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The Edge (A Dick Francis Novel) Mass Market Paperback – August 2, 2005

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,642 ratings

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A high-class, transcontinental horse-racing junket should be an idyllic getaway for the super-rich.

But one passenger on this train is a sociopath, a genius at blackmail and criminal corruption—and he plans to take everyone for everything they've got.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dick Francis (pictured with his son Felix Francis) was born in South Wales in 1920. He was a young rider of distinction winning awards and trophies at horse shows throughout the United Kingdom. At the outbreak of World War II he joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot, flying fighter and bomber aircraft including the Spitfire and Lancaster.

He became one of the most successful postwar steeplechase jockeys, winning more than 350 races and riding for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. After his retirement from the saddle in 1957, he published an autobiography, The Sport of Queens, before going on to write more than forty acclaimed books, including the New York Times bestsellers Even Money and Silks.

A three-time Edgar Award winner, he also received the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association’s Cartier Diamond Dagger, was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, and was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2000. He died in February 2010, at age eighty-nine, and remains among the greatest thriller writers of all time.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ G.P. Putnam's Sons; Reissue edition (August 2, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0425204391
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0425204399
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 970L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 0.96 x 6.82 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,642 ratings

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Dick Francis
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Dick Francis was the author of more than forty acclaimed books. Among his numerous awards were three Edgar Awards, the Crime Writers' Association Cartier Diamond Dagger, and the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award. He died in February 2010.

Felix Francis has assisted with the research of many of the Dick Francis novels and is the coauthor of Dead Heat, Silks, and Even Money. He lives in England.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
3,642 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the plot interesting and well-crafted. They describe the book as an enjoyable read with absorbing writing and well-developed characters. Readers appreciate the fast-paced storyline that keeps pace with the action. The novel blends thoroughbred horse racing and a train journey across Canada.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

72 customers mention "Plot"64 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the interesting plot with its premise of a murder mystery play incorporated into a train setting. The well-written scenes add another dimension to the story. Readers appreciate the real-life mystery and action in this book.

"Very interesting complicated plot. Very interesting characters. Wonderful hero! Very likeable. Learned much about railroads...." Read more

"...The story is filled with romance, acts of sabatage with potentially deadly consequences, family tragedy, and the stunning scenery of the Canadian..." Read more

"Another great story" Read more

"...What a relief! This work is written as a constant conflict of good vs evil, righteousness vs wickedness...." Read more

66 customers mention "Readability"66 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and interesting. They say it's a good book for the genre and a treat from an enjoyable author. Readers mention that the train trip is an exhilarating experience and the book doesn't disappoint.

"...Very interesting characters. Wonderful hero! Very likeable. Learned much about railroads. One of the best in the series. Highly recommended." Read more

"...writer, each novel is unique enough to draw the reader into an exciting world that always, in some way, involves thoroughbred racing...." Read more

"...Despite this, all the books are good. I've never been let down." Read more

"...Wonderful! I read this years ago in paperback. Lost it. This time on kindle (won't lose it!)...." Read more

25 customers mention "Writing quality"25 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality. They find the characters well-drawn, humorous, and entertaining. The author is clever and provides great detail for the many interactions among the characters. The mystery theatre scenes are well-written and add another dimension to the story.

"This is another wonderful book by Dick Francis. Although he is a prolific writer, each novel is unique enough to draw the reader into an exciting..." Read more

"...writer myself, I've learned so much about story construction, character development, and using simple language to make a dramatic point, all from..." Read more

"...The plot is clear and logical. The characters are well-drawn, if a little predictable...." Read more

"...Dick Francis is at his best in creating the characters for this story, who are part of a Mystery Murder on a train ride across Canada for horse..." Read more

21 customers mention "Character development"17 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the book's character development. They find the characters interesting and likeable, with a wonderful hero. The protagonist is an investigator for the Jockey Club who has never been a jockey. The story includes trains, horses, villains, and love blossoming.

