Silks

As an American reader, what was most interesting to me were the differences in the legal systems between the American and British systems.While I gave the story a 4, I usually rate Dick Francis a 5.

Silks, by author Dick Francis and his son, Felix, is a heart-pounding and hoof-pounding novel that I found to be a page-turner during the first third of the book and the last third. The middle was a bit slow, but is probably more true to a real situation than if the entire book had been the thrill-a-minute that high profile legal cases are often portrayed to be in movies and television. In the beginning the reader is introduced to Geoffrey Mason who is a London barrister and an amateur jockey. Before we know it, one of Mason's fellow jockeys is dead and another is blamed for the murder, while at the same time a former client who was sentenced to eight years in prison is out and is a threat to Mason's life.The man suspected of the murder is a champion jockey, Steve Mitchell. Mitchell goes to Geoffrey Mason for legal help, but Mason is hesitant to accept his plea. Mason finds himself in the middle of a case he'd rather forget about, but the danger and threats don't affect just him, but others around him. It becomes a game of cat and mouse, hide and seek, until the real truth is revealed.It has been a while since I read a Dick Francis novel, but it won't be that long again before I read another one. The horseracing scenes are quite exciting and enjoyable, and I loved the title play on the word "silks" since it refers to a jockey's silks as well as to the Queen's or King's Counsel barristers or soliciters who wear silk robes and are referred to as "silks." They are higher level lawyers and take more complex cases.The development of Mason's character is done very well and there is a bit of romance when off the racetrack and out of the Old Bailey. I found "Silks" to be very enjoyable and recommend it to mystery readers and mild thriller readers. There is some violence, but in this book it isn't excessive.

The title of this book is truly apt. The protagonist, Geoffrey Mason, is a junior barrister with aspirations of becoming a silk, or Queens Counsel. He's also an amateur jockey who wears silks. His two worlds come together in SILKS - and give him a world of trouble.Geoffrey Mason finds himself defending a jockey accused of killing another jockey. He doesn't want the case, but he's been ordered to take it and lose it. There's an ex-client after him who will punish Geoffrey if he doesn't do what he's told. This terrifying young man makes a habit of attacking people with a baseball bat.Still, Geoffrey makes the decision we expect of a Dick Francis hero. He will not be intimidated. But he has to do some very fancy detective work to protect himself and his loved ones - and make sure the right people go to jail.In the midst of all this, he rides two significant races - and also falls in love.Every Dick Francis novel teaches me something. In this case I learned a lot about the British legal system, as well as a bit about the Rules of Racing.Frankly, I wondered how I'd feel about a Dick Francis novel written in collaboration with his son Felix. I do detect a slightly different flavor. But I enjoyed SILKS very much. According to a BBC radio interview I heard, it was Felix's fingers on the keyboard. Dick Francis marked up the copy and deleted anything too sexy! But don't worry - the love scenes are still quite good.I'll definitely read the other collaborations. And I'm hoping that Felix Francis will keep writing mysteries on his own. I didn't want Dick Francis to die. Maybe he won't have to.

Good, well-written and plotted, interesting storyline, but doesn't have his father's touch in making his protagonist likeable.

I was very excited when I found that this book was coming out. Since Dick Francis seemed to have stopped writing for a time, before the release of his last book written with his son, Dead Heat, I made sure that this was not a reprint.I also made sure that I had plenty of free time, because once I pick up one of his books, I can't put it down! This one did not disappoint me.As with his other books, the setting takes place in London and little towns nearby that feature racetracks. This story centers around the English legal system, which is fascinating to me. It has the usual main character who is a nice bloke (Geoffrey Mason) but has had some bad things happen to him. He also finds a new love interest, and fights the good fight against the evil bad guy, and good wins out in the end.When I read this book, I felt like I was there, in the little town that was described, and that I could feel the feelings that the characters were feeling.Even though this book stuck to Dick Francis' typical plot, it felt fresh and entertaining to me. I was actually smiling at the end, and it takes a good book to do that for me.If you are a Dick Francis fan, I would definitely purchase this book. And, I am very happy to report that Mr. Francis' son, Felix, seems to be fully capable of having the reigns turned over to him when it becomes necessary.

Hard work. Unlike previous Dick Francis novels, Silks spends too much time indulging in the intricacies and workings of the law system. I Put the book down and as yet I have not felt the urge to pick it up again. I, and many others loved the 200 to 300 page action packed novels of the past. These 400 pagers full of legal technicalities are not for us. Sorry

I'd had this book for a week before I had time to read it and was looking forward to it very much. I have all of his other books and have read them several times. It took a very long time for me to get into the book, Far to much legal waffle for me. The thing that upset me most was half way through a photo was found to be missing showing a dead girl with a foal. I recently read John Francome's Cover Up and I read on with dread that this book was going to follow the same story line, and it did. Surely someone involved with the production ot this book should have noticed the similarity, Cover Up was only published in 2005. I do hope He does better next time.

Silks I bought this book as a Christmas present for my wife. She is a keen Dick Francis fan, and owns almost every book that he has written. This is the second book written in collaboration with his son Felix. Dick's effort had been flagging slightly in his later books, I thought: they had become a little formulaic, and I was slightly worried that Felix might be simply trying bolster up his father's image: the mixture of law and horses could be a little boring ... However when I read this book, I was most pleasantly surprised. This is definitely back to the top Francis form, and runs at a cracking pace from beginning to end. I completed the second half at one sitting and could not put it down: the case has a real Perry Mason style finish, but in an English court. The final pages of the book also contain another interesting legal twist. Definitely not to be missed! Silks

I am a devout Francis fan.I am also a great fan of "legal-judicial"plots.I also like good detective stories.So why was I slightly dissapointed by a book that tries to combine all three ?Two reasons.First,the plot is lacking and the mixture is in imbalance.Second,and more important,because there is very liitle about racing and the "hero"is not even involved in it.Dick Frnacis' best books remain those where the hero is a jockey himself.Active or retired."Enquiry"and "Reflex" are perfect examples.

This is the first Dick Francis that I have read (and I have read them all) that I have been less than satisfied with. The bones of a Dick Francis story were there, but the flesh on it was a bit loose and flabby - not up to his normal tight style. I rather suspect that this is because his late wife Mary was not involved in the editing - rather his son Felix was, who was, perhaps, not so diligent or effective.As Dick Francis also died this year, it seems that I will no longer be hugely entertained by his tales - a great loss to me