Rough Ride [Paperback]

John Francome (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1995

Archie Best finally has the horse that will help him win the Amateur Riders' Championship, but great Ceasar's Consul is suddenly kidnapped, an old friend dies, and Archie is left with a legacy of corruption and a deadly adversary. Reprint. NYT.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ex-National Hunt Champion Jockey John Francome is a broadcaster on racing for Channel 4 and has established himself as one of the front runners in the racing thriller stakes. He lives in Berkshire. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Harpercollins (Mm) (March 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061042862
• ISBN-13: 978-0061042867
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,826,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Wannabe Only, February 7, 2004

By 

Annette C. Nelson "webtarkeena" (Gresham, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rough Ride (Paperback)

From the first page it is clear that "Francome" wants nothing more than to be identified with Dick Francis. Unfortunately, all he manages to turn out is a slavish and sub-par imitation with little to recommend it to anyone, let alone a true fan of the master.
The plot setup is the same as Francis: 30-ish, single guy involved with horses and, oh, by the way, another unrelated hobby. A nasty character unfairly threatens our hero, who must act to protect himself and those he loves, and maybe get a little revenge. All the elements are there for Francome, right down to a couple of eligible young ladies. But where Francis' main characters are brilliant, subtle, strong, brave, self reliant, and above all obsessively honest, Francome's "hero" is incautious, petty, horny, and about as subtle as a jackhammer. He is out for himself, and we don't quite believe that he really cares who will be hurt along the way.
Francome's prose, too, is a very poor imitation. As with so many sub-par authors, he falls prey to "telling" instead of "showing." The characters spout whole improbable paragraphs full of impossible insights into the character and motivation of others, making me feel like I've read a book report and not the book itself.
All in all, the shelf-space they so conveniently share at the bookstore is as close as Francome is likely to come to Francis. Even on a bad day ("Shattered," "10 lb Penalty") Francis shines above the "competition." On a good day ("Odds against," "Whip Hand," "Reflex," "For Kicks," or "In the Frame" which has a similar subplot) there's absolutely no comparison.

5.0 out of 5 stars Horse heist, January 3, 2011

By 

Caran-dash - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rough Ride (Paperback)

This English hunter mystery by a well-known jockey takes the reader on a joyful gallop of intriguing plot twists, romance, and wit. Mystery fans, anglophiles, and horse lovers will be happily entertained by this well-crafted novel.