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Jefferson Hinkley #1
Damage
Felix Francis is back with another edge-of-your-seat thriller, in the classic Dick Francis tradition. Undercover investigator Jeff Hinkley is assigned by the British Horseracing Authority to look into the activities of a suspicious racehorse trainer, but as he’s tailing his quarry through the Cheltenham Racing Festival, the last thing he expects to witness is a gruesome murder. Could it have something to do with the reason the trainer was banned in the first place—the administration of illegal drugs to his horses?Then many more horses test positive for prohibited stimulants, and someone starts making demands, threatening to completely destroy the integrity of the racing industry. In order to limit the damage to the sport, it’s critical that Jeff find the perpetrator . . . but he’ll soon learn he’s up against someone who will stop at nothing to prevail.
448 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2014
336 people are currently reading
1155 people want to read
About the author
Felix Francis
47 books546 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
January 21, 2022
3.5 stars
Someone seems bent on disrupting British horseracing. A couple of trainers have been suspended for doping horses - though they claim innocence - and one has been driven to murder.
Soon afterwards mandatory testing after a big race reveals that many horses - from stables across the United Kingdom - have been tainted with an illegal substance.
Soon enough the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) receives a message - pay five million pounds or horseracing will be brought to its knees.
Jeff Hinkley, undercover investigator for the BHA, is tasked with investigating the matter and stopping the extortionist.
Jeff soon comes to suspect that the suspended trainers were set up, figures out how the drugs were administered, and takes steps to stop the attacks. The horse doper is clever however, and finds another way to disrupt one of the biggest races of the year.
The BHA tries paying the extortionist a small amount of appeasement money while Jeff continues to investigate but the attacks continue and escalate. Jeff and some BHA members want to inform the police but others fear the publicity will ruin horseracing, a huge industry in Britain.
While all this is going on Jeff is also contending with personal issues: his sister is being treated for cancer,
he's become jaded with his long-time girlfriend;
and he's trying to help his step-nephew who's been accused of selling drugs.
Like his father (Dick Francis), Felix Francis sprinkles the story with interesting tidbits about horsetracks, racing, trainers, jockeys, betting, and the people who govern the sport.
I enjoyed the story and Jeff Hinkley is an engaging character - clever and a master of disguise. It's a treat to see how he goes undercover to search for information and clues.
The resolution of the story is somewhat predictable and a little unsatisfying but it's still an enjoyable book, recommended for mystery lovers.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
August 15, 2019
A thrilling ride at a breakneck pace all the way to the finish line!
I went out onto the viewing steps and looked down.
The target moved swiftly towards where the lines of bookmakers were sheltering from the rain under their multicolored and name-branded umbrellas.
Had he come to speak to a bookmaker?
Nigel Green joined me.
“That’s our man,”I said, pointing, “with the red scarf.”
The target was about twenty yards away and, as we watched, he took his right hand out of his coat pocket. His hand was not empty.
“Knife! Knife!”I shouted loudly, rushing down the steps.
My shouts were swept away by the wind and there was nothing I could do but watch as the target went straight up to one of the bookmakers and slashed at his throat. There was no warning, no words at all, just a clean swipe of the blade across the bookie’s unprotected skin, which turned instantly from pink to bright red.
It had occurred so fast that even those standing close by seemed not to realize what had happened until the bookmaker in question toppled face-first onto the wet tarmac, blood gushing from the wound in his neck like a scarlet fountain. Meanwhile, the target moved away, walking fast along the line of bookmakers, dodging other racegoers, some of whom were running towards the spot behind him where a woman had begun screaming loudly.
************
Dick Francis's Damage by Felix Francis is a sensational start to the Jeff Hinkley series!
It's like the first leg in the Triple Crown!!
It's not critical they be read in order, the storyline surrounding the characters build from previous installments. I definitely recommend reading them in order to get the most from each story.
I read the written format the first time around several years ago and because I'm getting up there in age, I don't remember everything that happened. So I'm experiencing the story fresh. This time I listened to the audiobook which was fantastic! Narrator, Michael Nielson's performance was dynamic, increasing the emotions and suspence to a higher, more palpable level!
You don't have to be a fan of horses or horse racing to get wrapped up in the twisty thrills of this book!
A note of history:
Felix's father, Dick Francis,
was a jump jockey who won over 350 races, became a champion of the British National Hunt, and was a jockey to Queen Elizabeth, riding her horse Devon Loch in 1956. After he retired from racing he started writing mystery novels, all of which deal with crime in the horse-racing world. His first thriller, Dead Cert, was published in 1962, and was absolutely brilliant!
