Customer Reviews

Bonecrack

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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After reading UNDER ORDERS recently decided to re-read some of Dick Francis' older material, and this 1971 release seemed a good one with which start.

There are many problems in Newmarket at Rowley Lodge stables, main one being that Neil Griffon's father, the stable's owner, is hospitalized with a broken leg and temporarily cannot run the stables. Neil takes upon himself to pinch hit, and since Neil and his father have never gotten along at all, his father does not like it one bit. But Neil carries on slowly winning everyone but his father over. Added to this is another very mentally disturbed father who through threats of violence forces his son on Neil as apprentice jockey; with some of the threats having already been carried out. The plot runs very smoothly, and though there are a few very close calls with violence, it eventually reaches a very satisfactory end. The conflict between two sets of fathers and sons offers interesting reading, with the two sons eventually understanding more than either father ever did or could. Thought provoking, indeed.

This book is tightly written with very interesting, believable characters who act and speak as they should. The focus is very much on horses in stable with some insight also offered into just how they are trained and entered into races. It is one of the more enjoyable books from Dick Francis I've read viewing racing from not only from the owner's point of view, but the trainer and the jockeys, as well. And now that most of his earlier books have been reissued by Berkley in new printings with very colorful cover paintings, the entire package is not only refreshing but worth the time spent.

Recommended.

Semper Fi.

The beginning and ending of the story by Dick Francis is
always heart touching. This is no exception.
This is the story about father and son. Father is dictatorial
and difficult to communicate with Son. This applies both Neil
and Alessandro. Alessandro's father is Enso Rivera who is
crook and Neil's father is the owner of one of the prosperous
racing stables. Neil is abducted and demanded to let
Aless to ride on Archangel which is the most popular horse
for the Derby. After he was released, Aless was sent to his father's
stable which Neil runs temporarily because his father is in hospital.
Aless is arrogant and bullish like his father, but gradually changes himself
owing to Neil's delicate technique. Neil is in danger to break his
color bone. The nearer the Derby is coming, the more dangerous
Enso becomes but Neil's determination is solid.
Toward the end, Aless was put into a dangerous spot and unexpected
ending is the most exciting and heart warming.

This is a story of two father-son couples; the hero who is temporary in charge of a training stable and his cold-hearted father, and a spoiled son who wants to be a champion jockey and his fanatic, ruthless father. Their unhappy relationship is lightly and smoothly described in the fast-paced, thrilling story, yet I am strongly impressed by the relationship. Francis is really a good writer. And it is also interesting that a daily life of a training stable is vividly described.

Bonecrack was first published in 1971, so it has been around for a while. It is a Dick Francis novel, through and through. Newmarket and the horse racing culture. Trainers and owners. Heroes and villains, with the heroes being all too human.

A mysterious villain insists that his son be given the top jockey spot in an important race, over all the other jockeys and with no experience. Failure to submit to his demands will have fatal consequences for horses and their riders. Neil Griffon must save the stables from financial mismanagement, protect his horses and riders, and... learn to be a trainer. You see, he's never done this before, but circumstances have placed him in this precarious position.

If you like fast-moving mysteries, you will like Bonecrack.

A face paced, tightly plotted, early Dick Francis is BONECRACK. Neil Griffon takes over for his father, who is recovering from a broken leg. Neil's own life is the price of a blackmail scheme, but one of the most interesting aspects of this novel is the growth of Alessandro Rivera, at eighteen, from a spoiled brat into a man.
Neil does not have the means to defeat the father who holds the stables and his life prisoner, so he uses the only power at his command, he changes the son and defeats the father.
BONECRACK is a fantastic read for pride in accomplishment and the love of racing.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

This is a great book, but not the best Dick Francis book to start with. The story of a businessman who takes over his father's stable and finds himself being forced by a gangster to use the gangster's son as a jockey.
Great characters and convincing story line. If you are a little squeamish, 3 horses die.

This is the first Dick Francis book I have read and it definitely won't be the last. I heartily enjoyed his writing style, flow from chapter to chapter, and enchanting descriptions of the horse racing world.

Neil comes home to take over the family business when his father shatters his leg and is hospitalized for months. He takes over a horse training facility that has been very successful over the years, but he runs into problems when a father will do anything for his son.

Alex has been raised in a world where whatever he wants, he gets. What he wants this time is to ride Archangel in the Derby, even though he isn't even a jockey.

Francis explores the crazy relationship between father and son. One gave everything but freedom, where as the other gave nothing but freedom. Both of these relationships are thrown into the start of the racing season and create a thrilling atmosphere. The tidbits of knowledge Francis imparts on the reader about the racing world would make any book great, but he also throws in the actions suspense and ever-important developing characters.

Whether you haven't picked up a Francis book or are a long time fan, you will enjoy the world, people, and events that encompass Bonecrack. Enjoy!

Neil Griffon grew up in the world of horse racing - his father owning a racing stable and all - but he had left his father's domineering shadow and gone his own way as soon as he could, and made a success of himself. However, when his father is injured in a serious accident and finds himself in hospital, Neil is left with no choice but to take over running the stable - at least until he can find someone else to do it in the interim. His plans of turning the stable over to someone more qualified are quickly kibashed, however, when he is abducted and told that he will be getting a new apprentice, whom he WILL allow to ride the most valuable racehorse in the most important race. If these things are not done, the stable WILL be destroyed. Now Neil must stay and run the stable to make sure that Alessandro Rivera, the son of mobster Enso Rivera, is kept somewhat mollified while still keeping the stable functional and doing his best to make sure everything is kept ready for the upcoming racing season.

This is my first Dick Francis book, and while I wouldn't exactly call it pulse-pounding exciting, it is a decent little book. It is fairly slow moving at time, but I don't really mind that, because it provides us with good character development and that's always a plus. So, I would recommend this for those who are fans of Dick Francis, books about horse racing, thrillers, etc.

Neil Griffon is a businessman drafted into running his father's racing stable while the old man recuperates from a nasty accident. A gangster who wants his own son, Alessandro, hired as a jockey abducts Neil and threatens both murder and the destruction of the stables unless the boy is made top jockey immediately. The bulk of the story from that point focuses on Neil's efforts to juggle the conflicting demands of the gangster, Alessandro, his employees, and his father. It's an open question whether he'll stay alive long enough to extricate himself from the situation and return the stables in decent shape to his father's care.

Bonecrack starts off fast since Neil's abduction occurs on the very first page. The pace is strong throughout, and especially fevered as it approaches the climax. The characters are all pretty well developed. Neil is a typical Dick Francis protagonist, both likeable and intelligent. His father is a cold, egotistical man. Alessandro is possibly the most interesting character and certainly shows the most growth and development during the course of the story. He starts off arrogant and condescending but slowly responds to Neil's efforts to groom him into a real jockey.

If you've read a few Dick Francis novels, you're not likely to find any major surprises here. It's an enjoyable read and the prose is as silky smooth as ever. If you've never read any of his books, then this is as good as any to start with. Long-time fans should also be pleased with yet another strong outing.

A businessman temporarily takes over his father's stable and is threatened by a jockey's father to take the young jockey on.
As usual, the writing is easy to follow and a joy to read.
The characters are fascinating.
A warning for horse lovers: several horses die in this book.