Adventure Racing Books

Running North is an excellent book for anyone interested in Alaska or mushing. Ann Mariah Cook captures the feel for Alaska and dog sledding perfectly. Even if you have no true interest in the subject you will find your self swept into the wonderful world of dog sledding. Cook clearly brings to life the people they met, friends they made, and the hazards that tried to stop them from running the Yukon Quest. One of the most grueling races in the world. I found I learned a great deal from this book without it ever becoming boring or slowing down. And most importantly she tells about the dogs, the wonderful creatures who work so willingly for us. Sometimes heartbreaking sometime funny, this book is an interesting, exciting read for anyone.

Subtitled, "A Yukon Adventure," Ann Mariah Cook's fascinating 1998 memoir chronicles the time in 1992 that she, her husband George and three-year old daughter moved to Alaska to participate in the Yukon Quest, the toughest sled dog race in the world. It was George who ran the race; Ann was the one who drove the truck, carried the gear, took care of their daughter and gave him moral support through the long months of training, and eventually through the grueling event.

I've read other books about dog mushing, but this one had the unique point of view of a woman who, while not actually on the sled during the race, experienced her own Yukon Quest experience. She writes clearly and honestly, not shying away from the disagreement that she had with the young woman they brought with them to act as the official "handler" of the dogs. She writes about George's experience on the trail, his frostbite, fatigue, narrow escapes and indomitable spirit as he pitted himself against natural forces over which he had little control. She writes about the dogs, their personalities and backgrounds and about the tough choices she and George had to make when it came time to pick the actual team of 12 out of their much larger group. She writes about the people they meet along the way, her Alaskan neighbors, fisherman, storekeepers and the other mushers. And she writes about Alaska itself, making me yearn to experience its beauty and majesty.

There was one small line drawing of the Yukon Quest trail and I kept returning to it again and again as the book moved along and the tension mounted. There is also a photo of Ms. Cook and one of her dogs on the back cover. I wish there were more photos, but I didn't really need them because her descriptions were so clear. Recommended.

What a pleasant surprise to read a literary and exciting story of Alaska and dog-racing. Thoroughly enjoyable. I totally recommend this book to all adventure lovers.

This book was one of the greatest ones I have ever read. I race sled dogs, and I found it so interesting...I could and have felt everything they go through. Also my grandmother who bought the book for me said she started reading it one night and read it the whole thing that night, and she has never raced and knows nothing about it, and she LOVED it. So it is a good book for anyone to read!!

Fascinating details of the "Cook Team" in the greuling Yukon Quest are revealed in this book. Ann and her husband move to Alaska from the eastern United States so that they can experience "real" dog sled racing. Their adventure is difficult from the beginning; however, they eventually grow to love the Alaskan atmosphere. Despite much adversity, from friends and neighbors, about their inexperience, George and Ann enter the Yukon Quest. Details about survival, cultural adjustment, and everlasting memories are enriched in this educational book about the Yukon Quest.

Dick Francis books read as if they came directly from the pages of the racing review. This book especially must be considered one of his best in both storyline and character. One reviewer said there was no mystery here, maybe so maybe not, but there certainly is suspense.

To bolt: that is what a horse can do when throwing its rider; that is what Kit Fielding's girlfriend is in the process of doing, and a bolt is what has been used to kill 3 prime racing steeds.

We learn from this book that a horse's brain is about the size of a person's fist, and that to kill one quickly one needs only draw a line from the right ear to the left eye and from the left ear to the right eye and where the X meets is the exact point to shoot the bolt. If true to aim, the horse will go down immediately with no loss of blood, it will just die. Grim business this book.

In BOLT Dick Francis has included just about as much racing action as any other of his books that I can recall. Several stories are taking place at various times throughout this novel and the reader's attention is captivated throughout. Racing injuries are mentioned too with some racing lore and strategy spread about also. This book has the feel of the track taking the reader along.

Starting on page 160 we receive several pages of information on the internation gun traffic with types of guns mentioned, especially the new plastic type that can go undetected through airports. And this background ties directly to the main plot of the story. Granted this information is dated by the book being published in 1987, but much of these statements would yet today hold truth.