Over the past 40 years Felix Francis assisted his father with both the research and the writing of many of his novels. Dick Francis & Felix Francis coauthored 4 novels together starting with Dead Heat, published in 2007. They were co-writing Crossfire when Dick Francis died in February 2010.
Felix Francis's first novel written without his father was Dick Francis's Gamble, published in 2011, and he's not missed a single stride! Felix Francis is a chip off the old block and a spectacular author in his own right.
I own every Dick Francis & Felix Francis novel, 57 in all to date as they are my favorite authors of all time.
I'm working my way through reading all the Dick Francis novels again at present as it was long ago when I read most of them the first time. Especially the earliest titles. I can tell you with absolute certainty that they're all highly nerve-racking and first to the post 5★ reads! (IMHO)
I went out onto the viewing steps and looked down.
The target moved swiftly towards where the lines of bookmakers were sheltering from the rain under their multicolored and name-branded umbrellas.
Had he come to speak to a bookmaker?
Nigel Green joined me.
“That’s our man,”I said, pointing, “with the red scarf.”
The target was about twenty yards away and, as we watched, he took his right hand out of his coat pocket. His hand was not empty.
“Knife! Knife!”I shouted loudly, rushing down the steps.
My shouts were swept away by the wind and there was nothing I could do but watch as the target went straight up to one of the bookmakers and slashed at his throat. There was no warning, no words at all, just a clean swipe of the blade across the bookie’s unprotected skin, which turned instantly from pink to bright red.
It had occurred so fast that even those standing close by seemed not to realize what had happened until the bookmaker in question toppled face-first onto the wet tarmac, blood gushing from the wound in his neck like a scarlet fountain. Meanwhile, the target moved away, walking fast along the line of bookmakers, dodging other racegoers, some of whom were running towards the spot behind him where a woman had begun screaming loudly.
************
Dick Francis's Damage by Felix Francis is a sensational start to the Jeff Hinkley series!
It's like the first leg in the Triple Crown!!
It's not critical they be read in order, the storyline surrounding the characters build from previous installments. I definitely recommend reading them in order to get the most from each story.
I read the written format the first time around several years ago and because I'm getting up there in age, I don't remember everything that happened. So I'm experiencing the story fresh. This time I listened to the audiobook which was fantastic! Narrator, Michael Nielson's performance was dynamic, increasing the emotions and suspence to a higher, more palpable level!
You don't have to be a fan of horses or horse racing to get wrapped up in the twisty thrills of this book!
A note of history:
Felix's father, Dick Francis,
was a jump jockey who won over 350 races, became a champion of the British National Hunt, and was a jockey to Queen Elizabeth, riding her horse Devon Loch in 1956. After he retired from racing he started writing mystery novels, all of which deal with crime in the horse-racing world. His first thriller, Dead Cert, was published in 1962, and was absolutely brilliant!
Over the past 40 years Felix Francis assisted his father with both the research and the writing of many of his novels. Dick Francis & Felix Francis coauthored 4 novels together starting with Dead Heat, published in 2007. They were co-writing Crossfire when Dick Francis died in February 2010.
Felix Francis's first novel written without his father was Dick Francis's Gamble, published in 2011, and he's not missed a single stride! Felix Francis is a chip off the old block and a spectacular author in his own right.
I own every Dick Francis & Felix Francis novel, 57 in all to date as they are my favorite authors of all time.
I'm working my way through reading all the Dick Francis novels again at present as it was long ago when I read most of them the first time. Especially the earliest titles. I can tell you with absolute certainty that they're all highly nerve-racking and first to the post 5★ reads! (IMHO)
March 25, 2018
I believe this is Felix Francis’s first book of a series about Jefferson Roosevelt Hinkley. Hinkley is an investigator for the British Horse Racing Authority. He is investigating a banned horse trainer, Mathew Unwin.
The book is well written. The plot twists and turns. The characters are interesting. The book was hard to put down. The suspense kept me reading even when I should have gone to bed. I was a big fan of Dick Francis and enjoyed Felix’s return to the horse racing story line. I shall be looking for more Felix Francis books to read.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is almost ten and a half hours. Michael Neilson does a good job narrating the book. Neilson is an actor, singer, voice-over artist and audiobook narrator.
The book is well written. The plot twists and turns. The characters are interesting. The book was hard to put down. The suspense kept me reading even when I should have gone to bed. I was a big fan of Dick Francis and enjoyed Felix’s return to the horse racing story line. I shall be looking for more Felix Francis books to read.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is almost ten and a half hours. Michael Neilson does a good job narrating the book. Neilson is an actor, singer, voice-over artist and audiobook narrator.
