Status
Available
Call number
Library's review
England, Newmarket, ca 2005
Max Moreton er først i 30'erne, ca 2 meter høj, har et stort talent for at lave mad og har en restaurant Hay Net i New Market og er rimeligt kendt der omkring. Noget ved et cateringarrangement går tilsyneladende galt og ca 200 bliver syge natten efter, inklusive Max.
På trods af at natten er gået på toilettet tager han på job og får ordnet næste catering-servering på travbanen i deres panoramarum. Han er så træt at han ikke orker at se slutningen på løbet og går tilbage til køkkenet for at sætte sig i fred og ro, da en bombe sprænger og dræber eller lemlæster alle gæsterne i rummet. Mindst 15 dør på stedet. Bomben har været skjult i en ventilationskanal mellem to rum, men den var tidsindstillet, så om det var beregnet på præcis disse gæster eller nogle andre?
En af personalet, en ung pige Louisa på 18 år, er blandt de dræbte.
En fra Levnedsmiddeltilsynet, Angela Milne, slipper restauranten af krogen igen, men fortæller at analysen af de syge gæster viser at det var phytohæmagglutinin, dvs bønnelectiner fra røde kidneybønner, der ikke er blevet tilberedt ordentligt, der har gjort folk syge. Men der var slet ikke kidneybønner i nogle af råvarerne eller maden, så Max undrer sig.
Hans restaurant er financieret af en Mark Winsome, der er iværksætter og skabt sig en formue i mobiltelefonbranchen. Han er god at kende og hans advokater er også hurtige til at hjælpe, da en Caroline Aston varsler et søgsmål for forgiftning. De skaffer hendes telefonnummer og han laver en middagsaftale på en Gordon Ramsey restaurant for at formilde hende. Han fortæller hende om sin teori om at nogen forgiftede gæsterne for selv at have et alibi for at blive væk fra det arrangement, som blev ramt af bomben. Der er amoriner i luften mellem dem, men hun har nu ikke tænkt sig at trække sit søgsmål, så han får god tid til at checke sin teori, der stadig er for luftig til at gå til politiet med. Han mangler både et motiv og en mistænkt, men ellers er det en fin teori. Max og Caroline spiser sammen og ender også i seng sammen. Han forfølger et vagt spor til polo og en russer Peter eller Pyotr Komarov og hans kone Tatiana. Hans bils bremser svigter og han kører galt. Bilen er tilstrækkeligt smadret til at man ikke kan se om det er sabotage. Senere bliver hans hus brændt ned og han er selv lige ved at brænde inde. I brandtomten finder brandinspektøren hans brandalarm og bebrejder ham at der ikke var batteri i. Det ved han med sig selv at der var, så nu har han i det mindste over for sig selv et bevis for at nogen er efter ham. Han ved stadig ikke hvem eller hvorfor, så han følger efter Caroline, der er i Chicago for at spille. Han er ret forsigtig med ikke at efterlade spor. Vel ankommen og installeret i Chicago opdager han at en af de hårdt sårede ved bombeattentatet bor i Delafield, der ikker er så langt væk. Han lejer en bil og besøger Dorothy Schumann, hvis mand Rolf ligger på hospitalet med hjerneskader. Hun er noget nedtrykt og taler gerne med Max om Rolf og hans bekendt og forretningspartner Komarov. Hun viser også Max nogle metalkugler som Rolf får på mystisk vis, når hestene som Komarov importerer har været på stald ved Rolf i et stykke tid. Max får en af metalkuglerne og kører ud for at snakke med Komarov. I stedet møder han en Kurt, der slår ham over armen for at få kuglen. Det lykkes fint, men Max når selv at flygte i sin bil. Han og Caroline tager tilbage til England, hvor Caroline opdager at nogen har gennemsøgt hendes lejlighed, så de opsøger i stedet Max's storebror Toby, der er hestetræner og viser ham en ekstra kugle, som de fik fra Dorothy Schumann.
Max og Caroline holder møde sammen med Toby og hans kone Sally og Maxs advokat Bernard Sims. Max fortæller sin historie og møder skepsis. Toby har til gengæld en ide om at kuglerne kan være sat op i livmoderen på hopper. Hvis nu de har været brugt til at smugle kokain i, så er det en pæn sum penge pr forsendelse af måske 80 heste. Toby checker Horse Imports Ltd og finder ud af at alle 68 heste, de solgte i sidste omgang var hunner.
