Decider

Architect, builder, and father of six boys Lee Morris is surprised when the managers of the Stratton Park racecourse arrive unannounced at his home. Lee’s mother had once been married to a Stratton heir, and she was given a few shares in the organization as part of her divorce settlement. Lee had inherited those shares from his mother. The Stratton patriarch has just died, and the family feud over the future of the racecourse is getting ugly. Lee serves as a buffer between the warring factions, and it turns out that his knowledge and skills are exactly what’s needed to make the racecourse profitable again. Some of the Strattons want the racecourse to fail, and they direct their ire toward Lee. Will he survive to see his plans show more succeed?

Over-the-top villains keep this one from the top tier of my Francis favorites. However, the children and Lee’s role as their father made this book memorable for me. I love the modified travel home, the games the children devise, and the bond of understanding among the brothers and their father. I love that Lee is aware of each boy’s unique personality and character and that he’s intentional about parenting each boy in light of what he most needs. And I love Lee’s love for his family and his contentment in being his sons’ father, even though his relationship with his wife is no longer fulfilling. show less

This may be my favorite Dick Francis novel, with an atypical hero whose quiet architectural brilliance and unusually creative parenting (of five boys) sticks in my mind. This is my second read of Decider and I liked it even more this time, admiring the elegant turns of phrase, realism, and depth of character Francis creates. The integration of plot, character, and setting is OH so satisfying.

The main character in this nove, Lee, is a classic Francis hero, who is very much a strong-minded individual and self-reliant. He's unhappily married but happy to be the father of six sons. His musings on his marriage are very much a mature view of what makes for a ontented life.

The mystery/thriller aspect is about a troubled, violent upper-class family who Lee has a past connection to. Because he feels he owes the late patriarch of the Stratton family, Lee involves himself and his children in a dangerous situation relating to a race course.

The action-filled, dramaticc ending was rather rushed, in my opinion, but that happens in real life, I suppose, so I will give this four stars. It's a thriller, not a deep piece of literature, and I show more felt empathy with the protaagonist and liked him. No one was perfect in this, so they all felt credible. show less

Lee Morris and his five old-enough sons pack into their converted bus to take an Easter holiday road trip. Lee specializes in finding historic old ruins and converting them into modern, contemporary living. He and his family are off in search of ruins for the next project, while promising the boys some entertainment, too.

During the trip, Lee decides to attend a shareholders’ meeting for a race track that his mother had received a few shares after divorcing her abusive husband.

What Lee finds is a deeply divided family, split along the lines of continuing to operate the track or selling to a developer. The majority of the shareholders belong to his mother’s ex-husband’s family. There is not just abuse in the family, but true show more sociopaths lurk within. Explosions, beatings and even attempted murder are part of their arsenal to achieve their desired goals.

Lee and his boys are thrust into the middle of it, and of course are put into great danger.

Another page turning story by the master storyteller whose protagonists are always good guys, and family dynamics are often twisted out of normal realities. I believe I’ve read at least one other where the plight of a racetrack is in the balance. So while the story is original, several of the plot devices – race track plight, twisted families – are beginning to feel familiar.

Good solid 3.7 star read. show less

Another great book by my fav, Dick Francis. One of the few where the hero is married and has children. Loved the kids in this book, loved the way Lee Morris loved and protected them. Interesting fast moving story as always. I could really visualize the big top they put up as temporary stands.

If you haven't read Dick Francis, you should. He's the only mystery author that I reread over and over again. It isn't about who done it. In fact, many times the reader knows from the beginning. It's about watching the hero figure it out and watching him take down the bad guy. Even though Francis' heroes are tough, tough guys, it's always their brains that get the job done. Beautiful.

Old but excellent book from Dick Francis. Very interesting main character with a curious family background, current and ancestral. Francis delves in to another profession, home building and architecture, while using his usual racing theme as the base harmony. Per his usual script, the book's protagonist gets kicked around mentally and physically before emerging in triumph. Fortunately, except for the usual British soccer thuggery, the ordinary Brit does not often face the violence that the Francis heroes do. As I often feel with a Francis character, Lee Morris should be around for a few more books.

One of my comfort reads. This is one of my favorite of Francis' heroes - the usual iconoclast with high pain tolerance, but also willing to compromise (within limits) for building a good relationship. And his dealings with his sons are very interesting. I was going to say this didn't have the usual Francis father/son thing, but it does sort of - with the hero as the father rather than the son for a change.