Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Francis has another winner, as skillfully constructed as his previous bestsellers. This time, amateur British jockey Ian Pembroke tells what happens after the murder of his father Malcolm's fifth wife, Moira. A rapacious, sharp-tongued woman, she has caused a break between Malcolm and Ian, who despised her for marrying his father solely to get her hands on his considerable fortune. But two attempts on the old man's life compel him to ask Ian for help. Although the trusted son isn't fond of his eight half-siblings or their motheror even of his ownhe's loath to suspect them of conspiring to kill Malcolm, which seems to be the case. To protect his father, Ian takes him to America and other countries, where the two attend the glamorous, big-purse horse racesscenes at which the author excelsbefore returning warily to England. The story gains momentum, with extended family members furious over Malcolm's spending spree and blaming Ian for wasting their inheritance. A real spellbinder, the mystery ends when the miscreant plays one trick too many. Reader's Digest Condensed Book selection; Literary Guild dual selection and Mystery Guild alternate. (March) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Malcolm Pembroke has the Midas touch for making money. With wealth in excess of 100 million pounds and the ability to make investments that never go wrong, he should be happy. However, he has not been as successful in his personal life; married five times with eight children, his last wife, Moira, was murdered. And now someone is trying to kill him. When Malcolm convinces his son Ian to accompany him to Newmarket Sales, Ian finds out firsthand about the murderous atmosphere surrounding his father. As Ian investigates their family he finds motive and malice to spare, and soon he is also in the murderer¡s sites. For nonstop action and edge-of-the-seat suspense, it¡s hard to top Francis. Simon Prebble¡s precise accent and ability to make each voice unique make this performance a winner. Highly recommended for all public libraries.¢Theresa Connors, Arkansas Tech Univ., Russellville (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In many of the better Francis adventures (and a few of the weaker ones), the hero is driven by an intense, admirable loyalty to some family relation. Here, for the first time, the mystery-suspense is all about family--with an old-fashioned emphasis on alibis, sibling rivalry, and a slew of crisscrossing motives. Super-tycoon Malcolm Pembroke has been married five times, winding up at age 68 with nine children (five of them married) and three living ex-wives. So when someone murders wife #5 Moira and then seems to be out to kill Malcolm himself, there are suspects galore. After all, Malcolm will leave a fortune when he dies; most of his kids (having squandered their trust funds) are hard up; and they're all furious that Malcolm now seems intent on spending his millions as fast as possible. All, that is, except 30-ish son Ian, the unmarried narrator-hero--who, reconciled with Malcolm after a long tiff, is now devoted to keeping dad alive. . .and to figuring out which half-sibling is responsible for (among other things) blowing up the family manse (when Malcolm and Ian were supposed to be sleeping therein). Along the way, Ian rakes up lots of touchy family history, jolting two of his brothers (one a self-deprecating alcoholic, the other one obsessed with his quasi-illegitimacy) into therapeutic self-awareness. And he ultimately sets a trap for the culprit--resulting in another explosion and some psycho-gothicky revelations (reminiscent of Christie's Crooked House). Those who read Francis for the action and the horses will be disappointed: though Ian is an amateur jockey and Malcolm buys thoroughbreds 'round the world, the racing is peripheral. The sleuthing, too, is far from riveting. But the Francis combination of airy, muscular storytelling and gruff sentiment makes for steady-on entertainment once again--even with an over-large cast and a rather juiceless hero. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
