Book Review: Silks by Dick Francis & Felix Francis
62
G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 2008
338 pages
Review:
In Silks, his latest mystery, Dick Francis again collaborates with his son Felix to bring us another thriller with ties to England’s horse racing scene.
Our hero, Geoffrey Mason, is a barrister/amateur jockey whose failed defense of a sadistic thug propels him into danger. A fellow jockey turns up viciously murdered after leaving a plea for help on Geoffrey’s answering machine. Subsequently, a violent attack and threats to his loved ones intimidates Geoffrey into defending the accused, a champion jockey known for his loud and frequent arguments with the deceased.
The story weaves in and out of the courts and the racing world before coming to a brutal and not-totally expected ending.
This is the second book in which Felix has been a co-author, which leads this reviewer to believe that the master is preparing him to take over this highly successful enterprise. Having read nearly all of the previous books, I find that the only noticeable difference between this one and its forerunners is the slight tendency to over-explain, especially in the area of the differences between solicitors and barristers and the intricacies of British law.
If this tendency can be contained, it would be our good fortune to have him continue in his father’s tradition for years to come.
