Enquiry

This was one of Dick Francis' earlier racing thrillers, circa 1959. I originally read it in the 1980s, and liked it, but it was not one of my favorites. On this reread, I appreciated it much more. There are a few twisted elements in the plot that probably disturbed my naive younger self, even though they are tastefully handled.

The hero is a jockey, Kelly Hughes, who with the trainer he often rides with, is "warned off" (i.e. racing license suspended) for fixing a race. However, the race had not been fixed, and the Jockey Club enquiry into the matter had been rife with manufactured "evidence" and lying testimony. Having nothing else to do without his license to race, Kelly decides to figure out who had it in for them, and why. And he show more stirs up a hornet's nest doing so.

It's very suspenseful, not too easy to figure out (actually, I thought when the perp was introduced that they were a very likely culprit, but Francis threw up so much smoke I forgot all about them for awhile . . . .). But as usual, the great strength of the novel is the everyman hero who stands on principal, but pays a price. Well done, indeed. show less

Enquiry was an excellent example of Dick Francis's best writing. Kelley Hughes is a steeplechase jockey. After the favorite he was riding fails to win a race, he and the trainer are called in by the stewards for an inquiry. Neither of them are expecting the result of that enquiry: they lose their licenses and aren't allowed around racing.

Kelley is surprised at the hearing both because of the verdict and because of the "evidence" presented. A fellow jockey testifies that Kelley told the other riders to ease off and photos were shown that indicate he took bribe money from the trainer. And a tape from another race shows him contradicting what he had said to explain not using a whip on the horse. Only the horse in the race wasn't the one show more he was riding in the disputed race.

Determined to clear his name, Kelley begins his own investigation and easily learns that the fellow jockey had taken a bribe to lie about Kelley and that the detective who shot the pictures showing bribery was well known for producing "evidence" for the right price.

Someone is clearly fearful that Kelley will learn the truth because his car was tampered with almost causing his death. But the accident makes Kelley even more determined. With the assistance of some of his racing acquaintances, Kelley finds evidence that proves that the enquiry was rigged but finding out who was so determined to have him and the trainer disbarred from racing leads Kelley into even more danger.

The writing is spare, and the action is fast-paced and furious. Kelley is an ordinary man doing what he loves and then doing what it takes so that he can keep the career he loves. He's not a superman and is beaten up during the story but pain won't stop him from reaching his goal. show less

I continue to enjoy these Dick Francis mysteries immensely. They are well-written but not too serious so I can escape from reality for a little while which is very very necessary in 2025 in the United States. This one follows a jockey and trainer who are framed for throwing a race. Thoroughly enjoyed it and Francis didn't telegraph the ending.

I needed some Dick Francis. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is too heavy (literally and mentally?) for the train.

***

There seemed to be even less action/intruige than a usual DF mystery. A full half of the book passed before the hero was actually threatened by anyone.

Also, the social commentary on S&M (and confusion with physical abuse) was a little strange/unexpected. Oh, the 60s. And a lot of parts of the country now, I guess.

This being my first Dick Francis book, I had little idea what to expect, beyond knowing that it was a crime novel that dealt with the world of horse-racing. To my surprise, I found in Enquiry an entertaining mystery tale with elements of scandal, blackmail, attempted murder, near - suicide, unusual sexual practices, and unlikely romance. Jockey Kelly Hughes is accused of throwing a race for financial gain and loses his license following a corrupt hearing. Despite attempts on his life and an attack that leaves him in the hospital, he aims to determine who is out to get him and why, and to regain his license and career. A romantic interest adds some extra spice. I enjoyed it and will seek out others from this skillful author.

We learn through flashbacks that narrator Kelly Hughes and trainer Dexter Cranfield have just lost their licenses; an enquiry panel was of the opinion that Kelly had held back his odds-on favorite and let another Cranfield-trained horse win. However, there was enough inconsistent behavior exhibited by the panel that Kelly believes he was set up.

This book is a study in social class at all levels. Kelly’s family, poor farm workers in the mountains of Wales belief he ‘deserved’ to lose his license because ‘The Lord’ Steward said so just as much as the Steward who was a ‘Lord’ believed he had the right to take it away. Wealthy trainer Canfield felt the ruling had more impact on him because of his social position than it did on show more his workers who he laid off for something which they had no responsibility. Roberta Canfield exposed only to her parents views acts the same way and wonders why she is treated as she is by ‘Hughes,’ as she refers to Kelly. Like father, like 19 year old daughter.

In addition to social levels determined by birth and wealth, Francis throws in behaviour towards deviant sexual practices and mental illness. It is rare that a person is looked at for themselves and then have their circumstances are accessed before behaviour or standing is judged.

Reviewed
2021-2-16

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ show less

A standard novel by Dick Francis with a typical Francis hero. He is small, stalwart, noble, underestimated by his opponents, and great at judging and forgiving his enemies. The crooked private investigator is such an all around bad guy that he doesn't need to be forgiven, and he gets his comeuppance. There is a lot of preaching about snobbery and British class distinctions which swears with the rest of the story. The tremendous cluelessness of the accused and unfairness at the initial enquiry is hard to believe; Francis keeps having to remind us that the accused basically have no rights and that the board does not need to justify its decision at all, in order to try to convince us. The fact that people bet so much on racehorses ought to show more make cheating of one form or another a constant in a sport like this; this makes the actions of the board and the question of whether any horse was really being run to win seem utterly pointless. show less