Whip Hand

By: Dick Francis

Narrated by: Tony Britton

Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

Sid Halley had one good hand and another made of metal. Five hundred pounds of horse had landed on him, directly ending his career as a brilliant jockey - and indirectly ending his marriage to the woman he loved.

He had become a private investigator, quite a good one, though his new life could never erase the haunting memories of his past glories. But it was only when the wife of one of England's top trainers came to beg his help in preventing some foul play at the track that Sid Halley began to know what being haunted really was.

©1979 Dick Francis (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd.

Well written, very British

Having just finished this book I still feel the melancholy with which it was written. The book is a good piece of literature, I want to say that up front so as to not dissuade someone from listening to it. The dialog is good and Francis has a skill at turning a phrase, the story moves along well and is entertaining. Loss and melancholy are such a part of this story though that as the end unfolds you wish for some extra heroics, a chance to cheer for the underdog, but alas, it ends with the same vibe it carries all along, a bit of sadness, a bit of victory. I will read another Francis story sometime, I am glad I read this one, but not right now.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Read this one Second

If you like one Dick Francis mystery, you will probably like them all (if you get a good reader - which is usually the case fortunately). He wrote four mysteries featuring ex-jockey Sid Halley: Odds Against (1965); Whip Hand (1979); Come to Grief (1995); and Under Orders (2006). Even though the books span 40 years, the elapsed time within/between all the stories is about 3 or 4 years. Technology advances with the times from book to book and we aren't supposed to notice that as readers. After all, it's really the mysteries and Francis' quality writing that we're here for, isn't it?

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Dick Francos Strikes Again!

I loved reading these books and the addition of Tony Britton makes them even better. I highly recommend to anyone who likes a great British mystery.

Another Sid Halley Success

Would you listen to Whip Hand again? Why?

Ive read it twice, it was wonderful to listen to it! Absolutely would listen to it agai

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

Yes!

What about Tony Britton’s performance did you like?

Brilliant narrator, however at times the audio fades in and out a bit and appears that the narrator changes

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Mmmmm. No idea not my strong suit

Any additional comments?

Wished they would write another Sid Halley! I've read them all and just love them all. My absolute best of Dick Francis

My favorite Dick Francis

Dick Francis wrote 4 novels featuring Sid Halley as the protagonist, and this is my favorite. The thing I like best about him is that there is that deep conflict between what he was as a jockey, and what he has become as an investigator. There is the love/anger feeling he feels toward his ex-wife. The character goes deeper than the usual mystery/suspense. Okay, the character is himself through all the novels, but it's his reaction or growth that grabs you.
As far as the plot, I enjoyed this one because it was smooth, in spite of some peripheral characters that don't seem to fit, but end up fitting very well.
Tony Britton is a wonderful narrator. The listener can hear the difference in class of each character, as well as how he/she relates to the world (hard, timid, brave, etc). Definitely give this Dick Francis a listen.

galloping good yarn

Great story as you would expect from Dick Francis. Very clever narration, Tony has a very listenable voice. Having some connection with the race horse industry the story rings true and keeps you on the edge of your seat right from the start.
I listen in the car while driving and I found myself continuing to listen long after I arrived at my destination. Strongly recommended.

Another Dick Francis Classic

Another Dick Francis Classic. Great with a fast moving engaging plot, a page turner,a great companion for anyone.

enjoyable

Would you consider the audio edition of Whip Hand to be better than the print version?

No I have a vivid imagination I frequently find my internal "movie" as it were is better than the audio version.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Whip Hand?

There really is not just one it is a really good story and has several vivid moments

Have you listened to any of Tony Britton’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I enjoy his performances it is a shame he wasn`t around for felix francis works. this audio isn't the best quality but i do not think it is the performance it may be my download quality.

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

Oh yes definitely.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Gripping

Loved the second book in the series. Can't wait to listen to the next! Dick Francis knows how to write!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

good story but narration speeds up

Would you try another book written by Dick Francis or narrated by Tony Britton?

I like Dick and Felix francis' stories and always read them

What did you like best about this story?

this was a compelling read. This is a medium action mystery adventure that is hard to stop listening to

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Tony Britton?

tony britton is great but the production of the narration speeds up about halfway through and even when using "slower" on ipod the second part is at a higher speed and pitch

Do you think Whip Hand needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

it has a follow up

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

excellent

having been a fan of Dick Francis for almost 20 years now, I whave read and re read all of his books. The narrative form has ticked every box, when reading we enter our own imagination. The narrator has his voices down to a tee. I throughly recomennd to any one. five stars.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Another Dick Francis spectacular

Exciting and surprising. Another great Sid Horley adventure.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

As always, the story grips the listener......

The story was very well told by Tony Britten, each character totally believeable. My only gripe is that Sid’s name Halley is pronounced wrongly for me. In the UK it is pronounced ‘Hal lee’ not Hall lee. I have listened to audio books before and it has been the former pronunciation. Each time it was mispronounced (in my view) it detracted from the flow. Equally, in other books Dick Francis or latterly Felix Francis would never have written ‘cell’ instead of ‘mobile’ for a personal phone.

Intense and gripping traditional narrative

Wonderful likeable ex jockey turned sleuth narrator finding his way through a web of intrigue and deceit. Engaging, realistic, unturnoffable.

Great acting, gripping story.

Narrator nailed it. We know the author nails it because he's Dick Francis and this is one of his best!

Haw ley or Ha lley

this is the second of the series and why Tony Britton changed his pronunciation of Sid's surname amazes me. why Hawley it's Halley. the joke in book one odds against is Sid's nickname being halitosis.. not Hawleytosis

Terrible detail

Could they not have got someone who can actually read to do this book? The character's name is Six HALLEY as in the Comet as reference in a previous book, not HAWLEY or whatever nonsense the reader has come up with. It may seem like a small detail but every time he said it incorrectly it put my teeth on edge and spoilt the whole book for me. I will not be continuing with audible for the reason as the quality of their readers is obviously substandard.