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By: Dick Francis
Narrated by: Tony Britton
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About this listen

It's the third death on Cheltenham Gold Cup Day that really troubles super-sleuth Sid Halley. Former champion jockey Halley knows the perils of racing all too well – but in his day, jockeys didn't usually reach the finishing line with three .38 rounds in the chest. But this is precisely how he finds jockey Huw Walker – who, only a few hours earlier, had won the coveted Triumph Hurdle.

Just moments before the gruesome discovery, Halley had been called upon by Lord Enstone to make discreet enquiries into why his horses appeared to be on a permanent losing streak. Are races being fixed? Are bookies taking a cut? And if so, are trainers and jockeys playing a dangerous game with stakes far higher than they realise?

Halley's quest for answers draws him ever deeper into the darker side of the race game, in a life-or-death power play that will push him to his very limits – both professionally and personally.

©2006 Dick Francis (P)2014 2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd. Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Game Sports Animal Sports

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Critic reviews

"Beloved series character Sid Halley, a champion jockey, makes a welcome return in the latest fast-paced crime novel from bestseller Francis....The writing and action are as crisp as ever." ( Publishers Weekly)
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As always a brilliantly written tale told by a narrator that brings it to life as no other could

Dick Francis, always a winner

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This was my very first time of using Audible. Enjoyed is so much I downloaded next in series.

Excellent.

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Tony Britton's narration in this production is not his best - I don't think he chose the right voices especially for the female characters and his accents made me cringe. It felt poor in terms of depicting the emotions of the characters.
Although the storyline is reasonable I felt the Internet gambling detail was too much and too complex - it felt like Dick Francis was showing off about his research.
Overall it was disappointing to listen to and I wouldn't recommend it as a first introduction to the (mostly) fast and exciting Dick Francis books
Definitely not his best and really disappointing as a Sid Halley story

Disappointing

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Everything in the open and still twists. Britton sounds a bit old and can't do the young voices well anymore. Bolinda improving on the simple task of recording but still has noticeable edits.

classic Francis format

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All aspects excellent. Beautifully narrated, with all parts and nationalities credible.Plot
follow able,.I am enjoying audible more and more

As good as any

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well read. enjoyable story
always enjoy dick Francis books..and audible is a great experience. would recommend

good book

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Francis's books are great and this one is no exception. I like the plot, the characters are likeable as usual and the narration is superb. The quality of the sound is thankfully good.
Dick Francis has a great gift of adding another layer to his books by adding thoughts on the society, functioning of institutions etc. I also like Francis gives good insight into what is relevant to the plot, like betting in this case.

Great book

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Sid Halley, the jockey turned PI returns to make his 4th appearance in a Dick Francis novel. For me, this is probably his weakest showing (Odds Against being the best Halley novel). Overall it is a typical Dick Francis story, there's something not right in the steeplchasing world and Halley has to sniff it out. However, the plot is pretty thin - the characters (apart from those we already know like Halley and Roland) are one dimensional, and the case is largely solved with about a third of the novel still to go. Generally fine, hence 4 stars, but well beaten by many other Francis books, particularly the older ones.

Middle of the pack

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Great story-line, which kept me guessing until the end, excellently read (as ever). One of the best Dick Francis books I have read.

Gripping plot!

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Brilliant story as usual love listening to anything which is Sid Halley, looking forward to listening to the next one.

Sid Halley

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