Where have the horses gone?
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I originally started reading Dick Francis' mysteries because of the connection to the horse world. While Second Wind is very well written, there was practically no connection to horses whatsoever. Some of Mr. Francis's other current novels showed this omission, and I sincerely hope he will bring back horses and their influence in his stories.
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One of My Favorites
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When I want to read a book that teaches me something, offers some wisdom, and thoroughly engrosses me in a great story, there's no one I'd rather read than Dick Francis. For a man who began writing about horse racing, he has delved into an amazing range of knowledge, including in this case, weather knowledge and hurricanes. He's also deeply wise about relationships, inner motivation, and life. I've never been to a horse race but I'd walk a mile for a Dick Francis book.
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Big Disappointment!
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I have read most of Mr. Francis' books and have thoroughly enjoyed every one of them until Second Wind. I kept thinking, Dick Francis did NOT write this book! I found this to be one of a handful of books, in my lifetime, that I quit reading before the book ended. Toward the end of this book, I was so confused about what was happening that I could barely follow the story. I also had lost all interest in the characters and didn't give a hoot what happened to them! My initial excitement about a new Dick Francis novel quickly turned to disappointment. Go back to the old tried-and-true formula, Mr. Francis, and don't ever use a "ghost writer" again!
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Francis is over the hill
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Having read all the previous novels by Dick Francis I looked forward to his latest. What a disappointment! I'm afraid he was out of his element with meteorology. The only time horses and racing entered the story was as a place to 'exchange' information between the characters. Dick Francis knows horses and racing and should stick to that. But even the style of writing was not the same, boring and wandering.
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Weatherman Turns Detective!
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SECOND WIND is my first Dick Francis mystery novel and I'm hooked (that leaves about 37 books to go)! I couldn't put this book down and found myself out of breath as surprises continued to erupt toward the end of this well-written story! SECOND WIND tells of English meteorologist Perry Stuart's flight into both extreme weather and bad company after accepting a Caribbean vacation opportunity to chase a hurricane. The chase plane goes down and Stuart barely makes it to an island that is anything but usual. Dick Francis really keeps readers guessing throughout this complex tale! Story components include British weather forecasts, sick race horses, depressed friend, piloting airplanes, Florida, hurricanes, ocean/island survival, cows, good guys and bad guys. Francis rather brilliantly incorporates a fascinating look at British TV meteorologists in action by neatly tying weather forecasting in with his favorite topic, horse racing! Dick Francis, a former British steeplechase jockey, is a top-notch storyteller who is superb at constructing unique who-done-it scenarios. It's my understanding that nearly all of Francis' novels are based in some way upon his own experiences and/or that he and his wife take a great deal of time to research for background and technical accuracy, etc. Francis writes in a smooth, fast-paced, vividly descriptive style using an economy of words. The thing is, every word is effective! I immediately cared about Francis' very human characters and felt a part of the story because of his cultural and setting descriptions. I also learned from entering his well-researched worlds of meteorology, flying, and, of course, the horse racing scene based upon his own experiences! I highly recommend this book to all readers who enjoy a mystery full of compelling surprises! I predict you won't be able to stop with just one Dick Francis novel!
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