Front Runner: A Dick Francis Novel

After a long series of really good one-off thrillers from this author, I wasn't sure how I felt about last year's hero in DAMAGE, Jeff Hinkley, making a return appearance. But any potential skepticism disappeared in the first few chapters, when I got well and truly hooked into an intricate plot that packs a huge wallop of suspense from the very start. In fact, if you think you got to know the main character in the first book, think again. Yes, the superb thinking ability and likability are still there, but life even for action heroes doesn't always go as planned, and Jeff is poked, prodded, provoked, and pummeled in these pages to the point where I found myself genuinely--and frequently--hoping against hope that he would prevail. And along the way his character evolved into a Jeff I found even more complex and likable. (Not that you need to have read DAMAGE to enjoy this adventure for itself. You absolutely don't.)There's a sense of adventurous fun and light-heartedness in FRONT RUNNER that I think adds new spark to the character and encompasses a new supporting cast, yet the multi-part plot includes ongoing serious and breathtaking twists and turns that all tie together at the end in the cleverest of ways. Mostly, it's a well-thought-out, rollicking, world-romping, just-plain-good adventure that leaves you longing for just a few more pages even though it is ultimately satisfying. And I hated to leave Jeff and friends; it's going to be a long wait till next year's book when we can see what he's up to again!Dick Francis fans should find much to embrace here in the Francis tradition while also enjoying the differences in style, plotting, and both light and heavy touches that are unique to Felix's work. This is Felix's 10th book (and the 51st between Dick and Felix) and I like it as much as his previous action-packed offerings such as DEAD HEAT and BLOODLINE. Perhaps even more as there is just so much to it. Without detailing the plot, I admit to both laughing out loud and shedding tears at certain times. And long-time Dick Francis readers will also notice something extra just for them if they look sharp.A good book is a journey. Take your time with this one; in fact, you may want to pack a lunch. Well done, Mr. Francis. I simply loved this story. More like this, please.

Felix Francis sticks relatively close to a "formula" developed by his father (Dick Francis) who wrote close to 40 novels. The idea is:- Written through a first-person perspective- The protagonist is a young-ish man (20s or early 30s) who gets pulled into something diabolical he didn't expect- We learn that the protagonist is strong mentally, determined, and leaves the reader with the sense that we really respect the guy- The protagonist still has some moments of doubt, making him human- There are several different threads throughout - usually side stories that may or may not contribute to the finish- Generally there's a new love interest for the protagonist- There's always some sort of tight, unexpected, challenging situation to get out of- At the end, there's an ending which is plausible, but may be surprising- And there's always something to do with horse racingFelix Francis has all of this; and can really keep your attention. I found it a riveting read, with an ending that I didn't quite expect. I felt the protagonist, Jeff Hinkley, was believable, and met the criteria I had above.I can't quite give it 5 stars because the writing isn't quite as compact as some of the best authors in this field. Also.. the starting chapters have Hinkley saying "such-and-such tried to kill me" - when it wasn't obvious that was the case. In fact, I seriously doubted he was accusing the right guy. Hinkley is a professional investigator, and should have been more open-minded.Having said that - worth the money and the read if you like this kind of stuff.

Jeff Hinkley is an investigator for the British Horseracing Authority. When the story begins he is dealing with some depression because his long-term girlfriend has moved out and taken up with a man who has a much less dangerous lifestyle. Jeff is also called be a friend who is also a jockey who has an interesting story to tell. He is being blackmailed to throw races. Jeff begins investigating and the next thing he knows someone attempts to kill him and succeeds in killing his jockey friend.Meanwhile, he attends a luncheon at a racetrack upon the invitation of the man who owns the horse he saved from kidnapping in the previous book and also meets an interesting woman. Henri Shawcross is a British socialite who runs her own business. She is there with her uncle Sir Richard Reynard who is considering purchasing some race horses of his own. Before their relationship can really develop, Jeff is attacked again this time by two men with knives.When Jeff gets out of the hospital, he continues to investigate the blackmailing scheme and furthers his romance with Henri. She invites him to spend Christmas with her and her family - her uncle and his wife, her cousin and his wife - in the Cayman Islands. This should get him away from further murder attempts but it does not.This was an interesting story filled with lovely descriptions of the Cayman Islands, lots of information about diving, and great details about British horseracing. I enjoyed it very much and hope that Jeff Hinkley's adventures are not over.

I was a huge fan of Dick Francis, reading every book as it came out. With the unfortunate passing, and news Felix was taking over the franchise, I had hopes but was also prepared to be disappointed. So far, not one of Felix Francis' efforts has disappointed, and this book is no different. From the start it hooked me, mixed the right amount of character development, love interest, politics, and adventure together, and I ended up reading it through in a few marathon reading sessions.The story is pretty consistent with all of Francis' books (both Francis'), centered around horses although this time from an investigator's point of view. It's a sizable read compared to others in the series, which was nice. Overall, I really enjoyed reading Front Runner and recommend it not just to Francis fans, but to anyone who enjoys a good story, well developed, with some interesting plot twists.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Good story and pace. Different to Dick Francis, but showing a Felix Francis style. Looking forward to the next one.

読んでいて面白かったと言えるが、第2部とも言えるレイナードのJeffを殺害しようとする動機が弱い気がした。また第1部とも関連性がない。第1部のストーリーに集中した方が面白いと思う。そのため評価が低くなってます。サウナに閉じ込められて殺されかかるところが迫力があった。HenriがJeffを好きになる理由も薄弱である。

Another story in atypical Dick/Felix Francis fashion. Good but not Felix's best effort so far.

I was an avid reader of Dick Francis and have most of his books. His son Francis who originally wrote with his father was good, but on his own he lacks the spark of his father. This book was a disappointment in both the story and the writing. However it does not mean I will not get his next one!