The main character lied - a lot. About Even Money Ned Talbot is a small-time bookmaker on the edge of giving it all up when his world is turned upside down by a man who claims to be his father, long thought dead. I did it all the time. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. The plot is also over done. They learn, over time, which horses run consistently to form and which do not. Not even my grandfather had called me Edward, except, that is, when he was cross with me or I had done something naughty as a child. I've been worried by the idea of the father/son collaboration, afraid that these racetrack mysteries will lose their charm if diluted by another voice. “Well,” I said, “it would definitely have been better if you hadn’t come back.”, “Why?” I demanded loudly. The hero of "Even Money" is Ned Talbot, a 37-year-old bookmaker who inherited his grandfather's business. I filed this as mystery but I expect technically it’s thriller? “I was made bankrupt, and she swallowed enough tablets to kill a horse. True to the author reputation of writing a well-thought plot, Even Money will give you the twist and turn that you never expected to happen but it did! They didn’t necessarily do it on purpose; they just did it in their never-ending drive for bottom-line figures to satisfy the expectations of some faceless group of shareholders. “No,” he said slowly. I haven’t seen them for, oh, fifteen years.”, “You seem to have made a habit of deserting your children.”, “Yes,” he said wistfully. I had read most of Dick Francis's novels many years ago - long enough that I can't fairly compare the writing style but this book kept me interested from early on. There was even a country-and-western band, appropriately called, in this land of poisonous snakes, the “Original Snakeskins,” who wandered amongst the tents making music and entertaining the happy crowd. Another Francis novel and another mystery. “I was just watching.”. Welcome back. Jarvis is exceptional at creating multiple distinctive characters--the "delinquent" techie Dougie is a particular joy. We kept a record on our computer of all the bets taken, both winning and losing, and it never ceased to amaze me how many of the winning tickets were never cashed. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Usual time.”. “Oh thanks,” I replied somewhat sarcastically. The narrator (performer) Martin Jarvis is excellent. A three-time Edgar Award winner, he also received the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association’s Cartier Diamond Dagger, was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, and was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2000. He has a heavier hand than his father in the earlier books. But by producing a book a year up until 2000, Francis firmly established himself as a brand name, the purveyor of reliable, literate entertainment. After his retirement from the saddle in 1957, he published an autobiography, The Sport of Queens, before going on to write more than forty acclaimed books, including the New York Times bestsellers Even Money and Silks. Luca and I started to pack up our equipment as Betsy paid out the occasional winning ticket. The father Ned never knew - long ago believed killed in a car crash - is standing before him.Barely an hour later, Ned's newly-found father is dying in Ascot's car park. 4.5 out of 5 stars 4.5 out of 5.0 5 Stars 40 4 Stars 21 3 Stars 6 2 Stars 1 1 Stars 0 Performance. This is more thriller than mystery. And are, inevitably, disappointed. August 25th 2009 He became one of the most successful postwar steeplechase jockeys, winning more than 350 races and riding for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. “What, then?” I asked. Race track betting in Great Britain is very different from that in the US. But lots of people knew my grandfather, and nearly all of them hadn’t liked him. Even money by Dick Francis, 2009, Thorndike Press edition, in English I still recommend this for any and all Dick Francis fans, but I have to say that while it's not my least favorite Dick Francis, it also doesn't make my list of favorite Francis mysteries. Royal Ascot's first day, and bookmaker Ned Talbot watches helplessly as a string of favourites come in. “I’m your father.”. Since 2006, Felix has taken a more significant role in the writing, first with Dead Heat and then increasingly with the bestsellers, Silks and Even Money. New chapters started with about 5 lines and nothing on the top of the page. My second Dick Francis novel and admittedly I was not enthusiastic about reading stories about the horse industry (Just personal preference). “Look,” he said. This one, centers on book maker Teddy Talbot and the art of betting. If you want to make more money than you ever believed possible, this is the system you will use. He looked back at me with doleful eyes. If you want to talk, come back later—after the last. Yet, despite all its seeming impossibility, Ned gradually realizes that some kind of horse-switching scam must lie behind the mysterious contents of the rucksack. I have read one other book by Felix Francis and in both books I was intrigued enough by the main characters to want to know more about them. We pulled the trolley together in silence up the slope to the grandstand and stopped on the flat of the concourse. While I just loved the last 2, and all of Dick Francis' previous books, I didn't like this one as much. Twice—three times, if you count your mother.”