I find abridged audiobooks to be a reasonable way to try out a work of fiction to see if I want to read it. However, abridgements place special demands on the work in question, since to be understandable, the excerpts must form a coherent story without obvious gaps in plot or timeline. Despite its brevity (3 hrs), I found that Dick Francis’ 10 Lb. Penalty met these criteria. Listening to it was an enjoyable experience.

The plot is unusual for this author, in that horseracing plays a minor role, a feature of Dick Francis’ later career. In the book, 18 year old Ben Juliard hopes to ride as a professional jockey, but lacks the physical build to be more than a talented amateur. He drops out of racing to attend school, and then to work for his father George, who is embarking on a political career. Political machinations and an attempted assassination (of George Juliard) puts young Ben in the midst of a dangerous mystery, one in which identity and motivation of the villain remain unclear until the denouement. I found the tale reasonably exciting, and am glad to recommend it. However, readers seeking a typical Dick Francis work are better off with the author’s earlier work. ( )