 "The Sport of Cheats" | 2009-10-26 |
| - Reviewed By sam_sattler |
"Even Money," the third collaboration between Dick Francis and his son Felix in the last three years, is another in the long line of Dick Francis horse track mysteries, and it is a good one. Longtime fans of Dick Francis might react differently to "Even Money," of course, believing that it suffers in comparison to the author's earlier work. I, on the other hand, having only ever read one other Dick Francis novel, and that many years ago, experienced "Easy Money" more as a standalone novel. And as such, I enjoyed it.
Ned Talbot is thirty-seven years old and has been a bookmaker all his life, having inherited the family business from his grandfather, Teddy Talbot. In fact, when Ned sets himself up to do business at various tracks, the board above his head still says "Trust Teddy Talbot" on it. With the help of Luca, a computer whiz who accepts and manages each day's bets, Ned makes a decent living for himself and Sophie, his mentally fragile wife. He may be doing quite well but Ned thinks often about how bookmakers are despised by most everyone in the racing world, even those who make their own livings from the services he and his fellow bookies provide.
Ascot is not one of Ned's favorite racetracks and, in fact, he seldom enjoys setting up shop there. But because his grandfather had considered participation at Ascot to be one of the firm's best marketing techniques, Ned and Luca are there hoping to make the best of things. What Ned does not bargain for is the stranger who approaches him at the end of the day to claim that he is Ned's father, a man Ned had thought dead for thirty-six years. Just one hour later, as Ned and Peter Talbot make their way to Ned's car, they are assaulted by a knife-wielding thug and Ned begins a frantic race of his own, one he has to win if he is to stay alive.
It is relatively common for bookies to be robbed of their day's earnings before they leave the track, but Ned senses that what happened to him and his father is no ordinary mugging. What he discovers in his father's rucksack (30,000 pounds in cash, counterfeit horse passports, an electronic device that reminds him of a television remote, and ten little devices each the size of a grain of rice) confirms for Ned that his father was specifically targeted by the man who attacked them. Now he wants to know why.
Even before the sudden appearance of his father, Ned has a lot going on in his world. Sophie is bipolar and her illness has gotten so bad that she has again been institutionalized for treatment; Luca is threatening to quit the firm unless Ned makes him a full partner; and the grandmother who raised him is suffering from dementia and living in a nursing home. Via these subplots, the reader comes to see Ned Talbot as a real human being who has managed to get himself in way over his head - and that is half the fun of "Even Money."
I particularly enjoyed the novel's details of how the world of bookmaking works, how odds are set, how bookies cover themselves with side bets of their own (a bit like insurance companies cover themselves by reinsuring their risk through other companies), and how they view themselves and those with whom they do business. I have not been a fan of this type of novel in the past but that little bit of "inside information" makes it more likely that I will seek out other Dick Francis novels now. |
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 "Felix makes these books even better" | 2009-10-26 |
| - Reviewed By lambkin33 |
| I will admit to being nervous the first time I read one of the collaborations between Dick Francis and his son Felix. But, having read EVERY book Dick Francis ever wrote, what were my options? So I have read the last two (or more?) collaborative novels and, with all due respect, I think they are even better than the solo novels I have enjoyed for the past 20 years. This one was sensational. I love the protagonist "type" and the stories are absolutely terrific. Lots of great detail so you feel you've learned something, excellent writing, thrilling suspense and always a satisfying ending. |
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| "The Formula Still Works! .............Reviewer: Renee S. N.Y.C." | 2009-10-26 |
| - Reviewed By User: A4U8F7FV3DHAJ |
| For the first time ever, Francis has told me more than I cared to know about the background in his new novel. I found the backdrops of his previous novels fascinating, whether they were about horses and racing or some of the other ocupations he ventured into, but not this. Now I see why bookies are so unsympathetic. The mathematical stuff was mind-numbing and, as far as I was concerned, mostly unnecessary. That aside, the rest of the story was very good, if not top notch. Perhaps there was a little less breath-stopping suspense than before, but there were still plenty of thrills and surprises. Perhaps some were unintentional, or perhaps it was just sloppy writing, but I was surprised that a man as careful as Ned, especially of his wife's precarious mental health, would be so cavalier about protecting her from the villains. Of course he was damned either way. If he told her what was going on, he ran the risk of upsetting her for no reason, and if he didn't, well you can read what happens. I have read all of Mr. Francis' books more than once. He is one of my favorite authors, and I am not going to bemoan his fading skills, the inferiority of Felix's collaborative skills or any of the other things that others have complained about. As far as I'm concerned, any Francis is better than no Francis, and any Francis is definitely better than most other authors. As lonf as Francis |
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| "Not The Usual 300 Page Francis Thrill Ride" | 2009-10-19 |
| - Reviewed By User: A370B6VICF1333 |
| I have been a Dick Francis fan for over 25 years. I have read (and reread) every book of his, and I even have one that he signed. As a die-hard fan, I did enjoy this effort. Please, if this is your first Francis novel, don't judge his work by this book alone. It is not up to his usual standard. An enjoyable read, yes - but this one drags in a few places. Most of his' works are short, tight prose with few or no wasted words. They get right to the point and make the reader feel that he knows the main character. The reader cares what happens to the character, and becomes involved with his life. I enjoyed this mystery, but it's not the usual 300 page Francis thrill ride. |
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| "Long Odds" | 2009-10-19 |
| - Reviewed By gloriafeit |
Dick Francis has written more than 40 novels, the last three co-written with his son Felix. In "Easy Money," the protagonist is not the typical jockey or trainer, but a bookmaker, giving the authors the opportunity to turn a fresh eye on the racing world which serves as the backdrop for their novels.
Ned Talbot has taken over the family business of taking bets at the English racetracks after his grandfather died. One day, at the Royal Ascot, a stranger approaches him at the betting stall, persisting in attempting to speak with Ned. Finally in the parking lot, after the races, the stranger tells Ned he is the father who was thought to have been killed in a car crash 36 years before. A few minutes later, the two are attacked, and Ned watches his newly-found father being stabbed twice, resulting in his death. Thus, the beginning of several mysteries. And we're off to the races.
Why was his father in England, after having lived in Australia, presumably also as a bookmaker? Who is the murderer, and what did he want from Ned's father? What is the purpose of a black TV-remote-like device in the father's luggage? And the cash hidden away in a carry-all? The Francises have once again written a fine tale. But that is to be expected according to past form. Highly recommended.
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| "A captivating whodunnit expertly narrated by masterful dramatic actor Martin Jarvis" | 2009-10-17 |
| - Reviewed By mwbookrevw |
Even Money is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of an exciting thriller blend of horse racing, bookmaking, and murder. Ned Talbot has worked all his life as a bookmaker, only to see large gambling conglomerates threaten to devour his family business. He has long believed that his parents died in a car crash when he was a baby - but when a grey-haired man claims to be his father, only to be stabbed to death barely an hour later, Ned must race against time to solve the riddle of who killed his alleged father and why. A captivating whodunnit expertly narrated by masterful dramatic actor Martin Jarvis, Even Money is especially recommended for long car trips - the high suspense is perfect for keeping one awake and alert at the wheel! 9 CDs, 10 1/2 hours.
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