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Narrated by:
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Clare Corbett
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By:
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Felix Francis
About this listen
New York Times–bestselling author Felix Francis is back in the newest thrilling adventure in the Dick Francis tradition.
A smartly dressed man has been found unconscious at the local racecourse and is rushed to the hospital, where he subsequently dies. But who is he? Where does he come from? He had no form of identification on him, and no one claims the body.
Doctor Chris Rankin, a specialist who treated the deceased—and who struggles with mental health issues—is intrigued by the nameless dead man, obsessed even, and starts asking questions. However, someone doesn’t want the questions answered and will go to any lengths to prevent it, including an attempted murder.
But when no one will believe that someone tried to kill Chris, the doctor is left with no option but to discover who the nameless man was and why he died … preferably before following him into an early grave.
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Nicholas “Foxy” Foxton, a former jockey who suffered a career-ending injury, is out for a day at the Grand National races when his friend and coworker Herb Kovak is murdered, execution style, right in front of him—and 60,000 other potential witnesses. Foxton and Kovak were both independent financial advisers at Lyall Black, a firm specializing in extreme-risk investments.
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Frustration
- By Anonymous User on 08-24-11
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To the Hilt
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Relaxed Entertainment
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Hands Down
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After receiving death threats, an ex-jockey trainer friend calls Sid, a private investigator, to ask for his help, but Sid has his own problems to deal with, like recovering from surgery and saving his crumbling marriage. When his friend's stable yard is torched and the friend is found dead, Sid can only blame himself for not helping sooner. The police think it's suicide, but Sid is not convinced after his friend's terrified phone calls. With a guilty heart, Sid starts to investigate and soon finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that cuts to the very heart of British horse racing.
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Good book, and well narrated
- By Matthew on 12-26-22
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Forfeit
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When reporter Bert Chekov falls to his death, his colleague James Tyrone is suspicious. Chekov’s column had recently recommended some ‘can’t-lose’ horses, who then wound up out of the running on race day. Tyrone thinks he can prove it was murder, but he may not live to tell the tale. Because as the dead man has already made clear, there’s no such thing as a sure thing...
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The plot was intriguing
- By Jaguar on 12-26-24
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Silks
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From Dick Francis and his son, Felix, comes Geoffrey Mason - a defense barrister whose true passion is riding his thoroughbred. Mason's two lives collide when a fellow jockey is accused of murdering a colleague with a pitchfork. Mason prefers not to get involved. But soon he is torn between doing what's right - and what will keep him alive.
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Boring!
- By mrtoybox on 07-21-18
By: Dick Francis, and others
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Rat Race
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Hired to fly four racing buffs to the track, pilot Matt Shore expects it will be the kind of job he likes: quick and easy. That is until he’s forced to make an emergency landing just minutes before the plane explodes. Luckily nobody is hurt, but it isn’t long before Matt realizes that he’s caught up in a rat race among violent criminals, who are dead set on putting anyone who stands in their way on the wrong side of the odds.
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Vintage Francis
- By MICHAEL on 06-05-23
By: Dick Francis
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Dick Francis's Gamble
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Nicholas “Foxy” Foxton, a former jockey who suffered a career-ending injury, is out for a day at the Grand National races when his friend and coworker Herb Kovak is murdered, execution style, right in front of him—and 60,000 other potential witnesses. Foxton and Kovak were both independent financial advisers at Lyall Black, a firm specializing in extreme-risk investments.
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Frustration
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To the Hilt
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Overall
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Performance
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Featuring the gripping plot, dramatic settings and believable characters that listeners have come to expect from Dick Francis, To the Hilt displays the master at the top of his form.
-
-
Relaxed Entertainment
- By R. Pontiflet on 05-11-17
By: Dick Francis
-
Hands Down
- A Dick Francis Novel
- By: Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After receiving death threats, an ex-jockey trainer friend calls Sid, a private investigator, to ask for his help, but Sid has his own problems to deal with, like recovering from surgery and saving his crumbling marriage. When his friend's stable yard is torched and the friend is found dead, Sid can only blame himself for not helping sooner. The police think it's suicide, but Sid is not convinced after his friend's terrified phone calls. With a guilty heart, Sid starts to investigate and soon finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that cuts to the very heart of British horse racing.