Måske giver attentatet så også mening, for det kunne være for at statuere et eksempel, hvis nu Rolf Schumann havde nappet nogle af pengene for at holde sin egen skrantende traktorforretning kørende? Max ringer til sin køkkenchef og får at vide at det går dårligt, så han slår et slag forbi restauranten. Han forsøger også at kontakte politiet flere gange, men de har ikke lige tid til at snakke med ham. Han bliver hængende på restauranten for at aflevere en tabt mobiltelefon, men det er selvfølgelig en fælde, som han går lige i. Pyotr Komarov og hans håndgangne mand George Kealy trænger ind i restauranten, der er ved at være lukket for aftenen. George og hans kone Emma er stamgæster i restauranten, men har åbenbart også narkobaroner i vennekredsen, for Komarov og Tanya har også spist i restauranten som deres gæster. Overtjeneren Richard kommer tilfældigt ind og bliver skudt. En anden af køkkenmedarbejderne Gary dukker op, men han er med i banden og forresten afhængig af kokain, så Kealy har kunnet betale i naturalier. De binder Max til en stol og vikler sprængstof om benet på ham og putter en detonator i. Caroline er også et sted i huset og laver en lyd, der får Komarov og Gary til at gå på jagt efter årsagen. Imens får Max George til at snakke løs. Forgiftningen var George ide og tanken var at Gary skulle forgifte Emma, Elizabeth Jenking og Neil Jenkins, men Elizabeth spiste ikke af saucen og derfor mødte hun op dagen efter og blev dræbt i eksplosionen. Det var også George, der stod bag bremsesabotagen og forsøget på mordbrand.
Komarov kommer tilbage og sender Gary og George ud for at finde ud af hvem der lusker rundt udenfor. Det er de ikke så begejstrede for, men de makker ret. Komarov forsøger at true Max til at fortælle hvor den manglende kugle er blevet af, da Caroline dukker op og slår ham ned med sin viola. Mens han ligger bevidstløs, befrier hun Max og giver ham Komarovs pistol. Komarov overvejer at trykke på detonatoren selv om det vil koste ham selv livet, men når det ikke før Max skyder ham i benet. Komarov og George bliver lukket inde i kølerummet til politiet kommer. Gary er i mellemtiden stødt sammen med køkkenhjælperen Jacek og den sidste vandt vha en fiskefileteringskniv. Jacek er til gengæld blevet skudt i skulderen, men ikke livsfarligt. Politi og ambulance kommer til og rydder op.
Max får Caroline og en ny restaurant Maximilian's på sydsiden af Berkeley Square i Mayfair. Jacek bliver ny andenkok og Hay Net fortsætter med Carl som mesterkok.
Plottet er lidt mærkeligt og der er en masse løs snak om restaurationsbranchen og det at lave mad til mange mennesker. Derefter en masse løs snak om violinister og musik. Og sammentræffet med at han lige stikker passet i lommen og lige glemmer jakken på job, så han har passet, da hans hus og alting er brændt ned? Han burde kunne gætte at han er med i en Dick Francis bog! Det samme med hovedskurken der selvfølgelig skal dukke op på scenen, så han kan blive anholdt under udfoldelsen af hans skurkagtigheder og nederdrægtigheder. Oven i købet er han russer, så han er jo suspekt fra start af. Kort sagt en røverroman udsat for kogekunst og musik.
Max Moreton er først i 30'erne, ca 2 meter høj, har et stort talent for at lave mad og har en restaurant Hay Net i New Market og er rimeligt kendt der omkring. Noget ved et cateringarrangement går tilsyneladende galt og ca 200 bliver syge natten efter, inklusive Max.
Show More
Restauranten bliver lukket af myndighederne, selv om den slet ingen ting havde med arrangementet at gøre.På trods af at natten er gået på toilettet tager han på job og får ordnet næste catering-servering på travbanen i deres panoramarum. Han er så træt at han ikke orker at se slutningen på løbet og går tilbage til køkkenet for at sætte sig i fred og ro, da en bombe sprænger og dræber eller lemlæster alle gæsterne i rummet. Mindst 15 dør på stedet. Bomben har været skjult i en ventilationskanal mellem to rum, men den var tidsindstillet, så om det var beregnet på præcis disse gæster eller nogle andre?
En af personalet, en ung pige Louisa på 18 år, er blandt de dræbte.
En fra Levnedsmiddeltilsynet, Angela Milne, slipper restauranten af krogen igen, men fortæller at analysen af de syge gæster viser at det var phytohæmagglutinin, dvs bønnelectiner fra røde kidneybønner, der ikke er blevet tilberedt ordentligt, der har gjort folk syge. Men der var slet ikke kidneybønner i nogle af råvarerne eller maden, så Max undrer sig.