"Very interesting complicated plot. Very interesting characters. Wonderful hero! Very likeable. Learned much about railroads...." Read more

"How does Dick Francis manage time and time again, to give us such a likeable hero, faced with such impossible odds - and a story that grips us..." Read more

"...He is a very complicated and likeable character who I would love to read more of...." Read more

"...packed, but it has lots of humor, a cute romance, and a hero who is fun to root for...." Read more

18 customers mention "Pacing"15 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find the characters engaging and well-developed, keeping up with the action. The book is described as fast-paced and suspenseful, with good character development. Readers praise the author's writing style and research, describing it as one of his best works.

"...It kept her interest the whole way through and she finished it super-quick on her kindle. I will be reading it soon myself...." Read more

"...I thought that despite the huge number of characters, they were well-developed...." Read more

"...This was one of Mr Francis's last solo books and one of his best...." Read more

"The master at work, this author produces novels that keep you interested to the very end...." Read more

12 customers mention "Train travel"12 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's train travel. It combines racehorses with a Canadian rail excursion. The story is a perfect romp through the world of thoroughbred horse racing. Readers appreciate the beauty and excitement of the journey across Canada by rail.

"...the reader into an exciting world that always, in some way, involves thoroughbred racing...." Read more

"...As it happens, I was in the mood to re-read this fascinating journey across Canada by rail, on the "Great Transcontinental Mystery Race Train"..." Read more

"...train ride for horse race owners and fans that celebrates Canadian horse racing. It makes me want to take another train ride, maybe through Canada...." Read more

"A fun read with a Canadian rail setting, races, a theatre mystery within, and some action...." Read more

9 customers mention "Depth"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's depth. They find the plot intricate with thorough characterizations and careful insights. The author's meticulous research immerses them into the lives of his main characters. The theme is interesting and creative. The book does an outstanding job of presenting questions and finding answers, providing wisdom that strikes right at their hearts.

"...The author's meticulous research immerses the reader into the lives of his main characters, the rich details lending credibility to whatever the..." Read more

"...So true! This work does outstanding job of presenting questions and finding answers. In fact, dialogue refers to Hamlet several times...." Read more

"...And I've re-read it dozens of times since. There is a plentitude of wisdom in these pages that somehow strikes right at your heart...." Read more

"...His detail and knowledge of trains, horsey people, and the story itself was so creative and intelligently written." Read more

9 customers mention "Scenery"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's scenery. They find the Canadian Rockies beautiful and offer great photographic moments. The descriptions are wonderful and colorful, making it a dream vacation for many readers. The setting and plot are also appreciated by readers.

"...deadly consequences, family tragedy, and the stunning scenery of the Canadian Rockies...." Read more

"...The colorful descriptions of Canadian Rockies (I've got that on my list of dream vacations!),..." Read more

"...a lifetime with many sometimes dangerous surprises and also amazing cinematic views...." Read more

"...would make a great movie for Masterpiece Theater and offer some great photographic moments......" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2024
    Very interesting complicated plot. Very interesting characters. Wonderful hero! Very likeable. Learned much about railroads. One of the best in the series. Highly recommended.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2018
    This is another wonderful book by Dick Francis. Although he is a prolific writer, each novel is unique enough to draw the reader into an exciting world that always, in some way, involves thoroughbred racing. The author's meticulous research immerses the reader into the lives of his main characters, the rich details lending credibility to whatever the enterprise in which they may be engaged. This particular story revolves around a wealthy young man who works as a security officer and investigator for the British Jockey Club. His quarry is a race horse owner who uses murder, vicious intimidation and blackmail to acquire valuable horses at cut rate prices from his frightened victims. The young investigator and the blackmailer end up on a luxury train ride that takes race horse owners accompanied by their thoroughbreds across Canada with stops for sight seeing and, of course, for races. The investigator works undercover as a supposed waiter on the train while the murderous blackmailer is charming his future victims. The story is filled with romance, acts of sabatage with potentially deadly consequences, family tragedy, and the stunning scenery of the Canadian Rockies. The plot is altogether satisfying and the book a delightful read.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2022
    Dick Francis never disappoints. The only trouble I have with his books is that if I read too many in a row, the main character starts to sound like the same person in every book. I suspect it's because the main character is probably very similar to the author. Despite this, all the books are good. I've never been let down.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2024
    Another great story
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2017
    Francis' books are really not detective stories, or more precisely, not searching for criminals, but for insight. Questions such as - What causes hate? Where does free will start? Can we control wickedness? Whence courage? Where does love arise? Why? Mental illness inborn? How to reach the heart?