On page 169 Kit Fielding sums up his thoughts on today's justice: "The law doesn't always deliver justice. The victim mostly loses. Too often the law can only punish, it can't put things right." Great statement Mr. Francis and alas only too true.

To go on and on would make this review longer than my arm, however, suffice it to say that this is one of more interesting and thought provoking Dick Francis books I've read. It ranks up there with the best. Read it and see if you don't agree.

Semper Fi.

I a Francis fan. He took on a hard subject and he did a good job. How can a story fail when it has a three generation family feud, a French villian, a princess, and last but not least, horses?

Do not read this sequel until you've read BREAK IN. Francis continues the story of the hate obsessed Maynard Allardeck vendetta against Kit Fielding who destroyed his chances of knighthood. Many readers may not understand the revenge motif that drives the villein without having the background of the earlier book. BOLT and BREAK IN are companions, which can stand alone, but are much more savory together.
Kit has more problems as he may lose his new love to a young prince from her own world "who doesn't have the courtesy to be bad looking."
The killer is always known in this story, but proving who is killing Kit's best rides is another question.
Enjoy, Bolt is anything but humane.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and QUALIFYING LAPS.

In Bolt, Dick Francis continues the misadventures of Kit Fielding, jockey and all-round good guy. Francis' heroes are nearly always good and honest and brave, but never boring. They're the sort of men women would love to love and men should want to be like.

This time, however, Kit seems on the verge of losing, Danielle, his fiance and the love of his life. As he wrestles with these feelings, he is struck with the murder of the Princess' horses, first one, then two, then one more. Henri Nonterre is out to make the Princess and her husband turn to gun manufacturing, but Kit will do anything in his power to keep that from happening, as long as the family chooses to resist.

Meantime, Kit's old enemy, Maynard Allerdeck, looms in the background with renewed malice. What can possibly have increased his hatred for this particular Fielding? Fully occupied in helping the Princess and her family (which includes Danielle)avoid Nonterre's machinations, Kit merely tries to avoid any adverse contact with Maynard. But that may not be possible.

In typically honest, straight forward fashion, Kit strives to protect his employers and friends, and the horses he loves so much. In the meantime, he waits for Danielle to make up her mind about whether she wants to spend the rest of her life with him. A first rate story and most pleasant narrator.

I have to say that out of all of the Dick Francis books that I've read this one really made an impact on me. I enjoyed the plot so much in Break In, which featured Kit Fielding, that I immediately picked up a copy of this book which once again had him as the main character.

Kit Fielding is a steeplechase jockey, who's a little too tall and a little too old to continue racing, but he has his own agenda. Kit's friend, Princess Cassilia, has always been there for him and she's very much involved with the racing world as an owner of a very large horse farm. When she's threatened and her racehorses begin turning up dead, Kit takes it on himself to investigate, even with her personal life in turmoil. As he investigates, it seems as if everyone in the wealthy class of racing is a suspect and this puts Kit in danger himself.

Stretching the boundaries of his writing style, Francis has written a great "who dun it" and created a variety of possible villains along the way. There is the unknown enemy who is determined to ruin Kit's family, a rival in the romantic arena, a weapons dealer who is the King of the underworld black market, and then the horse murderer who uses a bolt to kill horses.

For those who have little knowledge of horses, a bolt is a weapon that is similar to a gun, but instead of a bullet being fired, it shoots a heavy metal slide (bolt) against the horse's head which immediately kills it. I'm told that this is a humane way to put down horses and usually administered by a veterinarian in extreme cases. Just the thought of such a weapon left chills up and down my spine, and leave it to Francis to use such a weapon in one of his books.

Bolt left me feeling uneasy about the method in which these horses were destroyed, but I guess murder of any kind should never be viewed with complacency! The character of Kit Fielding is one with which many can easily identify and the action is non-stop until the last page. There are even a few twists and turns along the way, just so you don't get over confident that you have figured out the murderer's true identity.

Bolt is definitely not for the faint of heart, but an excellent mystery with lots of adventure and wonderful descriptions of the English countryside.