Hans restaurant er financieret af en Mark Winsome, der er iværksætter og skabt sig en formue i mobiltelefonbranchen. Han er god at kende og hans advokater er også hurtige til at hjælpe, da en Caroline Aston varsler et søgsmål for forgiftning. De skaffer hendes telefonnummer og han laver en middagsaftale på en Gordon Ramsey restaurant for at formilde hende. Han fortæller hende om sin teori om at nogen forgiftede gæsterne for selv at have et alibi for at blive væk fra det arrangement, som blev ramt af bomben. Der er amoriner i luften mellem dem, men hun har nu ikke tænkt sig at trække sit søgsmål, så han får god tid til at checke sin teori, der stadig er for luftig til at gå til politiet med. Han mangler både et motiv og en mistænkt, men ellers er det en fin teori. Max og Caroline spiser sammen og ender også i seng sammen. Han forfølger et vagt spor til polo og en russer Peter eller Pyotr Komarov og hans kone Tatiana. Hans bils bremser svigter og han kører galt. Bilen er tilstrækkeligt smadret til at man ikke kan se om det er sabotage. Senere bliver hans hus brændt ned og han er selv lige ved at brænde inde. I brandtomten finder brandinspektøren hans brandalarm og bebrejder ham at der ikke var batteri i. Det ved han med sig selv at der var, så nu har han i det mindste over for sig selv et bevis for at nogen er efter ham. Han ved stadig ikke hvem eller hvorfor, så han følger efter Caroline, der er i Chicago for at spille. Han er ret forsigtig med ikke at efterlade spor. Vel ankommen og installeret i Chicago opdager han at en af de hårdt sårede ved bombeattentatet bor i Delafield, der ikker er så langt væk. Han lejer en bil og besøger Dorothy Schumann, hvis mand Rolf ligger på hospitalet med hjerneskader. Hun er noget nedtrykt og taler gerne med Max om Rolf og hans bekendt og forretningspartner Komarov. Hun viser også Max nogle metalkugler som Rolf får på mystisk vis, når hestene som Komarov importerer har været på stald ved Rolf i et stykke tid. Max får en af metalkuglerne og kører ud for at snakke med Komarov. I stedet møder han en Kurt, der slår ham over armen for at få kuglen. Det lykkes fint, men Max når selv at flygte i sin bil. Han og Caroline tager tilbage til England, hvor Caroline opdager at nogen har gennemsøgt hendes lejlighed, så de opsøger i stedet Max's storebror Toby, der er hestetræner og viser ham en ekstra kugle, som de fik fra Dorothy Schumann.
Max og Caroline holder møde sammen med Toby og hans kone Sally og Maxs advokat Bernard Sims. Max fortæller sin historie og møder skepsis. Toby har til gengæld en ide om at kuglerne kan være sat op i livmoderen på hopper. Hvis nu de har været brugt til at smugle kokain i, så er det en pæn sum penge pr forsendelse af måske 80 heste. Toby checker Horse Imports Ltd og finder ud af at alle 68 heste, de solgte i sidste omgang var hunner.
Måske giver attentatet så også mening, for det kunne være for at statuere et eksempel, hvis nu Rolf Schumann havde nappet nogle af pengene for at holde sin egen skrantende traktorforretning kørende? Max ringer til sin køkkenchef og får at vide at det går dårligt, så han slår et slag forbi restauranten. Han forsøger også at kontakte politiet flere gange, men de har ikke lige tid til at snakke med ham. Han bliver hængende på restauranten for at aflevere en tabt mobiltelefon, men det er selvfølgelig en fælde, som han går lige i. Pyotr Komarov og hans håndgangne mand George Kealy trænger ind i restauranten, der er ved at være lukket for aftenen. George og hans kone Emma er stamgæster i restauranten, men har åbenbart også narkobaroner i vennekredsen, for Komarov og Tanya har også spist i restauranten som deres gæster. Overtjeneren Richard kommer tilfældigt ind og bliver skudt. En anden af køkkenmedarbejderne Gary dukker op, men han er med i banden og forresten afhængig af kokain, så Kealy har kunnet betale i naturalier. De binder Max til en stol og vikler sprængstof om benet på ham og putter en detonator i. Caroline er også et sted i huset og laver en lyd, der får Komarov og Gary til at gå på jagt efter årsagen. Imens får Max George til at snakke løs. Forgiftningen var George ide og tanken var at Gary skulle forgifte Emma, Elizabeth Jenking og Neil Jenkins, men Elizabeth spiste ikke af saucen og derfor mødte hun op dagen efter og blev dræbt i eksplosionen. Det var også George, der stod bag bremsesabotagen og forsøget på mordbrand.
