Blindfold Book

Some will read Lyndon Stacey's Blindfold because it's another promising thriller set in the world of racing à la Dick Francis, and some won't read it for the same reason. After all, who could better the Master in this territory? Actually, Stacey's publishers are not just using hyperbole when they call the author Francis's heir apparent--in some ways, this highly adroit piece has a more sophisticated level of characterisation than even Francis himself ever attempted. This is not just thriller writing in the ordinary way of business, although it is certainly stirring and entertaining, and also lean and concise, registering precisely the effects it aims for while not wasting time on anything else. The protagonist here is the animal behaviourist and artist Gideon Blake, who makes a living from his specialised field. One night, in the depths of winter, Gideon finds his home violently invaded, and he is taken to a secret location. There he is given a bizarre task: to bring under control a stallion that threatens the life and limb of anyone who approaches it. Gideon is told that the job will have an even more dangerous twist: he will be handcuffed and blindfolded. Few thrillers (in the racing field or otherwise) have such an arresting opening section as this one; it's inevitable, however, that when the revelations of the complex plot open up for Gideon and the reader, they will not have the same impact (we've been in this territory before). But Stacey is a highly original author, and many of the characters are not typical for this kind of tale: the villains are distinctively characterised, and the requisite tension-breaking moments never really impede the forward momentum of the plot. Towards the end, Gideon's special way with animals becomes crucial to the plot, and we realise that his profession is no mere window-dressing on the author's part. As a writer, Stacey's not a stylist, but he certainly knows how to deliver an invigorating experience for the reader. --Barry ForshawRead More