A dynamite read even for someone who has never lived north of Key West, who has never even heard of the Iditarod, and who hates dogs. Adds credence to the fact that I never read fiction..life is a lot stranger, and a lot more exciting

This is far from the best-written non-fiction book I have ever read. The journalist's experience writing in the shorter form of articles shows through in the disjointed feel of much of the narrative. This is still well worth the read if you have any interest in Alaska, mushing, or man's working relationship with dogs. Even without those interests you may well find the book enjoyable.
At the beginning I was first overcome by the romantic notion of this amazing race, and reading through his preparations deluded myself with the fantasy of doing such a thing myself (a real joke considering how much I dislike even camping). Once the race gets underway, my most common thought was "these people are ...insane!" It was terrific and I really wanted to know how it would turn out for each and every one of them.
The title can provide for some fun too. The other day I overheard from another room Child A ask, "What is a lesbian?" Child B responded, "It is a type of dog." After much laughter I had to call them in and correct it, although I had fun imagining the kind of conversation this could cause in public at one point if they were both left with their misconception.
Since you are on this page, and reading these reviews, you are probably interested enough in the subject that reading this book would be a positive experience for you.

Of the Iditarod books I've read this has to rank as one of the best. Apparently a good sense of humor and a high appreciation of irony is a necessary component of being a Musher.

I thought the book was well written - I read at every opportunity, even my lunch time at work! I'm from South Africa, where winter day temperatures hover around 15 deg C (59 F) and I've seen snow maybe twice in my life, but this story was written in such a way that I'm burning to try mushing myself! Imagine that! I've ordered other books on mushing which, I'm hoping, will convince me that I shouldn't be so crazy.

Well worth the read and keep it on your bookshelf for future reading.

Every once in a while we go up to Ely, MN, and spend a day or so dogsledding. So, prior to this year's trip, I bought a few books on the Iditarod and mushing in general.

With the Iditarod in the news right now (especially with the legally blind woman competing this year) I figured I'd learn more about that particular grueling race. This was the first book I got, as the title caught my eye and the reviews were good.

About 1/3 the way into the book, the jumping around between the various mushers and their stories started to get annoying. While I was interested in the various stories, interspersing them in a sort of "time line" format along with O'Donoghue's own experiences was not something I, myself, particularly enjoyed. There were other things about his writing style that seemed to indicate the book was written for his associates and the people with whom he raced, rather than the public at large. As a reporter, it made sense that O'Donoghue would toss in some short human interest stories of the other mushers. But he also had a few nicknames and references that seemed to be for the benefit of those in the know.

Then I made the mistake of picking up Gary Paulsen's Winterdance before I had finished this one. What a huge difference!

I reluctantly came back to My Lead Dog Was A Lesbian and am still trying to finish it. After Paulsen, it just isn't the same. Not to mention his overuse of the word "lesbian" as an adjective, almost as if he felt it necessary to justify the title of the book. OK, the dog was "confused". We get that. But halfway through the book I started noticing he was referring to her as "the little lesbian" or "the lesbian" more often than anything else (like "my lead dog" or her name), and once that sort of thing is noticed, you know, it then just sort of jumps off the page at you. So it's gotten to the point where, when I read that description of his lead dog my eyes roll and I tend to flinch. Gahhh not another one!

I'm still stuck somewhere in the middle of the Iditarod with "O'D" and just can't quite bring myself to pick it back up. He doesn't convey anywhere near the appreciation or love of the dogs that Paulsen does, and it is, after all, all about the dogs. Or should be.

If you want objective, dry facts and figures, this is your book. If you want the soul of mushing, read Paulsen.

It must be tough to maintain the integrity of a series as the volumes add up, but Walter Farley continues to do so. The Black Stallion's Courage is true to the characters and has an intriguing plot. Set in the aftermath of a horrible farm accident, the Black Stallion and Alec are again put to the test. An inspirational story for all ages.

