Customer Reviews

Twice Shy

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a really big Dick Francis fan, I would be really sad if someone heard all these great things about this author, picked up this book, and then never tried another book again. It's not a very good one. The premise is good, the characterizations as usual are very nice, but the plot goes nowhere and stays there from about halfway in until the last, disappointing page. Changing narrators in the book was a nice risk, but it ruins everything. Having the book be about computers and then putting in a 14-year gap was also not the wisest thing. If you want to start off on the right Francis Foot, try PROOF or WILD HORSES or ENQUIRY, and there you're neck-deep in characterization, plot and thrills. Francis is a master, but even masters have an off day.

Gotta agree with the other reviewer's comment about mixing 14 year gaps in stories with plots centering about computers. I actually program these silly things for a living, and listening to this book in 2001 was interesting purely from this historical computer languages angle. However, I found myself distracted througout wondering if it was the initial story about Jonathan that was intended to take place in '81 or the second story 14 years later. I don't think I buy it either way: programs don't last 14 years.
My verdict: centering the plot on a computer program? Good.
Breaking the story into two, changing narrators, and setting the 2nd half 14 years later? Good.
Both? Not so good.
Try Whip Hand or In The Frame instead.

Two brothers, one a teacher, the other a horseman, dealing with a computer program for handicapping races. Like all of his books, this one is character driven.
Could have more horses in it.

Dick Francis is one of the finest mystery/thriller writers going. This book, one of the first mysteries I ever read, hooked me to Francis's saddle during my teens. I've enjoyed the ride ever since.

This was the first novel I've ever read by Dick Francis, and although the plot wasn't particularly earth shattering and didn't always make sense, I still found the novel to be enjoyable. The characters were interesting and easy to relate to, and Angelo, the antagonist, although not a very deep character, was certainly a dangerous one. I thought not every aspect of the plot was well thought at, and at times I didn't really feel a strong sense of danger for the characters. Despite it's flaws, Twice Shy was enjoyable.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity

It's always satisfying when the good guys are more cunning and effective than the bad guys, and Dick Francis delivers that satisfaction twice over in Twice Shy.

This is the story of two brothers and a terrifying killing machine named Angelo. The book divides into two parts as the narration switches from Jonathan Kerry to William Kerry.

Jonathan is a 33-year-old physics teacher. A friend of his has programmed a computerized betting system based on statistical probabilities that, if properly followed, can generate considerable wealth. Not surprisingly, the system is of great interest to crooks.

Jonathan's friend, who's been threatened by a couple of thugs (Angelo and cousin) passes on tapes of the program to Jonathan, who thereby becomes the target for Angelo's murderous attentions.

Jonathan manages to escape England and Angelo, in rather heroic style, but fourteen years later his younger brother William inherits the problem. William is an ex-jockey with a high-level job in the racing world.

This is only the barest hint at the plot, which is quite complex, despite the unifying factor of the obsessive and insanely violent Angelo.

Love, friendship, marital troubles and wry humor mix quite successfully with criminal depredations in a book that is curiously lighthearted, despite some serious bloodshed.

No doubt the computer content of the story is hopelessly out of date. Dick Francis could not have foreseen the incredibly fast pace of change in systems technology in 1982, when this book was published. So I looked the other way and just enjoyed the story. I found the ending quite a delight.

Interesting one that I read to start with, revolving around a computer prediction program. Little did I know at the time about what reading about computer programs to predict horse racing would lead to. Definitely a good yarn, this one, certainly would recommend it to others that like this sort of story.