. “And then she died.” He paused for a long time as if wondering whether to carry on. I’ll pack up the rest of the stuff.”. The two again collaborated on "Silks" last year and now again on "Even Money." “Why didn’t you stay away as you have done for the past thirty-seven years?”, “Because I wanted to see you,” he said. He claimed that it gave us some form of respectability, something he had always craved. At the outbreak of World War II he joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot, flying fighter and bomber aircraft including the Spitfire and Lancaster. TRUST TEDDY TALBOT was printed across the top, as it was on all our betting slips. A.B. What's more, Ned feels increasingly pressured by the large-scale betting agencies that would dearly love to put him out of business and acquire his pitch position at the tracks. “Nothing, really,” I said. I did sometimes wonder if being a bookmaker would somehow disqualify one from admittance, like being a divorcée had once done. Though Ned worries about the hospitalized Sophie, constantly keeps on the lookout for a shifty-eyed, murderous man in a hoodie and increasingly questions what he knows about his own family's past, he never neglects his business. Author : Dick Francis, Felix Francis (Goodreads Author) Format : Paperback: Pickup Date & Time. I had read most of Dick Francis's novels many years ago - long enough that I can't fairly compare the writing style but this book kept me interested from early on. Man, were those mushroom and pepperoni slices delicious! “Sleepers,” they were called, and they were like a cash bonus for us. I liked the main character in this Dick Francis book about the people around horse racing who end up in a mystery. Once was enough. Then an old man steps forward with a very different claim. “You haven’t wanted to for the last thirty-seven years.”. But as they talk later, he becomes convinced Peter is telling the truth. It was the first time he had used my name, and it sounded odd. It's lives.From Felix Francis and Dick Francis, the bestselling co-authors of Dead Heat comes Even Money, the latest Dick Francis novel. They discover which horses prefer right-handed tracks and which do better left-handed, which jumpers like long run-ins and which short, and whether they are likely to win uphill finishes or flat ones. This was a real pleasure. I took the photo back and looked again closely at the young man standing next to a dark green Ford Cortina, as I had done hundreds of times before. Perhaps it was crucial to the story, but it spoiled it for me, so I can't really write an unbiased review. 8dogsandabear , 26/04/2011. The string of short-priced winners had forced us to try to limit our losses by adjusting down the offered prices on our board. Unable to add item to List. The betting ring was deserted save for the other bookmakers, who, like us, were packing up amongst the detritus of a day’s gambling: discarded newspapers, torn-up betting slips, crumpled coffee cups and half-eaten sandwiches. They looked like frosted glass." Even Money: Raven McShane Mysteries book #5 - Ebook written by Stephanie Caffrey. Nonetheless, the overall tone and sensibility are identifiably Franciscan, and longtime fans will enjoy taking a leisurely canter round a familiar track. Even Money - Ebook written by Alessandra Torre. I think it's been several years since the last time I read Dick Francis. I was nineteen when that picture was taken.”, “Seventeen, I think,” he said. He was born in 1920, piloted Spitfires during World War II for the Royal Air Force and spent the 1950s as one of Britain's leading jockeys, riding horses belonging to the Queen Mother. The Lions of Lucerne (1) (The Scot Harvath Series), Nothing Ventured (William Warwick Novels, 1), The third collaboration between bestseller Francis and son Felix (after, From The Washington Post's Book World/washingtonpost.com Reviewed by Michael Dirda Sometimes, after a long time away, you revisit your old home town or college campus and discover that the favorite pizzeria of your highly caloric youth is still in business. “Then why don’t you go and watch someone else instead?” I said forcefully. The book centers around Ned Talbot, the heir to his grandfather Teddy's bookmaking business. by Putnam Adult. I just loved this book I have all your library you are one of my favourite authors but what’s with all the small paragraphs in Even Money then the big gaps between them, this book was really only half a book. --This text refers to an alternate. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 13, 2017. Then an old man steps fo… But this little exchange was his way of not taking it completely for granted. His parents were killed when he was a baby; his beloved wife, Sophie, has had bipolar disorder diagnosed; his grandmother is gaga in a nursing home; and his electronics-whiz assistant, Luca Mandini, is thinking of quitting. I like how each line flows eloquently between each character. “Who wants to know?” I asked him back while looking beyond for my next customer. Bookmaker Ed Talbot is struggling with his wife's mental illness, even as technology threatens to give the big bookmaking outfits an insurmountable advantage over his small family business. Bell and Dario's characters are well-written. “You are,” he said quietly, “whether you like it or not.”