Review on www.amazon.com

From Library Journal
Young Tor Kelsey, competent, race-horse wise, and independently wealthy, works for undercover security at the English Jockey Club. "Loaned" to the Canadian Jockey Club, he spies on charming but slippery British extortionist Julius Apollo Filmera horse flesh aficionadoaboard the first-ever Transcontinental Mystery Race Train. During the week-long trip, put together to promote Canadian racing, Kelsey narrowly avoids detection, single-handedly averts catastrophe, and even falls in love. This most excellent and memorable construction, crisply crafted and sparkling with intensity, evidences a deft, masterful hand. Literary Guild main selection. REK
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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I found this paperback in a local second-hand bookshop and bought it especially for Bookcrossing purposes. As I already have a copy of it and it is one of my all time favourite of mysteries by Dick Francis I thought this might be the first Book Ray I will start.

This book has obviously travelled around before because there was a paper beer mat from Genéve Airport Bar as a bookmark. I attached it inside the back cover when I coated the book with plastic.

The weight of this book about 190 g (measured with my not-so-accurate kitchen scale).

The ray is about to start. In case you still want to join, please send me a PM. As this is a ray, there is no hurry to send the book ahead as long as you don't keep it for years ;D

When the last person in the ray has received the book, it would be nice to continue the ray by controlled releases (trades, RABCKS, relays etc.) I would like to keep reading the comments.

em64, Tampere, Finland
Annelis, Kerava, Finland
Niksu, Helsinki, Finland <--- has book at the moment

(YuCCa3, Arzana, Italy) By his own request not included in the ray at the moment

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Edit 16.12.2005

Please give or send this book ahead by Controlled Releases as I wouldn't want it to get lost.

RELEASE NOTES:

Lähetetty kirjasäteen ensimmäiselle eli em64:lle.

Got the book today, thanks Millam! I have one ringbook before this one but it shouldn't take too long to get to this one.

This was the second Dick Francis book I have read and it was pretty much what I expected. The beginning was a bit slow but once the train journey started it got quite exciting. I just couldn't help laughing outloud when the first Canadian opened his mouth. Canadians are supposed to use the word "eh" a lot and so they did in this book. What made it so funny was that last week I was shown a picture of a Canadian keyboard which has one extra key - quite right it was "eh". And as our Canadian co-workers were here in Finland at that time I asked them if they really use that word a lot. For some reason I didn't get a conclusive answer, eh?

Will send it to Annelis next week.

The will be mailed this morning to Annelis. Happy Reading!

The book arrived yesterday, thank you! I'll read it ASAP, but some other travelling book got here first.
By the way, it is a fine beer mat, really!

Kirja on kiertänyt jo Keravalle asti, tattista vaan! Luen sen mahdollisimman pian, mutta jokin muukin rinkikirja ennätti tänne äsken. On se muuten kumma, että välillä ei kuukausiin tule mitään, mutta sitten kun tulee niin tulee monta rinkiläistä peräkkäisinä päivinä.

Edit November 7th
This was the first book by Dick Francis that I read. I always thought that horse racing is nothing for me. Maybe it isn't, but Francis can write pleasantly without using too much violence. He writes about persons you would like to know personally. I certainly will read more books by Francis.

Got this from annelis today. Thanks! One book before starting with this one.

I have started reading this but I somehow find it so slow to read, hard to say why? And because of my insomnia is getting a bit better now, I don't have that much time to read anymore. I'm on page 50 and Tor Kelsey is not even in the train yet. But still I like to continue reading, I just wanted to let you know that it might take some time to finish this. More later.

***Edit 15.12.05: I finished the book yesterday. I liked it! It was a cozy mystery without too much blood and violence in it and I really liked the main character Tor. He was modest but still he had the edge;) This was my first Dick Francis book I've read but definitely not the last. Probably would have never read one without bookcrossing. But are they all about horseraces?

Thanks to Millam for sharing. As YuCCa3 has asked to be skipped, I'll try to find way to pass this book ahead again.

Offer on the British authors only, if you please- bookrelay.

Since British authors only- relay didn't do any good, I finally found another relay to pass this book along again. I think it's a good book and it has been on my bookself for too long. I'm sending this to Italy as part of the surprise relay. Hope she and probably also her husband will like this as much as I did. Happy reading :)

Thankyou Niksu for sending this Dick Francis as my surprise from bookrelay.com
In the spirit of bookcrossing will make sure this travels again when it has been read.

Update:23.06.06 Synopsis:Amazon.co.uk
A story of drama and intrigue set on the sinister side of the international racing circuit. Tor Kelsey, an undercover agent for the Jockey Club's Security Service trails Julius Apollo Filmer, a blackmailer and murderer, onto a luxury train carrying several racehorse owners across Canada.

Although originally published in 1988 this is still an enjoyable easy read as are all Dick Francis's novels.

RELEASE NOTES:

Will be seeing friend and fellow bookcrosser 'rosedene' this evening and passing this book on,along with some others.

To be read

CAUGHT IN VETRALLA VITERBO ITALY

Unexpectedly back in my possession, so marking as AVL and will get the title travelling again soon I hope!

RELEASE NOTES:

Given to a fellow student at Progetta Lingua in Viterbo. In the hope that they will become a Bookcrosser!
If not maybe they will read and release anonymously.