This is Felix Francis finally writing with supreme confidence. The best 'Dick Francis' thriller of the last two decades. If some recent titles have lacked equine content, this plot is magnificent and a faithful reminder of what a literary dynasty the Francis family is.
The story sets off at a fast sprint and doesn't falter for a second. There are some great characters - good and bad - and some surprisingly poignant moments in a plot that is complex and totally compelling.
Anyone looking for a novel with a truly ingenious murder weapon need look no further but perhaps there should be a public health warning: do not try this at home!
Definitely a book worthy of Royal Ascot and a guaranteed winner.

This is the second book I’ve read by Felix Francis and I feel like now his books are like a warm hug. You know what to expect structure wise but always enjoyable, with a few twists and turns along the way.

Once again set in the horse racing industry, this time it follows auctioneer Theo who sells horses at the sales ring in Newmarket. But all is not right and Theo suspects some of the bidders aren’t exactly bidding fairly.

I enjoyed the whole mystery of it, with Theo trying to figure out who was involved etc, however I wanted a little more action and more horse racing to be honest.

I loved Dick Francis and eagerly waited each year for his new book. I was really disappointed with Felix's books, they weren't a patch on his fathers so I gave up. This book is better than his others, he seems to be getting better.

A solid and well written mystery, full of surprising twists. Had fun and it kept me guessing
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This started off at a quick pace and continued on the same way throughout. This is a book that instantly pulls you into the pages and quickly becomes impossible to put down.

There are plenty of twists and turns in this one. As a reader, Francis keeps you guessing till the very end. It quickly becomes impossible to try to predict how this would play out.

This is well plotted and perfectly executed. This is a book that keeps you hostage till the very end. I found myself wanting more.

Francis is a brilliant storyteller and this is a book I have adored.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Theo Jennings is a young auctioneer who has just overseen the biggest sale of his career when he overhears two men talking about an insurance fraud. The next day the horse is found dead and Jennings believes that he has uncovered a crime. However his bosses are reluctant to believe him over powerful figures in the racing world and now his life is in danger.
As a teenager I read Dick Francis novels voraciously as then were set in the world of racing. I haven't read any for many years so decided to pick up this novel by Francis' son (and former amenuensis) to see if anything had changed. Nothing has! The stories are still within the same racehorse world, although slightly updated for the modern reader, and the 'romance' is still as clunky and unconvincing as ever. The loyal reader gets exactly what they expect and it's a good deal

A thrilling ride through an expertly written storyline, exposing dodgy dealings behind the sale of racehorses.

Well now I know why my dad raved about Dick Francis’ books. It is quite a niche subject but how interesting this book was. I have learned a lot. From auctioning horses to Buddhism. There are plenty of explanations on the way through the book from simple things like the meaning behind place names to how VAT works!

I was completely drawn in to Theo’s story. How he decided to turn down his post uni engineering job in favour of travelling the world, to accidentally end up as a horse auctioneer in Australia, then moving back to England and working at Newmarket. He was such a likeable character, then we also have his nemesis who is a rude bully so we have someone to dislike! Theo is quite a laid back character with a dry sense of humour which had me laughing out loud a number of times.

The storyline trotted along (sorry I couldn’t resist!) from Theo overhearing a conversation, his boss choosing not to take any action, taking Theo right outside of his comfort zone and risking his job and even his life.

A love interest from a woman working in the accounts office and living in Soham, and coping with the after effects of the Ian Huntley murders, made me want a happy ending for them both.

Absolutely a 5 star read for me and I would recommend it to anyone, not only horse racing enthusiasts!

Told entirely from Theo’s point of view - an auctioneer at the bloodstock sales at Newmarket - No Reserve is a fluid and enjoyable read. It has been so long since I last read a Dick Francis book, that honour has now fallen to his son Felix, but there was something so endearing and charming about that book that I've always vowed to read another book when given the opportunity. That book was Proof - and the memory of that read is as vivid today as it was when I read it decades ago!

The book is a very easy read, interesting characters - some you'll love and some you'd rather not remember - and a plot full of twists and turns. There's a love story there too although I found that a little contrived.

Theo is up against it and is basically a one man band when it comes to solving a crime, but it works well enough. I really enjoyed picking up knowledge of how an auctioneer works at the races, something I'd never even considered before this book, and the complexities of the business. Very well written and in a different style to his father, Felix carried the book well and I look forward to reading more. The only thin missing here was the wine merchant (Proof novel from his father!!). Fast and fluid, a great adventure.

