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Hover Car Racer #3
Photo Finish
Back From the Dead
Jason Chaser's survival of the horrific -- and suspicious -- crash in the Italian Run was nothing short of a miracle, but it's going to take more miracles to salvage his budding racing career. Only the top four students at the International Race School will qualify to compete in the New York Masters, the most prestigious race on the pro circuit, and the accident has cost Jason more than precious points in the standings.
It's also undermined his confidence, and Jason's rivals are more than willing to take advantage of his weakness to knock him out of the running. Jason will have to outthink as well as outrace the competition to get to New York -- and the toughest race of his life.
Jason Chaser's survival of the horrific -- and suspicious -- crash in the Italian Run was nothing short of a miracle, but it's going to take more miracles to salvage his budding racing career. Only the top four students at the International Race School will qualify to compete in the New York Masters, the most prestigious race on the pro circuit, and the accident has cost Jason more than precious points in the standings.
It's also undermined his confidence, and Jason's rivals are more than willing to take advantage of his weakness to knock him out of the running. Jason will have to outthink as well as outrace the competition to get to New York -- and the toughest race of his life.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2007
507 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Reilly
68 books6,286 followersBorn in Sydney in 1974, Matthew Reilly was not always a big fan of reading. It was only after he read To Kill A Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies in Year 10 that he realised reading could transport you to another world. Following this revelation, Matthew soon began creating stories of his own and set about writing his first novel, Contest, at the age of 19 while still at university studying law.
Following rejections from all the major publishers, Matthew self-published Contest in 1996, printing 1000 copies. He produced a big-budget-looking novel which he sold into bookshops throughout Sydney, one shop at a time.
In January 1997, a Commissioning Editor for Pan Macmillan Australia walked into Angus & Robertson's Pitt Street Mall store and bought a copy of Contest. The editor tracked Matthew down through his contact details in the front of the book. Interestingly, those original self-published editions of Contest have now become much sought after collectors' items. One recently sold on eBay for $1200!
Matthew Reilly is now the internationally bestselling author of the Scarecrow novels: Ice Station, Area 7, Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves and the novella Hell Island; the Jack West novels: Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, The Five Greatest Warriors, The Four Legendary Kingdoms, and The Three Secret Cities; and the standalone novels Contest, Temple, Hover Car Racer, The Tournament, Troll Mountain, The Great Zoo of China and The Secret Runners of New York.
His books are published in over 20 languages with worldwide sales of over 7 million copies.
Since Seven Ancient Wonders in 2005, Matthew's novels have been the biggest selling new fiction title released in Australia for that year.
Matthew has also written several short stories, including Roger Ascham and the King's Lost Girl, a special free prequel to The Tournament which is available online. Other short stories include Time Tours, The Mine and the hyper-adrenalised romp, Altitude Rush.
He owns and drives a DeLorean DMC-12, the car made famous in the Back to the Future movies. He also has a life-sized Han Solo in carbonite hanging on the wall of his office! When not writing or penning a film script, Matthew can be found on the golf course.
Matthew Reilly is currently living in Los Angeles.
(source: Amazon)
Following rejections from all the major publishers, Matthew self-published Contest in 1996, printing 1000 copies. He produced a big-budget-looking novel which he sold into bookshops throughout Sydney, one shop at a time.
In January 1997, a Commissioning Editor for Pan Macmillan Australia walked into Angus & Robertson's Pitt Street Mall store and bought a copy of Contest. The editor tracked Matthew down through his contact details in the front of the book. Interestingly, those original self-published editions of Contest have now become much sought after collectors' items. One recently sold on eBay for $1200!
Matthew Reilly is now the internationally bestselling author of the Scarecrow novels: Ice Station, Area 7, Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves and the novella Hell Island; the Jack West novels: Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, The Five Greatest Warriors, The Four Legendary Kingdoms, and The Three Secret Cities; and the standalone novels Contest, Temple, Hover Car Racer, The Tournament, Troll Mountain, The Great Zoo of China and The Secret Runners of New York.
His books are published in over 20 languages with worldwide sales of over 7 million copies.
Since Seven Ancient Wonders in 2005, Matthew's novels have been the biggest selling new fiction title released in Australia for that year.
Matthew has also written several short stories, including Roger Ascham and the King's Lost Girl, a special free prequel to The Tournament which is available online. Other short stories include Time Tours, The Mine and the hyper-adrenalised romp, Altitude Rush.
He owns and drives a DeLorean DMC-12, the car made famous in the Back to the Future movies. He also has a life-sized Han Solo in carbonite hanging on the wall of his office! When not writing or penning a film script, Matthew can be found on the golf course.
Matthew Reilly is currently living in Los Angeles.
(source: Amazon)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 15, 2025
4 - 4.5 Stars
Photo Finish is the third book in the Hover Car Racer Series by Matthew Reilly. This is a series that I had put off reading for quite some time because, frankly, I didn't think I would enjoy it. As Mr. Reilly is a favourite author of mine, and I have loved all his other books, I didn't want to feel disappointed with these. But now I am kicking myself that I didn't dive in sooner, because this was a great read- and I can admit that I was wrong and should never have doubted Mr. Reilly.
It is a fun YA adventure thriller set in the near future where the dangerous new sport of Hover Car Racing has hit the heights of popularity, and we join Jason Chaser as he takes us on a wild ride of an adventure.
Happy Reading...
Photo Finish is the third book in the Hover Car Racer Series by Matthew Reilly. This is a series that I had put off reading for quite some time because, frankly, I didn't think I would enjoy it. As Mr. Reilly is a favourite author of mine, and I have loved all his other books, I didn't want to feel disappointed with these. But now I am kicking myself that I didn't dive in sooner, because this was a great read- and I can admit that I was wrong and should never have doubted Mr. Reilly.
It is a fun YA adventure thriller set in the near future where the dangerous new sport of Hover Car Racing has hit the heights of popularity, and we join Jason Chaser as he takes us on a wild ride of an adventure.
Happy Reading...
September 25, 2017
I listened to all three parts of this story in one reading/audio-file.
Great characters and great action scenes!
Sure it was written as a young adult story but it was fun none the less!
I keep hoping that they will continue the story-line even though I know they would start to move out of the young adult and into the adult faze.
Great characters and great action scenes!
Sure it was written as a young adult story but it was fun none the less!
I keep hoping that they will continue the story-line even though I know they would start to move out of the young adult and into the adult faze.
November 14, 2017
Jack and I were over the trilogy about halfway through this book, but we finished anyway. Not bad bedtime reading, except for every chapter ending in a cliffhanger, which makes it hard to say goodnight.
February 14, 2023
This last book was so exciting that I found myself reading faster and faster just like the hovercars.
Read
October 26, 2011I read Photo Finish By; Matthew Reilly. It is a 6 point book with 290 pages in it. In the last book, Jason won the last race. Jason qualified for the biggest race in history, the Sponsor Tournament. Jason says that you have no friends on the track. It is only you and your team. This new competiton is hard and faster, you meet new people that you will have to defeat in the races. His arc rival, Xavier Xonora won the race. But Jason said "never give up, never say die". He won his next race to make school cuts for the next race with racers from all over the world, and his journy moves on!
February 22, 2011
The perfect ending to this epic hero quest of a series. The hero grows up and wins, the bad guys are foiled, and the mystery is solved.
I would suggest this book to fans of racing, Star Wars, graphic novels, mystery, adventure and science fiction. It is a great option for reluctant readers. The language and context are concrete, letting the reader focus on the great storyline.
I would suggest this book to fans of racing, Star Wars, graphic novels, mystery, adventure and science fiction. It is a great option for reluctant readers. The language and context are concrete, letting the reader focus on the great storyline.
March 27, 2011
Great - entertaining - fun. Perfect for the commute. Lots of races with different, exciting finishes. I had to buy the books and have Amber read it.
July 26, 2011
Third book in the Hover Car Racy trilogy for kids. Fabulous high-energy action. Loved it. Can''t wait until hover cars are for real!!
January 16, 2014
More for the younger reader but I still got into it. Reminds you of the hover car racing in Star Wars I (the 4th movie to be made).
April 1, 2013
Read it with my 12 year old son. It helped get him into reading.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews