Rating: 
Summary: My first Dick Francis book to read, definitely not my last!
Review: A few days ago my father told me that I should try out "10 lb. Penalty", saying that I might like it. And I surely did enjoy it! Totally hooked, I finished the book in about three days, each page an excitement and pleasure to read. Here's the main plot: Young soon-to-be eighteen-year-old Benedict Juliar's hopes of becoming a steeplechase jockey are all dashed when he is fired for reason he can't understand. But things become clear as he realizes the whole idea was his father's. George Juliard is a businessman battling a Dorset by-election for a street level entry into politics. And he now needs his son to help him in his campaign. Benedict has no choice and agrees. Unfortunately, things get bad as many strange and dangerous incidents occur. Can Benedict protect his father from a mysterious attacker? Dick Francis has a style all his own, with a plot which is believable and realistic. But one of the best things I liked about "10 lb. Penalty" is the wonderful array of characters. Each individual has his or her own personality, flaws, and characteristics put on paper so well that you can't help but feel that you know each person. There's characters like Benedict Juliard, George Juliard, Orinda Nagle, Mervyn Teck, Polly, A. L. Wyvern, Usher Rudd, and others. In the story also there is a quality of humor to it, making me chuckle at times. But still this book is ONLY for older people, NOT for younger children, due to language and innuendos. Most of the reviewers have given less than 5 stars for this book, saying it was very different and not as good as Dick Francis' other books. I cannot agree or disagree with that since this is my first book of his to read and I think 5 stars is very much indeed accurate. I'm now also reading "To the Hilt" which I'm finding VERY interesting and exciting to read!
Rating: 
Summary: One of his best.
Review: A very interesting story about a Young jockey and his father. His father is running for a seat in county goverment.
Rating: 
Summary: I Lost My Money
Review: After dozens of winners, Dick Francis finally writes an also-ran. 10-Lb Penalty has none of the suspense that Francis usually does so well. The subtleties of character and the many words unspoken cannot save this story from its plodding plot. The beginning is good; the end would work fine if the middle weren't so bland. It's predictable. And boring. Francis is one of my all-time favorite authors. I've read all of his other books several times. If you're a long-time fan, read this one because it's Francis. If you're new to Francis, start with To The Hilt, Nerve, or The Edge. I guess you can't win them all.
Rating:
Summary: Another winner from Francis
Review: After having read all of his books, Dick Francis still knows how to make the reader guess, guess, and guess again. Although this book is slightly 'tamer' than his usual passionate, rough and ready style, it is still a classic Francis. Read him, and read him again. Brilliant!
Rating:
Summary: Good entertaining read
Review: After reading the other reviews of this book, I picked it up with some trepidation. I was however pleasantly pleased with the book. The link to horses and horse racing is not as strong as in other Francis' novels, but that is only important if you reading his novels for that link alone. The story and characters are well rounded and are interesting. There is suspense and naturally excitement as the story progresses. It doesn't quite follow Mr Francis' typical template, but I for one enjoyed the change from the usual.
In short, another good read from one of my favourite authours.
Rating: 
Summary: not very exciting
Review: Although you can't ever go really wrong with Dick Francis, this book is one of his weakest. There just isn't a whole lot of excitement. The villans are pretty tame and the storyline pretty dull. Not a bad book, but not great.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: An extremely mature work. Most mysteries are about disgusting people doing disgusting things. Suddenly, Dick Francis pops out of the blue with honorable people trying their hardest to do the right thing. I actually came away from the work wanting to meet the characters. I don't know what's up with the negative reviews. I guess if you have a negative self image, you wouldn't like, or even understand, a book about decent people.
Rating:
Summary: Francis equally deft in political and equine races
Review: Another exciting thrill ride from one of my favorite authors. In this book, "the turf" takes a supporting role behind a much nastier arena, the world of elective politics. The narrator, Benedict , is the teenage son of George Juliard, a charismatic upstart parliamentary candidate. The father-son relationship forms the centerpiece of the story with some very dirty politicking to keep things interesting. The typical Francis "voice" sounds just a bit out of place coming from a 17-year-old, but as everyone around him learns very quickly, Ben is no ordinary teenager. The villains are predictably nasty: a local codger with a wandering eye and a taste for arson, and a slimy corporate type who wants to be the power, if not behind the throne, then at least behind the movers and shakers in Parliament. There's also an absolutely poisonous journalist/papparazzo who pops up with the odd character assassination every once in awhile Their cumulative efforts to get revenge on Ben and his increasingly prominent father get lamer as they go along. But at the same time, the father-son story becomes more and more compelling. Francis' grasp of the minutiae of the political process is dead on. Even if you've never experienced an election in the UK, many of the activities and characters have their equals on this side of "the pond" as well. This has joined my top list of Francis books, along with Wild Horses and Straight. I only hope that Mr. Francis' health stays robust so he can keep entertaining us for many a year!
Rating: 
Summary: The always reliable Francis disappoints
Review: As a fan reader of Francis, I must say that this book really disappointed me. As someone already mentioned in his review: a good beggining, then at half the way, the book falls into a self-complacent and too convenient ending. As a portrait of English politics, Jeffrey Archer's "First Among Equals" is a much better read. From Francis, I will always prefer the elegance of "Banker".
Rating:
Summary: Not one of Francis' best
Review: As a huge fan of Francis' novels, especially his earlier work, I've noticed that his more recent books lack consistency. 10 lb. Penalty is one of his weaker efforts. The politician father is too perfect for real life; a little more conflict in his character would have made the story of his rise much more interesting. And as for the narrator son, what teenage boy is so willing to devote his life to the advancement of a father he barely knows? The unrealistic characters and lack of internal conflict are unusual for a writer who is usually so strong in this area. Still, not a bad plot in terms of the bad guys.
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