Get a free audiobook
-
Dick Francis's Gamble
- Narrated by: John Keating
- Series: Dick Francis Novels, Book 1
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
People who bought this also bought...
-
Crisis
- Written by: Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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?
-
Dick Francis' Refusal
- Written by: Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Six years ago, investigator Sid Halley retired for good. He'd been harassed, beaten, shot, even lost a hand to his investigating business, and enough was enough. For the sake of his wife and new daughter he gave up that life of danger and uncertainty, and he thought nothing would ever lure him back into the game. He thought wrong. Sir Richard Stewart, chairman of the racing authority, begs Sid to investigate a series of dodgy races. Sid adamantly refuses, but the following day, Sir Richard is found dead under suspicious circumstances. And then a man with an Irish accent contacts Sid, telling him to deliver a whitewashed report about the suspected race-fixing...or else.
-
Front Runner
- A Dick Francis Novel
- Written by: Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In his role as an undercover investigator for the British Horseracing Authority, Jeff Hinkley is approached by a multitime champion jockey to discuss the delicate matter of losing races on purpose. Little does he know that the call will set off a lethal chain of events, including the apparent suicide of the jockey and an attempt on Hinkley's own life. Never one to leave suspicious events alone, Hinkley begins investigating the jockey and the races he may have thrown.
-
The Edge
- Written by: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To the Jockey Club, the racing world would be a better place without Julius Apollo Filmer. An expert in corruption with a devastating line in witness intimidation, and proving to be a slippery character to put behind bars. Baffled, they call in undercover security agent Tor Kelsey to keep an unflinching eye on Filmer and his associates. A mission that takes him from the finest of English racecourses to the wild Canadian interior, on a luxury transcontinental train journey to end them all.
-
-
audio issues p
- By Jon Dickinson on 2020-11-03
-
Even Money
- Written by: Dick Francis, Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the first day of Royal Ascot, the crowd rejoices in a string of winning favorites. Ned Talbot has worked all his life as a bookmaker – taking over the family business from his grandfather – so he knows not to expect any sympathy from the punters as they count their winnings, and him his losses. He’s seen the ups and downs before – but, as the big gambling conglomerates muscle in on small concerns like his, Ned wonders if it’s worth it any more.
-
Crossfire
- Written by: Dick Francis, Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Captain Thomas Forsyth’s second tour of Afghanistan is cut brutally short when he’s badly wounded by a roadside bomb. Tom’s world is torn apart by the injury – the Army is his life. The thought of never rejoining his regiment is a terrifying prospect and one that he is not willing to entertain. Tom returns to Lambourn, to his childhood home, where his mother is a racehorse trainer and the ‘First Lady’ of racing.
-
-
Another Great Francis Novel
- By Doug Wilkie on 2019-04-20
-
Crisis
- Written by: Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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?
-
Dick Francis' Refusal
- Written by: Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Six years ago, investigator Sid Halley retired for good. He'd been harassed, beaten, shot, even lost a hand to his investigating business, and enough was enough. For the sake of his wife and new daughter he gave up that life of danger and uncertainty, and he thought nothing would ever lure him back into the game. He thought wrong. Sir Richard Stewart, chairman of the racing authority, begs Sid to investigate a series of dodgy races. Sid adamantly refuses, but the following day, Sir Richard is found dead under suspicious circumstances. And then a man with an Irish accent contacts Sid, telling him to deliver a whitewashed report about the suspected race-fixing...or else.
-
Front Runner
- A Dick Francis Novel
- Written by: Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In his role as an undercover investigator for the British Horseracing Authority, Jeff Hinkley is approached by a multitime champion jockey to discuss the delicate matter of losing races on purpose. Little does he know that the call will set off a lethal chain of events, including the apparent suicide of the jockey and an attempt on Hinkley's own life. Never one to leave suspicious events alone, Hinkley begins investigating the jockey and the races he may have thrown.
-
The Edge
- Written by: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To the Jockey Club, the racing world would be a better place without Julius Apollo Filmer. An expert in corruption with a devastating line in witness intimidation, and proving to be a slippery character to put behind bars. Baffled, they call in undercover security agent Tor Kelsey to keep an unflinching eye on Filmer and his associates. A mission that takes him from the finest of English racecourses to the wild Canadian interior, on a luxury transcontinental train journey to end them all.
-
-
audio issues p
- By Jon Dickinson on 2020-11-03
-
Even Money
- Written by: Dick Francis, Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the first day of Royal Ascot, the crowd rejoices in a string of winning favorites. Ned Talbot has worked all his life as a bookmaker – taking over the family business from his grandfather – so he knows not to expect any sympathy from the punters as they count their winnings, and him his losses. He’s seen the ups and downs before – but, as the big gambling conglomerates muscle in on small concerns like his, Ned wonders if it’s worth it any more.
-
Crossfire
- Written by: Dick Francis, Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Captain Thomas Forsyth’s second tour of Afghanistan is cut brutally short when he’s badly wounded by a roadside bomb. Tom’s world is torn apart by the injury – the Army is his life. The thought of never rejoining his regiment is a terrifying prospect and one that he is not willing to entertain. Tom returns to Lambourn, to his childhood home, where his mother is a racehorse trainer and the ‘First Lady’ of racing.
-
-
Another Great Francis Novel
- By Doug Wilkie on 2019-04-20
-
Comeback
- Written by: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Peter Darwin was hoping for some quiet leave from the Foreign Office. Instead he found himself in the village of his childhood, at the service of a veterinary surgeon whose operating theater was rapidly acquiring an unwanted reputation as an abattoir. The sudden unexplained death of a string of valuable racehorses from one small area in Gloucestershire was a mystery the police couldn't solve. But Darwin was local. He remembered people and what was at stake. And now he knew enough to get himself killed.