Once again Walter Farley tells any excellent story. When a fire burns down one of Hopefully farms barns it's going to take a lot of money to rebuild it. Though the Black's daughter Black Minx "Baby" is running in the 2nd and 3rd legs of the triple crown. Alec still wants to bring the Black out of retirement; we see several races in this book one which gives the perspective of people watching the race, which was nice. In the end the Black must race against Eclipse "Pops" the top 3 year old, and a 5 year old horse named Casey, who is compared to Man O' War

This is a good book with a satisfying plot, definately one of my favorites in the Black Stallion series. Alot of action and alot of the Black :]. There are alot of racing scenes, and the one between the Black, Casey and Eclipse almost reminded me of how the Black raced Cyclone and Sun Raider in the original. This one in my opinion, is the only book in the series that is like the original in some ways. Overall, this book is recommended!

I read all the Black Stallion books as a child, but this one has long remained my favorite. It does not have the "high adventure" that frequents many of Mr. Farley's other books - that said, I think the last chapter of this book is possibly the most exciting of the series - but it offers one of the most articulated and lasting pictures of life at the racetrack I have ever come across for either adults or children (the depiction of the "old man" handicapper is especially brilliant).
I think this book is the highlight of the series - joyful and full of all the best excitement the racetrack has to offer. I'm so glad to see it's coming back into print.

This was a great book that I could read over and over. The Black is pulled out of retirement to race again so that there will be enough money to rebuild the barn. The Black must race against Eclipse, the winner of The Preakness and the Belmont and definetly the horse to beat and a chesnut horse who's name I forget. I read this book again last summer and I can still replay the race vividly in my mind. This book might notc be my favorite in the series but it is truly riding high!

RAT RACE is the second Dick Frances that explores his love of flying light aircraft. Matt Shore has a air taxi service which he uses to transport race goers and jockeys from track to track. He has his competetors in this lucrative business who will stop at nothing to put Matt out of business.
Bombs and evil have become more sophisticated since this 1971 entry in mystery fiction, but that doesn't cloud the enjoyment of Matt's romance with the sister of a champion jockey, his resourcefullness in solving his problems and the excitement of his efforts to guide a cripple plane to a safe a landing.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and QUALIFYING LAPS.

This is one of the many great Francis racing-related books. I was hooked to them ever since my sister bought me "Break-in", unaware of what she was doing :). ever since, I've gathered all Francis novels I could find - and liked them all (even if not all are at the same high standards; they are all enjoyable, and this is what I look for in a book). The plots may be similar, and the main characters alike in some ways, but this is exactly what appeals to me - no more weaklings struggling to cope with existence; Mr. Francis gives you the man-for-himself type of hero. And after all, the plots are similar but not identical, and it amazes me what different results can the same recipe produce every time it's being used.
this one produced this:
Pilot Matt Shore tries to get back to an orderly life, after losing wife, a great number of jobs and his peace of mind. As most of us do, he coped by putting all feelings on "freeze". But a series of attempts on his clients' lives and the encounter of a special girl that just might teach him to love again will thaw the ice block and Matt decides to take the matter into his own hands and unravel the mystery of the attacks, so he'll be free to live again.
A great book, strong on relationships and enjoyable to the end.

For readers like me who find most of Dick Francis's books a little chilling, this early (1971) entry to his collection is delightfully different from the others. As pilot Matt Shore investigates a series of bombings apparently aimed at one of his passengers, famous jockey Colin Ross, the points of similarity to Francis's later race-course thrillers will be obvious: a manly, laconic hero; race-course settings; a good dose of violence towards the end. But the characters here are drawn with a warmth and humanity too often missing in Francis's later works, and the writer seems truly interested in their relationships. I love the moment when the hard-as-nails trainer suddenly turns on one of the other passengers in Matt's small plane and tells him off for his lamentable self-absorption--only to find that the slightly-crooked jockey she's been at odds with throughout the story is cheering her on; the scene in the attic of a stately ducal mansion, where Matt finds the gentle and kindly, if somewhat befuddled, Duke of Wessex absorbed in playing with his ten-year-old nephew and the model trains they both love; the picnic Matt shares on a riverbank with the famous jockey and his sisters, who generously open their family to include a near-stranger even while they deal with their grief at knowing that one of the young women is fatally ill--all those and any number of other moments lift this from the deadliness of the standard contemporary crime thriller into something more meaningful, and make this a book worth reading, or even reading again.

