Third Race at the LT Racetrack: Book 5, Decider

Dick Francis Shared Read 2021 – September - October

Decider, published in 1993



Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Dick Francis presents his thrilling new novel: the story of architect Lee Morris who inherits a partial ownership in the Stratton Park racecourse--and with it, a dangerous position among the warring upper-class family trying to settle its fate. Morris would like to see the course restored to its former grandeur, but the various Stratton heirs have plans of their own. When an explosion rocks the grandstands, the disagreement turns violent--and Morris finds himself in a race to save himself and his family from an unknown culprit... (fictiondb.com)
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Any and all comments, questions, or quotes that come to mind as you read are welcome. Please use spoiler tags for anything that might be a spoiler.

Got it starred!

Once the wiki comes back up, I'll add this thread to the group wiki page.

Thanks, Jim! I didn't realize the wiki is down. You sure take good care of us.

Didn't last long - it's all set now.

I just looked at Doofpot (Decider), and saw I already read it two years back. I remember to much to do a re-read now.

>5 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

>6 FAMeulstee: I understand, Anita. Perhaps you could read another Dick Francis, either unread or read too long ago to remember lots of detail and let us know if you do.

>7 karenmarie: I started reading Dick Francis in 2019, when the shared reads started, so they are all recent reads. I will look at the e-library for unread titles, and report here.

I decided to try a Felix Francis book this month Damage.

Excellent idea, Anita! I've got a couple by him on my shelves, but haven't read any of them yet. I'll be interested in your thoughts.

Looking forward to this next read. I have loved the previous reads this year. I think Hot Money was my favorite so far.

>9 FAMeulstee: >10 karenmarie: I did not know abut the son! Also looking forward to your feedback, Anita.

This info about Felix Francis is from his website:

FELIX FRANCIS is Dick Francis’s youngest son. Born in 1953, Felix studied Physics and Electronics at London University and then embarked upon a 17 year career teaching Advanced Level physics at three schools, the last seven as head of the science department at Bloxham School in Oxfordshire.

Felix remembers conversations around the Francis breakfast table being somewhat unconventional. “The production of a Dick Francis novel has always been a mixture of inspiration, perspiration and teamwork. The first one was published when I was nine, and I grew up in a house where breakfast talk would be about the damage a bullet might do to a man’s guts rather than the more mundane topics of everyday life”, he says.

Over the past 40 years Felix assisted Dick with both the research and the writing of many of his novels. They shared a love of racing and often worked together on plot and character details at Dick’s home in the Cayman Islands. This partnership allowed Dick to draw upon Felix’s knowledge and experience as a physics teacher in Twice Shy and his past as an international marksman in Shattered (2000) and Under Orders (2006).

With the publication of Dead Heat in 2007, Felix took on a more significant role in writing. Silks (2008) was the second novel in this father-and-son collaboration and Even Money (2009) was the third. Crossfire (2010) was the novel Dick and Felix Francis were working on when Dick died in February 2010, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another in the Dick Francis brand.

Dick Francis was acclaimed as one of the greatest thriller writers in the world and he wanted his legacy to live on through his son, Felix, and the novels that they planned together. Gamble, which was published in September 2011, is a Dick Francis novel written by Felix Francis.

This is the list of books from Wikipedia:

Dead Heat (2007) – co-author
Silks (2008) – co-author
Even Money (2009) – co-author
Crossfire (2010) – co-author
Gamble (2011)
Bloodline (2012)
Refusal (2013)
Damage (2014)
Front Runner (2015)
Triple Crown (2016)
Pulse (2017)
Crisis (2018)
Guilty Not Guilty (2019)
Iced (2021)

I finished Damage, will share my thoughts later.

Beschadigd (Damage) by Felix Francis

Jeff Hinkley is an investigator for the British Horseracing Authority, who once worked for the Brittish army in Afghanistan. He witnesses a trainer, who was banned from the racetracks, killing a bookmaker. Meanwhile the BHA is blackmailed. Jeff is put on the job to find out who the blackmailer is, and to stop him.
We also get some from Jeff's personal life, where his sister is battling cancer, and about his girfriend.
Enjoyable read.

Got up early this morning and finished Decider. It may have replaced Hot Money as my favorite. Lee Morris is another great Francis creation, almost too honest for the real world but with his own complexities. I am always a little surprised by the violence of some of the characters, the almost glee with which they hurt others.

I finally pulled my copy of Decider and will start it tonight or tomorrow morning. Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute!

>15 FAMeulstee: Looks like a good one, Anita. I don't have it on my shelves, but will keep my eye out for it.

>16 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! It is another great one, and I particularly like Lee Morris. See my review, below.

Decider by Dick Francis 10/24/27 10/26/21





From Dick Francis’s Website:

Free choice? According to architect, engineer, and jobbing builder Lee Morris, there's no such thing. Choice is preordained by personality, of that the young entrepreneur is sure. Then he becomes involved with Stratton Park racecourse, which faces ruin at the hands of the combative clan that wholly owns it. Connected with but not related to any of the family's warring factions, he nonetheless is drawn into the fray - reluctant, yet attracted by compulsions he does not fully comprehend. But when the infighting turns violent, Lee finds he is a major player in a supremely dangerous fame. With multi-millions on the line and menace edging closer, he wrestles with the most critical decision of his life. One path leads to safety, the other to disaster, even death. Which is which? And does he really have a choice at all?

Why I wanted to read it: Book 5 of 6 in this year’s Dick Francis SHARED Read.

I do like Lee Morris, father of six boys, husband to a woman he fell out of love with long before. He owns 8 shares of the above-mentioned race course and on a whim decides to go to this year’s Board meeting after never attending one before. He’s not expected or wanted and his showing up brings up things long buried and dangerous.

As we learn about the dysfunctional, dangerous, and greedy family members, we also learn about Lee’s charming way of managing his brood of the five eldest boys, brought in “the bus” to look for ruins and stop for the meeting. They end up staying at the racecourse through racing accidents, arson, death threats, and long-buried explosive secrets.

Dick Francis was a master at portraying characters and moving plots along. There is a much more serious side to this one with the children involved, showing Lee’s vulnerability and love.

Six word review: Builder saves racecourse, understands himself better.