22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Journalists! Caution!, April 7, 1999
By A Customer
Journalists should be aware that they might stop writing after heaving read this incredible thriller by Dick Francis.
In this thriller, Dick Francis presents the story of an English journalist (Ty) who finds out about some corruption connected with a series of nonstarters in horse racing. Ty decides to uncover the cause for this series of nonstarters. Now the story becomes really interesting. Therefore, I do not want to spoil it. You have to read it yourself.
Dick Francis is able to convince me with this thriller because the plot seems pretty realistic. It is not a book where one would think: "It could not happen anyway". Mr Francis does not present the story idealized.
In conclusion I have to say that you ought to read this book even if you do not like horses or horse racing!
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Murder on the sports page, April 20, 2006
Sportswriter James (Ty) Tyrone covers the racing scene for a British tabloid. A colleague drunkenly offers to give him 'a piece of advice' but before he can remember what it is falls out of a 7th floor window to his death. A tragic accident...or is it. As Ty begins to investigate he uncovers a far reaching conspiracy throughout the racing world. Before he can bring the criminals to justice Ty has to fight for his and his invalid wife's lives.
As always with a Francis novel the reader is taken into another aspect of the racing world (this time it is sports writing). The hero is stoic, bravely bearing up to his deep personal tragedy, (this time a beloved wife crippled by polio) who must endure many trials before he emerges triumphant in the end.
While Francis' work is formulistic it is also quite good. The mystery is cleverly done, the action exciting. The hero is flawed but sympathetic, his situation touching and when he defeats the bad guys the reader is left with a good feeling.
If you are already a fan of the series this one is another winner. If you are new to the series this is a good place to start.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intelligent, memorable, January 20, 2007
I had been thinking: Do I really want to read about horse races? I only watch the Kentucky Derby and sometimes two more races, if there's hope for a Triple Crown.
My friend had been urging me to read Dick Francis, and recently recommended Forfeit, which finally I read.
In the book, Francis is always low-key and, as a former jockey, knows his stuff. Suspense is permanent, the plotting intelligent and flawless.
In Forfeit, we follow journalist James Tyrone, as he and his London newspaper colleagues investigate racetrack fraud. The highly profitable criminal organizations pressure racing writers to mislead England's legitimate bettors. The perpetrators are not hesitant to inflict serious bodily harm and worse.
Francis draws his characters carefully. We know them all, sometimes gaining our affection, identifying with their personal struggles. Tyrone cares for his mostly paralyzed wife Elizabeth, who could not survive without a breathing machine.
A major plot mover is a relationship between Tyrone and an attractive university professor, leading to extended complications and threats.
We also meet a stable owner who is dealing with his spacy wife and troublesome sons. We see the bad guys. We are introduced to the horses, especially a central one named Tiddely Pom.
We are in the British racing world. The writing is memorable.
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