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Jefferson Hinkley #2
Front Runner
Jefferson Hinkley is back in the newest Dick Francis thriller by the New York Times–bestselling author of Damage.
In his role as an undercover investigator for the British Horseracing Authority, Jeff Hinkley is approached by a multi-time champion jockey to discuss the delicate matter of losing races on purpose. Little does he know that the call will set off a lethal chain of events, including the apparent suicide of the jockey and an attempt on Hinkley’s own life. Never one to leave suspicious events alone, Hinkley begins investigating the jockey and the races he may have thrown. But there are others out there who intend to prevent his inquiry from probing further . . . at any cost.
In his role as an undercover investigator for the British Horseracing Authority, Jeff Hinkley is approached by a multi-time champion jockey to discuss the delicate matter of losing races on purpose. Little does he know that the call will set off a lethal chain of events, including the apparent suicide of the jockey and an attempt on Hinkley’s own life. Never one to leave suspicious events alone, Hinkley begins investigating the jockey and the races he may have thrown. But there are others out there who intend to prevent his inquiry from probing further . . . at any cost.
372 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2015
290 people are currently reading
606 people want to read
About the author
Felix Francis
47 books538 followersFor 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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May 12, 2023DNF
The premise in the opening pages is so ridiculous that I couldn't go on. Everyone, including police, just assume the identity of a subject and proceed as if it is fact.
The premise in the opening pages is so ridiculous that I couldn't go on. Everyone, including police, just assume the identity of a subject and proceed as if it is fact.
August 15, 2019
A nerve wracking ride from the starting gate all the way to the wire!
“Come on, Dave, you asked me to come all this way because you had something to tell me that couldn’t be said on the phone. So here I am. Speak to me.”
He concentrated hard on the road ahead and said nothing as the Jaguar’s speedometer climbed rapidly past a hundred miles per hour.
“Are you in some sort of trouble?” I asked, although he certainly would be if what he’d told me were true.
He eased up on the power and pulled over toward the left. For a nasty moment, I thought he was going to stop on the hard shoulder and chuck me out, but he didn’t. He just drove sedately along in the inside lane at a mere eighty-five.
“Jeff, can I speak to you off the record?” he asked again.
“You know I can’t agree to that. This is my job.”
“It’s my bloody job that I’m more worried about.”
We took the exit off the freeway at Newbury and I sat and waited quietly while he negotiated the traffic lights at the intersection.
“Look, I’ll keep what you say confidential if I can,” I said, encouraging him to go on. “But no promises.”
He must know that I was obliged to report any breach of the rules to the BHA Disciplinary Committee.
He sighed deeply. “I need your help.”
“Ask away.”
“I’m being blackmailed.”
************
*Audiobook Review*
Front Runner by Felix Francis is the second book in the Jefferson "Jeff" Hinkley series and is just as thrilling as the first! Perhaps leg two of the Triple Crown! Seems only fitting that book three is indeed titled Triple Crown!
Jeff is a very likable character as is his older sister, Faye, who is twelve years older and has acted like a mother after their real mom died of cancer when Jeff was only eight.
*Narrator, Martin Jarvis's 5★ performance was flawless, providing additional defining characteristics and personality to the characters, along with a higher level of excitement, drama, and suspence to the storyline!
I read the book the first time around several years ago and I think listening to the audiobook is better than reading it!
I mentioned in my reviews of the first novel, Dick Francis's Damage, and the third, Triple Crown,that the series doesn't have to be read in order but the character's stories do continue from the previous installments so I recommend reading them in order to get the most from the books.
Felix Francis is the son of the former champion jump jockey, Dick Francis, who wrote more than fifty novels following his retirement from riding. The books are all centered around British horse racing in one way or another.
Dick Francis & Felix Francis co-authored several novels together before Felix took over the rains following his father's death. He's certainly a chip off the old salt block and an accomplished writer in his own right!
For more on father and son horse racing mystery novels and a bit of history about Dick's riding career, here's the link to my review of the first in this series, Dick Francis's Damage.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
“Come on, Dave, you asked me to come all this way because you had something to tell me that couldn’t be said on the phone. So here I am. Speak to me.”
He concentrated hard on the road ahead and said nothing as the Jaguar’s speedometer climbed rapidly past a hundred miles per hour.
“Are you in some sort of trouble?” I asked, although he certainly would be if what he’d told me were true.
He eased up on the power and pulled over toward the left. For a nasty moment, I thought he was going to stop on the hard shoulder and chuck me out, but he didn’t. He just drove sedately along in the inside lane at a mere eighty-five.
“Jeff, can I speak to you off the record?” he asked again.
“You know I can’t agree to that. This is my job.”
“It’s my bloody job that I’m more worried about.”
We took the exit off the freeway at Newbury and I sat and waited quietly while he negotiated the traffic lights at the intersection.
“Look, I’ll keep what you say confidential if I can,” I said, encouraging him to go on. “But no promises.”
He must know that I was obliged to report any breach of the rules to the BHA Disciplinary Committee.
He sighed deeply. “I need your help.”
“Ask away.”
“I’m being blackmailed.”
************
*Audiobook Review*
Front Runner by Felix Francis is the second book in the Jefferson "Jeff" Hinkley series and is just as thrilling as the first! Perhaps leg two of the Triple Crown! Seems only fitting that book three is indeed titled Triple Crown!
Jeff is a very likable character as is his older sister, Faye, who is twelve years older and has acted like a mother after their real mom died of cancer when Jeff was only eight.
*Narrator, Martin Jarvis's 5★ performance was flawless, providing additional defining characteristics and personality to the characters, along with a higher level of excitement, drama, and suspence to the storyline!