This 1971 entry into the Francis string of thrillers introduces us to Matt Shore, formerly of BOAC and currently an air taxi pilot. His passengers are often involved in the racing world, and through them Matt finds himself involved in fraud, both on and off the race course, and murder. Along the way Matt also discovers a family, new friends and romance.

Dick Francis' books are often dismissed as being formulistic. They are. The hero is always connected to the racing world, is alone and/or lonely, has a tragedy in his past, is thrust into some sort of crime conspiracy and always perserves against great odds through his fortitude. Within these limitations though Francis always manages to spin an exciting story, the mysteries are challenging, and the clues are all fairly laid out for the reader to follow. If you have read one of his books before and enjoyed it then you will probably like this one, if you did not like his work before then you will probably not like this one either. Obviously I enjoy his books.

The Dick Francis stories are slower moving than modern mystery/thrillers, and I rather enjoy that. It's not a constant shoot-'em-up action and as a result there's more time to get to know the characters. In this book, Matt Shore has been hired on to replace an air taxi pilot who is leaving the country. It's just his good luck to have for his first major taxi job several people who appear to be at one another's throats, a terribly moody jockey and - from a stop along the way - one of the most famous jockeys in England. Things just go from bad to worse when, on the flight back he notices a problem with steering the plane and puts down to check it out - only to have the plane explode. Soon Matt finds himself in the middle of a complex web of schemes and secrets - with people who aren't afraid to kill to keep the schemes secret.

An excellent read - highly recommended!

Great read for anyone even casually interest in playing the ponies. Horse racing is the only betting opportunity were all of the answers are given to you in the Daily Racing Form, before you make a bet. All one has to do is factor in what's important and throw out what's not. That is the trick.
Crist has a great conversational writing style and makes it a fun read.

Crist took the racing form into the present & future. It was in the hands of guys frozen with a 1930s outlook (sorry Saul Rosen et al)and Crist pumped his energy and intelligence into a moribund product. Congratulations Steve.

Steven Crist, Betting on Myself: Adventures of a Horseplayer and Publisher (DRF Press, 2004)

Crist's surprisingly readable "my life thus far" autobiography is probably stuck with a built-in limit to the numbers of readers who are going to be intrigued by it. This is a mistake not by Crist, but by those readers who don't think they're going to like a "horse book."

Crist traces the path he took from his years at Harvard, when he first discovered greyhound racing, to his present position as the owner of the Daily Racing Form. In between there's a lot of other fun stuff to interest both the horseplayer and the general reading audience: a stint with the New York Times, various discussions of economics (as it pertains to horse racing, granted, but money is money), the political scene in Albany, and all the other good stuff a dirt-dishing autobiography is supposed to have. (Kitty Kelley readers, however, will be depressed to note that Crist has been married to the same woman since Methuselah was a pup, and if there's any steppin' out involved, it never gets mentioned. Which may explain why Crist, and not Kelley, wrote this book.) It's also exceptionally readable for non-fiction, and a lot of fun in the bargain. A lot of fun. ****

The nearby review - Well Written Memoir from a Fascinating Person - got all the details of a review right, so I don't need to repeat them. Enthusiastic individual believes in himself, makes good, but fails (hardly by accident) to reveal some of the "secrets" of parimutuel betting success. Kind of like that magician who just won't explain how he cut the lady in half.

It's always interesting to read and learn about the behind-the-scenes action that takes place during the business ventures of which the general public is not usually aware. In BETTING ON MYSELF, Steven Crist is a horseplayer who had ideas to improve the information provided to gamblers by creating an alternative publication to The Daily Racing Form (DRF). Instead, as this well written memoir details, Crist became chairman and publisher of DRF. His story serves as another example of a person who fulfills his goals and proves that luck is directly proportional to hard work applied to opportunity.

