The 35th in the series of Dick Francis’s horse and race track inspired mysteries; ‘To the Hilt’ is the story of a painter - Alexander Kinloch - a descendant of Bonnie Prince Charlie, the nephew of a Scottish earl. He lives in a ‘bothy’- a shelter used by Highlanders, which is sans electricity and modern amenities, and earns his livelihood by selling his paintings. The land belongs to his Uncle Robert, who likes to be called ‘Himself’- a lovable, humorous and eccentric character.
Al is a sensitive, likable character, slightly scarred from the loss of his father in a shooting accident, and the fact that he must always be the shoulder that bears the mantle of responsibility - adds to the woebegone appeal of the artist, who paints golf courses. Alexander was bequeathed the jewel encrusted ceremonial sword with gold hilt. And apparently this is the reason why thugs break into his meager home, assault him and demand that he reveals where it is?
But before he is tempted to lick his wounds, Alexander’s mother Vivienne, seeks his help to tend to his ailing step father, Ivan, who has suffered a heart attack. In the aftermath of the sad state of his father’s health, Alexander also learns that the old man’s brewery business has almost shut down, and the finance director has embezzled millions, and has since disappeared. It is now left to Al to put the pieces together, and sort out his parents’ messy business affairs. All this while, Alexander spends his time plagued with thoughts of the mountains and his art.
It is but natural for Dick Francis to add the essential element to all his narratives - the horse. Al is somewhat bemused that Ivan needs his help to ‘hide’ Golden Malt, his stepfather’s steeplechaser, who is to run in the King Alfred Gold Cup; the catch is that Patsy, Al’s stepsister, has designs on the horse herself, and he won’t run, if it were left to her! How Ivan could’ve gathered that Alexander would be the best man to hide the horse - is an idea that has taken root after Uncle ‘Himself’ insinuates that Al is good at this sort of thing (Himself has bequeathed the Hilt in his nephew’s safekeeping). Alexander’s ex - wife is also a rider; he goes onto have an emotional breakthrough with her in due course.
"Men were right to be afraid of women, I concluded," Al thinks at one point, "the witch lived near the surface in all of them." The women characters are either lovable or downright evil – his mother is the former, his step sister the latter. His relationship with Vivienne is interesting, and undergoes a sea change when she finally allows her emotional side to surface at Ivan’s death. He is also the narrator in the story, and makes for a decent story teller with his appealing straight forwardness and kindliness.
‘To the Hilt’ confronts the superficiality of people, no matter where they are placed and what their station in life. Al is the unlikely hero in a vicious situation with exemplary principles and integrity - you could knight him! The moral aspect of right and wrong, heroes and villains – all fall by the way side, it is the theme that peels away at the façade of righteousness which appeals to the readers.
Al is a sensitive, likable character, slightly scarred from the loss of his father in a shooting accident, and the fact that he must always be the shoulder that bears the mantle of responsibility - adds to the woebegone appeal of the artist, who paints golf courses. Alexander was bequeathed the jewel encrusted ceremonial sword with gold hilt. And apparently this is the reason why thugs break into his meager home, assault him and demand that he reveals where it is?
But before he is tempted to lick his wounds, Alexander’s mother Vivienne, seeks his help to tend to his ailing step father, Ivan, who has suffered a heart attack. In the aftermath of the sad state of his father’s health, Alexander also learns that the old man’s brewery business has almost shut down, and the finance director has embezzled millions, and has since disappeared. It is now left to Al to put the pieces together, and sort out his parents’ messy business affairs. All this while, Alexander spends his time plagued with thoughts of the mountains and his art.
"Men were right to be afraid of women, I concluded," Al thinks at one point, "the witch lived near the surface in all of them." The women characters are either lovable or downright evil – his mother is the former, his step sister the latter. His relationship with Vivienne is interesting, and undergoes a sea change when she finally allows her emotional side to surface at Ivan’s death. He is also the narrator in the story, and makes for a decent story teller with his appealing straight forwardness and kindliness.
‘To the Hilt’ confronts the superficiality of people, no matter where they are placed and what their station in life. Al is the unlikely hero in a vicious situation with exemplary principles and integrity - you could knight him! The moral aspect of right and wrong, heroes and villains – all fall by the way side, it is the theme that peels away at the façade of righteousness which appeals to the readers.
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