Book Review: Inside Track

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Inside Track     Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada HC
John Francome
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Horses
St. Martin’s, Oct 2004, $24.95

Two years ago, jockey Jamie Hutchison drove under the influence and killed fifteen years old Alan Kirkwell. Jamie did not remember the accident or anything else that occurred on that fatal night. The Leeds Court ruled vehicular homicide but not deliberate so he was sentenced to three years in prison. After eighteen months behind bars, Jamie is freed while the Kirkwells still mourn their loss and resent his freedom.

As Jamie tries to regain his life, his memory of the incident that shattered several lives begins to surface. Still in spite of a welcome by his track friends, he knows he grew to big to ride horses competitively and needs to adjust to changes in his personal life as the last woman he slept with Vanessa Hartley is marrying a rival. As his recall begins to focus, someone wants him dead or back behind bars; though Jamie thinks it must be Alan’s father, someone else prefers the truth to remain buried at all cost. Meanwhile he meets and falls in love with Alan’s sister Marie who reciprocates his feelings, but her father has never recovered from the death of his son.

INSIDE TRACK is en enjoyable horse racing mystery that will remind readers of the works of Dick Francis. The story line is character driven with the added irony that the audience knows from the start that Jamie’s seemingly kind brother-in-law is a dangerous person to cross. The star-crossed relationship between Marie and Jamie provides a fabulous angst to a strong suspense thriller that is wire to wire winner for fans.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner