Product Description

Bert Checkov was a Fleet Street racing correspondent with a talent for tipping non-starters. But the advice he gave to James Tyrone a few minutes before he fell to his death, was of a completely different nature. James investigates, and soon finds his own life, and that of his wife, at risk.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4945462 in Books
• Published on: 1969-01
• Number of items: 6
• Binding: Audio Cassette

Review
Reporter James Tyrone takes on an additional assignment in order to cover the expenses that help support his invalid wife. But he finds himself with more than just an inside scoop on the Lamplighter steeplechase after a friend's death (suicide?). It seems that just too many pre-post favorites never make it to the starting gate and James himself almost becomes a loser after threats to his wife, blackmail and beatings. And then there's the dusky beauty Gail who loves him, betrays him, in this multi-gaited thriller. (Kirkus Reviews)

Review
A superb thriller...terrific. (San Francisco Chronicle)

From the Inside Flap
"The best thriller writer going."
ATLANTIC MONTHLY
James Tyron, a racing reporter for a London scandal sheet, knew that fellow writer Bert Chekov was a drunk, but he always thought he was an honest one. But when Bert suddenly died in an "accidental" fall from a window, Tyrone suspeced the clues to his death might be found in some suspicious columns he'd written touting can't lose horses--who myseriously failed to show up on race day. With his own professional and private lives in a chaotic jumble, Tyrone knew he'd have find a way to prove that Chekov was murdered. Be he didn't know the terrifying risk he was unwittingly about to take....

Customer Reviews

Journalists! Caution!
Journalists should be aware that they might stop writing after heaving read this incredible thriller by Dick Francis.

In this thriller, Dick Francis presents the story of an English journalist (Ty) who finds out about some corruption connected with a series of nonstarters in horse racing. Ty decides to uncover the cause for this series of nonstarters. Now the story becomes really interesting. Therefore, I do not want to spoil it. You have to read it yourself.

Dick Francis is able to convince me with this thriller because the plot seems pretty realistic. It is not a book where one would think: "It could not happen anyway". Mr Francis does not present the story idealized.

In conclusion I have to say that you ought to read this book even if you do not like horses or horse racing!

Murder on the sports page
Sportswriter James (Ty) Tyrone covers the racing scene for a British tabloid. A colleague drunkenly offers to give him 'a piece of advice' but before he can remember what it is falls out of a 7th floor window to his death. A tragic accident...or is it. As Ty begins to investigate he uncovers a far reaching conspiracy throughout the racing world. Before he can bring the criminals to justice Ty has to fight for his and his invalid wife's lives.

As always with a Francis novel the reader is taken into another aspect of the racing world (this time it is sports writing). The hero is stoic, bravely bearing up to his deep personal tragedy, (this time a beloved wife crippled by polio) who must endure many trials before he emerges triumphant in the end.

While Francis' work is formulistic it is also quite good. The mystery is cleverly done, the action exciting. The hero is flawed but sympathetic, his situation touching and when he defeats the bad guys the reader is left with a good feeling.

If you are already a fan of the series this one is another winner. If you are new to the series this is a good place to start.

Another Francis masterpeice!!!
It's difficult to find a character in contemporary fiction who succeeds so well at living up to his principles with hardly a blink of his figurative eye. In "Forfeit" there is such a character. Confronted with a choice between selling out his integrity and facing hardship, journalist, James Tyrone invariably chooses the hardship and immediately applies his mental resources to overcome the threat. Francis has created a masterpiece of characterization, plot and style in yet another of his fabulous novels. You won't need coffee to stay awake with this one!