Customer Reviews

Nerve (Collector's Edition)

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Dick Francis has written so many bestselling mysteries, it's mindboggling. He excels in crafting enormously engaging, civilized whodunits, which go down smooth as cognac. Mr. Francis has a habit of introducing elements from the racing world into his novels (for those not in the know, Francis used to be a jockey). Yes, it's true that his heroes all come from the same mold and the stories do contain certain formulaic elements, but I think Francis's magic lies in the humanity and empathic nature with which he cloaks his protagonists. His heroes are all too human, all too flawed, and uniformly unassuming and Britishly reserved. Yet, without exception, they all have unexpected pluck, hidden strength, and the inner fortitude to do the right thing. In four decades, Mr. Francis has written some of my favorite mysteries: Forfeit, Rat Race, Reflex, Hot Money, The Edge, The Danger, Decider, and To the Hilt. And then there's Nerve.

Nerve holds a special place in my heart. I first stumbled across Dick Francis's mystery books years ago when I was a kid thumbing thru a Reader's Digest book. That book contained a condensed version of Nerve, which I went thru in a flash. As soon as I could, I went to the public library and borrowed the full-length version and tore thru that one, too. Since then, I've read everything that Dick Francis has ever written and I've enjoyed every one tremendously (even his anthology Field of Thirteen), but, thru the years, I've come back again and again to Nerve and its charismatic hero Rob Finn. It's just such a darn good story.

Nerve, published in 1964, was only Francis's third novel at the time. Yet, even back then, he had what it took to tell a captivating, suspenseful story. The quick plot breakdown of Nerve: Rob Finn has started to make a name for himself as a jockey when he is kidnapped, tortured, and left for dead. Torn up and bleeding, he manages to escape and get help. He then coldly plans his revenge on the bloke what did him wrong. Sounds like a simple plot, but Francis uses his narrative skills to lure the reader into following Rob Finn as he attempts to get back at his disturbed tormentor. It's gripping stuff. Francis's detailed breakdowns of Finn's pain-filled efforts to get back to racing form so soon after he was tortured will make you cringe, as you wholeheartedly pull for the fella. Our hero is very human, vulnerable, and very relatable. Yet, Francis is talented enough as a writer that, by the end of the book, you'll feel some sympathy towards the dastardly villain. And, as an added bonus, Francis throws in one of those unrequited love subplots, as Finn, who has been eternally in love with his beautiful, talented cousin, Joanna, bittersweetly continues to carry his torch. Joanna, alas, does not reciprocate.

I don't know how Dick Francis does it. I'm not into horses or horse racing. Yet, his books never get old for me, and the horse racing elements actually become interesting stuff. I really, really believe Dick Francis's gift, when it gets boiled to its essence, is how well he's able to make the reader relate to his lead character. Every one of 'em is immensely rootable. Before I read Nerve, I mostly read fantasy and sci-fi novels. Nerve introduced me to the world of mystery novels. So, for that reason and also because it's a crackling good tale, Nerve will always be one of my favorites.

Also, glad to hear that Dick Francis has a new book (Under Orders, starring Sid Halley) coming out in a few weeks. I cannot wait.

This is one of Francis' very first books. Written in the early 1960's and set in England, 'Nerve' concerns the exploits of a young and aspiring top steeple-chase jockey. If you haven't read Francis before, you are in for a very nice and enjoyable low-key thriller. Its hard to point to another author and say that Dick Francis is like him or her, because his work is so unlike other writers. Every one of Francis' books has pretty much the same plot outline, but in a strange way, this is not at all bothersome. One reads a Francis book to enjoy the characters and the inordinant amount of plot laden tension that is somehow packed into such a mild mannered little book.

Every time I pick up one of Francis' books I think of the Jean Cocteau movie from the early 50's I think called Orphius. Its based on the old greek myth where some guy goes to hade's (the ancient greek underworld) to rescue his wife who was stolen from him by a god. He gains her freedom on the condition that he not look at her on the way back until they are out of Hade's. Only at the very last step, he does turn around and she is turned into a pillar of salt or something like that... Anyways, in Cocteaus version of the myth, he has the main characters cast as poets, and they drive around the French country side being flocked by admiring fans and lovely young women. The poets there are the rock stars of that fictional society. Well, Francis creates a world very similar to that with his horse racing books, where the entire country of England revolves around the going ons of different aspects of racing.