I read the book the first time around several years ago and I think listening to the audiobook is better than reading it!
I mentioned in my reviews of the first novel, Dick Francis's Damage, and the third, Triple Crown,that the series doesn't have to be read in order but the character's stories do continue from the previous installments so I recommend reading them in order to get the most from the books.
Felix Francis is the son of the former champion jump jockey, Dick Francis, who wrote more than fifty novels following his retirement from riding. The books are all centered around British horse racing in one way or another.
Dick Francis & Felix Francis co-authored several novels together before Felix took over the rains following his father's death. He's certainly a chip off the old salt block and an accomplished writer in his own right!
For more on father and son horse racing mystery novels and a bit of history about Dick's riding career, here's the link to my review of the first in this series, Dick Francis's Damage.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 22, 2015
One of the most successful continuations of the works of a popular author who has passed away is, IMHO, that of Felix Francis, son of the late Dick Francis. I used to love reading the father's tales set in Great Britain's horseracing scene (most often steeplechase), and I was very sorry to learn of his death in 2010 at the age of 89.
Felix Francis, a physics teacher, helped his father with both research and writing (as did, reportedly, the late Francis's wife and Felix's mother, Mary, who died in 2000). So in 2011, when Felix wrote his first solo book, Gamble, I wasn't too surprised that it wasn't much of a departure from earlier books Felix had co-written - nor were the three others that preceded this one.
Now that I've finished it, consider me still happy. This may not be the best of the Felix-written bunch; except for the main character, British Horseracing Authority undercover investigator Jeff Hinkley, none of the other characters ever really developed much of a "personality," although the plot moved quickly and held my attention throughout. Hinkley, by the way, also appeared in the Felix Francis-written Damage, published in 2014, but the two books stand alone.
This one begins as a popular winning jockey reveals to Hinkley that he's lost at least one race on purpose; but before he can spill the rest of the beans, he dies in what's being called a suicide. Meanwhile, Hinkley - who has come to the jockey's home to learn more - ends up locked in the jockey's super-hot sauna. Apparently, the jockey decided he didn't want his secret to get out, but then, overcome with remorse, he offed himself.
Managing to escape from the killer heat (that's not a spoiler - you wouldn't really expect the hero to die in the first few pages, did you?), Hinkley decided to do more investigating and discovers a few more irregularities of race-fixing and illegal wagers. And suddenly, he finds himself in the crosshairs of someone - or more than one someone - intent on silencing him forever.
Also of interest to me is that one of the locations where action takes place in the book is the Cayman Islands - interesting because that's where the elder Francis was when he died (he had a home there).
Felix Francis, a physics teacher, helped his father with both research and writing (as did, reportedly, the late Francis's wife and Felix's mother, Mary, who died in 2000). So in 2011, when Felix wrote his first solo book, Gamble, I wasn't too surprised that it wasn't much of a departure from earlier books Felix had co-written - nor were the three others that preceded this one.
Now that I've finished it, consider me still happy. This may not be the best of the Felix-written bunch; except for the main character, British Horseracing Authority undercover investigator Jeff Hinkley, none of the other characters ever really developed much of a "personality," although the plot moved quickly and held my attention throughout. Hinkley, by the way, also appeared in the Felix Francis-written Damage, published in 2014, but the two books stand alone.
This one begins as a popular winning jockey reveals to Hinkley that he's lost at least one race on purpose; but before he can spill the rest of the beans, he dies in what's being called a suicide. Meanwhile, Hinkley - who has come to the jockey's home to learn more - ends up locked in the jockey's super-hot sauna. Apparently, the jockey decided he didn't want his secret to get out, but then, overcome with remorse, he offed himself.
Managing to escape from the killer heat (that's not a spoiler - you wouldn't really expect the hero to die in the first few pages, did you?), Hinkley decided to do more investigating and discovers a few more irregularities of race-fixing and illegal wagers. And suddenly, he finds himself in the crosshairs of someone - or more than one someone - intent on silencing him forever.
Also of interest to me is that one of the locations where action takes place in the book is the Cayman Islands - interesting because that's where the elder Francis was when he died (he had a home there).
January 21, 2020
3.5 stars
I feel it's only fair to point out that I just finished rereading most of Dick Francis' books, so the differences between the Dick Francis originals and the newer ones by Felix were more pronounced. I didn't realize how *well* Dick Francis could create a character and a scene with so few lines.
Nicely convoluted and twisty plot, but I didn't feel that any of the characters (except maybe Jeff) had any depth. It lacked resolution. That said, it was an enjoyable read and I finished it at 1am, so make of that what you will.
Note to G.P. Putname: Londoners do not own cell phones, apartments, or sneakers; a car has a boot while luggage may be a trunk; and anyone rifling through a pants pocket would be quickly arrested for indecent assault (if indeed such a thing exists). This is why I stopped buying British books published in the U.S.
I feel it's only fair to point out that I just finished rereading most of Dick Francis' books, so the differences between the Dick Francis originals and the newer ones by Felix were more pronounced. I didn't realize how *well* Dick Francis could create a character and a scene with so few lines.
Nicely convoluted and twisty plot, but I didn't feel that any of the characters (except maybe Jeff) had any depth. It lacked resolution. That said, it was an enjoyable read and I finished it at 1am, so make of that what you will.
Note to G.P. Putname: Londoners do not own cell phones, apartments, or sneakers; a car has a boot while luggage may be a trunk; and anyone rifling through a pants pocket would be quickly arrested for indecent assault (if indeed such a thing exists). This is why I stopped buying British books published in the U.S.