    The puzzle -

    ''What made one man good, I wondered, and another man bad: one man to seek to build, the other to frighten and destroy. The acid irony was that the bad might feel more satisfied and fulfilled than the good''

    So true!

    This work does outstanding job of presenting questions and finding answers. In fact, dialogue refers to Hamlet several times. This work borrows from that drama. Great!

    For example, the villain is confronted with one outraged victim -

    '' 'You told me Lenny would give evidence against me, and I didn’t know you’d frightened the poor boy with such a terrible threat. You told me he hated me and would be glad to tell lies about me.'
    The enormity of it almost choked her.
    'I don’t know how you can live with yourself. I don’t know how anyone can be so full of sin.'
    Her voice resonated with the full old meaning of the word: an offense against God. It was powerful, I thought, and it had silenced Filmer completely.''

    Wonderful drama!

    Another relentless revelation -
    ''“You can’t prove any of this,” Filmer said defiantly.
    “We all believe,” said Bill Baudelaire’s voice, “that with you, Mr. Filmer, it is the urge to crush people and make them suffer that sets you going. We know you could afford to buy good horses. We know that for you simply owning horses isn’t enough.”

    Cruelty for enjoyment - what a motive! Wow!

    ''But why should anyone do that?”
    “Grow up, sonny. There are people in this world who cause trouble because it makes them feel important. They’re ineffective, eh?, in their lives. So they burn things and smash things, paint slogans on walls ... leave their mark on something, eh? And wreck trains. Put slabs of concrete on the rails. I’ve seen it done. Power over others, that’s what it’s about. A grudge against the Lorrimores, most like. Power over them, over their possessions. That’s what those investigators think.”

    This is wickedness as sin, not sickness. What a relief!

    This work is written as a constant conflict of good vs evil, righteousness vs wickedness.

    And yet, Francis does not fall into self-righteousness. He shows not all badness is wicked choise. For example, one youth is uncovered with a history of torturing cats. Narrative notes -

    ''I wasn’t so sure about that: didn’t know to what extent she was responsible for his behavior. But perhaps not much. Perhaps no one deserved a son like Sheridan. Perhaps people like Sheridan were born that way, as if without arms.''

    This is not just blanket condemnation, but awareness of human weakness. Many other careful insights, all done smoothly and with taste.

    Wonderful!

    I read this years ago in paperback. Lost it. This time on kindle (won't lose it!). Like kindle better, highlights and fonts.

    (Did not find any errors or problems with kindle edition. Great!)
    12 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2010
    How does Dick Francis manage time and time again, to give us such a likeable hero, faced with such impossible odds - and a story that grips us tightly from beginning to end?

    This time the hero, Tor Kelsey, is a young man who has a job with the British Jockey Club's security organization as their eyes and ears. He wanders around racetracks undercover, unremarkably dressed, unnoticed by all, but himself taking note whenever something's not right. A sweet old lady who acts as his telephone messenger for a while calls Tor "the invisible man."

    Ironically Tor Kelsey is independently wealthy and doesn't need to work at all. He works to save himself from the emotional diseases of the rich. And for the fun of it.

    Finally Tor has an assignment that puts him head-to-head with the ultimate bad guy in the racing world. Julius Filmer finds ways to coerce people to sell or give him wonderful horses that they would not normally part with. But the Jockey Club can't prove anything against him because Filmer also has a genius for intimidating witnesses.

