Decider

Dick Francis has found a winning formula that he faithfully follows:. A racetrack, jockeys, a deceptively unassuming young man who somehow manages to rise to all occasions, metaphorically slaying dragons as he does so, great physical danger, plus at least a tinge of romance. The plots work brilliantly time after time. There's also a vocational speciality thrown into the mix, so the reader can glean tidbits of technical information along the way. This book does not disappoint, following the basic formula, but with an innovation:. The main character has 6 son's, the oldest five of whom are actively involved in the story line. Their father must contend with the hatred and corruption of the members of a wildly dysfunctional super wealthy family, some of whom have murderous intentions towards the man and his young sons as he uncovers their secrets. The ending, as is often the case in a Dick Francis novel, is bittersweet. The story is compelling, filled with the knowledge of human behavior both terrible and heroic, and well worth the time to read.

Just read this again after a long hiatus. I had finished reading Felix Francis’ most recent effort “Crisis”. I wanted to remember what it was that the father had that the son lacks. It may be something as basic as the wrong editor! Dick Francis was a master storyteller with impeccable research(I believe the latter was thanks to his wife, Mary-who was also his editor: I just remembered that) In “Decider” he seamlessly integrates architecture into English racing. The cast of characters is marvelous: an architect father who restores life to old ruined buildings( LONG before our current craze for “Fixer Uppers”!); his five sons; his crazy upper class relations; and a host of supporting characters worthy of Dickens. Each is fleshed out and unique; and each one playing an integral part in the story. Highly recommended!

I have read all of Francis's novels--many probably 10 times. This novel is one of my favorites. Francis has both great talent and curiosity which combine in many novels to provide not just a great mystery with deft plot twists and strong characterizations for even minor characters, but the curiosity he has for so many different professions allows him to weave new worlds into that of racing. I have gotten a taste for the artist's life, the glassblower's, the balloonist, a herbalist's and banker's, a toy inventor, and in this effortless-to-read combination of architecture and racing and Rogane, Francis has gifted us with another superb tail.The wistful longing Lee has for one of the minor characters who reminds him of his wife at the beginning of their romance is just as true as the engineering knowledge he offers the reader along the way.The children which don't often appear in Francis's work are as individual as any of the more important characters and Lee's love and concern for his sons add a depth to his character that other books' main characters don't share because they aren't usually parents...Francis is sorely missed but at least his novels live on...

I usually don't like children in books (they are traditionally depicted as cliched brats, and tiresome to read), but Francis did a marvelous job of making the six sons in this novel individual and delightful. The hero's relationship with his wife was sad--I would've preferred something more romantic and loving, as the reader usually gets from Francis. The evil Stratton family was pretty darned evil. Francis seems to have a habit of never involving the police in the nasty affairs of his plots, so not all of the bad guys receive a proper comeuppance. In this book, some of the Strattons got their just desserts, but others didn't, which is somewhat unsatisfactory. But everything, as usual, was well-depicted, and so this Francis novel is a win. I'm still thinking about it...

I love every one of Dick Francis's novels. Some have seemed more interesting to me than others, but they all have what so few authors can match. The protagonists are always interesting, highly intelligent, kind, and interested in doing what's right.This particular protagonist is a father of six boys and a tangential member of a highly dysfunctional family. The way he solves problems and works with various family members, while trying to find answers to tough questions, truly shows Francis's skill as a story teller. As long as I can find his books, I'll read them with exquisite pleasure.

I have read all of his books, but this one has always been my favorite and I have reread it numerous times. Though always about horse racing, this one concentrated on family, loving, caring, overbearing, evil and manipulative. It was two sides to a coin showing what a loving and caring father was like versus the infected diseased over wealthy family. I miss his books very much as there will never be another Dick Francis.

One of his best. The protagonist is a builder who resurrects decrepit buildings, and also the inheritor of a few shares in a racetrack. When the racetrack finds itself in trouble, the managers reach out to our hero to get involved and try to save it and their jobs. The most fun part of the book is that the hero has six sons and they all come with him on his mission to try to save the racetrack. The plot is complex, the other characters, although a little stereotyped, are interesting, and the interaction among the protagonist and his sons is endearing.

My favorite Dick Francis mystery novel. A traveler comes to a fork in the road being guarded by two angels. One angel always tells the truth the other lies all the time, one fork leads to life, the other death. How does the traveler know which way to go and what question does he ask? This is the premise of this book, who do you trust and if you trust wrong you are very likely dead.

Any Dick Francis novel is good This one I couldn’t put down

she loved it

Typischer Dick Francis, liebe das und bin hin und weg. Grundsätzlich geht es um Pferdesport und die Art wie man immer wieder zum Lachen gebracht wird einfach phänomenal. Typisch Britisch

This one is right up there with all his other great stories

建築家(リー・モリス)が5人の息子たち(14歳から7歳)を連れて競馬場に行く。競馬場の持ち主である大富豪(ストラットン)の一族のトラブルに巻き込まれる。リーの母親はかつて大富豪の次男に嫁いでいた。この一族の隠された秘密を暴き、事件の解決に導く。緻密なプロットとスリリングな展開は楽しめる。フランシスはよくこうして毎回全く違うストーリーが書けると思う。