October 14, 2015
A solid read by Felix Francis. I continue to enjoy his stand alone thrillers. This one started off with a bang in typical hero in peril fashion. The mystery was decently complex and the characters well developed. There was a fun nod to his father near the end of the book. Still that was only a small quibble. Sign me up for the next one.
June 19, 2018
Felix Francis's second novel featuring BHA investigator Jeff Hinkley fair tears out of the gate, gallops along at high pace, and doesn't let up until it passes the finishing post. The sequel to DAMAGE and fore-runner to the US-set TRIPLE CROWN, it could be read as a standalone and you don't need to have read the prior Hinkley tale to get the most out of this one. There's plenty enough salted in to give you a sense of the main character and something of his history before the first page.
Here, Hinkley is investigating claims that a bettor may be operating on behalf of someone who has been banned from racing, but ends up looking into something far more dangerous. Britain's top steeplechase jockey, who Hinkley is on friendly terms with, intimates to Hinkley that he did less than his best in a recent race, before clamming up. As Hinkley tries to find out more, without immediately reporting the jockey, everything goes wrong. He's locked in the jockey's sauna and left to die, and even after breaking out, later discovers that the jockey has been found dead in his car.
A suicide because of his guilt? Or is more involved.
This is a really fun, easy read that fair tears along. Francis has an unobtrusive writing style that flows quickly, filled with plenty of action and incident to keep the pages whirring. Hinkley is an engaging hero, likable and interesting. Some of the other characters feel a little more like moving parts. There's a lot going on plotwise, and readers get a bit of an adventurous treat when Hinkley ends up leaving the mud and thundering hooves of the British racecourses to vacation in the Cayman Islands. Of course trouble is not far away.
A fun, exciting read that shows Felix Francis is more than just a foal with good bloodlines. He's a storytelling thoroughbred in his own right.
Here, Hinkley is investigating claims that a bettor may be operating on behalf of someone who has been banned from racing, but ends up looking into something far more dangerous. Britain's top steeplechase jockey, who Hinkley is on friendly terms with, intimates to Hinkley that he did less than his best in a recent race, before clamming up. As Hinkley tries to find out more, without immediately reporting the jockey, everything goes wrong. He's locked in the jockey's sauna and left to die, and even after breaking out, later discovers that the jockey has been found dead in his car.
A suicide because of his guilt? Or is more involved.
This is a really fun, easy read that fair tears along. Francis has an unobtrusive writing style that flows quickly, filled with plenty of action and incident to keep the pages whirring. Hinkley is an engaging hero, likable and interesting. Some of the other characters feel a little more like moving parts. There's a lot going on plotwise, and readers get a bit of an adventurous treat when Hinkley ends up leaving the mud and thundering hooves of the British racecourses to vacation in the Cayman Islands. Of course trouble is not far away.
A fun, exciting read that shows Felix Francis is more than just a foal with good bloodlines. He's a storytelling thoroughbred in his own right.
August 29, 2019
First Read (07/17): It was enjoyable to read this book while I was just in the hospital. My mother got me turned on to Dick Francis many years ago, and I kept the tradition going and really like Felix Francis' writing. He's a chip off the block. I really like him. This is book 2 of the Jefferson Hinkley series. It was a very interesting and enjoyable book to read. Traveling to the Cayman Islands for the Christmas holidays was very delightful. Several back luck events happened to Jeff in which his life was in severe danger. Don't want to be a spoiler, but its a good read. Recommend.
Second Read (08/19): Jefferson Hinckley is back. In his role as an undercover investigator for the British Horseracing Authority, Jeff is approached by the multi-time champion jockey. Dave Swinton, to discuss the delicate matter of losing races on purpose. Little does Jeff realise that the call would result in an attempt on his life, locked in a sauna with the temperature well above the boiling point.
Dave Swinton is then found dead, burnt beyond recognition in his car at a deserted beauty spot. The police think it's a suicide but jeff is not so sure. He starts to investigate the possible races that Swinton could have intentionally lost but discovers instead that others are out to prevent him from doing so at any cost. Shortly after this, Jeffrey was stabbed 13 times in his chest and abdomen. Major bleeding and a hospiital stay for over a week while he was healing played an important part of the story.
During the Christmas holidays he made some friends and they decided to go to the Caymen Islands so they could go diving and have a dream of fun. Well, catastrophe begins again, and someone has poisined Jeff's tanks with Carbon Minoxide. He has so many problems during this period of time.
After he returns to Horse Racing, and on Boxing Day, a big horse racing day.
I've enjoyed reading this version of Front Runner, Felix Frances' second book. These are wonderful old friends, and I thoroughly enjoy touching base with them again.
Second Read (08/19): Jefferson Hinckley is back. In his role as an undercover investigator for the British Horseracing Authority, Jeff is approached by the multi-time champion jockey. Dave Swinton, to discuss the delicate matter of losing races on purpose. Little does Jeff realise that the call would result in an attempt on his life, locked in a sauna with the temperature well above the boiling point.
Dave Swinton is then found dead, burnt beyond recognition in his car at a deserted beauty spot. The police think it's a suicide but jeff is not so sure. He starts to investigate the possible races that Swinton could have intentionally lost but discovers instead that others are out to prevent him from doing so at any cost. Shortly after this, Jeffrey was stabbed 13 times in his chest and abdomen. Major bleeding and a hospiital stay for over a week while he was healing played an important part of the story.
During the Christmas holidays he made some friends and they decided to go to the Caymen Islands so they could go diving and have a dream of fun. Well, catastrophe begins again, and someone has poisined Jeff's tanks with Carbon Minoxide. He has so many problems during this period of time.
After he returns to Horse Racing, and on Boxing Day, a big horse racing day.
