Dick Francis Reading Group discussion

yes Luann you are correct. Your turn!

Okay, I'm back! You've been so patient.

In this DF mystery, the reason given for all the villain did was "For gold's sake."

Yay. Luann's back!

That's a tricky one. Will have to do some research.

Yay, I'm glad it's tricky! :) I was afraid it would be too easy for you.

Smokescreen?

Was it Danilo in "Smokescreen?"

Chris

yeah, that's it. I came back to post it and 2 people have beaten me to it!
It looks like Dia9 beat Chris by 1 minute!

In which book the hero is the only one from his family that doesn't have a "musical talent"?

Rob Finn in "Nerve".

Chris

Good job Chris.

yay Chris! Your turn.

The forename "Thomas" applies to characters in at least three books by D.F. Which characters, which books?

Chris

ok, I can think of one off the top of my head, will have to go look for the others...

OK, Chris. You had me searching with that one. And I found SIX characters by the name of Thomas! :)

Thomas is chauffeur to the Princess in Bolt.
Thomas is Vivien's youngest (Vivien is Malcolm's first wife) in Hot Money.
Thomas Andrews is the thief who shot Sid in Odds Against.
Thomas "Rollo" Rollway is a horse owner in Straight.
Sir Thomas Ullaston is the reigning Senior Steward and head of the Jockey Club in Whip Hand.
Thomas Lyon is the film director in Wild Horses.

Did I get the three you were thinking of or are there even more to be found?

I was also thinking of Tom Pigeon in Shattered, but I wasn't sure if he was ever referred to as Thomas.

Kudos Luann for finding all of those.

Well done Luann, you might also have mentioned "Tommy Titmuss" aka Tor Kelsey. You found some that I didn't have.

OK, this is a pretty straight-forward trivia question, but I thought it was interesting. Which real life restaurant does Kit take Daniel to in Break In? And bonus points if you can give its location.

French Horn Hotel at Sonning?

Correct! That was quick! Looks like a very nice place for a date:
http://www.thefrenchhorn.co.uk/

Your turn, Dia9!

A very nice place. Thanks Luann for showing me the hotel.
From witch book is the following excerpt:
"I watched the doubt creep in and grow. I watched his eyes and then his head move from side to side as he looked for escape. I watched his muscles bunch to run for it. And when I saw that he finally realised in a moment of stark astonishment that I was going to, I shot him." ?

Yay, one I know off the top of my head. From Flying Finish, the second DF book I ever read, when my dad had it in an omnibus edition with For Kicks.

OK, I'll go find a good clue.

good job Valerie

ok, I have a clue. I think it's probably a pretty easy one.

In which book did the hero unwittingly teach the villain many of his tricks to get away with his crime?

risk?

nope

Did I make it too hard, or is no one playing?
I'll give you another clue, the hero is not a jockey.

Dead Heat - Max the chef?

Chris

Nope.
Ok another clue. Much of the action takes place in a racing stable. Although the hero is not a jockey he has done some riding.

Ok, another clue. Two recurring elements in the book are wood and water....

Oh, I can't believe I didn't get it right away! In the beginning I wanted to give someone else a chance, and I just didn't spend much time thinking through the clues. I should have known with the first one!!! That is, IF my guess isn't just a LONGSHOT! :) But that is exactly what my guess is! Longshot!

(Sorry, couldn't resist)

Hooray, Luann got it! I was starting to think no one wanted to play with me!

Your turn Luann.

Well done, Luann. It had me stumped. You sure "hit the mark!"

Chris

Bump?

Sorry! That was me being slow. I'm going to give another keyword type of clue:

gunshot, pajamas, allergies

"Second Wind"?

Sorry, Chris. Not Second Wind. I'll add another keyword:

gunshot, pajamas, allergies, television

Oh of course. It's Nerve.

Yep, Nerve! I knew the "television" keyword would be a dead giveaway.

One of my favorite quotes from Nerve was when Rob talked about racing on Kemp-Lore's TV show: "I spoke truthfully, vehemently, and straight from the heart. 'Give me a horse and a race to ride it in, and I don't care if I wear silks or...or...pajamas. I don't care if there's anyone watching or not. I don't care if I don't earn much money, or if I break my bones, or if I have to starve to keep my weight down. All I care about is racing...racing...and winning, if I can.'"

Your turn, Valerie!

OK, I'll see if I can come up with a good one....

bump :)

oh, my go! Sorry, I forgot.
Just let me eat my dinner and I'll go find one...

So I went to my shelf of Dick Francis books, closed my eyes and grabbed a book, thinking I would pick a clue from the first book I touched.
Well that turned out to be Nerve, and I thought two clues in a row from the same book might be too much. so I grabbed another one and here goes...

In what book does much of the action happen in Bedford Lodge Hotel?

wild horses?

yep, that's it. I thought it would be a little harder than that. Your turn Dia9!

from which book is the following excerpt : Heat bullied into the car like a battering ram. I burned. I burned.

Smokescreen?

good job chris. it's your turn

Lift = 22.024xVxPx...
Which book?
Where did they come to earth?

ok, i know the book and i know in a vague sense where they came to earth, but i will have to go look up an exact answer, thus giving other people a chance to answer...

I know the book, too! But where did they come to earth? I'm not sure about that one. It's been too long since I last read it.

P.S. - Check out our new game: ABCs of Dick Francis! "B" is next and there are LOTS of choices for answers.