'An electrifying account of gambling addiction ... compelling' The Times 'Searingly honest ... should be in the hands of anyone who has eyed a bet' Daily Mail 'A remarkable piece of work' The Cricketer 'Compulsive' The i 'An in-depth testimony' Daily Telegraph 'An extraordinary story ... vital stuff' Adrian Chiles, BBC Radio 5 Live 'A no-holds-barred journey through gambling addiction and into the hope of recovery' Paul Merson 'Patrick’s story will stop you in your tracks' Sam Billings, England cricketer The unputdownable story of a life shattered by a secret gambling addiction – and an uplifting tale of recovery. With a foreword by Marcus Trescothick. For more than 12 years, Patrick Foster lived a double life. Turning 31, a popular and sociable young teacher and former professional cricketer, he had a lovely girlfriend and a supportive family. But he was hiding a secret and debilitating gambling addiction from even those closest to him. Huge bets had led to huge debts, thousands of lies, and consequences for his mental health that pushed him to the edge of the platform at Slough station, where he was moments from taking his own life in March 2018. That month Patrick had turned a £30 bet into £28,000, then lost £50,000 on a single horse, Might Bite, in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, watching the race in a silent classroom as his students undertook a mock exam in front of him. In his desperation, he had taken out every possible loan, and borrowed money from family, friends and even the parents of children he taught. Although his life was unravelling around him, he could not stop. You might think that this is just one man’s story. But problem gambling affects one in 200 people in the UK alone. Hundreds lose their lives annually as a result. The industry is worth more than £14 billion. Might Bite is a shocking, cautionary tale of just how easy it is to fall victim to the insidious lure of ‘winning big’. And of how recovery is possible from the depths of addiction, no matter how inescapable it seems. ‘As a society, we are only just getting to grips with gambling addiction. Patrick Foster is a trailblazer. His work will help many.’ Marcus Trescothick

'An electrifying account of gambling addiction ... compelling' The Times 'Searingly honest ... should be in the hands of anyone who has eyed a bet' Daily Mail 'A remarkable piece of work' The Cricketer 'Compulsive' The i 'An in-depth testimony' Daily Telegraph 'An extraordinary story ... vital stuff' Adrian Chiles, BBC Radio 5 Live 'A no-holds-barred journey through gambling addiction and into the hope of recovery' Paul Merson 'Patrick's story will stop you in your tracks' Sam Billings, England cricketer The unputdownable story of a life shattered by a secret gambling addiction - and an uplifting tale of recovery. With a foreword by Marcus Trescothick. For more than 12 years, Patrick Foster lived a double life. Turning 31, a popular and sociable young teacher and former professional cricketer, he had a lovely girlfriend and a supportive family. But he was hiding a secret and debilitating gambling addiction from even those closest to him. Huge bets had led to huge debts, thousands of lies, and consequences for his mental health that pushed him to the edge of the platform at Slough station, where he was moments from taking his own life in March 2018. That month Patrick had turned a GBP30 bet into GBP28,000, then lost GBP50,000 on a single horse, Might Bite, in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, watching the race in a silent classroom as his students undertook a mock exam in front of him. In his desperation, he had taken out every possible loan, and borrowed money from family, friends and even the parents of children he taught. Although his life was unravelling around him, he could not stop. You might think that this is just one man's story. But problem gambling affects one in 200 people in the UK alone. Hundreds lose their lives annually as a result. The industry is worth more than GBP14 billion. Might Bite is a shocking, cautionary tale of just how easy it is to fall victim to the insidious lure of 'winning big'. And of how recovery is possible from the depths of addiction, no matter how inescapable it seems. 'As a society, we are only just getting to grips with gambling addiction. Patrick Foster is a trailblazer. His work will help many.' Marcus Trescothick

Don Foster, a bright, articulate, athletically built insurance executive gives credence to the dual spirit heralded by Conrad's symbolic use of doppelganger, over playing sometimes with less manipulation than he imagines. A Rasputin control of his own destiny, hoping always to control, perhaps evade, inevitable events we all must confront. Thus he controls others surrounding him as pilot fish lead sharks to feed. He pursues this illusion, ethereal, immortal quarry in warm exploding pursuit, which could be redefined from the analogy to "reach." --Sheldon Kelly
"Reader's Digest"

Don Foster, a bright, articulate, athletically built insurance executive gives credence to the dual spirit heralded by Conrad's symbolic use of doppelganger, over playing sometimes with less manipulation than he imagines. A Rasputin control of his own destiny, hoping always to control, perhaps evade, inevitable events we all must confront. Thus he controls others surrounding him as pilot fish lead sharks to feed. He pursues this illusion, ethereal, immortal quarry in warm exploding pursuit, which could be redefined from the analogy to "reach." --Sheldon Kelly
"Reader's Digest"

The story of a man who believes in making the most of opportunities. His constantly changing world prepares him mentally to be a more fulfilled human being.

By creating a brain trust, including current living people as well as lives of minds gone before, he lives the unforgiving minute. He better understands himself as being a reflection of those he meets, the books he reads and how he spends his time. This determines who he is and who he is becoming; imagining where he wants to be ten, twenty years hence. The short time on earth is his only once.

The story of a man who believes in making the most of opportunities. His constantly changing world prepares him mentally to be a more fulfilled human being.

By creating a brain trust, including current living people as well as lives of minds gone before, he lives the unforgiving minute. He better understands himself as being a reflection of those he meets, the books he reads and how he spends his time. This determines who he is and who he is becoming; imagining where he wants to be ten, twenty years hence. The short time on earth is his only once.