Dick Francis's Gamble

By: Felix Francis

Narrated by: John Keating

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Felix Francis continues his father’s New York Times bestselling legacy with another edge-of-your-seat story that’s classic Francis.

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.

As he struggles to come to terms with Kovak’s seemingly inexplicable death, Foxton begins to question everything, from how well he knew his friend to how much he understands about his employer. Was Kovak’s murder a case of mistaken identity...or something more sinister?

“[Felix Francis] has one priceless advantage. He couldn’t have had a better teacher.”—The Washington Times

©2011 Dick Frances Corporation (P)2011 Recorded Books

Felix Francis as good as Dick Francis

I always looked forward to reading Dick Francis books. I am glad to find that his son is able to carry on the tradition with the same wit and talent.
Thank you Felix, I look forward to reading many more of your books.

Hard to handle

Holy smokes, I love Dick Francis. I love the whole book series. But this reader is not well-suited to this genre. His pronunciation is excellent but his tempo and tone are more suited to operations manuals. Or perhaps instructions for amateur plumbers. He would definitely talk you down off a ledge but does not imbibe any excitement into the text.

A good whodunnit in the style of Dick Francis

I enjoyed the story with some great action and plot twists. there's certainly could be better editing done. The Americans were using patently British terms such as "going on holiday" which no American would say. I found the narration to be someone distracting. it was read well by John Keating but, the Irishman doing an English accent came out seemingly Australian?

entertaining listen

fun page turner - nonstop audio! I read all Dick Francis’s books over 30yr ago….. yes Iam getting old, but now it would be great to listen to all of the books on audio! Looking forward to it!

reader could have been better

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The guy reading this book sounded like he was reading directions on a soup can label. I would get someone who could put a little more "oomph" into the reading.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Kept falling asleep listening to the reading & never got to hear the ending.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Poor reading style

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

don't know

Any additional comments?

I have loved Dick Francis books for many years. This audible rendition left much to be desired.

Almost as good as his dad

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, definitely. if they like Dick Francis his son Felix will impress. The story was well worth the listening time and would listen again to any of Felix's books.

Like Father, Like Son...

I'm sure that Felix had been writing much of the final "Dick Francis" series for his aging father, which allowed him to do such a great job with his first solo offering, "Gamble". While I could have enjoyed an abridged version of the story more than this lengthy tomb, the storyline is actually very good. Not just standard Dick Francis, but enough of the family story telling formula and horseracing DNA to leverage his father's popularity, while allowing Felix to begin building his own unique brand of excitement. An imaginative and believable plot set in current day with plenty of realism brought out by obviously extensive research. Very impressive! I look forward to his next story. Keep 'em coming, Felix! Your father would be quite proud...

Thank goodness

I was so sad when I learned that Dick Francis had died but his son's talent has allowed me to continue to enjoy glimpses into the world of steeplechase and the lives of the men and women who inhabit it. Thank you Mr. Felix Frances for carrying on the tradition. Clearly talent can be passed on. I am just grateful you choose to nourish and use yours.

Not nearly as good as it should have been.

I'm having a problem with the characterization of women in these stories. At first I thought it was a hatred of women, but in this one they start out somewhat normal then they got uniquely stupid. Having had the killer try for the whole family in Moms home and dying, they flee. But after a week away his Mom & fiance both start whining that they want to go home to sleep in their own bed! That is a bad scene it puts off the whole story. Then the whole main character talks to one of his boss who berates him for not showing up & he doesn't mention the little thing of having 2 attempts on his life! Really silly little mistakes that change a great franchise into a 'well, finally that's over'

A Surprisingly Complex and Interesting Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This story follows my rules of a good book. It does NOT have graphic sex and violence. The main characters of Foxy and his girlfriend are likable and people I would like to hang out with. The situations between them and each other, fellow workers and clients, family and friends were familiar and real. A Good read.

What other book might you compare Dick Francis's Gamble to and why?

RISK by Dick Francis which also involves accounting and horse racing but the main character is much different.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The break between part 1 and 2 worked well for me.