This was my first book by Felix Francis and I haven’t read any by his father, Dick Francis, either. The main character of Syndicate has the same name as my son so I was keen to read the book!

Chester Newton is a horse racing syndicate organiser and his company, Victrix Racing, owns 40 horses. He buys horses at the bloodstock sales in the UK and Ireland and then encourages others to join his syndicates and become joint owners of the horses, along with 12, 15 or 25 others. People pay thousands for the privilege and access to the impressive but rather decadent world of horse racing. For many, it’s all about the prestige of owning a horse and seeing it do well and they like to place bets on a win too!

Chester’s home life is difficult. His children, James (21) and Amanda (19), are both on the verge of spreading their wings and leaving home. His wife, Georgina, has rather lost interest in racing and the constant expectation to be on show and keep up appearances and make small talk with others at various races, parties and events.

After Chester’s horse, Potassium, wins the Epsom Derby, he’s back in the spotlight (after a few years of poor form) and becomes the target of criminal activity. His daughter goes missing during a party to celebrate his wedding anniversary and his children’s birthdays and he becomes embroiled in some rather tricky situations, which could end up wrecking his entire career and reputation.

I don’t really know that much about the racing industry and knew nothing about syndicates but the author did a really good job of explaining various terms and elements in a clear and concise way.

This was an entertaining and fast-paced read and I really enjoyed my foray into the world of horse racing! The story was action packed, tense and gripping and I was fearing for Chester’s family’s lives at times! I had a few ideas about who was to blame for the kidnapping and other criminal activities and I’m pleased to say that I was partially right!

The chapters were fairly short, usually ending in a cliff hanger, and had me turning the pages frantically and I read this well-plotted book in a couple of days, keen to know how it was all going to pan out!

Overall, I really enjoyed Syndicate and have already purchased another of the author’s books to read! The series of books is definitely worth a look, whether you’re a fan of horse racing or not!

I read some books by Dick Francis and always found the stories intriguing and gripping. I learned something about the world of races and horses.
This is the first I read by Felix Francis and it was an entertaining read that kept me turning pages.
It’s twisty, fast paced, and full of surprises. The characters are well developed and fleshed out, they grew slowly on me and the mood went from unlikable to interesting.
Chester is a man who must fight his own battle as there’s not a lot working in his private life: marriage crumbling, children growing distant. His got his horses and his job.
He could be on the verge of becoming the next big thing in the world of races but things could become dangerous.
This is the start of this intriguing mystery, a page turner that kept me guessing and being surprised by the twists.
I was fond of the description of the world of races as it was well done and a way to learn more about it.
I will surely read other books by Felix Francis, this one is highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Zaffre and Compulsive Reader for this copy, all opinions are mine

Back in the day — and I’m talking 30-40 years ago — Dick Francis, steeplechase jockey turned crime writer, was one of my favorite authors. For reasons that escape me, it somehow passed me by that his son, Felix, had taken over his father’s mantle and legacy, continuing this niche series of thrillers set in the world of horse racing.

Syndicate is a brilliant read, all the more so for the author being so intimately acquainted with a sphere that the majority of people know only from the outside. I enjoyed this as much for the glimpses into the dress code and pomp of Royal Ascot as for its gripping, pacey plot.

The story involves racehorse syndicate organizer Chester Newton, whose company hits pay dirt when one of its horses wins the world-famous Epsom Derby, securing a windfall for its owners and boosting Chester’s reputation as a man who knows a winner when he sees one.

Chester’s elation is short-lived, however, as a stranger calls demanding that he throw a race, or else. When his teenage daughter is subsequently abducted, Chester knows the caller means business and that he must find a way to comply with their demands without falling foul of the racing authorities and losing everything he’s worked towards.

This was a quick, easy read, propelled along by short, snappy chapters that invariably ended on a cliffhanger. I loved how Francis added background color by describing race days and the various well-known venues as well as the ins and outs of horse-racing syndicates. In this respect, I found the style very similar to that of Jeffrey Archer’s William Warwick series.

Overall, I found this an exhilarating ride, starting off at a gentle canter and building to a full-throated gallop down the final straight; although I could have done without the romantic subplot, some elements of which seemed out of keeping with the overall vibe.

I’m keen now to take a look at Felix’s backlist and would recommend this series to all fans of cosy crime, especially if you like a flutter on race days.