Komarov kommer tilbage og sender Gary og George ud for at finde ud af hvem der lusker rundt udenfor. Det er de ikke så begejstrede for, men de makker ret. Komarov forsøger at true Max til at fortælle hvor den manglende kugle er blevet af, da Caroline dukker op og slår ham ned med sin viola. Mens han ligger bevidstløs, befrier hun Max og giver ham Komarovs pistol. Komarov overvejer at trykke på detonatoren selv om det vil koste ham selv livet, men når det ikke før Max skyder ham i benet. Komarov og George bliver lukket inde i kølerummet til politiet kommer. Gary er i mellemtiden stødt sammen med køkkenhjælperen Jacek og den sidste vandt vha en fiskefileteringskniv. Jacek er til gengæld blevet skudt i skulderen, men ikke livsfarligt. Politi og ambulance kommer til og rydder op.
Max får Caroline og en ny restaurant Maximilian's på sydsiden af Berkeley Square i Mayfair. Jacek bliver ny andenkok og Hay Net fortsætter med Carl som mesterkok.
Plottet er lidt mærkeligt og der er en masse løs snak om restaurationsbranchen og det at lave mad til mange mennesker. Derefter en masse løs snak om violinister og musik. Og sammentræffet med at han lige stikker passet i lommen og lige glemmer jakken på job, så han har passet, da hans hus og alting er brændt ned? Han burde kunne gætte at han er med i en Dick Francis bog! Det samme med hovedskurken der selvfølgelig skal dukke op på scenen, så han kan blive anholdt under udfoldelsen af hans skurkagtigheder og nederdrægtigheder. Oven i købet er han russer, så han er jo suspekt fra start af. Kort sagt en røverroman udsat for kogekunst og musik.
Show Less
Genres
Publication
[Rønne] : GoeBøger, 2011.
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:Hard on the heels of the triumph Under Orders comes Dead Heat, set against the backdrop of Britain�s famed 2,000 Guineas stakes. Max Moreton is a rising culinary star, and his Newmarket restaurant, the Hay Net, has brought him great acclaim and a widening circle of admirers. But when nearly all the guests who enjoyed one of his meals at a private catered affair fall victim to severe food poisoning, his kitchen is shuttered and his reputation takes a hit. Scrambling to meet his next obligation, an exclusive luncheon for forty in the glass-fronted private boxes at the 2,000 Guineas, Max must overcome the previous evening�s disaster and provide the new American sponsors of the year�s first Classic race with a day to remember. Then a bomb blast rips through the private boxes, killing some of Max�s trusted staff and many of the guests. As survivors are rushed to the hospital, he is left to survey the ruins of the grandstand�and of his career. Two close calls are too close for comfort, and Max vows to protect his name, and himself, before it�s too late.… (more)
Media reviews
So while it doesn’t feature the Francis trademarks of high-strung horses in high-stakes races, “Dead Heat” doesn’t abandon the sport as much as turn it inside out, so we can inspect one of the many small, labor-intensive businesses that operate behind the scenes in this rarefied and utterly
Show More
exotic world.
Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member cyderry
Max Moreton owns a restaurant in Newmarket England. After a massive food poisoning incident at a racetrack dinner where he was the guest chef and a fatal bombing at a luncheon he was catering at the racetrack the next day, you would think that life couldn't get any worse. Not so in this extremely
Max sets out to clear his reputation of the mysterious food poisoning incident and finds his life turned upside in numerous ways before successful resolving the issues.
I am definitely gong to have to find more of the Dick Francis books. 4 stars!
Show More
entertaining and well-written mystery.Max sets out to clear his reputation of the mysterious food poisoning incident and finds his life turned upside in numerous ways before successful resolving the issues.
I am definitely gong to have to find more of the Dick Francis books. 4 stars!
Show Less
LibraryThing member branchhead
Typical Dick Francis, now co-written w/son Felix. Chef, food poisoning, violist girlfriend, mysterious silver balls, house burned down, grandstand blown up.
LibraryThing member libasst
Another enjoyable Dick Francis novel. Lead character is a nice guy, typical DF hero, who has to solve the crime to save himself and falls in love along the way. Descriptions of dealing with grief sounded true, maybe the author's own feelings about the death of his wife.
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
Very enjoyable - written with his son, but reads like a typical Francis novel. Max, as chef turned hero, is a likable guy and the romance with Caroline was a nice balance to the ruthlessness of the bad guys. Dick Francis remains a great, quick, enjoyable read. And there's always something new to
Show More
learn about the world of horses. Show Less
LibraryThing member elethra
Not so good as his other books. If I'd known, I probably wouldn't have bought it. There's a great deal more mushy stuff in this than there is in his others.