April 25, 2015
Dick and Felix Francis's horse racing mysteries are still a good read. The authors combine a knowledge of everything horse racing with, an amateur investigator, a jockey, ex-jockey or owner, among others, who somehow stumbles into a plot against friends or horse racing and has to out man, outwit and outlast the bad guys. It's a horseracing episode of Survivor. Francis knows the sport, knows the pre-racing rituals of the jockeys and the trainers.
In Felix Francis's latest mystery novel, "Damage", Jeff Hinkley, a professional investigator for the august British Horseracing Authority matches wits against a cunning blackmailer, who is somehow doping horses at several major races. The blackmailer wants $5,000,000 to stop. Hinkley's bosses on the BHA, a swath of peerage and big money want to keep the plot hidden from the public, afraid of the repercussions for the BHA and for horseracing, but when they refuse to pay, the blackmailer escalates. Horses are hurt. Jockeys are poisoned. Hinkley is hurt. The BHA must find a way to find the blackmailer before he can break the BHA.
Hinkley, who served in intelligence organizations, is a capable investigator and with his elderly boss, and ex spy, set out to trap the blackmailer, when he goes for the money. If the first trap does not work, then maybe a more cunning trap will.
At the same time as investigating this plot, Hinkley is trying to help his sister's stepson, who has busted for drug dealing. Quentin, Hinkley's brother in law, a powerful member of the bar, is afraid that his son's crime could thwart his rise to a judgeship and claims it was a frame job. Hinkley agrees to help, and is soon involved in tracking down a witness.
Francis adds a couple of other subplots -- an attempt to give Hinkley more depth or add gravitas to the story. Hinkley's sister has cancer and its touch and go, and Hinkley faced with her mortality starts to look hard about his life with his girlfriend -- is he is ready to marry his long term girlfriend.
Neither of these subplots add to the story. This is still a novel about stopping a criminal.
Long time readers of the Francis horse racing mystery novels will still be reined in.
In Felix Francis's latest mystery novel, "Damage", Jeff Hinkley, a professional investigator for the august British Horseracing Authority matches wits against a cunning blackmailer, who is somehow doping horses at several major races. The blackmailer wants $5,000,000 to stop. Hinkley's bosses on the BHA, a swath of peerage and big money want to keep the plot hidden from the public, afraid of the repercussions for the BHA and for horseracing, but when they refuse to pay, the blackmailer escalates. Horses are hurt. Jockeys are poisoned. Hinkley is hurt. The BHA must find a way to find the blackmailer before he can break the BHA.
Hinkley, who served in intelligence organizations, is a capable investigator and with his elderly boss, and ex spy, set out to trap the blackmailer, when he goes for the money. If the first trap does not work, then maybe a more cunning trap will.
At the same time as investigating this plot, Hinkley is trying to help his sister's stepson, who has busted for drug dealing. Quentin, Hinkley's brother in law, a powerful member of the bar, is afraid that his son's crime could thwart his rise to a judgeship and claims it was a frame job. Hinkley agrees to help, and is soon involved in tracking down a witness.
Francis adds a couple of other subplots -- an attempt to give Hinkley more depth or add gravitas to the story. Hinkley's sister has cancer and its touch and go, and Hinkley faced with her mortality starts to look hard about his life with his girlfriend -- is he is ready to marry his long term girlfriend.
Neither of these subplots add to the story. This is still a novel about stopping a criminal.
Long time readers of the Francis horse racing mystery novels will still be reined in.
October 25, 2014
What happens when a favorite series author stops writing? In this case, his youngest son takes over writing the same books -- first in collaboration with his father and then on his own. One would think it wouldn't work, but it actually does. Perhaps the books have lost their edge a bit, but one of the interesting things about Dick Francis is that he wrote the same book over and over with different twists. And, they are always good reads.
It's always about horses, a youngish male protagonist who may have a variety of professions, and is physically strong, knowledgeable about the world of racing, and can out-clever the police when catching bad guys. It is so formulaic, one would think that it would get boring -- but I loved a good Dick Francis. It's like reading your favorite book over and over again.
Felix has appeared to follow in his father's footsteps. This was his fourth book on his own, and the title is "Dick Francis's Damage" which is fascinating because it is definitely written like a "Dick Francis" novel. It does not appear to have a different voice. "Damage" has an interesting plot about bringing down the British Horseracing Authority.
Felix has found a way to meld into his father's footsteps.
It's always about horses, a youngish male protagonist who may have a variety of professions, and is physically strong, knowledgeable about the world of racing, and can out-clever the police when catching bad guys. It is so formulaic, one would think that it would get boring -- but I loved a good Dick Francis. It's like reading your favorite book over and over again.