I've enjoyed reading this version of Front Runner, Felix Frances' second book. These are wonderful old friends, and I thoroughly enjoy touching base with them again.
July 13, 2016
hm... was soll ich sagen?
Einerseits eine unterhaltsame Lektüre, mit den üblichen Zutaten eines (Dick/Felix)Franics-Krimis.
Aber... das Motiv für die Mordversuche, die unser Held (natürlich extrem heldenhaft und mit außergewöhnlichen körperlichen Heilungskräften gesegnet) durchlaufen muss, ist so an den Haaren herbeigezogen.... und daran krankt die ganze Geschichte ziemlich.
Dass auch die Liebesgeschichte kein wirkliches Fleisch erhält, kommt dann noch mit drauf.
Ein bisschen mehr Personenentwicklung und Plausibilität hätte ich mir gewünscht...
Einerseits eine unterhaltsame Lektüre, mit den üblichen Zutaten eines (Dick/Felix)Franics-Krimis.
Aber... das Motiv für die Mordversuche, die unser Held (natürlich extrem heldenhaft und mit außergewöhnlichen körperlichen Heilungskräften gesegnet) durchlaufen muss, ist so an den Haaren herbeigezogen.... und daran krankt die ganze Geschichte ziemlich.
Dass auch die Liebesgeschichte kein wirkliches Fleisch erhält, kommt dann noch mit drauf.
Ein bisschen mehr Personenentwicklung und Plausibilität hätte ich mir gewünscht...
December 21, 2017
The saying "You can't go home again" holds true for more than physical places. I've read most every book written by Dick Francis -- many of them more than once. In addition to loving his earlier works, a particular favorite is Reflex for the craftiness with which Francis imbued a departed professional photographer and the way he envisioned and portrayed the character development of a protagonist-jockey.
What Dick Francis gave us was usually-credible characters we wanted to be invested in, as well as equine doings and intriguing plots and puzzles. Later in life, his son Felix became increasingly involved with research and writing, and since his passing has carried on in his father's stead.
Plotting is still there, with tricky little details; and in fact some of the hooks are more finely honed and better baited.
However, there is a void in the last several books that I'm not sure Felix Francis is aware of, and if so, if he can even address. Protagonists are shinier and more superficial. Love interests are more a meeting of bodies than of emotions and minds.
If I were using a cooking analogy, it would be as if someone was dutifully making shortbread following a parent's much-loved measurements and ingredients: Fresh flour, granulated cane sugar ... but going with a shortening-butter blend for ease of mixing and lower risk of scorching at the cost of the delicate crumb obtainable only with unsalted sweet-cream butter. Sure, the hybrid bakes up nice, and is pleasant. But its flavor is only superficially pleasing, not indulgently, memorably satisfying in the manner of an all-butter shortbread.
Dispassionately, this plot and premise are among Felix Francis' better constructions. However, again this time around, his protagonist is no Sid Halley or Philip Nore. As a matter of fact, I finished the book less than half an hour ago and I am stumbling over recalling his name. And when a reader who is predisposed to appreciating your characters has to confess that, it is a fundamental problem with how much life you've imbued your protagonist with (or haven't, as the case may be).
While I appreciate that Felix Francis is trying to carry on in his father's style for thousands of fans, it seems clear that it is time for him to be writing books in his own style, because these are not in his father's. While a shortbread cookie calls out for butter, a chocolate-chip-oatmeal cookie is better when made with a blend of shortening and butter than with butter alone.
What Dick Francis gave us was usually-credible characters we wanted to be invested in, as well as equine doings and intriguing plots and puzzles. Later in life, his son Felix became increasingly involved with research and writing, and since his passing has carried on in his father's stead.
Plotting is still there, with tricky little details; and in fact some of the hooks are more finely honed and better baited.
However, there is a void in the last several books that I'm not sure Felix Francis is aware of, and if so, if he can even address. Protagonists are shinier and more superficial. Love interests are more a meeting of bodies than of emotions and minds.
If I were using a cooking analogy, it would be as if someone was dutifully making shortbread following a parent's much-loved measurements and ingredients: Fresh flour, granulated cane sugar ... but going with a shortening-butter blend for ease of mixing and lower risk of scorching at the cost of the delicate crumb obtainable only with unsalted sweet-cream butter. Sure, the hybrid bakes up nice, and is pleasant. But its flavor is only superficially pleasing, not indulgently, memorably satisfying in the manner of an all-butter shortbread.
Dispassionately, this plot and premise are among Felix Francis' better constructions. However, again this time around, his protagonist is no Sid Halley or Philip Nore. As a matter of fact, I finished the book less than half an hour ago and I am stumbling over recalling his name. And when a reader who is predisposed to appreciating your characters has to confess that, it is a fundamental problem with how much life you've imbued your protagonist with (or haven't, as the case may be).
While I appreciate that Felix Francis is trying to carry on in his father's style for thousands of fans, it seems clear that it is time for him to be writing books in his own style, because these are not in his father's. While a shortbread cookie calls out for butter, a chocolate-chip-oatmeal cookie is better when made with a blend of shortening and butter than with butter alone.
September 6, 2023
I was looking for a good, old fashioned crime story. In the beginning I was not quite impressed, the story needed a bit to unfold.
But in the end I got what I wanted. It's a good story with a detectiv, who is not like I thought old and Grey, but younger and more hands on.
The crime story was ok, the plot twist was a little predictable. But that's ok, it was a nice vacation read.
But in the end I got what I wanted. It's a good story with a detectiv, who is not like I thought old and Grey, but younger and more hands on.
The crime story was ok, the plot twist was a little predictable. But that's ok, it was a nice vacation read.