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Good book, and well narrated
- By Matthew on 12-26-22
By: Felix Francis
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Forfeit
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- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
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Overall
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Performance
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When reporter Bert Chekov falls to his death, his colleague James Tyrone is suspicious. Chekov’s column had recently recommended some ‘can’t-lose’ horses, who then wound up out of the running on race day. Tyrone thinks he can prove it was murder, but he may not live to tell the tale. Because as the dead man has already made clear, there’s no such thing as a sure thing...
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The plot was intriguing
- By Jaguar on 12-26-24
By: Dick Francis
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Silks
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- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
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From Dick Francis and his son, Felix, comes Geoffrey Mason - a defense barrister whose true passion is riding his thoroughbred. Mason's two lives collide when a fellow jockey is accused of murdering a colleague with a pitchfork. Mason prefers not to get involved. But soon he is torn between doing what's right - and what will keep him alive.
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Boring!
- By mrtoybox on 07-21-18
By: Dick Francis, and others
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Rat Race
- By: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Ian Ogilvy
- Length: 6 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Hired to fly four racing buffs to the track, pilot Matt Shore expects it will be the kind of job he likes: quick and easy. That is until he’s forced to make an emergency landing just minutes before the plane explodes. Luckily nobody is hurt, but it isn’t long before Matt realizes that he’s caught up in a rat race among violent criminals, who are dead set on putting anyone who stands in their way on the wrong side of the odds.
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Vintage Francis
- By MICHAEL on 06-05-23
By: Dick Francis
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Dead Heat
- By: Dick Francis, Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Max Moreton is a rising culinary star and his Newmarket restaurant, The Hay Net, has brought him great acclaim and a widening circle of admirers. But when nearly all the guests who enjoyed one of his meals at a private catered affair fall victim to severe food poisoning, his kitchen is shuttered and his reputation takes a hit.
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Dead Heat
- By Liz Hart on 09-26-07
By: Dick Francis, and others
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Knockdown
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- Length: 6 hrs and 1 min
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
For a generous commission, ex-prizewinning jockey Jonah Dereham reluctantly agrees to bid on a young steeplechaser on behalf of a wealthy American woman. But his life is thrust into danger immediately following the auction, when he receives a blow to the head by two thugs demanding ownership of the horse.
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A Classic Dick Francis Story
- By Gregg MacDonald on 02-16-23
By: Dick Francis
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The Danger
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- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Kidnapping is Andrew Douglas's business: they take them, he finds them. But it isn't so simple when Alessia Cenci, golden-girl jockey, disappears, followed by the young child of a derby winner and the senior steward of the Jockey Club. From Italy to England to Washington, D.C., Andrew's caseload is suddenly, violently overflowing. And he must fight triply hard to keep his own name off the growing list of victims.
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Good but disturbing
- By oseedee on 06-08-23
By: Dick Francis
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Slay Ride
- By: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
hampion jockey Robert Sherman has disappeared right before his wife was about to give birth. And right before he was sure to win the National. A coincidence? British investigator David Cleveland doesn’t think so. He’s convinced someone made Sherman disappear, but with every answer David gets, the body count rises. And if he isn’t careful, the next body might just be his own.
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Slay Ride : review
- By Consuelo B. Graham on 01-28-23
By: Dick Francis
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Driving Force
- By: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
A dead hitchhiker, empty canisters found at the bottom of several trucks, and the murder of a harmless mechanic are the bizarre events that lead ex-jockey Freddie Croft to suspect that his transport company, Driving Force, is involved in drug smuggling, or something far worse.
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A Good Suspenseful Mystery....
- By R. Pontiflet on 04-12-15
By: Dick Francis
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For Kicks
- By: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Australian horse breeder Daniel Roke had resisted the exorbitant sum of money offered by a suave Englishman to investigate a scandal involving drugged racehorses. But after another investigator dies mysteriously, Roke agrees to fill his shoes, and learns that men who would give drugs to horses are capable of doing much worse to human beings …
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One of my favorite Dick Francis books!