Felix has appeared to follow in his father's footsteps. This was his fourth book on his own, and the title is "Dick Francis's Damage" which is fascinating because it is definitely written like a "Dick Francis" novel. It does not appear to have a different voice. "Damage" has an interesting plot about bringing down the British Horseracing Authority.
Felix has found a way to meld into his father's footsteps.
October 20, 2014
There are no words to describe the thrill of reading a mystery with a well-thought-out plot, impeccable language and not a single typo (at least not that I noticed). The late Dick Francis, father of Felix, who wrote this book on his own, never failed on any of those measures. And Felix, who co-wrote several books with his father before going it alone in four others, clearly has learned from his master's voice, churning out yet another winner in my book.
As usual, the topic is horse racing in Great Britain; in this instance, undercover investigator Jeff Hinkley is asked by the British Horseracing Authority, which governs the sport of kings, to do some sleuthing with regard to a trainer who's been banned from the sport for doping his horses. But then, Hinkley witnesses an unexpected murder - and the case takes a different turn.
As his investigation proceeds, Hinkley must deal with food poisoning of jockeys, a fireworks-laden steeplechase and a very real threat that jeopardizes the whole of racing in England. In the midst of all that are personal issues including his sister's dire cancer diagnosis, the threat of her son being convicted of dealing drugs and the ticking of his own biological clock (yes, apparently some guys have one of these, too).
The ending seemed a teensy bit abrupt, but on no way did that take away from an easy-reading pace that moves along quickly. In fact, my only disappointment is that it ended too soon; writing that flows this well and holds the reader's interest throughout is is short supply. Ah well, I'll just hope there's another one in the pipeline!
As usual, the topic is horse racing in Great Britain; in this instance, undercover investigator Jeff Hinkley is asked by the British Horseracing Authority, which governs the sport of kings, to do some sleuthing with regard to a trainer who's been banned from the sport for doping his horses. But then, Hinkley witnesses an unexpected murder - and the case takes a different turn.
As his investigation proceeds, Hinkley must deal with food poisoning of jockeys, a fireworks-laden steeplechase and a very real threat that jeopardizes the whole of racing in England. In the midst of all that are personal issues including his sister's dire cancer diagnosis, the threat of her son being convicted of dealing drugs and the ticking of his own biological clock (yes, apparently some guys have one of these, too).
The ending seemed a teensy bit abrupt, but on no way did that take away from an easy-reading pace that moves along quickly. In fact, my only disappointment is that it ended too soon; writing that flows this well and holds the reader's interest throughout is is short supply. Ah well, I'll just hope there's another one in the pipeline!
October 10, 2014
I must admit at the outset that I'm not a huge fan of traditional mysteries. That being said, I was thoroughly absorbed by Damage penned by Felix Francis. His protagonist, Jeff Hinkley, is a fascinating man who has trouble making a commitment to a woman. Hinkley is tasked with determining the identity of someone attempting to topple the entire British horse racing establishment. While the novel is set in the venue of horse racing, it's really a story of people--often in conflict with each other. Motives and suspects abound as the novel moves relentlessly toward its conclusion. Damage was a fine read, one in which I'm very glad to have invested time. It really paid off, big time.
Mark Rubinstein
Author of Mad Dog House and Mad Dog Justice
Mark Rubinstein
Author of Mad Dog House and Mad Dog Justice
January 5, 2018
Hooray, I finally found a Felix Frances book. What a huge treat. Feels like Christmas. This is an undercover Jeff Hinkley Book. He is assigned by the British Horseracing Authority to look into the activities of a suspicious racehorse trainer, but he's trailing his quarry through the Cheltenham Racing Festival. The last thing he expects to view is a vulgar murder.
Then many more horses test positive for prohibited stimulants and someone starts making and threatening to completely destroy the integrity of the racing industry. Wow, what a mouthful, this was one really good book. Highly recommend. Really tickled to finally get one of his books. Saw a couple others too, but when I looked them up, found I had already read them a couple times. I'm still on the hunt. RECOMMEND.
Then many more horses test positive for prohibited stimulants and someone starts making and threatening to completely destroy the integrity of the racing industry. Wow, what a mouthful, this was one really good book. Highly recommend. Really tickled to finally get one of his books. Saw a couple others too, but when I looked them up, found I had already read them a couple times. I'm still on the hunt. RECOMMEND.
April 13, 2019
Nicely in the style of Dick Francis - a story of extortion against the horse racing establishment and an intrepid investigator
August 3, 2015
Here's the thing about Dick Francis books: they're kind of like your favorite chain restaurant. You go in and already know what you're going to get. (Yeah, yeah, I know; this one was written by Felix Francis. But rumor has it that, even when Dick was alive his books were written by his wife. Doesn't matter). It's as if all the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drews, Trixie Beldens and their ilk grew up and became part of British horse racing in some way.
