From Library Journal
Stig Wemyss performs accents from a variety of social strata in this Australian mystery, with the working-class voices being much more distinctive and believable. The same goes for Upfield's characters: the jockeys, gamblers, and criminals are much livelier than his genteel hero and heroine. Inspired by the death of the race horse Phar Lap in 1930, Upfield's yarn, serialized in a newspaper in 1933 and not republished until 60 years later, gets off to an unusally slow and unengaging start as the Melbourne racing milieu is established. Once jockey Tom Pink, whose speech impediment Wemyss relishes, is dramatically rescued from drowning, the story moves into a higher gear. Tom soon becomes the focus of a mystery in which two horses, one ridden by him, are sabotaged by a mysterious gang and murders ensue. Upfield (The Sands of Windee, Audio Reviews, LJ 7/94) does not write captivating prose, but his portrait of the Australian racing and criminal worlds is diverting. Recommended for collections strong in horse racing or Australian culture.?Michael Adams, CUNY Graduate Ctr., New York
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
