Knockdown

De: Dick Francis

Narrado por: Tony Britton

Dick Francis, the bestselling master of mystery and suspense, takes you into the thrilling world of horse racing.

For a generous commission, ex-prizewinning jockey Jonah Dereham reluctantly agrees to bid on a young steeplechaser on behalf of a wealthy American woman. But his life is thrust into danger immediately following the auction, when he receives a blow to the head by two thugs demanding ownership of the horse.

Unfortunately that’s just the beginning. Now Jonah must figure out the high stakes game being played, before he becomes its next casualty.

©1974 Dick Francis (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd.

Familiar Themes New Narrative

Dick Francis books are a familiar favorite for me. I consume them regularly. The themes are familiar and comforting yet also compelling. I continue to delight in the various perspectives on horse racing that he reflects in his novels.

Strong and atmospheric suspense

Dick Francis novels all reflect his experience as a jockey, telling stories about the inside of the horse racing business in a way that only another insider can. Francis's horseracing world is often, and his protagonists are usually voices of honor in a wilderness of corruption. This book is typical in that regard.

The protagonist, Jonah Dereham, is a retired jockey, and like many retired jockeys, it was the rigors of the track that caused his retirement. He has become a bloodstock buyer, working on commission. He is honest and hardnosed enough not to yield to threats, which, since this is a suspense novel, are rather thick on the ground.

The protagonist and the supporting characters are drawn very believably, with quirks and flaws that give them life on the page. The villains have believable motives; they're not villains only because they are evil.

The plot moves quickly, and while I figured out the final villain before the end, I didn't think his identity obvious enough to be a problem for the story.

Francis's work seems to be criminally underrepresented in the conversations about suspense and crime writers. (Perhaps it's just that I move in the wrong circles.) This is a short book, and, like the other Francis books I've read, very much worth the time. Recommended.

A Classic Dick Francis Story

I started reading Dick Francis in the 1970’s. Missed this one apparently. Now catching it as an audiobook. Moral but imperfect hero. Complex characters and personalities. And of course the mixed happy ending. A gem.

Awful Ending

Basically it just ended. I thought I had caused it to skip ahead. But no. I mean there was a solution to the crime but no wrap-up at all. Strange

Suspenseful to the end!

I always enjoy his books. Narration was a little disappointing but it was a good story.