So, if you're read a lot of Dick Francis (and I have), you know going in that every book will have the following characteristics: 1. Horseracing (usually steeple-chasing; usually British) will play a pivotal role. Check: The protagonist works for the BHA (British Horseracing Authority). 2. It will probably be told in the first person. Check. 3. The protagonist will be a man with highly developed sense of integrity, special skills and a "don't take any crap" attitude. He will also get significantly hurt at least once, if a jockey probably multiple times. Check: Jeff, in this one, is an ex-military intelligence fellow with terrific undercover disguise skills. And he does get significantly hurt at least once. 4. The other characters will be like Agatha Christie's: thinly developed and stereotypical. Check: overbearing bosses, friends who might not be on the up and up, tortured and wrongly accused weaklings, and weirdos (which may or may not be obvious right away).
And, most important of all, and the reason to read any Dick Francis book (whether he wrote it or not): A fast-moving, breakneck plot with plenty of twists and a clever foiling of the villain. Yup. Has all of these too. Way fun and 330 or so pages fly by in a hurry.
So, if you're read a lot of Dick Francis (and I have), you know going in that every book will have the following characteristics: 1. Horseracing (usually steeple-chasing; usually British) will play a pivotal role. Check: The protagonist works for the BHA (British Horseracing Authority). 2. It will probably be told in the first person. Check. 3. The protagonist will be a man with highly developed sense of integrity, special skills and a "don't take any crap" attitude. He will also get significantly hurt at least once, if a jockey probably multiple times. Check: Jeff, in this one, is an ex-military intelligence fellow with terrific undercover disguise skills. And he does get significantly hurt at least once. 4. The other characters will be like Agatha Christie's: thinly developed and stereotypical. Check: overbearing bosses, friends who might not be on the up and up, tortured and wrongly accused weaklings, and weirdos (which may or may not be obvious right away).
And, most important of all, and the reason to read any Dick Francis book (whether he wrote it or not): A fast-moving, breakneck plot with plenty of twists and a clever foiling of the villain. Yup. Has all of these too. Way fun and 330 or so pages fly by in a hurry.
February 17, 2021
I've loved the series of horseracing-themed, Dick Francis mysteries, since high school in the 60s, and I'm thankful that the family has chosen the "legacy author" route to continue these racing-themed stories...The Francis estate has chosen to go the route of the Hillerman's, in that, family will carry it on...It wasn't a big leap, because for over four decades, Felix Francis has assisted his father with both the research and the writing, and even coauthoring four novels..."Damage" is the first, of what looks like, the "Jeff Hinkley series" regarding an investigator with the British Horse Racing Authority, the governing body for British racing...In "Damage," Hinkley is on the hunt for an extortionist that is threatening to destroy the entire British horseracing industry as well as the BHA...Plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and the pages turning...Good Stuff!!!
October 12, 2014
The son cannot fill the father's shoes. Dick Francis had a very natural writing style and knew his subject well. Felix did research for some of his father's later books, and that tendency is unchecked in the novels he takes over. You want to read the books with an editor's blue pencil. He will repeat the idea sometimes within the same sentence. Editing one's own work can be a difficult task for some. I'm surprised, however, that a major house like Putnam's doesn't have someone assigned to slash away at these. The tension never really builds. It all falls flat. Not clearing the hurdles, as it were.
February 27, 2016
3.5 stars
June 6, 2022
Michael Nielson is the narrator for the audiobook version of this novel.
February 12, 2015
The best of the Felix Francis books I've read. Good characterization, good plot, with a more personal subplot that did not intrude but added to the characterizations. The ending reminds me a bit of some of the endings in the Dick Francis books, a definite end to the main plot, but not an 'after the fact' tying off of all the loose ends. I'm actually wondering if Felix Francis may intend to write more with these characters, as his father did with the Sid Halley books and if so, would certainly like to see them.
March 5, 2015
As a mystery this latest edition of the Francis mystique was extremely slow paced. Not fleshing out the character of the culprit made the ending somewhat of a let-down. However, Felix does now have the reins. Perhaps Felix just needs to allow the storyline more freedom to run.
March 30, 2023
Probably would give this 3.5 stars if it were an option.
I bought it unintentionally and then didn't notice for a week or so, thanks to Kindle's algorithm that spams in loads of books you're not interested in when you look for a specific author, in this case Dick Francis, not his son.
