Rating: 
Summary: Average Francis collection
Review: A collection of thirteen short stories, eight of which were published previously in various magazines.a) Raid at Kingdom Hill -- A bomb scare at the racetrack, and money goes missing during the chaos. (2.00/5.00) b) Dead on Red -- A contract killer kills a jockey for another jockey, but the results are not quite what the surviving jockey had desired. (4.00/5.00) c) Song for Mona -- A snobbish daughter is ashamed of her mother's life and history while others find her charming and praise her. (4.00/5.00) d) Bright White Star -- The theft of a horse from an auction and a wandering tramp who is displaced from his home on the land. (2.00/5.00) * "Write us a story," they said. I asked, "What about?" "About three thousand words," they replied. e) Collision Course -- An editor loses his job and runs into snobs who won't let him park his boat at their restaurant while he has dinner with three publishers. Turns out the owner is a up-and-comer who needs to win an upcoming race in order to attract horses to his farm. An interesting battle develops. (4.00/5.00) f) Nightmare -- A horse thief is running from his past where his father was killed during a theft. (2.50/5.00) g) Carrot for a Chestnut -- Fixing a race by doping the horse with a doctored carrot. With a great twist at the end. (3.50/5.00) h) The Gift -- A down-and-out alcoholic journalist finds the horseracing story of the century, but may be too drunk to write it. (2.00/5.00) i) Spring Fever -- A woman falls in love with her jockey and is taken advantage of, at first. (2.50/5.00) j) Blind Chance -- A man has a perfect way to know the outcomes of photo-finish races, and to make money on it. Until disaster strikes. (4.00/5.00) k) Corkscrew -- An honest man is charged with a crime and his lawyer swindles his parents out of the bail money. He doesn't count on the road to justice being somewhat long and windy. (3.75/5.00) l) The Day of the Losers -- Money from an old robbery is the glue that holds this story together as the police attempt to fix a race in order to catch a crook. There are twists all around at the end. (3.50/5.00) m) Haig's Death -- All the people who have their fates resting on the outcome of a race are all affected when the decision falls to the judge, whose fate has already been decided. Multiple storylines all leading to a combined finish. (3.50/5.00)
Rating: 
Summary: First-rate
Review: A great page-turner. The best I've read since Craig Furnas's THE SHAPE. Dick Francis is the master.
Rating:
Summary: Dick Francis Rides again
Review: Although I never know whether to read a Dick Francis novel first...or wait to read it for desert, I have never been disappointed. Most of his works take me an afternoon to enjoy..But this latest was not what I expected. This is a collection of short stories, while each well done, did not give me the same engrossing read he usually does. It appeared that his publishers just threw together 13 stories, without much rhyme or reason...leaving the reader to wonder what is going on. This does not put me off Mr. Francis at all, but will teach me to pay more attention in the future. I was disappointed that I waited a year for his next book, and all I got was this.
Rating:
Summary: up and down like a steeplechase
Review: As a short story writer, Dick Francis writes great thrillers. Some of the stories are top-notch, others leave a lot to be desired. Usually, when a author starts publishing a book of shorts, it tends to be because the powers are waning and one has to produce a book a year ( Jeffery Archer excepted--a better short writer). One hopes this is not the case here, as Mr Francis is still a shining light as "Come to grief" showed a couple of years ago. The fans, like myself, will lap it up, but will have to hang out for another 12 months for one of those great Francis thrillers
Rating:
Summary: On Dick Francis -
Review: As the previous two reviewers, I am a great fan of Dick Francis - in fact I inherited that status from my mother who when I was sixteen and in bed with a bad case of flu lent me one of her Dick Francis and that was it - I was hooked and trapped for life.- Same thing happened with my daughter who since early teens is an avid reader.- As we live in Uruguay - we cannot claim to have read every single one of his books as we had to make do with what it is brought to the country - and apparently not many uruguayans enjoy Dick Francis in English.- Anyway I have got at least 20 of his books ( perhaps more) and sometimes when I see a title I have to read a small review to remember whether I have already got it or if it is a new one.- What I can tell you is that although there are some books that I have enjoyed more than others - of course all the books cannot appeal to everybody the same way - he is a great writer, he has an excellent style, I love his british ways (british nanny and british schools since my grandmother downwards) and that is why I didn't agree with fellow the reviewer who in rating I think it was "Trial Run" ( I am not sure) said typical Dick Francis - british horsy stuff etc... in a rather derogative way... regarding this book - I can neither rate it nor write about it since I have not read it YET but I sure will.- and then I will get in touch with you again.- Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with you.-
Rating:
Summary: On Dick Francis -
Review: As the previous two reviewers, I am a great fan of Dick Francis - in fact I inherited that status from my mother who when I was sixteen and in bed with a bad case of flu lent me one of her Dick Francis and that was it - I was hooked and trapped for life.- Same thing happened with my daughter who since early teens is an avid reader.- As we live in Uruguay - we cannot claim to have read every single one of his books as we had to make do with what it is brought to the country - and apparently not many uruguayans enjoy Dick Francis in English.- Anyway I have got at least 20 of his books ( perhaps more) and sometimes when I see a title I have to read a small review to remember whether I have already got it or if it is a new one.- What I can tell you is that although there are some books that I have enjoyed more than others - of course all the books cannot appeal to everybody the same way - he is a great writer, he has an excellent style, I love his british ways (british nanny and british schools since my grandmother downwards) and that is why I didn't agree with fellow the reviewer who in rating I think it was "Trial Run" ( I am not sure) said typical Dick Francis - british horsy stuff etc... in a rather derogative way... regarding this book - I can neither rate it nor write about it since I have not read it YET but I sure will.- and then I will get in touch with you again.- Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with you.-
Rating:
Summary: Mr. Francis' short stories are a bit bleak for my taste.
Review: Dick Francis does not write short stories that are as satisfying as his novels; plots and writing style are recognizably Francis, but cynacism and darkness are much more evident here than in his novels and do not leave the reader with the same sense of appreciation. "Field of Thirteen" is worth reading until a new novel appears, but I hope Mr. Francis will spend his writing talent in the future only on novels - MANY novels!
Rating: 
Summary: Classic Dick Francis
Review: Dick Francis, although a little short in a few stories, is still the master of this style of book. This is the only book authored by Mr. Francis in my library that I have not read at least 10 times.Still well thought out w/beautiful plots. Wonderfully written stories in this collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Far from his best
Review: For years I have bought every novel Dick Francis has written and was disappointed with only one. Now there are two. This collection contains what appear to be magazine short stories. There is virtually no character development and not much plot development either. This is obviously not Francis' genre. Approach this one with caution, for most of the things you like most about his novels are missing from his short stories. Very disappointing!
Rating:
Summary: Vintage Dick Francis - but beware, it's short stories
Review: I have enjoyed Dick Francis novels for many years. I mail ordered this book, and was somewhat dismayed to discover that it is a collection of short stories - not my favorite format. They are enjoyable, and well written short stories, but there isn't enough room for much character development.
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