Come to Grief

by Dick Francis Narrated by Simon Prebble

Overview

In Come to Grief, Dick Francis, the bestselling author of over thirty books, brings back one of his most popular characters: Sid Halley, the wiry jockey turned detective who captured the attention of so many fans in Whip Hand. Filled with
the crisp humor and quick-stepping plots listeners have come to expect, this is Dick Francis at his best.
Someone is maiming two-year-old colts, the cream of the future racing crop. Sid, whose hand was ruined in a race, is drawn to the plight of the magnificent horses, each found with one foot lopped off. But when he charges an old friend-a pillar
of the horse breeding community-with the horrible crimes, the repercussions are swift and terrible.
Dick Francis gives Sid an assortment of unlikely chums to aid him and keeps up a brisk pace as the investigation spreads far beyond the paddocks. The plot twists through paths of obsession and retribution, keeping the reader guessing until the last clue crosses the finish line.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Francis fans will welcome the return of narrator Sid Halley (Odds Against; Whip Hand) as the one-handed PI and ex-jockey takes on a case of multiple mutilations of thoroughbreds; unnervingly, the amputation of the animals' front left hooves mirrors Sid's own injury. The investigator soon realizes that the man behind the crimes is his old friend Ellis Quint, ex-gentleman jockey and now a beloved TV host. Sick at heart, Sid builds a strong case; but, when Quint is charged, British law bars any public discussion of the case, rendering Sid mute at the huge public backlash against him. Particularly vicious and unrelenting is The Pump, a garish tabloid. When another mutilation occurs and Ellis has a seemingly unbreakable alibi, Sid finds some odd connections between a business tycoon, The Pump's noble owner and Ellis. Finally, the honorable, brave and thoroughly decent Sid faces his worst nightmare-the loss of his good hand-while doing what he must. A subplot about a little girl with leukemia offers some touching sentiment, and there are flashes of dry wit throughout as Francis, who turns 75 later this year, proves himself still at the top of his game. BOMC featured alternate; Reader's Digest Condensed Book; simultaneous Simon & Schuster audio; author tour. (Sept.)

Library Journal

No word yet on the plot of this latest thriller from the author of such best sellers as Decider (Putnam, 1993), but it's a good bet that the cast features plenty of horses and jockeys.

School Library Journal

YA-The champion jockey turned detective, Sid Halley, returns in this mystery to find the perpetrator of heinous crimes committed against prize-winning horses that are not insured. The horse community rejects his findings and does everything in its power to stop the investigation. Physical force, slanderous newspaper stories, and bugged phones are some of the tactics used to discredit and demoralize Halley. Fortunately, the nature of the crime is so unnerving that some powerful people enter the scene demanding that he finish his work. Francis has once again created a plausible mystery that can't be solved before finishing the book. The reading is easy and descriptive. The story, set in the present, includes characters and situations that will appeal to teen readers...especially horse lovers. Another Blue Ribbon selection from this notable author.-Linda A. Vretos, West Springfield High School, Springfield, VA

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175303996
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	04/19/2022
Series:	Sid Halley Series , #3
Edition description:	Unabridged

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