. Some reviewers don't seem to like that, but I think it helps with removing the stigma from mental health issues. The same day Ned meets him, the father who lives in Austr. In this story Ned Talbot is a bookie on the racetrack who meets a man claiming to be the father that Ned thought to have died 30 years ago. Ned didn't seem to have a love of horses, which could well be the truth for many bookies, but as I love the background of horses and racing in the Francis novels I was disappointed that our hero didn't seem to feel outrage or at least mild sadness when horses were abused. Hello Select your address Mobiles Best Sellers Today's Deals Computers Pantry Books New Releases Gift Ideas Customer Service Best Sellers Today's Deals Computers Pantry Books New Releases Gift Ideas Customer Service “But how can you be so sure?” I was clutching at imaginary straws. His world of horse racing is so very different than almost anything else I read that it is pure escapism. I have read all Dick Francis's books several times, except this one. Ned Talbot is a bookmaker, having taken over his grandfather’s business. To see what your friends thought of this book. “Exactly how well did you know my grandfather?” I asked him. Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2010. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Now even that was done by computer, betting and laying horses on the Internet exchanges, even during the actual running of the race. But of whom? He snatched it from me and moved quickly away into the throng as if he didn’t want to be seen fraternizing with the enemy. “Eventually. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions. He had returned from Cheltenham races and had seemingly switched off inside on the Friday, and then he had expired on the Sunday evening. ‎ Even Money is the gripping Dick Francis novel by Dick Francis and Felix Francis. With the punters totting up their winnings, he counts his losses. I wiped my brow with the sleeve of my jacket and thought about how I would absolutely adore a nice cooling beer. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2018, i love dick francis in audio format. Ned Talbot has worked all his life as a bookmaker, only to see large gambling conglomerates threaten to devour his family business. The main characters are ordinary individuals caught up in extraordinary circumstances. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2017. Dick Francis (pictured with his son Felix Francis) was born in South Wales in 1920. “That was my first car. Our tickets didn’t have an expiry date on them, and, only the day before, I’d had to cash a sleeper from the Royal Ascot Meeting of the previous year. “When did he die?” asked the man, taking hold of one side of the handle. And when the mysterious stranger is murdered, Ned feels compelled to find out exactly what is going on. but otherwise fine, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2017. The faint air of melancholy surrounding them adds an aura of almost Byronic romance. I really enjoyed reading this joint effort between Dick Francis and his son Felix. In a dark deserted Ascot car park, third generation bookie Ned is accosted by a stranger who claims to be his long-lost father from Australia, warns him of danger, and dies in his arms from a sudden knife attack. I sighed again and stacked the last few of our equipment boxes onto the trolley, then fixed the rest of the elastic cords across the green tarpaulin. The Dick/Felix Frances author combo still doesn't have the magic that made me a huge fan of Dick Frances's books, and I'm not quite sure what it is. The main character was not your usual run of the mill suave guy whom the girls fall all over but has a wife who deals with mental illness and he sticks by her during the hard times. I watched them go, Betsy hand in hand with her young man. “I don’t want your money,” he said. “Shame, I suppose,” he said eventually. I found the plot and subplots interesting, and I liked the main character, a bookie. That was a waste of brain time on my part. He knew I could. The pacing moves as quickly as ever, and Ned Talbot is a likeable and sympathetic hero, whose marital love story is authentically touching. What's not to love about a new Dick Francis, right? Even Money Loved it! I supposed I must have been that happy once. At one point they stopped and embraced before disappearing out of my sight into the grandstand. Putnam $26.95 (368p) ISBN 978-0-399-15591-8. One day while at work, a man steps up to Ned’s booth and identifies himself as Ned’s father. “That’s even worse,” I said. So why the multiple identities and why seek out Ned now? In most of his 40 or so novels, Francis does without a recurring character, with one exception: Sid Halley -- a onetime jockey who has lost an arm -- becomes a private investigator in "Odds Against" and is the hero of three subsequent novels, including "Whip Hand" and "Come to Grief," both of which received Edgar awards for best mystery of the year. prefer it with tony britton reading it but martin jarvis isn't bad. Crossfire (2010) was the novel Dick and Felix Francis were working on when Dick died in February 2010, marking the end of one chapter and … Another betting slip appeared out of the small printer as if by magic, and I passed it over. Somehow, the romance and the fun had disappeared. Not The Usual 300 Page Francis Thrill Ride, Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2009. Then an old man steps forward with a very different claim. latest thriller moves at a brisk pace even as she plays with narrative structure: The book is split into three sections, including a first one which alternates chapters between the time of Ellie’s disappearance and the present and a second section that begins as Laurel and Floyd meet. Ned Talbot was a likable main character, but his risk taking behavior didn't always sit well with the caution he shows in his relationships. Drop-off Date & Time. A total waste of my time! Unlike some other reviewers, I enjoyed finding out about the mathematics behin. “Eleven-to-four the field.”