Share for friends:

High Stakes (2006)

High Stakes (2006)

Book Info

Author
Genre
Rating
3.91 of 5 Votes: 3
Your rating
ISBN
0425209148 (ISBN13: 9780425209141)
Language
English
Publisher
berkley

About book High Stakes (2006)

No surprises here: a solid thriller set in the world of horseracing. Read it in one sitting, on a beautiful summer morning, lazing in the sun of my backyard.The two sides of the conflict are clear right from the start line. On one side is Steven Scott, young and wealthy, an enthusiastic newcomer to the racetrack, with money to burn but with little practical knowledge about buying, training and racing the horses he owns. On the other side an ambitious trainer and a shady bookmaker that are apparently taking advantage of his good nature and friendly demeanour.As a long time reader of Dick Francis novels, I know it doesn't pay to underestimate his tall, quiet, competent but self effacing protagonists. They hide a mulish perseverence and an unshakeable sense of justice. Steven may have been fooled once, but he's not going to take it laying down.What I liked better in High Stakes than in other Francis books is the way he sets up Steven as a team player, rather than the usual Lone Ranger hero. He quickly gathers around him a few loyal friends and sets up a really smart heist to outwit the bad guys. I won't go into details, other than to say this book is a bit above average in Francis portofolio when it comes to actual plot. I also enjoyed the romantic angle in Steven life, one that is integral to the story rather than a cookie cutter sideline.The conclusion is a bit too predictable and too much (view spoiler)[ the signature attempt by the bad guy to solve his problems by dealing in physical violence against the hero (hide spoiler)]

High Stakes begins with Steven, owner of 12 racehorses, abruptly pulling his horses from the training of his long time trainer. He has found that he has been cheating on the billing, and even worse, been defrauding Steven by collusion with a bookmaker. The scheme - let the horse win on medium and small bets but when Steven bets big, make sure the horse looses.We find that Steven is an inventor of popular children's toys and it is interesting to read about how he makes them and the process he goes through in his mind when inventing them. The parallel is drawn between a specific toy and how one person can manipulate a group of others.The challenge in the story is for Steven to be able to catch the trainer and bookmaker in their theivery without being sued for lible and to be able to clear his current bad reputation of a rich owner who has left his perfectly wonderful trainer over some mistakes in billing!

Do You like book High Stakes (2006)?

This is another Francis book with a somewhat atypical Francis hero. This one, Steven Scott, is successful and mostly happy with no previous tragedies to cloud his life. He does, however, lead a mostly solitary life -- and, at the beginning of the book, his trainer's dishonesty deals a serious blow to Steven's trust in his fellow man. This book follows Steven as he makes sure that the bad guys get what's coming to them, but also shows him developing his own circle of friends and coming out of his isolation. The schemes in this one -- both the plotting of the bad guys and the retribution of the good guys -- are complicated and fun. I wish there had been a second Steven Scott book, because I'd like to know what he and his buddies got up to next!
—Contrarius

Oh Dick Francis, how I miss you. I'm sure I must have read this book eons ago, but I read and re read Dick Francis books with relish. One of my favourite authors.Story. Steven Scott is a brilliant toy inventor, however, not so brilliant when it comes to horse racing. He has placed his horses with a very dishonest trainer, who has taken him for quite a few bob, an enormous amount, actually. When Scott tumbles his game, he pulls his horses out, only to be ostracized by the racing community, who sides with the evil trainer. However, Scott is not as dumb as they all think he is, with a little help from his friends he is able to turn the tables on the crooks. Though it takes a lot of money, and he finds a little romance on the way. Lovely.
—Jan

My library system recently purchased the audio version of High Stakes by Dick Francis and my ears and I went on a voyage down memory lane as it were. This book was originally published in 1974 but it is still an enjoyable read but you have to turn off your 21st century mindset or you’ll drive yourself crazy. If Mr. Francis or his son were to write the book today, it would be a very different book but High Stakes and its characters are still likeable forty years later. Hero/inventor Steven Scott has purchased some race horses and had greatly enjoyed watching them run. Unfortunately he discovers that his choice of trainers was not the best possible. He changes trainers and discovers that there’s more to his former trainer’s tricks than first appeared. Through twists and turns the horses and people are juggle in a manner that still enthralls even if you know the end result.
—Jackie

download or read online

Read Online

Write Review

(Review will shown on site after approval)

Other books by author Dick Francis

Other books in category Fiction