mance aspect--there is no sex, and no one is overtly crazy, except the jockeys who ignore major injuries in order to keep riding. I did find my mind wandering when they packed in all the technical details during the "midair rescue."
But never mind. It was well read and entertained me during the dire tasks of housekeeping, which is what I wanted anyway.
This is an oddity in the Francis canon--a mystery (almost) without a murder, and with very little actual racing. Not so much a "whodunit" as "who's up to what, here, and where is all this leading." The main character, again a divorced drifter who refuses (so he thinks) to get involved again in other people's lives, is an air-taxi pilot who just happens to work in the racing triangle of England. The book gets off to a very slow start, but progressively speeds up to the final get-me-out-of-this finish, only to chop off in the middle of Our Hero's famous final scene.
Dick Francis was in the RAF during WW2, but Mary was the one who got her pilot's licence and ran an air taxi for a time. And this book certainly has more of a ro-mance aspect--there is no sex, and no one is overtly crazy, except the jockeys who ignore major injuries in order to keep riding. I did find my mind wandering when they packed in all the technical details during the "midair rescue."
But never mind. It was well read and entertained me during the dire tasks of housekeeping, which is what I wanted anyway.
March 30, 2020
3 Stars. Life is not going well for Matt Shore. He's just into his new job with Derrydown Sky Taxi piloting trainers, owners and jockeys to horse racing meets around England when his plane, the company's new Cherokee Six, explodes on the tarmac. It was only his "We'd better land" precaution in mid-flight, the levers were sluggish, that saved his life and passengers including Colin Ross, the nation's leading jockey. Matt's been dropping in job level; now he's broke and being harassed by almost everyone: the Board of Trade air transport regulators, his ex-wife, his unsympathetic employer, and the competition Polyplane. But no one seems to be investigating these terrifying incidents, so he takes it on. Maybe he'll see Nancy more often, the sister of Colin Ross. Dick Francis' writing style demands you pay attention to every conversation if you want to have some idea of the plot. Do that and you'll find it a nice little story. (January 2018)
August 10, 2019
In this book, the horseracing plays only a marginal role, rather it is about flying.
Matt Shore is a pilot and flies trainers, racehorse owners and jockeys to the horse races. Already on the return flight of his first working day, his plane is blown up by a bomb. Luckily, no one hurt. Of course he has the commission of inquiry on the neck. Nobody can explain how the bomb came on the plane. At a later date, the plane of Colin Ross' sister is manipulated. She can land safely with a spectacular rescue operation.
Who is behind all this? Matt finds all the pieces of the puzzle with time, can he convict the villain before the next assassination?
Very exciting written.
Matt Shore is a pilot and flies trainers, racehorse owners and jockeys to the horse races. Already on the return flight of his first working day, his plane is blown up by a bomb. Luckily, no one hurt. Of course he has the commission of inquiry on the neck. Nobody can explain how the bomb came on the plane. At a later date, the plane of Colin Ross' sister is manipulated. She can land safely with a spectacular rescue operation.
Who is behind all this? Matt finds all the pieces of the puzzle with time, can he convict the villain before the next assassination?
Very exciting written.
September 28, 2016
The ending of this book was a cruel way to treat readers. It's extremely open ended, which isn't really Francis' normal style.
May 19, 2019
It is more than thirty years since I last read this story and it is great that it is now available to read on a Kindle. I welcomed the chance to re-acquaint myself with the story and found it as intriguing now as it was all those years ago.
Matt Shore has had a chequered career as a pilot through no real fault of his own. He is a very experienced and capable pilot and his latest role, taxiing people, is somewhat beneath his skills. However, those skills are going to be tested to the full in this intriguing mystery!
Whilst taking some racegoers home, he notices something feels untoward and makes an emergency landing. When the plane explodes within minutes of them leaving it that's the start of an investigation where it is unclear just when and how the bomb was put on board the plane or who was the target. As he continues flying race goers the mystery deepens, friendships are made and more dangers are faced. It is a fast paced story with flying and racing at its heart. The characters are well developed - there's even the possibility of a romance as well. I enjoyed re-reading this story and recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading suspense filled mystery stories set around the 1970s.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read this latest version of it.
