avid_reader_sf_and_f's review against another edition
4.0
Like a flash back to another age, this book is a visit to the late 1960's and classic Dick Francis. It's been more than 20 years since my last read and it's just as good today.
hpstrangelove's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love a damaged hero, and it's nice that Dick Francis makes his characters attractive. The plot was interesting, and I liked that the setting changed to the United States, places I've been too (not that I don't like British settings).
govmarley's review against another edition
4.0
This one was a darker plot than a lot of Dick Francis's novels. It holds up very well for a book written in 1967. You could see it happening in today's world, with less smoking and better technology. This time, our everyman hero is Gene Hawkins, a "civil servant" with a very particular set of skills. He is very good at his job, but struggles with depression. To save him from himself, his boss dangles an irresistible case in front of him - three missing stud stallions have vanished without a trace over the past few years. Could they be related? And can they be found? Well, yes, friends, or we wouldn't have a mystery to solve.
Francis gives a pretty honest perspective of Gene's dark thoughts and how he grapples with life and what to do with the one he has. The supporting characters are well-developed, too. Especially Walt, the insurance investigator who joins Gene on his quest to solve the case and recover the funds to his company. This one takes us from England to all across America, and finally back home again. One of my favorites, and we didn't even really go racing. 4 stars.
Francis gives a pretty honest perspective of Gene's dark thoughts and how he grapples with life and what to do with the one he has. The supporting characters are well-developed, too. Especially Walt, the insurance investigator who joins Gene on his quest to solve the case and recover the funds to his company. This one takes us from England to all across America, and finally back home again. One of my favorites, and we didn't even really go racing. 4 stars.
saneyossarian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
avid_reader_sf_and_f's review against another edition
4.0
Like a flash back to another age, this book is a visit to the late 1960's and classic Dick Francis. It's been more than 20 years since my last read and it's just as good today.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
2.0
This really isn’t my favorite Francis novel. I find it to be disjointed and jumpy. I also have problems with the main character’s relationship. It’s weird feeling reading this book.
pennifer's review against another edition
3.0
There were a few annoying mistakes in the writing, one surprising given that it was horse-related, but didn’t mar the overall plot, just moments.