Dick Francis

I am a Dick Francis fan because his plots have the balance of mystery, suspense and comfortable characters and at a nice pace. This is a typically good story. My one complaint would be that the reader sounded so much older than the characters.

4 people found this helpful

Read this one First

If you like one Dick Francis mystery, you will probably like them all (if you get a good reader - which is usually the case fortunately). He wrote four mysteries featuring ex-jockey Sid Halley: Odds Against (1965); Whip Hand (1979); Come to Grief (1995); and Under Orders (2006). Even though the books span 40 years, the elapsed time within/between all the stories is about 3 or 4 years. Technology advances with the times from book to book and we aren't supposed to notice that as readers. After all, it's really the mysteries and Francis' quality writing that we're here for, isn't it?

3 people found this helpful

excellent read

My husband and I thoughly enjoyed this audio book. The narrator always plays an important role and this book like all of Dick Francis's books was truly engrossing. Carmen Miller

2 people found this helpful

A great read (listen.)

I hadn't yet met the central character in this story, a former jocky with a maimed hand, and I found him very sympathetic. His courage, lack of self-pity and sensitivity to the feelings of others similarly afflicted gives him an engaging depth. I took further satisfaction Francis's choice of villians: men who destroy beauty to make money on building ugly houses. He shows them as the villians I feel them to be. The narrator does a wonderful job.

5 people found this helpful

Deceptively effortless grace

The genius of Dick Francis lay in his ability to deal with chilling, even grotesque violence and the most visceral of emotions with the kind of sure handed restraint that a great jockey uses to bring a hurtling thoroughbred safely and even stylishly through a madly jostling pack to the finished line and the winner's circle. He created heart stopping action sequences, psychological horror scenes and suspense which is sustained far past what should be the breaking point and did it all in an understated tone which would not be out of place at high tea. The result is an exquisite tension. He also had a habit of constructing action sequences which feature intelligent improvisation from his hero rather than brute force or unerring marksmanship.

Sid Halley is one of the few leading characters who recur in Francis's books, and it is easy to see why he returned to him several times. This outing introduces the injured steeple chase jockey turned investigator, and half way through listening I had already resolved to read all the other books in which he appears. His working class roots, athlete's resilient tenacity and chess player's mind are a fascinating combination. If you have not read anything by Dick Francis, this is as good a place as any to begin.

1 person found this helpful

Classic

I always enjoy Dick Francis novels. His characters and plots are interesting. I have always loved the character of Sid Halley with his tragic past. He's very well-rounded. The peripheral characters play important roles, not just window dressing. The plot of Odds Against is compelling, and if you don't know a lot about the British racing world, well, you'll learn a bit. The end had an interesting twist, because even though you know what's going on, you don't know the whole of it.
I also enjoy listening to Tony Britton. He keeps the story moving without being overly emotive.
Overall, if you enjoy a nice suspense story, you'll like this one.

1 person found this helpful

Listened again on: 31Mar2022

Excellent as usual. Loved the ending. Beautifully Done By narrator - excellent match. Outstanding pace and diction. A pleasure to listen to.

Worst reading by Tony Britton

I usually enjoy Mr. Britton’s readings of Dick Francis books. However, this performance is dull and lifeless, as though he was very ill or sleep deprived. They have re-recorded many of Mr. Francis’ books. In almost all instances I prefer the earlier recordings. In earlier recordings Mr. Britton seems to try harder to give characters their own voices. In more recent renditions he ‘reads’ more impersonally with far less effort at projecting the characters personalities. A real disappointment as the older, better recordings are replaced by Audible and impossible to access.

Great Story

I love all the Dick Francis books and this one is no exception. Tony Britton did a great job with the narration.

This is just a great classic British mystery!

One of the best, AND narrated by Tony Britton

I have listened to most of the Dick Francis books on Audible and this is my favorite. Tony Britton should have narrated the whole lot of them. Recommend Hot Money too. Someone needs to clean up the recordings a bit -- this one sounds better than Hot Money.