Even Money

The book came quickly and in great condition. I bought it as a gift for my mother and know she will be pleased. Everything was as I expected and more.

Very good. It kept me on the edge of my seat--and it wasn't as bloody as some. The Francis boys make quite a team.

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.

A good read as always! The numbers were explained at the first, but some unexplained jargon got in the book. I even looked the phrases up online and could find no explination. Especially 30 threes! I could not help be fascinated by the clear description of the manic/depressive disorder. Felt that it was well documented that the people who have this problem will have frequent relapses. But in Ted's wife Sophie's case it seams to suddenly all come right, even under stresses that mentally sound people are not able to handle. After the clear explanation from the begining it is very fairy-tale like. And at the end she jumps right into the worst thing that Ted worried about causing a relapse. Maybe they were setting up the next book? The ending was about the most contrived of all his (well now their) books, lots of loose ends, some of wich were tied with very light thread. But after all how many people can write a book at 88 yrs old. If Felix continues to write I will always read. I love the references to the horses.

The odds are that mystery and suspense fans will love the latest installment from the word processor of Dick Francis and son. The mellowing influence of Felix Francis is to create sympathetic heroes who are less "take it on the chin and keep going" stoic types than ordinary good and decent men caught up in situations of violence. Ned Talbot is a racetrack bookie only because he grew up assisting his grandfather, the Talbot of "Trust Teddy Talbot". Ned's an extremely likable guy, who sticks to his wife despite her chronic mental illness and worries that his capable, computer-savvy assistant will leave for a larger firm. The big off-track betting chains are putting pressure on his profits and he sometimes wonders if his unpopular profession is worth it. Ned grew up believing that his parents were killed in a car crash, so when a man approaches him at the Ascot races, claiming to be his father, Ned does not believe it at first. But the stranger helps him haul all his equipment off the track and as the two of them are walking across the parking lot, an assailant leaps out of nowhere and knocks Ned down. Ned was starting to believe the man really is his father Peter Talbot, so he is horrified when the assailant stabs his father and disappears. Is this a robbery gone wrong or something to do with his father's mysterious past? Old-time fans of Francis will recognize the electrifying sound of the starting bell, as another Francis racetrack tale of skulduggery and mayhem is off and running. Ordinary guy Ned Talbot will be an odds-on favorite but the reader will be the real winner.