Banker (The Dick Francis Library) [Hardcover]

Dick Francis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1989 | Series: The Dick Francis Library

It is difficult to say where disaster begins, to point towards one particular happening as the first definite step towards distant cataclysm. Looking back, Tim Ekaterin sees the beginning as the day his boss stepped into a fountain. Onwards from there, he comes across people and events as yet unconnected but which, when woven together by time and chance, leads towards violent explosive action and the threat of death. Set in the worlds of thoroughbred racing and merchant banking, the story covers a span of three years, growing from quiet harmless-seeming seeds to a wholly horrific harvest.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

When young investment banker Tim Ekaterin becomes involved in the cutthroat world of thoroughbred racing, he finds his life in business blown to smithereens. For suddenly the multimillion dollar loan he arranges to finance the purchase of a champion racehorse is threatened by an apparent defect in the animal. Then, as Tim desperately searches for answers, he falls headlong into a deadly deal of violence and murder. . . . --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

"The best thriller writer going."
--Atlantic Monthly

"FRANCIS CAPTURES OUR ATTENTION AND HOLDS US SPELLBOUND. . . . BREATHLESS PACE."
--The New York Times Book Review

"Everything brightens when a new Dick Francis walks in."
--The Washington Post Book World

"Excitingly thunders down the homestretch."
--Associated Press --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Michael Joseph (September 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718132386
• ISBN-13: 978-0718132385
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,745,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dick Francis was the author of more than forty acclaimed books. Among his numerous awards were three Edgar Awards, the Crime Writers' Association Cartier Diamond Dagger, and the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award. He died in February 2010.

Felix Francis has assisted with the research of many of the Dick Francis novels and is the coauthor of Dead Heat, Silks, and Even Money. He lives in England.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good investment for mystery & suspense fans!, February 14, 2002

By 

David J. Gannon (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Banker (Mass Market Paperback)

Dick Francis is a formulaic writer, which is to say that one has a pretty good idea of the shape of the novel before one even cracks open the cover. While this would be a death knell for longevity for many, it hasn't been for Francis. This arises from the fact that his characters are so memorable and the milieu in which he casts his tales so rich and well defined that we totally forget that some of the plot mechanisms feel familiar.

Banker is a tale of a young British investment banker involved in a syndicate financing the stud career of a well know champion race horse. After the deal is sealed there arises a problem--it appears the horse is genetically defective. Our Banker suspects this is not entirely a natural phenomenon and starts investigating. As always with Francis, this leads to intrigue, violence and murder.

Francis' ability to skillfully enter into a wide array of worlds in his novels is another strength--the world of investment banking is brought into sharp focus in a way that makes it interesting--not terminally boring, as one would imagine.

Banker is one of Francis' very best works--the characters are vivid and compelling, the mystery here is more refined than usual, the suspense builds very nicely.

If you haven't yet tried Francis, this would be a great book to start with. It will set you on the path to a lot of great reading!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "drug of choice" for Dick Francis fans!, December 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Banker (Audio Cassette)

"Banker" is a wonderfully ingenious mixture of horse-breeding, investment banking, and gene-altering drugs. The thoroughness of Francis' research into his storyline left me breathless. A definite "must-have" for his fans! One can almost feel the grief for the hapless victims, and the villian (as true to Francis form) comes straight out of nowhere to shock and surprise the reader. Malicious greed is the motive behind the villian's actions; the reader is motivated to keep reading!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Master of the Plot, October 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Banker (Mass Market Paperback)

"Banker" was the first book I read by Dick Francis. I knew he had legions of fans, and after reading "Banker" I understand why. He seamlessly weaves the diverse worlds of investment banking, horse breeding, and holistic horse practitioners to paint a realistic, believable and compelling story. Dick infuses this with minute details that make each of these worlds and characters come alive. His skill as a mystery writer comes through in the story's perfect pace. Dick is patient in developing the plot, which covers a few years, and each episode is carefully calculated to build a tightly-knit, exciting conclusion. None of the episodes seem unnatural. His deliberate speed in developing the story does not make for portions of slow reading at all. Rather, the opposite happens, and the book is hard to put down. The characters convincingly grow and develop along the way; even the minor ones are not hollow or contrived. His plotting and character development, as showcased here, occur at such a sophisticated level that any Francis imitators have a tough road ahead of them.

Shame on the publisher for allowing egregious typographical errors such as "burt" instead of "but," "of of" instead of "of," "what so" instead of "what's so, " or "males" instead of "mares". Dick's work deserved better.