-
Trial Run
- Written by: Dick Francis
- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Randall Drew is prevented from carrying on his career in steeplechasing by poor eyesight. Restless and unsure of his future but pursuing an ardent love affair, he does not welcome an invitation to go to Moscow on a delicate investigation, but almost irresistible pressure is brought to bear. A mysterious entity, "Alyosha", is threatening a royally-connected candidate for the Moscow Olympic Games; the candidate may be vulnerable to scandal which could set off intolerable diplomatic conflicts.
-
Damage
- Written by: Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Michael Nielson
- Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jeff Hinkley, undercover investigator for the British Horseracing Authority, is looking into the shady activities of a racehorse trainer. But as he's tailing his quarry through the Cheltenham Racing Festival, the last thing he expects to witness is a gruesome murder. Could it have something to do with the reason the trainer was banned in the first place – the administration of illegal drugs to his horses? Days later, many more horses test positive for prohibited stimulants.
-
Pulse
- Written by: Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Clare Corbett
- Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Chris Rankin is a doctor, a specialist in emergency medicine at Cheltenham Hospital, but a doctor who also has health problems. A smartly dressed man has been found unconscious at the local racecourse and is rushed to the hospital, where he subsequently dies. But who is he? Where does he come from? He had no form of identification on him, and no one claims the body.
-
-
Worst
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-04-22
-
Bloodline
- Written by: Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Michael Maloney
- Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Mark Shillingford commentates on a race in which his twin sister Clare, an accomplished and successful jockey, comes in third, he can't help but be suspicious. As a professional race-caller, he knows she should have won. Did she lose on purpose? Was the race fixed? Why on earth would she do something so out of character? That night, Mark confronts Clare with his suspicions, but she storms off after an explosive argument. It's the last time Mark sees her alive.
-
Dick Francis's Damage
- Written by: Felix Francis
- Narrated by: Michael Neilson
- Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Undercover investigator Jeff Hinkley is assigned by the British Horseracing Authority to look into the activities of a suspicious racehorse trainer, but as he’s tailing his quarry through the Cheltenham Racing Festival, the last thing he expects to witness is a gruesome murder. Could it have something to do with the reason the trainer was banned in the first place - the administration of illegal drugs to his horses?
Publisher's Summary
Felix Francis co-wrote several horse racing mysteries with his late father Dick Francis before the legendary author passed away in 2010. Taking up the reins for his first solo effort, Felix delivers a captivating tale that franchise fans will thoroughly enjoy. Former jockey Nicholas “Foxy” Foxton is at the track one day when he witnesses the execution-style killing of his friend Herb Novak. Worried he might be next, Foxy wonders if there was a dark side to Herb he didn’t know about.
More from the same
Narrator:
What listeners say about Dick Francis's Gamble
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
- Daniel
- 2011-08-24
Frustration
I am disappointed and frustrated that I may never know how good a writer Felix Francis is because I could not get past the horrible voice tone and inept reading that was given to this book. As a long time Francis fan I hate to give up after one effort but will never download another book with John Keating as the reader.
18 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- BC
- 2011-08-31
A Disappointing Read
I have listened to nearly every Dick Francis book on audiobooks including some written with Felix Francis, but this book is very wooden, predictable and not at all engaging. It is not helped by such bad narration - All in all I would not recommend this book
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dar JS
- 2012-05-05
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.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Mary
- 2011-08-31
Not thrilled with this book
The first 30 minutes of the story were almost painful. Then my brain finally tuned out the trite phrases and inept dialogue to concentrate on the plot. The plot is pure Dick Francis, recycled. If his son wants to be successful at this, he desperately needs to take a few writing classes.
The poor main character, although described in classic Dick francis style, comes across as boring and a bit slow rather than a hero to cheer for.
The narrator, bless him, is sharp and whiny. Hope to God that accent is fake because it would be a shame to go through life speaking that way.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jason
- 2012-04-12
Poor narration, average story
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
John Keating is a terrible narrator. If he's narrating children's books, he'd probably be OK. His performance of War Horse was distracting, but reasonable. In this case, a book for adults with serious topics, his intonation detracted so seriously from the topic that it was hard to separate it from the story.
The story itself could have used some significant editing. It wasn't bad, but it felt like a first solo work.
If you’ve listened to books by Felix Francis before, how does this one compare?
Compared to the joint works of Felix and his father, the lead character is more well-rounded. He's not as much of an indominable force as most Francis leads. The narrative though really could have used significant removal of wordiness.
Would you be willing to try another one of John Keating’s performances?
No.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Ruth
- 2011-08-14
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.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- MOLLYO
- 2020-02-02
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'
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sam S
- 2019-10-13
Awful. Simply awful.
Felix is not his father. The story is slow and predictable, full of unnecessary details, and lacking pizzazz. The narrator makes it worse. Ugh! We love all the other Dick Francis narrators, but this one is particularly annoying.
But all the problems in the book itself could’ve been fixed by a decent editor. Instead, the publisher relied on Dick Francis’s good name and reputation to sell this book. Did they even care about quality? Evidently not. No, the publisher treated us like suckers, like an ATM they used to withdraw money from OUR accounts.
Don’t waste your time and money. This is a bad book with a disappointing narrator from a publisher that only cares about money, not quality, and certainly not readers and fans of Dick Francis.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Greg
- 2012-03-20
The Gamble Paid Off
It is good to know that the series will continue. Felix picks up where Dick left off. This is a solid series. Well worth the investment of credits or money.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Clint
- 2011-08-26
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...
3 people found this helpful