Rat Race by Dick Francis

Another flying story. This time we have Matt Shore, a commercial pilot whose career who has been in a downward spiral ever since he resigned from a command at BOAC at the request of his wife who objected to his frequent absences. Naturally, she left him anyway. So he has progressed in a negative direction to lesser carriers, to gun-running in Africa, to crop dusting, finally to working for a small air-taxi service largely engaged in carrying jockeys, trainers, and horse owners to the races. Bet you were wondering how Francis was going to make the racing connection this time.

Matt's depression isn't as severe as Gene Hawkins, who had taken to sleeping with a loaded pistol in case he decided to go ahead and kill himself in the night. Matt just hangs around a dilapidated trailer on the airfield and calculates how little money he has left after he pays the alimony every month and being thankful that he and his wife had never had children.

He is dragged back to life in spite of himself by some of the engaging people he encounters as he ferries them to and from racecourses all over Europe. One of them, of course, is a young girl, the sister of the most famous steeplechase jockey in the country. Matt is 34, Nancy is 19. Another young person who makes a difference to Matt is another Matthew, the ten year old nephew and heir of a peer. The nephew does his best to protect his uncle, who is a man of great wealth and sweetness of character - and very little intelligence or discernment - from those who would take advantage of him.

The criminal enterprise of the plot is truly perverse - and must, I think, take advantage of some of the areas of the British economy which are not tied up and gifted to the 1% in this country.