However, it's not too bad for the most part. A strange mix of old school Francis-style thriller and parts that felt more like if I'd asked ChatGPT to write me a Dick Francis novel. Amusingly, despite being written in the last 10 years it still has chunks of his father's ideology including some swipes at people caring more about the horses racing than the jockeys (yes, that's because one made a choice about the dangers they entered into). There's also a slightly weird/tasteless tangent about the police murder of Jean Charles de Menezes that used it as an anecdote about the dangers of needing the toilet when on surveillance.
Overall I was thinking this would get 4 stars but it doesn't quite come together. There's a side-plot involving the lead character's nephew that definitely feels like it was written by a straight man trying to be even and honest about gay men and ends up feeling wrongfooted. On top of that it's not really very satisfying as a straightforward mystery even. The main story wraps up very suddenly. I was expecting at least a sort of finishing chapter but it's like Francis Jr. had another appointment and just gave up, ending it with an almost Alan Partridge-like final two paragraphs.
I bought it unintentionally and then didn't notice for a week or so, thanks to Kindle's algorithm that spams in loads of books you're not interested in when you look for a specific author, in this case Dick Francis, not his son.
However, it's not too bad for the most part. A strange mix of old school Francis-style thriller and parts that felt more like if I'd asked ChatGPT to write me a Dick Francis novel. Amusingly, despite being written in the last 10 years it still has chunks of his father's ideology including some swipes at people caring more about the horses racing than the jockeys (yes, that's because one made a choice about the dangers they entered into). There's also a slightly weird/tasteless tangent about the police murder of Jean Charles de Menezes that used it as an anecdote about the dangers of needing the toilet when on surveillance.
Overall I was thinking this would get 4 stars but it doesn't quite come together. There's a side-plot involving the lead character's nephew that definitely feels like it was written by a straight man trying to be even and honest about gay men and ends up feeling wrongfooted. On top of that it's not really very satisfying as a straightforward mystery even. The main story wraps up very suddenly. I was expecting at least a sort of finishing chapter but it's like Francis Jr. had another appointment and just gave up, ending it with an almost Alan Partridge-like final two paragraphs.
June 12, 2017
My Grade = 92% - A
I remember when I reviewed my last Felix Francis book that I commented that he was getting better than his father.
This book especially holds true with that sentiment. There were several mini-plots going on here, concerning the main character's (Jeff Hinkley's) sister, step-nephew, brother-in-law, and job (and the job part by far dominated the story.
There were about 300 pages, and by about half way through I was sure I had found the guilty party. This was mainly because of two major clues that were dropped along the way, (red herrings, actually). One concerned a minor guilty party who claimed that he did what he did because he was jealous. In the other, a character explains that he had his phone pre-programmed to ring at a certain time.
In actuality, I was nowhere near being correct in my suspicions.
One of the things I enjoyed most was the main characters lived and worked in London, and, because I have spent a great deal of time there, I could actually follow them down the street, so when they went from Les Mis to Old Compton Street (which is only two blocks long) and into a restaurant, I knew exactally where they were going. This happened quite a bit throughout the story.
In most of the Dick Francis (and Felix Francis) books, the stories are "stand alones" featuring a young (30ish) male character involved in some way with the horse racing industry, this was no exception.
It is a great tragedy when a really good author dies and his (or her) works die with him. I am so very glad that when Dick Francis' wife died (she helped him very much in his research), his son, Felix, took over the job, eventually collaborated with him in writing, and eventually took over.
Even so, notice that the title is not the normal one word title of the Dick Francis books, but the name plus the one name title -- Dick Francis' Damage.
I remember when I reviewed my last Felix Francis book that I commented that he was getting better than his father.
This book especially holds true with that sentiment. There were several mini-plots going on here, concerning the main character's (Jeff Hinkley's) sister, step-nephew, brother-in-law, and job (and the job part by far dominated the story.
There were about 300 pages, and by about half way through I was sure I had found the guilty party. This was mainly because of two major clues that were dropped along the way, (red herrings, actually). One concerned a minor guilty party who claimed that he did what he did because he was jealous. In the other, a character explains that he had his phone pre-programmed to ring at a certain time.
In actuality, I was nowhere near being correct in my suspicions.
One of the things I enjoyed most was the main characters lived and worked in London, and, because I have spent a great deal of time there, I could actually follow them down the street, so when they went from Les Mis to Old Compton Street (which is only two blocks long) and into a restaurant, I knew exactally where they were going. This happened quite a bit throughout the story.
In most of the Dick Francis (and Felix Francis) books, the stories are "stand alones" featuring a young (30ish) male character involved in some way with the horse racing industry, this was no exception.
It is a great tragedy when a really good author dies and his (or her) works die with him. I am so very glad that when Dick Francis' wife died (she helped him very much in his research), his son, Felix, took over the job, eventually collaborated with him in writing, and eventually took over.
