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Rat Race (2006)

Rat Race (2006)

Book Info

Author
Rating
3.88 of 5 Votes: 1
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ISBN
0425210766 (ISBN13: 9780425210765)
Language
English
Publisher
berkley

About book Rat Race (2006)

First Sentence: I picked four of them up at Whit Waltham in the new Cherokee Six 300 that never got a chance to grow old.Matt Shore’s life and career as a pilot have been on a downward spiral. His latest job is with a flying taxi service for racecourses and his first flight ends with the plane exploding after he lands from sensing a problem with the aircraft. Although all the passengers are safe, it’s another black mark on Matt’s career and he wants to know why. Although I’ve not read this particular book since January 1977, it reminds me why I became such of fan of Dick Francis’ writing. The protagonist, Matt Shore, is so appealing and one of a style I appreciate—the “common” man caught up in an uncommon situation. He is not perfect. He is intelligent without being egotistical, attractive without being overbearing, and heroic without being macho. And, he gets the girl, but you know there are painful incidences along the way. In spite of the opening portent, the story captivates you from the very first page and never lets you go. The pacing between suspense and respite is every effective. The writing is masterful—not a term I use lightly—and imminently readable. I was surprised how much of the plot I remembered after all these years, and that’s a real tribute to the author. Whether Dick or Mary Francis was the primary author of this, and the other books by Dick Francis, I frankly don’t care. All I know is that it was a great read when I read it the first time, and it is a great read now. RAT RACE (Ama Sleu-Matt Shore-England-Cont) – VG+Francis, Dick – 10th in seriesHarper & Row, ©1971, US Hardcover – ISBN: 978-0060113223

Like all of Dick Francis' novels, this one was a quick read, and engaging. But I think it's one of his earlier novels, which accounts for his choosing someone who's totally unrelated to racing as the protagonist. And while I didn't find the distance as engaging (mostly because I cracked the thing on an incredibly lazy day and apparently couldn't be bothered to feel anything), I did, by the end of the book, find it refreshing, if not downright moving. Why 3 stars, then? Lack of backstory. Most of the Francis heroes have clear backgrounds that allow you really get in deep with them; give a flying f*** about where they're going and why. But this guy is a self-avowed iceberg, although simultaneously fighting that and his nature, which is apparently a caring sort of guy. So--a chink in the Francis armor, maybe: the narrator, through most of the book, feels too distant for me to get alongside of. And by the time I'm thoroughly with him, the book's over. Meh. Still--onward, to the next mystery!

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Matt Shore has replaced the usual pilot on this run. The people he meets are a bit strange. I guess that is the way with racing folk. It seems they are all angry with each other. He meets a woman named Nancy, becomes friends with her. Her brother Colin is a jockey that flew on his plane. They are friendly. Then on the flight back something did not feel right in the controls so Matt lands the plane. The passengers don't want to land but he insists. As soon as everyone is off, the plane explodes. WOW! Who is responsible for this? Matt knows he will be blamed. He hopes that he will keep his job. He has a lot of bills and alimony to pay.The investigation starts and there are really no leads. Does it have to do with the horse racing passengers or his employer?
—JoAnne

This is my first time to read a book by Dick Francis. I wasn't really expecting anything, but am pleasantly surprised to like it. I mean, really like it. I was a bit busy when I picked this up; I couldn't dedicate all my attention to it as a good reader should. Yesterday though, I had some free time. I was meeting up with a friend, she ran a bit late, so I had more than an hour to myself, drinking coffee, smoking, reading. I couldn't put it down. It was interesting to read about horse racing, tracks, betting, and flying, too. Those little Cherokee planes and whatnot. And yes, even making bombs. Unfortunately, all the details went over my head. Don't expect me to relay it to you, because I can't. But I can do this: tell you how it felt as I joined Matthew Shore in his search for a lost aircraft, feeling like there's so little time left, so very little time, to try and save a life. It was a mixture of fear, a tense few minutes as my eyes race through the pages, a holding of breaths, and then releasing it with a sudden whoosh as I finally got to the point where it looks like everything might be alright after all.I also wasn't expecting to read a bit of romance in here, but once it has reared its head inside the story, I find that it fit quite nicely. And the ending, gosh! Yes I think that was handled quite elegantly.Overall, not bad for a first encounter with an apparently quite popular author. I shall look forward to another work by him :)
—T.

This is a fairly typical Dick Francis novel. In this case, the loner, withdrawn protagonist is a pilot, Matt Shore, who once flew for BOAC but who is now reduced to flying puddle-jumper charters. It's not initially clear why this is the case. Like a lot of Francis's heros, Shore has also recently been divorced and is very gun-shy regarding women, although inevitably a beautiful and desirable woman will soon be practically dropped into his lap.Matt flies a party of four to a race meet and only a minute or so after they land, the plane explodes. It's a narrow escape, and luckily no one is hurt. But several other incidents follow and it appears that someone may be targeting a prominent jockey who frequently flies with Matt. As usual, there's a dark sinister force lurking in the background pursuing a foul agenda irrespective of the cost in lives or in property damage. Matt will have to sort all of this out and tame his own demons as well if he hopes to bring the mystery and his own personal circumstances in for a happy landing. Anyone who enjoys Francis's work could spend a pleasant evening with this book.
—James Thane

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