- By Sharon G. on 06-10-23
By: Dick Francis
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Wild Horses
- By: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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When Thomas Lyon decides to make a movie based on an unsolved crime that shocked the horseracing world in Wild Horses, he discovers that someone will do anything - including commit murder - to make sure this story isn't told.
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Loved this Book - Problems with the download fixed
- By Casey on 07-31-11
By: Dick Francis
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Nerve
- By: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Despair, suicide, and obsessive hatred, mixed well with humor, love, and horses, brew up into the story of a battle between one man's nerve and another man's cunning. Robert Finn, steeplechase jockey, finds himself the focus of a malicious campaign, which is also afflicting his friends. He sets out to discover its source and remove it.
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One of Francis' Best
- By Darc on 11-08-22
By: Dick Francis
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Trial Run
- By: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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The last place veteran horseman Randall Drew wanted to go was Moscow. But when his royal highness the prince asks a favor, one doesn’t refuse. The Royal Family is worried about the prince’s brother in law, who aims to make the Olympics. Unfortunately a jealous Russian rider has sworn to kill him if he sets one hoof in Moscow. So Randall leaves his thoroughbred horses and loving girlfriend to investigate. But what he finds is more than jealousy. It’s a terrifying track of sabotage and murder. And now that he knows, the killer is after him.
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Excellent
- By karen on 05-07-24
By: Dick Francis
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Field of Thirteen
- By: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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A superbly crafted collection of thirteen tightly plotted tales that treats listeners to murder, mystery, and mayhem in the world of horseracing. With his remarkable blend of unrelenting suspense, finely tuned narrative, and lean, stylish prose, New York Times bestselling author Dick Francis proves that he is as much a master of the short story as he is of the novel in this thrilling collection.
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Great narrator
- By Consuelo B. Graham on 11-22-22
By: Dick Francis
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Comeback
- By: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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When globe-hopping British First Secretary Peter Darwin returns to his childhood home for a visit, he is sorry. Waiting for him were long-hidden memories, a string of racehorse deaths and homicide. As Darwin begins to realize that the key to all of it involves his own past, he wishes he'd never come back, because he just might never leave again—alive.
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Like the story, but sound was weird
- By Jeanette on 11-07-22
By: Dick Francis
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Straight
- By: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Steeplechase jockey Derek Franklin has had more broken bones than he cares to count, but it seems his latest injury could very well bring his days on the race course to a screeching halt. But that’s the least of his concerns when his brother turns up dead, leaving Derek as the sole inheritor of his estate. It doesn’t take long for Derek to learn that his brother—a magistrate who imported and sold semiprecious stones—was keeping more than his share of secrets.
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Dick Francis and Simon Prebble
- By CarolinaBlue on 03-07-23
By: Dick Francis
Critic reviews
“[Felix Francis] has filled the family stable with more winners, including this one … wonderfully evocative … riveting throughout. Exciting at every turn.”—Booklist (starred review)
What listeners say about Pulse
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
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Performance
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- MarkSr
- 04-24-18
I was cautious of a "girl" mystery.
A little caveman of me I guess. In the end a good tale. More than once it put me to sleep, but not out of bordom, but I think contentment.
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- Jennifer B. Huber
- 01-31-19
Not an escape, but a well written tale
Heroine has depression and anorexia; hard to listen to, especially the latter. My least favorite of the Felix Francis books.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Kirk
- 11-28-17
Ruined by ending
Character was interesting and very different. Took a long time to tie in the usual racing element but then very good.
But the ending... There is a valid reason I suppose for the illogical actions near the end but still not satisfying and one line at the climax pretty much ruined the whole thing for me. Particularly with the additude in the prolog.
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- keep it simple
- 02-09-22
Great twist on traditional Dick Francis novels
Loved that the protagonist was a strong, smart woman. I've never read a Dick Francis novel before with a woman being the focus of the story. Really enjoyed the suspense, and it was a great story that was very believable. Good job Felix!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Judith Mosher
- 10-27-17
mostly good
it was very slow starting, I almost have up. it did get better and was very suspenseful 2nd half.
