What do you think?
Rate this book
Fair Game
A good looking girl, a hard-cop and a special stranger... somebody's setting somebody's up for a killing...
On Sunday afternoon Clare Randell's biggest concern was whether she was really ready to get married. Then she stopped to help a passing stranger pick up the papers he'd dropped from his briefcase. On Wednesday a bomb had destroyed her apartment and she was in hospital. But the nightmare was only just beginning.
Somebody was trying to kill Clare Randell. And it would suit the police nicely to let him try again...
On Sunday afternoon Clare Randell's biggest concern was whether she was really ready to get married. Then she stopped to help a passing stranger pick up the papers he'd dropped from his briefcase. On Wednesday a bomb had destroyed her apartment and she was in hospital. But the nightmare was only just beginning.
Somebody was trying to kill Clare Randell. And it would suit the police nicely to let him try again...
Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
18 people are currently reading
277 people want to read
About the author
Paula Gosling
59 books16 followersPaula Gosling is a US born crime writer. She has lived in the UK since the 1960s. Gosling started her writing career as a copy-writer and published her first novel, A Running Duck, in 1974. This won the John Creasey Award for the best first novel of the year and she has also received both the Gold Dagger for Monkey Puzzle in 1985. She is a past Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association.
Her novel A Running Duck, written in 1974 (also published as Fair Game), has been adapted twice into films, once as a Sylvester Stallone vehicle - Cobra and the second time as a film with Cindy Crawford entitled Fair Game.
Her novel A Running Duck, written in 1974 (also published as Fair Game), has been adapted twice into films, once as a Sylvester Stallone vehicle - Cobra and the second time as a film with Cindy Crawford entitled Fair Game.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 20, 2018
An ad exec sees something she shouldn't. Now an international assassin is on her tail. Fortunately, she has a handsome, ice-cold vetran and cop on her side...
Dramatic, fast read, actually romantic. Will do you a solid :)
Dramatic, fast read, actually romantic. Will do you a solid :)
Read
September 26, 2018Sylvester Stallone's 1986 action film "Cobra" is loosely based on this suspense thriller, which is what inspired me to read it. The book is fine, and would probably make a decent movie if faithfully followed, though I myself like the cheese and over-the-top antics of "Cobra." Even the film's fascist politics, which ordinarily an ACLU-type like me would bristle at, contribute to the film's pleasing air of utter ridiculousness. (The book was apparently also filmed in 1995 as "Fair Game" with Cindy Crawford and one of the lesser Baldwins, which I have not seen, though I do remember the poster from when it came out.)
March 21, 2023
Sajnos gyengébb, mint vártam. Van hogy egy krimit is a maga korában kell elképzelni, itt a vietnami háború után vagyunk nem sokkal. A főszereplő szenvedései, háborús emlékei, meghasonlása önmagával érthető, lélektanilag kidolgozott, de vontatott lesz a történet. Nem is igazán krimi ez, valóban egy üldözős párviadal az egész, nem sikerült igazán ez, mint regény sem. A szerelmi szál nekem nem volt sok, sem annyira zavaró, de az említettek miatt-jóindulattal lett 3 csillag.
Paula Gosling tud jobbat is írni, még három könyvét olvastam, a legjobb ez:
https://moly.hu/konyvek/paula-gosling...
Itt egy festményről van szó amúgy:)
A Párviadal című könyvből két film is készült, az egyiket láttam--felejtős.
Paula Gosling tud jobbat is írni, még három könyvét olvastam, a legjobb ez:
https://moly.hu/konyvek/paula-gosling...
Itt egy festményről van szó amúgy:)
A Párviadal című könyvből két film is készült, az egyiket láttam--felejtős.
June 28, 2025
Good Beach Read
This isn't high literature but I had to read it once I found out that one of the worst movies of the 1980s, Cobra, was supposedly based on it. (Turns out a Cindy Crawford movie, Fair Game, is also based on it, so I feel obliged to close that loop, too.)
It's engaging enough to keep things moving, and follows the right formula for the genre. Some aspects of it are definitely a product of its time, especially how it disregards sensitivities to shape its characters' worldviews. That's really refreshing, honestly, and makes the story feel more real.
Can you live without reading it? Sure. But it's fun and it doesn't ask much of you, like a popcorn movie in print. So give it a spin if you're looking for something entertaining without being too heavy.
