This is a brilliant collection of thirteen short stories, written by the Master of Crime. of them have had a very limited circulation and the vast majority of Dick Francis at the age of eighty-nine, but he remains one of the greatest thriller writers of.
Table of contents
- Field of Thirteen
- Field of Thirteen - Dick Francis - Google Книги
- Paperback Editions
- Field of Thirteen
This is not to say that violence is a stranger to our hero. Some of it staggering and often delivered by what we would think of normal persons living in British society. You will come to love the world of Steeple Chase racing, you will grow a fondness for horses, stables, trainers and the people who live in that world. You will read the books, devouring one after the other and trust me Dick Francis has a lot of novels over 40 by my last count.
- Field of 13;
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There are several series woven into the fabric of Francis's work: Dick Francis is one of my favorite writers. I read his books with a fierce hunger that remains insatiable and I mourn his death. Jun 20, P. Winn rated it really liked it. This is a good collection of short stories with a horse racing theme. Thirteen stories with interesting ending to keep readers holding on for the ride. The author has a good writing style and the stories are unique, fun and great to read either one at a time or in one sitting if you want too.
First time I have read a book by this author and I enjoyed it. Mar 02, Sharon rated it liked it. This is a book of 13 short stories centered around horse racing and the jockeys, trainers,owners and gamblers whose lives depend on the sport. Many of the stories involve cheating of one sort or another. My favorites were the ones where honesty and professionalism are rewarded.
Field of Thirteen
These were few in number. Although Dick Francis is widely known as a mystery writer most of these stories are not actually in that genre. Dick Francis write superbly. What can I say. This book of great short stories is filled with his trade-mark excellence of writing. Mystery, human stories I loved Song for Mona , adventure of a sort , funny little twists and turns of 'what happens'. I didn't foresee any of it, and was delighted with each and every story. Aug 06, Linda rated it really liked it.
Field of Thirteen - Dick Francis - Google Книги
Lots of plot reversals and surprises. A few of his short stories were fun some long and boring. Most of these stories were written in the seventies when Francis was going for a more hard-boiled feel with pickpockets and grifters. They're fine stories, just not as good as the later novels. Jun 19, Fredrick Danysh rated it it was amazing. Thirteen short stories about the horse racing sports from the master of the genre. They are easy to read and enjoyable. I especially likes the short notes accompaning each story. The variety of scams hint ideas never fleshed out to full length.
Not as much humor as I like, incomparable skill creating whole personalities from bits, names, single sentences, even omissions.
Paperback Editions
I read them all before; liked first best, drawn by chance according to foreword "Notes on the Racecard", that also name-drops Penguin publisher, wife, and Car "Field of Thirteen" are short stories by Dick Francis, all try to twist ending, some not as just as I'd wish, less justice, easier on wrong-doers. I read them all before; liked first best, drawn by chance according to foreword "Notes on the Racecard", that also name-drops Penguin publisher, wife, and Caribbean sea apartment. Francis was well rewarded for his talent. Mrs Angelisa Ludville, debt-ridden deserted Tote ticket clerk, and lazy lax security officer Major Kevin Cawdor-Jones both abscond with more scot-free, while Tricksy stays mum.
Enroute to second job, ferry sinks, crimson hull visible last. Angry friends, rich Bolingbrokes, famous singer Cassidy Lovelace Ward writes and dedicates memorial song, and with husband gold-medal rider Oliver keep hidden newspaper article that Joan's late father convicted child-rapist.
Tramp gives apologetic landowner colt with forehead star he slipped away from thieves Turners; landowner tells sergeant to call Race officials. Harold Field hires Bill after he asks Kinsey for apology and permanent welcoming notice for boaters. Sergeant Duke and backup catch villain red-handed. Trainer Arthur Morrison assigns Chick next. Chick feeds drugs too late, horse falls, dies, rider Chick paralyzed, cared for his family, the Morrisons. Fred borrows money, passes out, misses deadline.
Field of Thirteen
Chance bystander Yorkshire seller's brother, innocently exposes scam. Derek, injured in fall, feels guilty, confesses, but advises that Magic has true potential and trainer will lie to avoid Whitbread race. Angela, sad but open-eyed blackmails Clement to run colt in as promised, wins a bundle, sells horses, goes on cruise. Blind teen has radio hobby, overhears transmission before judge announces result, wins independently of gang, but noticed by chance.
Arnold is photographer that develops official snapshots. Harlow has honor, persistence, and funds to hire smart lawyer David Vynn for justice.
Four years later, debt-free "but still dishonest at heart" Green moves to another state, but victim of swindle "in a dark alley beat [him] to a pulp. Jerry Springwood jockey 32 has lost his heart. Stewards deny Chief Superintendent Crispin request to fix win and catch member of murdering bank gang collecting on bet, but Springwood conquers fears and wins anyway. Glenn rips up ticket but first placer disqualified; by not collecting he "cursed his wife and kicked the cat", but keeps job as nearby jail night guard. Jockey retires, weeps "for lost courage", doesn't "realize he rode bravest race of his life".