Matt Shore has had a chequered career as a pilot through no real fault of his own. He is a very experienced and capable pilot and his latest role, taxiing people, is somewhat beneath his skills. However, those skills are going to be tested to the full in this intriguing mystery!
Whilst taking some racegoers home, he notices something feels untoward and makes an emergency landing. When the plane explodes within minutes of them leaving it that's the start of an investigation where it is unclear just when and how the bomb was put on board the plane or who was the target. As he continues flying race goers the mystery deepens, friendships are made and more dangers are faced. It is a fast paced story with flying and racing at its heart. The characters are well developed - there's even the possibility of a romance as well. I enjoyed re-reading this story and recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading suspense filled mystery stories set around the 1970s.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read this latest version of it.
January 3, 2022
I think I am fascinated by Dick Francis's protagonists because they couldn't be more different from me. They tend to be low key, quietly accepting abuse/misuse from those around them. Of course, ultimately, they get the upper hand, solve the mystery, and everyone lives happily ever after (except for the dead guys). Me, I'd be all up in someone's face, because I know I'm right. Maybe I should learn a lesson from DF but I'm afraid it's too late for me.
For instance, in this story, our hero, a pilot named Matt Shore, has to break some aviation rules in order to save two people who are flying blind in another plane. He saves them but then gets in all kinds of trouble for it. From his boss, from the aviation regulation board. C'mon, he saved people's lives !!!!!! Now, I'm all about the rules, I get it, but sometimes you just gotta do what's right. Our hero, Matt, doesn't argue when he's brought before the board and fined. He just shrugs it off. He's all, "Hey, I was doing my job and they're doing theirs". As I said Francis's protagonists are much better people than I am. At least more in control.
The only thing I wasn't thrilled about in this one was the fact that it was a little dated. Written in 1971, there's this hippy guy who is all anti-establishment and says things like "that ain't cool, man" I got annoyed whenever he showed up. Otherwise, a predictable quick read.
12/31/21-
I liked so much about this story. Pilot Matt Shore has been hurt by so many people in his past, that he puts up a wall so nothing can hurt him again. He avoids any kind of relationship because of betrayals by his ex-wife, former colleagues, as well as the Board of Trade’s (similar to US FAA) unwillingness to bend the rules based on extenuating circumstances. Do the right thing or follow the letter of the law? We know what ethical Matt is going to choose and we know the Board of Trade is going to sanction him.
I was disappointed in how quickly friends Colin and Nancy believed the newspapers’ stories about Matt rather than talk to Matt, who, incidentally, had just saved their lives. I also hate when a woman scorned immediately leaps into another relationship, rather than just be on her own. I know it’s a plot device but I feel like it’s used exclusively with women. (There may be times male characters do this but I can’t think of any.)
Aside from this, it’s a sweet love story and I like that it also makes Matt part of a family.
For instance, in this story, our hero, a pilot named Matt Shore, has to break some aviation rules in order to save two people who are flying blind in another plane. He saves them but then gets in all kinds of trouble for it. From his boss, from the aviation regulation board. C'mon, he saved people's lives !!!!!! Now, I'm all about the rules, I get it, but sometimes you just gotta do what's right. Our hero, Matt, doesn't argue when he's brought before the board and fined. He just shrugs it off. He's all, "Hey, I was doing my job and they're doing theirs". As I said Francis's protagonists are much better people than I am. At least more in control.
The only thing I wasn't thrilled about in this one was the fact that it was a little dated. Written in 1971, there's this hippy guy who is all anti-establishment and says things like "that ain't cool, man" I got annoyed whenever he showed up. Otherwise, a predictable quick read.
12/31/21-
I liked so much about this story. Pilot Matt Shore has been hurt by so many people in his past, that he puts up a wall so nothing can hurt him again. He avoids any kind of relationship because of betrayals by his ex-wife, former colleagues, as well as the Board of Trade’s (similar to US FAA) unwillingness to bend the rules based on extenuating circumstances. Do the right thing or follow the letter of the law? We know what ethical Matt is going to choose and we know the Board of Trade is going to sanction him.