LibraryThing member reannon
Another excellent mystery from Dick Francis, writing with his son Felix. The main character is a chef, who caters an event one evening at which many people get food poisoning, followed by catering an event the next day where a bomb goes off. Max doesn't accept that his kitchen was responsible for
Show More
the food poisoning, but can't get anyone to listen, so begins to investigate himself. Good characters, although all Francis' main male characters are somewhat alike.... but all outstanding. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheoClarke
Continuing the successful formula, Francis pere-et-fils explore slightly milieux: polo and restaurants. Gordon Ramsey is rewarded for his advice with extensive references to him and to his restaurants. Presumably the authors already knew enough of polo to make no such use of anyone from that
Show More
fraternity. A typical Francis thriller that suggests that the baton is being passed safely. Show Less
LibraryThing member normaleistiko
Good Read. Author and his son are master story tellers. Enough violence to make you shocked without turning you off of the story. Many characters could have "done it."
LibraryThing member smik
Mass poisoning is every chef's nightmare and a black tie gala dinner at Newmarket on the eve of the 2,000 Guineas a most unlikely occasion. And follow that up with the explosion of a bomb at the races on the day itself.
Max Moreton is the Michelin chef whose reputation is in tatters after the
DEAD HEAT is good reading, a page turner with a credible chain of events, and background details that tell you it is written by authors who know their stuff: this time long acknowledged master Dick Francis together with his son Felix. Felix's role as researcher and in writing this and other recent novels is acknowledged in the blurb.
I've been reading Dick Francis for decades. He has written forty-one international bestsellers and is widely acclaimed as one of the world's finest thriller writers. His awards include the Crime Writers' Association's Cartier Diamond Dagger for his outstanding contribution to the crime genre, and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Tufts University of Boston. In 1996 Dick Francis was made a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master for a lifetime's achievement and in 2000 he received a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
Max Moreton is the Michelin chef whose reputation is in tatters after the
Show More
dinner, his Newmarket restaurant is closed, and then many of the clientele for whom he is catering, and one of his staff, are killed in the bomb explosion. Max is determined to find out how the food poisoning occurred, certain that it wasn't his food that caused it. And when things begin to happen as he asks questions, he begins to wonder whether the two events are connected.DEAD HEAT is good reading, a page turner with a credible chain of events, and background details that tell you it is written by authors who know their stuff: this time long acknowledged master Dick Francis together with his son Felix. Felix's role as researcher and in writing this and other recent novels is acknowledged in the blurb.
I've been reading Dick Francis for decades. He has written forty-one international bestsellers and is widely acclaimed as one of the world's finest thriller writers. His awards include the Crime Writers' Association's Cartier Diamond Dagger for his outstanding contribution to the crime genre, and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Tufts University of Boston. In 1996 Dick Francis was made a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master for a lifetime's achievement and in 2000 he received a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
Show Less
LibraryThing member booklog
Obviously a collaboration; does not show the inventiveness of plotting that made the original works outstanding. Personally interesting as I have relatives in the restaurant trade. Everything sounded right to me. Francis's strength has always been the research and "feel" of the non-racing world,
Show More
since he has the racing milieu down cold. Show Less
LibraryThing member cpotter
An interesting mystery but not my favorite by Francis. Love element I could have done without.
LibraryThing member reeread
I thought I was reading 'Under Orders' and couldn't work out why Sid Halley wasn't in this story. Finally worked it out.
Another interesting addition to the Felix Francis group of books.
Has anyone else noticed that the Dick Francis series started out being quite localised and very much focused on
Another interesting addition to the Felix Francis group of books.
Has anyone else noticed that the Dick Francis series started out being quite localised and very much focused on
Show More
the English racing scene and gradually they have become globalised with all sorts of issues of the day being included? In this instalment, it's celebrity chefs and terrorism. Show Less
LibraryThing member Patentnonsense
Insipid romance, stupid hero, slow plot development.
LibraryThing member JustAGirl
The new hardback from the master of British mystery writing (with the help, this time, of his son Felix). A classic page-turner set in the worlds of restaurants and horse-racing; plot twists abound as the hero tries to figure out who poisoned a dinner of 250 people, blew up a racing dinner, and
Show More
tries to avoid being killed himself. Show Less
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
I'd forgotten that I'd read this one until I started it again - but I recognized the chef as soon as the story started. I still didn't remember exactly how it went, though I did remember what sort of person the bad guy was long before he figured it out. Not bad; pretty much standard Francis (aside
Show More
from the hero _not_ being highly pain-resistant!), which is nice since this isn't pure Dick Francis. I've been extremely disappointed in other books/series where a child joins a parent in writing (Anne & Todd McCaffrey, among others), so it was good to see that Felix can write pretty much in Dick's style. I hope - wait and see when he's on his own. Not a favorite, but a perfectly good Francis. Show Less
LibraryThing member librisissimo
Not the best of Francis's work, but still a good read. In his prime, he would have had the protagonist do more "figuring out" and less "falling into" answers, especially in re the "hometown villain".
