Shattered
Pan Books [MacMillan Publishers Ltd.] 2001
First published by Penguin, 2000
Suspense
read November 2005
A classic book of mistaken identity (object identity), this book didn't do a lot for me but I would probably try another Dick Francis novel in any case. In this book the protagonist, Gerald Logan, is given a videotape by a jockey friend of his just before the jockey dies in a tragic racing accident. Logan is a pretty normal guy. A glassblower of some acclaim and a thoughtful person. He begins getting threats regarding the videotape but he can't seem to find it. Chaos ensues. Logan is beaten and his videotapes are all stolen. So are the videotapes of his friends. What is on the videotape (or might be) becomes a little over the top as the novels delves into a somewhat larger plot arena than the writing can support but Francis manages to kind of fumble (along with Logan) through to the end. Certainly not a winner and particularly weak for a Brit, this novel was a bit disappointing, especially since this is not Francis' first novel (more like his 40th). More like American what I have come to expect from authors on this side of the Pond. Would not recommend it even to those who enjoy this sort of thing.