Iced

A Dick Francis Novel

By: Felix Francis

Narrated by: Martin Jarvis

Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

In the tradition of Clive Cussler and James Lee Burke, Iced, the latest in Francis's fictional world, is a heart-pounding thriller that will keep you racing forward.

Seven years ago, Miles Pussett was a steeplechase jockey, loving the rush of the race. But after an unfortunate event, he left horseracing behind and swore he would never return. Now he gets his adrenaline rush from riding headfirst down the Cresta Run, a three-quarter-mile Swiss ice chute, reaching speeds of up to eighty miles per hour.

Finding himself in St Moritz during the same weekend as White Turf, when high-class horseracing takes place on the frozen lake, he gets talked into helping out with the horses. Against his better judgement, he decides to assist, but things aren't as innocent as they seemed.

When he discovers something suspicious is going on in the races, something that may have a profound impact on his future, Miles begins a search for answers. But someone is adamant about stopping him—and they'll go to any length to do it.

©2022 Felix Francis (P)2022 Recorded Books

Storyline was hard to follow

Miles is a very likeable character, much more flawed than most of Dick/Felix Francis' characters.

Whiplash of Flashbacks

This story became very confusing. The "main" story seems to be the contemporary story which includes an attempted murder on the Cresta Run (Taboggan Run) at St. Moritz. This is interrupted with ping ponging back and forth in time to the past.

Though the setting was interesting, this was not up to Felix Francis' usual.

The narration was excellent. Martin Jarvis did an excellent job.

I did finish the book, but there was a lot of rewinding and I'm sure this isn't something I will re-read or re-listen to.

Felix Francis is a wonderful writter

I don't understand why the name Dick Francis is still on Felix Francis novels. He's a wonderful writer in his own right. He writes fully three dimensional characters and very interesting mysteries that give you insight into the horse racing world and other very interesting worlds. I always enjoyed Dick Francis books but since Felix started writing, I have found that his writing and stories are much more engaging and entertaining for me. He certainly does a much better job at writing female characters even when they are a small part of the story. I'm so happy to read anything he writes.

Not one of his best

Not enough mystery or action, and too much flipping back and forth of time lines.

It's not that it's a particularly bad book in it's own way, but not really in the mould of the other books.

just okay

I never felt invested in the character. a compelling story, a solid venture into mental health.

Really enjoyed

There is a lot of jumping around but it works very well for this book. Loved it.

Performance was good. Story lacking…

The narrator has an engaging voice but too much jumping around from past to present within the same chapter. If it hadn’t been for a few details helping to place the time line (arm in sling), I would have been completely confused.

Felix Francis is finding his stride!

I thoroughly enjoyed iced. it is definitely a page turner if you can use that phrase about an audiobook. well Felix still writes with shades of his father, he is definitely come into his own as an author and I am enjoying his work.

Watered down Francis genre novel.

Felix Francis appears to pick a disorder or disease state to overshadow the thriller, mystery portrayed in the last 3-4 novels. The protagonist, affiliated with British horse racing, has turns in their life spinning them into a variety of nefarious events. ICED Is the next in this line. Unfortunately, this novel winds along with the protagonist’s success, trials and failures at leaving his past behind. The familiar Francis progression is finding a fascinating opposite sex character, and repeated attempts at the protagonist’s life. The villain(s) pop out of a familiar corner only to self destruct before a thoughtful protagonist has the do away with them!
Pretty much the case here, but we jump tie periods to two critical parts of life. Set in current times, audiobook has a limitation in portraying the time changes.
Martin Jarvis is a standard with Francis novels.

Mystery?

Not too much mystery. Very good exposition on mental health & alcoholism. Didn’t like the end.