Also, it doesn't even accidentally resemble Cobra, the movie that it supposedly inspired. That's a huge positive.
This isn't high literature but I had to read it once I found out that one of the worst movies of the 1980s, Cobra, was supposedly based on it. (Turns out a Cindy Crawford movie, Fair Game, is also based on it, so I feel obliged to close that loop, too.)
It's engaging enough to keep things moving, and follows the right formula for the genre. Some aspects of it are definitely a product of its time, especially how it disregards sensitivities to shape its characters' worldviews. That's really refreshing, honestly, and makes the story feel more real.
Can you live without reading it? Sure. But it's fun and it doesn't ask much of you, like a popcorn movie in print. So give it a spin if you're looking for something entertaining without being too heavy.
Also, it doesn't even accidentally resemble Cobra, the movie that it supposedly inspired. That's a huge positive.
September 1, 2019
Læste den fordi jeg havde set Cobra med Stallone. Historien var ikke dårlig, så det ikke en bog jeg vil fraråde at læse, den var bare heller ikke særlig god.
March 7, 2017
"Thriller" or "Cozy"?
Gosling has written some great suspense scenes in her earlier books, like "Zero Trap," but she tends to slip into cozy-style romantic situations. This also is true of "A Running Duck": Wonderful suspense throughout (a real page-turner) UNTIL the last chapter, which turns into a saccharine-sweet-romance-happily-ever-after finale. Still, the book is well-worth reading (it's one of The Crime Writers of America top 100 crime novels of all times).
Gosling has written some great suspense scenes in her earlier books, like "Zero Trap," but she tends to slip into cozy-style romantic situations. This also is true of "A Running Duck": Wonderful suspense throughout (a real page-turner) UNTIL the last chapter, which turns into a saccharine-sweet-romance-happily-ever-after finale. Still, the book is well-worth reading (it's one of The Crime Writers of America top 100 crime novels of all times).
October 18, 2012
FAIR GAME, by Paula Gosling was written in 1978, and is an expanded version of A RUNNING DUCK, 1974, which was made into the movie COBRA. Advertising executive Clare Randell helps someone who dropped some papers in a lonely parking lot; soon nasty things begin to happen to her - was she just in the wrong place at the wrong time? For whatever reason, her life is now under attack by a hired killer who’s very careful, and it seems the only man who can hunt him down is just as cold and calculating, just as deadly.
Interesting psychological studies of Edison (the hitman) and Malchek (the cop), mixed with a not too soppy love affair between cop and Clare, as they try to stay alive and salvage whatever kind of life may remain to them. Reminded me a bit of Bill Pronzini’s thrillers from the same period. It’s very polished for a first novel, strongly plotted, well-paced, and has a subtle sense of humor.
Shorter version published in UK in 1974 as A RUNNING DUCK, made into movie COBRA with Sylvester Stallone at the height of his career in 1986 but movie rather a dud, plot got rather cast aside. I seem to remember the movie as being one of those carcrash things. Sly was definitely NOT Malchek as written! He’s described as being smallish, lithe, strong but very agile, flexible, fast. Think the movie came across as another sort of Rambo-clone, as many of his 80s movies did. That’s a shame, this was an entertaining book, with the psychological bits being rather melodramatic, but well-fitted.
I really like Gosling’s style, first came across her via short stories - she’s got a wicked sense of humor that resonates with me.
September 2007
Interesting psychological studies of Edison (the hitman) and Malchek (the cop), mixed with a not too soppy love affair between cop and Clare, as they try to stay alive and salvage whatever kind of life may remain to them. Reminded me a bit of Bill Pronzini’s thrillers from the same period. It’s very polished for a first novel, strongly plotted, well-paced, and has a subtle sense of humor.
Shorter version published in UK in 1974 as A RUNNING DUCK, made into movie COBRA with Sylvester Stallone at the height of his career in 1986 but movie rather a dud, plot got rather cast aside. I seem to remember the movie as being one of those carcrash things. Sly was definitely NOT Malchek as written! He’s described as being smallish, lithe, strong but very agile, flexible, fast. Think the movie came across as another sort of Rambo-clone, as many of his 80s movies did. That’s a shame, this was an entertaining book, with the psychological bits being rather melodramatic, but well-fitted.
