Friday, April 8, 2016

Longshot - Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56

It's been a long time since I read a book by Dick Francis, but when I saw Longshot on a "free books" shelf, I grabbed it. What a fun story! This book was published in 1990, but it holds up well -- even though characters have car phones instead of cell phones. Mr. Francis passed away in 2010 but his 40+ books are still entertaining.

 Genre: Mystery
Book Length: 322 Pages (paperback)
Amazon Link: Longshot
Amazon Author Page: Dick Francis

 Book Beginning:
     I accepted a commission that had been turned down by four other writers, but I was hungry at the time.
     Although starving in a garret had seemed a feasible enough plan a year earlier, the present realities of existence under the frozen eaves of a friend's aunt's house in a snowy January were such that without enough income to keep well fed and warm I was a knockover for a risky decision.
     My state of course was my own fault.

 The Friday 56 (from Page 56 in my paperback):
In the now sunlit kitchen Tremayne was standing by the table, talking crossly into the telephone.
"You would have thought that someone would have noticed by now that they're missing a horse."

 Synopsis (from Amazon):
"Fast-paced, meticulously plotted...Nobody sets up a mystery better than Dick Francis."
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
Travel writer John Kendall didn't think he was doing anything too out of the ordinary when he tramped off to rural England for an interview with a successful race horse trainer. Soon enough, however, Kendall realizes that completing the book will be tricky at best. In fact, the perils described in his survival manuals pale next to the dangers in rural England....
Selected by the Literary Guild, the Mystery Guild, and Doubleday Book Club
                


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20 comments:

  1. sherry fundinApril 8, 2016 at 3:29 AM

    I enjoy his books too. Happy reading.
    sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes

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  2. Kathy MartinApril 8, 2016 at 5:54 AM

    I enjoy his books too. I also enjoy the ones by his son Felix. Longshot is my favorite of them all though. This week I'm spotlighting The Obsession by Nora Roberts. Happy reading!

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  3. Laurel-Rain SnowApril 8, 2016 at 7:48 AM

    Sounds like fun, and I do enjoy books set in earlier times...and love those reminders that life could still exist before smart phones.

    Thanks for sharing...and here's mine: “DREAM OF THE BLUE ROOM”

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  4. Catherine @ Book Club LibrarianApril 8, 2016 at 10:24 AM

    I've never read a Dick Francis book. This one sounds like an attention grabber. Enjoy!

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  5. ElizabethApril 8, 2016 at 11:04 AM

    I read one of his books a long time ago.

    An enjoyable read.

    Thanks for the reminder and for sharing.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Book Beginnings

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  6. Katherine PApril 8, 2016 at 1:23 PM

    I haven't read Dick Francis in forever but I remember this one! It was so entertaining. Thanks for sharing and for reminding me of it.

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  7. UnknownApril 8, 2016 at 4:18 PM

    I read this a while ago. A good one and a wonderful writer. He always keeps me on my toes:)

    My 56 from A Monster Calls

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  8. Kim GriffinApril 8, 2016 at 5:03 PM

    Interesting 56! Wonder where the horse went? Thanks for visiting my blog! Hope you have a great weekend!

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  9. MariaApril 8, 2016 at 6:59 PM

    I have to admit that I've never read a Dick Francis book but my sister used to love his writing - I'll have to check it out. Thanks for visiting my Friday meme

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  10. UnknownApril 8, 2016 at 7:27 PM

    I haven't read Dock Francis in many years. Now I am curious!

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  11. Lauren StoolfireApril 8, 2016 at 8:34 PM

    I've never tried this author but his books do sound entertaining! :)

    Car phones...wow.

    Check out my Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings).

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  12. Alicia @ A Kernel of NonsenseApril 8, 2016 at 8:48 PM

    Yes, I must agree, it would be hard to lose a horse and even harder to not notice. Hope you enjoy your weekend!

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  13. LadyD PianoApril 9, 2016 at 4:18 AM

    Love the name, Tremayne and I must say... your hiking photos are gorgeous. The layout of the land is so different than here in SoCal. You are surrounded by so much green!!

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  14. fredamansApril 9, 2016 at 8:18 AM

    For some reason I keep thinking this was a movie too. I haven't read the book, or any of his for that matter, but I can't get rid of the movie thing....
    Happy weekend!

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  15. Kendra AllenApril 9, 2016 at 11:56 AM

    Hmm, this sounds interesting!

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  16. AnonymousApril 9, 2016 at 7:26 PM

    "Car phones" Wow... that sounds like reason enough to pick something up. Honestly, I was the last generation before people started growing up with cell phones, and I often find it a relief for them to be absent from stories.

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  17. Danica April 10, 2016 at 8:11 AM

    Books about horses don't really pique my interest but with a lot of people really enjoying his books and this one I feel like maybe I should give them a try again. Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier! I hope you're enjoying your weekend :)

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  18. guiltlessreaderApril 11, 2016 at 5:35 PM

    I admit this is the first I've heard of this author!

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  19. Bev BouwerApril 12, 2016 at 12:10 PM

    I've seen books by Dick Francis, just never picked one up. Now I'll have to.

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  20. Michelle Stockard MillerApril 14, 2016 at 7:53 PM

    Running behind on my visits!

    I've never read anything by Dick Francis, but I've heard great things about his books.

    Thanks for visiting me at True Book Addict!

    ReplyDelete

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