Longshot

By: Dick Francis

Narrated by: Tony Britton

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)

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

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! 😁
Ha

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!