I really like Gosling’s style, first came across her via short stories - she’s got a wicked sense of humor that resonates with me.
September 2007
May 25, 2010
Book is so much better than the 2 movies based on it: Fair Game and Cobra.
August 3, 2011
That story was like reading an harlequin! It had a little adventure and plenty of ''catchy'' romance. A waste of time...
May 12, 2025
Reread. Así good as ever.
February 3, 2011
144th - 2011
February 1, 2024
On a bit of tear to read the source material to some of my favorite 80’s action films.
A Running Duck is definitely worlds better than the two films (Cobra & Fair Game) that we’re based on it. No surprise. Although, Cobra will always have a deep, cushy place in my heart.
This debut novel was fast paced, witty, and full of tension in its multiple action sequences.
As a somewhat cliched storyline of a troubled (former Vietnam vet) cop who is charged with protecting a women witness from a long pursued hit man, A Running Duck goes so much deeper, especially in the character development of its protagonists. This may be the engine that makes the novel hum along. Along with the two main character’s (Mike & Clare) wonderfully arched relationship, our jaded cop’s inner monologue, even in dire moments, really gave the pacing a sort of “anti-levity” that really works throughout. All the meat & potatoes of the story are held together by outstanding environmental descriptions and settings ranging from the city to the treacherous terrain of the redwood forests.
Highly recommend for those who dig a classic 70’s crime thriller or those who shamelessly love the action hero classics of their childhood.
A Running Duck is definitely worlds better than the two films (Cobra & Fair Game) that we’re based on it. No surprise. Although, Cobra will always have a deep, cushy place in my heart.
This debut novel was fast paced, witty, and full of tension in its multiple action sequences.
As a somewhat cliched storyline of a troubled (former Vietnam vet) cop who is charged with protecting a women witness from a long pursued hit man, A Running Duck goes so much deeper, especially in the character development of its protagonists. This may be the engine that makes the novel hum along. Along with the two main character’s (Mike & Clare) wonderfully arched relationship, our jaded cop’s inner monologue, even in dire moments, really gave the pacing a sort of “anti-levity” that really works throughout. All the meat & potatoes of the story are held together by outstanding environmental descriptions and settings ranging from the city to the treacherous terrain of the redwood forests.
Highly recommend for those who dig a classic 70’s crime thriller or those who shamelessly love the action hero classics of their childhood.
December 5, 2022
Written in 1974, this chase thriller is action-filled. The UK English (kerb, etc.) is occasionally a bit off for the Northern California setting, but Gosling is just terrific in, for example, her descriptions of running through small towns and giant trees north of San Francisco.
I have not seen the movie but understand from reviews that the book is much better.
I have not seen the movie but understand from reviews that the book is much better.
August 30, 2022
I read this not realising it’s the same book the Stallone film Cobra was based on (the book is titled Fair Game in the film). The book is pretty trashy. Cobra, while only loosely based on Gosling’s novel, is more interesting, not to mention entertaining.
July 14, 2017
Maybe a bit dated but still good story
December 31, 2020
A nice short little thriller!
Read
September 11, 2022Tense.
June 29, 2025
Bigly!
*** 3 Stars.
*** 3 Stars.
Want to read
March 8, 2017no
March 15, 2015
"Ριψοκίνδυνο παιχνίδι", εκδόσεις Plaza.
Σ'αυτό το βιβλίο βασίζονται οι ταινίες Cobra (1985) και Fair Game (1995), αλλά τόσο η μια όσο και η άλλη, εκτός από μέτριες σύμφωνα με την βαθμολογία τους στο IMDb, λίγη σχέση πρέπει να έχουν και με την ιστορία του βιβλίου, απ'όσο βλέπω στις περιλήψεις τους.
Η ιστορία είναι αρκετά απλή, η Κλερ Ράντελ, μια όμορφη τριαντάρα, που δουλεύει σε μια διαφημιστική εταιρεία, γίνεται στόχος ενός κατά τα φαινόμενα επαγγελματία δολοφόνου. Θα πέσει θύμα πυροβολισμού και βόμβας συνάμα, μέχρι ο αστυνόμος Μάλτσεκ, ειδικός σε τέτοιες υποθέσεις, να γίνει υπεύθυνος για την προστασία της. Και έτσι σιγά-σιγά θα δημιουργηθεί και μια σχέση ανάμεσά στον ψυχρό αστυνόμο και το απροστάτευτο θύμα. Ο δολοφόνος τελικά δεν είναι όποιος και όποιος, ο Μάλτσεκ γνωρίζει το έργο του και τον κυνηγάει για χρόνια, και η μάχη ανάμεσά τους αναμένεται να είναι σκληρή και με αρκετά θύματα...
