Dick Francis's Bloodline

By: Felix Francis

Narrated by: Martin Jarvis

Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

The next great best-selling mystery from the grand master of the genre...

When race caller and television presenter Mark Shillingford calls a race in which his twin sister, Clare, an accomplished and successful jockey, comes in second when she could have won, he believes the worst: that she lost on purpose, and the race was fixed. That night, Mark confronts Clare with his suspicions, she storms off after an argument - and it’s the last time Mark sees her alive. Hours later, Clare jumps to her death from the balcony of a London hotel...or so it seems.

Devastated and guilty over her death, Mark goes in search of answers. What had led Clare to take her own life? Or was it not suicide at all?

©2012 Felix Francis (P)2012 Recorded Books

Fast action packed without graphic sex & violence

Felix Francis has matured in his writing. He sticks with the plot, introducing plot complications, characters, and clues in a timely matter. He inserts explanations where needed so the reader isn't scratching his head about why a character seems to be overreacting. His last book was good but over long and could have used a sharper pencil. This one is sharply written and doesn't get bogged down.

It is reminiscent of his father's work in that his main character is someone you might like to hang out and is a hard worker that things happen to and who must find out why before he is killed. Felix Francis' characters in this book seem to have the same good characteristics and a bit more depth. I look forward to his next book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Very.slow.pace.

Would you try another book from Felix Francis and/or Martin Jarvis?

Regrettably, no.

What was most disappointing about Felix Francis’s story?

Just didn't seem realistic. Characters were too thinly sketched and not likeable. The plot had too many holes .

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I liked his baritone voice and crisp elocution, but he was not right for the main character (too old, too strong) and the women seemed like airheads (this is tough for all the male narrators).

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment- kept hope it would pick up.

Any additional comments?

I was a huge Dick Francis fan, but stopped reading his later works when the quality fell off. I knew his writing was a family affair, so when I saw Felix got 4 stars for Bloodline, I decided to give him a try. I'm sorry to say he doesn't have his father's touch. His "hero" began the book with a huge ethical lapse, and did not have the expected reaction to his sister's death, making him very unsympathetic He didn't ask the logical questions one would have after a sibling's presumed suicide, and it was frustrating that he seemed to miss obvious clues. The supporting characters behaved in arbitrary ways. His love interests (both of them) acted so suspiciously that I assumed they were being set up as conspirators or victims. Unlike Dick Francis, who would introduce new villains as the thriller progressed, Felix followed the "Law of Economy of Characters" so that the killer had to be one of the characters previously introduced. Once our hero identified the killer by sight, he was described only as "the man", which was really frustrating because it could have been 2 or 3 minor characters (either of them would have satisfied the plot). The setting of the race course broadcast booth was interesting, but most of the dialogue was really flat.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Not like his Dad

I have long enjoyed Dick Francis's stories with their strong main characters and rich details. But I was disappointed with this one by his son. The main character here seemed weak and whiny, and some of the happenings extremely unlikely. I found myself wanting to tell Mark to stop whining and grow up. I doubt I'll buy another of Felix Francis's books.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not up to what I expected

Would you try another book from Felix Francis and/or Martin Jarvis?

Maybe from Felix Francis and certainly to Martin Jarvis

Would you ever listen to anything by Felix Francis again?

I'm not sure....Bloodline was not what I've come to expect from Felix Francis. This book made me feel like I was reading a biography of the character instead of a work of fiction. I read for entertainment and this book didn't do much entertaining.

Which scene was your favorite?

None that really stood out for me.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Dick Francis's Bloodline?

I would have cut a lot of the introspection of the main character. As I said, this book definitely lacked most of the mystery I've come to expect from a Felix Francis book.

Any additional comments?

This book was almost boring....I was tempted to turn it off several times. The only reason I finished it was because I really don't like to not finish a book...but this one came close.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Vintage Dick Francis!

What did you love best about Dick Francis's Bloodline?

This story takes lots of twists and turns. Hard to predict the finish until it happens. Lots of interesting information about the back side of racing. This story is Dick Francis at his best. Congratulations Felix on keeping the tradition going. You have all of the talent and then some writing captivating stories like your Father. This is one of the best of the whole series. Please keep them coming!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fantastic, a constant pull

An education in TV and Radio broadcasting this book was thrilling, captivating and a magnetic pull into the world of horse racing.

Felix Francis is a poor imitation of Dick Francis.

Felix Francis needs to stop using his dad's name in his titles. For people not familiar with Dick Francis, this reflects badly on a great mystery writer.

Felix does not flesh out the personalities of his characters. His work is very pedantic; constantly repeating detailed lists and explanations like he has a word limit to meet.

Spoiler Alert:

And he kills off a major character so that he can have the hero constantly bemoan his situation.

Go listen to and read the original Dick Francis mysteries.

Very well written as always by Felix Frances. Man

However I dislike being forced to write a review. Please rethick your close. Thanks

Excellent book

This is an excellently written book with a great plot. As usual Martin Jarvis did a fantastic job on the narration and made it a pleasure to listen too.
I think that Felix Francis is just as great an author as his father and I hope he continues to write for many years.

Wow, what a great book

I wondered if son Felix could pick up where his father left off, and he has pleasantly surprised me with a great book, exceptionally well written with a tight compelling story. There is so much in here that is in the style of his father's older books. The reading by Martin Jarvis probably helps recreate the sense of the older books since I had listened to his reading of them. Overall a great listen and I highly recommend.