For Kicks

The Earl of October visits Daniel Roke, owner of a prosperous stud farm in Australia. The Earl belongs to the group that governs National Hunt racing in England. They're having a problem with the doping of racehorses. Some kind of substance or method is being used that's undetectable in testing. The Earl wants Dan to impersonate a stable hand and investigate - for 20,000 British pounds.Dan at 27 years old is the sole support of three young siblings who are still at school. Obviously the money would come in handy. But he takes on the Earl's challenge, not because of the exorbitant pay, but because he feels trapped by his responsibilities and the dull predictability of his life.In England Dan finds himself living and working at the bottom of the social scale (a shock to his pride) and tangling with some truly horrible characters (a danger to his continued existence). When as part of his role he grows his hair and wears a black leather jacket, he turns out to be devilishly attractive to women. This adds to the difficulty of his undercover job.FOR KICKS rises above its corny title, and is a fun read from beginning to end.

I expected an old book but not one that SMELLS! I have had it airing in the sunshire for a week trying to get the odor out. Is there anything else I can try?

A friend referred me to Dick Francis novels. I have read three novels so far and have really enjoyed them. He is a very good writer and can really tell a story. The stories are set around steeplechase racing in England in the 1960s (so far, I'm reading from earliest to latest), but they are not the same, and not really about horse racing but mysteries in a horse racing setting. So far, they've been very good.

Dick Frances at his best, and one of my favorites. The digital age has dated his books, but if you don't mind going back a few years, they are well worth it. A definite good read, always leaving you wanting more.

Very good DVD

I am a complete fan of Dick Francis, and recommend his fast-paced detailed involvement with the Racing Industry, and the psychology of the world of riders, trainers, and owners of those beautiful powerhouses, the race horses. I am trying to build a little library of all his books, to read more than once, or even twice.

Daniel Roke, a successful young horse breeder from Australia, takes an opportunity to escape what has begun to feel like the inescapable burden of supporting three much-loved younger siblings (dependent on him since their parents died in an accident when he was eighteen), and travels to England where he goes undercover as a stable lad in an effort to expose what appears to be a doping ring which is threatening the reputation of the British racing industry. Little does he realise the risks he will be facing and how the experience will test him to the limits.The characters in this book are extremely well-written – real, interesting, human, flawed, heroic, villainous – Daniel Roke in particular, is the kind of protagonist you can admire, care about and root for. It is not just the strong plot and desire to solve the mystery that keeps the pages turning, but your personal interest in the characters. The ending is also particularly satisfying.If you like adventure, mystery, and a book that captures your interest from beginning to end, this book is definitely for you.

Dick Francis was an excellent mystery writer. I love the horse themes he brought into them. RIP Dick Francis.

I first bought this book in my early teens while on holiday in Spain in the 1960s. It stayed with me for many years, being read occasionally until it was stolen from me in the 1990s when I had an hotel. It was strange to read it again as even after a gap of 20 odd years of not having picked up a copy, I could almost feel a part of conversations taking place in the dialogue. 'For Kicks' has long been a favourite of mine, despite having all of the Dick Francis novels and recently topping up on those yet to read.The story line, like all Dick Francis novels tends to keep one on the edge of the seat and guessing until the very end, unless of course, like me, you've read it a hundred times and know what's going to happen!

The first half of this book doesn't read as though written by the master himself, rather plodding and tedious, but plough on and by mid way his hand is back holding the reins, the linguistics and prose alter and the pace picks up, from that point on we, the reader, hurdle forward at a cracking pace.Although Dan, our hero, is someone we want to be on side with, from onset I personally wasn' t , then unexpectedly Francis' voice, as we expect it, breaks though loud and clear, the essence and style of writing appears to alternative, the linguistics and prose improve and I was hooked. Daniel and his task became believable ( in a novel sense) and I was fighting his corner, absorbed, needing to hear the conclusion.Filled in the the tedium of sun lounging nicely.. be warned if you get to the half way point you may have a sleepless night.However I wonder whether in different circumstance I would have keep going, ultimately I'm glad I did.

Although this is one of Dick Francis' earlier horse racing thrillers (written in 1965) it can still be appreciated and enjoyed today. "For Kicks" describes perfectly why a young man takes on a dangerous assignment to get to the bottom of a race fixing ring, just for the excitement of it. Edge of seat stuff, a real page turner, l would highly recommend it.

What can you say about a Dick Francis novel that has not been said before, he always comes up with the goods a terrific read as usual.

As always Dick Francis gives a tenacious and likeable hero in the independent and determined main character. He goes on both a professional and personal journey finding out about himself and what he wants to do in his own life as much as detecting and putting a stop to the crimninal characters. This story looks inwards as well as outwards and like other DF novels is fast paced and a real page turner.