Dick Francis Criticism: Further Reading

"A review of Bolt." The New Yorker LXIII, No. 8 (13 April 1987): 106. (Asserts that with Bolt Francis is back to the quality of his earlier writing.)

"A review of Bolt." Time 129, No. 17 (27 April 1987): 83. (States that with Francis's Bolt, he "again demonstrates that he is both a win and a nice read.")

"A review of Wild Horses." Kirkus Reviews LXII, No. 14 (15 July 1994): 950. (Lauds the expertise Francis exhibits about directing in Wild Horses, but complains that "the mystery is muddled and the villains muffled.")

Adler, Dick. "Inspector Wexford in top form." Chicago Tribune Books (3 September 1995): 4. (Lauds the well-drawn villains and touching hero of Francis's Come to Grief.)

Anderson, Michael. "A review of Comeback." The New York Times Book Review (22 December 1991): 14. (Lauds Francis's Comeback as an enjoyable ride.)

Binyon, T. J. "Crime file." The Times Literary Supplement, No. 4421 (25-31 December 1987): 1428. (Complains that there is too much psychology and not enough action in Francis's Hot Money.)

Binyon, T. J. "Criminal proceedings." The Times Literary Supplement, No. 4374 (30 January 1987): 108. (Criticizes Francis's Bolt for lacking the qualities commonly associated with Francis novels, including "tension, excitement, surprise, atmosphere and characterization.")

Binyon, T. J. "Criminal Proceedings." The Times Literary Supplement, No. 4471 (9 December 1988): 1376. (Criticizes Francis's The Edge for being "thinly plotted" and "carelessly written.")

Campbell, Don. "Track, Casino, Newsroom, Squad Car." The Los Angeles Times Book Review (24 January 1988): 6. (Praises Francis's Hot Money for being a good mystery and a good read.)

Champlin, Charles. "A review of Driving Force." The Los Angeles Times Book Review (11 October 1992): 13. (Lauds Francis for keeping his formula fresh in his Driving Force.)

Champlin, Charles. "A review of Longshot." The Los Angeles Times Book Review (11 November 1990): 15. (Calls Longshot one of Francis's best novels in his prolific career.)

Champlin, Charles. "Criminal Pursuits." The Los Angeles Times Book Review (11 September 1994): 18. (Praises Francis's research of the movie industry in Wild Horses.)

Cromie, Alice. "'Poison' You Can't Put Down." Chicago Tribune Books (10 May 1987): 6. (States that Francis's Bolt is a winner.)

Dretzka, Gary. "Is Scudder Getting Weird on Us?" Chicago Tribune Books (2 October 1994): 9. (Reviews several mystery novels including Francis's Wild Horses.)

Dretzka, Gary. "Nero Wolfe Leaves His Lair, and Dick Francis Rides Again." Chicago Tribune Books (4 October 1992): 6-7. (Praises Francis's Driving Force as a sure best-seller.)

French, Edward. "A review of Driving Force." Books 6, No. 5 (September/October 1992): 27. (Praises Francis for his natural storytelling ability and asserts that Driving Force is a satisfying read.)

Harshaw, Tobin. "Books in Brief." The New York Times Book Review (8 October 1995): 26. (Praises Sid Halley, the hero of Francis's Come to Grief, but asserts that Francis has been better.)

Hubin, Allen J. "A review of Straight." The Armchair Detective 24, No. 1 (Winter 1991): 29. (Praises the plot and characters of Francis's Straight.)

Kaufman, Gerald. "Bring in the Heavy Guns." The Listener 120, No. 3093 (15 December 1988): 34. (Praises the prose and plot of Francis's The Edge.)

Moore, Kevin. "A Cajun Beat and Brit Cool Set the Mood." Chicago Tribune Books (14 October 1990): 6. (Lauds Francis's Longshot despite the author's occasional overwriting.)

Moore, Kevin. "From Nero Wolfe's Orchids to a 'Prime Slime' Shamus." Chicago Tribune Books (5 November 1989): 6. (Asserts that Francis has maintained his high standards with his novel Straight.)

Moore, Kevin. "Keeping a Watch on Crime with Francis and Others." Chicago Tribune (6 October 1991): 6. (States that Francis's Comeback demonstrates the writing skills that Francis has developed throughout his career.)

Rosser, Claire. "A review of Comeback." Kliatt 27, No. 3 (May 1993): 6. (Calls Francis's Comeback one of Francis's best.)

Ryan, Desmond. "In Short." The New York Times Book Review (1 May 1988): 22. (States that although the puzzle of Francis's Hot Money is not among his best, Francis displays his gifts for narrative and economical prose.)

Shibuk, Charles. "A review of Bolt." The Armchair Detective 22, No. 1 (Winter 1989): 106. (Asserts that while Francis's Bolt is a good novel, it does not attain the achievement of his previous work Break In.)

Shibuk, Charles. "A review of Straight." The Armchair Detective 24, No. 4 (Fall 1991): 507. (Calls Francis's Straight "so spellbinding that it is almost impossible to put down.")

Spitzer, Jane Stewart. "Popular Novels." Christian Science Monitor (6 March 1987): B4. (Asserts that Francis's Bolt is far from being his best novel.)

Spitzer, Jane Stewart. "Suspense Stories." The Christian Science Monitor (23 March 1988): 20. (Asserts that the resolution of Francis's Hot Money does not provide the satisfaction usually associated with the end of a Francis novel.)

Stuewe, Paul. "Of Some Import." Quill & Quire 55, No. 12 (December 1989): 29. (Points out the problems with Francis's Straight including the author's failed attempt to integrate the gem business into the story line.)

Watkins, Mel. "In Short." The New York Times Book Review (29 March 1987): 22. (Asserts that Francis's Bolt delivers on all of the elements expected from a Francis novel.)

Waugh, Harriet. "English Country Murders." The Spectator 275, No. 8721 (2 September 1995): 32. (Calls Francis's Come to Grief an example of "sado-masochistic, action-packed detection.")

Waugh, Harriet. "Murder Most Enjoyable." The Spectator 267, No. 8526 (7 December 1991): 34. (Complains that Francis's Comeback starts slow and is not as good as his Longshot, but that by the end, the novel becomes thoroughly engrossing.)

Waugh, Harriet. "Not Altering When it Alteration Finds." The Spectator 266, No. 8467 (20 October 1990): 33-4. (Asserts that Francis's Longshot "is an exceptionally well-plotted novel with convincing characters … and is also truly exciting.")

Waugh, Harriet. "O, Let Them Not Be Mad!" The Spectator 259, No. 8306 (26 September 1987): 34-5. (States that Francis's Hot Money is enough to keep a not very discerning detective reader happy.)

Waugh, Harriet. "Thrills on a Wet Afternoon." The Spectator 261, No. 8359 (24 September 1988): 40-1. (Asserts that The Edge suffers from an unnecessary subplot and is not one of Francis's best.)

Get Ahead with eNotes