LibraryThing member pmarshall
I have new respect for Dick Francis and his craft. Reading his novels one at a time as they were published provided entertainment, reading them as a body of work provided new insights, knowledge, and appreciation of his work.
His objective was always to entertain the reader and to have horses
For the research for “Rat Race,” which involves an air taxi service for jockeys, Mary Francis started taking flying lessons. She continued them when the research was complete and got her license and for eleven years was part owner of a similar air taxi service.
Many of Francis’ titles just touch on horses and focus on other occupations. In “Straight” jockey Derek Franklin suddenly inherits his brother’s semiprecious stone importing business and must keep the business running and find one hundred missing diamonds. The information on how diamonds are bought and sold is most interesting.
He also deals with social problems like alcoholism. In “Knockdown” Jonah Dereham’s brother is an alcoholic. The understanding of alcoholism as a disease and the necessary strength to overcome it is part of the background of this mystery about bloodstock agents.
It is interesting to note how many of his characters are loners e.g., Gene Hawkins in"Blood Sport," Sid Halley, Matt Shore in "Rat Race," without families. Another theme, which runs through his books, is that children are good observers ("Shattered," "Decider," "Blood Sport") and more should be made of asking them what they saw. Francis is also a romantic and although in his autobiography “The Sport of Queens” he says he doesn’t believe in love at first sight it happened to him when he was introduced to Mary. “Mary and I smiled at each other and to my astonishment, before we had even spoken, I found myself thinking, ‘This is my wife.’”
At one time Francis wanted to have Mary’s name added to his as author of the books but she demurred at the suggestion. However there is no doubt that the work was a partnership. His last three titles were written with his son Felix.
All in all Dick Francis provides a good read, interesting characters against a variety of backgrounds and a problem to be solved and, in many cases. something for the reader to learn.
His objective was always to entertain the reader and to have horses
Show More
somewhere in the story but you can also learn from his work. His research is meticulous, for example for “Flying Finish” which is about the air transporting of horses he and his wife Mary went on a run to Milan. He helped care for the horses, she took pictures and notes.For the research for “Rat Race,” which involves an air taxi service for jockeys, Mary Francis started taking flying lessons. She continued them when the research was complete and got her license and for eleven years was part owner of a similar air taxi service.
Many of Francis’ titles just touch on horses and focus on other occupations. In “Straight” jockey Derek Franklin suddenly inherits his brother’s semiprecious stone importing business and must keep the business running and find one hundred missing diamonds. The information on how diamonds are bought and sold is most interesting.
He also deals with social problems like alcoholism. In “Knockdown” Jonah Dereham’s brother is an alcoholic. The understanding of alcoholism as a disease and the necessary strength to overcome it is part of the background of this mystery about bloodstock agents.
It is interesting to note how many of his characters are loners e.g., Gene Hawkins in"Blood Sport," Sid Halley, Matt Shore in "Rat Race," without families. Another theme, which runs through his books, is that children are good observers ("Shattered," "Decider," "Blood Sport") and more should be made of asking them what they saw. Francis is also a romantic and although in his autobiography “The Sport of Queens” he says he doesn’t believe in love at first sight it happened to him when he was introduced to Mary. “Mary and I smiled at each other and to my astonishment, before we had even spoken, I found myself thinking, ‘This is my wife.’”
At one time Francis wanted to have Mary’s name added to his as author of the books but she demurred at the suggestion. However there is no doubt that the work was a partnership. His last three titles were written with his son Felix.
All in all Dick Francis provides a good read, interesting characters against a variety of backgrounds and a problem to be solved and, in many cases. something for the reader to learn.
Show Less
LibraryThing member phalaborwa
Back at the top of his form.
LibraryThing member dekan
i loved this book. course i'm a bit prejudice when it comes to dick francis. i haven't read one thing of his that i haven't et the very least extremely liked, mostly i love them. this was an interesting take. i hadn't read one that involved a cook/chef before so it really held my attention if
Show More
nothing else out of originality. although all his books are different but i've never taken a cooky ride before with anybody really. you can taste the air and feel the wind. Show Less
LibraryThing member piyushgoyal
This is my first Dick Francis book. Am thro about 1/3rd ( more than 100 pages), still the story doesn't move. I am given to believe there is a plot( there has to be!). But it just wont show. The man is going into descriptions on every other side topic other than focussing on the main plot.
I usually
I usually
Show More
don't leave books midway ( feel i am wasting something), but i guess this might make me do it!! Show Less
LibraryThing member JenneB
Oh, boy. Obviously Felix is being groomed to take over the Francis dynasty from his dad, but I think we should just let it end.