Η συγγραφέας είναι γυναίκα, αλλά αν δεν ήξερα το όνομα της, κάλλιστα θα μπορούσα να υποθέσω ότι το έγραψε και άντρας. Υπάρχουν πολλές σκηνές βίας, κάμποση δράση, αναφορές σε όπλα και η ερωτική σχέση ανάμεσα στον αστυνόμο και το θύμα δεν επισκιάζει καθόλου την ιστορία. Ναι μεν η πλοκή είναι σχετικά απλή και δίχως πολλές εκπλήξεις, αλλά σαν περιπέτεια είναι καλογραμμένη και ευχάριστη και η ώρα περνάει γρήγορα...
Σ'αυτό το βιβλίο βασίζονται οι ταινίες Cobra (1985) και Fair Game (1995), αλλά τόσο η μια όσο και η άλλη, εκτός από μέτριες σύμφωνα με την βαθμολογία τους στο IMDb, λίγη σχέση πρέπει να έχουν και με την ιστορία του βιβλίου, απ'όσο βλέπω στις περιλήψεις τους.
Η ιστορία είναι αρκετά απλή, η Κλερ Ράντελ, μια όμορφη τριαντάρα, που δουλεύει σε μια διαφημιστική εταιρεία, γίνεται στόχος ενός κατά τα φαινόμενα επαγγελματία δολοφόνου. Θα πέσει θύμα πυροβολισμού και βόμβας συνάμα, μέχρι ο αστυνόμος Μάλτσεκ, ειδικός σε τέτοιες υποθέσεις, να γίνει υπεύθυνος για την προστασία της. Και έτσι σιγά-σιγά θα δημιουργηθεί και μια σχέση ανάμεσά στον ψυχρό αστυνόμο και το απροστάτευτο θύμα. Ο δολοφόνος τελικά δεν είναι όποιος και όποιος, ο Μάλτσεκ γνωρίζει το έργο του και τον κυνηγάει για χρόνια, και η μάχη ανάμεσά τους αναμένεται να είναι σκληρή και με αρκετά θύματα...
Η συγγραφέας είναι γυναίκα, αλλά αν δεν ήξερα το όνομα της, κάλλιστα θα μπορούσα να υποθέσω ότι το έγραψε και άντρας. Υπάρχουν πολλές σκηνές βίας, κάμποση δράση, αναφορές σε όπλα και η ερωτική σχέση ανάμεσα στον αστυνόμο και το θύμα δεν επισκιάζει καθόλου την ιστορία. Ναι μεν η πλοκή είναι σχετικά απλή και δίχως πολλές εκπλήξεις, αλλά σαν περιπέτεια είναι καλογραμμένη και ευχάριστη και η ώρα περνάει γρήγορα...
October 28, 2021
I read this years ago when it first came out. I always pictured the hero as a young Michael Douglas who was starring in "Streets of San Francisco" at the time. I always thought it would make a great movie. Then it was made into a movie starring Cindy Crawford and William Baldwin. The movie only used the first scene from the book and then the rest of the story wasn't even in the movie. It's a great book, but the movie sucked and doesn't deserve to be pictured on the cover. Maybe some day it'll be made into the movie it deserves to be!
May 9, 2012
I've read this book so many times. I love it! Paula's writing flows and is so easy to read. She is definitely one of my favourite authors. It's a shame the movie 'Cobra', didn't stick more to the storyline. It would have been a bigger hit, for sure.
September 20, 2012
I had forgotten that I read this so long time ago...not a big fan anymore after I watched the movie...Cindy Crawford just killed it for me.
October 11, 2014
book is good much better than movie
May 10, 2016
An advertiser gradually falls in love with a cop as she deals with multiple sniping attempts to kill her from well known assassin.
Want to read
October 29, 2018Synopsis: Clare Randell is running for a cab when she is shot by a sniper. Police Lieutenant Mike Malchek thinks it's an assassin he's tracking.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews