Longshot

by Dick Francis

Book Overview

"Fast-paced, meticulously plotted...Nobody sets up a mystery better than Dick Francis." SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE Travel writer John Kendall didn't think he was doing anything too out of the ordinary when he tramped off to rural England for an interview with a successful race horse trainer. Soon enough, however, Kendall realizes that completing the book will be tricky at best. In fact, the perils described in his survival manuals pale next to the dangers...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399135812
• ISBN13: 9780399135811
• Release Date: October 1990
• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

No longshot here!

I loved this book. This was the first audio book I ever listened to (way back when), and it hooked me in, both to Dick Francis and to audiobooks. With Kenneth Branaugh narrating, the reading is tremendous. The climactic scene still resonates with me, at least 10 years later, because of Branaugh's portrayal. I'm not trying to do a classic "book review" or to earn any rating points-- I just love this book as a great, entertaining read (or listen). You won't be disappointed!

Another winner by Francis

This 1990 novel by former jockey Dick Francis features John Kendall, a young man who has written a novel while working as an adventure guide writer. When his novel was accepted by a publisher Kendall took his advance, quit his job and began his second novel. As the story opens he has discovered two things, the first is that writing full time was not as easy as he had thought, and secondly that his advance was not lasting nearly as long as he had hoped. An opportunity to ghost write a horse trainer's memoirs came up, complete with room and board just as Kendall found himself homeless. While living in the trainer's home Kendall is introduced to the world of racing and some of its intrigues and scandals. As always in a Francis' novel, the hero is stoic and persisent, the family is dysfunctional, the first crime leads to a second, and in the end it is the villian's lack of character that caused all the misfortune. Francis' work has been criticized as being formulistic, that any one is very like any other. This is true but since they are well written, the characters are interesting, the plots are clever, and the action exciting this means only that the reader is guaranteed an enjoyable read with each new one.

Branaugh Brings Book To Life

I enjoyed this book enormously when I first read it and bought the audio version just for fun. Kenneth Branaugh really made this book a treat to listen to - fantastic voices and range without over doing it. Dick Francis fans - anyone really - will be thoroughly entertained with Longshot.

Great Read

This is the first Dick Francis novel I've read. I originally purchased this novel because of my love of horses, and how he incorporates them into his writing. However, when reading, I realized that Mr. Francis' books stand on their own. This story was incredibly exhilerating, and well written. I had a hard time putting it down once I got into it. All the characters are interesting, and developed very well. I'm looking forward to reading another one of Mr. Francis' novels in the near future. I highly recommend this book.

A Great Book

Another great book by Dick Francis. I have never read a bad book of his. This book keeps you wondering who did it. The main suspect changes often. I really enjoyed this book and you should enjoy it to.