§§I’m not sure how I managed to go so long before discovering Dick and Felix Francis (Father and son authors) but I’m so pleased I finally have! I loved No Reserve and will be reading more by these authors.

In No Reserve, we meet protagonist Theo (engineer turned auctioneer) as he brings his gavel down upon his largest ever race horse sale. This novel gives a fascinating insight into the world of auctioneering and horse racing. I didn’t know much about the workings of the industry beyond watching the odd race on TV, but found it so interesting to learn about what goes on behind the scenes as well as the amounts of money involved.

But back to the story; Theo was suspicious about some bidding during his sale and moments later overhears a conversation which confirms his suspicions. The following morning the horse in question is found dead and Theo explains


to his boss what happened. But his boss says nothing can be proven so he should drop it. Theo, however, isn’t keen to drop it and when an attempt is made on his life he is more determined than ever to uncover the treachery. Meanwhile those responsible are determined to keep Theo silent.

I found No Reserve compelling reading and it’s so well written I raced (pun intended) through it and it didn’t feel anywhere close to 400 pages. The characters are well developed and have their own stories woven in with Theo’s. The plot is tightly crafted with great changes of pace and some top action scenes; the twists are realistic too.

If you love thrillers and horses/horse racing you’ll not be disappointed!

When I was a teenager, I devoured Dick Francis books like they were going out of fashion. As soon as a new one was published, I was there, at the library, getting my hands on it as soon as possible. Imagine, therefore, my delight when I discovered that his son, Felix Francis, was also writing books in a similar vein.

No Reserve is the first book written by Felix Francis that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Slow to begin with, as the scenes are set, it soon picks up pace and becomes an addictive crime thriller, set in the horse-racing world.

Theo, our protagonist, is determined to discover just who is responsible for the crimes being committed, and he seemingly won’t stop at anything to bring about justice.

All the characters are well-written and they establish themselves pretty quickly. Yes, there are some downright nasty pieces of work here, albeit making the story just that much better and I honestly didn’t work out who the villain was until the author told me!

If you loved Dick Francis, then I can guarantee you will love Felix Francis just as much. If you’ve never read either before and you like a fast-paced crime story, then why not give this a try? I, for one, will be at the starting gate for the author’s next novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zaffre Books for the opportunity to read and review a copy of No Reserve by Felix Francis.

As I said above, I have been reading Dick Francis novels since I was in my early teens and I have every single one, each devoured numerous times. They are my go to comfort reads when I need a really good but familiar story that I know is guaranteed to entertain me. In fact, I am going through a very difficult time personally at the moment and I am re-listening to my favourites in audiobook format to distract me. I was devastated when he passed away, but delighted that his son Felix picked up the mantle and I have been religiously buying his books ever since.

Aficionados of the Francis’ works will know that there is a noticeable difference between Felix’s writing and that of his father. I would be able to tell which of them had written the book without knowing, but I don’t say that as a criticism. I think it is a strength that Felix has developed his own style and voice which is distinguishable from his father’s, whilst at the same time remaining true to the principles that made Dick’s books so compelling to me, namely a cracking, pacy story and lashings of dubious goings on in the horse world. No Reserve continues in this wonderful tradition.

The book is set in the world of thoroughbred auctions, so has plenty of scope for duplicity and skulduggery, and Felix Francis plays this to the full. The plot is a labyrinth of double cross and mystery and crackled along at a great pace to pull the reader through the book. I also learnt some things I hadn’t known before, which is always one of the joys for me in reading a book. In this novel I learnt that Doncaster Racecourse, my local course, was used as an internment camp during the Second World War and the St. Leger (our city’s flagship event and the oldest Classic horse race) had to be run at Newmarket during this period. How can I have lived in Doncaster on and off my entire life and not known this?

If there is a weakness in this book, it is that I wasn’t one hundred per cent convinced by the relationship between Theo and Janis, it all moved a little too quickly for me to be convincing given the way she was. However, no one reads these books for a grand love story, it adequately served the plot, and the plot of the racing thriller is what these books are all about. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of this novel, it was tight, gripping, nippy and held me entertained from beginning to end. I read the book in 24 hours, which is about average for me with a Francis novel, and was very satisfied with the whole experience. I hadn’t guessed the perpetrator or how it was going to end and was happy with the conclusion.

If you are a fan of the Francis’ novels, No Reserve is a great addition to the canon. If you have never read one before, you won’t be disappointed with this as a starting point.

Thank you so much Zaffre for sending me a copy of this book and for including me on the tour!