Even so, notice that the title is not the normal one word title of the Dick Francis books, but the name plus the one name title -- Dick Francis' Damage.
July 30, 2021
Son Felix takes on the role of Dick Francis as writer of horse racing-themed mysteries. He does a passable take on his father’s writing and stories. I found this a bit more pedestrian than most of the Dick Francis stories. Dick would add in some well researched details on non-racing “stuff”, like glass blowing, or accounting standards, or computer viruses. In this book by Felix, there wasn’t anything that really struck me as memorable that wasn’t pretty closely related to security at horse tracks. In that aspect, this didn’t feel the same. I also felt that the bad guys were a bit too “super human” in this one – the plot on reflection seemed hard to believe. But these kinds of issues don’t detract (much) from the continuation of the Dick Francis legacy. I look forward to reading the next one by Felix.
May 30, 2020
When Dick Francis died, I was really sad. I loved his books. Happily his son Felix has picked up the pen and is writing some really good ones just like his dad. Francis's books are all set in the horse racing world, mostly jump racing.
Jeff Hinkley is an investigator for the BHA...British Horseracing Association. Recently someone has been sabotaging some very important races by doping all the horses, poisoning all the jockeys in their private cafeteria and setting a jump on fire during a race. The BHA, unwilling to bring in the police to avoid scandal, asks Jeff to look into it. It's a great mystery. The character development is really good. It's not just about the mystery but about Jeff, his family and his girlfriend. Felix is as good as his dad!
Jeff Hinkley is an investigator for the BHA...British Horseracing Association. Recently someone has been sabotaging some very important races by doping all the horses, poisoning all the jockeys in their private cafeteria and setting a jump on fire during a race. The BHA, unwilling to bring in the police to avoid scandal, asks Jeff to look into it. It's a great mystery. The character development is really good. It's not just about the mystery but about Jeff, his family and his girlfriend. Felix is as good as his dad!
January 25, 2025
4.5 stars. It's been quite some time since I read a Dick Francis book, but I'm delighted his son has so expertly taken the reins from him. The action picked up slowly, letting me get to know the slightly odd main character, while most of the plot twists kept me guessing. The climax was incredibly late, so much so that I was worried the book would end before it. As such, there was simply no resolution, but I was still shocked by the final reveal. I'm delighted this is a series and I'll have to read the next soon.
December 6, 2017
Felix Francis finally hits his stride in this book which is reminiscent of Dick Francis at his best. An engaging thriller from the first page with a realistically drawn main character.
August 21, 2020
One of the best Felix Francis books yet
I'm a big Dick Francis fan and have found his son's books good enough but somewhat uneven. This has been the best yet, up to his father's standards.
I'm a big Dick Francis fan and have found his son's books good enough but somewhat uneven. This has been the best yet, up to his father's standards.
November 25, 2024
As usual, the story sucked me in completely, but this ending was a little too abrupt for 5 stars.
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April 22, 2024I gave up a quarter of the way through. This guy is no Dick Francis. Just plodding. I wish my library had Dick Francis audiobooks.
February 16, 2018
a real page turner, I started this book and could not put it down until I was done.
October 17, 2014
I enjoyed this latest by Felix Francis. It had a lovely sense of place. The setting in England was clear with plenty of colloquialisms and images of London etc. I also continue to be impressed with the horse elements in the story. They were always of course the highlights of the story when his father was writing and so far the books continue to do well in that aspect even though it was Dick and not Felix who was a jump jockey. However, I have to assume that Felix at least grew up around the sport and horses so mistakes aren't likely. But still as a horse person, I appreciate that. The hero of this book of this book was par for the course here, 30 years old, smart and dedicated. He figures out the crime while dealing with family issues and deciding whether to commit to his girlfriend or not. In this one we didn't know ahead of time who the bad guy was as we usually do with DF/FF. But the mystery held together well for the most part. I always enjoy watching the ways that a person can fix a race or cause mayhem on the track and only hope that bad guys don't read these books for ideas!
I was happy to learn what is happening in British racing. I don't keep up enough to know that the Jockey Club was no longer in charge. I am unfortunately in one of those US states where there is currently no track :-( So I have to get my horse racing from the TV and from DF/FF novels. One of the things I've always enjoyed about these authors is that you always learn something. They are always so well researched and you learn something different in every book. I left off a star because I felt the ending was a little rushed and one or two things felt unfinished. Maybe there is going to be another book with this character? I know that only two heroes repeat in DF/FF novels but I'd be happy to see this guy again and find out how his family gets on and watch him solve more cases.
