Crisis

By: Felix Francis

Narrated by: Martin Jarvis

Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Felix Francis returns with his newest edge-of-your-seat horse-racing thriller in the Dick Francis tradition. 

Harrison Foster, a crisis manager for a London firm, is summoned to Newmarket after a fire in the Chadwick stables kills six very valuable horses, including the short-priced favorite for the Derby. There is far more to the "simple" fire than initially meets the eye...for a start, human remains are found among the equestrian ones in the burnt-out shell. All the stable staff are accounted for, so who is the mystery victim? 

Harry knows very little about horses; indeed, he positively dislikes them, but he is thrust unwillingly into the world of thoroughbred racing, where the standard of care of the equine stars is far higher than that of the humans who attend to them. 

The Chadwick family is a dysfunctional racing dynasty. Resentment between the generations is rife, and sibling rivalry bubbles away like volcanic magma beneath a thin crust of respectability. Harry represents the Middle Eastern owner of the Derby favorite, and as he delves deeper into the unanswered questions surrounding the horse's demise, he ignites a fuse that blows the volcano sky-high. 

Can Harry solve the riddle before he is bumped off by the fallout?

©2018 Felix Francis (P)2018 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Narrator Martin Jarvis is always magical. His pacing and clear diction are always perfect. Jarvis wrests every bit of humor, romance, malevolence, and dysfunction from Felix Francis's latest crime story." (AudioFile)

Best written Felix Francis book

I have been a Dick Francis fan since Bonecrack. Dick never wrote 2 words when one would do. He used adverbs in a way that would have been annoying if it didn't so perfectly paint the picture. Felix has just written a book that, for me, comes very close. Good plot, interesting characters. Thanks

Felix & Jarvis

Marvin Jarvis is an excellent reader for this story.

Marvelously told in the first person, an attorney turned crisis manager finds he must solve more than one mystery. He also discovers romance.

The story lacks some of the gruesome brutality of some of Felix's father's tales, thank goodness.

Since the narrator knows next to nothing about resources, it gives Felix the opportunity to teach a great deal about the sport of kings. It's a good introduction to those who are not as knowledgeable about horse racing. Novices could learn without pain.

Gripping story.

Another wonderful Francis thriller/mystery

A fire has left champion race horses dead, and one human victim's remains are also found in the ashes, but more victims follow.
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The twists and turns of the investigation are fast paced and fascinating. In addition, the underlying human stories of the investigator, the victim, and the perpetrator emerge.
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I was enthralled throughout.

Felix Francis best book yet

Better then I expected. This reminded me very much of his father Dick FRANCIS. I haven't lived all of Felix's book but this one was excellent. note for those listening with young children around this book contains a rather a sex scene, it's not super graphic but they do talk about sex a fair bit leading up to it.

Bravo!!

Francis, horse racing, and audible reader at their best! Thank you for a great “read”.

Narrator Ruins It

I have several Dick/ Felix Francis audiobooks narrated by Martin Jarvis in my Audible library; and while Jarvis is not my favorite narrator in the Francis franchise (that would be Simon Prebble) I have, until now, found his voice work quite adequate, not annoying. Jarvis’s narration of “Crisis” is so bad that I am debating whether to give up and exchange this title, as I don’t know if I want to endure three and half more hours of his sinus congested voice, and insipid interpretation of the character Kate, the protagonist’s love interest.
I am interested in the story, the dysfunctional family of thoroughbred trainers at the center of the mystery has well developed characters. The dialogue between Harry, the protagonist, and the the other characters is not read by Jarvis in as grating a manner as is the dialogue between Harry and Kate. The chunks of story that focus on their developing relationship are unbearable to listen to. I’m very disappointed, as I am picky about narration, and carefully steer clear of narrators I dislike even if they are reading an author I love.

Maybe for horse lovers

The narrator made an already silly story very annoying. The main character is supposed to be in his thirties, but the narrator makes him sound at least 60! And the female voices? Terrible. I learned a few things about horse racing, but not enough to make this book remotely interesting.

Enjoyed!

So glad that Felix Francis has broken with tradition and not felt compelled to include a lengthy torture scene!

A regular Felix Francis novel

As the story developed I honestly never saw the cause for the murder coming, but as it became apparent towards the end there were many possible murderers. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and conclusion.

Not there yet

I keep reading his books hoping he will approach his father’s skill with the written word. This was a disappointment to me. The narration was fine, but Felix has a way to go. I am waiting for him to produce a book that is indistinguishable from his father, who is always a joy to read even if I don’t love the story.