Comeback

Returning to England with the Foreign Service, Peter gets entangled with a horse vet and his threatened reputation. Determined to clear the slate for his new friend, Peter uncovers memories of his childhood and chilling details of dying horses on the operating table.
Exciting from the first chapter, I enjoyed the story from Miami to Cheltenham. The quiet romance was sweet and full of potential. The denouement was nail biting.

Peter Darwin, no relation, is a mid-range diplomat on leave before taking up a new post in London. He returns to his childhood home in Gloucestershire. He makes friends with a veterinarian who treats racehorses. His practice is threatened by the unexpected deaths of several of his patients.

The opening scene in Florida seems tacked on, and the romance elements are not as well developed as I would like. On the other hand, the characters are fully developed, the story is well-researched, and the plot moves briskly along with all the complications one could want.

If you have liked other Francis novels, Comeback will satisfy your craving for another one.

There is something effortless about reading a Dick Francis novel - his characters take shape in a few well-phrase sentences, his mysteries are intriguing and both violent and emotionally cool. Mostly Mr. Francis makes it look easy (which it isn't) to tell a good story. I loved Peter and his affection for people and his tenacity, and I liked the tie in of the title with Peter's life.

Peter Darwin, a diplomat home on leave, investigates a disaster at the local veterinary surgeon's office, and uncovers a mystery from the past. Likeable hero, interesting background re. diplomats and veterinarians. A good one to re-read every couple of years.

"Comeback" was another enjoyable mystery by Dick Francis although the resolution felt a bit rushed. However, I liked the friendship between Peter Darwin, the main protagonist, and the local vet, Ken, who had lost a number of valuable race horses post-op. There were some interesting facts about various surgeries and drugs. A fun read.

This was the first Dick Francis book I read, and after working my way through about a third of his oeuvre, this is still one of my favorites. Peter Darwin finds himself wrapped up in a case involving a veterinarian with an astonishing streak of bad luck with horses. The luck turns worse--and more sinister--until it becomes clear that the dreadful coincidences are not coincidences at all. The climax of the story ranks among the creepiest I've read, hands down.

One of my favourites - Peter Darwin is a diplomat back in the town of his childhood (Cheltenham) helping a local vetinary surgeon work out why so many horses have died on the table recently. The story unfolds as Darwin's long forgotten childhood memories are stirred up and help steer him towards the secrets and hidden motives of the various players involved. A great fun read with an interesting cast of characters and excellent interplay between them all.