I was disappointed in how quickly friends Colin and Nancy believed the newspapers’ stories about Matt rather than talk to Matt, who, incidentally, had just saved their lives. I also hate when a woman scorned immediately leaps into another relationship, rather than just be on her own. I know it’s a plot device but I feel like it’s used exclusively with women. (There may be times male characters do this but I can’t think of any.)
Aside from this, it’s a sweet love story and I like that it also makes Matt part of a family.
May 4, 2010
First Sentence: I picked four of them up at Whit Waltham in the new Cherokee Six 300 that never got a chance to grow old.
Matt Shore’s life and career as a pilot have been on a downward spiral. His latest job is with a flying taxi service for racecourses and his first flight ends with the plane exploding after he lands from sensing a problem with the aircraft. Although all the passengers are safe, it’s another black mark on Matt’s career and he wants to know why.
Although I’ve not read this particular book since January 1977, it reminds me why I became such of fan of Dick Francis’ writing.
The protagonist, Matt Shore, is so appealing and one of a style I appreciate—the “common” man caught up in an uncommon situation. He is not perfect. He is intelligent without being egotistical, attractive without being overbearing, and heroic without being macho. And, he gets the girl, but you know there are painful incidences along the way.
In spite of the opening portent, the story captivates you from the very first page and never lets you go. The pacing between suspense and respite is every effective. The writing is masterful—not a term I use lightly—and imminently readable. I was surprised how much of the plot I remembered after all these years, and that’s a real tribute to the author.
Whether Dick or Mary Francis was the primary author of this, and the other books by Dick Francis, I frankly don’t care. All I know is that it was a great read when I read it the first time, and it is a great read now.
RAT RACE (Ama Sleu-Matt Shore-England-Cont) – VG+
Francis, Dick – 10th in series
Harper & Row, ©1971, US Hardcover – ISBN: 978-0060113223
Matt Shore’s life and career as a pilot have been on a downward spiral. His latest job is with a flying taxi service for racecourses and his first flight ends with the plane exploding after he lands from sensing a problem with the aircraft. Although all the passengers are safe, it’s another black mark on Matt’s career and he wants to know why.
Although I’ve not read this particular book since January 1977, it reminds me why I became such of fan of Dick Francis’ writing.
The protagonist, Matt Shore, is so appealing and one of a style I appreciate—the “common” man caught up in an uncommon situation. He is not perfect. He is intelligent without being egotistical, attractive without being overbearing, and heroic without being macho. And, he gets the girl, but you know there are painful incidences along the way.
In spite of the opening portent, the story captivates you from the very first page and never lets you go. The pacing between suspense and respite is every effective. The writing is masterful—not a term I use lightly—and imminently readable. I was surprised how much of the plot I remembered after all these years, and that’s a real tribute to the author.
Whether Dick or Mary Francis was the primary author of this, and the other books by Dick Francis, I frankly don’t care. All I know is that it was a great read when I read it the first time, and it is a great read now.
RAT RACE (Ama Sleu-Matt Shore-England-Cont) – VG+
Francis, Dick – 10th in series
Harper & Row, ©1971, US Hardcover – ISBN: 978-0060113223
September 10, 2011
Typical Dick Francis thriller. He makes it very easy to root for the main character (the quiet underdog hero who gets caught in some illegal / ruthless heist) and to sincerely hope he will get the girl in the end.
Fast paced and interesting in the flying taxi details, for me it suffers a little due to the rather obvious and insufficiently convincing bad guy. But as far as I'm concerned, Francis could pick any boring subject and still make it an etntertaining ride - I seem to remember one book with an accountant as the hero.
Fast paced and interesting in the flying taxi details, for me it suffers a little due to the rather obvious and insufficiently convincing bad guy. But as far as I'm concerned, Francis could pick any boring subject and still make it an etntertaining ride - I seem to remember one book with an accountant as the hero.
