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Risk  By  cover art

Risk

By: Dick Francis
Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
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Publisher's summary

Roland Britten, accountant and amateur jockey, awakens one morning to find he can’t move his hands—because he is tied up with netting, held captive where no light penetrates and no amount of yelling will get any attention. But why?

He knew that this was the latest in a series of events that had begun when he decided to ride in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, a race second only to the Grand National in the lives of British steeplechase riders. As an amateur jockey, Roland had pleased no one when he took Tapestry past the finish line first in what turned out to be the worst Gold Cup in history. As an accountant whose clientele included horse owners and jockeys alike, he also knew more about the private financial affairs of the racing world than any other person on the racecourse. Was winning the Gold Cup cause enough for his kidnapping? Or was it his knowledge of the books?

©1977 Dick Francis (P)1998 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Few match Francis for dangerous flights of fancy and pure, inventive menace." ( Boston Herald)

What listeners say about Risk

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    3 out of 5 stars

Not a typical Dick Francis

The story is from 1977, but still reads well. Characters, as usual, are well written. I have seen others complain when Francis books aren't primarily about horses. Crazy people. I have learned about glass blowing, painting, photography and other really interesting things. This book is about a really interesting accountant, which may be a contradiction in terms. (FYI - I also could be called an accountant.) I can't say what the story lacked but it is not going to be a memorable Dick Francis for me.

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7 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

How Much Can A Man Endure?

An accountant and a steeple jump jockey end up in a lot of trouble. This is no joke.
The story was difficult to listen to during the troubling parts, I admit I did a few quick ff , as the difficulty of the situation was nerve wracking.
It is a good tale in the end. Amazing writer and perfect narration.

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

not my favorite

not as good a plot and characters as other Dick Francis books. a little farfetched .

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Confusing

Who is the narrator? You have two different narrators listed. Check out the picture. Whoever the narrator is - he is stilted. Not smooth flowing at all.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great aside from romance plot

This is a great mystery, but I could have done without the romance storyline in this one.

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1 person found this helpful

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And we thought accounting was dull

Another great mystery by Dick Francis, going us a great read and teaching us about another area of life in the procrss

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Very entertaining and well narrated

The story moved along quickly and the characters were interesting and believable. It was a unique mystery/thriller.

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  • Overall
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Exquisite mystery

Excellently written and read. No spoilers; just good writing and skilled reading.
A thoroughly good read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Consistently good

The storytelling and character development in books written by Dick Francis are reliably good, as is the narration of his books available through Audible. This one is has fine misdirection.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Dick Francis is incredibly talented

Listening to this 45 years after authorship yields special appreciation. It follows the Francis-Formula exactly. Modern authors have lost the ability to sustain tension without the protagonist constantly blaming or complaining of victimization. It’s so refreshing (in a way) that modern bigotry and bemoaning of unfairness is absent. There’s no pandering to underrepresented minorities or atheists or me-too-ists. Female characters are favorably written and clever without making them also misandristic.
I never before recognized that Francis has only successful white males as protagonists, surely that offends some but not me.

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