In the Frame

 

I thought I had read all of Dick Francis' books.  I love him because his books are all about horses and horse racing, as well as mysteries to be solved.

Imagine my surprise to discover that (a) I had not read this book and (b) it's not really about horses.  Oh it's about horses.  Sort of.

In London, Charles Todd, a painter of horses (among other things) goes to visit his cousin and discovers that his cousin's wife has been murdered and the cousin is the suspect.

Charles is determined to find his cousin innocent and that determination sets him off on travels to Australia and New Zealand, he is beaten up more  than once, is nearly killed, and his investigations involve a large ring of criminals determined to bilk money from rich buyers, ending up burglarizing homes and, in at least one case, burning the house down.

Charles, his buddy Jik and Jik's bride Sarah get involved in amazing situations that kept me reading until I finished the book.  

All the horses in the book are in paintings.

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