December 6, 2015
Possibly I was feeling less amenable than usual, but the writing in this book did not seem to me to come up to the level of the previous Felix Francis efforts--none of which are up to the level of his father's work. I'm a Dick Francis fan from way back, and I've read all the Felix Francis efforts, starting with those he wrote with his father as partner (presumably consulting only) before he (Dick Francis) died. This book reminds me of the first one or two efforts. The writing is somewhat immature, the dialogue not very believable, and the characters overly simplistic. The last couple were, I thought, better. The story is good, and typical of a Dick Francis novel; indeed, the publishers still advertise Francis' work as "A Dick Francis Novel," which makes me wonder whether Dick and Felix together developed a bunch of plots before Francis, Sr. died. In this case, the narrator comes off as way too prissy and simplistic to handle the job he does or face the situations he faces, and I thought the love interest was totally unbelievable--neither one of the two characters rang true and I can't imagine what they would have seen in each other.
October 18, 2015
When races are being fixed by a top jockey, Jeff Hinkley has to investigate. When someone kills the jockey and tries to kill Hinkley for his troubles, things heat up, literally.
Felix Francis has really come into his own and out of his father's shadow with this one. Each of his books gets progressively better than the one before. This one is full of action, sometimes not so realistic action. Jeff is severely hurt at one point and he had to have his chest and abdomen opened up and repaired surgically. That doesn't really seem to slow him down that much. Most people would've taken more than a week off before going at it again.
So, there's a clever hero, intrigue, romance, and lots of action. Works for me.
Felix Francis has really come into his own and out of his father's shadow with this one. Each of his books gets progressively better than the one before. This one is full of action, sometimes not so realistic action. Jeff is severely hurt at one point and he had to have his chest and abdomen opened up and repaired surgically. That doesn't really seem to slow him down that much. Most people would've taken more than a week off before going at it again.
So, there's a clever hero, intrigue, romance, and lots of action. Works for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2017
I think it is high time that we admitted that Felix Francis isn't just his father's son, that he writes a cracking good novel all on his own. Publishers could take " A Dick Francis novel" byline off the cover.
Jeff Hinkley first appeared in DAMAGE His work with the BHA involves hunting down gradt and corruption in the British Horseracing industry. The BHA gets a phone call tip that someone is putting on bets for a banned person and in checking this out Hinkley works out that the scheme also involves jockeys deliberately losing races. In the course of a day he is invited to a private room at the race course where he sees two men having an argument. He does not realise the significance of his observation at the time, but takes a photo of them on his phone. This will eventually have serious consequences.
The characters in this story are well drawn and the plot quite believable, with the action fairly racing along. Certainly if you enjoyed the novels written by Dick Francis you will enjoy this one.
Jeff Hinkley first appeared in DAMAGE His work with the BHA involves hunting down gradt and corruption in the British Horseracing industry. The BHA gets a phone call tip that someone is putting on bets for a banned person and in checking this out Hinkley works out that the scheme also involves jockeys deliberately losing races. In the course of a day he is invited to a private room at the race course where he sees two men having an argument. He does not realise the significance of his observation at the time, but takes a photo of them on his phone. This will eventually have serious consequences.
The characters in this story are well drawn and the plot quite believable, with the action fairly racing along. Certainly if you enjoyed the novels written by Dick Francis you will enjoy this one.
August 16, 2017
I'm so glad Felix Francis has continued in his father's tradition. Here's a new character....Jeff Hinkley. He works for the BHA (British Horseracing Authority). Great story, great characters. The best part is that Francis's latest book is TRIPLE CROWN which I am reading and has the same character.
January 31, 2022
In the style of his father Dick Francis Felix Frances delivers a good story with great characters and racing information.
May 19, 2018
Fun light read in the Dick Francis tradition, though perhaps a bit less adept. Just the escapist fluff I needed!
April 20, 2019
Some say the Francis books are formulaic but the formula works. The second Jeff Hinckley book races along, with attempts on his life which seem to be linked to a betting scam. Our hero also sees an upturn in his love life a year after his fiancée left him. Great stuff - read it very quickly as it moves along with pace.
February 16, 2018
Excellent tale of the Horse Racing Industry and the character Jeff Hinkley.
September 10, 2015
After a long series of really good one-off thrillers from this author, I wasn't sure how I felt about last year's hero in DAMAGE, Jeff Hinkley, making a return appearance. But any potential skepticism disappeared in the first few chapters, when I got well and truly hooked into an intricate plot that packs a huge wallop of suspense from the very start. In fact, if you think you got to know the main character in the first book, think again. Yes, the superb thinking ability and likability are still there, but life even for action heroes doesn't always go as planned, and Jeff is poked, prodded, provoked, and pummeled in these pages to the point where I found myself genuinely--and frequently--hoping against hope that he would prevail. And along the way his character evolved into a Jeff I found even more complex and likable. (Not that you need to have read DAMAGE to enjoy this adventure for itself. You absolutely don't.)
There's a sense of adventurous fun and light-heartedness in FRONT RUNNER that I think adds new spark to the character and encompasses a new supporting cast, yet the multi-part plot includes ongoing serious and breathtaking twists and turns that all tie together at the end in the cleverest of ways. Mostly, it's a well-thought-out, rollicking, world-romping, just-plain-good adventure that leaves you longing for just a few more pages even though it is ultimately satisfying. And I hated to leave Jeff and friends new and old; it's going to be a long wait till next year's book when we can see what he's up to again!
