Wonderful mystery, as usual from Dick Francis.
Like the Montagues and Capulets, the Allerdeck and Fielding families have hated for generations until Holly Fielding and Bobby Allerdeck fall in love and marry. The coming of the first joint Allerdeck-Fielding child stirs up the hatred in the older generations. Kit is called upon to shield Bobby and Holly as they are pressured into bankruptcy. Once again, courage and cunning save the day!
The usual thing- Dick Francis is Dick Francis!
Typical Francis
This is a gripping story and the lead-in plot-line to "Bolt". I could hardly put either book down, but did not discover their related story lines until after I read Bolt. Read Break In first if you can.
From Publishers Weekly: "Francis's 25th thriller is suavely handled and full of suspense. The narrator, Kit Fielding, wins handily as a steeple-chase jockey and enjoys the friendship of the princess who owns the horses he races. But trouble threatening his twin Holly and her husband Bobby Allardeck interrupts Kit's routine. As horse trainers, the Allardecks are about to go bankrupt after a scandal sheet prints the false report that they can't pay their debts. Determined to discover the motive for the attack, Kit enlists the help of people in the princess's circle, which includes her niece, Danielle. A romance develops between the jockey and Danielle, interrupted by villains sent to kill him. Thanks to Kit, the Allardecks' business is saved and he outwits the perpetrators of a shameful conspiracy. The love story, as well as the author's colorful descriptions of English jump racing and newspaper tycoons, add zest to the intricate novel. Literary Guild and Reader's Digest Condensed Books selections." Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
The first Dick Francis I ever read, and one of my favorites. Well-paced, taut thriller.
Dick Francis writes about mysteries about horse racing. In this book, his main character is Kit Fielding, twin of Holly Fielding who owns a horse training stable. Francis writes wonderful stories. You won't be disappointed.
Dick Francis wrote only 2 books about champion jockey Kit Fielding, whose real first name is Christmas, and who can communicate telepathically with his twin sister Holly (they were born on Christmas Day). But BREAK IN, the first one, and BOLT, its sequel, are well worth it. BREAK IN is the story of Kit's struggle to help Holly and her husband (the son of the Fielding family's most bitter rival) prevent bankruptcy when a gossipy newspaper begins printing horrible rumors about the state of their solvency. Like all Dick Francis heroes, Kit is the man to turn to when you're in trouble, and Holly does, drawing him into a world of rival newspaper barons (the book was published in the 1980's) who are willing to go to almost any lengths to win, even if it means ruining a completely innocent young couple. At the same time, the Montague/Capulet aspect of Holly's marriage draws Kit into the closer scrutiny of her malevolent father-in-law, a man determined to earn knighthood by concealing just how he earned HIS money. If it sounds convoluted--it is. It's also a dazzlingly good read. I can't count how many times I've re-read this book, and enjoyed every second of it. Francis writes heroes who are truly heroic--brave, strong, kind, resourceful and determined to right wrongs--and villains so truly villainous that each encounter with them in the book raises your temperature.
Dick Francis is a new writer for me and I just loved the intrigue found in his work. Makes me want to work with horses.
This is the first of two books featuring Kit Fielding (the second being "Bolt"). Terrific story, brilliantly written. I love that Kit is a champion steeplechase jockey, so throughout the books Dick Francis tells of Kit's rides, written with such perfection that you feel you're on the horse yourself. You can practically smell the leather. A great story, one of my favorites!
I have read almost every book written by Dick Francis and this is, by far, my favorite. Good character development and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing to the end.