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2 people found this helpful
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- J. Price
- 10-19-17
SIMPLY SUPERLATIVE!!
Having read every single Dick/Felix Francis book (some several times, over the years), this was for me by far the best in years. I cannot recall any previous female main characters in the series, so this beleaguered doctor was a fresh and welcome new voice. The author has clearly thoroughly researched emergency physicians' knowledge and practices, and the dilemmas faced by this protagonist's struggles with OCD/anorexia are remarkably accurate and insightful, IMO, having similar challenges myself. Her inner dialog was a welcome ingredient to a superbly woven complex tapestry. I'm continually amazed at the imaginative ways this series creates credible scenarios within the racing industry. I was also quite pleased with the end -- spinning out the aftermath satisfactorily, vs. an "and they all lived happily ever after" approach. Finally, the narration was superb and I hope to discover other interesting books read by this narrator. For lovers of this ongoing series, PULSE is very strongly recommended!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Susie
- 11-07-17
Wonderful!
Beautiful voice! Super book. I enjoyed it so much!
Thank you Felix Francis for your marvelous work!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Michael W. Ruth
- 03-13-22
Did you ever despise a protagonist?
I've read/listened to all of the Dick Francis novels and thoroughly enjoyed them, but I must admit it's been awhile since I consumed those beautiful works of fiction. This is my 2nd Felix Francis novel and while it certainly sounds like a continuation of those wonderful marvels that his father scribed, I can't help but feel the protagonists in these seem like they are lucky to have survived at all, given how absolutely not "on guard" they were once they poked the hornet's nest. I mean, he made Sid Halley look almost inept in Refusal, and in this one, maybe its misogyny, but I couldn't help but extremely dislike the main character.
Certainly I can posit that it's my lack of understanding about mental ailments, but Chris I would have had committed until she figured herself out and I would have had her under observation 24/7 by video, geotagging, or whatever I needed to keep track of her. I would have sat her down until I saw her eat and watched her afterwards to make sure she didn't purge. Some of my strongest emotions during either listening/reading literature or watching a film are empathy, sympathy, sadness, or anger (and probably a few others). For Chris, I had little but disdain. I just couldn't find it in me to cheer for her in any way. Perhaps it was the way it was written, certainly I have seen mental illness portrayed in fiction before and cheered on the patient, reveled in their ability to fight back and beat it, or felt their pain when dealing with it. But with Chris, I just wanted her to fail, though I knew she would not.
I have a few more Felix Francis books to go, I just hope he portrays his protagonists as a tad more intelligent and less inept, or at least thoughtless about their personal security.
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- Susan Moore
- 10-30-24
Captivating story
I loved that the main character is a strong imperfect woman whose problems were not easily recognized and solved. I could feel what she felt. Fantastic narration!
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- Kindle Customer
- 02-08-18
Hugely satisfying! Best "Francis" ever!
Very good treatment of mental illness, describing what it feels like from the inside. By contrast, Dick Francis' "Blood Sport" left me rather depressed, with no resolution to Gene Hawkins' mental state (if I'm remembering correctly after 40 years). I have been a Dick Francis fan since I was a teenager in the early '70's, and I've read every single Dick and Felix Francis book. I had a little trepidation when Felix took over, and it did seem like at first the stories weren't quite as emotionally deep, however, that feeling didn't last long. Truth be told, I think Felix had been helping out the stories quite a bit toward the end of Dick's life. In any case, he's certainly got the formula down pat.
This story is a good balance of all the elements: pace, action, emotion, suspense, satisfaction, even believability. Having struggled with depression myself most of my life, I could identify with Chris Rankin, the protagonist. I would like to recommend this book to anyone who has someone struggling with mental health in their life.
I never write book or product reviews, but I felt so strongly about this book that I had to express a little of what I felt after listening to it twice in a row (it was that good).
A word about the reader (performer): Clare Corbett was excellent! Supurb accents, emotions, different voices, etc. Just an all-around good performance!
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9 people found this helpful