    And so Tor is sent on a train ride across Canada that's been designed to promote Canadian racing. The train is full of rich people who own racehorses, including Filmer, and their best horses are also on board. Horses and owners will be stopping at racetracks in different cities to compete, and in between races it's a non-stop party, with a mystery play thrown in to keep the passengers entertained.

    Disguised as an invisible waiter, Tor has one risky adventure after another trying to keep the train on track. One of his adventures is purely romantic.

    This is a thoroughly enjoyable novel, right up there with the best of Dick Francis.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2024
    In this book Francis goes to Canada, and also explains about trains, railways, actors, races and the many ways one can escape justice.

    I found it fascinating.

    Standalone. 1st person pov. Mild violence. Not steamy.

Top reviews from other countries

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  • lois rewuski
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect gift
    Reviewed in Canada on July 18, 2021
    My brother will love it
  • Rob, Widnes
    5.0 out of 5 stars terrific story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 18, 2024
    Right from the start you was pulled into the story. It was full of mystery and intrigue, well written and a joy to read. Loved it
  • 犬尾
    5.0 out of 5 stars 鉄道ファンにも楽しんでもらいたい「競馬+鉄道」ミステリの快作
    Reviewed in Japan on February 20, 2024
    英国ジョッキィ・クラブの保安部調査員が、悪党を追ってカナダ横断競馬列車に身分を偽装して乗り込む。悪党が競馬列車で何を企んでいるのか不明だが、「何かが起こらないように」見張り、可能であれば悪党の尻尾をとらえるのが主人公のミッションだ。
    何かが起こるのを待つというストーリーなので、地味な面もあるとは思う。だが、ディック・フランシスはこの競馬列車のディテールをこれでもかと書いてくれるので、お金持ちの馬主たちと豪華列車で一緒にカナダ横断の旅に出ている気分にさせてくれる。アガサ・クリスティーの『オリエント急行の殺人』は雪で立ち往生した列車内が舞台だったが、こちらはカナディアン号が走るのと同じ風光明媚な場所を走りながら、事件が静かに進行していく。鉄道ミステリとしても、かなりの出来ではないかと思う。
    競馬シリーズの傑作の条件として、本当にイヤな悪党の存在と、主人公を助けてくれる魅力的な脇役、があると私は思っている(あと、なぜか主人公はおカネに困っていないことも多い)。本作では条件がすべてクリア。とくに、電話だけで主人公をサポートする老婦人の存在が、この物語に不思議な味わいを足しているように感じる。
    クライマックスでは、ディック・フランシスらしいド派手な展開を経て、悪党との直接対決のラストに向かう。勧善懲悪の爽快な幕切れのあと、競馬のレースシーンで鮮やかな結末。まさに快作と呼ぶべき綺麗な終わり方だ。
    しかし、ラストの快勝劇の前に、いくつか命が失われており、喜びと悲しみが交じり合ったような感情を主人公は抱く。嬉しいけど悲しい、つらいけど嬉しい、そんな複雑な感情をディック・フランシスさんはいつも大事にしていると思う。
  • Govind
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good story
    Reviewed in India on May 24, 2018
    very good thrilling story. Worth it.
    can be reread over and over again.
    Typical Dick Francis novel.
    great memorable read
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars kept me on edge...
    Reviewed in Germany on May 17, 2015
    The edge

    A long time since I last reading a Dick Francis. Definitely not disappointed by this one: I love the heavily adventurous side to the plot. People keep asking me if Dick Francis is all about horses. Answer: You don’t need to know or even like anything about horses or horseracing to enjoy this novel (and the same goes for many other Dick Francis novels) .

    It reminded me in several ways of the Alistair MacLean novel “Breakheart Pass”, a novel that I really enjoyed not so long ago. As someone who also enjoys murder mysteries (dinner role play games) this book completely won me over. I just could not put it down and read it in a day.

    Fast pace, gripping, original, and adventurous.