It is the same story as the movie, you are not going the get anything extra. But it is a good opportunity to sit down and spend time with your child. And could be a good introduction to get into the habit of reading books instead of just seeing the movies.

My grandson Paul loves to look at car and truck books, so he just LOVED looking at all the pictures and finding things in this book!

My son, who is 2 1/2 years old LOVES this book. He has asked us to "read" it to him several times a day for the past 2 months. He knows where everything is but still wants to find it again and again!

This is a great look and find book that both boys and girls will enjoy. Young readers will love reliving the story of the movie, and the illustrations are wonderful. It's hard to believe that cars can have such wonderful expressions!

There are hours of fun to be found in this book with Lightning McQueen and all the "folks" in Radiator Springs!

My 5 year old just loves these Look & Find it books and these are perfect for him. He loves "reading" in bed at night with these books and the new Cars one is his new favorite!

I enjoyed this book--a fast read. Has his trademarks:
1. amateur hero with lots of courage who gets beat up, usually more than once
2. expositions on some specialty kind of work--in this case painting
3. some connection with horse racing--the artist paints horses & meets other characters at the races.
4. interesting characters & esp. their descriptions or statements.

In this book, most of the bad guys are provided early, but not all--& the mystery surrounds the murder itself. Most of the interesting quotes this time could be lumped together as Todd's Laws (p. 115 of 230 in the 1976 HB ed:

"One shouldn't make judgments form afar. You haven't actually got to be swallowed by a shark before you believe it's got sharp teeth,' Sarah said. `You can believe what other people see.' `It depends from where they're looking. Facts are not judgments, and judgments are not facts,' Jik said. `A bit of Todd's Law from way back...Emotion is a rotten base for politics. He used to say that, too,' Jik said. `Envy is the root of all evil. What have I left out?' `The most damaging lies are told by those who believe they're true.'"

This novel is available in a number of collections: 'In the Frame' and 'Dead Cert' (Omnibus Edition): Dead Cert & In the Frame by Dick Francis, Blood Flies Upwards by E. X. Ferrars, and Murder in Mimicry by Anne Morice (Detective Book Club).

The nearest and dearest are always the prime suspect, and when Charles Todd walks in after his cousin Donald's house has been bulglarized and his wife murder, Charles has nothing better to do than help Donald.
The culprits are evident almost from the beginning of IN THE FRAME, but Dick Francis's skill with a puzzle will keep your eyes on the page. The Australian (around the Melbourne Cup)and New Zealand setting contribute to the suspense as Charles's artistic eye finds questionable authenticity of works of art.
A great Francis read with a fine twist that lifts this well plotted novel above the pack.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

Dick Francis is one of those rare authors who can create a multitude of characters, changing characters from one novel to the next. This makes the stories stand-alone novels which can be read independently. That is a marked contrast to authors who write series of novels about the same character, a practice that often requires reading an entire series to understand the characters.

The present novel is not exactly a whodunit because you can identify the guilty parties (or most of them) early in the game. The main plot is how to track them down and bring them to justice. The chase runs from England to Australia to New Zealand then back to Australia. As usual with this author, there are horses and racing involved including, in this case, the Melbourne Cup. There is an interesting system for placing bets.

The main character, Charles Todd, is an artist who paints oil paintings of horses. There is some interesting side information about the chemical deterioration of oil paints on older paintings, an area where most people are probably not well informed. There is also considerable information about counterfeit paintings. Let the buyer beware. The death of his cousin Donald's wife during a burglary sets Todd on the chase. The main story is fast action over a couple weeks.

Dick Francis was the master of mystery. He always knew how to keep the reader interested until the end of his books. In The Frame is no exception. Charles Todd is an artist who tries to help his cousin. In so doing, this takes him on a trek around Australia to find a thief and killer. This puts his own life and the lives of his friends in peril as well.

Dick Francis has written nearly 40 novels now, and In the Frame is in the top 7 or 8 as far as I'm concerned. The hero actually remains a bit of a cipher, but his friend Jik and his wife are two of Francis's really good characters. The information about painting and Australia is interesting, the ongoing joke about betting is pretty funny, and all kinds of images come to mind when I think back on this novel--a spot of breaking and entering while a famous race is detailed on the radio, Jik's wife and her purse, a handful of narrow escapes, the landscape down under. The mystery is good and the humor and wit are sharp.