The story follows Theo Jennings, a young auctioneer at the Thoroughbred sales ring in Newmaket. After making a big sale, he overhears a conversation between two bidders about how they colluded to fix the price. The next day, that same horse is found dead.

I enjoyed this and I learnt a lot about horse racing and the market which was fascinating! I think the story is clever and something different to what I have been reading recently.

I didn’t guess the plot twist which was a bonus for me! The only thing I didn’t really enjoy was the romance side story which was a bit icky for me and in my opinion, doesn’t really belong in a thriller 😂

Theo Jennings is a young auctioneer at the Thoroughbred sales ring in Newmarket. The October yearling sales are where the big money exchanges hands in frenzied auctions. Theo has just made the biggest sale of his life, when he overhears a secret conversation between the two bidders - can they really have colluded to fix the price of his big sale? When that same horse is found dead the next morning, he has no choice but to investigate, even against the wishes of his boss. But the more he uncovers, the less he can trust the people around him.
Another well written engrossing read. The characters have depth & are well portrayed & the pace is good. I always look forward to another book by the author for my yearly dip into the racing world. I did work out who the bad guys were but it didn’t stop my enjoyment. I really liked the insight into the horse sales & certainly learned something new. I liked how the book started slowly & the pace gradually increased to the conclusion & once again I found it very hard to put down
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Theo is an up and coming auctioneer at the thoroughbred horse sales in Newmarket. He served his apprentice time in Australia and there are those who think he has risen too far too fast in his current position. We meet him just as he is about to make his biggest ever sale. And remember, these are horses who are sold on blood and current health only, they have never raced. They are completely untested. They could be gold or a very expensive bust. But the bidding was hot for this particular horse. Between two rival bidders. He is amazed and rather proud of the part he played. Until that is, he overhears a conversation between the two bidders. One that hints at collusion. One he needs to report. But before he gets chance, the next morning, the horse is found dead...
I do love these books. From way back when Dick was the author. But I have to say that Felix is doing a mighty fine job taking over. The stories are always set in the racing world, a world I know little about, but that doesn't matter as the salient points are communicated in an easy to follow manner. Indeed, I find I do learn some fascinating stuff along the way. Mostly things to avoid, but still!
The plotting is well crafted and ably executed and the story stars some pretty well crafted characters. Some good, others notsomuch and a few you aren't so sure of... Oh and others you change your mind about sometimes a few times along the way!
The story builds up relatively slowly but, once the groundwork has been completed, it's a bit of a sprint to the end. Much like a well paced horse race I would imagine! Culminating, as always, in a wholly satisfying conclusion.
All in all, another winner for the Francis stable... roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

An exciting book which takes a different slant on the racing industry from other books by this and other authors.. Good characters and a fast paced story filled with ups and downs. Easy reading and you also learn things along the way. A recommended read!

Fascinating insight into the world of horse sales and thoroughbreds. Theo was a determined young man - convinced of wrongdoing could he actually prove anything and keep himself safe? I had suspicions early on about a character but this didn’t spoil the fun of this enjoyable read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for an advance copy of No Reserve, a stand-alone thriller set mostly in Newmarket.

Theo Jennings, an auctioneer in Newmarket has just sold a horse for three million guineas when he overhears a conversation between two bidders that makes clear that they colluded to raise the price. When the horse is found dead in its box the next morning he knows that he has to investigate.

I thoroughly enjoyed No Reserve, which is an exciting read with a few tense moments and several twists. It is told entirely from Theo’s point of view and for me that’s a good thing as I was able to get immersed in the read and finish it in one sitting.

The novel is interesting as the auctioneers Theo works for don’t believe him and put profits above integrity by refusing to investigate his claims, to an alarming degree at one point. This makes him dig his heels in and keep going with his one man investigation. There are some scary moments, but a certain amount of satisfaction when things start to click into place.

The reader doesn’t have to think overly much during the read and I, personally, just went along for the ride, taking everything in my stride, even when it’s perhaps not fully plausible and had a great time.

The novel offers small snippets of racing history that I found interesting and I liked the exposure to the bloodstock industry (in itself one big gambling site). I was less enthusiastic about the vagaries of the British tax system and its loopholes, so I took it as read that swindling the taxman may be quite easy in some circumstances.

No Reserve is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Oh yes! We are into this straight away in classic Francis style, it does exactly what it says on the tin, fast paced, exciting and right up my street.

Theo Jennings is a young auctioneer at the Thoroughbred sales ring in Newmarket, where big money exchanges hands in frenzied auctions: millions of Guineas paid for horses that are as yet unnamed, untested, and have never taken a step on the track. It's the greatest gamble in all of horseracing, and one that can end in ruin.

Theo has just made the biggest sale of his life, when he overhears a conversation between the two bidders to fix the price of his big sale? When that same horse is found dead the next morning, he has no choice but to investigate, even against the wishes of his boss. But the more he uncovers, the less he can trust the people around him.

This set off at a cracking pace and didn’t stop, I’ve always been a fan of Francis’ books, both Dick Francis and Felix too. They are fast, thrilling and almost exclusively set in the horsey world. It is just good old fashioned brilliant story telling at its best. This was a perfect beach read for me, I got totally absorbed, finished it in a day and got fooled by the twists and turns, fab plotting by a master thriller writer. Already looking forward to the next one!

Thirty-four-year-old Theo Jennings shouldn't have been on the rostrum when the colt - as yet unnamed - came up for auction, but Peter Radway, the chairman, hadn't arrived, so he continued his session. To say that he was shocked when the bidding reached three million pounds would be an understatement. A lovely animal - but three million pounds? Two men had been bidding against each other. Brian Kitman and Elliot 'Mitch' Mitchell were well-known and respected in the racing industry. Jennings was in one of the cubicles in the toilets when the two men came in and their conversation revealed that the horse had been deliberately bid up to that figure. Both were happy that they had insurance in place. The following morning, the horse was dead in its stall.

Peter Radway didn't seem unduly bothered by what Theo told him of the conversation. Was Jennings confident that this was what he'd heard? Could he have been mistaken? Could it have been two other men? Where was the proof? There wasn't enough evidence to take action - it would simply be Jennings' word against Kitman and Mitchell's. Theo's not about to let the matter rest.

Something else he's not going to let rest is his interest in Janis Thompson from accounts. Theo's not that experienced with women and Janis, despite being twenty-eight, still lives at home with her parents and brother and they rule her with a rod of iron. She has strict curfews and has to account for where she is and who she's with. Admittedly the family lives in Soham (remember Ian Huntley?) but the level of control still seems excessive and you have to wonder why Janis hasn't rebelled a bit more.

Many years ago I used to enjoy reading the novels by Felix Francis's father, the late Dick Francis, but the charm wore off when I realised that they were pretty formulaic and you could predict which way they'd go. When I read Front Runner by Felix Francis I had great hopes that all that had changed but I did wonder if the series was reverting to type as I read No Reserve. It's a reasonably good plot with a neat piece of financial skullduggery at its heart but I was never in any doubt as to how it would work out. I also found what seemed like padding with miscellaneous historical facts to be a little annoying.

OK, I'm being very picky. Francis is well up to speed on the workings of the horseracing industry and I got a real feel for how a firm of auctioneers operates. Research has obviously been very thorough and - despite my reservations - I found No Reserve to be a good, quick read. I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy.

This is the fourth Felix Francis novel I have read and I have never been disappointed. Felix is taking over his fathers writing set in the horse racing world. These are always entertaining reads. With some great little nuggets of information in them that you wouldn’t know unless you worked in the racing world.

Theo Jennings is an auctioneer at Newmarket, it wasn’t a job he had planned on doing he had done a degree in engineering but had decided to travel before settling down into a job. After visiting several places and ending up in Australia his finances were running low and he ended up on a ranch. He used his skills from his degree then learnt about auctions. But when his father took ill he had to come back to the UK. He then ended up a Newmarket.

It’s a busy time of year October with some of the top yearlings coming up for auction, they are graded as to which class they are in by their pedigree who the father was, grandfather etc. Theo is taking his turn at auctioneering when the yearling sells for Three million Guineas which is not unheard of but seems a little steep. Theo finishes off and hands over to the next auctioneer and heads for the toilets, the two urinals are busy so he goes into a cubicle not locking the door. Just as he is about to leave two other men come in and are talking about the yearling that sold for 3 million. One asks the other if he has the insurance sorted and does it cover a natural death. Theo doesn’t move, until he hears the men leave he also still leaves it a little longer as he doesn’t want to bump into them outside. But now he has a dilemma does he tell his boss? Does he keep it to himself? The following morning when he arrives at work he is told that the horse had died. Now he has a bigger dilemma.

A few days later someone tries to kill him, who? Why? The thing with Theo is he can’t leave things he is determined to find out what is going on and who is involved.

This is an entertaining, engrossing, page turning, fast paced read, with plenty of drama, some romance, and everything that makes a good read. The characters are all relatable, believable. Not all likeable. Parts of the story were a little predictable but that didn’t detract from the story or enjoyment.

I would like to thank #netgalley and @Zaffre for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.