Field of Thirteen

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: Classic Dick Francis--With a Twist
Review: I highly recommend this book to both new Dick Francis readers and old. For the longtime reader of Francis' work, this is a refreshing reminder of another side of the author, too often played down in favor of plot excitement: subtlety and wit.

The classic Francis protagonist is the principled loner (sometimes jaded, sometimes not) who stumbles onto a mystery and into trouble, then follows through to the bitter (and successful) end, usually with numerous bruises, a couple of sprains, and probably at least one fairly serious broken bone or other bloody inconvenience. More often than not (at least in the first three decades of his books), the narrator finds love, as well. Throughout four decades of writing, Francis' stoic narrators have become a bit predictable (though still fun), which makes the unpredictability of this collection all the more enjoyable.

Relying more on irony and wit than in any other book, Francis has concocted a series of clever plots with interesting characters (really different from his usual heroes). These stories are very enjoyable and even a bit droll. They move quickly, surprise, and reward. By all means pick this one up.

At a time when Mr. Francis may be winding down his career, this collection is a real gold mine, and one last glimpse at a great mystery writer's talent.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty darn good!
Review: This is the very first Dick Francis book I've ever read, recommended to me by my father. I certainly have enjoyed the flow of the characterizations, plots, and twists. The short stories are reminiscent of the Hitchcockian type plots. Slime deserves slime. After having read these stories, I am now anxious to read a novel of his. I give it a thumbs up and recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the Hitchcock Mystery Magazine short stories.