Hot Money - reading_Fox's review
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1reading_fox
Hot Money by Dick Francis. My Review:
One of Dick's better books, marking the transition from his earlier jockey based works to the later, horses sometimes just about feature, stage. Set in the times much easier for a crime writer where there's no high technology to worry about and the general security background levels are all less invasive. Hence booking a hotel under an assumed name is commonplace, explosives and detonators can be left lying around, and no-one has access to a mobile phone to keep constantly in touch.
Ian Pembroke is the estranged fourth child of nine from the third of five wives of Malcom Pembroke, bullion made multi-millionaire. He is estranged by reason of an acrimonious row three years ago - regarding the character of Malcom's then current fifth wife, who has recently been killed supposedly by an intruder. Hence no-one is more surprised than Ian when Malcom phones him and asks him to come and stay and be a bodyguard for a while, as Malcom believes his life in danger, and the police aren't taking it seriously - Malcolm was chief suspect in Moira's murder for a while. Ian accepts, only to find the rest of his family deeply resentful of his closeness to their father's money.
It's a fairly typical Dick Francis, fast paced, loosely connected to horse racing - Ian is an amateur jockey - and fun to read. The various characters are well detailed although the drab reports from Mr West can be a bit dull. Ultimately the plot hinges on the time its set - with the UK barely aware of the IRA, our heroes can travel without the restrictions today's societies impose on us; but also the villains have access to materials that would now be tightly regulated. The pressures facing late 70s couple - golf club, and children's education, the casual out of marriage relationships are all well described in a few lines and careful character portraits - and still resonate these few decades later, even though Malcom's wealth seems somewhat unlikely.
Its fun, a product of it's times, and none the worse for that.
COmments thoughts and discussion welcome
One of Dick's better books, marking the transition from his earlier jockey based works to the later, horses sometimes just about feature, stage. Set in the times much easier for a crime writer where there's no high technology to worry about and the general security background levels are all less invasive. Hence booking a hotel under an assumed name is commonplace, explosives and detonators can be left lying around, and no-one has access to a mobile phone to keep constantly in touch.
Ian Pembroke is the estranged fourth child of nine from the third of five wives of Malcom Pembroke, bullion made multi-millionaire. He is estranged by reason of an acrimonious row three years ago - regarding the character of Malcom's then current fifth wife, who has recently been killed supposedly by an intruder. Hence no-one is more surprised than Ian when Malcom phones him and asks him to come and stay and be a bodyguard for a while, as Malcom believes his life in danger, and the police aren't taking it seriously - Malcolm was chief suspect in Moira's murder for a while. Ian accepts, only to find the rest of his family deeply resentful of his closeness to their father's money.
It's a fairly typical Dick Francis, fast paced, loosely connected to horse racing - Ian is an amateur jockey - and fun to read. The various characters are well detailed although the drab reports from Mr West can be a bit dull. Ultimately the plot hinges on the time its set - with the UK barely aware of the IRA, our heroes can travel without the restrictions today's societies impose on us; but also the villains have access to materials that would now be tightly regulated. The pressures facing late 70s couple - golf club, and children's education, the casual out of marriage relationships are all well described in a few lines and careful character portraits - and still resonate these few decades later, even though Malcom's wealth seems somewhat unlikely.
Its fun, a product of it's times, and none the worse for that.
COmments thoughts and discussion welcome
2rosalita
First, and least important, I love the idea of this group, and I'm so pleased that a review has finally been posted of a book I've read, so I can comment!
I'm a big Dick Francis fan; I've read all his books. I mostly agree with your astute observation of the ways that this book has become dated. I just went and looked; the book was originally published in 1987. The lack of cell phones is particularly striking today, along with the more lax attitude toward explosives and anonymous hotel guests.
I must disagree, however, with your comment "with the UK barely aware of the IRA". In 1987 the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland and the IRA bombing campaign was well underway (having started in 1969). In retrospect, it's a bit hard to believe that Francis never addressed that even in passing (unless he did and I'm forgetting; it's been a while since I read this one).
The other element of this book that I really liked was that the main character seemed a little ... looser, for lack of a better word. So many Francis heroes are the ultra-stoic, grimace-and-bear-it types. Ian seemed a much more happy-go-lucky fellow to me, and the book benefits from it. This book contains some quite humorous snippets, which I greatly enjoyed.
I'm a big Dick Francis fan; I've read all his books. I mostly agree with your astute observation of the ways that this book has become dated. I just went and looked; the book was originally published in 1987. The lack of cell phones is particularly striking today, along with the more lax attitude toward explosives and anonymous hotel guests.
I must disagree, however, with your comment "with the UK barely aware of the IRA". In 1987 the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland and the IRA bombing campaign was well underway (having started in 1969). In retrospect, it's a bit hard to believe that Francis never addressed that even in passing (unless he did and I'm forgetting; it's been a while since I read this one).
The other element of this book that I really liked was that the main character seemed a little ... looser, for lack of a better word. So many Francis heroes are the ultra-stoic, grimace-and-bear-it types. Ian seemed a much more happy-go-lucky fellow to me, and the book benefits from it. This book contains some quite humorous snippets, which I greatly enjoyed.
3reading_fox
Not at all least important. Thanks for replying. I was wondering if I was just posting into thin air.
'87 ! Well I didn't go and look - it really doesn't feel that late. I think it was set earlier, maybe even much earlier. However the IRA weren't really active in England at that time. There was a spell in the early 70s, which Ian might have remembered, and then nothing much until the early 90s. A lot of violence in Ireland, granted, but this had little impact in the lives of ordinary english people - and Malcom's brood would be even less aware than most, being so concerned with their own problems.
I agree Ian's spontinaity inherited from Malcolm does make him more engaging than the truly dedicated heros of some of his other stories.
'87 ! Well I didn't go and look - it really doesn't feel that late. I think it was set earlier, maybe even much earlier. However the IRA weren't really active in England at that time. There was a spell in the early 70s, which Ian might have remembered, and then nothing much until the early 90s. A lot of violence in Ireland, granted, but this had little impact in the lives of ordinary english people - and Malcom's brood would be even less aware than most, being so concerned with their own problems.
I agree Ian's spontinaity inherited from Malcolm does make him more engaging than the truly dedicated heros of some of his other stories.
