Proof

A reasonably good mystery that was somewhat tempered by one annoying fact - the author had obviously never used plaster of paris before, or understood how it is to be used. This grated throughout what would have otherwise been a good book - a solid mystery with a bunch of different pieces that converge and fall into place quite nicely at the end. In the end, a small slip-up will probably cause me not to read any more of his books. It's like the author of Deadly Doses: A Writer's Guide to Poisons put it - if you're going to poison someone, make sure you do you homework. This should hold true for any method of murder... Also, he mentioned the Elephant Child and the Limpopo River, and in reading that text, I'm not at all sure it actually had the implications he meant!

The owner of a wine shop, who comes from a horse family gets involved in a murder. As usual, horses and horse people work their way into the story.
Dick Francis always develops his characters well and he lives up to his own standards in Proof. He has interesting insights into the wine and spirit industry, as well. This is a book to be re-read.

Francis can usually be counted on for a good, well-written story. There are always elements the reader can count on: a badly injured hero who is one of the nicest guys you could know; a villain without even a semblance of a conscience; and a terrible crime. All three are present in Proof, but something is lacking.

Proof lacks the intensity of most of his mysteries. It reads well and quickly, but without the usual depth Francis normally gives to his stories. The opening scene of carnage is fast and furious and up to the standard. Between that and the few active scenes is a lot of exposition about alcoholic beverages, shipment of same, and the hero's past.

The reader does come away with knowledge not usually known, such as the ability of some people to discern even the slightest nuance of liquor or wine. And it is compelling enough to make finishing the book necessary. Not his best, but Francis always has good moments at least.

PROOF is a terrific story about wine merchant Tony Beach who seems to stumble into one tragic situation after another. He agrees to cater a party for the horseracing elite, and watches as hit men reek havoc on the party. Now he's caught in the middle of a terrifying mystery that begins with counterfeit wine and continues on to murder. He has to dig deep within to continue to have the courage to find out who and why this is happening.

Dick Francis is a great writer of mysteries that always revolve around horseracing life. Most of his stories are based in England and steeple chasing (not the type of horseracing we're used to here in the United States). They are interesting and educational if you know nothing about this sport. Francis does not write tales as intense as some of the American authors do, but they are definitely worth the time to read. My father got me hooked on Dick Francis and his tales of murder and mayhem, and this author will have his books read for many years. They are timeless!

I love the hero and the story.... Francis doesn't get much better than this! Start here and work your way around all his novels and come back to it again and you will totally understand what I mean. A jem!