This had all the elements you expect in a DF book, but it was just missing...something. The thing I like about the other books is that they are perfectly comfortable--the
With this one, I kept cringing at the writing, and wondering what the hell the people were thinking, and plus, the romance was just kind of creepy.
This had all the elements you expect in a DF book, but it was just missing...something. The thing I like about the other books is that they are perfectly comfortable--the
Show More
writing never jolts you out of the story, and the characters behave in a way that makes sense while still being interesting. I never minded them being formulaic, because he always executed it so well.With this one, I kept cringing at the writing, and wondering what the hell the people were thinking, and plus, the romance was just kind of creepy.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bsquaredinoz
Dick Francis novels are all much the same: a smart, interesting guy with a job somehow (however tangentially) related to the world of horses get in a spot or three of bother but through a combination of luck and street smarts gets out of difficulty and, usually, snares himself a nice girl in the
This time out the protagonist is chef Max Moreton who has a successful restaurant in the racing town of Newmarket. The book opens as Moreton, his staff and many of his clients are suffering the results of an inexplicable food poisoning episode. As Moreton is getting his business back on track the guest box in which he is catering at a local race meeting explodes. Mayhem and intrigue ensues.
I read Dick Francis books mostly because I have a sense of nostalgia about them as one of them was the first ‘adult’ mystery I read. They’re light and comfortably familiar while having likeable characters and plausible plots. This time out though, in a novel co-authored by Francis' son Felix, there’s either something missing or I have become more difficult to satisfy. The plot meanders fairly aimlessly and there are enormous, unsupportable leaps of logic in it. The ending may just as well have included an alien landing on the Newmarket Heath and a naked Prime Minister on a pogo stick for all the connection the resolution had to preceding events. Although Francis has clearly written to a formula over the years he’s still had to do a load of research into whatever new subject he’s writing about, create interesting characters, write snappy dialogue and plot a story that is consistent with itself (however unlikely). Here, those elements are largely missing (although to be fair the research is evident) and the book is like a shadow of one of its predecessors. I'd actually give this 2.5 stars if I could.
Show More
process. This time out the protagonist is chef Max Moreton who has a successful restaurant in the racing town of Newmarket. The book opens as Moreton, his staff and many of his clients are suffering the results of an inexplicable food poisoning episode. As Moreton is getting his business back on track the guest box in which he is catering at a local race meeting explodes. Mayhem and intrigue ensues.
I read Dick Francis books mostly because I have a sense of nostalgia about them as one of them was the first ‘adult’ mystery I read. They’re light and comfortably familiar while having likeable characters and plausible plots. This time out though, in a novel co-authored by Francis' son Felix, there’s either something missing or I have become more difficult to satisfy. The plot meanders fairly aimlessly and there are enormous, unsupportable leaps of logic in it. The ending may just as well have included an alien landing on the Newmarket Heath and a naked Prime Minister on a pogo stick for all the connection the resolution had to preceding events. Although Francis has clearly written to a formula over the years he’s still had to do a load of research into whatever new subject he’s writing about, create interesting characters, write snappy dialogue and plot a story that is consistent with itself (however unlikely). Here, those elements are largely missing (although to be fair the research is evident) and the book is like a shadow of one of its predecessors. I'd actually give this 2.5 stars if I could.
Show Less
LibraryThing member themulhern
As usual, the horse related parts are quite interesting. The romance is really intrusive, and our protagonist is required to be really stupid in order to make sure the book doesn't get too long. Like another reviewer, I can't see any reason to hit someone with a viola when there is probably an
Show More
excellent cast-iron frying pan nearby. The special language of the restaurant business was compelling but the observations by the protagonist were pseudo-insightful. Show Less
LibraryThing member thesmellofbooks
I was nervous how the change of authorship from Mary and Richard to Felix and Richard might go, but although some changes were detectable this is basic Dick Francis, and enjoyable reading. Hard to believe I am almost at the end of his opus. Raise a glass to a goodhearted thriller writer. (Or two,
Show More
or three...) Show Less
LibraryThing member MarthaLillie
If you like mysteries, you have probably come across Dick Francis. In this book, he and his son have collaborated to bring another delicious story about murder and intrigue to their readers. Delicous because his main character is a chef. I liked it because that character's girl friend was a
Orchestra.
Show More
musician in the RPO, Royal PhilharmonicOrchestra.
Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2007
Physical description
334 p.; 20.9 cm
ISBN
9788792747006
Local notes
Omslag: Ben Alex
Omslaget viser et foto af et hestevæddeløb
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "Dead Heat" af Ben Alex
Omslagsillustration: Cheryl Quigley / Dreamstime.com
Side 20: Jeg kunne mærke, at det ikke ville lykkes mig at appellere til hans bedre jeg. Sådan et havde han tydeligvis ikke.