Dick Francis fans should find much to embrace here in the Francis tradition while also enjoying the differences in style, plotting, and both light and heavy touches that are unique to Felix's work. This is Felix's 10th book (and the 51st between Dick and Felix) and I like it as much as his previous action-packed offerings such as DEAD HEAT and BLOODLINE. Perhaps even more as there is just so much to it. Without detailing the plot, I admit to both laughing out loud and shedding tears at certain times. And long-time Dick Francis readers may also notice something extra just for them if they look sharp.
A good book is a journey. Take your time with this one; in fact, you may want to pack a lunch. Well done, Mr. Francis. I simply loved this story. More like this, please.
There's a sense of adventurous fun and light-heartedness in FRONT RUNNER that I think adds new spark to the character and encompasses a new supporting cast, yet the multi-part plot includes ongoing serious and breathtaking twists and turns that all tie together at the end in the cleverest of ways. Mostly, it's a well-thought-out, rollicking, world-romping, just-plain-good adventure that leaves you longing for just a few more pages even though it is ultimately satisfying. And I hated to leave Jeff and friends new and old; it's going to be a long wait till next year's book when we can see what he's up to again!
Dick Francis fans should find much to embrace here in the Francis tradition while also enjoying the differences in style, plotting, and both light and heavy touches that are unique to Felix's work. This is Felix's 10th book (and the 51st between Dick and Felix) and I like it as much as his previous action-packed offerings such as DEAD HEAT and BLOODLINE. Perhaps even more as there is just so much to it. Without detailing the plot, I admit to both laughing out loud and shedding tears at certain times. And long-time Dick Francis readers may also notice something extra just for them if they look sharp.
A good book is a journey. Take your time with this one; in fact, you may want to pack a lunch. Well done, Mr. Francis. I simply loved this story. More like this, please.
September 7, 2018
My three-star rating should be enough to tell you that Felix Francis is not the writer his father was! While I applaud Felix for keeping up the family tradition of horse-racing novels, he only has a minor knack for it and not the sublime ability to make the racing scene come to life in the absolutely convincing way that Dick Francis had, because he not only lived it, but he wrote it too, for many years as a London sporting journalist. And yet, while even he did not write great literary masterpieces, much of his imagery and some of his philosophy remain a part of my inner life. I miss him.
As to this most recent (2015) offering: a pleasant enough story, a mildly interesting mystery, an almost unbelievable motive for murder, and a bit of romance! Although I give Felix full credit for love and a lighter outlook on life than his illustrious dad, he does commit a glaring error in this book by nearly killing off his main character by imprisoning him in a 221 degree (Fahrenheit) sauna. He refers to the fact that water boils at less than that point, so why does he expect us to believe that a man can not only live through that oven-like heat, but be capable of making a plan and having the wit, energy and strength to force his way out?
Also, I didn't appreciate all the Americanisms through-out the book, especially the reference to a "Black Friday sale." The British don't celebrate Thanksgiving, so they have no corresponding retail frenzy the day after. There were MANY other culture-based discrepancies which I can only guess were thrown in as a panacea to American readers. I, for one, find this almost insulting. I purposely read British books for the delightful differences and I don't need things explained to me in more familiar phrases.
The murderer was easy to spot, so I tried to make others fit the part. However, it became apparent that the obvious suspect was actually the "mastermind." As I mentioned earlier, the motive for murder was extremely weak and NOT the clever revealing of a devious mind as we have been treated to in Dick Francis's own work.
As to this most recent (2015) offering: a pleasant enough story, a mildly interesting mystery, an almost unbelievable motive for murder, and a bit of romance! Although I give Felix full credit for love and a lighter outlook on life than his illustrious dad, he does commit a glaring error in this book by nearly killing off his main character by imprisoning him in a 221 degree (Fahrenheit) sauna. He refers to the fact that water boils at less than that point, so why does he expect us to believe that a man can not only live through that oven-like heat, but be capable of making a plan and having the wit, energy and strength to force his way out?
Also, I didn't appreciate all the Americanisms through-out the book, especially the reference to a "Black Friday sale." The British don't celebrate Thanksgiving, so they have no corresponding retail frenzy the day after. There were MANY other culture-based discrepancies which I can only guess were thrown in as a panacea to American readers. I, for one, find this almost insulting. I purposely read British books for the delightful differences and I don't need things explained to me in more familiar phrases.
The murderer was easy to spot, so I tried to make others fit the part. However, it became apparent that the obvious suspect was actually the "mastermind." As I mentioned earlier, the motive for murder was extremely weak and NOT the clever revealing of a devious mind as we have been treated to in Dick Francis's own work.
November 9, 2015
3.5 stars
Felix Francis has come into his own. Though Felix's mysteries are similar to his father's - dry wit, light on emotion, a depressed male lead who works through his emotional hurdles - he makes them all his own. Unlike the last book by Felix Francis that I read, he's no longer trying too hard. It's his story, told his way.
"Front Runner" delivered interesting characters, several decent mysteries, a semi-plausible romance, and an enjoyable story. Jeff Hinkley is an investigator for the British Horseracing Authority and he is approached by a friend about a problem. Before we hardly have a chance to blink, there are several serious attempts on his life. I had a guess, that was partially right, about one of the mysteries but I was wrong about the other one. They are connected, though not how you initially expect. Francis kept me off balance and surprised me. Despite the multiple murder attempts, the story was slow at times in part due to lots of technical info until about halfway through and then it picked up. I liked Hinkley and there's potential for this series to go on for many books. I had no trouble reading this as a stand alone though now I want to go find the first book and read it. The events in this book do relate back to the first book but Francis gives us the necessary info and the book works as a stand alone.
