Alright, here’s the deal with Iced - it’s a book that really wants you to feel for Miles, a jockey turned, well, mostly still a mess. Felix Francis has followed in his father Dick's hoofprints (pun intended), delivering another horse racing thriller wrapped in all the familiar elements of crime and suspense. But let me tell you, Miles’ self-pitying sob-fests almost made me want to reach into the book and slap him. I’m more of a suck it up, buttercup type when it comes to characters, so his vodka tears did not evoke the sympathy you might expect. Nope, no warm fuzzies here. I was rooting for him to get it together, and the fact that he eventually does as an older, wiser guy... well, thank goodness for that.
The pacing? Not exactly heart-pounding. It was more of a slow-burn crime novel than a full-throttle thriller. If you’re looking for edge-of-your-seat suspense, you might want to look elsewhere. That being said, the mystery of who’s trying to off Miles did keep me guessing, even if I was a little too quick to suspect the wrong people. It’s always fun to get misdirected, and Felix Francis does that with the best of them. The twist? Oh, it’s a good one. Jerry, his boss, trying to kill him? Plot twist of the century, or at least of the book. And how Miles gets his revenge? Chef’s kiss.
As for the horse racing side of things, it’s obviously central, as expected. Miles’ old jockey days and the gritty reality of the sport are woven into the story, but I think what really grabbed me was the addition of the Cresta Run. That bit was a nice change of pace—pun totally intended.
Now, let’s talk about the supporting cast. I mean, if you can make me actively dislike your main character—props to you, Felix. Seriously. The characters around Miles are solid, especially the ones who make you really want to see him succeed, even if I wasn’t completely on his team.
I didn’t love Iced as much as some of Felix’s other books or his father’s works. There’s something about the whining and the constant drama about his dad’s legacy that just didn’t do it for me. But I’ll say this: if you’re into horse racing or enjoy a good crime mystery, this book might just fit the bill. It’s got the right amount of twists, believable danger, and a well-executed payback moment that I didn’t see coming.
So, would I recommend it? Yes, if you’re a horse racing enthusiast or just into a nice, meaty crime story. But if you like your protagonists less... whiny and more action-oriented, you might want to steer clear.
