Smokescreen [Hardcover]

Dick Francis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1973

Movie star Edward Link gets caught up in the world of racehorses by way of a favor to a dying friend whose horses are mysteriously becoming exhausted halfway through their races. 2 cassettes.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Smokescreen is a nonstop international thriller that pits dashing movie actor Edward Lincoln against more than big-screen villains. After finishing his latest film, Lincoln is asked to visit Johannesburg to discover why a friend's horses are suddenly doing so badly on the race track. Unfortunately, this attempt to help a friend will soon put Lincoln in harm's way. From a nearly fatal interview to a dangerous mishap in a gold mine, it seems only luck is keeping him alive. But fate has more in store. When the scene in the Kruger wildlife park begins to resemble Lincoln's latest big-screen adventure, even he will wonder what comes next. Ably performed by Geoffrey Howard, this audiobook will be a welcome addition for mystery fans. Recommended for all public libraries.ATheresa Connors, Arkansas Technical Univ., Russellville
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

From the Inside Flap

Edward Lincoln is a worldwide celebrity who plays detectives on the big screen. But when his godmother asks him to investigate her racehorses in South Africa, he's out of his depth. Soon enough, he's plunged into a plot of gold, greed, and gilded lives that forces him to uncover a killer and give a bravura performance he'll never give again.... --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 213 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins (February 1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060113340
• ISBN-13: 978-0060113346
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #679,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dick Francis was the author of more than forty acclaimed books. Among his numerous awards were three Edgar Awards, the Crime Writers' Association Cartier Diamond Dagger, and the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award. He died in February 2010.

Felix Francis has assisted with the research of many of the Dick Francis novels and is the coauthor of Dead Heat, Silks, and Even Money. He lives in England.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Among the Best of Dick Francis, April 23, 2007

By 

Deborah Chester (Norman, OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Smokescreen (Mass Market Paperback)

This is vintage Francis,a fine example of why Dick Francis' books are so very good. The hero is not a jockey, but an actor. As usual, Francis avoids stereotypes and gives his protagonist some complexity, best shown here in a poignant depiction of family life. Like all Francis protagonists, he's observant, wily, tough, determined, and a guy capable of thinking "outside the box." Technology and politics are dated, of course, but the plot can still hold me gripped from cover to cover, each time I reread it.

There are a handful or so of Francis books that are not set in England. Of those, SMOKESCREEN (set in South Africa) and BLOOD SPORT (in the US) rank among my favorites.

The torture section of this book is absolutely harrowing. You will never forget it.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a GREAT read!, May 22, 2006

By 

T. Fabrizio - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Smokescreen (Mass Market Paperback)

This is one of Francis' best books - be prepared to stay up all night! I am a huge Francis fan and have read all of his books, and this definately qualifies among the top three. Hope you enjoy it as much as i did!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dick Francis is always good, but . . ., February 16, 2004

By 

hrladyship (Las Cruces, NM United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smokescreen (Audio Cassette)

Smokescreen is one of those Dick Francis mysteries that take the reader to a country other than England. In this case, two countries, Spain and South Africa, are the sites of the action. The protagonist, Edward Lincoln, is an actor, in his thirties, and when the story opens, he's starring in a movie being made in Spain: Man in a Car. Talk about foreshadowing. But like most of Francis' heroes, "Linc" has lots of experience with horses. As a young man, he worked in a stable; in his early movie career he was a stuntman, specializing in horses.

Given his early experience, it is only natural that a good friend should ask Linc to go to South Africa and find out why her stable of horses is doing so badly in their races after promising beginnings. His friend, it turns out, is dying. The horses are to go to her nephew in her will. And she doesn't want to leave him the horses if they aren't any good.

Shortly after his arrival in Johannesburg, Linc is nearly injured in an accident. If it weren't for the fact that a female TV reporter was seriously injured, he could believe that the publicist for the movie distributor had staged it. The next accident proves that there's no joking around.

Francis' prose is always clean and direct. His characters are straight forward and believable. In the abridged edition, however, much is lost of the nuances of story that are always so enjoyable. If you like Francis, read or listen to the full version. It will be worth the extra time.