Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 New Career November 18, 2007
Nash Black (Jamestown, KY)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A 38 slug enters Sid Haley's side and he is jerked out of a deep depression as he has watched his arm, his career and marriage ground under flashing hooves. Thus Dick Frances introduces one of his most popular characters in ODDS AGAINST.
Sid is working in a detective agency at the instigation of his ex-father-in-law, while trying to put his life of steeplechasing behind him. A small set up goes haywire and Sid is pitched into the world of racing from the outside of the rail. A job he thinks he hates until it is almost destroyed.
Fast action, great prose, tense drama, and the reader enters Sid's world. Mystery fiction at its best, told by a master of the genre.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.
One of his early novels August 28, 2007
Fred Camfield (Vicksburg, MS USA)
This is one of the author's early novels and the first one in the series about ex-jockey turned PI Sid Halley. This novel introduces the character, his past, his father-in-law, his work associates, etc. The first three novels about Halley, Odds Against, Whip Hand, and Come to Grief, can also be found in the combined omnibus edition, Win, Place, or Show. The novel is very good and has survived the test of time, i.e., it is still an interesting plot 40 years after it was written.
Sid Halley came from an impoverished background and had to leave school as a teenager. He was apprenticed as a jockey and by the time he was 18 her was a success. He made good investments and is also moderately wealthy. An accident ended his career as a jockey, and he has been employed, more or less, in a PI firm. Events lead him into a case involving an unscrupulous businessman who is trying to acquire racetrack property for personal profit. Like many businesses, the assets (in this case land) are undervalued in relation to the stock price, making a racetrack a takeover target.
There are some surprises as the story progresses. The novel deals with adult situations. There is little sexual content, mostly by reference, but considerable violence.
Excellent! June 3, 2007
LovesBooksMusicandMovies (Colorado, USA)
Dick Francis is wonderful. "Odds Against" is the first introduction to ex-jockey turned private investigator Sid Halley. I found this book to be enthralling. Dick Francis paints pictures with words! Simply the best! A must read.
 Figure the odds May 26, 2007
Neal J. Pollock (VA USA)
I enjoyed this book--it was IMHO a fun read. As usual, DF has an indestructible hero who seems to court trouble but with impeccable morality. It's easy to root for him. The criminals are despicable yet the hero doesn't hate them. DF IMHO manages to keep the reader interested throughout the novel. Of Francis >40 books, this is the 1st in an, at present, series of 4 starring Sid Halley. Halley often has interestingly different relationships with women--in this book with Zanna. Though there is no continuity to later books for the women (except Halley's ex-wife). This book lacks the funny, very creative dialog of some of Francis' later works such as: Halley's description of reporter India Cathcart--"They said she kept a penknife handy for sharpening her ball-points...She trailed me behind her like a comet's tail (Halley's Comet?) while introducing me to no one...The serial reputation-slasher".
p.s. Francis has written 4 Sid Halley novels so far: Odds Against, Whip Hand, Come to Grief, & Under Orders--in that order. The 1st 3 have been anthologized: "Win, Place, or Show" 042519972X, "The Sid Halley Omnibus" 033049242X, & "3 Titles by Dick Francis" B000MN3WV4. Enjoy!
Figure the odds May 26, 2007
Neal J. Pollock (VA USA)
I enjoyed this book--it was IMHO a fun read. As usual, DF has an indestructible hero who seems to court trouble but with impeccable morality. It's easy to root for him. The criminals are despicable yet the hero doesn't hate them. DF IMHO manages to keep the reader interested throughout the novel. Of Francis >40 books, this is the 1st in an, at present, series of 4 starring Sid Halley. Halley often has interestingly different relationships with women--in this book with Zanna. Though there is no continuity to later books for the women (except Halley's ex-wife). This book lacks some of the funny very creative dialog of some of Francis' later works such as: Halley's description of reporter India Cathcart's--"They said she kept a penknife handy for sharpening her ball-points...She trailed me behind her like a comet's tail (Halley's Comet?) while introducing me to no one...The serial reputation-slasher".
p.s. Francis has written 4 Sid Halley novels so far: Odds Against, Whip Hand, Come to Grief, & Under Orders--in that order. The 1st 3 have been anthologized: "Win, Place, or Show" 042519972X, "The Sid Halley Omnibus" 033049242X, & "3 Titles by Dick Francis" B000MN3WV4. Enjoy!
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