Gamble

Finished December 13
Gamble by Felix Francis
Following in the footsteps of his father, Dick Francis, this is Felix Francis' first solo Dick Francis novel. He assisted his father on many of his recent books, and this novel feels and reads in the same style. Here we have Nick 'Foxy' Foxton ex-jockey, sidelined due to an injury, who is now an independent financial advisor. Because of his past, he has a lot of clients in the horse-racing world, and goes often to races. As the book begins, Nick is at the Grand National with a work colleague and possible new friend, when his friend is shot to death beside him. Herb was a nice young man, an American, who seemingly got on well with everyone, so Nick is unable to understand what has happened. He wonders if the wrong person was targeted. When Nick discovers a threatening note in Herb's coat pocket, he struggles to figure out what Herb was up to. Nick's concern grows when he finds that Herb has made him his executor and beneficiary.
Nick is also approached by a member of the gentry involved in the horse-racing world, who has concerns about a particular investment one of Nick's bosses has involved him in. Nick promises to check into it quietly. Nick is also worried about his girlfriend Claudia and what he perceives as a growing distance between them.
Nick has thought of his life as boring since leaving his life as a jockey, but now he is getting more excitement than he wants, and he trusts very few as he digs deeper into the mystery.