Odds Against Audiobook, by Dick Francis Play Audiobook Sample

Odds Against Audiobook

Odds Against Audiobook, by Dick Francis Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Geoffrey Howard Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 4.83 hours at 1.5x Speed 3.63 hours at 2.0x Speed Series: The Sid Halley Series Release Date: August 2011 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781481559577

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

20

Longest Chapter Length:

29:55 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

10:09 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

21:38 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

45

Other Audiobooks Written by Dick Francis: > View All...

Publisher Description

It’s amazing what bodily injury can do for a man. A fall from a racehorse left brilliant jockey Sid Halley dangerously depressed, with a wrecked hand and the need for a new career. It was a bullet wound that helped him find one.

Although he’d been with a detective agency since his racing accident, it isn’t until some two-bit hoodlum drills a slug into his side that he is sent out on a case of his own. That is where he meets Zanna Martin, a woman who just might make life worth living again. But it is an even-money bet that he will be killed before she has the chance.

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"This book is well narrated by Tony Britton. I'm disappointed, though, that Britton doesn't do a lower-class accent for Sid. Britton proved that he could carry an Australian accent throughout an entire book in For Kicks, and Sid is a character from the lower classes, so it would be nice to have that accent here. Perhaps I'm spoiled by the lovely Welsh accent of the actor who played Sid in the mini-series based on this character (Mike Gwilym)."

— Contrarius (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Few things are more convincing than Dick Francis at a full gallop.” 

    — Chicago Tribune
  • “Nobody sets up a mystery better than Dick Francis.”

    — San Francisco Chronicle
  • “Few writers have maintained such a high standard of excellence for as long as Dick Francis.”

    — San Diego Union-Tribune
  • “The master of crime fiction and equine thrills.” 

    — Newsday

Awards

  • Finalist for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel

Odds Against Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 4.13333333333333 out of 54.13333333333333 out of 54.13333333333333 out of 54.13333333333333 out of 54.13333333333333 out of 5 (4.13)
5 Stars: 9
4 Stars: 17
3 Stars: 3
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Great beginning to the Sid Halley stories! "

    — Anna, 2/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The first Sid Halley novel. A good yarn, as Sid struggles with his useless hand, his job, and the bad guy's scheme to make millions in housing developments. "

    — Ellen, 2/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This was one of the first Dick Francis books I read; I don't know if I've read them all, but I've read every one I've found in the various libraries that I've used over the last 25 years. His writing is crisp and clear, his characters likable, even if they are quite similar to each other is many respects. If you like mysteries in an easy reading style that engage you, you can't go wrong with a Dick Francis book. "

    — Ann, 1/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " mystery in the horse racing arena. i'm always looking for prolific writers, as i'm a prolific reader, and for some reason i'd previously skipped dick francis but will probably read the rest of his books. well written, funny, suspenseful, violent. "

    — Ed, 1/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A great portrayal of what courage is (plus the reference to Flanders & Swann always makes me happy). A gripping story even when rereading it. "

    — Leslie, 1/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The triumphant debut of Sid Halley. One of Francis' best! "

    — Nitin, 12/31/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is one great novel. Good characters that are satisfying to read about. A suspense that keeps you captured and want to read more about jockeys and the race scene. "

    — Ron, 12/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 3+, good quick read, fell off a bit at the end, interesting concept, jockey turned PI. "

    — Richard, 12/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This title was originally published in 1965 entitled "Odds Against" - it is the first of four stories featuring jockey turned detective Sid Halley.... "

    — Jerry, 12/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This was the second book I ever read of Dick Francis, even though it was the fist book of a series. -- It was great. Made me want to read more!! "

    — Sue, 12/11/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " probably the best known thriller by Dick Francis, the introduction of Sid Halley - steeplechase jockey turned private investigator. It contains all the trademark aspects of mr. Francis heroes and plot development, still fresh close to the start of his writing career "

    — Algernon, 11/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I am in the midst of re-reading all of his books (for the umpteenth time). Love them every time! Especially enjoy the Sid Halley books "

    — Camille, 10/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I love this old English books. Also to read about what mysteries the one armed man is going to solve next. "

    — Trent, 9/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A great read with some outstanding characters--read this in a day and really recommend it. "

    — Marge, 2/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " an oldie but very Dick Francis "

    — Sandi, 2/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The first time I ever fell in love with a character in a novel. Sid Halley is a wonderful combination of courage, savvy, boldness and vulnerability. "

    — Gwen, 9/14/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " On my pre-holiday trip to the library I couldn't resist a Dick Francis book - a guaranteed well-written exciting book. Not too graphic but the threat is real and the characters are likeable. "

    — Alison, 5/9/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I was good, but didn't blow me out of the water like 'To the hilt'. "

    — Kay-nut, 3/13/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " An easy fun mystery, read it in 2 days, good escape while traveling. "

    — Breann, 3/6/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This book hasn't worn well the plot & characters are very dated. "

    — Fiona, 10/30/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The first Sid Halley novel. A good yarn, as Sid struggles with his useless hand, his job, and the bad guy's scheme to make millions in housing developments. "

    — Ellen, 4/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Great beginning to the Sid Halley stories! "

    — Anna, 3/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The first of the Sid Halley novels, it was strange reading this after reading the later ones. It's got that patina of age that comes with older contemporary novels, but it's still a good page-turner. "

    — Colin, 12/12/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A good quality 'whole' read. It is just another good strong novel, liked it. "

    — Greg, 10/17/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " One of the best Dick Francis novels. We learn how Sid Halley lost his left arm in this book. The theme of having to live with only one arm and his inability to ride as a jockey because of it is a recurring theme in the other 5 books about Sid Halley, private investigator. "

    — April, 10/4/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Fantastic book! Just about my fave Dick Francis. The TV series based on this is terrif too. "

    — Janet, 8/13/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " mystery in the horse racing arena. i'm always looking for prolific writers, as i'm a prolific reader, and for some reason i'd previously skipped dick francis but will probably read the rest of his books. well written, funny, suspenseful, violent. "

    — Ed, 5/5/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Dick Francis' books are always enjoyable. I learned more about horse racing and more about the tricks man can play on man. It kept me in suspense the whole way. "

    — Ellen, 4/10/2009
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The first Sid Halley novel (of 3 Francis wrote over the years) where Halley finds his 2nd career as a detective after losing a hand as a jockey in a racing accident. "

    — Maribeth, 3/24/2008
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The first time I ever fell in love with a character in a novel. Sid Halley is a wonderful combination of courage, savvy, boldness and vulnerability. "

    — Gwen, 4/19/2007

About Dick Francis

Dick Francis, (1920–2010) a former champion steeplechase jockey, was the author of many bestselling mysteries set in the world of horse racing. The only three-time recipient of the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award for best novel, his awards include the Gold Dagger, the Cartier Diamond Dagger, the MWA’s Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement, an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Tufts University of Boston, and in 2000 he received a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

About Geoffrey Howard

Geoffrey Howard (a.k.a. Ralph Cosham) was a stage actor and an award-winning narrator. He recorded more than 100 audiobooks in his lifetime and won the prestigious Audio Award for Best Narration and several AudioFile Earphones Awards.