All in all, good job and bring on the next one.
I was happy to learn what is happening in British racing. I don't keep up enough to know that the Jockey Club was no longer in charge. I am unfortunately in one of those US states where there is currently no track :-( So I have to get my horse racing from the TV and from DF/FF novels. One of the things I've always enjoyed about these authors is that you always learn something. They are always so well researched and you learn something different in every book. I left off a star because I felt the ending was a little rushed and one or two things felt unfinished. Maybe there is going to be another book with this character? I know that only two heroes repeat in DF/FF novels but I'd be happy to see this guy again and find out how his family gets on and watch him solve more cases.
All in all, good job and bring on the next one.
February 5, 2018
A safe as houses (or should that be horses) British mystery/thriller that continues the tradition set by Dick Francis and now carried on by his son Felix. It doesn't offend, and it doesn't shock, with a pleasant protagonist and an interesting plot. I've read a lot of both the father and son Francis output and in some ways you know what you are going to get which can be a little mundane but in others quite reassuring.
September 22, 2014
Good fun, a fast pace, and genuinely unputdownable. The 50th Francis book is both an homage to the father and a tribute to the son's great writing talent. What an incredible book. The main storyline, which delves deep into the world of the British Horseracing Authority, could have stumbled into the realm of boring under another author's reins, but not so here. Even the internal politics and board meetings are suspenseful and move the story along at a nice, crisp pace. Like every Francis book, the story simply flows. And so much action! No less than four sub-stories ride along with the main plot, all interesting and not always easy to address, and the author handles each one with great sympathy and sensitivity. (I'd say more but it would be a spoiler.)
As an added bit of fun, long-time Dick and Felix Francis readers should watch for a little inside baseball humor in a conversation Jeff has with his colleague Crispin about watching out for all the possible things that can go wrong at a race meet.
Felix Francis continues to surpass himself with each book which makes it hard to pick a favorite, but this is certainly on the short list and one I already look forward to reading again. Like I do all Francis books. A bit earthier than I am used to with this author, some welcome humor, compassion, interesting bits of trivia and history woven throughout, and a heck of a yarn to boot. As my British friends have taught me to say, I'm chuffed! The 50th book is a splendid addition to the Francis library, and my own. Bravo, Felix.
As an added bit of fun, long-time Dick and Felix Francis readers should watch for a little inside baseball humor in a conversation Jeff has with his colleague Crispin about watching out for all the possible things that can go wrong at a race meet.
Felix Francis continues to surpass himself with each book which makes it hard to pick a favorite, but this is certainly on the short list and one I already look forward to reading again. Like I do all Francis books. A bit earthier than I am used to with this author, some welcome humor, compassion, interesting bits of trivia and history woven throughout, and a heck of a yarn to boot. As my British friends have taught me to say, I'm chuffed! The 50th book is a splendid addition to the Francis library, and my own. Bravo, Felix.
November 5, 2014
Felix Francis has now written four novels on his own in the highly successful and recognized Dick Francis horseracing mystery series, as well as co-authoring four others. All have been of the high quality one came to expect from pere Francis. Might one suggest that it might be time for his novels to be issued in his own name? Unless, of course, there is a nostalgic, or filial, reason to continue labeling the books “Dick Francis’s.”
Undercover investigator Jeff Hinkley of the British Horseracing Authority is charged with identifying the person sabotaging various high profile horse races by initially by doping the race entries, and subsequently by other methods. And just to complicate his life, his brother-in-law asks him to find a missing accuser who has falsely testified that his son is a drug dealer, hopefully to convince him to retract his story. Meanwhile, on a personal level, Jeff has to decide how his relationship with his live-in girlfriend is to develop.
Needless to say, the author has the Francis formula down pat, with descriptions of the horse-racing industry real and exciting, and character analysis deep and penetrating. Moreover, insights into Jeff’s personality and psyche are sharp and insightful. In fact, all the characterizations are acute, as is the plotting, and the novel is highly recommended.
Undercover investigator Jeff Hinkley of the British Horseracing Authority is charged with identifying the person sabotaging various high profile horse races by initially by doping the race entries, and subsequently by other methods. And just to complicate his life, his brother-in-law asks him to find a missing accuser who has falsely testified that his son is a drug dealer, hopefully to convince him to retract his story. Meanwhile, on a personal level, Jeff has to decide how his relationship with his live-in girlfriend is to develop.
Needless to say, the author has the Francis formula down pat, with descriptions of the horse-racing industry real and exciting, and character analysis deep and penetrating. Moreover, insights into Jeff’s personality and psyche are sharp and insightful. In fact, all the characterizations are acute, as is the plotting, and the novel is highly recommended.
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