Read
July 18, 2019Read this back in June and neglected to log it. I have a soft spot for aviation stories, and when they're combined with a mystery? Even better. But I came away from this one torn over how to rate it, because it has good points and bad points. The mystery/suspense element is cleverly crafted, the material on aviation and horse-racing flawlessly integrated into the plot; and Francis creates some well-drawn characters that the reader comes to care strongly about. But there was just a lot more profanity and vulgarity than I care to read in a book.
(I was also very vexed with a certain ambiguity in the last few pages, which seems as if it could have indicated either an absolutely perfect ending or one that would have made me throw the book across the room.)
(I was also very vexed with a certain ambiguity in the last few pages, which seems as if it could have indicated either an absolutely perfect ending or one that would have made me throw the book across the room.)
Read
October 11, 2025I only started reading this book because my old roommate, Lucie, told me the movie was hilarious. Different plot. Not based on this book at all. I ignored all context clues apparently since this takes place in the UK, not Las Vegas. It’s about horse jockeys and airplanes. It’s a mystery-thriller, not a comedy. I do have the tendency to think things are supposed to be funny when they’re not so that’s on me. I started this one one like: “lol I love the dry humor.” There is a little bit of humor, but it’s nothing like RAT RACE with Cuba Gooding Jr. Once I realized my mistake, I almost stopped reading it. I decided I wanted to know what the bomb stuff was all about so I switched to audiobook and listened to it on 2X speed.
June 28, 2021
Love his books, another good one
January 8, 2025
If you like a good mystery you'll like any of the Dick Francis books. Cuddle up next to a fire on a cold night and enjoy.
July 22, 2017
A good story , slightly old fashioned style but very enjoyable
October 15, 2022
Always a pleasure to read Dick Francis. Uses much research for more than horse racing. Each mystery theme is different. He rarely disappoints. This one involves air taxi service. 5 🌟!
September 28, 2022
A love story and a Dick Francis mystery, what’s not to love?
Great book, great hero, great finish. One of Dick Francis’s early books — and one written with the help of his wife Mary. You’ll love it and read it over and over just as I and hundreds of others have.
Great book, great hero, great finish. One of Dick Francis’s early books — and one written with the help of his wife Mary. You’ll love it and read it over and over just as I and hundreds of others have.
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 10, 2019
Matt Shore is a private pilot whose career has slid slowly downwards due to circumstances beyond his control. He’s now working for a very small, struggling commuter airline that often ferries jockeys, owners and other horse racing aficionados between racetracks.
Some near-fatal incidents, including a bomb on the plane while it is on the ground, alert Matt that something is badly amiss. But who is the target? The popular jockey who can coax wins out of unlikely horses? The trainer and owner who are known to fix races to win money betting? Someone out of Matt’s own slightly checkered past?
The horses themselves take a more minor role in this novel than in many of Francis’s other books. I did enjoy the details of flying an aircraft, which, since it is also one of Francis’s loves is full of authentic details. For me, that’s the allure of the Francis books: the details, especially the horse details ring true. That along with a protagonist who truly is trying to do the right thing make these comfort reads for me.
Some near-fatal incidents, including a bomb on the plane while it is on the ground, alert Matt that something is badly amiss. But who is the target? The popular jockey who can coax wins out of unlikely horses? The trainer and owner who are known to fix races to win money betting? Someone out of Matt’s own slightly checkered past?
The horses themselves take a more minor role in this novel than in many of Francis’s other books. I did enjoy the details of flying an aircraft, which, since it is also one of Francis’s loves is full of authentic details. For me, that’s the allure of the Francis books: the details, especially the horse details ring true. That along with a protagonist who truly is trying to do the right thing make these comfort reads for me.
June 7, 2019
This is one of the more complicated Dick Francis mysteries. Matt Shore is a pilot for a small airline service that makes most of its money ferrying owners, trainers and jockeys to and from horse races. Matt’s a very capable pilot who’s had a run of bad luck which is just about to get much worse. His plane blows up right after he and his passengers have disembarked. No one is killed but when the investigation shows that a bomb caused the explosion, it certainly raises the question of whom someone wanted dead.
