Bad news for mystery fans

@ElicBxn (64169)
United States
February 14, 2010 6:33pm CST
D!ck Francis has taken his last fence (horse joke) and will be writing no more. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100214/ap_on_en_ot/eu_britain_obit_dick_francis If this link doesn't post, change the "!" in the name to an "i" In spite loving horses, I just never could get into his books myself, but my mother loved him. Will you miss him? Will you read him now that he's gone? I didn't learn about him until the 1970's, maybe I'll read a book by him - have listened to one of his short stories in a mystery collection.
2 people like this
10 responses
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I have never heard of him. I am not sure if I read anything of his or not. I have read a lot of books by authors I wasn't familiar with. I have never read anything about horse racing or anything like that so maybe not.
3 people like this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
15 Feb 10
well, like I said, I heard one of his short stories on audio, but I don't think I ever read any of his books, but I know my mother did
2 people like this
@JoyfulOne (6231)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I first discovered him in the 80's when my one daughter bought me one of his books. I've always loved reading his stuff ever since. My daughter and I always had horses, and enjoyed reading these (mostly) equestrian based stories. Two of my faves are Risk, and The Danger. The mystery revolves around the racing set, jockeys and all that. I only own a few of his books, and both of those are in paperback because they're easy to carry. The rest I usually borrow from the library. A few are such favorites I reread them every few years haha. Sad to hear that he'll be writing no more new stuff, he did write an involved tale!
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
15 Feb 10
you'd think as horse crazy as I am, I'd love them, but I guess they were too much racing/mysteries and not enough horse...
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
15 Feb 10
as much as I love horses and hosre story I never heqards of the man. Now nextt ime I go to the liabray I just might look at his books lololol
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
15 Feb 10
hm I guess
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
15 Feb 10
as I've been saying, they weren't horsey enough for me, more mystery - I guess that gets a wider audience...
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
15 Feb 10
elicbxn hi oh the poor guy, hes gone, and a lot of his fans will really miss his new books, I tried to get interested in his novels but really just could not get involved, I had other authors I liked more. Sue Grafton for one, Mary Higgins Clark , and her daughter Carol Clark and a slew of other authors too. James Paterson is one of them and I love Stephen Kings books, all of them, really my fave.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I couldn't get into them either - tho I like Sue Grafton... Love Lilian Jackson Braun tho, of course, they aren't really much mystery, more visits with old friends... HEY!! I like your AVATAR!!!
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
16 Feb 10
Whaaaaaa. No It cant be. I love his books. I love a lot of books, I will have to see if there are any in the used book store.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
16 Feb 10
well, he was 89 yrs old, a good long life and lots of books under his belt...
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
19 Feb 10
yeah, but they have canceled her last book "The Cat Who Smelled Smoke" I wish she'd get it out...
• Israel
16 Feb 10
Lilian Jackson Braun is also really old and still writing books. I love her cat books.
1 person likes this
@scififan43 (2434)
• United States
18 Feb 10
I have never read any of his novels but I rember the name for tv. I recall watching some mystery tv shows form the U.K that were shown on public tv. I belive some of his novels were turned into minni series that show a ex-jockey with an prostic arm tunrn P.I. I do not rember the name but I am sure that was basied on his work.
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
19 Feb 10
I haven't either - but I knew his name and listened to a few of his short stories
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
19 Feb 10
I haven't read his books in a long time. My father used to read a lot of them and pass them down to me. I guess that he has taken the last ride.
1 person likes this
@23uday (2997)
• India
15 Feb 10
hi friend, I never heard and never read this type of novel. I will try in future and read this novel book. I read some insteresting novels. have a good day.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
15 Feb 10
never heard of murder mysteries? Agatha Christi as a writer? Sherlock Holmes the detective?
1 person likes this
@LaurenInLA (2270)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I've never read a his books and probably won't read him now. I'm a mystery lover but not into horses so much. I do have empathy for all of his fans, I've lost three of my favorite writers and it leaves a void. The franchise of Laurence Saunders was passed on to another writer but I simply can't get into his books the way that I could get into the books that Saunders wrote. It's jsut not the same.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I am more broke up about losing Tony Hillermann than Francis, but I know he was very popular, so just thought I'd let folks know.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I have heard of him but have never read anything of his. I'm not much of a mystery reader. I might actually try to read something of his if I run across it.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I read mysteries, but I kind of like following detectives/cops rather than "one offs" and I just never got into Francis' books.