The romance, while sweet, was a bit hard for me to swallow; it felt like a fantasy. Henrietta is smart, successful, spontaneous, impulsive, a bit flighty, loyal to her family even while she sees them, mostly,for who they are. But her pursuit of Jeff struck me as unlikely and hard to believe. I had no trouble seeing them together, especially as we got to know Henri more, and I'd like to see how their romance develops. It's just the hookup that I had trouble with.
"Front Runner" was solid story telling and Felix Francis has found a reader. I'll be picking up future books by him.
Felix Francis has come into his own. Though Felix's mysteries are similar to his father's - dry wit, light on emotion, a depressed male lead who works through his emotional hurdles - he makes them all his own. Unlike the last book by Felix Francis that I read, he's no longer trying too hard. It's his story, told his way.
"Front Runner" delivered interesting characters, several decent mysteries, a semi-plausible romance, and an enjoyable story. Jeff Hinkley is an investigator for the British Horseracing Authority and he is approached by a friend about a problem. Before we hardly have a chance to blink, there are several serious attempts on his life. I had a guess, that was partially right, about one of the mysteries but I was wrong about the other one. They are connected, though not how you initially expect. Francis kept me off balance and surprised me. Despite the multiple murder attempts, the story was slow at times in part due to lots of technical info until about halfway through and then it picked up. I liked Hinkley and there's potential for this series to go on for many books. I had no trouble reading this as a stand alone though now I want to go find the first book and read it. The events in this book do relate back to the first book but Francis gives us the necessary info and the book works as a stand alone.
The romance, while sweet, was a bit hard for me to swallow; it felt like a fantasy. Henrietta is smart, successful, spontaneous, impulsive, a bit flighty, loyal to her family even while she sees them, mostly,for who they are. But her pursuit of Jeff struck me as unlikely and hard to believe. I had no trouble seeing them together, especially as we got to know Henri more, and I'd like to see how their romance develops. It's just the hookup that I had trouble with.
"Front Runner" was solid story telling and Felix Francis has found a reader. I'll be picking up future books by him.
January 23, 2016
There is no doubt that Felix Francis has managed to continue with the kinds of characters and plots that his father pioneered. Whether this is a 'good' thing or not is another question. "Front Runner" is a good holiday read; a horse-racing-themed crime-thriller with pace to match and careful - if occasionally cumbersome plotting. Mr Felix Francis's plots often involve fairly intricate aspects of the big-bucks financing that is the inevitable accompaniment of horse-racing. Where his father's concerns centred on nefarious and violent (mainly) men who tried to rig race gambling or pressurise people to do so on their behalf, Felix's villains seem somehow less twisted, and less sinister, as a result. While there are - and this is not a spoiler! - several attempts on the life of race investigator Jeff Hinkley, the villains are glimpsed early (so it's not exactly a who-dunnit) and their motivations are quite banal: money, so there's no particular frisson that might derive from a more complex motivation. It sounds as if I'm condemning it, which I don't intend to ... It's a very entertaining holiday read. But thats all!
February 8, 2019
I somehow missed the fact that Felix took the writing mantel from his late father. I am a huge fan of the Dick Francis books and, frankly, I did not expect to be impressed. So many try to copy an author's style with poor results. Not true here. Felix doesn't appear to be trying to copy his father except for subject matter. That means that the story flows along in Felix's style, unencumbered by attempts to mimic another writer.
I was mildly irritated by how often our hero, Jeff Hinkley, seemed to be stupid, particularly about an incident that happens fairly early on. Most readers will know what I mean when they get to that point. Like toilet tissue on the bottom of his shoe, Hinkley clings to his mistake. The problem is that there is no reason for him to be so attached to this thinking and a good investigator wouldn't make so make assumptions. My only other thought is that the explanation of the British betting system was a bit involved and probably could have been trimmed down.
Beyond that, the story is filled with interesting characters, well-defined locations, and good pacing. I look forward to reading another of Francis' works.
I was mildly irritated by how often our hero, Jeff Hinkley, seemed to be stupid, particularly about an incident that happens fairly early on. Most readers will know what I mean when they get to that point. Like toilet tissue on the bottom of his shoe, Hinkley clings to his mistake. The problem is that there is no reason for him to be so attached to this thinking and a good investigator wouldn't make so make assumptions. My only other thought is that the explanation of the British betting system was a bit involved and probably could have been trimmed down.
Beyond that, the story is filled with interesting characters, well-defined locations, and good pacing. I look forward to reading another of Francis' works.
November 7, 2015
Admittedly, it has been a while since I have read Dick Francis, or his later books with his son, but read them all I did and would read most of them again. I have to admit that I found their final collaboration to be less than memorable (hence I cannot recall the title) but the romance was particularly weak and distracting, something with a mental disorder or something and pregnancy.
This is the first of Felix's solo efforts I have read. Here the story spends so much time on unrelated things like dive trips and sting rays, that there really isn't much to the story overall, and the romance... tch tch tch ... it was less than believable from start to finish, and entirely too much time spent on Jeff's sister Faye even if having a lawyer for a husband was convenient.
I will stick to the original, early works of Dick Francis which had an addictive quality about them that this simply does not.
This is the first of Felix's solo efforts I have read. Here the story spends so much time on unrelated things like dive trips and sting rays, that there really isn't much to the story overall, and the romance... tch tch tch ... it was less than believable from start to finish, and entirely too much time spent on Jeff's sister Faye even if having a lawyer for a husband was convenient.
I will stick to the original, early works of Dick Francis which had an addictive quality about them that this simply does not.