Side 75: Der hører meget mere med til at køre en restaurant end at lave nogle retter mad. For det første ønsker kunderne et udvalgt af retter, og de vil have dem serveret uden at skulle vente ret længe. I Hay Net tilbød vi sædvanligvis mellem otte og ti forretter og det samme antal hovedretter. Nogle forretter var varme, andre kolde, men alt blev serveret efter individuelle ønsker. Vores mål var at servere retten inden for et kvarter efter bestilingen. Ideelt set burde hovedretten være klar til servering ti minutter efter, at forretten var taget af bordet. Hvis kunden ikke ønskede nogen forret, burde der ikke gå over otteogtyve minutter, efter at bestillingen nåede køkkenet. Jeg vidste alt for godt, at hvis en kunde kom til at vente længere, end han eller hun fandt passende, var det ligegyldigt, hvor godt maden smagte, når den blev serveret. Smagen ville blive glemt til fordel for ventetiden, der ville blive husket.
Side 75: Mad er noget underligt noget. Forskellen mellem grøntsager, der har fået nøjagtigt, hvad de skal, og grøntsager, der har fået for meget, er kun et spørgsmål om et minut eller to. Med en steak eller en tunfilét er det endnu mindre. Vore kunder ønsker naturligt nok deres mad serveret, når den er perfekt tilberedt. De vil også have rettens forskellige tilbehør serveret samtidigt. Hvem ønsker ikke det? De forventer, at deres mad ser attraktiv ud, og den skal være varm og dufte appetitvækkende. Og endnu vigtigere: De ønsker maden serveret i samme rækkefølge, som bestillingerne kommer ind. Intet, har jeg forlængst lært, er mere irriterende for en kunde end at opdage, at andre får serveret før dem, hvis de selv har bestilt først.
Side 76: En fin restaurant har selvfølgelig en god kok, men selv den bedste kok har brug for gode ingredienser at arbejde med. Derfor er valget af leverandør altoverskyggende.
Side 140: chekkede (jeg kan ikke helt lide stavemåden)
Side 202: ungå
Omslaget viser et foto af et hestevæddeløb
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "Dead Heat" af Ben Alex
Omslagsillustration: Cheryl Quigley / Dreamstime.com
Side 20: Jeg kunne mærke, at det ikke ville lykkes mig at appellere til hans bedre jeg. Sådan et havde han tydeligvis ikke.
Side 75: Der hører meget mere med til at køre en restaurant end at lave nogle retter mad. For det første ønsker kunderne et udvalgt af retter, og de vil have dem serveret uden at skulle vente ret længe. I Hay Net tilbød vi sædvanligvis mellem otte og ti forretter og det samme antal hovedretter. Nogle forretter var varme, andre kolde, men alt blev serveret efter individuelle ønsker. Vores mål var at servere retten inden for et kvarter efter bestilingen. Ideelt set burde hovedretten være klar til servering ti minutter efter, at forretten var taget af bordet. Hvis kunden ikke ønskede nogen forret, burde der ikke gå over otteogtyve minutter, efter at bestillingen nåede køkkenet. Jeg vidste alt for godt, at hvis en kunde kom til at vente længere, end han eller hun fandt passende, var det ligegyldigt, hvor godt maden smagte, når den blev serveret. Smagen ville blive glemt til fordel for ventetiden, der ville blive husket.
Side 75: Mad er noget underligt noget. Forskellen mellem grøntsager, der har fået nøjagtigt, hvad de skal, og grøntsager, der har fået for meget, er kun et spørgsmål om et minut eller to. Med en steak eller en tunfilét er det endnu mindre. Vore kunder ønsker naturligt nok deres mad serveret, når den er perfekt tilberedt. De vil også have rettens forskellige tilbehør serveret samtidigt. Hvem ønsker ikke det? De forventer, at deres mad ser attraktiv ud, og den skal være varm og dufte appetitvækkende. Og endnu vigtigere: De ønsker maden serveret i samme rækkefølge, som bestillingerne kommer ind. Intet, har jeg forlængst lært, er mere irriterende for en kunde end at opdage, at andre får serveret før dem, hvis de selv har bestilt først.
Side 76: En fin restaurant har selvfølgelig en god kok, men selv den bedste kok har brug for gode ingredienser at arbejde med. Derfor er valget af leverandør altoverskyggende.
Side 140: chekkede (jeg kan ikke helt lide stavemåden)
Side 202: ungå
Similar in this library
Pages
334
DDC/MDS
| 823.914 |