Things get more mysterious as Matt tries to figure out who could have planted the bomb and who was the intended target. Even when he thinks he’s figured out the identity of the assassin he can’t figure out the motive and in this case motive is absolutely key to proving guilt. This is a good mystery with some of Francis’ better personal relationships. A fine novel all around.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
Things get more mysterious as Matt tries to figure out who could have planted the bomb and who was the intended target. Even when he thinks he’s figured out the identity of the assassin he can’t figure out the motive and in this case motive is absolutely key to proving guilt. This is a good mystery with some of Francis’ better personal relationships. A fine novel all around.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
July 25, 2021
I'd forgotten just how good the classic Dick Francis books are. That opening paragraph grabs you right by the scruff of the neck and doesn't let you go.
It's pretty much got it all: the trademark details that make you feel as if you know a new subject (in this case it's small-plane aviation), the twisty plot as to who did what and why, the well-developed characters, in this case involving several people who might in another book have been cardboard caricatures or villains but turn out to be sympathetic, and of course the edge-of-the-seat thriller elements. And the setting in the author's beloved racing world, here seen from the point of view of a short-hop taxi pilot who ends up befriending the family of one of his racecourse passengers.
We can't help feeling sorry for the friendly dim Duke, or the transferred enchantment of dying Midge's last golden summer. And it's probably the only thriller in which the villain's fatal flaw is his failure to apply mascara!
It's pretty much got it all: the trademark details that make you feel as if you know a new subject (in this case it's small-plane aviation), the twisty plot as to who did what and why, the well-developed characters, in this case involving several people who might in another book have been cardboard caricatures or villains but turn out to be sympathetic, and of course the edge-of-the-seat thriller elements. And the setting in the author's beloved racing world, here seen from the point of view of a short-hop taxi pilot who ends up befriending the family of one of his racecourse passengers.
We can't help feeling sorry for the friendly dim Duke, or the transferred enchantment of dying Midge's last golden summer. And it's probably the only thriller in which the villain's fatal flaw is his failure to apply mascara!
June 17, 2019
I’ve only recently become a fan of Dick Francis, and wasn’t sure about a ‘pilot’ vs. a ‘horse’ story. I shouldn’t have worried! Great book for any mystery lover—and if you have any interest in horse racing, small planes, British or classic mysteries, that’s just a plus!
Great protagonist, lots of great characters, interesting storyline, and a challenging mystery. Bogs down a little in the middle, and yes, it’s a little heavy on the flying details, but overall a great, and grab-your-attention read.. Recommend!
UPDATE: I enjoyed this so much I’ve since read another four or five Dick Francis books, and hope to be reading more as they’re released on Kindle. Yes, there are similar elements to each, but each is also a unique mystery of its own, and always populated with interesting characters and situations.
Great protagonist, lots of great characters, interesting storyline, and a challenging mystery. Bogs down a little in the middle, and yes, it’s a little heavy on the flying details, but overall a great, and grab-your-attention read.. Recommend!
UPDATE: I enjoyed this so much I’ve since read another four or five Dick Francis books, and hope to be reading more as they’re released on Kindle. Yes, there are similar elements to each, but each is also a unique mystery of its own, and always populated with interesting characters and situations.
June 25, 2020
Rat Race is one of my favourite of Dick Francis' books being a amalgamation of the flying and racing world, one of which most of us never experience in real life. Just great fun! When I downloaded this book I had not appreciated that it is a new copy of an old masterpiece. I am a great Dick Francis fan and have really enjoyed getting acquainted with his work again. I read all the books in my younger years but having this on my Kindle has reminded me how much I enjoyed the trill of reading about the racing world and I will now seek out more of the same to reread and enjoy.
August 4, 2019
I read my first Dick Francis book many, many years ago. I loved his books then and have never turned down an opportunity to read another. He writes what he knows, horses and their surrounding environment. His experience in this segment of life shines through the stories, giving them an extra "kick" to keep the reader interested. With authentic back stories and great characters, any Dick Francis book will keep you reading, from first page to last, you're guaranteed a good book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews