• In the Frame

  • By: Dick Francis
  • Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
  • Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,071 ratings)

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In the Frame  By  cover art

In the Frame

By: Dick Francis
Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
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Publisher's summary

Charles Todd is an English artist who is well known and respected for his renderings of sleek and athletic horses. What he now faces at his cousin Donald's house is also art - the art of a perfectly brutal murderer. Donald's home has been burglarized and his wife, Regina, is lying on her back dead, her face the color of cream. Donald is shattered, shocked, and a prime suspect. And Todd suddenly finds himself involved in a dangerous man-hunt as he searches, against all odds, for an elusive killer and some murderous answers.

©1977 Dick Francis; 1996 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Excitement from start to finish." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Action, character, and color ride in perfect balance again….Francis stays on top because he remembers to touch bottom." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"Few things are more convincing than Dick Francis at full gallop." ( Chicago Tribune)

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What listeners say about In the Frame

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Art and Horses Combined Makes this one Intriguing

Another great Dick Francis book and wonderfully read by Goffrey Howard. Here we have art mixed in with the horse world. While not really centered on racing this time, this is about Charles Todd, an artist, whose speciality is painting horses. He gets caught up in trying to unravel a mystery revolving around famous works of art of horses. Again, several places were very tense, wondering if he was going to emerge with his skin in tact! :-) This is a solid story with several twists along the way to make it even more fun. You won't regret listening to this one!

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story!

I have read every Dick Francis novel and enjoyed the audio presentation of this one very much. I have only 1 complaint, and that is that the reader does not make enough use of 'voices'. He has emotion etc and the book is well read and clear to listen to, but incomparison to some of the other readers he comes over as bland. I would still, however, recommend this to anyone who enjoys mystery without all the huge drama that sometimes comes along with it. It is realistic and the characters are likeable. I will get all the Dick Francis books I can that are available on audio.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Probably the best Dick Francis books Ihave read

Of the half dozen books by this author that I have read, this is my favorite. Oddly, it is the furthest removed from the horse-racing world for which Francis is rightfully best known. Art fraud, greed and murder lead the way here, albeit with the Melbourne Cup playing a major role.

The characters ring true - including the initially skeptical wife of the narrator's art-school chum. The story proceeds at a quick pace - I did listen to this book in one sitting. The ending was not a big surprise but that was fine. The story is what kept me going as it is certainly not a rehash of plots used over and over in many disguises by authors of all stripes. A couple of moments did not ring true - what traveler has not heard of Ayer's Rock, for example - but not frequently or significantly enough to mar the book.

No graphic violence, no sex and little profanity if those things are important to you.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Not his best...

I've read many Dick Francis books and always enjoy them. He is such a goodcraftsmen that even his lesser works, such as this, can be mildly enjoyable. Here the awkward plot twists and coincidences strain belief. The most interesting part for me was Francis' introduction where he explains that the elements of this story, and especilly the technical details about painting, came from a vacation he had in Australia. It's interesting to see how an acomplished author can mine these everyday experiences for book material. He didn't find gold but the gems are semi-precious.

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4 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Another good book with poor narration

It's too bad that Tony Brittion or Simon Prebble couldn't have read all of the Dick Francis audiobooks. Their faultless rendition, with skillful and believable character voices, did Francis's skillful writing justice. The others who have attempted the job make themselves look bad by comparison. Ralph Cosham is no exception, though not as bad as some others. The story itself is a bit different from much of Francis's previous works, as racing is only peripheral to it. But the descriptions of Australia and New Zealand were enjoyable, and Francis's acute understanding of human nature informs and enlightens everything he wrote.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of Those Rare, Perfect Thrillers

The story arc is familiar: normal everyday guy goaded by an injustice into pursuing criminals at the risk of life and limb, along the way enlisting friends—both willing and unwilling—to help. But as Raymond Chandler said, the formula is the formula; what counts is what you do with it.

In this case, Dick Francis created likable, believable characters, a complex but completely plausible criminal scheme, and a perfectly paced story told with equal parts murder, mystery, potential menace, actual mayhem, and humor. You learn a lot about the chemistry of paints and the art of painting, with a special emphasis on the equestrian artist Alfred Munnings.

After it’s all over, nothing feels false or out of place or unexplained. This is truly enjoyable and, as with all his Dick Francis recordings, Ralph Cosham helps make it that way.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wow

This is a story from early years of Dick Francis.
Sure glad I found it. Such a gifted writer. I have read his other books, but had not heard of this one. Don’t miss this story.
I chose it because of the narrator, Ralph Cosham, who passed away recently. He narrated the Louise Penny, Inspector Gamache stories. Great voice and reader. His narration of this book is perfect.
I’ll add aim the Frame to my all time favorite list.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another good Dick Francis novel

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I'd recommend it. Frame has plot twists and turns and it has horses: major pluses. But it shows, as Franics so often does, competent, intelligent, good men and women having to take responsibility in their own hands, and go solve a crime or murder. I love the independence, bravery, competence, and moral goodness they show.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A good read!

The older Dick Francis books are always worth a read - and even a re-read. Dick Francis is an expert at character development. I prefer any of his older books than the ones recently published.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another adventure with Dick Francis

I enjoyed traveling to Australia and New Zealand as Tom uncovers a network of of criminals . Dick Francis plunges the reader into the world of art. He can find so many ways to relate horses and horse racing with courageous investigation. Truly enjoyable!

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