I'm glad to see that this is being reprinted again--it's one of Dick Francis's best novels, and a good place to start for those who have never read a Francis novel before.

If you're looking for fast-paced, exciting action, this is not the book for you. On the other hand, if you're okay with plot taking awhile to develop, and like character-driven stories, and are a fan of intriguing (rather than gruesome) mysteries, you might really like this one.

Personally, I was ready to give up on the book early on. I admit, it's slow. Some of the detail about racing is tedious for a non-racing enthusiast. But I'm glad I kept going because the story picks up momentum, the characters get interesting, and though I'm a little `eh' at the `psychic connection' bit, I still enjoyed the story and trying to guess who was at the bottom of the dastardly plot. Good for a cozy lover, there's a little bit of violent but it's not graphic and most of the mystery is more... intellectual. Just be warned that you're in for a lot of detail and a plot that moseys along.

One of the better Dick Francis stories. Entertaining and moves at a fast pace. Not as much physical torture of the hero as in his other stories. As usual, the racing scenes are very good.

This is the first Dick Francis novel I have read and will surely be the first of many.
I am a keen horserider so I was very excited about the way he sets his thriller among the horse-racing scene. From a rider's perspective he is very accurate about the riding elements (he was a rider himself)and consequently the horse-related aspects of the story ring true. As a Brit I was also interested in his take on secret world of the British Establishment of the 1980's as he shines a light on the murky dealings of the Press, the Honours system and the Jockey Club.
I found the book very difficult to put down once I had started to read it. The only reason I gave it four stars and not five is because having set up a great story he spoils concludes the novel by cramming the 'resolution' to the mystery into a few short pages. The action is in full swing when suddenly within 1-2 pages the story concludes with all the ends neatly wrapped up, the mystery solved, the budding romance consumated and all the characters ready to go and live happily ever after (with the exception of the baddies who get their rightly-deserved punishment of course!) It is as if Dick Francis had been set a word limit by his publisher and upon realizing he was approaching the magic number of pages he quickly finished the story within a few brief lines - rather like a homework assignment ready to deliver to the teacher the next morning!

After 9/ll I would recommend to our readers Dick Francis's BREAK IN and it's companion story BOLT as fictional mysteries to illustrate what Americans did not understand: The overwhelming power of hatred when taught from childhood. These two books still fill the bill -- they are two Francis at the top of his game.
Kit Fielding is a champion rider with strong ties to his family even when his beloved twin, Holly marries Bobby Allardeck the son of their most powerful enemy. Bobby has been taught by his father to hate Fieldings, but love for the lovely Holly transcends a lifetime of brain washing. The obsessive father uses every manipulation device he can command to destroy the marriage and gain his ultimate goal. Kit struggles against the odds, then uses the same tactics to acquire the necessary evidence to prevent his brother-in-law from killing him while destroying Maynard Allardeck ascension to power.
Read this early Francis as an introduction to great mysteries, exciting thrillers, powerful suspense, strong writing, and deep insight into the human psychic. BREAK IN is one of the best.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and QUALIFYING LAPS.

Greed, feuding families, assorted acts of violence, fine bloodlines (both horse and human), Romeos and Juliets characterize Dick Francis's novel Break In. For those who suffer under the delusion that Francis is a stodgy Brit that pens plodding, equine-obsessed mystery snoozers, Break In is a perfect remedy. While Francis does not disappoint his loyal readership who appreciates his first-hand, detailed knowledge of the world of steeplechasing, he also will delight any lover of the mystery suspense genre through his tightly woven plot, engaging narrative, and thorough characterization. You would think that someone named Christmas (after his day of birth) would have better luck than Break In's hero enjoys. Steeplechase jockey Christmas "Kit" Fielding manages to survive frequent brushes with danger (both on and off the racecourse), but does so in such an entertaining way that you never stop to worry about the unlikelihood of his continued survival (a hallmark of all good suspense writers, and a particular talent of Francis). The danger stems from his desire to free one Bobby Allardeck from an attack on his reputation that is being waged by newspaper columns insinuating that he is in deep financial trouble. As Bobby's livelihood as a horse trainer depends on his reputation among both his clients and his suppliers, the longer the smear campaign continues, the more likely it will be that the paper's lies will become truth. Why does Kit care, especially since his family enjoys perpetuating a longstanding blood feud with the Allardecks? Enter the aforementioned Romeo and Juliet--Bobby and his wife, Kit's aptly named twin sister, Holly. Despite generations of animosity, but with the full support of Kit, the two have married, and it is Holly who begs Kit to investigate the rumor. Though Bobby's father Maynard Allardeck is quite well-off, Bobby's nuptials have effectively ended any hope of support from that quarter, and it is partially his father's notoriety as a business man that extends public interest in the newspaper report. As Kit, Bobby, and Holly race to discover who has it out for them before the financial damage becomes irreversible, some interesting facts about Maynard's business practices come to light. Tensions mount between the young threesome, as they fight--not always successfully--to keep the feud from destroying the bonds that they have worked to develop between them. Naturally, Kit's resourcefulness and ingenuity help them sort out their troubles to a satisfying conclusion. If you have never read a Dick Francis novel, this book is a perfect place to Break In.

I have read the entire series thus far (#7) and have enjoyed the story line and the realism of NASCAR racing. These books won't win any prizes, but they do a good job of relaying the excitement of NASCAR. The story is somewhat predictable at times, but it is still good and moves along nicely. I think what I enjoyed the most is the history that has been added to the stories. The history is basically all factual (with the exception of the fictional characters), from the roots of stock car racing to the Young Guns of today. I only wish the history would have continued through the 70's and 80's instead of skipping from '69 to the late 90's. Overall though I kept waiting for the next one to arrive to find out what was next.

HAVING ATTENDED RACES FOR 34 YEARS IN THE SOUTHEAST STARTING AT AGE 12, THIS BOOK IS VERY REALISTIC. PURCHASED THREE ADDITIONAL COPIES FOR FRIENDS IN THE RACING COMMUNITY. LOOKING FORWARD TO READING THE ENTIRE SERIES.

Found this to be a good lunch time read. Light and enjoyable for anyone who has ever been around a southern or midwest dirt track. Have just ordered number 2 and anticipate another good time.

No surprises here. Everything is rather predictable. This is NASCAR's answer to Harlequin Romance novels. Just as women like Harlequin Romance novels despite poor writing, stock car fans will like this book.

Characters are rather one dimensional and very very predictable (gee, is Bubba going for food again?). The dialog is extremely stilted. Names of real race car drivers are thrown in for fun (wonder if royalties are paid?) but you will know the outcome before you reach that page. Considering the early days of the sport, it would have been interesting if the promoter screwed Jodell Lee out of his winnings. At least that would have been a plot twist (albeit the first and only plot twist).

Still a fun read for at the beach or when your mind is in neutral (or perhaps reverse).

As a relative newcomer to stock car racing, I picked up this book because I thought I might better be able to enjoy watching races if I had a sense of the history of the sport, and if I could get some idea of what it is like for the racers. This book did a fantastic job of both. I don't know what it's really like, driving in a stock car race, but I can't imagine it feels much different from the way these authors describe it.

When I read the Rolling Thunder books, I find myself getting really caught up in the emotions of the race. I root for Jodell to win, and find myself getting upset when he loses the lead or it looks like he might get in an accident. I also can't wait to see what happens next in the characters' personal lives. That wouldn't happen if the authors didn't do such a great job of creating likeable, three-dimensional characters.

The Rolling Thunder series might not ever be remembered in the annals of great literature, but they provide a good, solid couple of hours of entertainment. As I can attest, you don't have to be a racing fan to enjoy the books, though after reading one you just might find yourself wanting to watch a real race. For me, these books are like potato chips: they're quick and easy to devour, and as soon as you're finished, you want another one.