Forfeit (1969)

Synopsis/blurb....
Bert Checkov was a Fleet Street racing correspondent with an unnerving talent for tipping non-starters for big races. But the advice he gave James Tyrone, a few minutes before he fell to his death, was of a completely different nature... Not one for the quiet life, Tyrone has a bloodhound's nose for trouble and pretty soon he's caught up in an increasingly dangerous game. One that threatens him, his crippled wife and the credibility of the racing world. Blowing the roof off is the number one policy of The Sunday Blaze ... and Tyrone has stumbled upon explosive material. 'A superb chiller and killer' New York Times Book Review
My first introduction to Dick Francis and his thrillers set in the world of horse racing. This offering was the recipient of the 1970 Edgar Award for best novel, with the author having been a runner-up in each of the 3 preceding years.
The book was quite entertaining. Tyrone was likeable and sympathetic particularly in his efforts to care for his stricken wife and in the sacrifices he had made through the years since she contracted polio. At the same time he was still quite driven in his need to delve deeper into the mystery of his friend, Bert Checkov’s last words in the moments before he died. That this investigation would put him and his wife in danger was a consideration, particularly as the pieces of the puzzle unfolded, but not a sufficient deterrent to his enquiries. Tyrone’s need to find physical release in the company of a woman, whilst remaining loyal and faithful to his invalid wife, was understandable if slightly disappointing. Still, heroes have warts and failings just like the rest of us.
I enjoyed the book for the aspects of community shown in the horse racing environment, with nearly everyone knowing everyone else. Francis realistically portrayed life in the lower echelons of the industry and glamorous it certainly isn’t. As a former champion jockey and the unfortunate rider of the Queen’s Mother’s ill-fated mount Devon Loch in the Grand National, you would expect him to know the ins and outs of racing. Having the skill and ability to transfer that experience and knowledge into written form shows a different quality. I’ll read more of Francis and his horse racing thrillers in the future.
4 from 5
I acquired my copy after swapping a book on the Readitswap it website. ( )

They say third time is the charm, but in Dick Francis's case it was fourth time. He had been nominated for the Edgar for Best Novel in each of the three preceding years before finally winning it with FORFEIT in 1970. Getting the last laugh, he went on to win it twice more and became a Grand Master in 1996.

This was the first of his books I have read. I tend to go for series books, am not immediately attracted to thrillers, and follow horseracing only if invited to a Derby Day party, so I hadn't thought I would like them. Now, having read FORFEIT, I'll be much more likely to pick up the next Francis book I see.

FORFEIT's protagonist, James Tyrone, is a journalist -- he writes a racing column for a somewhat sensational newspaper and does occasional free-lance work for magazines. When a colleague from another paper commits suicide, after giving Tyrone a mysterious piece of advice, and Tyrone realizes something odd about horses the dead man has touted in his columns, he begins asking questions. This sets him on a collision course with a sinister South African that imperils not only his own life, but that of his wife. Of course, it also gets his paper a hell of a story.

What little I know about American horseracing was of no use here, as the British system of betting is different and there are also different kinds of races there (pretty exciting ones too, it would seem). But enough was explained (and without recourse to footnotes!) that I was easily able to follow the story.

I read recently that in a thriller, you know fairly soon who the villain is and the excitement is in the race between villain and hero to accomplish or prevent the villain's plans (wildly paraphrasing here). That is a good description of this book. Given the conventions of crime fiction, one is 99% sure that good will win out, but Francis keeps us on the edge with that 1% of uncertainty. There are books you can't put down, and then there are those which I, at least, must put down -- something so frightening happens that I must stop to catch my breath and let my heart rate return to normal. This was such a book.

My husband, who has been reading these Edgar winners along with me, said about Julian Symons' THE PROGRESS OF A CRIME that one mark of a good writer was the care he takes with minor characters. I couldn't see it in that book because I just disliked the whole book so much. But I could really see the truth of it in FORFEIT. The horse trainer, the young woman groom, the jockey, the racing steward, the horse breeder and his family -- each has a story, and we hear it, without detracting at all from the fast-moving plot.

So if, like me, you thought you wouldn't be interested in a book about horseracing, think again and read a Dick Francis book. He's been doing fine without me all these years, the only loss has been mine.
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I read this book before I was ever aware of LibraryThing or quite possible before it was even available. Dick Francis is one of my all time best authors. I find ever book to be well written and you don't want to stop reading until it is finished. The story line is always associated directly or indirectly with horse racing. I would highly recommend Dick Francis' books to anyone who loves a good mystery story. My rating is based on my knowledge of his work and how much I enjoy reading them. ( )

I've read nearly all of Dick Francis's books and enjoyed each one. Not great literature, but compelling to read and interesting, with well-drawn characters and situations. They can be somewhat formulaic--I kept waiting for James Tyrone to be beaten up by thugs and sure enough he was--but they explore different aspects of the racing industry, sometimes directly and sometimes tangentially. This one was my "car book"--on hand for times when I had to wait someplace. I read it in short bursts and then couldn't put it down when I got to the denouement! Fun summer read. Recommended. ( )

Typically enjoyable Francis fare ( )