Break In [Paperback]

As a former bookseller, I soon learned that the annual appearance of a Dick Francis novel was cause for celebration among mystery lovers. "Break In" is certainly one of his strongest books, possibly because it returns readers to the world of horse-racing, the sport which Francis, a former steeplechase jockey, loved fiercely.

Like the author, Kit Fielding is a steeplechase jockey and considered one of England's finest. Like previous Francis heroes, Kit is intelligent, tough-minded and resilient, with a strong moral center. But while many of his fictional predecessors are loners, Kit is inextricably connected to his family by years of racing tradition and by his close, almost telepathic connection with his twin sister, Holly. Recently, Holly has disrupted family harmony by marrying Bobby Allardeck, scion of another racing clan with whom the Fieldings have had a bitter, centuries-old feud.

Entreated by Holly to stop a vicious newspaper campaign seemingly designed to ruin her husband, Kit soon learns that the true target is Maynard Allardeck, a ruthless robber baron who is Bobby's own father. Seeking to harm the father through the son, Maynard's many enemies are prepared to squash whoever stands in their way and their brutal tactics place Kit in deadly peril. But the greatest danger may lie within his own family. . . in the form of a human time bomb who happens to be Kit's brother-in-law.

Francis tells a swiftly paced tale, enhanced by an unexpected ethical dilemma. In extricating his loved ones from difficulties, Kit must employ morally ambiguous methods, one of which skirts perilously close to extortion. Moreover, the reader closes "Break In," feeling a strong sense of unfinished business. Fortunately, Francis seems to have felt the same way and his next mystery, "Bolt" seeks to resolve "Break In"'s loose ends. (The only other Francis hero besides Kit Fielding to make a return engagement i! s Sid Halley). While both novels may be read independently, they provide the most enjoyment when read sequentially, giving readers a fuller picture of the family ties that bind.

Greed, feuding families, assorted acts of violence, fine bloodlines (both horse and human), Romeos and Juliets characterize Dick Francis's novel Break In. For those who suffer under the delusion that Francis is a stodgy Brit that pens plodding, equine-obsessed mystery snoozers, Break In is a perfect remedy. While Francis does not disappoint his loyal readership who appreciates his first-hand, detailed knowledge of the world of steeplechasing, he also will delight any lover of the mystery suspense genre through his tightly woven plot, engaging narrative, and thorough characterization. You would think that someone named Christmas (after his day of birth) would have better luck than Break In's hero enjoys. Steeplechase jockey Christmas "Kit" Fielding manages to survive frequent brushes with danger (both on and off the racecourse), but does so in such an entertaining way that you never stop to worry about the unlikelihood of his continued survival (a hallmark of all good suspense writers, and a particular talent of Francis). The danger stems from his desire to free one Bobby Allardeck from an attack on his reputation that is being waged by newspaper columns insinuating that he is in deep financial trouble. As Bobby's livelihood as a horse trainer depends on his reputation among both his clients and his suppliers, the longer the smear campaign continues, the more likely it will be that the paper's lies will become truth. Why does Kit care, especially since his family enjoys perpetuating a longstanding blood feud with the Allardecks? Enter the aforementioned Romeo and Juliet--Bobby and his wife, Kit's aptly named twin sister, Holly. Despite generations of animosity, but with the full support of Kit, the two have married, and it is Holly who begs Kit to investigate the rumor. Though Bobby's father Maynard Allardeck is quite well-off, Bobby's nuptials have effectively ended any hope of support from that quarter, and it is partially his father's notoriety as a business man that extends public interest in the newspaper report. As Kit, Bobby, and Holly race to discover who has it out for them before the financial damage becomes irreversible, some interesting facts about Maynard's business practices come to light. Tensions mount between the young threesome, as they fight--not always successfully--to keep the feud from destroying the bonds that they have worked to develop between them. Naturally, Kit's resourcefulness and ingenuity help them sort out their troubles to a satisfying conclusion. If you have never read a Dick Francis novel, this book is a perfect place to Break In.

Simon Prebble turns this thrilling Dick Francis novel into aural entertainment for that long boring drive. His reading borders on an art form; done with pace and knowledge when to soften, when to emphasize and when to pause.