Longshot

By: Dick Francis

Narrated by: Tony Britton

Length: 11 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

John Kendall knows how to survive. He's written six handbooks on the subject. Now he wants to become a novelist, preferably without starving to death. But when cold and hunger set in, Kendall impulsively accepts an unlikely job.

He is to research and write a biography of Tremayne Vickers, a famous racehorse trainer. Staying at Vickers' home in rural Berkshire, Kendall soon learns to like his host and friends, learns to ride racehorses, learns about murderers ... and how his own survival tips can become deadly traps.

©1990 Dick Francis

Critic reviews

"Intelligent, fast-paced." ( The New York Times Book Review)
"An exuberant, irresistible collision between writing and racing ... Few match Francis for dangerous flights of fancy and pure, inventive menace." ( The Boston Herald)
"Fast-paced, meticulously plotted ... Nobody sets up a mystery better than Dick Francis." ( San Francisco Chronicle)

This has become one of my favorites!

I love this book—Dick Francis gets into the whodunnit territory here when a skeleton is found. I like the main character a lot who is trying to write a sequel to a novel. Previously he had been writing “How to Survive” in various travel destinations. I love the interactions and dynamics going on between the circle of friends. Will the untoward happenings cause irreparable damage to the close knit circle of friends? You’ll need to listen to find out! 😁
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slower pace than some of his others

not a good introduction to Dick Francis - slower (initially) than most of his others, even more rooted in the characters than usual. However - if you are already familiar with Dick Francis, then this one will knock your socks off. The protagonist is a writer, so you actually see some of Dick Francis' own feelings leak into the character about the process of writing. The languid pace lulls you into a false rhythm, so it absolutely galvanises you when the going gets wild. The characters are exceptional, and its a true classic murder mystery.

got a longshot

Where does Longshot rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

good it was an interesting story as with most of dick francis books

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

it was well read with several twists

Which character – as performed by Tony Britton – was your favorite?

gareth

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

yes it was but i listened over a couple of days while driving it makes the trip more interresting on nightshift

Off to a slow start but a GREAT race nonetheless.

I have listened to most of the Dick Francis books offered by Audible and most if not all are read by Tony Britton. For some reason my download of the book made Tony sound slower or maybe pedantic is the better description. But once the story took off as usual with Dick Francis' books I hated to turn the book off.

Love Dick Francis! He is one of my favorites!

I love Dick Francis! His books are very entertaining! Also, Tony Britton is quite fabulous!

Novel plus survival guide bonus. One silly error

Dick Francis never fails. His first person character is a young survivalist author with lots of book knowledge and previously unproven skills, very cool and quickly respected or envied by a family he moves in with.
As usual for DF, protagonist is tough and repeatedly tested, clever and careful in whom he confides. The alluring world of horses and rural pre-cellphone England make a great setting.
Dick is also great at solidly demonstrating his protagonists’ knowledge base and skill but here’s an exception. Spoiler Alert: I am dumbfounded that a survivalist needs a compass to figure directions when the sun has set in the west, the moon is rising in the east, traffic noise is north and Polaris is visible. Also that he doesn’t notice someone with a flashlight tramping past over twigs a few feet away at night.
His book contains some good ideas for a survival kit. I personally recommend 2 for-sure pocket items and 2-3 more if fanny pack space permits. This is in case a day-hike goes too long: a disposable poncho and either a collapsible water bottle or several 1 quart high quality ziplock bags for water transport. If there’s more room, add a headlamp or penlight, a torch lighter and a water filter straw. ( there are now compact filters on a straw that allow sipping dirty water but it’s much better if you put dirty water in a bottle so you can squeeze. If possible, have 2 bottles, 1 each for clean and dirty water; or fill ziplock bags.). More room? String, knife and space blanket, fleece hat. Safety pins or coil of bailing wire…
(I wonder if authors tease readers on purpose. Am reminded how Dan Brown’s professor is repeatedly enthralled with simple symbols but uninterested when he notices that Venus has left its orbit. Probably authors get sloppy when the book is almost done)

Fabulous, Informative, Wow

If you could sum up Longshot in three words, what would they be?

Exciting, entertaining, intelligent

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Plot is fantastic, it draws you in within the 1st few pages and you begin to really like the main character. then the action starts and it never really lets up.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Tony Britton?

Not a Dick Francis Book. I know Tony Britton is very talented and has a lovely voice but it was wrong for this character. He just sounded too posh and too old. Because I've read this book many times, it was quite offputting. It just somehow seemed wrong.

My

Even tho all his books have something to do w horse racing, I have never, ever been bored by a Dick Francis book. I wish I could say the same about some of my other favorite mystery authors! Francis always comes thru w a great story and a human one.

Excellent book

Excellent book, even better than the print edition. The story really comes to life. Wonderful writer and narrator

Sounds Horrible

This might be a great book. I don't know. The sound quality is so bad it has distracted me since I started listening. It's too bad because I have liked what I can hear.