Customer Reviews

Trial Run

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I do like Dick Francis novels, and I do admit, as many other reviewers have said, that there is a certain predictability to the plots of many of them. What I find myself looking for, in mancy cases, is the philosophy beyond the plot. In this case, the plot is about an attempt to sabotage the Moscow Olympics. The plot holds together well, but what I enjoyed about this book is that it is a glimpse of the end of cold war Russia (of course from a British perspective) and it is an attempt to think about the personal decisions that humans make which shape of our lives and about personal freedom.

I think Francis does a good job with these rather weighty themes, within the framework of the mystery/thriller genre that he has perfected over time.

I'm not sure I believe it, but there it is: amazon has Trial Run listed as out of print. Amazing.

By now I should be inured to the pace of a Dick Francis novel, which is roughly equivalent to that of a marathon turf stakes at Ascot: in order to conserve energy, the horses start off slow, knowing they have a couple of thousand meters ahead of them; the pace picks up after you get round to the backstretch the first time, and the finish is furious. Francis spent too much time on the backs of nags at Royal Ascot to forget that, I guess. And thus you know that the first three or four chapters of a Francis mystery are likely to bog down. Stick with it; it's almost always worth the trip.

Randall Drew has been forced into retirement (like many of Francis' jockeys). In this case, it's because the jockey club has seen fit to outlaw riding with glasses, and contacts and Drew don't mix well. Drew, friend and lover to English royalty, is tabbed by the Prince to investigate shadowy claims of threats to a Royal who wants to ride in the 1980 Moscow olympics, threats that are backed up by the death of a German olympic rider, supposedly of a heart attack-- but foul play is suspected. Drew heads off to Moscow, and the fun begins.

If you know Francis, you already know whether you're going to buy this or not, I suspect. Francis mysteries are basically formulaic. Ex-jockey becomes amateur detective, ex-jockey discovers something nasty is happening at a track somewhere, ex-jockey investigates, ex-jockey gets into scrapes, ex-jockey gets out of scrapes, ex-jockey solves crime. It's good clean mindless fun, and this one has nothing about it that stands out from the others, save its rather odd location (which seems quaint given the collapse of the cold war nowadays). Good if you like Francis, bad if you don't, and not a book I'd suggest as a jumping-off point if you don't know his work (try Odds Against or Enquiry instead, where Francis is on his home turf).

Randall Drew, a former jockey, reluctantly agrees to visit Moscow. His mission is to look into vague rumors of threat to Earl Farrington, a world-class jockey and an Olympic contender. Neither the pro-forma Foreign Office inquiries, nor reporters were able to clarify the threats; but Randall's knowledge of the horse-racing world, and his careful observation uncover some very ruthless men connected with the threat.

The portrayal of Soviet Union in the late seventies is rather bleak, exaggerated by the weather. However, despite being dated and generaly superficial, the thriller's observations are eerily prescient. The main character is pleasantly unassuming yet insightful, engaging the reader's attention. At the end, the accomplishment results in mostly intellectual satisfaction, making it less enjoyable than some of the Francis' more personal resolutions.
--inotherworlds.com

Randall Drew is not the sort of person that comes to mind when you imagine someone who sets out to almost single-handidly stop a terrorist plot. He's quiet, unassuming, bespectacled and prone to chesty illnesses. He's also an event rider (steeplechaser) who has attained some notoriety in England until he was forced to stop racing with the introduction of a sight-restriction rule. Since Randall can't see at all without his glasses, the British Racing Society says that he can't race anymore. Randall is selected though by royalty to pursue an inquiry behind "the iron curtain". This secret exposes him to all sorts of danger in communist Russia. This book handles the Cold War situation quite well. I have read a number of Dick Francis books, and I think this one was one of the best I've read. Tony Britton does a wonderful job of reading the book and that helped set the stage for the espionage and danger.

It's not quite his home turf, but Dick Francis does a workmanlike job in this book of plotting a spy thriller. The spy is an amateur, in typical Francis fashion. Randall Drew runs a farm, raises horses and until recently has ridden them in steeplechase events.

Randall has poor vision and chronic bronchitis, but he's wealthy, well connected, observant and resourceful. People trust him. A royal prince pressures him into undertaking an investigation that has baffled the Foreign Office.

