Date first published	17/09/1990
ISBN Number	0-330-31958-2
Page Count	304 p/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

John Kendall knows how to survive. He's written six handbooks on the subject.

Now he wants to become a novelist - preferably without starving to death. When cold and hunger set in, Kendall impulsively accepts an unlikely job.

He is to research and write a biography of Tremayne Vickers, a famous racehorse trainer. Staying at the Vickers' home in rural Berkshire, Kendall soon learns to like his host and friends, learns to ride racehorses, learns about murders...

And how his own survival tips can become deadly traps...

Review

We are in solid Francis territory with this book, not only is the main character a writer, he starts to enjoy life with horses, but it turns into what could be described as a classic who dun it.

By the time Kendall reaches the farm the murder is a distant memory. However events in and around the area are starting to unfold. In classic form Francis seems to be pointing the finger at one of the characters, but in reality the murderer is lurking in the background and in his insecurity becoming more dangerous by the day. Especially when Kendall starts to ask questions about the events on the fateful night.

One of the features of most of Francis's books is the lack of characterisation. You get a brief pen picture of the main players, and are left to fill in the gaps yourself. However by the nature of this story, the characters are in the main beautifully drawn, and you get a feeling of the pent up emotions of the various people, their loves hates, and hopes, along with dashed hopes.

Kendall is written with some heart, as if the transfer from jockey to author may not have been quite as easy and seamless, as we assume Francis' own change in job was, but in reading his trial and tribulations you get the impression that it was based on real experience.

Of course not all of the novels could be written with such deep characterisations. A Francis novel is a quick start, followed by a brisk canter, with a final charge to the finish (hows that for an analogy?)

The story shows his usual attention to detail, and develops into a very nice rich story, but unusual for one of his novels, one that does not end with a clear and happy conclusion. Vickers knows that Kendall has uncovered the secret of the murders, and why, and so it leads to Kendall having to leave, as both cannot live under the same roof with the knowledge that they possess. Not a happy ending but I suppose life.

A seriously good novel, slightly different in style, but it works and works well.

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