December 18, 2015
3 1/2 stars really, due out in October 2015. It's well-known that Dick Francis collaborated first with his wife and then with his sons in creating his wonderful mysteries set in the racing world. Felix Francis is continuing the tradition. It's a great read, with an interesting plot, locales, and characters. Jeff Hinkley is an undercover investigator with the British Horseracing Authority. His investigation of a potential fixed race leads to a great deal more. Very much worth reading.
October 2, 2015
The best thriller I have read this year. He has captured his father's style brilliantly and in Jeff Hinkley has created a character that could go on and on. I absolutely loved this.
January 3, 2016
I have been a Dick Francis fan for over 30 years. They never disappoint and Felix picked up where his father left off. He is a must read for me.
February 8, 2020
Jeff Hinkley is an undercover investigator for the British Horseracing Authority. When a champion jockey admits to him that he has intentionally lost a race because of blackmail, his investigation leads to several attempts on his life.
I took a break from reading Felix Francis because I was so disappointed by his mediocre writing in comparison to his brilliant father (and mother). My eventual return with this book simply justifies my opinion once again. Jeff Hinkley is not a character I can sympathize with, or like very much. The pace of the book is SLOW, and Jeff's thoughts and decisions are so contrived to keep the mystery going that they are bordering on idiotic. Yes, I've read much worse, but it feels outrageous to ride his father's coattails and so dilute his father's brand. The mystery itself is clever enough, but the character needs to shape up because his stupidity is just not believable. The romance is also lukewarm - although I kind of liked his love interest, I did not find any of the other characters likeable. I kind of feel sorry for the character because the author does not treat him very well - I'll bet he doesn't like being made to do stupid things to conform to the story.
I debated on whether to drop this to 2 stars, but I'll just say 2.5 and begrudgingly round up to 3 because it could have been a decent story if the author had just treated it right.
I took a break from reading Felix Francis because I was so disappointed by his mediocre writing in comparison to his brilliant father (and mother). My eventual return with this book simply justifies my opinion once again. Jeff Hinkley is not a character I can sympathize with, or like very much. The pace of the book is SLOW, and Jeff's thoughts and decisions are so contrived to keep the mystery going that they are bordering on idiotic. Yes, I've read much worse, but it feels outrageous to ride his father's coattails and so dilute his father's brand. The mystery itself is clever enough, but the character needs to shape up because his stupidity is just not believable. The romance is also lukewarm - although I kind of liked his love interest, I did not find any of the other characters likeable. I kind of feel sorry for the character because the author does not treat him very well - I'll bet he doesn't like being made to do stupid things to conform to the story.
I debated on whether to drop this to 2 stars, but I'll just say 2.5 and begrudgingly round up to 3 because it could have been a decent story if the author had just treated it right.
September 13, 2024
Consider me confused. The book starts with a thrown race, and our hero investigates and spies on a man making bets. He figures out the man is making money through nefarious methods, which are explained in some level of detail. And then, the book goes off in a different direction, as if this first big mystery, which is left unsolved, was just to introduce some characters. The Francis method involves mixing plots involving horse racing with other well-researched topics. In the past that included glass blowing, computer hackers, the veterinarian business, and more. This one had that horse racing bit at the beginning, but pretty much left it behind for some focus on, where I to take a guess, international tax theft, the use of Google to search the internet, and, in general, the Cayman Islands, where, it is explained in the book, there is no horse racing. The horse racing content was sadly lacking beyond the first third of the book, and really made no sense anyway.
Another of what I'd call the Francis formula is to put your protagonist through torturous pain, repeatedly, and with descriptions that cause even the most ardent crime fiction readers to wince in solidarity. I don't think Felix quite has the skill here that his Dad had. Close, and will likely match it soon, but a smidge too clinical here.
So although I found the plot disconcerting, I find promise in the hero-torture. Boy, that doesn't sound right!
Another of what I'd call the Francis formula is to put your protagonist through torturous pain, repeatedly, and with descriptions that cause even the most ardent crime fiction readers to wince in solidarity. I don't think Felix quite has the skill here that his Dad had. Close, and will likely match it soon, but a smidge too clinical here.
So although I found the plot disconcerting, I find promise in the hero-torture. Boy, that doesn't sound right!
February 3, 2018
I never found horse racing that interesting, never saw the fascination it holds for other people. So that I’ve read almost every Dick Francis novel says something about his writing talent. And that I continue to read books by his son, Felix, says something about his talent, too. He’s not yet the equal of his father, but he moves closer here.
The front cover says Front Runner is ‘A Dick Francis Novel.’ I’m not sure what that means, but I suspect it was one he finished but never published so Felix did. I suspect it because this book reads more like Dick in his prime.
We get a rather generous education on the British rail system as Francis insists on telling us Jeff took the train from Station P through Station C to Station H every time he goes anywhere. For anyone who’s never ridden British trains, this information means nothing. And knowing the stations Jeff uses adds nothing to the story.
The ending seemed a bit ‘out of the blue’ in that Francis never revealed anything before then that might clue the reader in to the true guilty party. The climax could have carried a little more tension and the ending could have been a little tighter.
I’ll be back for more Felix Francis books.
The front cover says Front Runner is ‘A Dick Francis Novel.’ I’m not sure what that means, but I suspect it was one he finished but never published so Felix did. I suspect it because this book reads more like Dick in his prime.
We get a rather generous education on the British rail system as Francis insists on telling us Jeff took the train from Station P through Station C to Station H every time he goes anywhere. For anyone who’s never ridden British trains, this information means nothing. And knowing the stations Jeff uses adds nothing to the story.
The ending seemed a bit ‘out of the blue’ in that Francis never revealed anything before then that might clue the reader in to the true guilty party. The climax could have carried a little more tension and the ending could have been a little tighter.
I’ll be back for more Felix Francis books.
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