The prince's brother-in-law wants to ride in the Olympics in Moscow. But a rumor has arisen that "Alyosha" is waiting for him there, and something terrible will happen. All previous inquiries have failed to find Alyosha or explain the rumor. Randall, who knows horses, may be able to penetrate the mystery through different channels.

As it turns out, there does seems to be a brotherhood of the saddle that opens doors everywhere in the world, although the doors don't budge as easily in Russia.

Dick Francis fans expect his heroes to sustain vicious attacks, and Randall sees plenty of action in Moscow. He's up against some very nasty terrorists. He also has fascinating interactions with British Embassy personnel, his translator, the racing community and the many people watching him.

Trial Run was first published in 1978. It accurately reflects the atmosphere in the USSR in those days: the stores with scant merchandise, the bugging of hotel rooms, the terrible food, the sensation of being watched. I was in Moscow and Leningrad briefly in 1985, and the atmosphere was just the same. It was fun revisiting that weird world through Randall Drew's adventures.

But not everyone loves this book, so if you're new to Dick Francis, you might start with another title, perhaps Bonecrack, Flying Finish, Straight, Reflex, Longshot - so many choices!

When you read a Dick Francis novel you know that you are not only getting a great read but you are also getting a book written by a writer who knows his subject. Dick Francis was one of the world's greatest jockeys. Talk about horses and racing - he knew his subject. He was also Queen Elizabeth's and her mother's rider for many years. A great athlete!

This 1991 novel is set, as are all of Francis' stories, in the horsey set. Talented but myopic amateur jockey Randall Drew had been forced out of racing. Eyeglasses had just been banned for jockeys and Drew was unable to wear contact lenses, his only options in those days before Lasix surgery. At loose ends he finds himself drafted to investigate some dirty tricks being played on a royal who wants to compete in the Moscow Olympics. Once in Russia Drew finds that the Russians are definitely fighting dirty even in the venue of Olympic sports.

Those who are fans of Francis novels will enjoy this one, despite the dated premise. As with all of Francis' work we know that their will be a hero suffering from a tragedy (although banned from racing is minor compared to some other Francis heroes) which he will stoically endure. There will be a love interest, probably a doomed to failure and that the hero will suffer through great ordeals before he triumphs. Francis talent lies in the way he manages to work this very strict formula into an exciting tale that will keep the reader turning page after page.

This is the first Dick Francis novel I've read. It was okay. Not brilliant, but entertaining enough to keep me turning pages. To me it seemed more spy story than mystery, but that is probably due to the fact that the action takes place in the USSR. It was a nice change of pace from the traditional English cozies I usually go for. Based on the strength of this book, I'll be reading more Dick Francis in the future.

TRIAL RUN by Dick Francis doesn't make it to rave status. Randall Drew accepts an assignment from the Prince to do some undercover investigating for Johnny Farringford. The Prince's brother-in-law wants a world class horse to ride in the Olympics, but circumstances must be checked before the games begin.
Being in Moscow maybe out of Francis natural habitat, but in several places the plotting is contrived and plodding. Combine this with a love affair that doesn't go anywhere and murder left far behind, the Prince's last line, "Johnny grow up!" makes the appeal standard of Francis if it doesn't deliver the satisfaction.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

This book resulted from a trip Dick & Mary Francis took to Moscow in the summer of 1977. They were invited into the homes of Russians. This book reflects the Francis's experiences there. As usual the hero is an ex-jockey turned sleuth who gets attacked & wounded but bears it rather stoically. The mystery plays itself out naturally, but only because of the hero's racing background. The love interest is unusual & interesting, but it's described without much detail. Somehow, the mystery seems too readily resolved here, but the atmosphere of communist USSR seems well-depicted--though I do not know from personal experience. Still, when I visited (after Glasnost), the grayness remained. As usual, unlike many Agatha C. novels, the reader is not challenged to discover the culprit. Per many modern "mysteries" it's more story than whodunnit. I enjoyed the book as light fiction but it's not one of his best IMHO. Still, he makes some interesting observations (near the end of the book) about democracy etc. that might awaken some needed thankfulness in Americans today. As the song goes, "You don't know what you've got until you lose it." Enjoy the character & the characters.