One interesting aspect of this book, discussed by other readers in this review forum, is that of the human condition known as 'Nerve.' Rob Finn is made to look as though he has lost it over the opening chapters of the book and the mystery revolves around why this was done and exactly who is behind it.

I would highly reccomend this story to anyone... Its a short novel that has with held the test of time though it is entering its fifth decade since publication. It's not the greatest mystery ever written if only because Francis never really took a risk as an author. But this is also one of Francis' very best efforts and will entertain you in a mild mannered way.

I bet this is the best of Dick Francis mysteries. But I haven't been able to write a review for a long time. Because I can't describe why this book is so fascinating without destroying the mystery. This is a rather astonishing, extraordinary story, and I'd like you to read it without any preliminary knowledge if possible.

If you are not interested in horse-racing at all, don't worry. I am not interested in horse-racing either, but I can enjoy Francis novels heartily.

Every time I think Dick Francis cannot keep me interested anymore he does it again. I loved this story. He is the jockey in this one. There is the strangest love interest. As usual it gets really scarey!

Nerve by Dick Francis kept me up long past my bedtime because I just had to know "how it was done!" This has happened to me before when reading Francis' books. Like always, the tale takes place amid the hustle and bustle of the horse racing scene and it never ceases to amaze me that he can write so many complex mysteries while never leaving the race track. This story is about rumors that are wrecking jockeys' careers. Once started, they grow like a monstrous virus, destroying careers, lives and men who are helpless to defend themselves against the unrelenting whispers. Mean spirited gossip changes quickly into dangerous malice when the evil tongues start trying to tear down a man who knows he hasn't lost his nerve. Rob Finn may have doubts about some things, but he has none about himself, at least not in the beginning. Then a strange run of bad luck begins to chip away at his confidence. Unraveling the mystery Rob figures out how and why jockeys are being ruined and by whom. Then I still couldn't go to bed, because now I just had to know what Finn was going to do about it!

Rob Finn is a misfit in his family of accomplished professional musicians. Somehow he was born totally unmusical. Pretty much ignored by his parents, he learns to ride knocking around Australia and South America. Back in England he gets hired as a jockey.

Trainers give him horses to ride that nobody else wants. Rob is fearless, even with the worst tempered animals.

Meanwhile, strange things are happening in the racing world. One jockey commits suicide. Others are losing their jobs because of rumors of dishonesty, unreliability or poor judgment. Rob himself is suddenly accused of loosing his nerve. He can't figure it out. The horses he's riding are unresponsive, and he loses one race after another.

Rob thinks there's a sinister influence behind all this. And since he's stopped getting any work, he has plenty of time to investigate. Dick Francis heroes are not usually bent on revenge, but in this case, Rob wants payback for all his jockey friends who have suffered grievous harm.

As he battles a truly twisted, nearly impregnable enemy, Rob also finds time to woo his cousin Joanna, who turns out to be quite handy in a crisis.

I'd rate NERVE quite highly among Dick Francis novels.

This book is responsible for my love of Dick Francis. The story of an up and coming jockey who finds himself in a slump, who is responsible and how he gets himself out of it is riveting.
He writes beautifully and gives such good characterizations that his books are a delight to read.

This book starts with a bang and never lets up. Dick Francis' novels are admittedly formulaic, but it's a winning formula for sure. The ending is a bit unrealistic, but so what? In life there's a time for being serious and a time for losing yourself in an exciting story with an interesting main character.

This is the second book that I've read of Dick Francis's (currently reading "Blood Sport"). The plot seems to be shorter than Francis's other novels, but still enjoyable nonetheless.
Story tells about a beginner jockey who takes advantage of a chance to race on a good horse. That chance takes him to the winners' circle. However, all this success is envied by some of those around him, that cause him to suffer loss after loss. The jockey starts an investigation that leads him to learn of his enemies. The hero's character is explained piece by piece as the story unfolds and becomes more interesting, especially with his love for his cousin.
Whether you're a horse-race fan, or not (like me), you'll still enjoy this novel. The ending is missing a bit of closure, in my opinion, but still has style and reveals more of the jockey's character.

The plot of this story is fascinating. A man who loves, more than anything, to race horses finds suddenly that, not only can he not win races, he can't even put on a good showing. At first he dismisses the presumptions of those around him, that he has 'lost his nerve' due to an accident, but when his bad streak just won't end even he begins to question himself. While he searches for answers to his own inadequacies he also looks into the death of a colleague and friend. While the story is not earth shattering, it's certainly good for a rainy day.