Halley now is more set to find out what is going on with the races. He enlists his old partner Chico Barnes and they set out in the Halley fashion of uncovering the truth. Soon enough events are boiling to a confrontation between McCusker and Halley. On the plus side, there was fascinating information on the technological advancements in limb replacement, both with mechanical, and now, actual limb transplants. The plot did have some very good twists. Even when you think Francis has made an error, it’s lovely to discover he hasn’t. It was wonderful to see Sid Halley return - he has been a favourite character of mine ever since that first Francis book. But I only wish that this novel had done this wonderfully steadfast and clever character more justice. Ned Talbot has worked all his life as a bookmaker - taking over the family business from his grandfather - so he knows not to expect any sympathy from the punters as they count their winnings, and he his losses.

While Sid Halley was not my favourite of Francis's characters ever, I really think that the continuation of his story through Felix Francis's pen has made the character stronger and more interesting. As a young child he survived a horrific car crash in which his father was killed. His father had maneuvered the car so that he caught the full force of the collision on his side of the car. His father’s body laid on his before the police came. Later, his mother commits suicide and leaves no note.I was disappointed because I was looking forward to a mystery, however I did gain insight to the mental health issues and their impact on an individual. There is a mystery but it is a small portion of the book. It is well written, which I would expect from Felix Francis, and, perhaps, it is his break away from his father’s style of book from which, I thought, he has been moving away successfully. I was led by the promotion to expect one thing and I got something else. I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4 stars. Although there's been some improvement in Felix Francis's writing, he is still a pale shadow of his famous father. Which is ironic, given the theme of this book, in which our hero longs to be recognized and honored in the the same way, Champion Steeplechaser, as HIS father! Needless to say, both author and rider fail to outshine their dads in either profession! Harry knows very little about horses, indeed he positively dislikes them, but he is thrust unwillingly into the world of Thoroughbred racing where the standard of care of the equine stars is far higher than that of the humans who attend to them. I disliked everything about this book including the characters, the storyline, the flipping around time frames, the boring descriptions of tobogganing and mental illness and on and on. The whole thing was tedious in the extreme and I pushed myself to get through it. In the tradition of Clive Cussler and James Lee Burke, Iced, the latest in Francis's fictional world, is a heart-pounding thriller that will keep you racing forward.

I feel for Felix Frances, I really do. It can't be easy trying to carry on the franchise of a beloved writer father. Gamble, Felix's only previous novel written solo, displays a slight anxiety at being handed the reins to a horse previously ridden only by his father. The prose was slightly more formulaic than his father's prose, not as velvety smooth. Gamble did not yet display the best years of Felix's life. Refusal on the other hand has rapidly accelerated the horse, has circumvented difficult turns on the steeple chase run, and shows Felix's confidence building, growing towards the ideal set by his father. The slight difference in style (remembering this is a family business) is near invisible; the story as true as any returning hero's story should be. Finding himself in St Moritz during the same weekend as White Turf, when high-class horseracing takes place on the frozen lake, he gets talked into helping out with the horses. Against his better judgement, he decides to assist, but things aren’t as innocent as they seemed.The story was also just a little 'light' for my taste. There weren't any of the usual twists and turns - it was entirely too predictable. And the end was just way, way, waaaay too neat and tidy for my liking. And far too convenient. I thought I would give this one a go because with the sad passing of Mr Francis Sr a few years ago this novel would not be co-written and might be better. While all this ten-years-ago history is being recounted, the story is interleafed with Miles current activity on the Swiss Cresta Run, an ice chute for toboggan racing. His horsey-past pops up, and peril ensues.

When his friend’s stable yard is torched, horses killed, and the friend is found dead, Sid can only blame himself for not helping sooner. The police think it’s suicide, but Sid is not convinced after his friend’s terrified phone calls. Heavy with a guilty heart, Sid starts to investigate and soon finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that cuts to the very heart of the integrity of British horse racing. It wasn't. There wasn't anything really wrong with it but it just wasn't quite right. Sid seemed almost insipid and a bit lost in a situation that in previous novels wouldn't have fazed him at all. I guess he is older now and wiser and has a lot more to lose but he just didn't seem like the hard-bitten character I know and love. The characterizations are very well rendered, with believable three dimensional characters and dialogue which is never clunky or overwrought. The descriptions of the very disparate sports of tobogganing and horse racing on the flat ice, are well written and rich in small details. The climax, denouement, and resolution were well written and satisfying. When Sid starts to investigate, the villain throws more trouble Sid's way. This time Sid is accused of abusing his child and taking pornographic pictures which were found in his garden shed. While that does cause a lot of trouble including the loss of his computer and cell phone and the necessity of moving to the Admiral's house, Sid perseveres. He feels that the only way his family will ever be safe is for him to get rid of the villain who is causing all the trouble. The end of the book has two chapters from his next novel, "Hands Down" another about Sid Halley. While I am happy to see the Sid Halley story continued, I don't think Felix should be the one to do it!! The first two chapters seemed alien, I just wasn't seeing "Sid" in them. It was like, "Who?"

Christmas Gifts

Sid Halley is married, a father, and six-years retired from doing investigative work. Sir Richard Stewart approaches him asking that Sid look into race results that seem wrong. Although Sid is curious, he refuses but agrees to look over the information. However, the next day Sir Richard is found dead in his car of an apparent suicide and Sid receives a phone call, followed by escalating threats, demanding he sign a report of no wrong-doing…or else. Francis's heroes are rational human beings. The choices made are rational choices directed by a firm objective philosophy that belies all of Francis's novels. The dialogue is clear and touched with humor no matter the intensity of evil that the hero faces. The hero's thoughts reveal a vulnerability that is touching, while the hero's actions are always based on doing the right thing to achieve justice.