Jasper Billington Innes and wife Wendy 42 are bankrupt, need first-runner Lilyglit to win. Second favorite Fable owners Arkwright brothers jockey and trainer are dishonest, going to be caught this time. Storm Cone 3 jockey Moggie Reilly 24, fallen for trainer's daughter Sarah Driffield, refuses last-ditch plea from normally honest Innes to throw race. Haig's death causes race declared void as if "nothing happened", so Innes, Reilly, even Arkwrights have happy fates after an eventful dangerous race. Aug 04, James H. As with any work by Mr. Francis there are horses - usually all running in the same direction.
I do not follow horse racing, but I do read Francis books about the sport. They are always interesting, at times exciting, and always a pleasant read. This one, and the added short stories, kept my attention and led to my ignoring the clock. No bother when you are reading the work of a good author. I abandoned the book half-way through, because unfortunately I really don't like short stories very much. The 7 that I read were good as short stories go.
I read Dick Francis novels many years ago and enjoyed them, so I decided to give these stories a try. This book deserves an explanation of why someone would drop it, so there you have it. Good writing and stories, but just too short for me. I should have known better. Feb 04, Susan rated it it was amazing. This is a book of short stories mystery stories by Dick Francis. All the stories had some connection to the world of horse racing.
What great characters, too. The stories had been created over the span of quite a few years, so that made the collection even more interesting to read. I think that anyone who likes Dick Francis' mystery novels would enjoy this book. Jul 19, Uwe rated it liked it. I found the character development skin deep and the plots as "complex" as limericks.
My interest was tickled just enough to hang on and my mind was not bored enough to put it down, though I came close many times. For somebody unfamiliar with horses or the law it was a fleeting interest in the content that kept me going. Not a book I would recommend nor one that makes me chose the author again. Apr 04, M. McRae rated it it was ok. Short stories that range from moderately good to forgettable.
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So buy if you absolutely have to have anything that Dick Francis wrote, but do not expect much entertainment, and understand that these stories entirely lack the gripping quality that has been the mark of a Dick Francis novel. Francis for the Win! Sid, champion jockey has to give up when his hand is smashed, so he turns to a new life as a private eye.
Australian visitor goes undercover as a stable hand to solve a racehorse doping scandal. A young aristocrat throws up a respectable job to join a firm which transports race horses all over the world. An encounter with a couple in punt leads investigator Gene Hawkins on a chase for lost horses across the United States. Racing correspondent for a newspaper dedicated to exposing scandals in the noisiest way becomes involved in exposing a racing fraud while dealing with the problems of his marriage to a woman housebound by polio.
To a jockey losing his licence is the equivalent of being disbarred or struck off. Kelly Hughes is not guilty and with nothing left to lose he begins a search for the men who framed him. At first the abduction at Newmarket seems to have no purpose as Neil Griffin is set free within hours. Then the threats of injury and extortion begin. An actor goes to South Africa to solve a racing mystery for a friend and the result is villainy and intrigue more deadly than any of his films. Set in Norway's fjord country where an official of the English jockey club is sent to investigate the disappearance of steeplechase jockey.
Ex-jockey purchases a modestly priced horse for a commission and finds someone else is willing to kill to obtain the horse. Steven Scott, wealthy toy maker and racehorse owner, sacks his trainer because he suspects he's a crook. The trainer threatens to sue Scott for slander if Scott tells anyone why he fired the trainer.
Scott is viewed as the bad guy by the horse racing crowd for firing a trainer who had provided him with horses that won races. Jockey turned portrait artist for horses becomes involved in solving the murder of his cousin's wife. An amateur jockey, who is also a partner in an accounting firm, wins the Gold Cup and then he is abducted not once, but twice for no apparent reasons.
A retired jockey is sent to Moscow on a delicate investigation involving royalty and the Moscow Olympics. Second Sid Halley novel - Sid outwits a sadistic bookie and chain-wielding goons during the investigation of a doping scandal. A jockey turns to photography as a career and becomes embroiled in the aftermath of the strange death of a racetrack photographer.
Computer program containing bookie-breaking system is unintentionally given to a sharp-shooting physics teacher. Finding kidnappers is the company's business. A girl jockey disappears, followed by the young child of a Derby winner, and the senior steward of the Jockey Club. An unexplained accident during a Sunday morning party at a racing stable leads the wine merchant into solving the mystery. Kit's twin sister is married to the son of Maynard Allardeck , who maintains a feud against the Fieldings , and their stables are the target of a smear campaign.
A princess is blackmailed, and his feud with Maynard Allardeck has once again intensified. A millionaire's estranged, fifth wife is murdered and he turns to the son of one of his previous wives for help. Jockey's brother Greville dies mysteriously, and he inherits his business, gemstones, gadgets, enemies, horses and even his mistress. Author who has written six books on survival skills is commissioned to write the biography of a famous racehorse trainer.
Diplomat returns to England and becomes embroiled in a racing mystery involving a veterinary surgeon with serious troubles. Retired jockey, Freddie Croft, runs a fleet of transporters for race horses. One of his drivers picks up a hitch hiker and the firm becomes embroiled in a complicated conspiracy.