. It was a great mystery and just a fun read. He is not your usual private eye who deals with bad guys all the time and he mostly doesn't bring the trouble on but when it occurs he hits back and hits hard. The plot goes on from investigating his father's murder to investigating his father, to Ned's problems with his mentally ill wife, to Ned's problems with his staff, to a case of horse mistaken identity, to incidents of computer malfunction, and ad infinitum. Ned can’t believe it because he believes his father has been dead for 35 years. Dick Francis and son Felix have come up with yet another tale involving the shady and complex world of horse racing. “Could be worse,” I said, but I couldn’t actually remember a previous first-day Tuesday at Royal Ascot when we had lost money. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. “You forfeited that right when you walked away.” He looked down like a scalded cat. Goodreads Editors (and CEO) Share Their Mystery Picks. But did it really matter? 0.00. I preferred the informality of my usual haunts, the smaller steeplechase tracks of the Midlands. Can Luca's electronics expertise help solve the mystery? I thought you were dead.” I looked at him. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the Enter key is pressed. With the punters totting up their winnings, he counts his losses. Felix suffers from Tom Clancy Syndrome. But new readers who want to see Dick Francis at his best should pick up one or two of those early novels. But in 2005 he published a new Sid Halley novel called "Under Orders" and then in 2007 produced "Dead Heat," with the help of his younger son Felix. Even Money is the third book that Dick Francis, and his son Felix, have co-written. “I leap out of bed each morning with joy in my heart, delighting at the miracle of a new day.”, “Yes,” I said, giving no more details. Police identification indicates he is Alan Grady. Disaster and sorrow had been a constant companion. BOOKMAKERS’S ODDS AS USED ON BRITISH RACETRACKS. Original Title ISBN "9780399155918" published on "2009-8-1". An orphan. “But Alan Grady was his real name,” he said. First I signed onto a Liberian-registered cargo ship in the Liverpool docks. Get this from a library! Something went wrong. “Your mother and I were in a road accident,” he told me. Another favorite won the fifth race to huge cheers from the packed grandstand. “It means you deserted me when I was a year old. “Not anymore. I don't think Felix quite gets it. Your email address will not be published. “You are my son.”. Even Money; All in Duet Series, Book 1; By: ... What listeners say about Even Money. Another Great one done by Father and Son. . One can say of "Even Money" that it may not be up to the standards of "Nerve" or "Forfeit" or "Whip Hand" or "Reflex," but it's still a Dick Francis thriller. They show why Kingsley Amis and Philip Larkin, among many others, so admired Francis's writing. Soon after a man shows up at Ascot and identifies himself as Ed's father, Peter, whom Ed believed long dead, a thug demanding money stabs Peter to death. Bookies may be universally despised in the racing world, but Ned Talbot is a good guy. “Did you see him die?” “How do you know?” he asked. As a die-hard fan, I did enjoy this effort. “In that order.”, “Both in their twenties now, late twenties, I suppose. Felix Francis has stepped into the partnership virtually seamlessly, and this latest offering is a real pleasure. I enjoyed this mystery, but it's not the usual 300 page Francis thrill ride. I asked myself yet again what I was doing here. Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2018. I took the slip from the printer and handed it to the man standing patiently in front of me. “Are you?”, “No,” he replied. “Silly old bugger,” he said, almost under his breath. Had they deserted me for ever? Maths is NOT my thing! There were a few takers but business was slow. Does this book contain quality or formatting issues? We sat at a table near the bar overlooking the pre-parade ring while the man in the cream linen suit told me who I was. ", Martin Jarvis does his usual sterling work with the latest Dick and Felix Francis racing mystery. "Even Money", yet another Francis racehorse action mystery, may refer to balancing bets for wins and losses to come out ahead. The crowd had mostly dispersed to the parking lots by the time Luca, Betsy and I had packed up the majority of our gear and loaded it onto our little wheeled trolley that ingeniously doubled up as a base for our computer during the racing. Accentuated by the end of Chapter 2, there 's no getting around the fact that Francis. Luca and I wasn ’ t believe it because he believes his father 's disappearance and sudden.! Nearly 90 some reviewers do n't judge his work by this old guy who eventually claims be. That, but it was probably just as well extraordinary circumstances Luca and I liked about this product uploading. Time he had died when I read these sections and eventually skipped them adjusting down the offered prices our... 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