For Kicks

Written by Dick Francis

Narrated by Tony Britton

Dick Francis takes you into the thrilling world of horse racing with this story of a reluctant detective and a scandal turned deadly.

Australian horse breeder Daniel Roke had resisted the exorbitant sum of money offered by a suave Englishman to investigate a scandal involving drugged racehorses.

But after another investigator dies mysteriously, Roke agrees to fill his shoes, and learns that men who would give drugs to horses are capable of doing much worse to human beings …

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705071113

Reviews for For Kicks

[thesmellofbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another good one. As a friend says, "A ripping good yarn."

[gibbon_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A relatively early mystery tale set in the world of English horse racing and race "fixing". The method is ingenious and cruel as are the bad people, but aristocracy and true grit win through after several nail-biting episodes. Competent and fast-moving, not one for re-reading.

[marjorie stradinger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A perfect story and narration. Francis and Britton keep us interested, entertained, on the edge and give even an occasional smile.

On to the next adventure.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like this story. The hero is interesting, both at the beginning and at the end. I think Francis was setting him up for a series, but it hasn't happened as far as I know (he does have a few books that link - the three (four?) Halleys for one, Bolt and Break In for another)

[quondame · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fast moving action, interesting challenges and characters set in the not too often explored unglamorous corners of horse training, this is pretty much a completely stratifying story, less of a mystery than a how to expose the villains plot.At what must be at least my 4th re-read of this it remains a favorite. Some of the mechanics are more obvious than in later books and though Danny Roke remains my favorite of Dick Francis's protagonists some of the character details seem to wobble a bit.

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really great suspense in this one. Francis had me on the edge of my seat. I did, however, figure out the key to the mystery long before the protagonist did. Who knew I would get into mystery novels based in the world of British steeplechase, but there you are. Good writing is good writing.

[ant.harrison · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An early novel from Dick Francis, this was a quick and easy read. Told in Fancis’s fairly flat, no-nonsense style, the first person narrative engages early and, despite a few plot holes, is fairly believable. The mid-1960s setting does date it quite a bit, but the central theme of horses being ‘doped’ to win and the main character having to go under cover as a stable lad, was well thought through. There was a point when I thought that the action flagged a bit, but don’t let that put you off. For an enjoyable thriller, chose Mr Francis.
© Koplowitz 2012

[stephanie_m-868484 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A little gem of a novel. Francis continues to be one of my main, favorite authors, and I mourn his death a little more, with each novel I read.

[tkcs-3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've read most of the Francis books and recommend them for a reliably good read. They're all set against a background of horse racing, and while that wasn't particularly interesting to me at first I've come to enjoy it; it doesn't overpower the plot. I especially like his tight unsentimental style that moves the narrative at a steady pace.

[julesjones_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Danny Roke has made a success out of running a stud farm in Australia. He's devoted to the stud, because he's devoted to the younger siblings he's raised since their parents died, and the stud brings money and stability. What it doesn't bring is a sense that this is what he wants the rest of his life to be. When the Earl of October arrives one day and offers him enough money to keep the stud running without him, he's intrigued enough to take the job offered -- going undercover as a stablehand to investigate a suspected racehorse doping racket in English racing.Danny knows going in that the job could be dangerous. Fatal, even. But he finds enough to convince him that there *is* a racket, and he's determined to get to the bottom of it, if only to prove to himself that he can do the job.It's a wonderful piece of writing, with solid characterisation and a well-plotted mystery. Highly enjoyable way to spend a few hours.

[tripleblessings_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Daniel Roke, Australian stud farm owner, goes undercover as a groom in England to stop a doping ring. Great tension, likeable hero, one of my favourites.

[tzelman_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Riveting story about undercover attempt to discover horse-fixing plot. This one was hard to put down.